Buying Your First Solid Spruce Top Guitar: The GSPL Test Results

It’s a Monday, I am retired, so I found a chance to test half a dozen guitars at a local guitar store. Here’s my Log.

GSPL is my Acoustic Guitar Selection Mantra

This is what GSPL means.

1. Grab. Grab the neck. If it’s too much of a handful, you will know it immediately. If it’s too thick I will just “hang it up” on the wall.
2. Sound. How does it sound? Is it balanced from low E to high E string. Bass needs to be solid and low. Treble strings need to “sparkle” to my ears.
3. Play. Is it easy to play or is the neck too much of a “handful”. I have average size hands so I can’t play a super thick neck. Is fretting it easy to do? Does it sit well when I play it? I only want dreadnaughts at this time.
4. Looks. How does it look? If the guitar sounds good and plays good I might be forgiving on its looks. But it better sound good, play good, and be affordable based on its good looks or bad looks.

The Martin DM is Still my Best Choice, $850

I am looking for a solid top acoustic, preferably spruce, for under $1000.

The Martin DM in this local shop is $850 asking. The owner said they would do $750. I have visited 3 times, playing it.

Let’s play the GSPL game.

1. Grab. I knew instantly when grabbing the neck that it was playable for me.
2. Sound. It sounds wonderful. It is balanced from low to high. It may be the best acoustic guitar I have ever played that I could afford.
3. Play. Plays great. Neck size is good, I can fret chords easily.
4. Looks. It looks just fine. I don’t know it’s age. But I do know that it seems clean to me: no dents, scratches, etc.

Martin DX1 Dreadnaught, $500

1. Grab. Easy to grab, I cuold play it.
2. Sound. OK, just didn’t have the character of the Martin DM Dreadnaught.
3. Play. It played fine. I somehow remember the neck being a bit thicker, kind of a bigger “C” shape. I could be wrong.
4. Looks. It looked fine.

If I am buying a Martin, it won’t be a Martin DX1. I clearly prefer the Martin DM for $200 more.

Seagull S6, $350

The store had bought two used Seagulls. Now, I could “hear” a Seagull compared to the Martin DM.

The Martin DM is the clear winner.

1. Grab. The first Seagull I grabbed was a simple S6. Slightly wider neck, perhaps larger than 45 mm or larger. I prefer 44 mm or 43 mm for the nut.
2. Sound. This Seagull might have had a Spruce top. It rang out better. Good balance from bass to treble.
3. Play. It was more difficult to play with its wider nut.
4. Looks. It looked fine.

Yes, it’s a Seagull. But it comes in as a clear second or third to the Sound of the Martin DM.

And that neck just isn’t fun. I knew I would regret buying it and trying to convince myself the Sound was worth the hassle of a barely playable neck. Some people love Seagull for its wider neck for finger picking. That would not be my choice.

Seagull S6, $250, A Slim Version

Note: This Seagull was built during the 2002 fiscal year. In fiscal year 2006 (perhaps made in 2005), Godin started using epoxy to glue/affix necks to body. Luthiers dislike them. It’s incredibly difficult to do a neck re-set on a Godin guitar that has epoxy.

This Slim Seagul is a little beat up on the outside. The owner is asking $250 for it.

1. Grab. Easier to grab. It’s a 44 mm neck or less. Not the usual bulkier Seagull neck.
2. Sound. Disappointed immediately. It has a cedar top. The sound was muffled and I could even hear it with my hearing aids. Bummer.
3. Play. Plays fine.
4. Looks. A little beat-up but if it sounded “bright” with a Spruce solid top, I would have considered it a viable choice.

I have now tried four different Seagulls. Either the neck is too wide to play or the cedar top is too muffled for my ears. Maybe I will find a spruce top Seagull with a slim neck that was made in the fiscal year 2004 or less (need to avoid epoxy necks). – Shoshin Guitarist

Alvarez Acoustic for $300-$350

Sorry, I can’t remember the exact model or cost.

Decent all around. But as I played it, the Alvarez reminded me of my Ibanez V70CE. Decent sound, good bass, treble strings not bright.

The Alvarez didn’t offer me anything better than my Ibanez V70CE. So why would I buy it.

But at least I tried an Alvarez.

Yamaki Eagle, G-300, $150, Beat Up with Scribbling

Lord knows I love a funky guitar that’s been somewhere. The owner said 3 people had “almost bought” the guitar already. Maybe.

Designed in Sweden and made in Japan? Yikes. That’s mojo.

No wonder the “luthier” kept shouting, “Ibanez, it’s an Ibanez.” The Internet thinks this guitar was made in a Japanese factory where Ibanez guitars were made. The factories were Fujigen, Matsumoku, and Hoshino.

This is a Laminate when I told the owner I wanted solid top spruce. But he was trying to be helpful. Let’s analyze it with GSPL.

1. Grab. I can grab it. It’s a little thick, kind of like my Yamaha FG160 (50 years old).
2. Sound. Wow, it sure sounds like my Yamaha FG160 made in Taiwan. Heavy bass but stifled treble notes. Treble a little dull. My Yamaha FG160 treble is a little quiet, but it’s better than this Yamaki Eagle.
3. Play. Yep, I could play it even with its thick neck.
4. Looks. Beat up, been around the block, worn wood, crazy scribbles. I am funky I admit it. If the sound had better treble I would considered it a “birthday bonus gift” for me.

But as I played the Yamaki Eagle, I kept thinking. This Yamaki reminds me of my Yamaha FG160 with its great bass but weaker treble. I have a 50 year old acoustic that’s a bass boomer, and its better than this guitar.

I don’t need the Yamaki Eagle. But it did make me smile.

Love to try a Taylor Guitar

Haven’t found one used, yet. I have heard great things about them.

What Did I Learn Playing Used Acoustics at my Local Guitar Store?

The Martin DM is still the best in this store, for me. Not because it’s the most expensive I can afford at $850. It’s still the best in this store because of its great balanced sound, well projected and boomy, good playability, and good looks.

The Seagulls are losing my interest. I can’t play a 45 mm or 46 mm nut width guitar. And, apparently I prefer solid Spruce top over solid Cedar top.

Not all Martins sound great. The Martin DM beats the heck over the Martin DX1.

Alvarez acoustics. I hear they are great. I have only tried one so far. The Martin DM beats it easily.

Note: That Martin DM may disappear from the store. But I promised my wife of 40+ years I would not buy another guitar, bass guitar, or amp until after my 75th birthday. I keep my promises to my beloved wife 🙂

The Yamaki Eagle was my 2nd best guitar today. Funky, has soul, made from 1972-1975. Two years ago I might have bought it. But my Yamaha FG160 has it beat. But at $150 it’s no bargain, at $100, maybe 🙂

I still haven’t played a Martin. That’s on my to do list.

Use GSPL When You Purchase Your Next Acoustic

Again, this is what GSPL means. It’s my own acronym.

1. Grab. Can you grab it by the neck and feel comfortable?
2. Sound. It needs to sound great.
3. Play. Is it easily playable?
4. Looks. Good, bad, ugly???

Do yourself a favor. Test half a dozen acoustic guitars at your local used guitar store today.