What "beater" do you pick up?

[aphantomvaper]

Washburn acoustics have always sounded really great to me. I have a $99 Washburn parlor guitar that is played very often.

 

[Tony M.]

Whoever's turn it is in my random rotation of guitars.

 

[ScottR]

I walk into my living room, slowly do a 360, and wait for a guitar to speak to me. Sometimes it’s, “pick me! No, pick me! No, me! Hey, I’m your fav!”, which makes it tough.

Sooo, I'm not the only one? I feel better now. I only have one so it starts saying...hey a$$hole why are you spinning in circles? I'm over here ya big dummy. Big Momma don't mess around, and she's the jealous type.

 

[Aahzz]

I work from home, and generally from the living room couch most of the day unless I'm actively recording - so these serve that position as well as all other positions.

 

[danktat]

Looking at your desk, are you sure you’re not a dentist?!

Heck, if I WERE, I might be able to HAVE PRS fiddles as "beaters"

 

[danktat]

Washburn acoustics have always sounded really great to me. I have a $99 Washburn parlor guitar that is played very often.

Yeah man. I have one. But like I said in the original post, it is a bit bulky for the "grab and go" kind of guitar though. Sounds and play great though. (cost me a bit more than 99 bucks, but it wasn't what I could call "pricey").

 

[colinkanders]

My S2 Mira is my go-to guitar. Not only is she the one I've most bonded with, but she can get a solidly good tone for any style of music (and amazing tone for blues-rock, which is what I play most often).

 

[Slowhands]

This. It's 31 years old and though it doesn't look it, it's beat up in spots that aren't visible. Enough that the monetary value in it is probably not much. But it sits next to my desk, I reach for it for everything. No question it's my number one and then some.

 

[gush]

What's a beater?

If I want to learn something, I use a good guitar. Seriously, it makes everything easier.

Ha ha ha. I have a couple beaters both 97 ce22s.

One is a black burst with dragon 1s rotary and trem. It has a big giant crack in the neck pocket that may or may not be "just the finish" but I love playing it. I'm always blown away by how good those pickups sound when the vol pot is rolled down bit.

It has metal chrome pickup rings and I glued SS flat washers to the tops of the black speed knobs to keep the chrome look going. Kind of dumb but it is a beater!!

The other is a hog ce22 trem rotary but with 5310s

Both have holes in the top from a midi pickup. Previous owner.

 

[Sybo]

Although I do have beaters, I rarely reach for them as they are cased just like my good guitars. I usually pull out my beaters when nostalgic thoughts possess me or guilt (Oh my, I haven't played that one all year, poor thing). For general noodling, I am reaching for my McCarty 594 HBII. It is light, don't have to plug it in to get some descent sound on what I am trying to play, and action to die for (like all my PRSi)! Some stuff says "I am an acoustic guitar song", and when that happens, I reach for my Martin J-40 (not quite a beater but I do beat up on it from time to time). What I really need and am searching for is an acoustic that I can play for hours similar to how I can play my PRS electrics. With my J-40 or my other acoustics, I can't last more than 60-90 minutes before I have to switch to an electric. If I don't switch, then I am unlikely to want to play the next day because fingers will be too sore. With my electrics, I have had several days over the past three months or so where I have played for 5-6 hours over the course of the day, and am able to pick up again the next day with similar time stretches if I have the time and feel fine.

But my favorite beater (which I call my beach guitar) is my "Carlos" (that is the brand name). It is an acoustic that was made in Korea. I have no idea of year, what kind of wood, etc. What I do know is, I paid $20 for it in 2006, hardshell Martin green case included (which I believe is worth more than the guitar). And it has better action than either of my Martins (J-40 from 2019 and D12-20 from 1971). And believe me, I know how to adjust action on my axes and I have never once in 15 years had to do a thing to "Carlos". A friend played it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and was like "Holy sh!t, that is some sweet action". Now tone wise, it sounds a little better than a tin can with strings, but it befuddles me that a guitar of this low grade can have action like that when my acoustics that cost thousands don't have similar or better action. Great to have it though, so when I want to go somewhere, I don't have to worry about anything that happens to it!

I played some Ovations in the 80's and 90's that friends owned, and to this day, they were the easiest play acoustics I have ever strummed, but I never cared for their tone a whole lot. They sound better than my Carlos, but still not my cup of tea. Still searching for that elusive acoustic. Hopefully I will get a chance to try some PRSi acoustics later this year when I travel to some locations that have some available for me to strum. Until then, HBII is my go to!!! And loving every minute with that beauty!!! Now once I start pumpin' out some Funk again (soon), both my CU24's will get to shine and I will be grabbing them even though a couple pounds heavier than my HBII.

Happy beaters!
MW

Moondog, I have a cheap Yamaha AIM that I went at the saddle really carefully but aggressively. I also split a set of 12 string Elixers that are light. Brass bridge pins and some other secret fairy dust. Action is amazing, no matter what tuning , it’s such a great, special one. They are out there. It actually sounds excellent also..

 

[Moondog Wily]

Moondog, I have a cheap Yamaha AIM that I went at the saddle really carefully but aggressively. I also split a set of 12 string Elixers that are light. Brass bridge pins and some other secret fairy dust. Action is amazing, no matter what tuning , it’s such a great, special one. They are out there. It actually sounds excellent also..

Thanks for the tips Sybo! I must admit, I have become lazy about doing any work on the Martin, because I have these 3 PRSi now, and I can get a tone I am happy with for most acoustic stuff out of my 594 HBII for the time being. I still ultimately want an acoustic that plays better, and I know my J-40 will get there (but will it be far enough?), but sometimes GAS decides the route to a better playing fiddle!!! I will have to try the half pack of 12 string Elixers, that is a good idea!! I had a Yamaha 12 string in the late 80's that sounded really good, but I "Pete Townsended" one night at a party! It had really good tone! Not like my Martin D12-20 though which I bought after I smashed that Yamaha, and I still have that Martin to this day (it is 50 years old this year, I have owned it for 30)! I am leaning heavy toward a carbon fiber guitar for several reasons, the biggest being not having to worry about taking it into less than perfect conditions. I would really like to play some though and to do that, I will need to do some travel, so not sure when that is going to happen. I may buy one blind and sell it if I no like! The loss would be less than flying somewhere ;~)) Do you have any experience with CF guitars? Anyway, good tips and I am trying to get on it!

 

[chicagoslim]

I always keep an S2, out on a guitar stand. A working guitar, nicer than a beater, not as nice as a core model. Most of my guitars stay in a case or gig bag, when not in use.

 

[Herr Squid]

I don't know about "beater," but these are the two I reach for when I'm just bashing around and don't feel like risking one of the fancier ones. '97 CE and '11 Studio. They're both nicely broken in:

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Ehhh… this one cost me like, zero dollars, so f@ck it.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Ehhh… this one cost me like, zero dollars, so f@ck it.

Yeah baby!!

 

[aphantomvaper]

Ehhh… this one cost me like, zero dollars, so f@ck it.

My 22 fret Santana SE is preferred for my beater axe, but I did pay a quarter for it!

 

[BigdaddyRN]

Classic vibe 50s tele.

 

[Sybo]

My “ Black Betty” is a close to a beater as you can get….. well played, well worked, It can never leave…..All HOG S2s ROCK

 

[littlebadboy]

My Bluebird. It's a resin guitar making it resilient to season changes so I just keep it out so I cangrab quick if an inspiration comes. I got it dirt cheap enough to be a beater but mod with Gibson Firebird pickups and etc.

 

[Tosca]

At the moment…any one of these…