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Comments from Happy Customers
Review of a B00 in European spruce and
flamed bigleaf maple (on Acoustic Guitar Forum):
"... and more importantly it has the most beautiful and clear
tone…clearest sound of any guitar I have put my hands on."
Please click on the link for the full review:
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2514563
Listent to this guitar HERE.
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Jim,
When I asked you to build me a modified Size 1 and for you to
make the wood selection based on my criteria, I had good hopes
it would come out fine based on the two previous OO size guitars
you built for me. I have had the new Size 1 for about seven
months and can give this report: Playability: the neck shape,
scale length, and body size/depth make this very ergonomic for
someone like me who needs a smaller and shallower guitar. I can
play as long as I want without discomfort.
Looks: the wood combo, rosette, binding and body shape make this
guitar very pleasing to the eye. People remark on how nice it
looks.
How does it sound? It seems to have no limit as far as headroom,
it just gets louder, yet it handles very soft fingerstyle well.
The European spruce top and madrona back and sides combine to
give this guitar a really strong voice. With single notes and
two note chords, you hear a wonderful array of pleasing
overtones, yet they don't interfere with clarity when playing
full chord or fingerstyle. As you remarked, it does have the
punch of rosewood with the clarity of maple. It has more power
than anyone could expect from its small size. It holds its own
when played with OM size guitars. It is balanced across the
strings. This has become my favorite guitar for its tone. The
grain on the madronna is very very fine and interesting up
close.
Thanks for building this custom model for me. I love it!
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Update on 9-Aug-2015:
Jim,
Just wanted to let you know I am continually playing the
modified size one [B1 guitar] you made for me. The specs. I
suggested were to alleviate 'guitar shoulder' and for the last
while, this is the only guitar I can play comfortably.
The guitar has broken in very well and sounds amazing. I
wanted a parlor guitar with a shallow body and a bevel and you
managed to make one that just keeps getting better and better.
The inside label says 2012.
The Madrona back and sides appear to be gradually getting
darker and look great. The top is uber responsive, in fact the
whole guitar vibrates from heel to nut when played. This is the
only guitar I have played that has this entire instrument
"alive' feel: Again, I appreciate you deviating from
the standard body depth, putting in the sound port, and the
bevel, I keep this guitar very close and pick it up all the
time.
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Listen to this guitar HERE.
(Highly customized Size 1 guitar in European
spruce and Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii))
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"The only other guitars I have played that compare are
Northwoods. I also played a Rockbrige at local Luthier's
shop...he is doing some mod's and set ups for me. Your guitars
are amazing. The tone, balance, playability, quality of woods,
fit and finish....and they record incredibly well.
Actually...and you can quote..."the best recording guitar I have
used". It is hard not to get a good sound on "tape". obviously
mic placement will effect timbre/tonality/bass/treble....but the
1st one you sold me has been my go to for guitar recording over
all the Northwoods, Taylors & Martins(all sold now), Tacoma's,
etc.
As I said before....you have some kind of magic in the
construction of this model!!! I have owned alot of guitars with
this shape and size, and played tons at different music
stores...none compared to this. Again, this guitar is the
benchmark for others to try to emulate...clearly, the use of
different woods on the new one did not change the fundamental
qualities of what you created. So I have to believe it is in the
construction...whatever you did DO NOT change a thing :)
Honestly, I would recommend one of these to any of the session
players I know and all my friends that play and gig....and I
will be showing this new walnut creation to everyone!!!!"
AB near Boston, Mass., (two
cutaway
000s: Sitka and Indian rosewood and Sitka and flamed
claro walnut)
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"Hi Jim, just opened and played the MASTERPIECE. Another home
run....not only is it beautiful, but the sounds and playability
are a 10....It has the same tonal qualities as the 1st one I
got. Very balanced , full tight bass, round and fat mids and
trebles...No matter where I capoed it sounded fantastic. Again,
this is how my ears define a great guitar. Thank you so much for
creating this guitar for me.
I have owned and played ALOT of acoustics over the years, yet
only a select few have stood out as phenomenal...these 2 are at
the top of the list...I don't know much about how to build a
guitar but in laymen's terms, you have to be doing something
special/unique in the bracing, because the tone and volume are
just incredible from this relatively small guitar. The woods are
top notch..And the soundboard already sounds "broken in-opened
up". Oh, and the neck feels great too...slightly modified from
the shape of the other one.
The wood even smells great. Some people don't like walnut...This
is my first...It has all the warmth and fullness of rosewood
with a little crisp, fast attack of mahogany. And the same punch
that a really good mahogany guitar has. Fingerstyle is amazing
on this one. Hard to tell if heavy rhythm will suit this one(the
other one handles everything you throw at it), as the strings
are new and she needs to settle -- the woods need to adapt and
recover from the journey here. That said, I am amazed how great
it sounds right out of the box...
Again, this guitar is PHENOMONAL!!!!
Thanks for building it for me!"
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"Jim,
I have been playing acoustic for over 40 years and have owned
over 20 guitars including vintage Gibsons, a top of the line
Takamine, and many other makes: Ovation, Epiphone, Yamaha,
Seagull and so forth .I've played a few Martins as well. The 00
cedar/rosewood is a phenomenal instrument. It responds to a very
light touch, yet projects like anything when asked to. Now, I
play fingerstyle, and the wood combination along with the wide
fingerboard and the 12 fret configuration is a fingerstyle
equation for fun. Wish I had spent what I put into my spruce
topped parlor to get a spruce topped 00 from you...maybe another
year, if I can sell my parlor. My commendations on the best
sounding guitar I have played. You do have a talent for your
work and I am happy to let anyone play the 00 to hear for
themselves. This guitar is balanced across the strings and up
and down the fingerboard. It has the best intonation of any
guitar I've played. I guess the compenstated bone saddle has
something to do with it. Honestly, the guitar is louder and
sounds better with light guage strings than my custom shop all
solid wood Takamine model ( EF417s) does with medium strings,
and the Takamine is a great sounding guitar. Hats off!
RH in Statesboro, Georgia" (Western red cedar and Indian rosewood B00)
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/product/Barbarossa/00/10/1
Listen to this guitar HERE.
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"email Subject: My OOO Barbarosa Rocks!!
Hi Jim, just wanted to let you know how much I love this guitar.
It sounds amazing, plays great and records really well. Some
instruments have a voice and personality that inspires you to
play and write....this is one of them!!!
The only problem is it is so hard to put it down!!! And I find
myself hearing the rich low end similar to a Martin without the
boominess and muddy sounds of most Martins. Plus the sweet mid
range and ringing treble....quite a guitar!
A.B." (Sitka spruce and Indian
rosewood cutaway 000)
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"Hi Jim,
I just bought your wonderful guitar from
Paramount Guitars.
I was not shoping for a new guitar but I accidently played your
hand made guitar. That was probably the best guitar I have ever
played. I just wanted to thank you personally. It has been
an unbeliavable experience to actually bring it home. I will
take good care of it and if I ever buy another guitar it will
most likely be one of yours. The tone and volume is incredible.
Thank you very much,
P.F." (oversized soundhole Dreadnought guitar,
Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood)
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"Jim,
Thank you so much for the gorgeous guitar. I have not yet
put it down since it arrived, much to the chagrin of wife and
dog! I am filled with inspiration by this superior
instrument & I am channeling that into a series of etudes and
new through-composed piece for my band. You will be the
first to receive a copy of my finished manuscripts as a token of
my gratitude for ... this incredible guitar.
A million thank yous! L.P." (Classical
guitar, Engelmann spruce and Indian rosewood)
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