wineredrich Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Really starting to like this model. Perfect size. Beautiful, powerful sound. And the way it looks with the funky bridge, fretboard inlays, bound scroll point at the soundhole end of the fingerboard, even the pickguard. Priced pretty well too. Got to try one out at GC yesterday and it was great. Can't believe I'm starting to consider selling my D28 to get one of these but I am. I've had this classic straight braced Martin for 4 years and it just hasn't opened up the way I thought it would. Any songwriter owners out there care to share experiences pro and con? thanks. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I bought my SWD mainly as a gigging guitar in large venues, and it has delivered brilliantly in this respect. Plugged in the big bottom end and rich rosewood overtones, coupled with the Gibson growl can fill a room very well. Its a great rhythm guitar. The Prfix plus pickup is very good and combined with a fishman aura spectrum delivers a great, natural tone. Acoustically it also delivers a great tone, ini particular a wonderfull bottom end and good volume, not as much as an AJ though. The biggest disadvantage I found is that it really needs fresh strings as when the strings start to fade and the low E thump turns a bit mushy and muddy which I dont like. Its also a darn heavy guitar which took me a while to get used to and being a long scale the neck took me a bit of time to get used to after having short scale on all my other guitars. It definitely benefited from a full bone saddle, pins and nut treatment as then the clarity and projection increased which is critical for rosewood. I also like the way it sounds tuned down half a step and I usually keep it in that tuning unless I need to take it to a gig. Find it complements my mahogany Gibsons very well, but at the end of the day I know I will be a mahogany guy first as I like rosewood, but love mahogany. Hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelR Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I own a SWD Standard. It was the Studio model, played in the local music store that peaked my interest as well. I don't regret a thing about the purchase....and I have plenty of friends who own Martins and Taylors who freak when they play my guitar. If you can afford it, go for the standard model. Hide glue is used and, for me , I really like the look....it's a classier look to me than the studio ( I know you like the bridge on the studio.....the bridge on the standard is a bit more refined). As for the sound, it's well balanced and has the Gibson twang and soul when strummed. I play a lot of fingerstyle too and the overtones blow me away. As for price, I payed $2300. The studio would have been $1800, so it's a significant difference, but I'm extremely happy I made the choice for the standard model. I also got the guitar from a store who ordered it from the factory, so no other hands touched the guitar before I got it. the guitar was made in Feb of 2011 and I got it in March. So, as you can tell, a very happy owner here. Now, the HD 28 is also a great guitar, so if you can afford to keep it, you would have 2 great flavors there. In my opinion, If I had one to keep.......it would definitely be my SWD Standard. Best of luck to you and let us know when you get it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I have a Songwriter Deluxe. I guess it would be called the "studio" version now. I had sworn off Gibsons and was a happy Larrivee owner until I picked up this SWD. It is extremely rare that a guitar grabs you so immediately. I like everything about it; the look, feel and especially the sound. It is an extremely versatile instrument, handling aggressive strumming and light touch fingerstyle. I changed out the Element pickup for a LRBaggs iBeam and changed the pins and saddle to bone. If you find a good one, go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madman_Greg Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 . Plugged in the big bottom end and rich rosewood overtones, coupled with the Gibson growl can fill a room very well. Its a great rhythm guitar. The Prfix plus pickup is very good and combined with a fishman aura spectrum delivers a great, natural tone. Have read something similar to the above that EA wrote a few times on the forum And I am confused so perhaps someone can explain Sorry for hijacking the thread I had always assuming that when plugged in the sound from a guitar with an under saddle pickup was produced as follows string vibrates saddle transfers vibration to under saddle pickup where it is converted into an electrical signal OK so some vibration from the woods may end up affecting the saddle, but I had assumed this was very little and the sound largely came from vibrational energy transmission through the saddle and the pickup itself. And the guitar woods had little affect Perhaps someone can explain Madman Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Well, I might say it in a more simpler way. When I play my SWD and SJ the tone is very different with basically the same UST fishman pickup and an Aura Spectrum. To me there is no question the rosewood b/s provide a fuller, deeper sound than mahogany, while mahogany is dryer, woodier, basically much like when its played unplugged. Have read something similar to the above that EA wrote a few times on the forum And I am confused so perhaps someone can explain Sorry for hijacking the thread I had always assuming that when plugged in the sound from a guitar with an under saddle pickup was produced as follows string vibrates saddle transfers vibration to under saddle pickup where it is converted into an electrical signal OK so some vibration from the woods may end up affecting the saddle, but I had assumed this was very little and the sound largely came from vibrational energy transmission through the saddle and the pickup itself. And the guitar woods had little affect Perhaps someone can explain Madman Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarrr Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I've owned two D28s and two HD28s over the years. If you want the rich full tones of a riff players acoustic guitar, the SWD or AJ will cut doughnuts around the 28s. The Martins are great until you play hard and try to bring in the deep tones, they compress.... the deep tones go into an encircling band of mud. In 2005 I bought a new SWD, within a couple of years the thing took on a life of it's own. I don't use the electronics so I gave it to my son and got an AJ. With both, the more you try to kill them the better they get... play hard and a lot, you won't believe how they 'open-up' over time, with no mud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamgreg Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I recently (14th of February, 2011) got a new Songwriter Deluxe 12 String and I love it!!! I put a Colossi compensated bone saddle on it and keep it tuned down a whole step with mediums and it is a cannon. I can play it unplugged in small venues and theaters and it will project with both warmth and clarity all the way to the back of the room. I am saving for a new SJ-200 to go along with my L-200 but am seriously considering getting a SWD EC 6 String instead. Here's a video of me playing on it unplugged at Vicker's Theatre of Three Oaks, Michigan. http://www.youtube.c...C/1/yWgTwKnZJXs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph1050 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I have an '03 and I absolutely love it. It's a keeper for life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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