Paddlefoot
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The current issue of "Acoustic Guitar" magazine has a full page ad for a new model. The GAD F-40P which has a 12 fret neck join and is apparently made of Padauk. Sounds interesting.
GAD F-40P
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Actually, it's not a new model at all. It was the first GAD I played (in 2007), and it was a monster; gave me the push I needed to trade in my old Gibson for a GAD 30RE. It's actually a kind of cool git. A 12 fret deep body OM, if you will. Are you considering one?
Paddlefoot
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Not particularly, but it was the first time I had seen an ad for one. Seemed interesting as Martin and Taylor seem to be doing a good bit of promotion of their slot peghead, small bodies and the similar models with the 12 fret neck join. Give 'em a good kick Guild. Still I would rather buy something made in the USA.
Bill Ashton
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I tried one of these last August during my short expedition around local music stores, which resulted in both a new GAD-30PCE and a Tacoma D-55.
Having tried the "PCE" first, I found the 12-fretter virtually identical in sound, at least as much as one could say after traveling 20 miles between shops. When I first looked at it, I knew there was something different but couldn't put my finger on it...then when playing I ran out of neck and that was it!
Several months in, I think I would say that my GAD-30PCE could easily be my desert-island guitar, and I never would have thought that possible before. Just damn near perfect for me.
I think I am still learning to play the D55, which is a cannon, but just not the same thing. The "PCE" moves easily from room to room, from sofa to front porch to bedside, its voice overpowers anything that is trying to blast over it, plays great, looks good...just wish they had made the neck ('hog) match the beautiful red body and side wood.
Having tried the "PCE" first, I found the 12-fretter virtually identical in sound, at least as much as one could say after traveling 20 miles between shops. When I first looked at it, I knew there was something different but couldn't put my finger on it...then when playing I ran out of neck and that was it!
Several months in, I think I would say that my GAD-30PCE could easily be my desert-island guitar, and I never would have thought that possible before. Just damn near perfect for me.
I think I am still learning to play the D55, which is a cannon, but just not the same thing. The "PCE" moves easily from room to room, from sofa to front porch to bedside, its voice overpowers anything that is trying to blast over it, plays great, looks good...just wish they had made the neck ('hog) match the beautiful red body and side wood.
Bill Ashton
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I bought the PCE due to its sound or voice. I was actually looking for a small rosewood-bodied Guild or alternatively a D50...I would up with the PCE and a D55!!
The more I play the PCE the more I enjoy it, to the detriment of my other pieces. I did not go looking for a cutout, and given the choice between two identical guitars with and without I probably would have gone without...which would have been a mistake. You don't have to play at the 16th fret for the cutout to be useful, as it gives you more room from about the tenth fret up, at least for my big paws.
My guitar was an older model, though I do not believe it sat on the wall too long as I frequent the store where I bought it often. It was heavily discounted from list due to a tiny knick on the front, though that must have been store-inflicted as the headstock does not have the typical "used" designation that the seconds flooding eBay seem to have. While one part of me thinks I overpaid for a Chinese guitar, it is heads above the Yamaha's, Alavarez's, Walden's and Fender acoustics the business stocks. In all, I think I did OK and it is a good value.
The more I play the PCE the more I enjoy it, to the detriment of my other pieces. I did not go looking for a cutout, and given the choice between two identical guitars with and without I probably would have gone without...which would have been a mistake. You don't have to play at the 16th fret for the cutout to be useful, as it gives you more room from about the tenth fret up, at least for my big paws.
My guitar was an older model, though I do not believe it sat on the wall too long as I frequent the store where I bought it often. It was heavily discounted from list due to a tiny knick on the front, though that must have been store-inflicted as the headstock does not have the typical "used" designation that the seconds flooding eBay seem to have. While one part of me thinks I overpaid for a Chinese guitar, it is heads above the Yamaha's, Alavarez's, Walden's and Fender acoustics the business stocks. In all, I think I did OK and it is a good value.
Bill Ashton
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Tony, sorry, I just typed out another reply to your first question, which seems to have gotten lost in the ether...
Short version...of the two Padauk-bodied GAD's I tried, they sounded if not identical then very similar. Certainly the 12-fretter would fit the image of the wandering bluesman, but I think the PCE's cutaway makes for a better guitar over all.
I can't really say whether the sound I had in my head would match yours for "blues guitar," though I certainly think the PCE works for the few Dave Van Ronk pieces I stumble through.
I don't know that I would buy one over the internet, as there are a bunch of "used" seconds out there and its very hard to cull between them. I would also note, where they had the 12-fret they also had a GAD-M20, nice guitar, played well, kinda mellow like you would expect from a little mahogany guitar, but sweet. At the store where I ultimately bought the D55, they had a small bodied GAD, don't know what it was but it was not rosewood. Did not like the sound nor the playability at all.
Short version...of the two Padauk-bodied GAD's I tried, they sounded if not identical then very similar. Certainly the 12-fretter would fit the image of the wandering bluesman, but I think the PCE's cutaway makes for a better guitar over all.
I can't really say whether the sound I had in my head would match yours for "blues guitar," though I certainly think the PCE works for the few Dave Van Ronk pieces I stumble through.
I don't know that I would buy one over the internet, as there are a bunch of "used" seconds out there and its very hard to cull between them. I would also note, where they had the 12-fret they also had a GAD-M20, nice guitar, played well, kinda mellow like you would expect from a little mahogany guitar, but sweet. At the store where I ultimately bought the D55, they had a small bodied GAD, don't know what it was but it was not rosewood. Did not like the sound nor the playability at all.