Bossa nova guitar

[Badge]

I'd like to buy a reasonable nylon string guitar for bossa. Prefer something with a lower action and is comfortable. Don't want to spend a fortune. Happy with a generic Yamaha or whatever if it feels and sounds good. I don't like junk. Any suggestions pls

[Trickey Dude]

Carvin CL-450. I'd look for a used one. Good value, nice guitar.

[Max405]

I have a Yamaha ntx900. When I bought it, I handed it to my tech who replaced the nut, widened the string spacing at the nut and put a matching saddle on it. He did a neck adjustment and shaved the saddle down so the action is ever so slightly higher than my arch tops but not much. The result, an outstanding nylon string jazz and bossanova guitar. It cost me $850 with the tech work and a case. I'd recommend this guitar to anyone who is looking for a killer crossover.
Good luck with your search.
Joe D.

[2bornot2bop]

I have a Yamaha ntx900. When I bought it, I handed it to my tech who replaced the nut, widened the string spacing at the nut and put a matching saddle on it. He did a neck adjustment and shaved the saddle down so the action is ever so slightly higher than my arch tops but not much. The result, an outstanding nylon string jazz and bossanova guitar. It cost me $850 with the tech work and a case. I'd recommend this guitar to anyone who is looking for a killer crossover.
Good luck with your search.
Joe D.

Thanks my good brother Joe!

Yamaha NTX900FM Nylon String Acoustic Electric Guitar Flame Maple Demo | eBay

[skykomishone]

I have a Yamaha ntx900. When I bought it, I handed it to my tech..... He did a neck adjustment......Joe D.

Joe, How is the neck adjustable? Does it have a truss rod? Just curious. Thanks, Steve

[skykomishone]

Carvin CL-450. I'd look for a used one. Good value, nice guitar.

I saw Acoustic Alchemy at Jazz Alley in Seattle the other night and Steve Oliver was part of the band for the current tour. He was playing a Carvin. I think it was one of these: NS1 NYLON STRING CLASSICAL MIDI SYNTH ACCESS ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR | CarvinGuitars.com .
At any rate, I was very curious about it after hearing the performance. He actually had two Carvins he played. One was more acoustic than the other, I think.

[Max405]

Thanks my good brother Joe!

Yamaha NTX900FM Nylon String Acoustic Electric Guitar Flame Maple Demo | eBay

thanks 2b. They are good guitars. Itty bitty little things though. You would have to be like one or one and a half b for that one (like me).. They have another one I think it's the NCX. It's bigger.
Thanks bro. JD

Joe, How is the neck adjustable? Does it have a truss rod? Just curious. Thanks, Steve

Hi Steve, yes it has a truss rod adjustable from the headstock. By the way the tuners are great on this guitar too. Much better than the ones on my Godin.
Joe D

[Max405]

I saw Acoustic Alchemy at Jazz Alley in Seattle the other night and Steve Oliver was part of the band for the current tour. He was playing a Carvin. I think it was one of these: NS1 NYLON STRING CLASSICAL MIDI SYNTH ACCESS ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR | CarvinGuitars.com .
At any rate, I was very curious about it after hearing the performance. He actually had two Carvins he played. One was more acoustic than the other, I think.

I love Steve Oliver. I have his Radiant album. Very tasteful player. I never saw him, but if he is playing a Carvin on the stuff I heard, the pickup system is great on it. No quack at all. My Godin quacks badly. Maybe because my action was too low. Here is what mean..

Joe D.

[2bornot2bop]

thanks 2b. They are good guitars. Itty bitty little things though. You would have to be like one or one and a half b for that one (like me).. They have another one I think it's the NCX. It's bigger.
Thanks bro. JD

Thanks for the clarification bro! Just a week ago I was searching on feebay for an affordable piddler bossa nova style guitar to piddle bossa nova tunes on.

Question:

What fretboard material does the Yamaha use? It's not mentioned in any of the typical advertising jargon...odd?

Obviously this guitar fits right in with 2b as on a typical day 2b is running on 1.5 cylinders...but I'm still running!

Thanks for the recommendation Joe! Much appreciated!!!

[Max405]

Thanks for the clarification bro! Just a week ago I was searching on feebay for an affordable piddler bossa nova style guitar to piddle bossa nova tunes on.

Question:

What fretboard material does the Yamaha use? It's not mentioned in any of the typical advertising jargon...odd?

Obviously this guitar fits right in with 2b as on a typical day 2b is running on 1.5 cylinders...but I'm still running!

Thanks for the recommendation Joe! Much appreciated!!!

Keep running 2b, never stop.
im pretty certain its ebony. It's pretty hard and it's black. Doesn't feel like richlite or died rosewood. Check it out.

[2bornot2bop]

Keep running 2b, never stop.
im pretty certain its ebony. It's pretty hard and it's black. Doesn't feel like richlite or died rosewood. Check it out.

Thanks again Joe. What a fabulous entry level nylon string guitar the Yamaha sounds like. Okay, time to break out the wallet....agin!

BTW, great playing as usual on Triste and Corcovado, two of my fav's!

[2bornot2bop]

BTW, I should have mentioned prior to your recommendation I was nearly about to pull the trigger on the Taylor 214CE for it's bigger body, of course :

BTW2....Mark Lucas in the demo can play! Here he is from 1996 doing A Night In Tunisia:

[Max405]

2b, the 214ce is nice too. Better acoustically than the Yamee. Taylor's have an almost unreal build quality to them. The 214 is matte finished. It nicks up pretty easily which sucks because it's such a beautiful guitar. I really don't think you could want more sound. Pretty balanced and deep. Needs a setup out of the box, big time. I had a 214 and a 612. The 214 sounded better than the 612. The 612 was prettier and all solid wood. Unfortunately the top was pretty warped when I got it. I lived with it for a while but it ate me so I took it back to guitar center.
btw, thanks for your nice words on my playing. You know, you take a chance when you post a video of yourself playing. You sweat a little until somebody says something nice. When nobody says anything, then you think that you suck... I wish that sounded better. And what do you know, it wasn't a Johnny Smith arrangement! Silly me, what was I thinking? Thanks again bro, Joe D

[Longways to Go]

I got a used Taylor NS24ce a few months ago -- which I believe is basically the same guitar as the 214 with an earlier numbering system. My first nylon string & I love it. super sound, super playable, great build. Hybrid neck works for me -- as in thinner than classical.

I've had no trouble with Taylor's matte finish so far -- tougher than most of my other guitars -- looks like day one & I play the heck out of that sucker. Someday I'll have to learn how to change nylon strings!

[drbhrb]

I like my Godin Multiac Nylon ACS. You do hear some quack sitting next to the amp but it sounds great in the room. Very comfortable to play and zero feedback issues.

[Deng]

When I was looking for an easy to play (lol) electric acoustic nylon, I spent some time researching all the ones available and found the NTX1200R with the features I was after (ebony fretboard/rosewood back and sides) and within my budget.
Played better sounding ones unplugged, but the Yamaha shines through the AER that I use.

[krusty]

I like my Godin Multiac Nylon ACS. You do hear some quack sitting next to the amp but it sounds great in the room. Very comfortable to play and zero feedback issues.

I have a Godin ACS SA, and the sound I get from it is very, very dependant on the choice of amps, imo. I had a Fender Acoustasonic Ultralight, which I truly loved, but it made the Godin sound awful. I tried a Fishman Aura, and even that didn't get rid of the annoying quack. I spent far more time fiddling with settings than playing, and seriously considered selling the Godin.

Then I tried an AI Clarus Series III, and the difference was astounding. I ordered a Series 4 Clarus, and have unplugged the Fishman, for both my Godin and my Eastman 605 with an undersaddle pickup. I occasionally run the Fishman for its compressor, and find that I blend <50% image. It sounds fantastic and as natural as the pure classic Alhambra I had. I sold it because I no longer have to compromise when plugged in.

[drbhrb]

I have a Godin ACS SA, and the sound I get from it is very, very dependant on the choice of amps, imo. I had a Fender Acoustasonic Ultralight, which I truly loved, but it made the Godin sound awful. I tried a Fishman Aura, and even that didn't get rid of the annoying quack. I spent far more time fiddling with settings than playing, and seriously considered selling the Godin.

Then I tried an AI Clarus Series III, and the difference was astounding. I ordered a Series 4 Clarus, and have unplugged the Fishman, for both my Godin and my Eastman 605 with an undersaddle pickup. I occasionally run the Fishman for its compressor, and find that I blend <50% image. It sounds fantastic and as natural as the pure classic Alhambra I had. I sold it because I no longer have to compromise when plugged in.

I also use a clarus so maybe that's the secret sauce

[DRS]

Try a La Patrie Light Burst Hybrid

50mm neck with a nice profile.
Radiused fret board.
Solid mahogany back and sides
Solid cedar top
Dual source pick-up with tuner

Easy playing with a nice tone.
I got mine for $500 used with TRIC case.

[2bornot2bop]

Good stuff from Korea on a NS32CE

[2bornot2bop]

Okay, so this thread made me purchase my first nylon string guitar. I chose a Taylor N32CE as depicted in the above video. Maybe if I like it I'll later acquire the larger body more modern Taylor. I'd been salivating over video's on the 814CE-N but at $3500 what's a guy to do...that's a new jazz archtop range!

Taylor 814CE N Grand Audit Nylon String Acoustic Electric Guitar SN 1103025115 | eBay

[Doctor Jeff]

Great purchase! That is a beautiful guitar for sure. I find the Taylor nylon and steel strings to be among the most adaptable flattops for jazz. The nut width and fretboard radius are not as pronounced as some hybrids. Rather loud acoustically, which is not the case with all A/E's.

Just for the sake of discussion I will throw out a few more options--I have an Ibanez, and find them very good for the money. The current lineup is not hybrid in the sense that the fretboard is flat and nut width fairly wide, like a true classical. (It has a truss rod as well.)

The Godin looks like a nice guitar as well. I also know a player who upgraded from a Godin to a Sadowsky--now THAT is a super hybrid nylon-string (though not cheap or easily available).

[Archie]

Okay, so this thread made me purchase my first nylon string guitar. I chose a Taylor N32CE as depicted in the above video.

Damn it now I cant be horrendously rude with my opinions on Taylor Acoustic guitars.

Oh well...

Enjoy 2b. I guess we'll see you on Corcovado beach next summer

[2bornot2bop]

Damn it now I cant be horrendously rude with my opinions on Taylor Acoustic guitars.

Oh well...

Enjoy 2b. I guess we'll see you on Corcovado beach next summer

Yes, you can! I'm an equal opportunity kind a guy...I know nothing about Taylor's other than my intuition suggested a larger body nylon would do this body good.

Rip away!

edit - But be advised my cats don't take to kindly to criticism

[mr. beaumont]

Welcome to the Taylor club.

I have a 414ce that is a mass produced, soulless, bolt on neck atrocity that sounds and plays better than many guitars 3x it's price.

But make no mistake, Taylors suck.