Looking for a "beater"

[Rocky]

I've got a couple of 'beater' guitars for beach jams or traveling. They play OK, suit their purpose, and you'll get over if it gets destroyed in some mishap. It depends on what the purpose is. [sorry for the non-Guild answers]

For regular beach/campfire jams, it's hard to beat the Yamaha FG-700S. Cheap, durable, loud and if you pick through a few, you can find one that plays pretty well out of the box. Sounding decent is a bonus. If you search around, you can probably find one for $100 on CL, maybe even with a bag.

For travel, I've got an Ibanez Talman - the one with a magnetic pickup, TCM-50? Pretty fugly, and it sounds like a National unplugged or plugged. But it plays decently, can fit in some solidbody gig bags, and can plug in. Gets lots of compliments from people who listen with their eyes. Probably $100-200.

 

[Boomstick]

I was gonna say M120 also, since I basically got one for all those purposes you state and even wrote up an NGD for the “lake guitar”. It is a great change of pace from the larger bodied spruce topped dreads and jumbos, and the short scale, wider nut is easier for fingerstyle. I like the tone, and it definitely needs some breaking in but once it is, it’s a sweet ‘take anywhere‘ guitar, I really love mine. The backpack poly foam case it came with just added to the allure.

As for the bracing, it depends on the year with the M120, they changed the specs a bit, I dunno when, 2019 or 2020 maybe? Look for one of the early ones with the scalloped x bracing, they discontinued them, but here is the old link:

M-120E Cherry Red(DISCONTINUED) | Guild Guitars

guildguitars.com

Oh that's interesting. I played a new one at my favorite area guittar store (back to back with a M-20 actually) and my dad has one. I want to say his is older than 2019, but maybe not. But you can tell the pieces of wood used for bracing are absolutely massive by looking at it, which explains why there isn't much output from that guitar.

 

[Stagefright]

I have an old Ibanez lonestar that I leave in one of the barns. No heat or AC. When I need to get away, I pull down the Ibanez beater. I play it at least an hour per day. It plays well, sounds decent, and I don’t worry about it at all.

I’ll second the Seagull nod. My exact feedback to GC staff was “the Seagull would make a great campfire guitar”. I’m glad to hear others agree.

 

[Boneman]

Not sure its exactly beater pricing, but here’s an older one with the poly foam case, which is itself pretty awesome :

Guild Westerly Collection M-120E | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

 

[Boomstick]

I'm a big Seagull fan. The S6 can be had cheap, is made in Canada, and sounds surprisingly good.

I just went on Youtube and played some demos. They sound pretty good, I will keep an eye out now.

 

[Boomstick]

Not sure its exactly beater pricing, but here’s an older one with the poly foam case, which is itself pretty awesome :

Guild Westerly Collection M-120E | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

I'm okay with that price tag, and if it has electronics and I could gig with it, that's a bonus. I just won't want to risk my current two Guilds which are worth a bit more.

I've seen some for like $300 on craigslist. Maybe I should go look at them if they are older models if another pops up.

 

[Boomstick]

This seems like a decent deal. Little bit of a drive (not sure when I'd be able to get it) but comes with a case too

Guild F-250CE Jumbo 6 string with Guild hard case - musical instruments - by owner - sale - craigslist

I have a Guild F-250 jumbo guitar in very good condition with built in pickup. I bought the Guild jumbo deluxe hard case for $209 on Sweetwater to keep it safe and humidified. I need cash. I'm...

worcester.craigslist.org

 

[Brick]

I picked up a used Alvarez Regent dread a few years back-- office guitar and general purpouse beater. I think I paid $75 bucks for it, and it both plays and sounds fine. Pretty good for plywood.

 

[chazmo]

Should I be punished for bringing my '84 D64 to Boy Scout campfires a few times?

The answer is no. You should be applauded.

 

[davenumber2]

I just went on Youtube and played some demos. They sound pretty good, I will keep an eye out now.

If you're going this route, also look out for the Seagull Entourage Rustic and Mini Jumbo. The Rustic is the same guitar as the S6 but with 1.72'' nut and sunburst. Generally cheaper too. I had these two until recently. Solid guitars but the house is only so big. Can't keep 'em all.

 

[silverfox103]

I have two guitars, that I would not want to get damaged or worse. We travel from to NH to GA for three months in the winter. I have always taken one of them with us. i knew it wasn't the smartest thing to do. So this year decided it was time for a throw-a-way guitar. I actually found one better than that for $125. It's a 1968 Wilson and Son's classical guitar, made by Yairi. Actually it's a decent guitar (with a few warts), that plays and sounds good. So, if it gets damaged or stolen, I'll look for another.

Tom

 

[Boomstick]

I picked up a used Alvarez Regent dread a few years back-- office guitar and general purpouse beater. I think I paid $75 bucks for it, and it both plays and sounds fine. Pretty good for plywood.

I figure some of the Alvarez's and Recording Kings are also worth a look as well.

 

[Ncrews]

Funny concept "beater." Maybe 20 years ago I bought a "beater" 1964 Gibson J-50: cosmetically distressed but spot-on in terms of set up, sound and playability) so I wouldn't have to take my '50s-era J-45 to campfires. Just the other day a friend, who has loved and longed for. a J-50 (including mine), told me he may be buying a '64 J-50 for $4,800. So: today's beater may be a future investment.

 

[Cougar]

Or something I can bring when I'm shore fishing, play guitar a bit, fish for a bit etc

So when you're playing away and you actually catch a fish, you toss the guitar in the dirt? or you play it cool and reel in the fish with the guitar on your lap?

 

[Cougar]

I have a 2011 GAD-25NAT all mahogany I paid $375 for with a case. Sounds decent, looks great and not valuable enough to break a sweat over.

Yeah, I don't think the GAD models "use 2x4s for bracing" -- they're generally well spoken of. I can attest to that with my GAD D125-12 ($400). It's like, "Whoa!"

Besides, fish like 12-strings, along with campfire-folks.

 

[crank]

I have a Yamaha FG 300 or some number. Picked it up online for $100 already plenty dinged up. Laminate guitar. Sounds better than it has any right to. Plays ok but fights a bit. Sounds better than any of Guild's MIC guita r s IMO.

 

[casey2048]

I’d agree with Crank that Yamaha guitars are all super high value. Looking at the best reviewed ones on Sweetwater this concert sized one seems like a good candidate https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FS800NT--yamaha-fs800-concert-natural/reviews
And this dread with a burst is nice looking https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FG830TSB--yamaha-fg830-dreadnought-tobacco-brown-sunburst
When I went to my local guild dealer and played some of the lower cost acoustics, the one I liked the most was the D140CE. So I bet the D140 is nice too and it seems like you can get one used for a good deal. For instance, here is one on FBM for $350.

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[Boomstick]

I’d agree with Crank that Yamaha guitars are all super high value. Looking at the best reviewed ones on Sweetwater this concert sized one seems like a good candidate https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FS800NT--yamaha-fs800-concert-natural/reviews
And this dread with a burst is nice looking https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FG830TSB--yamaha-fg830-dreadnought-tobacco-brown-sunburst
When I went to my local guild dealer and played some of the lower cost acoustics, the one I liked the most was the D140CE. So I bet the D140 is nice too and it seems like you can get one used for a good deal. For instance, here is one on FBM for $350.

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I haven't played a D-140, but I was really impressed by a D-150CE I played which I believe is the same just with rosewood back and sides. It wasn't the greatest with a pick, but they had a 20 year old well broken in Martin D-35 that I liked a lot and with my fingers, I liked the D-150CE just as much.

My friend almost bought the same guitar to take to work with him so he doesn't have to bring his much more expensive Taylor, since he has a job that lets him play while he works. It was a little more expensive than he wanted to spend, but he also agreed that it was a great guitar.

I had a FG800 for a while, the problem was I could not play it. Even with 11s and detuned, it just killed my fingers. May have been a good chance learn to file a nut and a bridge down, but I ended up selling it.

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

Buy FX335C Electric-Acoustic Guitar for USD 150.00 | GoodwillFinds

Buy FX335C Electric-Acoustic Guitar at GoodwillFinds.

www.goodwillfinds.com

 

[casey2048]

I figure some of the Alvarez's and Recording Kings are also worth a look as well.

Oh my gosh, I forgot that when I revisited the same Guild and Yamaha dealer with my buddy so he could play an FG5, we both tried out a recording king guitar that we both agreed was far and away the best value in the store - the RD-328. As you can tell by the model it’s their take on a D-28. Just a fantastic playing, looking and sounding guitar. Looks like they have a 318 as well which is a bit cheaper. No surprise the 328 is backordered on SW. I definitely recommend anyone who has a RK dealer in the area, go play one, they’re super fun.

Recording King Tonewood Reserve RD-328 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar - Natural

6-string Acoustic Guitar with Spruce Top, Rosewood Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, and Rosewood Fingerboard - Natural

www.sweetwater.com