6/30/2011

Taylor Guitars 814ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic Electric Guitar Review

Taylor Guitars 814ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic Electric Guitar
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Had the guitar expressed delivered to a mate in Vegas before having it hand carried back to Asia. Love every aspect of this beautiful guitar from its shape, size, design and sound. One of my best Taylors and will be having it around for a very long time. Thanks Taylor and Amazon-

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Taylor's offering in Indian rosewood, the 800 Series traces its roots to the earliest Taylors. Bob Taylor's latest design changes speak of traditional lutherie in the form of hand-set, figured maple binding--it's a gorgeous upgrade that complements the beautiful hues of rosewood and sparkling inlay work. The exquisite 814ce brings together the unmistakable tone of rosewood, true Taylor styling, and the versatility of a Grand Auditorium body. A Venetian cutaway and Expression System pickup complete the perfect picking package.

Taylor's Grand Auditorium ShapeThe Grand Auditorium was the first guitar shape designed from scratch by Bob Taylor. It was unveiled to commemorate the company's 20th Anniversary in 1994, and since then it has more than lived up to its promise. Although the GA has the width and depth of a Dreadnought, its narrower waist gives it the appearance of a smaller instrument, adds treble "zing" across the guitars tonal spectrum, sharpens the definition of individual notes, and also enables it to rest comfortably in the lap. Because Taylor removed mass from the width of the GAs braces, the guitar top moves faster, resulting in a snappy, bell-like tone. The GA is designed to be a strong fingerpicking guitar that also can handle medium strumming, and is exceptionally versatile.
Features maple binding that complements the beautiful hues of rosewood and sparkling inlay work.

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Fender T-BUCKET-400CE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar, All Exotic Flame Maple Top, Natural Review

Fender T-BUCKET-400CE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar, All Exotic Flame Maple Top, Natural
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I've been playing guitar for 14 years, I've owned and played alot of different guitars. I was in the market for a new acoustic and I was checking out the mid level martins and breedloves, and then I saw the Fender t-bucket 400. I fell in love. I couldnt justify spending $500 more on one of those guitars because this plays just as nice if not better. The tone is wonderful, bright and crisp, but balanced and smooth. The natural flamed maple is gorgeous. The action is perfect right out of the box and it honestly plays like a dream.
Don't be fooled by the price. Most people would think a guitar costing $350 is an entry level guitar. This is not. This guitar is great for any level musician. The other guitarist in my band has a $2000 larrivee and honestly I like this better. Fender hit a home run with this guitar.


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On your mark, get ready, get set ... and go! With an authentic pinstriping motif designed by hot rod artist extraordinaire Vince Ray, you can feel the wind blowing in your hair as you put the pedal to metal strumming one of our new T-Buckets acoustics that are greased up, dirty and hot rodded!This T-Bucket 300 CE is a single-cutaway dreadnought beauty with a laminated flame maple top, back and sides. Other features include scalloped bracing, die-cast machine heads, all-solid rosewood bridge with compensated saddle and Fishman preamp with built-in tuner. Pick up, plug in and rock the house!

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Epiphone Dot Archtop Electric Guitar, Ebony Review

Epiphone Dot Archtop Electric Guitar, Ebony
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I got this guitar when I was practically in love with George Harrison's Gibson Casino in the early years. I got it for graduating 5th grade and it works really good! The pickups are good and the shape is comfortable on my lap. I play a lot of chords on it and recommend it for any guitarist.

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A nicely affordable version of the venerable Gibson 335 Dot, the 6-string Epiphone Dot Archtop electric guitar still features that fabulous semi-hollowbody sound voiced by real Alnico Classic Humbucker pickups. The trademark Dot design, named for the pearl dot fingerboard markers on early models, was invented by Gibson in 1958 to meld traditional features of hollowbody electrics with the performance of a solidbody.

It's equipped with 2 volume and 2 tone controls that let you tailor your tones to fit your style, and a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece for more sustain and easier string changes. Backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

Specifications
Pickups: 2 Humbuckers
Scale: 24.75 inches
Nut width: 1.68 inches
Neck: Set, mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood with dot inlay
Body and top: Laminated maple
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone
Pickup switching: 3-way selector
Machine heads: Grover tuners
Hardware: Chrome
Bridge/tailpiece: Stopbar


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Washburn HM Series WV40MRK Electric Guitar Review

Washburn HM Series WV40MRK Electric Guitar
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As a guitar player who grew up with 80's 'hair bands' and Heavy Metal, I was immediately intrigued by the design of these new Washburn V's when I first saw them advertised. The body ends up being somewhat of a cross between a classic (ie Gibson) V and the slimmed down Jackson Rhoads. For comparison, my Dean V fits nicely inside the Washburn gig bag, huge headstock and all.
The Washburn is thick like a Les Paul, yet light enough so that it's not a back-breaker. The neck is on the thin side and the fretboard has a flat radius allowing for even play along the entire surface. Mine came with the phenolic resin board that is smooth, hard, and fast.
The first thing I noticed when I received this guitar was that the finish is MUCH nicer than any of the pics that I've found online. It has a nice deep metallic look to it that's hard to capture.
The second thing that I noticed was that there was a HORRIBLE bow to the neck; as if the truss rod was completely loosened prior to shipping. I had to give the truss rod about 2 full turns in order to get it straightened out! I also found a high fret in the upper register that I had to file down to fix. These are NOT things I expect to have to do on a guitar that was supposedly 'set up' at the factory. For the price paid (Gold Box deal), I was willing to put up with a few inconveniences, though. To their credit, I found that the intonation was nearly perfect once I got the neck straightened out.
Opening up the control cavity revealed very tidy construction & quality components (full-sized alpha pots, etc). I also discovered that a coil split switch could be easily added to the Randall pickups, so I installed a push-pull tone knob with an orange-drop cap.
Regarding the sound of the guitar, it's loud and aggressive and sounds great on it's own. However, I found that the natural 'scooped' EQ of the pickups leads to it getting a little lost in a live mix (nothing a little re-EQing can't take care of, though).
All in all, the Washburn WV40 is a great guitar; easily as nice or better than ANYTHING that I've played in it's 'regular' price range.


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Solid Mahogany body Mahogany/set neck Phenolic fingerboard Grover Exclusive 18:1 tuners 25.5" scale Randall UL neck & Ultra XL bridge pickups Stop tailpiece Buzz Feiten Tuning System'

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ZT Lunchbox Acoustic 200-watt 1x6.5 Acoustic guitar Amplifier Review

ZT Lunchbox Acoustic 200-watt 1x6.5 Acoustic guitar Amplifier
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Well.... You have probably heard a lot about ZT amps already right? This one(Lunchbox Acoustic)lives up to the ZT name and delivers! I tried it out with my brother, he was on guitar, I was singing. It was crankin'. We didn't have a drummer around at the time, but I think the volume would of been plenty loud enough to compete with your average drummer. No problem. The controls are straight forward and very usable. A lot of options on this little thing! Phantom power! Sweet! Reverb on both channels....etc...etc... I have talked to people who have said with a bigger speaker this amp really cranks! I have yet to try it, but with it's built-in 6.5" speaker I have no complaints! The portability factor alone is awesome! One thing I did notice, if you want a super clean sound, crank the gain up really loud and then use the volume for the overall "volume" of sound. This is an awesome amp!

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The Lunchbox Acoustic is ZT's first two-channel amp, a compact masterpiece with perfect features, flexibility and tone for the performing acoustic musician. A top quality, dedicated microphone channel and separate instrument channel each sport the individual controls you need and the rich tonal palette you want. Complemented by 200W of clean amplifier power, anti-feedback circuitry, a pro-grade reverb and highly flexible signal I/O, the Lunchbox Acoustic is your affordable, one-box performance solution for the home, the club, the café or the recording studio.The original ZT Lunchbox took the music world by storm, and proved that our unique amp technology can pack an amazing amount of sound into a tiny, reliable, and attractive package. Now, with the Lunchbox Acoustic, this level of performance is available for working singer-songwriters, vocalists and demanding acoustic players of all styles. The Lunchbox Acoustic is easy to carry and easy to use, but provides plenty of clear, natural, room-filling sound when you need it. Designed with logical simplicity but able to adapt to each unique environment, instrument and individual voice, the Lunchbox Acoustic offers the features you need to get the very best out of real world performing situations.The Lunchbox Acoustic holds a down-to-earth visual appeal, yet remains unmistakably ZT. That little red circle on the front lets you know you're looking at a uniquely powerful compact amp. Like the original Lunchbox, unmatched in its combination of performance, portability, it is sure to become the best friend of working musicians everywhere.

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6/29/2011

Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar, Wine Red, Chrome Hardware Review

Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar, Wine Red, Chrome Hardware
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The Studio is a great guitar for anyone looking for an 'affordable' gibson. The sound is absolutely great and it plays like a dream. Naturally you'll want to test it out before buying it, but I don't think you'll be disappointed.

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Gibson's Les Paul Studio offers traditional Les Paul performance with a modern, no-frills attitude. Introduced as a guitar mainly for studio musicians, the Les Paul Studio has become one of the most desired--and popular--Les Pauls for its tremendous harmonic and sonic qualities. All of the essential elements of a Les Paul Standard are there, including a carved maple top, solid mahogany back and genuine Gibson humbucker pickups. What the Les Paul Studio lacks in extras, it makes up for in performance. Ask any one of the thousands of musicians who call it their No. 1 axe.

Traditional Les Paul Performance Meets Modern Tone and Playability
Available Finishes Take your pick between four gorgeous finishes--Ebony, Wine Red, Classic White and Fireburst--all of which are applied by hand in a process that demands several coats and many hours. Unlike a lot of our competitors, who settle for a polyurethane finish, Gibson opts for a nitrocellulose finish that will encourage the natural vibration of the instrument for a purer tone. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous and actually gets thinner over time. That way your guitar's wood can breathe and age beautifully, like it's supposed to.
Fast & Comfortable Rounded Neck Profile Gibson's traditional rounded neck profile, which graces the neck of each Les Paul Studio, is a thicker, rounder profile, emulating the neck shapes of the iconic Les Paul Standards of the late 1950s. Each neck is machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest--including the final sanding--is done by hand. That means each neck ends up with ever-so-subtle differences that make each one as exceptional--and unique--as the next.
Gibson's 490R and 498T Pickups The mid to late 1960s saw the emergence of a very different type of music coming from the clubs of England. This new genre's players were demanding more powerful amplifiers with increased volume outputs to satisfy their sonic explorations. This led to a call for a more versatile pickup, and Gibson answered the call with the 490T and 490R pickups ("T" for treble, and "R" for rhythm), humbuckers with the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, but with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The Gibson 498T bridge pickup is the 490's ideal complement. Taking the 490 one step further, the 498 swaps the Alnico II magnet to an Alnico V, thus making it slightly hotter with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs. The pole pieces on the 498T are also aligned a little further apart to accommodate the spacing of the strings at the bridge, which is different than the spacing of the strings at the neck.
Mahogany Back and Maple Top There isn't anything more critical than the marriage of the Les Paul's mahogany back with a maple cap, as well as the regimen involved in selecting the right wood and the formula to dry it out. First, the wood is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the Gibson factories. These onsite inspectors also ensure that the plain maple comes from corporations adhering to the forest-saving standards of the Rainforest Alliance, of which Gibson is a proud member and sponsor. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This ensures all woods are dried to a level of "equilibrium," where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and controls the shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to reducing the weight. It also improves the woods' machinability and finishing properties, and adherence to glue. Consistent moisture content means that a Gibson guitar will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.
Chambered Body There's something about playing a guitar with perfect tone, balance, and weight. One of the ways the expert craftsmen at Gibson USA achieve this equilibrium is by carving carefully mapped-out chambers in the Les Paul's solid mahogany back using a Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) router before the maple top is glued on. The positioning of the routes was established after careful examination of the resonant characteristics of the Les Paul. Gibson approached this process with the awareness that every change to the formula would have repercussions on the instrument's sound. So, in addition to relieving the stress on a player's back and shoulder, these lighter Gibson guitars also enhance the tone palette in a manner unique only to these guitars. The results are comfortable, lightweight guitars that are acoustically louder, with increased sustain and resonance.
Ebony or Rosewood Fingerboard The fingerboards on Gibson's Les Paul Studios are constructed from the highest grade rosewood and ebony on the planet. Both are personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before they enter the factories to be fitted onto the neck of the Les Paul Studio. The resilience of these dense and durable woods makes these fingerboards extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates "dead" or "choked out" notes. The ebony fingerboard is only available on the Classic White Les Paul Studio, and the rosewood fingerboard is available on the Ebony, Wine Red, and Fireburst models.
Enjoy Enhanced Tone With Gibson's Lightweight, Chambered Body The expert craftsmen at Gibson USA carve carefully mapped-out chambers in the Les Paul Studio's solid mahogany back using a Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) router before the maple top is glued on. The positioning of the routes was established after careful examination of the resonant characteristics of the Les Paul. Gibson approached this process with the awareness that every change to the formula would have repercussions on the instrument's sound. So, in addition to relieving the stress on a player's back and shoulder, these lighter Gibson guitars also enhance the tone palette in a manner unique only to these guitars. The results are comfortable, lightweight guitars that are acoustically louder, with increased sustain and resonance.
Tune-O-Matic Bridge The Tune-o-matic bridge was the brainchild of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954. At the time, it was a true revelation in intonation, and set a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. This pioneering piece of hardware provides a firm seating for the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. It is combined with a separate "stopbar" tailpiece, essentially a modified version of the earlier wraparound bridge. To this day, the Tune-o-matic remains the industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in electric guitar bridge design, and is one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed.

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Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar, Candy Apple Red Maple Fingerboard Review

Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar, Candy Apple Red Maple Fingerboard
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I did what would make most musicians cringe... I bought a new guitar online, sight unseen, no testing, no trying. The only reason I did was because of Fender's reputation, not only for the main Fender brand, but also their careful attention to the Stratocaster brand. I was not disappointed! The guitar is beautiful! The red and white body looks stunning with the maple neck. The paint job and finish are flawless and arrived well protected with peel-off plastic pieces and a micro-foam covering. Everyone who picks it up loves it, not only for the look but also the feel and the sound. The action is good (not too high, not too low) and when paired with my Fender Mustang amp, this guitar sounds like a gem. The HSS configuration is perfect... I can't think of a reason why someone would go with fewer pickups. You can always turn off some of the pickups for different sounds, but if you don't have them in the first place then you don't have the option to get the full range of sound that they provide. Definitely get the HSS, you won't regret it! This has been a wonderful addition to the home for family and friends and is everything that the Stratocaster name is supposed to represent... beauty, quality, tradition, and terrific sound.

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The sounds that create legends! The Standard Stratocaster® HSS offers legendary Fender® tone combined with classic styling that includes a one humbucking/two single-coil pickup configuration, a synchronized tremolo with high-mass bridge block, shielded body cavities, and medium jumbo frets. New features include a tinted neck, parchment pickguard and control knobs, and a 70s style logo. The Standard Strat® HSS. Plug one in and listen for yourself! Standard gig bag included.ElectronicsBridge Pickup :Standard Humbucking PickupControls :Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge/Middle Pickup)Middle Pickup :Standard Single-Coil Strat® Middle PickupNeck Pickup :Standard Single-Coil Strat® Neck PickupPickup Configuration :H/S/SHardwareBridge :Vintage Style Synchronized TremoloHardware :ChromeStraplocks :Vintage Style Strap ButtonsString Nut :Synthetic Bone NutControl Knobs :Parchment PlasticTremolo Arm/Handle :Vintage Style Tremolo ArmTuning Machines :Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning MachinesNeckFretboard Radius :9.5" Radius (241 mm)Fretboard :MapleFret Size :Medium JumboNeck Material :Maple NeckNeck Plate :Standard 4 BoltNeck Shape :Modern "C" ShapeNumber of Frets :21Nut Width :1.650 (42 mm)Position Inlays :Black or White Dot Position InlaysScale Length :25.5" (648mm)Truss Rod Nut :3/16" Adjustable Hex Nut

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Applause by Ovation AE148-4 Acoustic Electric Guitar Review

Applause by Ovation AE148-4 Acoustic Electric Guitar
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This is the perfect guitar for someone who wants a guitar with the sound of an acoustic but which frets with the ease of an electric. I immediately restrung mine (with Martin's FX Phosphor & Silk), because the strings it came with over-tensioned the neck when I brought the guitar up to standard tuning. But once that was done, it had the most beautiful acoustic voice (practically bell-like) and it fretted like it thought it was a 1960s Gibson. The AE148's neck is very narrow which is something I greatly appreciated for my XS-sized hands. It's a super shallow body which doesn't project with as loud an acoustic volume as the deeper-bodied Ovations, but the super shallow body is also comfortable for a petite individual to hold (something deeper bodied guitars aren't). I consider the AE148 to be a near-perfect guitar, but if you are someone very large with extremely large hands, you might want try one out to make sure it's comfortable for your hands.

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Incorporates the revolutionary lyramold round-shaped back - the acoustic guitar design introduced by ovation. the dovetail heel/neck joint allows the neck angle to be accurately and permanently set at the factory. the thruneck design offers a more playable, stable neck and supports the fingerboard into the guitar body. the neck is truss adjustable and made of mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. birch marquetry rosette trim. walnut bridge is shimmed for easy string action adjustment.

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Yamaha CG192C Cedar Top Classical Guitar Review

Yamaha CG192C Cedar Top Classical Guitar
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Yamaha builds a guitar that is efficient and easy to play. The construction is simple and clean. Now, that's sufficient for their entry level guitars (I picked up a Yamaha F335 Acoustic Guitar, Natural for less than one Ben Franklin - see my review), however, at 5x that amount, that just doesn't cut it anymore. This guitar has zero character. It hits all the notes without any issues, but the sound it produces can only be described as plain vanilla. For the beginning student that may be OK, but why spend the extra $ for this model when it sounds and plays pretty much the same as its lesser brethren? The better grade of materials used in this do not seem to translate into better sound quality - and isn't that why one would drop the extra $ in the first place?
If you want a classical guitar that hands-down produces a rich, wonderful tone that has character, I'm, afraid you'll have to drop some serious $ on a José Ramírez. At this price point, I'd shop around to try to find something that approaches the Ramírez sound - a tall order, for sure.
P.S. Don't bother with Takamine, either. I played one that was 2x the price of this Yamaha and, while it did have a better feel and produce a slightly better tone, the Japanese guitars just don't capture that wonderful Spanish guitar sound.

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Full Size Nylon String Guitar

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Epiphone SST Studio Solid-Body Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Ebony Review

Epiphone SST Studio Solid-Body Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Ebony
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While there is no way this is going to give you the sound of a good quality dreadnought acoustic that doesn't mean it doesn't sound great. I am blown away by how natural the sound of this guitar is.
This is a much improved version of the old Chet Atkins model. I have both Epiphone models and the SST Studio is head and shoulders above the older model. The new pickups and new preamp make it easy to dial in and get a real acoustic guitar sound.
Now you may ask why purchase this guitar over a regular acoustic like the PR5E which also sound great plugged in. Here are my reasons.
1. No feedback issues. The guitar has no sound hole so you eliminate that issue altogether.
2. small and light. It is much easier to play for an entire gig than my Takamine dreadnought.
3. It sounds better with a band in my opinion. While I would probably not play this for a solo guitar gig I think the brightness of the guitar cuts through much like the sound you hear in Nashville country music. It adds a great acoustic sound to the band.
4. $350 it worth having just for the novelty. We all need another guitar, right?

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The Epiphone SST Studio is the iconic steelstring chambered acoustic/electric guitar.It gives you rich, warm acoustic sound that doesn't feed back.The SST Studio has been updated with a new electronics package featuringvolume, high and low EQ controls as well as a switch that will enable the preamp to drive headphones when plugged into the guitar's output jack. Perfect for practice and private playing!

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6/28/2011

Godin 5th Avenue Archtop Jazz-Style Acoustic Guitar (Kingpin P90, Black) Review

Godin 5th Avenue Archtop Jazz-Style Acoustic Guitar (Kingpin P90, Black)
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I had some trepidation in buying a guitar from any online seller. There are variations in manufacture of musical instruments. After all, it is not like buying an appliance or piece of electronic gear where there is a guaranteed sameness from one unit to another. With a guitar there will be variation from unit to unit in finish and workmanship. It is important to not only select the manufacture and model of guitar, but be comfortable with the individual unit. The guitar sent to me was perfect. Absolutely no imperfections of any sort. I have had professional, music store setup on my other guitars, but this one I will play as is.
I had previously tried the Godin 5th Avenue out in a music store. I had read many positive reviews. It also helps that I am a big John McLaughlin fan who now plays Godin guitars exclusively.To The One I knew it was a guitar I wanted to add to my collection. I was put off a little by the price. The price was a bit out of my range. I am a non-gigging amateur, intermediate player. I dabble mostly in jazz.
I had been checking on the price of this and a few other models on Amazon. There are serious price swings on some guitars listed on Amazon. When I saw the price drop on this one, I was compelled to act.
As for the instrument itself; first the appearance is top-notch. It is a beautiful looking instrument. Many details of the guitar and the finish just quietly shout "serious instrument". That it is made in North America (Canada), I find an added plus. I have a Chinese made Epiphone that has required replacing the electronics.
It plays as good as anything I have ever played on. I don't think it projects well enough acoustically to play to a room unplugged. It is excellent for acoustic practice or unplugged canoodling. I have a Fender DEC-Junior that I practice with. I play this on the "Tweed" Amp simulation. The tones are clear. Perfect for accompaniment.
I am still playing with the original strings. I will replace with the same type and brand (Godin) . I will not modify this instrument for now. I do like to play Frankenstein with modifying my guitars.
Other things to note - quality components throughout, like a Tusq nut.
I also bought the Godin TRIC case for the instrument and would recommend the case as well.Godin Tric Case Archtop Deluxe for 5th Avenue (Black) I live in a Northern climate where there is low humidity in the winter, so I will be outfitting this guitar with a humidifier.
To sum up. This is one beautiful, quality serious musical instrument. I have been making purchases from Amazon both big and small since their inception without complaint. I will continue to do so. As for Godin, I would definitely buy another one of their guitars. I am currently considering the Freeway SA Synth Access and a La Patrie Dreadnought.



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Archtop Jazz-Style Elctro-AcousticGuitar

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Michael Kelly Patriot Premium MKPPTE Electric Guitar Review

Michael Kelly Patriot Premium MKPPTE Electric Guitar
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I have had this guitar for only 2 days and to say the least I am overwhelmed in an every way regarding it. I have been a guitarist for 35+ years (I am 45) and have owned many guitars including a Fender Lead III and Gibson Les Paul. I also own and have owned several acoustics which is my general guitar of choice. I am very aware of what a good guitar should sound like and one that doesn't it. First I was very surprised at the stunning beauty of the guitar. The picture in Amazon is good but doesn't clearly show the beauty of the workmanship of this instrument. The color is gorgeous (I have the blood red) and it has a wonderful gloss applied to it as well. The abalone inlay is perfect without any uneven or uplifted areas any where on it. No blemishes or discoloration anywhere to be found. (Trust me I looked hard and am an easy critic). The ebony fret board really makes the abalone stand out. First thing I checked was the neck to see if it appears to be warped where I would need to adjust the truss rod but the neck was perfect. The action was set low, (my preference anyway since us females don't have the hand strength) and with only a minor remote buzz I could occasionally feel (not hear through the speaker though) is my only issue with it. Again that is a minor issue. A bridge adjustment would solve this problem. No buzz or short in either the switch, tone control or volume knobs. One knob is a little looser than the others but not too loose. Could be the others are slightly too tight. Again a minor issue. Now for the sound quality. The pickups are EMG 81, 85s and run $210 new. (I checked out all this before my purchase). Not being a metal fan I still had to revert briefly to my high school days and turn up the saturation to hear some old classic rock sounds and do some rifts. The sound was great. The 81 gave it a nice lead sound the 85 great rhythm and the combination was great as well. The real test for me though is how does it sound clean without any distortion or artificial gimmicks. I was very impressed. I could get a good natural honky tonk, blues or crisp lead sounds just as is. I have a classical style of play and the sounds held up superb doing normal acoustic songs on this guitar. The natural sustain held long and was very good and clear. Keep in mind the only amp I have is a very small Peavey Rage 108 that is over 20 years old and if it sounds awesome through that amp we are talking some very good sound quality. It doesn't sound like a Les Paul but I don't think that was the intent with this guitar. It has its own unique and very versatile sound. Although with some tweeking with picks up and tone controls the sound came very close. (One could always get a Seymour/Duncan Pearly Gate pick up for this, I prefer the ones it came with). If this were a Les Paul name it would easily go for $1500 to $2000. It has a mahogany body, maple top, maple set neck, ebony fret board and with all else in terms of appearance and the stunning sound I am profoundly pleased with it. How it will hold up I believe depends always on the care of the instrument but so far I find it hard to put it down and return to my acoustics. Another thing I am amazed at is the cost. All I can say is I take my hat off to Michael Kelly for creating such a wonderful instrument at a reasonable price. It is made in South Korea, where also my Takamine 12 string is from and they make very good and high quality instruments there. I definitely recommend this to guitar to anyone, hobbyist, or professional. If you doubt me try one out at a music store see if the Patriot Premium isn't all I am bragging about.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Michael Kelly Patriot Premium MKPPTE Electric Guitar

For the player who loves the tone of the classic EMG 81/85 combination and/or the player who wants a 'throw down and look bad ass while doing it" axe, Michael Kelly presents the Patriot Premium. Armed with all the superior features to make this a tonal beast, the Premium is also adorned with a whole host of envy worthy appearance upgrades. In the tone department, you'll find the classic EMG 81/85 pickup configuration, a TonePros bridge, ebony fingerboard, set-neck construction and a mahogany body with a solid ½" maple cap that gives the Premium a tailored metal growl. To ensure you'll look as amazing as you'll sound, we've added quilt maple or flame maple to the top in three of the four striking finishes. Real pearl fingerboard markers and full abalone binding on the body, neck and matching headstock create a subtle yet unmistakable reminder that this is one high-end axe.

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Luna Fantasie Spirit of the Night Acoustic Guitar Review

Luna Fantasie Spirit of the Night Acoustic Guitar
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I became a bit "guitar obsessed" awhile back when my daughters and I were taking guitar classes together. I ended up with an electric (Dean hardtail), another aucostic, my daughter's Ibanez, plus this Luna. And even though I don't pick it up as often as I'd like, I still love my Luna! Awesome sound, this guitar is pleasing to both the ear and the eye. Gorgeous artwork! I don't let anyone else play my Luna; it's found a special place in my heart and this is the guitar I pick up over and over. I've never regretted purchasing this guitar.

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Luna Guitars Fantasie Acoustic Guitar Spirit Of The Night Artwork.

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Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Fretless, 3 Tone Sunburst Review

Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Fretless, 3 Tone Sunburst
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See Video. You cannot find a bass under $300 that will play like this - this is Jaco tone right out of the box! I tweaked the truss rod a bit (lowered the action) and voila! The Duncan Pups sound really good too! I have been playing for 30 years - I have played and owned the best of the best basses including Fender Custom Shop and Fodera - you will not be disappointed in this instrument - Fender really outdid themselves on this inexpensive little Axe. Almost all the Harmony Central reviews are all 9 or 10's! BTW - I am playing thru a Markbass 1X12 combo - recorded with the external Mic on my iPhone - just laying near the amp.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Fretless, 3 Tone Sunburst

Disciples of groove will severely dig Squier's elegantly slinky new Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Fretless, which fuses the warm, expressive voice of an upright with the defined attack of an electric. The no-pickguard, Three-color Sunburst finish is a classic, and the lightweight agathis body is home to a pair of single-coil Duncan Designed' Jazz Bass pickups. The special one-piece maple neck has a fretless Ebonol fingerboard with white celluloid lines that let you know where you're at! Other features include a four-saddle chrome bridge, and chrome hardware and machine heads.

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Takamine EG523SC12 Jumbo 12 String Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar (Natural) Review

Takamine EG523SC12 Jumbo 12 String Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar (Natural)
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Beautiful looking and sounding guitar
Nothing comes close for the money
Comes with the built-in tuner
which is a must have for any 12 string
Originally made in Japan - mine was made in Korea
As it is a large body guitar it wont fit a standard case
Great sound unplugged, and incredible sound plugged in
Cant say enough how much I enjoy the guitar
Go for it !

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The Takamine EG523SC12 Jumbo 12 String Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar provides players with an unmatched excellence and affordability. Crafted from handpicked tonewoods and built by expert luthiers, their extremely popular G-Series line continues to get bigger. The EG523SC12s are brilliant 12 String Jumbo Acoustic Electric Guitars. With a Rosewood fingerboard inlayed with Mother of pearl and Abalone, these Jumbos are built to impress. Featuring the built-in TK40 preamp the EG523 Jumbo boasts an excellent performance and value that Takamine owners have embraced for years. The G Series from Takamine has created great controversy. Play a G Series guitar and you're apt to think it's one of the finest acoustic/ electrics made. That's because it is. Actually, each one is made under the commanding rule of the luthiers who hand craft the guitars of the pros. Which is precisely why the G Series feel so good, and sound so good. About Takamine Nestled at the base of Takamine Mountain in Sakashita, Japan, Takamine Guitars have over 40 years of history dedicated to innovation and improvement to the art and craft of guitar making. What first began as a small family business has evolved into one of the leading guitar manufacturers In the world, depended upon by some of the best players and biggest names in the music industry. So what's the deal? Why are there so many Takamine players? We'd like to think that it's because we've earned your respect. Takamine has made technological advancements that have surpassed other guitar makers. Takamine prides itself in their dedication and loyalty to fine luthiership and it is shown through each Instrument the company makes.

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6/27/2011

Sterling by Music Man JP50-PRB Electric Guitar (Pearl Red Burst) Review

Sterling by Music Man JP50-PRB Electric Guitar (Pearl Red Burst)
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i just bought one last week, olp was the former name. now its sterling by ernie ball-music man company. i have to say for the price, if you buy this guitar, you really did great, its well made and sounds awesome,fast neck, great pickups i think they are dimarzio designed. i got the red model and it looks way better in person, its like a real nice candy apple with sort of a black shadowy edge, its reall much nicer than the picture. im very happy i bought this petrucci model, from metal to blues or whatever, this is one outstanding,remarkable guitar.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sterling by Music Man JP50-PRB Electric Guitar (Pearl Red Burst)

John Petrucci signature model.Custom contoured forearm cut makes for a comfortable shredders dream. Dual high output pickups, Music Man designed modern trem bridge, thin Petrucci maple/rosewood neck shape make for a rock / metal machine that feels right.

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Taylor 200-Series 214ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review

Taylor 200-Series 214ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar
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This is a great guitar. It sounds great, has low action. The quality is great. I dont know how the ES-T electronics sound compared to the ES so I cant comment on that. The 100-200 series are made across the border and have 1/16" narrower neck width at the nut than the solid wood Taylors but its still a winner in every way. If you're wanting a solid wood back and sided guitar thats made in the US around this same price, take a look at the GA3. Its only about $150 more but doesnt come with electronics.

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The 214ce will change your expectations about what a serious entry-level instrument can embody. Versatility plays front and center on this rosewood laminate, between the Grand Auditorium body, cutaway and plug-in-and-play readiness of Taylor's ES-T pickup.



The Taylor 200 Series The 200 Series redefines what a mid-priced guitar can be. A satin, solid Sitka spruce top meets gorgeous Indian rosewood laminate back and sides, delivering the quality sound and feel you'd expect from a Taylor. Plug in with the optional Taylor electronics and take your performance to the stage with confidence.
Sitka Spruce Top Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) grows in a coastal "pocket" from Northern California to Alaska. This dense, straight-grained wood has the highest strength and elasticity-to-weight ratio among available tonewoods, an attribute that makes it an ideal material not only for our soundboards, but for our internal bracing, as well. Sitka produces a slightly brighter tone than does Engelmann.
Indian Rosewood Back/Sides Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) is coveted by players and guitar builders alike for its dark, luxurious coloration, which ranges from brown to purple to rose to black, and for tonal characteristics that include a strong bass response and long sustain. It remains the most popular tonewood used in the making of high-quality acoustic guitars.
Grand Auditorium Body Shape The Grand Auditorium was the first guitar shape designed from scratch by Bob Taylor. It was unveiled to commemorate the company's 20th Anniversary in 1994, and since then it has more than lived up to its promise. Although the GA has the width and depth of a Dreadnought, its narrower waist gives it the appearance of a smaller instrument, adds treble "zing" across the guitar's tonal spectrum, sharpens the definition of individual notes, and also enables it to rest comfortably in the lap. Because we remove mass from the width of the GA's braces, the guitar top moves faster, resulting in a snappy, bell-like tone. The GA, available as a 6- or 12-sting, is designed to be a strong fingerpicking guitar that also can handle medium strumming, and is exceptionally versatile.
Venetian CutawayThe cutaway allows access to the upper frets. Many players moving to acoustic guitars grew accustomed to the cutaways on their electric guitars. Others simply like the freedom of movement into the upper register that a cutaway allows. Nowadays, cutaways are favored as much for their decorative appeal as for their function. The Venetian cutaway is known for its soft, round lines. The sloping peak of the cutaway will vary depending on the shape of the guitar. Grand Concerts and Grand Auditoriums have a steeper slope, while Dreadnoughts and Jumbos are a bit flatter.
ES-T Pickup Inspired by Taylor's Expression System technology, the Expression System Transducer, or ES-T, is a single-source, under-saddle transducer with individual elements for each string. (The ES-T was originally called the ES Element, but the name was changed to avoid confusion with another product.) The ES-T has an onboard preamp and the same active controls found on the full Expression System. Featuring a custom-voiced EQ and dynamic response, the system is powered by a 9-volt battery, with a battery life LED power indicator (which is lit when the battery is being used). The pickup also has a Phase switch for feedback control, which is located on the preamp board inside the soundhole.
Chrome-Plate Tuners Taylor Tuners continue the industry-leading 18:1 gear ratio that they've been using, yet yield even greater precision with the help of a manufacturing process that employs the same gear-cutting machines used by Swiss watchmakers. The more precisely-machined gears virtually eliminate the slight "slop", or slack, typical among tuners, which makes it even easier for Taylor owners to get--and stay--in tune. Taylor Tuners also feature an elegant aesthetic touch, with the Taylor logo cleanly etched on the back.

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