Like a fine Port a new guitar needs to be Vintage
Jul 16, 2017 19:45:26 GMT
Martin, ocarolan, and 7 more like this
Post by vikingblues on Jul 16, 2017 19:45:26 GMT
My thanks to Iain lavaman
What you posted on June 16 finally sunk in to my poor tired and addled brain.
A few months back I got that Guild Jumbo Junior - I'd started by trying to find a guitar with different woods but a similar shape body (very pinched waist) to my Giltrap Vintage VE2000GG (solid cedar top).
I could only find luthier made instruments like that and I didn't / don't / won't have have the money for that!
I ended up widening my search and got the Guild as it was just a different shape and different tone-woods to the guitars I already had. It was a good instrument and it had good sounds and it was different but I didn't end up playing it - there was no rapport going on. I sold a load of old gear recently and ended up selling the Guild too. Which bought cash into the coffers at a level for a budget guitar.
9 days ago I had a sudden realisation. Yes it took 3 weeks from Iain's post before the thought occurred that I should have had when I first started the search.
There WAS an affordable guitar with a body like my VE2000GG that was different in tonewoods and sound.
The Vintage V2000MGG Gordon Giltrap Signature with an all mahogany body and solid top. I couldn't believe I'd not considered it!
In passing I mention that the model is discontinued, and I have the impression that only a very few are left for sale.
I went onto the JHS site to double check the specs and only the cedar top models were listed.
So I thought I'd better ring places before ordering. I spoke to 3 different outlets on-line where it turned out they didn't have one actually in stock and one of these confirmed they couldn't get one either because the JHS had told them they were out of stock and discontinued.
I managed to find one at Reidys.
They don't do a setup, only check that a guitar is playable. Heigh-ho. I ordered it.
It is playable I'd agree, but it does need a set-up - it'll be off to Scayles at some point for that.
String height at the 12th fret is 2.7mm bass and 2.1mm treble (the properly set-up VE2000GG is 1.9mm and 1.8mm)
String height at the 1st fret is 0.9mm bass and 0.6mm treble (the properly set-up VE2000GG is 0.6mm and 0.5mm)
Those differences are too big to tolerate long term especially with twinging finger joints!
Iain said "Very sweet sounding in a range of tunings, particularly the mellow bass tones. The treble tones are not quite as clear / cutting as a Martin but good enough."
I think that hits the mark, though I don't know about the Martin.
The trebles aren't as clear / cutting as my Cedar top VE2000GG, but that's fine.
The tone of the treble is very pleasing and suits a lot of music perfectly.
It is very at home in DADGAD especially with a capo at fret 2. Rather beautiful sounds to say the least. Csus2 tuning doesn't work quite as well, perhaps as the mellow bass edges a bit too close to muddy. It is however meeting my desired criteria of having different tonal qualities while having those sound qualities that seem to be encouraged by the body shape. Different enough to the cedar top model that they can both be in the same collection each in their own right.
I have been far too busy playing it to think about recording. When I do get around to such things I'll maybe do a full review elsewhere on the forum.
I am even more convinced that the pinched waist is a great option for us small framed people who want a less boxy sound than the typical small guitar.
It's a very good guitar for the price!
ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE
TWINS!
Mark
What you posted on June 16 finally sunk in to my poor tired and addled brain.
A few months back I got that Guild Jumbo Junior - I'd started by trying to find a guitar with different woods but a similar shape body (very pinched waist) to my Giltrap Vintage VE2000GG (solid cedar top).
I could only find luthier made instruments like that and I didn't / don't / won't have have the money for that!
I ended up widening my search and got the Guild as it was just a different shape and different tone-woods to the guitars I already had. It was a good instrument and it had good sounds and it was different but I didn't end up playing it - there was no rapport going on. I sold a load of old gear recently and ended up selling the Guild too. Which bought cash into the coffers at a level for a budget guitar.
9 days ago I had a sudden realisation. Yes it took 3 weeks from Iain's post before the thought occurred that I should have had when I first started the search.
There WAS an affordable guitar with a body like my VE2000GG that was different in tonewoods and sound.
The Vintage V2000MGG Gordon Giltrap Signature with an all mahogany body and solid top. I couldn't believe I'd not considered it!
In passing I mention that the model is discontinued, and I have the impression that only a very few are left for sale.
I went onto the JHS site to double check the specs and only the cedar top models were listed.
So I thought I'd better ring places before ordering. I spoke to 3 different outlets on-line where it turned out they didn't have one actually in stock and one of these confirmed they couldn't get one either because the JHS had told them they were out of stock and discontinued.
I managed to find one at Reidys.
They don't do a setup, only check that a guitar is playable. Heigh-ho. I ordered it.
It is playable I'd agree, but it does need a set-up - it'll be off to Scayles at some point for that.
String height at the 12th fret is 2.7mm bass and 2.1mm treble (the properly set-up VE2000GG is 1.9mm and 1.8mm)
String height at the 1st fret is 0.9mm bass and 0.6mm treble (the properly set-up VE2000GG is 0.6mm and 0.5mm)
Those differences are too big to tolerate long term especially with twinging finger joints!
Iain said "Very sweet sounding in a range of tunings, particularly the mellow bass tones. The treble tones are not quite as clear / cutting as a Martin but good enough."
I think that hits the mark, though I don't know about the Martin.
The trebles aren't as clear / cutting as my Cedar top VE2000GG, but that's fine.
The tone of the treble is very pleasing and suits a lot of music perfectly.
It is very at home in DADGAD especially with a capo at fret 2. Rather beautiful sounds to say the least. Csus2 tuning doesn't work quite as well, perhaps as the mellow bass edges a bit too close to muddy. It is however meeting my desired criteria of having different tonal qualities while having those sound qualities that seem to be encouraged by the body shape. Different enough to the cedar top model that they can both be in the same collection each in their own right.
I have been far too busy playing it to think about recording. When I do get around to such things I'll maybe do a full review elsewhere on the forum.
I am even more convinced that the pinched waist is a great option for us small framed people who want a less boxy sound than the typical small guitar.
It's a very good guitar for the price!
ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE
TWINS!
Mark