Bob from DC
Subject:
You can't beat this guitar for the money.
Quality:
Very well made of solid wood, top back & sides!
Reliability:
Had ir 3 years, no problem other than a quarter turn truss rod adjustment
Overall:
a solid wood guitar with a dual blender PU and built in tuner for thid price is a killer. I own a '54 Martin D18 and a "98 Collings D1A This guitar is not ass good as either one, but it is really good and the pickup system is excellent
Playability and Feel:
well-balanced
Tone:
Can't beat it for the dough. Better than most Gibson J45 now made.
Finish:
acceptable satin finish
Action:
a little low for me, but fine for most!
Skill Level:
Pro-Rock Star
Do you own this product?:
yes
Scott from Central NJ
scott@techdexter.com
Subject:
Sensational Instrument
Quality:
A+, but I would caution that once more, you're not going to dazzle the ladies with this guitar's looks. That is not this guitar's objective. The good news: sounding amazing is.
Sound:
The tone (unplugged) is warm and creamy, subtle and filling. The tuners are light-weight not remotely like other tone-stealing monsters. There's no where for the tone to hide. Nothing glassy and shrill about this guitar, like so many acoustics we've all played. The action was a little high, but we adjusted that painlessly. The neck is fast and the frets perfect. I'm especially impressed with the fret work on this instrument. Chinese imports at this price point are hit or miss, and I've played many undependable imports from Takamine, Martin, Taylor, Guild, Dean, Ibanez, Fender, Ovation and so on. This make, this model, this instrument is far and away the best sounding acoustic guitar I've ever played at this price point. Safely you can compare this guitar to the Taylor 314CE, which is a $1,700 guitar. You will not be disappointed. Buy one of those awful Takamine's or Martin's that everyone's always carrying on about and I assure you, you will have purchased the wrong instrument.
Reliability:
It's not going to win any beauty contests. It doesn't call attention to itself with aesthetics, only it's tone. The way it ought to be frankly. It's well assembled, durable and thoughtfully detailed with some perfectly installed classic bindings. Though there were some unwelcomed factory smudges and blemishes on the guitar, 100% of them cleaned off with a good once over. Short of that, it's a finely made guitar.
Overall:
This guitar is assembled with the same quality found in $1,500+ USA-made Taylors, Martins and Gibsons and possesses the same tonal qualities you'd expect from these marquee brands as well.
Playability and Feel:
Fast for certain. Add Elixir's 80/20 Bronze with Nanonweb Coating to your setup and get the neck where you want it and this instrument produces an array of amazingly clear, rich and temperate tones. So many guitars in this "weight class" are awfully thin and tonally inconsistent. You might get a tolerably nice high end, for instance, but a bright, piercing tone out of your bottom. The Masterbilt series, in general, and I've played them all, yields astoundingly responsive tonal character. They return dependably steady warmth no matter where on the board your fingers are resting.
Tone:
I answered this throughout. See other responses.
Finish:
Again, short of a few weird smears that are wll easily removed, it was fine. As expected.
Action:
As I mentioned, it was a lil' high for my liking. By the nut was fine and no fret issues at all. But yes, it was a little high as one moves up the neck. The nut and tail are both bone, which again at this price point is nice. A little adjustment to the neck and we're there.
Skill Level:
Pro-Rock Star
Do you own this product?:
Yes
Date submitted:
5-10-2011