jon
Sore Fingers
Posts: 2
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Post by jon on Jun 5, 2015 7:33:23 GMT
Hello all! Ok, so I'm out here in California, USA, and I come to learn there exists a Chinese made budget version of what is more or less one of my dream guitars, the Martin 000-15sm. It's a mahogany 12 fret slothead called the Sigma 000m-15s! Very cool! What better guitar for me to get for camping trips or travelling to old timey festivals and such? A couple problems: Sigma is not distributed in the USA. There is nowhere anywhere around here to try one out. As far as actually buying one, I think I could probably accomplish it somehow, even if it meant buying one from a German mail order company that I may or may not be able to actually communicate with(I don't speak German). Shipping would add an extra 100$, but total cost would come in around $500US which is within my budget for a second, "travel" guitar. Other problem is there seems to be very little info about the quality of these instruments. There's a few things on YouTube, and a thread about Sigma guitars in general on this site. Havent found any bad reviews really, there just isn't a big enough sample size to feel confident about ordering one sight unseen from across the Atlantic. Solution? Join an acoustic guitar forum based in a European country where they sell Sigmas and where people speak the same language I do and ask around. So here I am! So is there anyone that has anyone played these at all and can offer some impressions or reviews? I'm already sold on "the mahogany sound" for sure, as well as the nut width etc, just wondering how it rates on general tone and playability. Besides solo fingerpicking a main use of the guitar would also be to play with a flatpick to backup fiddle and banjo(not the resonator kind) in an Appalachian old timey jam setting so ability to project is desirable. I realize spruce top dreads are louder than 000 hogtops, but I reckon I'm looking for that more percussive midrange tone that mahogany small bodies can provide. Thanks for reading this far and for any help you can give!
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jun 5, 2015 8:40:52 GMT
There's a whole lot of love for Sigmas around here, jon! Quite a few forum members have them for exactly the use you describe - a guitar that can me taken anywhere without worrying too much if it gets the occasional knock. Now, I don't have a Sigma myself - but I've played a few and can attest to their good sound and build quality - often much better than the price point would suggest. I'm sure one (well, probably more than one) owner will come on and give a btter review. As for the 'German Mail Order Company', are you talking Thomann? A very well respected company...
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Post by scorpiodog on Jun 5, 2015 11:06:56 GMT
Hello Jon. I have the quite similar 000m 1st, spruce topped, but similar in other respects, I believe. I bought it in Halifax (UK not Nova Scotia!) during one of our forum meets a couple of years ago. It's a fantastic guitar for the money. Really excellent build quality, very playable and pleasant tone. intonation seems spot on and it certainly looks the part. Although this sounds like a sparkling recommendation (it is!) I would just like to point out a couple of words of caution. First, it isn't a Martin, it just looks like one. If you're looking for that ease of playing and magical tone of a Martin 000 you'll be disappointed. You do get what you pay for, and you could buy 5 or more of these Sigmas in the UK for what we'd pay for the equivalent Martin. Secondly, I bought the guitar I played in the shop. I am almost certain that these batch made guitars manufactured in the Far East will fit a normal distribution curve in terms of quality. Therefore, buying mail order will increase the risk that the guitar you buy will be lower in quality than the one I was lucky enough to get. I'm not sure how you can eliminate this risk unless you (or somebody you trust) can try out a number of these guitars and buy the best one. Now, onto Thomann (if it is Thomann). Have no fears about communication at all. They are used to dealing with people in English, and their service is absolutely excellent. I've been using them for 5 years or more, and I have never had a complaint. I do hope you'll get a good one, Jon. Welcome to the forum, by the way, I do hope you'll stick around and let us know how you get on with your purchase (and your old timey band and anything else acoustic music related!) You'll find this ever such a supportive and friendly forum.
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Post by earwighoney on Jun 5, 2015 11:10:40 GMT
Hello all! Ok, so I'm out here in California, USA, and I come to learn there exists a Chinese made budget version of what is more or less one of my dream guitars, the Martin 000-15sm. It's a mahogany 12 fret slothead called the Sigma 000m-15s! Very cool! What better guitar for me to get for camping trips or travelling to old timey festivals and such? A couple problems: Sigma is not distributed in the USA. There is nowhere anywhere around here to try one out. As far as actually buying one, I think I could probably accomplish it somehow, even if it meant buying one from a German mail order company that I may or may not be able to actually communicate with(I don't speak German). Shipping would add an extra 100$, but total cost would come in around $500US which is within my budget for a second, "travel" guitar. Other problem is there seems to be very little info about the quality of these instruments. There's a few things on YouTube, and a thread about Sigma guitars in general on this site. Havent found any bad reviews really, there just isn't a big enough sample size to feel confident about ordering one sight unseen from across the Atlantic. Solution? Join an acoustic guitar forum based in a European country where they sell Sigmas and where people speak the same language I do and ask around. So here I am! So is there anyone that has anyone played these at all and can offer some impressions or reviews? I'm already sold on "the mahogany sound" for sure, as well as the nut width etc, just wondering how it rates on general tone and playability. Besides solo fingerpicking a main use of the guitar would also be to play with a flatpick to backup fiddle and banjo(not the resonator kind) in an Appalachian old timey jam setting so ability to project is desirable. I realize spruce top dreads are louder than 000 hogtops, but I reckon I'm looking for that more percussive midrange tone that mahogany small bodies can provide. Thanks for reading this far and for any help you can give! Welcome to the forum. Sigma AMI guitars in the USA are rebranded as Kindred (due to another company owning the rights to the name 'Sigma') and you can buy the Kindred counterpart in the US eg shop.bucksmusic.com/xcart/product.php?productid=755In terms of quality, they are made in the same factory as Recording Kings. I've played that guitar, it's a nice guitar but not the loudest. Good for singers/fingerpickers, but I'm not sure it's the loudest guitar to provide rhythm to banjo and fiddle. If you're happy for a spruce alternative, I think the Recording King ROS-06 is a louder alternative for less.
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Post by faithful on Jun 5, 2015 13:21:19 GMT
I had the very guitar . I liked it for what it was, a go in the back garden guitar. I sold it , even though it wasn't a bad guitar I never fell in love with it. I play my dads martin when he is down and its on a different planet. So please don't think its going to be anything like a martin. I play a faith mercury scoop parlour and I know the price for the scoop is a lot more than the sigma but even the faith is miles nicer to play .
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Post by lavaman on Jun 5, 2015 15:42:07 GMT
I have a Sigma 000M-18, similar to the 000M-15 but with a spruce top. For the money they are very good value but they don't sound anything like a Martin. Mine's for sale because I can't get on with the narrow neck.
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jon
Sore Fingers
Posts: 2
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Post by jon on Jun 5, 2015 19:10:27 GMT
Thanks for all the responses! The link to the guitar shop in PA should be especially helpful, I think I'll shoot them an email and see what their impressions are. It's funny, although it turns out the guitar is available in the US(albeit under a different name) is is oddly not widely available, nor is it really priced to sell. It's comming in at $515usd w/o shipping, and while there is no hog top 000 that I know of in that price range, I can get a spruce top Recording King 000 (thanks for that rec earwighoney) that's all solid wood for $400 w/ free shipping, so the Sigma/Kindred is seeming a lot less tempting. Thanks for welcoming me to the site, I'll post back if and when I arrive at some guitar related conclusion.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 5, 2015 20:16:27 GMT
Good luck and to the forum jon. I've similar thoughts to those already given. I did a back to back test a couple of years ago of the Sigma and Martin versions of that guitar. The Sigma was a nice guitar, but I didn't think it was comparable in terms of sound or playability to the Martin, which was light as a feather and a delight to play. Still, it isn't a fair comparison to be sure...just worth mentioning.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 5, 2015 22:38:28 GMT
Hi jon - I have nothing to add on the Sigma front, but just wanted to say welcome to the Forum - hope you'll have fun! Keith
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Post by andyhowell on Jun 6, 2015 12:21:01 GMT
It is quite useful to have a cheap guitar for festivals and stuff. The biggest problem with them are narrow necks and as a result I wouldn't advise buying them online!
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