Ladies, Gentlemen, And Unkie Bud:
As I live in Western Canada, I don't get to visit a lot of guitar shops with quality new and used acoustic guitars. So I really appreciate hearing from other knowledgeable folks about interesting fingerstyle guitars.
This weekend I had a chanced to overnight in Toronto, and ideal chance to visit The Twelfth Fret guitar shop in east Toronto. They have a great selection of new and used acoustic guitars. Here are some that caught my eye.
1961 Martin 0-28 NY. This is a "folkie"-style slotted headstock guitar that Martin put out in the 1960's. 1 7/8 nut. The thing had a great feeling, classic Martin-style soft V neck. Beautiful and loud sound, great note separation. Bass was decent but not exceptional. But the vibe was great, and not too "clean" sounding. Beautiful brazzo back and sides, as only the old Martins can do. $3670 Cdn.
2007 Gibson J-45 Legend. This guitar is supposed to be an exact recreation of a 1942 Banner J-45. The most surprising thing was the neck. Quite fat, D-shaped (almost a fat V). I swear it was the most comfortable, fingerstyle neck in the place. ( I have a medium hand). With a 1 3/4 nut ( I measured it), it was a great sounding and playing CB guitar! much to my surprise. It takes some getting used to the v. strong base, but boy, it hung in there with the Oms and other fingerstyle guitars. I'm a fan of the woody-sounding Gibson sound, but this guitar was a shocker. Used $3500 Cdn.
Collings 0000-1 Brand new. Fantastic. Loud, superb tone and playability. Head shaking good. $3750. It has the shape of a late 1920's Martin 000-18, relatively long and slim (like your signature Johnm). The similar 000-24 had Indian Rosewood back and sides, a little cleaner sound, $3600-3800
My favorite was a Bourgeois OM with Madagascar rosewood back and sides. Used. $3300 Cdn. It had every thing, tone and playability and a beautiful, articulate but not too clean sound. I've only ever played two Madagascar Rosewood-backed guitars, but both have sounded fantastic. The other was a Martin OM and was priced more that $2000 more that this one ( I own neither).
Of the lesser priced guitars, the ones that stood out for me were the
Eastmans. Played 3 or 4. all under $1000 Cdn, and all were great.
Tomorrow, off to NYC (business), but taking some days off, one of which will include Mandolin Bros. More to come. Where are you, O'Muck. (also played a 1972 Gibson J-200.....)
Please, lets hear from the rest of you-all.
As I live in Western Canada, I don't get to visit a lot of guitar shops with quality new and used acoustic guitars. So I really appreciate hearing from other knowledgeable folks about interesting fingerstyle guitars.
This weekend I had a chanced to overnight in Toronto, and ideal chance to visit The Twelfth Fret guitar shop in east Toronto. They have a great selection of new and used acoustic guitars. Here are some that caught my eye.
1961 Martin 0-28 NY. This is a "folkie"-style slotted headstock guitar that Martin put out in the 1960's. 1 7/8 nut. The thing had a great feeling, classic Martin-style soft V neck. Beautiful and loud sound, great note separation. Bass was decent but not exceptional. But the vibe was great, and not too "clean" sounding. Beautiful brazzo back and sides, as only the old Martins can do. $3670 Cdn.
2007 Gibson J-45 Legend. This guitar is supposed to be an exact recreation of a 1942 Banner J-45. The most surprising thing was the neck. Quite fat, D-shaped (almost a fat V). I swear it was the most comfortable, fingerstyle neck in the place. ( I have a medium hand). With a 1 3/4 nut ( I measured it), it was a great sounding and playing CB guitar! much to my surprise. It takes some getting used to the v. strong base, but boy, it hung in there with the Oms and other fingerstyle guitars. I'm a fan of the woody-sounding Gibson sound, but this guitar was a shocker. Used $3500 Cdn.
Collings 0000-1 Brand new. Fantastic. Loud, superb tone and playability. Head shaking good. $3750. It has the shape of a late 1920's Martin 000-18, relatively long and slim (like your signature Johnm). The similar 000-24 had Indian Rosewood back and sides, a little cleaner sound, $3600-3800
My favorite was a Bourgeois OM with Madagascar rosewood back and sides. Used. $3300 Cdn. It had every thing, tone and playability and a beautiful, articulate but not too clean sound. I've only ever played two Madagascar Rosewood-backed guitars, but both have sounded fantastic. The other was a Martin OM and was priced more that $2000 more that this one ( I own neither).
Of the lesser priced guitars, the ones that stood out for me were the
Eastmans. Played 3 or 4. all under $1000 Cdn, and all were great.
Tomorrow, off to NYC (business), but taking some days off, one of which will include Mandolin Bros. More to come. Where are you, O'Muck. (also played a 1972 Gibson J-200.....)
Please, lets hear from the rest of you-all.