Hey Y'all,
This isn't meant to be an exhaustive review by any means but I have had the pleasure of owning two D40 Bluegrass Jubilees, a Tacoma and a New Hartford, and two D50 Bluegrass Specials, again one Tacoma and one New Hartford. I've also had several Westerly D50's and several DV52's and 62's.
First of all, and I may get banned for saying this, but the build quality of the Tacomas and New Hartfords, to me at least, is superior to any Westerly I've ever beheld in person. That's just a personal opinion. The D50BG's were both with me for a long time before finally trading them for D40BJ's. I found the D50BG's to be easy to play with great note separation and sweet trebles and mids and a bottom end that would make Sofia Vergara jealous. The New Hartford seemed more refined than the Tacoma for whatever reason, seemed looser. And they were LOUD. Lordy mercy they were loud. I could play fingerstyle with a piano and children's choir at church and still be heard to the back of the room.
My first D40BJ was a New Hartford. I traded a DV52 for it and was immediately impressed by its tone and ease to play despite the thickness of the neck. It was very much like the D50BG's but turned down a hair in the volume department. Maybe a bit more mellow. But you could strum it hard and not overpower everyone else which was appreciated. I think I traded it for a Martin for some reason years ago. So I just recently found a 2006 D40BJ and I must say that it's extraordinary. It's a little tighter sounding than the New Hartford but, for an 18 year old guitar, it looks like it was never played. I have a feeling it still has some opening up to do. It's loud and crisp. My wife always says that my acoustics all sound the same but she likes this one. I can't wait to string it up with some obnoxious PB strings that I've squirreled away for just such an occasion.
This isn't meant to be an exhaustive review by any means but I have had the pleasure of owning two D40 Bluegrass Jubilees, a Tacoma and a New Hartford, and two D50 Bluegrass Specials, again one Tacoma and one New Hartford. I've also had several Westerly D50's and several DV52's and 62's.
First of all, and I may get banned for saying this, but the build quality of the Tacomas and New Hartfords, to me at least, is superior to any Westerly I've ever beheld in person. That's just a personal opinion. The D50BG's were both with me for a long time before finally trading them for D40BJ's. I found the D50BG's to be easy to play with great note separation and sweet trebles and mids and a bottom end that would make Sofia Vergara jealous. The New Hartford seemed more refined than the Tacoma for whatever reason, seemed looser. And they were LOUD. Lordy mercy they were loud. I could play fingerstyle with a piano and children's choir at church and still be heard to the back of the room.
My first D40BJ was a New Hartford. I traded a DV52 for it and was immediately impressed by its tone and ease to play despite the thickness of the neck. It was very much like the D50BG's but turned down a hair in the volume department. Maybe a bit more mellow. But you could strum it hard and not overpower everyone else which was appreciated. I think I traded it for a Martin for some reason years ago. So I just recently found a 2006 D40BJ and I must say that it's extraordinary. It's a little tighter sounding than the New Hartford but, for an 18 year old guitar, it looks like it was never played. I have a feeling it still has some opening up to do. It's loud and crisp. My wife always says that my acoustics all sound the same but she likes this one. I can't wait to string it up with some obnoxious PB strings that I've squirreled away for just such an occasion.
