Post by sigmadel on Apr 11, 2013 21:31:39 GMT
www.sigma-guitars.com/index.php?id=258
Having seen a Sigma Mahogany dred back in December in Glasgow for a great price i got interested in this brand and after asking around on the forum i was even more interested as a few members said that they were great value . WV even put up a couple of soundclips . Unfortunatley i missed out on the guitar as when i went through to Glasgow to see martyn Joseph i went to the shop first but it was sold . Around a week later i went into my local shop and found this , i knew when i first saw it and had a play that i must own it . After selling my electric and some other bits and bobs around another week after that she was mine .
Firstly build quality . The top is of a good thickness Sitka spruce with a very straight grain and nice and tight , the finish is a vintage yellow/orange colour not normally what i go for but i loved it on this model .Back and sides are laminated Rosewood with a stunning grain pattern and nice and dark compared to my Mahogany 12er . The neck is Mahogany and is absolutely luxurious its stained to exactly the same colour as the back something i dont like on guitars with dark backs is when the neck is very light . Its satin finished and is as smooth as glass ,it really feels superb under the hands and is to my hand perfect depth and thickness . There is also a diamond volute at the headstock end which adds to the class of the instrument . The body ,rosette and center back strip are all herringbone and appear to be the real deal as you can actually see the grain pattern . Six open backed vintage Grover stay tight tuners take care of the tuning and work extremely well and again add to a classy look and feel , being nickel plated they also look better in my opinion than chrome. The rosewood board is well finished very smooth and dark with abalone snowflake inlays and 20 well polished and finished frets . and the compensated saddle and nut are both genuine bone . The bridge pins and end pin also look like bone but there is no strap button on the heel , I bought my own bone one from ebay for a few pounds . The bridge is also a lovely finished piece of dark Rosewood . Inside the guitar is very well finished also with scalloped bracing and no rough bits anywhere . Overall you would swear this guitar cost at least twice its £389 uk price tag .
Sounds . The guitar came set up with of Martin strings, which im not that fond of but the day after i changed those to a set of Elixers ,this seemed to squeeze an even better tone from it, a lovely balance of bass and mids, but the treble is where this little guitar excels i love a nice crisp treble sound and its got that in spades, but strummed its all well balanced out . Im not much of a finger style picker at all but since getting the guitar its encouraged me to really make the effort and im progressing more on that front as all rings out very nicely indeed . The string spacing isnt exactly wide though, but i figure it i can pick this then a wider neck in the future will be a breeze . My 12 string is an om size but feels more like a mini jumbo and has a deep body its also pretty heavy but the Sigma is very light indeed and the smaller body feels so much more intimate and is actually surprisingly LOUD, seriously youd never think such a small body could project such a big noise .
So there you have it a Sigma copy of the Martin 00028 which i could never afford . And if your an Eric Clapton fan it looks just like his sig Martin . I love mine and it fits lovely in the case i got at the same time which it a Freshman made fake croc leather job with gold hardware and a very nice comfy handle . Sigma guitars have really done well with this as it looks and sounds amazing and id encourage anyone to try one out its superb .
Many thanks for reading , Derek .
Having seen a Sigma Mahogany dred back in December in Glasgow for a great price i got interested in this brand and after asking around on the forum i was even more interested as a few members said that they were great value . WV even put up a couple of soundclips . Unfortunatley i missed out on the guitar as when i went through to Glasgow to see martyn Joseph i went to the shop first but it was sold . Around a week later i went into my local shop and found this , i knew when i first saw it and had a play that i must own it . After selling my electric and some other bits and bobs around another week after that she was mine .
Firstly build quality . The top is of a good thickness Sitka spruce with a very straight grain and nice and tight , the finish is a vintage yellow/orange colour not normally what i go for but i loved it on this model .Back and sides are laminated Rosewood with a stunning grain pattern and nice and dark compared to my Mahogany 12er . The neck is Mahogany and is absolutely luxurious its stained to exactly the same colour as the back something i dont like on guitars with dark backs is when the neck is very light . Its satin finished and is as smooth as glass ,it really feels superb under the hands and is to my hand perfect depth and thickness . There is also a diamond volute at the headstock end which adds to the class of the instrument . The body ,rosette and center back strip are all herringbone and appear to be the real deal as you can actually see the grain pattern . Six open backed vintage Grover stay tight tuners take care of the tuning and work extremely well and again add to a classy look and feel , being nickel plated they also look better in my opinion than chrome. The rosewood board is well finished very smooth and dark with abalone snowflake inlays and 20 well polished and finished frets . and the compensated saddle and nut are both genuine bone . The bridge pins and end pin also look like bone but there is no strap button on the heel , I bought my own bone one from ebay for a few pounds . The bridge is also a lovely finished piece of dark Rosewood . Inside the guitar is very well finished also with scalloped bracing and no rough bits anywhere . Overall you would swear this guitar cost at least twice its £389 uk price tag .
Sounds . The guitar came set up with of Martin strings, which im not that fond of but the day after i changed those to a set of Elixers ,this seemed to squeeze an even better tone from it, a lovely balance of bass and mids, but the treble is where this little guitar excels i love a nice crisp treble sound and its got that in spades, but strummed its all well balanced out . Im not much of a finger style picker at all but since getting the guitar its encouraged me to really make the effort and im progressing more on that front as all rings out very nicely indeed . The string spacing isnt exactly wide though, but i figure it i can pick this then a wider neck in the future will be a breeze . My 12 string is an om size but feels more like a mini jumbo and has a deep body its also pretty heavy but the Sigma is very light indeed and the smaller body feels so much more intimate and is actually surprisingly LOUD, seriously youd never think such a small body could project such a big noise .
So there you have it a Sigma copy of the Martin 00028 which i could never afford . And if your an Eric Clapton fan it looks just like his sig Martin . I love mine and it fits lovely in the case i got at the same time which it a Freshman made fake croc leather job with gold hardware and a very nice comfy handle . Sigma guitars have really done well with this as it looks and sounds amazing and id encourage anyone to try one out its superb .
Many thanks for reading , Derek .
. The pic in my avatar is also me with Violet . 
Jo whoever he is.
