Video Review: Stephen Marchione’s 14-fret OMC (Orchestra Model Cutaway)
A luxurious, modern OM from the Lone Star state
Video Review: Fender Paramount PM-3
This top-of-the-line guitar seems aimed toward a more refined, fingerpicking-based audience.
ADVERTISEMENT
Video Review: Waterloo WL-S and WL-S Deluxe by Collings Guitars
With both the WL-S and the WL-S Deluxe, Waterloo has borrowed an old form as the template for brilliant new guitars that are awesome by any yardstick.
Taylor 10e and 12e Academy Guitars Review
If I hadn’t had their spec sheets in front of me, I might not have known that a pair of new Taylor guitars were affordable instruments. The new Taylor Academy 10e dreadnought and 12e Grand Concert each sell for well under a grand with a deluxe padded gig bag. Both…
GEAR REVIEW: Bill Collings Revisits His Roots in the New T-Series of Acoustic Guitars [VIDEO]
The guitar inside the case—the OM1A T—is a force to be reckoned with. It’s beautifully crafted and, though newly built, has a mature sound and a phenomenal responsiveness.
ADVERTISEMENT
GEAR REVIEW: Martin Guitar Introduces 3 New Electro-Acoustic Models in Its Popular 16 Series [VIDEO]
C.F. Martin & Co. has added three new models to its popular 16 Series.
Video Review: The Hand-Built Boswell 00-14 Sparkles with Refined Tone and Articulation
Butch Boswell, a self-proclaimed “wood junkie,” is taking his 20 years of guitar repair skills and putting them toward building one-of-a-kind instruments that cater to his clients’ individual needs. Boswell builds guitars in small batches of two or three instruments at a time at his shop in Bend, Oregon.
Video Review: Batson’s Americana Is Innovative and Affordable
The Batson Americana is visually striking: The ebony fretboard, bridge, and tailpiece make a beautiful, chocolate-hued center line against the vanilla-shaded, solid Sitka spruce top; and the light-colored, solid mahogany back and sides have a honey-hued, koa-like sheen.
ADVERTISEMENT
Video Review: Taylor’s Revoiced 712e Is a 12-Fret Fantasy
The 712e 12-fret, a member of the newly refreshed 700 Series, is Taylor’s most recent variation on the Grand Concert platform. And it’s one sweet guita
Gear Review: Martin’s GPC15ME Is a Great Stage Guitar, Well-Suited for a Myriad of Musical Styles [Video]
There is a certain familiarity to the Martin GPC15ME—the rustic charm of all mahogany guitars that have a log-cabin-type appeal can inspire a gutbucket response.
Gear Review: Bourgeois’ L-DBO Delivers an Authentic Old-School Sound—and Much More [Video]
The latest in Maine luthier Dana Bourgeois’ line of fine steel-string guitars, the L-DBO is an incredibly playable tribute to prewar flattops like the Gibson L-00.
ADVERTISEMENT
Gear Review: Ovation Guitar Marks a Milestone with a Limited-Edition Icon [Video]
The real pleasure of Ovation's 50th Anniversary Limited-Edition Elite is its sound. The guitar is equipped with the company’s proprietary OP Pro Studio preamp and OCP1 high-output pickup.
Gear Review: Martin LE Cowboy Is a Collectible Triple-0 Acoustic Guitar with a Lively Voice [VIDEO]
The instrument has all the hallmarks of a great 000: a brilliant, piano-like response and a sound that’s distributed evenly across the frequency spectrum.
Gear Review: Guild Relaunches Its US-Built Acoustic Guitar Line with the M-20 [VIDEO]
Even though the M-20 is relatively unadorned—no binding, nor abalone nor mother-of-pearl inlays except in the “Guild” insignia on the head stock—its build is apparent in the quality of the woods, fret dressing, bone nut and saddle, and set up.
Gear Review: Michael Kelley Forte Port, a Bargain Acoustic Guitar at Under $300 [VIDEO]
At first glance, the Michael Kelly Forte Port might seem like nothing special. After all, it has laminated sapele back and sides, a two-piece mahogany neck, a nylon nut, black ply binding, and a sticker price of just $299.
ADVERTISEMENT
Guitar Review: Martin 00-18 Authentic 1931
This diminutive, slope-shouldered beauty has a warm and lively voice and is extremely responsive. It’s got a surprising amount of volume and projection for its size.
Review: PRS’ New Angelus SE A30E Sustains Interest
PRS’s Angelus SE A30E has got a lot going for it: top-notch playability and an agreeable voice that reproduces well thanks to its high-quality electronics.
Video Review: Washburn’s Woodline 10 Acoustic-Electric Is a Budget Beauty
This 14-fret Orchestra cutaway model—a total winner for the price—has an easy playability and a tight, focused sound that lends itself equally well to strumming and fingerpicking.
ADVERTISEMENT
Review: Martin’s 00L-17 Recalls Depression-Era Flattops
The 00L-17 sounds every bit as awesome as it feels. It’s got a lovely, uncluttered sound, heavy on fundamentals but with shimmering overtones and a nice natural reverb. The string-to-string balance is excellent, as are the projection and sustain. It’s definitely a more powerful instrument than would be expected of one of its size and scale length.
Review: A Small Guitar That Packs a Wallop—Andrew White Cybelle 1013W [VIDEO]
The Cybele was designed by Andrew White, a luthier known to experiment with body shapes, bracing patterns, and the like.
Blues Legend: Big Hollow’s Plainsman 00 Acoustic Guitar [VIDEO]
This new guitar has perfect intonation and a voice that’s warmer and richer than those of the vintage instruments that inspired the Plainsman Double 0.
ADVERTISEMENT
Martin’s All-Mahogany 00-15E Pairs Vintage Look, Modern Electronics
The 00-15E’s mahogany soundboard isn’t as excitable as spruce, but the guitar is responsive whether I’m playing gently or digging in with a pick. Single-note lines and complex chords alike are clear and brilliant up and down the neck.
Review: Paul Reed Smith SE A10E Is a Mahogany Acoustic-Electric with Balanced Tone
This guitar would make a no-brainer for an electric player looking for a comfortable acoustic
Review: Ovation Celebrity Standard CS24P-FKOA is a High-Tech Treehugger
The earthy koa soundboard on Ovation's Celebrity Standard Plus is a perfect match for the guitar's patented synthetic bowl-shaped body.
ADVERTISEMENT
Review: Don’t Be Fooled By the Larrivée OM-40R’s Understated Looks, It’s Got an Uncommonly Good Sound
It might not dazzle with its looks, but this guitar’s excellent sound and playability make it a serious contender among much more expensive instruments.