FNGD

richardp69

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Not really new but fairly new, ergo the F in the NGD. This is a 1973 D44M. I'd owned a couple Pearwood versions in the past and they didn't do it for me so I sold them. This one I like a lot. Has that crisp, .clear Maple sound, plenty of volume and I think it's a real looker as well. I wish it would have had the highly figured Maple neck but oh well. Just back from my Luthier with a set up to my preferences and new Medium Gauge GHS strings and it plays and sounds great.

This one is in overall great condition with the exception of some soundhole wear on the treble side from a previous heavy handed picker/player I would guess. Just adds to the appeal for me.

This one has an Ebony fingerboard with a RW bridge. I'm wondering if the original bridge was Ebony as well and later swapped out for a RW bridge for whatever reason. Not sure.

Here's a few pics.
 

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GGJaguar

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Very nice, congrats! In another life, I played recorder (you know, the flute things) and I had a soprano and alto that were made of pearwood. It was a good tonewood, but also a "budget" tonewood in that application. I'm interested in the different tone between the pearwood and maple examples that you owned.
 

davismanLV

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HOLY CRAP, that maple is beautiful!!! I'm such a huge maple fan and this guitar has really got some great wood. I'll bet it came from the factory with the ebony/rosewood combo. I never understand that because to me the fretboard and bridge woods should match. There's no real reason WHY they should but just my weird brain making rules up. Beautiful!! Congrats, R!! (y)
 

hansmoust

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This one has an Ebony fingerboard with a RW bridge. I'm wondering if the original bridge was Ebony as well and later swapped out for a RW bridge for whatever reason. Not sure.

Hello Richard,

The ebony fingerboard and rosewood bridge would be correct, but would be changed to an ebony bridge some time after your guitar was made.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
 

Br1ck

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Figured maple can have stability problems. OK on mandolins. I had wanted a flame maple tele neck made from USA Custom guitars and they refused to make me one. Probably ok with a mahogany center strip.
Pretty guitar.
 

Stuball48

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And Richard strikes a good sign. Always hits for extra bases.
Congrats, again!!!
 

bobouz

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Richard, that’s the way they made the F-44M at that time - ebony board with a rosewood bridge. Congrats on another beauty!
 

Cougar

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Congrats on another beauty, Richard!

So you're saying the carpet should match the drapes?

<serious veer> Reminded me of Oscar Wilde's last words, except I remembered them wrong, and they don't quite fit here, but here they are anyway: 😃

Lying sick in a fleapit hotel on the left bank of the Seine, he took a look at his surroundings and said:

“This wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. Either it goes or I do.”​
 
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