|
|
Post by jubbo on Jan 1, 2018 18:45:29 GMT
I have been an admirer of the Faith brand for a long time. I owned a Venus not long after the brand was launched. I will always regret selling it. Earlier in 2017 I purchased a Venus Hi-Gloss Hex. Solid rosewood back and sides and spruce top. A lovely guitar. The only complaint I have about the Faith line up is the terrible pixilated label they put in every guitar. I just looks cheap and lazy.
I have been waiting with anticipation for the Legacy Series since it was unveiled at NAMM 2017. The spec is mahogany back and sides and a Torrified (baked to replicate age) spruce top. Available in 3 shapes, Neptune, Mars and a new shape Earth. Also new is the electronics system with an under saddle pick up and mic. Also a nice touch is the neat way the usual black plastic pre amp rectangle on the side of the guitar has been replaced by 4 circular dials. One of these becomes a screen and displays the notes as you tune the guitar. This is very slick.
The build quality is great. I tried all three models. My own Faith has a bit of excess glue visible inside. This is not the case with the Legacy models (it could be mine is the aberration here).
Commenting on the sound is quite subjective. But they are very nice sounding guitars. However, I have to admit I was expecting to be blown away and I wasn't. Partly due to the expectations, partly due to the delay of the launch, partly due to the spectacular looks and also because this was the new top of the range with a list price of £1200. Don't get me wrong, they sound great, but I was expecting to be moved in someway. I was expecting to be moved enough to buy one there and then.. but I wasn't. Then again, I already own a high end Faith.
Faith are still my preferred Far East manufactured brand. I would rank them ahead of their peers that compete in this space (Tanglewood, Freshman, Eastman etc). The Legacy series are fine guitars and if you are looking for a good all solid electro acoustic the Legacy and the Hi Gloss are both fantastic, you just won't want both.
J
|
|
|
|
Post by vikingblues on Jan 2, 2018 10:35:21 GMT
Faith do make good guitars, some very good indeed.  I've only encountered one Faith that bucked the trend, a low end Mercury Naked. It was supposed to have the benefit of no finish letting all the sound out .... but the sound was as appealing as chalk squeaking on a blackboard. I know what you mean about expecting to be moved by higher end guitars, but ending up just feeling that the instrument is not special, just good, as it should be for the price. That disappointment has happened many times to me. Many times. Many, many times. The fault could be in me though. It has got rid of a lot of GAS though, so some good has come from it.  Mark |
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G. 
Posts: 1,874 
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 3, 2018 16:06:29 GMT
I've liked nearly every Faith I've played over the years and I very nearly bought one of the mini-jumbos a while back. They seem to be pretty consistent. The only thing that troubles me a little bit about them is the nut-width, which I find a bit tight, but then I feel like that about most guitars. I still hope to end up with one of the little Mercury parlour guitars one day when the stars are in alignment and the bank balance is a bit healthier.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,874
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 3, 2018 16:08:48 GMT
... if you search for faith legacy series on youtube you end up with some pretty weird stuff!
|
|
|
|
Post by jubbo on Jan 3, 2018 20:15:11 GMT
... if you search for faith legacy series on youtube you end up with some pretty weird stuff! You probably need to add "guitar" in there. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2018 13:40:42 GMT
I've had a Naked Venus about 18 months now and love it. Had it set up by Dave at Eternal Guitars and now it plays and sounds great. I think they are the best value Asian acoustics, when I was looking I couldn't find any other solid bodies for a cheaper price, and it was nice to play and sounded good.
I must admit I was excited about the Legacy series, I especially liked the look of the new Earth model, but if I am gonna spend that much on a guitar, I want the choice to have it without electrics/preamp. I eventually decided to save a bit longer and go for something custom from Brook. I still love my Naked Venus though, play it about four hours every day!
|
|
|
|
Post by jubbo on Feb 15, 2018 19:53:40 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by dobro on Feb 15, 2018 20:34:33 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by jubbo on Feb 15, 2018 21:39:57 GMT
Fantastic. Thank you. Very interesting. Is it that Faith, don't worry about run out to keep the costs down and use wood that premium builders would perhaps discard? I just don't notice it on other guitars. I noticed it on my Faith, not at first, only once I had owned it a few months. |
|
|
|
Post by dobro on Feb 15, 2018 21:44:37 GMT
Many great guitars have had runout, even vintage Martins. Would not be a deal breaker for me if the guitar sounded good.
|
|
|
|
Post by jubbo on Feb 15, 2018 21:50:40 GMT
Wood is a natural thing, so I don't really have an opinion. I just find it is interesting it is so noticeable in one brand. The next time you go to a music store take a look at the Faiths. Virtually all of them have 2 tone tops. Other brands, I just don't really see it.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,874
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Feb 19, 2018 12:49:12 GMT
I think the Faith guitars tend to have Engelmann Spruce tops, which seem to be more prone to runout. This is from the Taylor website:
"Engelmann is also known as white, European or German spruce, although they are technically different species. It is usually visually distinguishable from Sitka by its creamier complexion. We're almost out of the “good stuff.” Engelmann trees these days are so small and twisted that we get a fair amount of runout (grain that doesn't run parallel to the surface) and as a result, mismatched tops."
I used to have a Johnson guitar with an Engelmann top, which had runout. I don't think it makes a huge amount of difference on cheaper guitars to be honest, although some may not like the way it looks.
|
|
|
|
Post by guzzler on Feb 19, 2018 16:45:32 GMT
Just adding on that my Faith Mercury Hi Gloss has this two tone look, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by jubbo on Feb 20, 2018 7:58:05 GMT
I think most Faiths do. As long as they sound great it's no issue.
When I was looking for my last guitar I tried a signature edition London Plane Tree. It's priced at £1500. Although the shop has had that particular guitar for sale for a long time, so a good deal may have been possible. I asked about the difference in colour on the top. The guy I dealt with didn't know about run out he said it was just the natural feature of the wood and it may settle down over time. That's when I noticed it on every Faith in the store to varying degrees.
I really do think it puts people off and is a major reason this guitar hasn't sold for that price.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,874
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Feb 20, 2018 10:28:54 GMT
This fella is not a fan of runout, I think it's fair to say! I'd be surprised if many guitars with runout on the tops have similar structural problems. I think it basically comes down to taste, concerns about re-sale value and the suspicion that the soundboard might not be top grade wood that puts people off. I must confess that I didn't notice it at first when I bought my Johnson guitar, but people did keep commenting on it, although not as much as about the bling on the headstock  It makes you wonder how many guitars with sunburst or other coloured finishes have runout that you just can't see. |
|
