Acoustic Guitars: Where To Buy A Good Used Acoustic Guitar

[jaidam]

Those of us with cash in GBP or Euros, there are some excellent deals on guitars in the US. The weak dollar has made the cheap US guitars even cheaper.

Looking at some 2nd hand Martins online I can see some late 60s and 70s Martin D-18s for around 60,000 baht. Although not a collectable era for Martins I rate them better than recent Martins. The bracing on the newer ones is way too heavy. Pick up a 70s or older Martin and it feels almost half the weight and much better sound. IMO they had to strengthen up the build to more easily honour the lifetime warranty. Notice on lots of older Martins the top has pulled up behind the bridge ( sometimes so much that a neck reset is needed), but what a great sound.

Also some of the 60s Epiphone guitars are good value. Last time I was over in the US I picked up a '64 Epiphone Cortez for just under 300 dollars. About 10,000 baht for a 60s Gibson acoustic out of the Kalamazoo factory. Bargain!

What websites are you looking at, as my daughter is off to NYC on Friday

Hi sgunn65,

If your daughter has time to pop over to Staten island she can visit Mandolin brothers. Its one of the most trusted vintage dealers in the US. I see they have what looks to be a beautiful 1982 D-28 with hard case for $2195. (item no. 15-6747). It is listed on this web site http://www.mandoweb.com/1_Acoustic.htm

On the same page near the bottom there is a 1975 D-18. item no.15-6157 for $1.995

Otherwise Elderly, or Gruhn guitars have some listings on their sites though they are not in NYC.

[sgunn65]

Today I took my Tele to get its action reset.

There's a shop at the ratchatewi bts station. Plenty of secondhand fender and gibson guitars. They had decent prices as well.

Hi

I went down to Ratchetewi BTS today and I think I walked every inch of the station and the surrounding streets and could not find the place you were looking for. Maybe I am blind but could you give me some more info/directions.

I also found a shop in Pantip but it was very poor. There is a shop on the 4th floor of Central which sells a range of Takemine and Ovation. But I already own an ovation. Still looking for the MArtin or Gibson of my dreams.

[fugitiveidea]

unsolicited plug for Mandolin Brothers. any player of any seriousness who is in the vicinity must - MUST - make the pilgrimage out to this shop. It is six string heaven,,,i wouldn't however think of a trip to nyc as a great guitar shopping opportunity as anything of quality and or pedigree there is greatly marked up...what isn't?

As for finding decent acoustics here in t-land, most good spots have been mentioned. there is a gibson authorized dealer out on thonglor or thereabouts, right? i haven't been but a friend of mine would go often and drool on the merchandise except when buying it!

happy thoughts~~

rrr

[MrSnrang]

Today I took my Tele to get its action reset.

There's a shop at the ratchatewi bts station. Plenty of secondhand fender and gibson guitars. They had decent prices as well.

Hi

I went down to Ratchetewi BTS today and I think I walked every inch of the station and the surrounding streets and could not find the place you were looking for. Maybe I am blind but could you give me some more info/directions.

I also found a shop in Pantip but it was very poor. There is a shop on the 4th floor of Central which sells a range of Takemine and Ovation. But I already own an ovation. Still looking for the MArtin or Gibson of my dreams.

Near the station is the "Hollywood street" building and a hard rock club. In that same building there are two repair shops. Among the restaurants/bars near the building there is another guitar shop. You can see it right from the train station.

if you go to tuimusic.com, there is a map of where it is in respect to the station.

[sgunn65]

Thanks for the directions. I will go and check it out.

I am still on the hunt for that elusive Martin D28 or Gibson J45 or 50. Does anyone know how I would fair if I have a guitar shipped from the USA?

[meadish_sweetball]

I don't have direct personal experience of guitar import into Thailand either, and would be interested in hearing from somebody who does.

However, I do remember hearing and reading several times, claims that the import tax ends up as much as the price of the actual item.

I would be worried about shipping an acoustic guitar in general too. Maybe I will be proven wrong, but my thought is your best bet might be to have a friend or family member buy for you and have them bring it over on the plane, or for you yourself to take a trip back to pick it up.

[Rimmer]

SNIP

I am still on the hunt for that elusive Martin D28 or Gibson J45 or 50. Does anyone know how I would fair if I have a guitar shipped from the USA?

Why bother? There are three Martin dealers in Bangkok and one in Singapore, I am sure that one of them has a D28 at the right price for you. I personally wouldn't bother with any other brand, at the end of the day they are not Martins are they?

THAILAND Boomers Music Co., Ltd. Bangkok 66-2-477-8601

THAILAND Kit Chareon Musical Ltd., Bangkok 10200 662-222-4712

THAILAND Lucky Music Public Bangkok 10400 662-251-3319

SINGAPORE City Music Co., Pte. Ltd. Singapore 65-63377058

[JR Texas]

SNIP

I am still on the hunt for that elusive Martin D28 or Gibson J45 or 50. Does anyone know how I would fair if I have a guitar shipped from the USA?

Why bother? There are three Martin dealers in Bangkok and one in Singapore, I am sure that one of them has a D28 at the right price for you. I personally wouldn't bother with any other brand, at the end of the day they are not Martins are they?

THAILAND Boomers Music Co., Ltd. Bangkok 66-2-477-8601

THAILAND Kit Chareon Musical Ltd., Bangkok 10200 662-222-4712

THAILAND Lucky Music Public Bangkok 10400 662-251-3319

SINGAPORE City Music Co., Pte. Ltd. Singapore 65-63377058

Thanks but many of us do not have the cash to just order a Martin D28 from a dealer......or the guts to have it shipped to Thailand (worst postal service in the world........sorry, made a mistake, Zimbabwe is worse).

If I am lucky, I will roam into a used guitar store or "jamnam" place and find what I am looking for, probably not a Martin but perhaps a good Takamine. I actually did this about six years ago in Pattaya........walked into a jamnam (pawn shop) place and found an old Takamine on the wall. I took it out of the shop for 4000 baht........great buy and it sounded wonderful, except when I played it :D

[sgunn65]

Brilliant Thanks for the phone numbers of the Martin dealers

I will let my fingers do the walking!

[JR Texas]

Brilliant Thanks for the phone numbers of the Martin dealers

I will let my fingers do the walking!

For those who are still interested in purchasing an acoustic guitar (or electric), I just finished my guitar search in Bangkok and found my dream guitar. There are many places, but I highly recommend Lucky Music (right near Pantip Plaza) for Martins and Taylors (they have a huge selection) and Secondhand Guitars right behind Lucky Music for used guitars (this is where I found my Takamine). Very friendly and helpful staff in both places.

[sgunn65]

I also have finished my search and bumped into the guitar of my dreams in Esplanade at the Martin dealers. Nice people. But yesterday I went into the Martin shop in Bang Na and the guy in there who served me spoke good English and was very friendly.

[aehn]

I've been checking out guitars also, but the brands all around Thailand seem to be unheard of to me. Those big names we see in the U.S.,just are not here. I guess the Thai's just don't go around buyin Les Paul Customs, so all you see in the stores are cheap imitations.

I know plenty of stores that has both alot of Gibsons, Ibanez, Fenders, PRS, Schecter, etc, to name a few, you just need to look a little bit more, then you will find. When i first arrived i went to Panthip (no, this is not a big music store, its a big store for eletronics, for christ sake, if you go to a western country and visit a computer mall, and there are some cheap music store inside, do you expect to find a Les Paul in there??? i doubt it, same thing here.

The only hard part is to find really good second hand shops, there arent many out there, as far as a know, just a few, and correct me if i am wrong...

[sgunn65]

The only hard part is to find really good second hand shops, there arent many out there, as far as a know, just a few, and correct me if i am wrong...

Now that I have found my Mia Noi I have been told that there is a street in China Town that has lots of 2nd hand guitar shops.

Now he tells me was my first thought then I went and stroked the curves and fiddled around with my mia noi and I didn't care anymore.

But you might find it useful. Sorry I dont know where in China town

[aehn]

Now that I have found my Mia Noi I have been told that there is a street in China Town that has lots of 2nd hand guitar shops.

Now he tells me was my first thought then I went and stroked the curves and fiddled around with my mia noi and I didn't care anymore.

But you might find it useful. Sorry I dont know where in China town

i already know that place, its actually not only one street, its a couple of streets, but not that much second hand though...

[JR Texas]

Now that I have found my Mia Noi I have been told that there is a street in China Town that has lots of 2nd hand guitar shops.

Now he tells me was my first thought then I went and stroked the curves and fiddled around with my mia noi and I didn't care anymore.

But you might find it useful. Sorry I dont know where in China town

i already know that place, its actually not only one street, its a couple of streets, but not that much second hand though...

As mentioned earlier.......I found a really nice second-hand guitar shop called "SECONDHAND" right behind LUCY GUITARS right down the street from Pantip Plaza. I highly recommend the place........good used guitars at good prices and top-notch help. I think it is the place some of the guitar stars in Thailand shop at.

[Dakhar]

Not sure if has been said, but there is a guitar shop in Sekon Square that carries very expensive guitars. 40+K.

At the IT mall in Rangsit next to the hospital there are several gtar shops, and they have a range of guitars there.

I bought a Legacy about 4 weeks ago paid 5K, the issue is... sadly I don't know how to play, and now that I have been plucking with the thing, I have realized I probably will never be able to play.

I will just have to stick to listening to Andy McKee.

[sgunn65]

Not sure if has been said, but there is a guitar shop in Sekon Square that carries very expensive guitars. 40+K.

At the IT mall in Rangsit next to the hospital there are several gtar shops, and they have a range of guitars there.

I bought a Legacy about 4 weeks ago paid 5K, the issue is... sadly I don't know how to play, and now that I have been plucking with the thing, I have realized I probably will never be able to play.

I will just have to stick to listening to Andy McKee.

Stick at it!!! THe hardest part is the beginning but once you can play 3 chords you will see things differently. A couple of lessons will get you going then you spend the rest of your life trying to improve, just like golf except the clothes are so ridiculous!!

Also be warned you risk becoming a saddo like me who spends more time drooling over the delicious curves of a Martin than the delicious curves of the missus!!

[Jeanguitar]

Maybe this is not suitable for TF and children under the age of 10, but I need a good acoustic guitar to go with my Cowboy hat. My significant other Thai female (the one with the mother-in-law from hel_l), decided to give my guitar to her brother. He sold it!

I like Takamine, Gibson, Martin........can't find a good used one in Thailand. I am in China at the moment but will be back in LOS soon. Maybe there is a well-known place in Bangkok that sells used guitars and has a very large selection.

The only place I know of is on the second floor of Pantip Plaza.......nice selection, but the last time I was there I could not find the brands I like. If you have a good lead, post here or drop me a line using TFs internal message system.

Thanks........HOPE ALL YALLL HAD A GREAT LOI KRATONG.......MISSED IT (MISSED THANKSGIVING TOO)

You can find your favourite old acoustic guitar at your nearest store in bankok.

Jeanguitar

[Jeanguitar]

Today I took my Tele to get its action reset.

There's a shop at the ratchatewi bts station. Plenty of secondhand fender and gibson guitars. They had decent prices as well.

Acoustic Gibson guitars?

Gibson Guitars they are simply Awesome.

You can find many varieties at Gibson not only Acoustic but Go for Electric.

Jeanguitar

[bungy007]

Well, I don't know what kind of SRV you're going to do on an acoustic. I think you need a hopped up Strat for that! I have some. Dylan is cool. His new CD is awesome. Best stuff he's done in decades.

* Also, if you love Dylan, you'll absolutely love this new kid, M. Ward. Listen to his "Chinese Translation" on youtube. Vintage new age Dylan.

should check out SRV's 'Sweet Little thang' on MTV unplugged - accoustic version and it just rocks the house! He's out of Austin, texas where all you bring to a gig is your axe, amp, a bottle of Jack Daniels, a steak and a dawg - well something's got to eat the steak!

[Pdaz]

Not sure if has been said, but there is a guitar shop in Sekon Square that carries very expensive guitars. 40+K.

At the IT mall in Rangsit next to the hospital there are several gtar shops, and they have a range of guitars there.

I bought a Legacy about 4 weeks ago paid 5K, the issue is... sadly I don't know how to play, and now that I have been plucking with the thing, I have realized I probably will never be able to play.

I will just have to stick to listening to Andy McKee.

Stick at it!!! THe hardest part is the beginning but once you can play 3 chords you will see things differently. A couple of lessons will get you going then you spend the rest of your life trying to improve, just like golf except the clothes are so ridiculous!!

Also be warned you risk becoming a saddo like me who spends more time drooling over the delicious curves of a Martin than the delicious curves of the missus!!

Can't agree more. I started playing just over a year ago.. started with a Yamaha 'fender' style clone and now while away a few hours each day on an Epiphone Les Paul custom.. Was a struggle at first but a few Months of lessons for the basics, some good books and lots of videos off of YouTube plus some 'lick library' torrent downloads and I'm hooked... Only people upset are my neighbors (They are French so I'm not worried )

Been thinking of buying a secondhand acoustic to develop my strumming more and make for ease of practice out and about (down the beach etc) Been looking in all the pawn shops and the three music shops nearby.. Sooner or later something will take my fancy.. I'm 43 so never to late to learn whatever your age..

[jerrylee]

I've been checking out guitars also, but the brands all around Thailand seem to be unheard of to me. Those big names we see in the U.S.,just are not here. I guess the Thai's just don't go around buyin Les Paul Customs, so all you see in the stores are cheap imitations.

As for acoustics, what brands do you recommend under the 10kbaht price.?...stick to the names you see around Bangkok please...Great, Crafter... etc. I would really like to know what is good other than Yamaha (not saything they are good, just only well known name I've seen before).

Tacoma