Help Finding The Right Guitar

mikethebook,

Welcome to the cabin.

The only other guitar that springs to mind is the Seagull Coastline Folk guitar, I bought one of these recently and think they are great guitars. They are out of production now, but the last time I looked, Guitar Guitar had them in stock.
The only other recommendation I can give is to go to some large guitar shops, and just try as many guitars as you can, you will know when you have found the right guitar for you.

Derick, if you have the guitar handy do you mind checking that string spacing at the saddle? Most come in at about 55mm and it's the one measurement I can't find on-line. Thanks.

Thanks. I already checked them out and they have one in Glasgow. I've written to ask about the string spacing but an Acoustic Guitar YouTube review suggested that it was 2 1/16" which is very narrow if the reviewer has it right, much narrower than the guitar I have now, on which I find the strings too close together.

mikethebook,

Below is a YouTube video review of the Recording king, it may be of interest if you haven't seen it before.

Thanks Derick. I have seen the video and, so far, it's the best option I've found or the cheaper Series 11 but they haven't get come into the UK yet. RK guitars are thin on the ground in this country anyway. Yes, what you say is perfectly reasonable but when you live where I do and have health problems that make travel more than difficult then you just have to take a chance. For the last month I've owned an Eastman PCH1-OM with a string spacing of 53.4mm even narrower than the 52.4mm of the Seagull and I find the strings too close together for my liking . . . not helped by large hands and a 43mm nut width when it was advertised as 1 3/4" or 44.45". I'm adapting to the guitar but it feels claustrophobic. Before the Eastman I stopped playing for eight years and, at 64, relearning again is a little slow. My regret is that I sold a hand-made Atkin OOO which is way out of my league now price-wise but which had a nice 45mm nut and 57mm (2 1/4") string spacing that felt great. That's what I'm aiming for.
Hi Tony, thanks for your input. I'm aware of the Alvarez range and their 1 3/4" nuts but string spacing as I recall is still narrower than i would like for fingerstyle playing.

mikethebook,

Sorry to hear that you have health problems, but very pleased that you have come back to guitar playing.
The following comments are purely my recommendations.
The Eastman Guitar that you have is far superior to the Recording King guitar you are thinking of purchasing.
With reference to the string spacing, the 2 1/16" is quite normal, I also have a classical guitar and just taken the measurement of the string spacing and it's only 2 3/16".
My recommendation would be keep what you have and keep practicing it will only get easier, or get a cheap classical guitar, for practice until you feel more comfortable.
Anyway whatever you decide, enjoy your guitar playing, and keep us all informed of your progress, any other questions just post them here in the Cabin and we will always try to help.

Thanks for your replies. The idea of a classical idea is a good one but I want to keep my limited funds for another 6-string when I've decided what to get . . . but I'm in no hurry. I've been playing again only for about three weeks so its early days and with practice I'll get there slowly, as you suggest Derick. I have other issues to deal with too, like whether to play with fingernails (which are strangely shaped and keep catching the strings) or to cut them off and play with flesh only. I think I need to persevere with nails for a while.
As for the Recording King, I don't know why you would think the Eastman a better guitar. It is their budget model at £265. The RK is about £200 more and sports a torrified Adirondack top. Both have laminated backs and sides. So far, unless I come into money and can afford the Atkin again (http://atkinguitars.com/guitar/ooo-37/) with 57mm spacing for fingerpickers, that's my only choice so far.