Looking for a "beater"

[kostask]

As Rocky said, Jean Larrivee has moved operations to the US. All of the LaSiDo brands are made in Canada. The Boucher family, once part of this company, have split off and are making Boucher-branded guitars.
There are several Craft luthiers; several of them apprenticed under Larrivee. Linda Manzer has the highest profile. William "Grit"Laskin is another. David Wren also comes to mind, but I don't know whether he's still making guitars; he also has/had an interest in the Twelfth Fret, a well-known shop in Toronto. Mackenzie & Marr are a craft duo - a friend has one of their acoustics. I'm sure that there are others.

It is Godin Guitars now. LaSiDo was the old name for Godin.

The Boucher brothers are the sons of Normand Boucher, who started building guitars by hand at first, and then started up a guitar factory that went through a number of transitions to become the Godin factory today. The Norman line of guitars is named after Normand Boucher. One of the Boucher brothers, Claude Boucher used to design the slope shouldered guitars (Lys) for the factory that Normand Boucher started, and had left Godin Guitars a while ago, and created Boucher Guitars with his brother. Quite the line of guitars they are. Robert Godin was the sales rep for the Normand Boucher guitar factory. Simon and Patrick guitars are named after the first names of his two sons. The same factory used to produce nylon string guitars under the La Patrie and Kamouraska brands.

Godin guitars does have a US factory, but it mostly makes electric guitars, and semi-hollowbody guitars. The acoustics are still made in Quebec.

Jean Larrivee had a fairly large factory in Vancouver, British Columbia, but pulled up roots and moved to California a while ago.

As for "craft" guitar makers (i.e. handbuilders) in addition to the ones mentioned above, there is Paul Beauregard, the De Jong family, Michael Greenfield, Judy Threet (not building any more) and probably at least another half dozen more that I can't recall right now.

 

[davenumber2]

It is Godin Guitars now. LaSiDo was the old name for Godin.

The Boucher brothers are the sons of Normand Boucher, who started building guitars by hand at first, and then started up a guitar factory that went through a number of transitions to become the Godin factory today. The Norman line of guitars is named after Normand Boucher. One of the Boucher brothers, Claude Boucher used to design the slope shouldered guitars (Lys) for the factory that Normand Boucher started, and had left Godin Guitars a while ago, and created Boucher Guitars with his brother. Quite the line of guitars they are. Robert Godin was the sales rep for the Normand Boucher guitar factory. Simon and Patrick guitars are named after the first names of his two sons. The same factory used to produce nylon string guitars under the La Patrie and Kamouraska brands.

Godin guitars does have a US factory, but it mostly makes electric guitars, and semi-hollowbody guitars. The acoustics are still made in Quebec.

Jean Larrivee had a fairly large factory in Vancouver, British Columbia, but pulled up roots and moved to California a while ago.

As for "craft" guitar makers (i.e. handbuilders) in addition to the ones mentioned above, there is Paul Beauregard, the De Jong family, Michael Greenfield, Judy Threet (not building any more) and probably at least another half dozen more that I can't recall right now.

Good list. I read a lot of good things about Ed Bond (Halcyon Guitars), just to add to the list. Very reasonably priced for a custom guitar last I heard.

 

[kostask]

Good list. I read a lot of good things about Ed Bond (Halcyon Guitars), just to add to the list. Very reasonably priced for a custom guitar last I heard.

Also, John McQuarrie of Northwood guitars (not sure if he is still building). There are others, many in the Vancouver and surrounding area, but not only there. There are loads of great handbuilders in the US, as well.

 

[RBSinTo]

Which guitar should I look at for a "beater" that I can bring camping and not worry about if anything happens to it? Laminate would be good too because it's more stable with weather changes. I fish a lot too, but wouldn't mind sitting lakeside, play guitar for a bit, fish for a bit etc

I have played a few Asian Guilds. There's a few of them that are like meh largely because they used 2x4s for bracing so the top doesn't really move, but then there's some others that really surprised me. I played one F-250E, the strings were ancient and one was broken (probably rusted through to be honest). This guitar still impressed me. With dead strings it was still the best sounding guitar for three figures I played that day between two stores. The demos I've heard are also pretty solid. It doesn't sound like a maple F50/F55 but nothing about this guitar's sounds "cheap" either. Kind of interested in the F-240E too. I played a D-240E and that was a big setup up from the other guitars in the store for $750 and under, but it wasn't quite the F-250E either.

The other thing that comes to mind is shop for a used Taylor 112ce or 114ce. Decent electronics, and I might even be able to squeeze the a smaller body under the backseat in my truck. B

Boomstick,
As it seems price is a serious criterion, it would be helpful if you stated an upper limit figure that you are willing to pay, to narrow down good suggestions.
RBSinTo

 

[Boomstick]

Boomstick,
As it seems price is a serious criterion, it would be helpful if you stated an upper limit figure that you are willing to pay, to narrow down good suggestions.
RBSinTo

Let's say keep it 3 figures, but I'd really looking around $600ish. A few of my favorites are around that. My first thought was maybe a Taylor 112CE or 114CE, which can be had around that used.

Also not opposed to shopping the FB Marketplace/Craiglist.

 

[Papajerry]

I use to have an old Mark one , I was in the Navy and carried it all over , placed parks,bars ,etc..

 

[chazmo]

Boomer,

FS - 1972 Guild D35

Moving to full-time mobile life and this guitar needs a home where it can get proper care. D35 serial # 64227, which I believe puts it in 1972. Bought it in upstate NY in 2019 - my first Guild - it was a mess. Sticky stuff all over the fretboard, bridge was lifted (I did not know what I was...

letstalkguild.com

 

[Westerly Wood]

I was fortunate to find a fairly beat up SWS ("Solid Wood Series") Maritime SG in need of some TLC on FB Marketplace for $125. It needed a setup, and proper crack repair (compared to the bad existing repair that the cleat wasn't placed where the crack was). After a new set of strings (and $60 later), it honestly doesn't give a whole lot away to my Gibson WM45. I love it, and it still looks a tad rough, but that's actually a good quality in a beater.

Oh but that headstock.

 

[twocorgis]

Oh but that headstock.

I've grown to like it. It's lightweight, and there's a nice straight string pull over the nut. My luthier, who is a man of few words, always remarks about how well it plays and sounds every time I bring it to him.

 

[silverfox103]

Really enjoying these posts. I'd guess you'd call me a "bottom feeder", as I like to search high and low for whatever I'm looking to find. There are deals out there, you just have to look hard and be patient. Finding a "beater" shouldn't be hard.

Tom

 

[twocorgis]

Really enjoying these posts. I'd guess you'd call me a "bottom feeder", as I like to search high and low for whatever I'm looking to find. There are deals out there, you just have to look hard and be patient. Finding a "beater" shouldn't be hard.

Tom

Right there with you Tom. That's how I landed the Seagull, amongst others!

 

[Boneman]

There has to be a ton of these out there with prices all over the map:

2020 Guild OM-240CE Guitar - musical instruments - by owner - sale - craigslist

Very nice 2020 Guild OM-240CE natural guitar for sale in excellent condition. This is from the Westerly series made in China. Solid sitka spruce top, arched mahogany back, mahogany sides and neck,...

lasvegas.craigslist.org

 

[Boomstick]

So I got to play a few lately. Came really close to buying an Alvarez MD60EBG for $450, the bridge was pulling up and I decided to hold off for financial concerns, figuring I might owe a lot in taxes again but it turns out I'm getting a nice return for once.

So far, I've been the most impressed with Alvarez's in the generally $600 and under price range I've been looking at. I got to demo a few Seagulls, the first one needed some work as it fretted out even open, the next two were pretty good and super loud. They would definitely do, but not my favorites.

I found a nearby store that seems to carry good, less popular cheaper guitars like Alvarez, D'Angelico, select Asian-made Guilds and plan to take a ride down there on Sunday.

Super interested in the Alvarez AJ80CE and AGFM80CEAR.

 

[silverfox103]

A "beater" is not $600, A beater would be $300 to $400 or less. Think of a 72 Plymouth.

Tom

 

[Wilmywood]

A "beater" is not $600, A beater would be $300 to $400 or less. Think of a 72 Plymouth.

Tom

I think everyone can have their own dollar limits on such things.

 

[Boomstick]

A "beater" is not $600, A beater would be $300 to $400 or less. Think of a 72 Plymouth.

Tom

Let me put it this way. I'll recover financially and mentally if someone steals a $600 guitar. But I might end up in jail or a mental institution if someone steals my F-50.

And I only have two acoustics currently too and limited room, so I'm willing to spend a little extra for something I like playing.

 

[adorshki]

A "beater" is not $600, A beater would be $300 to $400 or less. Think of a 72 Plymouth.

Tom

Any '72 Plymouth in restorable or better condition'd be a collectible now.
Just sayin'.

 

[adorshki]

I think everyone can have their own dollar limits on such things.

99 cents on Temu:

 

[Br1ck]

I'm beyond playing anything other than a satisfying guitar, thus my 70 D 35 is my beater. If I had a good playing D 25, that would work. I doubt $1000 would cover most of what I'd want to play, so yes, it is a sliding scale. And no, it's not a guitar I could likely replace, so beater and careless is not in my mind set. But camping certainly is.

 

[Boomstick]

I went to a store that basically carries a selection of guitars that are actually good rather than popular guitars today. They had a few I was interested in. They had a Guild F-250E and that was a great guitar, probably my favorite I played, certainly in my price range but I ended up going with an Alvarez AG60CE because it sounds like a hog and the Guild sounds closer to my two maple Guilds.

It was great though, almost every guitar they carried in the price range would have been acceptable where in many stores I usually find one or two.

They had a few Seagulls, onne in particular was really nice but was more than I was looking to spend. Super loud guitars though!