Duy Ngoc (Vietnamese)

[Soul Tramp]

My wife and I are wintering in Vietnam. I decided to buy a Vietnamese made acoustic to leave here so I'll have something to play each year. I visited several guitar shops. Most had Yamaha and other Asian low-end guitars. I was surprised to find almost no Vietnamese made guitars where we are located. Saigon has an entire guitar district where all the luthiers are located, but where we spend our time is nowhere near Saigon. Miraculously, a small shop in my Wife's village of Dong Ha had a wall of new acoustics from a luthier in Saigon who wanted to sell his guitars in other cities. Just pure chance it was my wife's village. I asked the shop owner to see his best guitar. Having looked at other shops I saw guitars from $20 - $150, my expectations weren't high. So, the owner takes down a $250 handmade guitar by luthier Duy Ngoc. Keep in mind $250 is a king's ransom.

I was very impressed! rosewood body and top, African mahogany neck, and rosewood fretboard. I like the satin finish as it reminds me of a Guild I had years ago. The finish has some warts but is nice overall. Neck feels good but is a tad wide for my liking. The action is ok but needs a setup. It's not a bright sounding guitar which is probably a result of the rosewood top, which is fine with me. Overall it's a very impressive guitar. I've no doubt it would cost $2K for something comparable back in the States.

Doing a bit of google research on the luthier I found an article CNN did on the Saigon guitar district. They featured Duy Ngoc.

 

[fronobulax]

Nice.

If I remember correctly @marcellis was a member who spent time in Vietnam and reported on some locally made instruments. He hasn't logged in since 2018 but if you have time and curiosity you might search his posts and see if he made any comments of interest on the state of guitar building in Vietnam.

 

[Soul Tramp]

Nice.

If I remember correctly @marcellis was a member who spent time in Vietnam and reported on some locally made instruments. He hasn't logged in since 2018 but if you have time and curiosity you might search his posts and see if he made any comments of interest on the state of guitar building in Vietnam.

Thank you, I'll do that. Most of the VN guitars are very poor quality as they have to hit a less than $50 price point. It has to be done if a luthier wants to stay in business. But those same luthiers can also build magnificent guitars.

 

[SFIV1967]

If I remember correctly @marcellis was a member who spent time in Vietnam and reported on some locally made instruments.

Marc also has a Vientnamese wife and was frequently in Saigon since before 1971 as he had once reported. He always used a "Mr. Binh" as his luthier. This might be him:


Ralf

 

[Soul Tramp]

Marc also has a Vientnamese wife and was frequently in Saigon since before 1971 as he had once reported. He always used a "Mr. Binh" as his luthier.

It might be him:


Ralf

Ralf, thank you posting the video! The shape of the headstock looks right, but I don't know about the fellow's name. Below is the CNN article about Duy Ngoc guitars. The luthier's name is different than in the video you posted, but there are several luthiers working in the shop.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/ho-chi-minh-city-guitar-street/index.html

 

[SFIV1967]

Ralf, thank you posting the video! The shape of the headstock looks right, but I don't know about the fellow's name. Below is the CNN article about Duy Ngoc guitars. The luthier's name is different than in the video you posted, but there are several luthiers working in the shop.

I was not refering to your guitar but to the luthier Marc used. He only called him "Mr. Binh" and he is a different shop, not Duy Ngoc.
Ralf

 

[Soul Tramp]

I have to make a quick trip to Saigon in a couple of weeks. I want to make time to visit the guitar district. If possible I'm going to pick up a hardshell case as my guitar came with a gig bag. I emaile Duy Ngoc guitars and was told the hardshell will cost $42.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

... I've no doubt it would cost $2K for something comparable back in the States...

I think you are correct.



I know there are many, many talented luthiers throughout Asia. Most struggle just to eak out a meager living, and it is a pretty big deal for them to be able to sell an instrument that they have truly invested in. It looks like you may have found one of those.

I hope you are able to share some stories from your visit to the guitar district in Saigon. I would look forward to hearing about it.

 

[Soul Tramp]

Christopher, I'll post pics if I make there. My wife and I are here for five months over the winter. We've made it a point to avoid Saigon as It's just another large city that suffers from the press of humanity. But, we have to this trip to attend to some business.

I purposely didn't want to spend much on a VN guitar because I'm concerned how well it will hold up sitting half a year unattended. The heat and humidity here wrecks just about everything. Practically every guitar I picked up that belonged to friends and family members had a HORRIBLE action. Of course all of those guitars were very low quality and likely made of low-quality wood that had not been dried properly.

My wife's village of Dong Ha was a hotspot during the war as it was the largest U.S. combat base just below the DMZ. There's been unbelievable growth during the last 10 - 15 years that has brought huge change to Dong Ha. I visited half a dozen guitar shops in the city of Dong Ha (next to my wife's village). Lots of Indonesian guitars, nothing as nice as what I bought. The average price was around $125 or so.

This is a picture I lifted from google of the shop (Acoustic Bar & Coffee) in Dong Ha where I bought the guitar. This is about a fifth of the guitars they have. No real amps to speak of. The owner really wanted me to bring one of my amps for his shop when I return next year, but not going to happen. Practically everyone in VN plays classical guitars through a PA.

 

[Soul Tramp]

The strings are some cheap (almost rusted) HEAVY gauge junk. I can't begin to bend a half-note. I'll bring a nice set (or two) with me when I return next winter. I've yet to be able to Find a large string selection here.

 

[fronobulax]

The strings are some cheap (almost rusted) HEAVY gauge junk. I can't begin to bend a half-note. I'll bring a nice set (or two) with me when I return next winter. I've yet to be able to Find a large string selection here.

A lot of Americans go overseas with a goal of "helping" the locals. While the help is often in the form of constructing a building or staffing a medical clinic people want to do things as individuals for individuals as well. Often guitarists are advised to bring extra strings because a good set of strings is not available locally and leaving behind strings is very much appreciated. Indeed I've heard stories of guitarists who will buy a decent, under $500 instrument that they play while there but gladly leave behind when they leave. But given the way *some people* on LTG obsess about string choices, it is helpful to remember that there are parts of the world where new strings are a rarity and choice is not an option.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

... it is helpful to remember that there are parts of the world where new strings are a rarity and choice is not an option.

Hear, hear, Frono!

And, for those here who *do* have choices, yet consistently choose the wrong strings...

...

 

[Soul Tramp]

A lot of Americans go overseas with a goal of "helping" the locals. While the help is often in the form of constructing a building or staffing a medical clinic people want to do things as individuals for individuals as well. Often guitarists are advised to bring extra strings because a good set of strings is not available locally and leaving behind strings is very much appreciated. Indeed I've heard stories of guitarists who will buy a decent, under $500 instrument that they play while there but gladly leave behind when they leave. But given the way *some people* on LTG obsess about string choices, it is helpful to remember that there are parts of the world where new strings are a rarity and choice is not an option.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Some people go nuts over the little things that don't really matter. Not me, as long as the string are rusted, I'm good.

But do you think if I add a pickguard It'll ruin the tone? How about a bone nut or bridge? That's got to make it sound better, right?

 

[chazmo]

Soul Tramp, if Guilds are any example, a pickguard will certainly not ruin the tone of your guitar.

As for bone nut and saddle, I've never had a negative reaction to going that direction. There are some synthetic materials that work great, but bone has always worked for me.

Good luck with the hunt for strings. That's very interesting to me that you can't find good strings where you are. I wouldn't mess with the nut and/or saddle until you've got the strings sorted, but if that's not an option, go for it.

 

[Soul Tramp]

Soul Tramp, if Guilds are any example, a pickguard will certainly not ruin the tone of your guitar.

As for bone nut and saddle, I've never had a negative reaction to going that direction. There are some synthetic materials that work great, but bone has always worked for me.

Good luck with the hunt for strings. That's very interesting to me that you can't find good strings where you are. I wouldn't mess with the nut and/or saddle until you've got the strings sorted, but if that's not an option, go for it.

Chazmo, I should have used purple text on my post (I just changed it). I was trying to be a wise-azz, goofing on people who obsess over minor details. It was all tongue-in-cheek, not to be taken seriously. But I respect your sincere effort to assist a fellow forum member asking dumb questions.

 

[chazmo]

Not dumb at all, ST...

 

[Soul Tramp]

I was in Saigon yesterday so decided to visit the luthier who build the guitar I bought a few weeks ago (top of the thread). I wanted to pick up a hardshell case as the guitar came with a gig bag. He has cases made specifically for his guitars. It cost me $42. Pictures below.

While there I checked out another guitar that I'll probably buy when I return to Vietnam in Dec. The thing is stunning and has a beautiful ring. However, I don't know what the body and neck woods are. I'll follow up with him and confirm. He said the body wood is from a root. The top is sitka spruce and the fretboard rosewood. Check out where the top and side joins where your right arm rests on the guitar. difficult to see in the picture, but it's a smooth contour, there's no sharp edge. There's some pretty inlay on the neck, but his hand is covering it.

I think when I return in December, I'll trade him one of my small amps for the guitar. He REALLY wants a Soul Tramp amp for his shop.

 

[GGJaguar]

That's some really nice looking wood. I'll be interested to find out what it is.

 

[zulu]

Beautiful Guitar...

 

[chazmo]

Also ask him why he puts his guitars in plastic bags.

Yeah, that's very pretty!