The Guitar Critic's Corner

Too much of a good thing: Taylor 9 string????

feeds@yuku.com (kmacguitar ) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:15:09 GMT

http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-Taylor-9-String-35th-Anniversary_W0QQitemZ200420388427QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item2ea9fc6e4b

Just saw this and was intrigued with the concept. Has anybody played one of these? Having had a couple of nice 12 strings but let them go due to too wide neck, too much hassle and needed the $$. However,...

Bolt-on Martin neck

feeds@yuku.com (Jim Bowman) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:36:00 GMT

We all know most Martins are going to need a neckset eventually. Do you ever see Martin producing guitars with a bolt-on neck to facilitate the neckset or would that be too radical? Taylor and Collings and I think Bourgeois have bolt-on necks and they make some pretty good instruments. A neck re-set for bolt-ons is a piece of cake...or so I hear.

Is Martin so ingrained in tradition and success as to preclude this possibility?

Ark New Era Senorita--Belated and Elated Post

feeds@yuku.com (Stringmaster1954) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:19:19 GMT

I've been so busy I haven't had time to post, but wanted to share my Ark New Era Senorita, built by Tony Klassen. This was the first one--the prototype I suppose. I feel very fortunate to have it! When I saw the progress (and final) pics that Tony sent me, I couldn't believe how nice it was--but Tony kept saying that the pics don't do the guitar justice. He was right--when I pulled it out of the case, I stared at it for hours--just amazed at the level of detail and...

Gibson Blues King Modern Classic

feeds@yuku.com (NavajoChief) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:12:17 GMT

Comments, Opinions? Thanks!

OM18V or OM18Ge or 0000-18GE ???

feeds@yuku.com (lcuevas) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:04:20 GMT

I'm looking for a 25.4" scale fingerpicker primarily for open tunings.
I have a 00-18V which I really like which mostly stays in standard tuning or drop D.
Suggestions appreciated! 2K$ or so is my price.

Thoughts on Gibson J45 Rosewood?

feeds@yuku.com (ed s 11) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:43:33 GMT

Anyone have experience with this guitar? Compared to other Gibsons, Martins? I would use it for solo fingerstyle and solo flatpicking.

Deal or no deal?

feeds@yuku.com (shadetopkid) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:09:35 GMT

Very cool guitar has popped up on e-bay. It's an SJ-200 but with Madagascar back and sides. I can't figure out how to post the link, but it's easy to find. Guitar is local, so I'm sure I could go play it. Seller is asking 2750, is that a good deal on this instrument? I know it would be almost impossible to touch a Martin with Madagascar for this price. What do you guys and gals think? Any input would be helpful. Thanks

OMJM v OM-28V

feeds@yuku.com (GlenbenGurian) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:49:12 GMT

If places like Mandolin Brothers, Elderly, Podium, Maury's, etc., are the shining center of the guitar universe, I live on Pluto. I'm again finding it impossible to test drive certain Martin models in Orlando, most notably the OM-28V.

My question for any patient person(s) here who has A/B'd the OMJM and OM-28V: Is there any significant difference between the two other than nut width and neck profile? Will one sound pretty much like the other?

I'm loving...

In The Future, Which Guitar Co. or Guitar Will Be Copied Like Martin Has?

feeds@yuku.com (pauljcat) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:51:18 GMT

Wondering what all you good people think about this. Martin has been copied alot, who in the future will be copied. Collings, Huss and Dalton, or somebody smaller?

Howard Klepper's Website

feeds@yuku.com (GaryRS) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:20:03 GMT

I've always admired the look of Howard Klepper's guitars. He truly has incredible design sense. Aesthetically, everything works as one -- the shape of the bodies, the pickguards, bridges, ... everything. That said, I've recently spent some time visiting his website. It's equally as well thought out. I highly recommend reading his guitar building philosophies, as they give real insight as to the way he builds. Interesting reading.

All that said, I have no...

New UMGF guitar?

feeds@yuku.com (Henderson is go) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:13:59 GMT

Is there going to be a second UMGF guitar? Just curious.

Martin D-18 Clay Hess II Ambertone from Jon at MFG. ( Better Pictures )

feeds@yuku.com (htnj) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:23:14 GMT

A couple of months ago, I purchased a D-18 Clay Hess II Ambertone from Jon at MFG. It's based on a D-18V, but with Adirondack top. Ambertone finish, Waverlies with Ivoroid buttons, Martin stamp on the back of the peghead, Honduran Mahogany neck with no wings, no position markers on the front of the fretboard, Clay's sig. at the next to last fret. Mine is # 2. The Adirondack on this one is great. Tight in the middle, and gets wider as it goes. It's a great bluegrass guitar. If...

BARANIK JX Brazilian....

feeds@yuku.com (YorkshireD28) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:46:23 GMT

Baranik JX Brazilian.

Don't know anything about these guitars but this sounds nice.

Expensive though.

Click here

Blazer & Henkes Selmer Style guitar (with video)

feeds@yuku.com (Frank Wek) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:52:26 GMT

I would like to talk about a very rare guitar, a B&H Selmer replica! There are only two in existence, one is owned by me. When I started to get involved in the music of Django Reinhardt I didn't want to go the "China-route" and get a Saga guitar, instead I asked my friend Rudie Blazer if he and Willi would build me a guitar in this style. They then built two identical guitars, except for a little different ornamentation (my guitar has a red stripe in the binding and red...

Recording King ROS-16

feeds@yuku.com (sugarinthegourd) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:10:07 GMT

I just bought one of these from Amazon.com for the amazing price of $374.99 (without case). I ordered on Friday, and since I have Amazon Prime, I was able to get Saturday shipping for $6.99. It showed up around 9:30 Saturday morning and...

Bill Mitchell Guitars

feeds@yuku.com (FreeBlues) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:22:22 GMT

Curious, I've seen ads in Fretboard Journal for Bill Mitchell Guitars, I'd never heard of them, wonder if anyone has anything to offer. The website is nice, the guitars look great, the size (00's, 0's and such) look just like something I'd want.

Anyone owned or played one?

CA OX Raw - better than I expected

feeds@yuku.com (fguidry) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:26:15 GMT

I've had this second hand CA OX Raw for a couple of weeks now and it's working better than I expected. I'm happy with the sound, I can live with the neck geometry, I love having a guitar that I don't have to worry about.

I've been using an Epiphone EF-500RCCE as my knock-around guitar. It's not subtle and refined, but it's loud, easy to play, sounds like a guitar and it has a big neck and wide bridge spacing. I keep it tuned to taropatch F (open G down a...

Martin DC-16OGTE

feeds@yuku.com (MiGuitarist) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:11:32 GMT

Howdy...

So tell me about the Martin DC-16OGTE... The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly... or what you like or love about this guitar... and what you dislike or hate about this guitar, but tell me something!

Ordering a Blazer & Henkes

feeds@yuku.com (Bluenotesandtrout) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:59:38 GMT

I have become extremely interested in a Blazer and Henkes and am considering ordering one...probably an OM28. I have been following all the threads about these guitars for some time now and find myself really intrigued by their instruments and their love for the old guitars as well their approach to building. Those of you in the US (like me) that have B&H's, how did you go about ordering them. Did you work directly with them or is there a US dealer you ordered through (Mass Street is...

Other L-00s vs Kopp L02 ????

feeds@yuku.com (suburude) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:00:23 GMT

As some of you may know I have been looking for a used Kopp L02 for a bit now. I started thinking about how his guitar stacks up against other makers of the same size guitar. I have also seen Kopp makes it looks like 2 versions . A deep bodied one and a standard L02 ? I think?
Anyway have any of you guys A and Bd different makers of these? Does anyone own one of Kopps L02s ? What do you think? Any information appreciated! Thanks!