The Retro Rocker
Member
Thanks to Neal sending it UPS, it arrived today without fuss or drama! (Thanks for the 'positve waves' Al!)
And it arrived exactly as described! Great packing!
As Neal had stated numerous times prior to selling it...it's a PLAYER'S guitar, not a case-queen collector's-item for investment.
And it's a damn nice guitar at that! It'll be perfect for gigging! And it was priced accordingly! Actually, I bet he's kicking himself for selling it at that price. Already had the K&K Mini installed, NH saddle, ebony pins, and came in a great Guild Case!
I checked it out, making sure to check out all the "flaws" Neal had told me about. Weather-checking is there...but the way the top now has a sort of almost satin-like sheen to it, you have to look for them to see them. Couple little surface divots, nothing bad at all, just normal playing out stuff. The hairline crack at the end-pin seems perfectly stable! (Gonna have my guy look at it to remove any doubt whatsoever.) K&K worked fine.
HOWEVER...there's NO front strap button!!!! DEAL BREAKER!!! (LOL...just kidding!)
I took off the strings, lowered the saddle just a touch, and installed a K&K sound-hole mounted passive volume control. Gave it a good cleaning and detailing and inspection, strung it up with D'Addario EJ16 PBs, and let 'er rip!
Man...what a great sounding guitar! Compares very favorably to a New Hartford build like in tone, construction, balance, feel, weight, etc.
And it's a great looking guitar! The inlays are stunning...the G-Shield is the slightest bit crooked, again, you have to really look closely to see it...doesn't bother me in the least, gives it character! Rosewood back and sides are gorgeous.
Needless to say, I am happy!!! Gonna spend a lot of time this week playing it, may experiment with different strings, might even try to put the strap button on it.
Thank you Neal!
Pics coming right up!
And it arrived exactly as described! Great packing!
As Neal had stated numerous times prior to selling it...it's a PLAYER'S guitar, not a case-queen collector's-item for investment.
And it's a damn nice guitar at that! It'll be perfect for gigging! And it was priced accordingly! Actually, I bet he's kicking himself for selling it at that price. Already had the K&K Mini installed, NH saddle, ebony pins, and came in a great Guild Case!
I checked it out, making sure to check out all the "flaws" Neal had told me about. Weather-checking is there...but the way the top now has a sort of almost satin-like sheen to it, you have to look for them to see them. Couple little surface divots, nothing bad at all, just normal playing out stuff. The hairline crack at the end-pin seems perfectly stable! (Gonna have my guy look at it to remove any doubt whatsoever.) K&K worked fine.
HOWEVER...there's NO front strap button!!!! DEAL BREAKER!!! (LOL...just kidding!)
I took off the strings, lowered the saddle just a touch, and installed a K&K sound-hole mounted passive volume control. Gave it a good cleaning and detailing and inspection, strung it up with D'Addario EJ16 PBs, and let 'er rip!
Man...what a great sounding guitar! Compares very favorably to a New Hartford build like in tone, construction, balance, feel, weight, etc.
And it's a great looking guitar! The inlays are stunning...the G-Shield is the slightest bit crooked, again, you have to really look closely to see it...doesn't bother me in the least, gives it character! Rosewood back and sides are gorgeous.
Needless to say, I am happy!!! Gonna spend a lot of time this week playing it, may experiment with different strings, might even try to put the strap button on it.
Thank you Neal!
Pics coming right up!