Acoustic Guitar Players' Choice Awards 2000

Here at Acoustic Guitar, we’re constantly hearing from players about the gear they love—the guitar that inspires their songwriting, the strings that ring so true, the pickup that fills the room with rich tone. It’s always illuminating to hear what gear somebody loves, but wouldn’t it be great to learn which products are recommended by thousands of active, passionate guitarists? We thought so, and that’s why we created the Players’ Choice Awards, a write-in voting process that allows real guitarists to voice their opinions about their favorite gear in four overarching categories: guitars, accessories (including instructional materials), performance gear, and recording gear. For these awards, we tallied almost 5,000 ballots (that came in via mail or our Web site, www.acousticguitar.com) and created 39 award categories, reflecting the types of guitars, accessories, and related gear that received the most votes. The product with the most votes in each category received a Gold award (in several cases there were ties). The total number of award winners in each category depended on how many votes were cast in that category: the sum of the votes received by all the runners up approximately equaled the number of votes received by the Gold winner.

Congratulations to all the winners, whose products have proven themselves in the hands of guitarists everywhere.

Not surprisingly, guitars received the greatest number of votes in our poll: 3,629 players voted for their favorite axes. Many of the winners have performed well in Acoustic Guitar reviews, but several lesser-known instruments were also popular. The brands that received the most votes overall were C.F. Martin and Co. (which won the Gold), Taylor Guitars, and Gibson Musical Instruments.

Although small-bodied guitars have experienced a renaissance in recent years, it appears that the mighty dreadnought still rules. Given its status as the most-copied acoustic guitar in history, it’s not surprising that C.F. Martin and Co.’s D-28 received the most votes of any single guitar. This classic’s clear victory is all the more remarkable considering that the company’s HD-28—essentially the same instrument with scalloped braces and herringbone trim—was also a PCA winner. A direct competitor to the D-28 on the sales floor, Taylor’s 810 models (including cutaway and pickup-equipped versions) also won a PCA award, another indication of the voters’ overwhelming affection for dreadnought-size instruments. But Taylor also scored a winner with its grand auditorium–size 514-C and 514-CE models. A fingerstyle favorite, the mahogany/cedar 514 proves that a big box made from rosewood and spruce isn’t always necessary to win players’ hearts.

The $1,000–$1,500 range (list price) is a hot area in today’s acoustic guitar market. Virtually every manufacturer offers several of these moderately priced steel-string models, and consumers can expect to find many excellent professional-level instruments among them. Having redefined the American-made solid-wood guitar at the outset of the ’90s, it’s no surprise that Taylor took the Gold in this category. The 410 received the most mentions, and the 310 and 314 trailed not too far behind. Martin also took a PCA in this category thanks to votes cast for D-1 and D-16 dreadnoughts and the auditorium-size 000-1 and 000-16.

Gone are the days when the only guitars $1,000 could buy were made entirely from laminated woods. Thanks to the precision gained with CNC machinery, the quality and playability of these inexpensive guitars is now approaching the level of instruments that cost thousands more. Martin won another Gold in this category, with its all-mahogany D-15 getting the bulk of the votes, followed by the DM and its new wood-fiber-composite DXM.

PCA winner Ovation has been a mid-priced favorite for years, and the company’s biggest seller, the U.S.-made Balladeer seen on stages everywhere, as well as the even more affordable Celebrity Deluxe garnered many votes. In the past few years, Larrivée has gone from exclusively building high-end instruments to manufacturing a wide range of guitars. The Canadian-made, solid-wood 02 and 03 lines have long been an insider’s choice for affordable quality, and Larrivée’s PCA confirms that the word is out. Tacoma has focused on this price range and earned a PCA in this category. Whether they own the innovative C1C or the more traditional DM10, budget-minded pickers love their Tacomas.

While more expensive instruments tend to get the most attention, entry-level guitars are no less important. Seagull’s S6 series has been the standard recommendation of countless teachers and music stores, and it is therefore no wonder that it received the Gold Award in the under-$500 category. PCAs also go to Epiphone, Takamine, Washburn, and Yamaha, all of which offer proven lines of affordable guitars with great sound, playability, and prices.

Taylor won the Gold in this category thanks to its grand concert and grand auditorium series—players voted for everything from the affordable 312 to the fancy Presentation, with the 514-C garnering the majority of the votes. Martin’s 00, 000, and OM models received plenty of votes throughout their price spectrums, earning Martin a small-body PCA. Santa Cruz small-bodies are also loved by enough players to warrant a prize, as are Wechter’s Pathmaker and RainSong’s high-tech carbon-fiber guitars.

The Gold winner in the dreadnought category is, of course, Martin. With the overall-winning D-28 at its helm, the company—which invented the design, after all—offers dozens of models in this popular shape. Gibson, Guild, Takamine, and Taylor all received large numbers of votes for their various dreadnought-size models as well.

Nothing beats a good jumbo-size flattop for sheer volume and bass response. Gibson’s J-200 has been called "the king of the flattops," and it is fitting that the company’s line of jumbos received the Gold. Martin and Taylor also earned PCAs in this category. Martin players appear to like their jumbos in fancy dress, with several votes for the company’s J-40. Taylor’s 615 and 815 were also mentioned frequently.

Once thought of exclusively as the ax of choice for classical, flamenco, and Latin musicians, nylon-string guitars can now be heard in virtually all types of music. Takamine took the Gold in this category, with a wide variety of models garnering votes, including cutaway and noncutaway and acoustic and acoustic-electric versions of Takamine’s 132-series models. Spanish traditionalists Ramírez and Rodriguez and Godin’s innovative amplified nylon-strings also snagged PCAs.

Taylor is considered by many to make the easiest-playing 12-strings around, and this is reflected in the company’s well-deserved Gold award. Guild proved to be another major 12-string force, and Seagull’s inexpensive S12 line of 12-string guitars helped the company become a surprise PCA winner in this category.

Taylor’s decision a couple of years ago to equip every one of its cutaway guitars with Fishman electronics instantly made the company one of the largest manufacturers of acoustic-electric guitars. Taylor won the Gold in this category, thanks mostly to the 514-CE. It seemed fitting that a PCA also go to Ovation, the company that introduced acoustic guitars equipped with modern piezo pickups in the ’60s; for countless performers, Ovations are still the ultimate stage axes. Takamine offers one of the largest selections of acoustic-electric guitars in all price ranges, and its PCA in this category reflects Takamine’s presence on stages the world over.

Guitars designed by famous players or modeled after their favorite instruments are catching the eyes of pickers everywhere. Martin’s 000-28 and 000-42 Eric Clapton models and Taylor’s line of Leo Kottke six- and 12-strings tied for the Gold. Also receiving PCAs were the Alvarez-Yairi line of Bob Weir guitars, Breedlove’s Ed Gerhard model, and Santa Cruz’ Tony Rice model.

Even though this is Acoustic Guitar magazine, the many write-in votes we received for electric guitars prove that an electric ax is part of many voters’ collections. In this category, Fender won the Gold, and the other winners were Gibson, Parker, and Paul Reed Smith.

To many players, a handmade guitar built by an independent luthier is the ultimate musical tool. James Olson’s efficient approach to building high-end flattops has impressed a growing roster of highly visible clients, and he won the Gold in the category of guitars made by companies that build fewer than 100 instruments per year. J.W. Gallagher and Son, Kevin Ryan Guitars, and Canada’s Ted Thompson also won awards for their individually crafted custom guitars.

Hawaii’s James Goodall enjoys as loyal a following as a guitar maker could want. His company won the Gold among those that build between 100 and 500 instruments per year. New Mexico’s Pimentel and Sons, Britain’s Fylde Guitars, California’s CFox, and Maine’s Froggy Bottom also received awards recognizing excellence in medium-scale manufacture.

Companies that build between 500 and 1,000 guitars per year are generally able to pay more attention to detail than large-scale manufacturers. Sharing the Gold in this category are two renowned traditional makers, Collings and Santa Cruz, and the newcomer RainSong, which offers radically different carbon-fiber guitars. The other winners also made their marks building instruments that break with traditional conceptions of lutherie. Breedlove is known for its unique body shapes and use of the JLD bridge system, and Wechter for its radical double-cutaway design

A good capo that keeps the guitar in tune and doesn’t cause it to buzz is, according to players polled, the most important accessory a guitarist can buy. Kyser won a Gold for its quick-clamping capo, and Shubb’s ingenious design was also a winner. Another PCA in the accessories category went to W.L. Gore and Co. for its Elixir strings (see below).

In the capos category, Kyser and Shubb won PCAs, with Kyser taking the Gold. Dunlop’s variety of choices also earned the company a capo PCA.

A good set of strings will make a great guitar sound even better, and players have strong opinions about their preferences. Gore’s specially coated Elixir strings have conquered much of this market using new technology, and Elixir’s Gold in this category shows that pickers everywhere approve. Taking a more traditional approach, D’Addario, GHS, and Martin also won PCAs for steel strings, proving that many guitarists still prefer their trusted standbys.

Although classical players are presented with many choices, they overwhelmingly picked D’Addario Pro-Artés as their favorites. There were too few votes for any other manufacturer to warrant other winners.

Many guitar makers supply SKB cases as original equipment, and the rugged, molded-plastic design is also a popular after-market choice. Most musicians recommend Calton cases when a bulletproof case is needed for air travel. SKB and Calton tied for the Gold in this category. TKL and Ameritage also won PCAs for their more traditional wooden cases.

Although tuning by ear is part of every guitar student’s curriculum, an electronic tuner can make the process easier and more precise. On a noisy stage, some electronic help is often the only way to avoid potential embarrassment. Sabine received the Gold for its tuners, and Boss, Intellitouch, and Seiko also earned PCAs.

Given that guitarists are picky people (pun intended), it is no surprise that the company with the largest selection won the Gold in this category. With dozens of styles, gauges, and materials, Dunlop is clearly an industry leader. Awards also went to Fender and small-scale thumbpick manufacturer Fred Kelly.

With a flood of books, videos, CDs, and computer software on the market, the once skimpy supply of guitar instruction materials has risen to a new level in recent years. Homespun Tapes’ videos have focused on acoustic pickers for years, and the company earned the Gold in this category. The other winners were Mel Bay, Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop, Hal Leonard, and Acoustic Guitar’s burgeoning book line.

When it comes to performing, the sound of your pickup and your amplifier is just as important as the sound of your guitar. According to the players polled, the best gear to bring along to gigs is made by Fender (the Gold winner), Fishman, and Crate, and each of these companies won other awards in more narrowly defined categories.

Thanks to ease of installation, unobtrusiveness, and the potential for superb sound, under-saddle pickups have become the transducers of choice. Two of the pioneers in the field, L.R. Baggs and Fishman, tied for the Gold. Highlander and EMF also captured PCAs for their under-saddle pickups.

Although under-saddle pickups have become the industry standard, many players still prefer a good magnetic pickup mounted in the soundhole. Easy installation and fat, feedback-free sound help explain the enduring popularity of these pickups. As a recent newcomer to the magnetic pickups market, Fishman enjoyed meteoric success with its line of Rare Earth models and won the Gold in this category. The classic Sunrise pickup as well as models by Dean Markley and Seymour Duncan also won PCAs.

Many players and luthiers agree that the best amplified sound is achieved with a combination of signals. Most often, this includes an under-saddle pickup and an internal microphone, although other combinations have been put to use with good results. L.R. Baggs’ clever Dual Source design, as well as the company’s Double Barrel and Duet models, helped it win the Gold in this category. Fishman’s Onboard Blender and Rare Earth Blend models received enough votes to make Fishman Transducers a winner as well.

Acoustic amps were once a rarity, but today there are dozens to choose from. Their combination of performance and value have made Fender and Crate extremely popular, and the two companies tied for Gold awards in the amplifier category. These amps also played a big role in winning awards for Fender and Crate in the general performance gear category. SWR and Carvin also won amplifier PCAs for their acoustic models.

While a small acoustic amp fits the bill for many players, others have discovered that a full-fledged PA can result in better sound—sometimes without costing a whole lot more. Fender and Peavey both won Gold awards for their packages, which offer everything necessary to plug in and play. Carvin and Crate are also popular choices and earned PCAs.

A good preamp can make the difference between sounding average and sounding great. Most preamps offer EQ and DI capabilities in addition to giving the pickup’s signal a boost, making them versatile pieces of gear. L.R. Baggs and Fishman tied again for the Gold, with such popular products as Baggs’ Para Acoustic D.I. and Fishman’s Pro-EQ getting the most votes. Boss received votes from players who like effects in their preamps, and Pendulum and Rane won the approval of those who like their preamps rack-mounted.

As the equipment becomes more affordable, more and more guitar players are experimenting with home recording. According to the experiences of the home recordists who voted, the best tools are coming from Tascam (the Gold winner), Roland, and Alesis.

For many musicians, these all-in-one production powerhouses represent the ideal home-recording solution. Although the latest generation of hard disk–based units has completely changed the way musicians think about digital recording, the older cassette tape–based four-tracks still have a loyal following. It is therefore no surprise that the strongest proponents of each tied for the Gold. Tascam’s line of Portastudios and Roland’s VS line have helped countless players capture their music. Fostex and Korg also received PCAs for their stand-alone multitrack recorders.

Although several hard-disk systems would fit into this category, none of them got significant numbers of votes. Instead, Alesis won the Gold for its groundbreaking ADAT system. Since ADATs have become an industry standard (a rare occurrence in the recording world), there couldn’t be a more fitting recipient. Tascam’s Hi-8–based recorders also won a PCA.

Those who venture into recording on the Mac or PC have amazing options, but they may also find a relatively young industry with few standards. As with all things digital, no component stays the same for long, which makes it difficult to choose the right software and hardware. Cakewalk’s popular digital audio software proved to be the right decision for many users, and it won the Gold. Long the choice of professionals, Digidesign’s Pro Tools software/hardware package received enough votes to win a PCA. Event’s Gina and Darla audio cards have been popular choices for those who like to assemble their own combination of software and hardware, and they helped earn Event a PCA in this category.

The dynamic microphones market segment is ruled by SM57 and SM58 mics by Gold PCA winner Shure Brothers. These mics can be found at virtually every performance venue around the world, and their performance and reliability have taken on legendary proportions. No other manufacturer received enough votes to become a PCA winner.

A good condenser microphone’s superior sound is undisputed in studio applications. With more and cheaper options becoming available in recent years, many guitarists are also using these mics for live performance. Neumann has been a pioneer in this field, and its line of large- and small-diaphragm condenser mics received the Gold, with the popular KM 184 getting the most mentions. PCAs also went to AKG, Audio-Technica, and Shure Brothers.

A good effects processor is practically a necessity for home recording, and many players also include them in their performance rigs. While some players like the sophistication of rack-mounted multi-effects, others prefer the simplicity of stomp box–style effects pedals. Boss and Digitech/DOD have long been the leading effects for guitarists of all styles, and as a result, the two companies tied for the Gold. ART, Line 6, and Lexicon also received PCAs for their contributions to enhanced sound.

A few years ago, a mixing board would have been an unlikely accessory for an acoustic guitarist. But between today’s more affordable home recording setups and ever-more-sophisticated amplification schemes, many pickers include compact mixers in their live and studio setups. Mackie’s reliability, value, and professional features are undisputed, and the company’s VLZ line won the Gold. PCAs also went to Soundcraft and Behringer.