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Tomorrow arriving..


merseybeat1963

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http://www.acousticvibesmusic.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_11&products_id=1984

 

Used the proceeds of Studer Revox Reel to Reel sale to partly fund this 2009 Huss & Dalton but am biting my fingernails.

Ive liked to buy a H&D as it was the Lowden & these that I liked the most, in new guitars,when I last went out hunting in 2009.

Back then I went for a Braz/Adi Lowden F.

 

This specialist Acoustic Guitar shoppe in Arizona had a nearly identical Lowden(Braz/Bearclaw Sitka) to mine which I used as a referece to ask questions but the owner of the shoppe said he prefered this H&D to that Lowden.

So I selected it.

I kind of am getting it looking for a better sounding Martin..but It is very plain looking though

 

Unnervingly as I grilled the technician who was setting the guitar up,..he gave his approval on it but then said..

"the best sounding guitar that ever came out of here, was a Brazilian/Adirondack Lowden..now there is a guitar that definately is NOT a Martin. The overtones..etc" !

Echh!

 

The other guitars I was open to & had in my mind was a Gibson L5 Reissue 1934 Acoustic (used) if one came up... a short scale F Lowden in different woods...

Gibson J200 Vine (used) ..but that is in Japan & too much money even on sale .

 

Oh well if H&D is better sounding than Martin I will probably let Martin go dispite that great neck & looks.. I dont think having 4 acoustics is so sensible for myself.

Hope we're not disappointed.

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Among my acoustics I have both a 2012 Gibson SJ-200 Double Vine and a 2011 Martin Custom Shop D-45V which I special-ordered with a "Grade 8" Adirondack Spruce top and wide string spacing. My Huss & Dalton herringbone dreadnought (with Adirondack top and Brazilian Rosewood sides and back) is more than a match for either of them. The only acoustic that I own which might be better than my Huss & Dalton is a Froggy Bottom "H12 Limited Plus" with an Adirondack top, highest grade Brazilian Rosewood sides and back, and an MSRP of over $20K. I think (and I hope) you're going to love your new guitar.

 

Best wishes to you,

Jack6849

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Among my acoustics I have both a 2012 Gibson SJ-200 Double Vine and a 2011 Martin Custom Shop D-45V which I special-ordered with a "Grade 8" Adirondack Spruce top and wide string spacing. My Huss & Dalton herringbone dreadnought (with Adirondack top and Brazilian Rosewood sides and back) is more than a match for either of them. The only acoustic that I own which might be better than my Huss & Dalton is a Froggy Bottom "H12 Limited Plus" with an Adirondack top, highest grade Brazilian Rosewood sides and back, and an MSRP of over $20K. I think (and I hope) you're going to love your new guitar.

 

Best wishes to you,

Jack6849

 

Sounds like you could afford to go ahead and dump a couple of those 'beaters', Jack.

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Among my acoustics I have both a 2012 Gibson SJ-200 Double Vine and a 2011 Martin Custom Shop D-45V which I special-ordered with a "Grade 8" Adirondack Spruce top and wide string spacing. My Huss & Dalton herringbone dreadnought (with Adirondack top and Brazilian Rosewood sides and back) is more than a match for either of them. The only acoustic that I own which might be better than my Huss & Dalton is a Froggy Bottom "H12 Limited Plus" with an Adirondack top, highest grade Brazilian Rosewood sides and back, and an MSRP of over $20K. I think (and I hope) you're going to love your new guitar.

 

Best wishes to you,

Jack6849

 

Thank You Jack very nice of you to say

The Martin D42 Custom I ordered in 2004 has the premium adirondack..it was about $800 extra retail back then I think.Looks much better than the wide stuff they use (but nowhere near what Lowden uses in his premium thing).

May I ask how does the Gibson Vine sound to you ?

The two worst Bozeman Acoustics I ever played were both J45 Vine's..I found it strange..they both sounded deaf like Norlin Gibsons!

When I asked after the used J200 vine for sale in japan they said the guitar was very heavy due to the amont of ornament. Usually a bad sign excess weight.

Is it possible the ornament weights down the resonance?

All the Best

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My current Gibson SJ-200 "Double Vine", although encrusted with pearl-bordered and Abalone-filled inlays, is not particularly heavy and has great tone, which I attribute mostly to the obviously superior quality of its tonewoods, a AAA grade Sitka Spruce top and really flamey Maple sides and back. I'm surprised that the two "J-45 Vines" you played were so disappointing, but anything is possible with a Gibson.

 

Thanks for your reply. I'll be awaiting your assessment of your new Huss & Dalton.Hope it does not disappoint. From the picture, it looks like you're getting some beautiful Brazilian Rosewood. If the Adirondack top is as good, (and Huss & Dalton really does seem to match their best tops to their Brazilian Rosewood guitars), you should have a real keeper.

 

Nothing really sounds quite like a hand-made Brazilian Rosewood guitar with a Red Spruce top. Truly a classic combination, and probably the best tone producer of all time. Brings out the best in different types of string sets too.... (80/20 Bronze, Phosphor Bronze, coated strings... you name it... they all sound better on Brazilian/Adirondack guitars.) Have a great time getting into your new acquisition, and I hope this NGD is a very special day for you.

 

Jack6849

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My current Gibson SJ-200 "Double Vine", although encrusted with pearl-bordered and Abalone-filled inlays, is not particularly heavy and has great tone, which I attribute mostly to the obviously superior quality of its tonewoods, a AAA grade Sitka Spruce top and really flamey Maple sides and back. I'm surprised that the two "J-45 Vines" you played were so disappointing, but anything is possible with a Gibson.

 

Thanks for your reply. I'll be awaiting your assessment of your new Huss & Dalton.Hope it does not disappoint. From the picture, it looks like you're getting some beautiful Brazilian Rosewood. If the Adirondack top is as good, (and Huss & Dalton really does seem to match their best tops to their Brazilian Rosewood guitars), you should have a real keeper.

 

Nothing really sounds quite like a hand-made Brazilian Rosewood guitar with a Red Spruce top. Truly a classic combination, and probably the best tone producer of all time. Brings out the best in different types of string sets too.... (80/20 Bronze, Phosphor Bronze, coated strings... you name it... they all sound better on Brazilian/Adirondack guitars.) Have a great time getting into your new acquisition, and I hope this NGD is a very special day for you.

 

Jack6849

Thank You Jack

Usually the grading of the woods Ive been told is all about the looks..the ones the luthier sniffs out to get the tone has no additional grading but is most important. How the guy does this, whether he just looks & knows..taps..bends..weights..I don't know, but this is the main thing.

The J45 Vine I last tried is at a shoppe that used to be Victors House of Music..now its a G.Center(Yeech!) Some of the guys are still there & know me. When I asked for the Vine the guy just shook his head in disapproval. Just an absolute tank that thing was. And the one I tried at the Music Inn(NY) I think in 2005

was also bafflingly deaf. I figured it may be the ornament?

I recieved the H & D guitar & have been strumming it all day..I must say it is a lot less tiring playing electric guitars..Im exhusted...Im getting weak : )

I knew the moment I looked at the guitar that the top was responsive..lifted it & it is as light as can be. Scarily light & delicate. The thin notes dance around and the guitar sounds like even the neck is hollow. Each note has depth & over tones..

I have big ears (too big) & would have liked to hear the bass going down to subsonic depths that only dogs..& I , can hear , but the bass is good.

I prefer a short scale for easy feel but this was what was available & very worth the price shoppe owner reduced it to.The guitar is like brand new. I owe the original owner thanks..,he bought it & just didnt use it..!

It actually feels like a 30's Gibson not a Martin..the high notes are especially pretty on this thing.

The action is a little high & its just under pitch for now. And it looks nicer in person than the pictures which seemed bland as the figured maple binding is very nice as are the sides.I was after the Brazilian sound mainly but there are nice looks as well.

Thank you for your best wishes..it is a short life ,thanks to God for everything. Take Care.

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merseybeat63,

 

Thanks for the initial report. Slope shouldered dreadnoughts are beautiful and their uniquely-shaped sound chambers can often deliver truly awesome tone. It sort of sounds like this guitar must need a bit of a setup to reach its maximum potential for your total playing comfort. Like you, I prefer a low action and it takes the right setup to hit that sweet spot for maximum ease of playability with minimum impact on tone. Even with a little loss of volume, I'm still happiest when the action is low (preferably just a micron or two above the point of buzzing).

 

Earlier this year I bought a Dana Bourgeois "DB Signature OM" which has an Adirondack top and a Madagascar Rosewood back and sides. In his description of the model Dana Bourgeois talks about his process of tonewood selection. He says that for this "signature" model his first priority in the selection of the topwood was desirable tone, (i.e. not a classically beautiful grain pattern). I can easily believe that. Although the top of this OM looks fine, its sonic delivery is truly awesome.

 

On my Huss & Dalton "TDR Custom Brazilian Rosewood" the sound delivered by the top is also remarkable. I believe that most luthiers, when motivated by top quality Rosewood (including, of course, Brazilian) go out of their way to ensure that the guitar's top is their "tonally best" Spruce. Personally, I love Adirondack, and I feel very fortunate that it is currently available to buy.

 

Brazilian Rosewood is just in a class by itself. From your initial remarks about your new guitar, it seems that your first impression is pretty positive. Experimentation with different choices for strings may help you to get just the tonal balance you prefer. Good luck, and have a lot of fun with your new guitar.

 

Jack6849

 

p.s. Dana Bourgeois has an interesting video on-line about selecting guitar topwoods. Perhaps you've seen it... if not it's worth a look. Bonnie Lloyd, who works with him, is also very interesting (and friendly).

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merseybeat63,

 

Thanks for the initial report. Slope shouldered dreadnoughts are beautiful and their uniquely-shaped sound chambers can often deliver truly awesome tone. It sort of sounds like this guitar must need a bit of a setup to reach its maximum potential for your total playing comfort. Like you, I prefer a low action and it takes the right setup to hit that sweet spot for maximum ease of playability with minimum impact on tone. Even with a little loss of volume, I'm still happiest when the action is low (preferably just a micron or two above the point of buzzing).

 

Earlier this year I bought a Dana Bourgeois "DB Signature OM" which has an Adirondack top and a Madagascar Rosewood back and sides. In his description of the model Dana Bourgeois talks about his process of tonewood selection. He says that for this "signature" model his first priority in the selection of the topwood was desirable tone, (i.e. not a classically beautiful grain pattern). I can easily believe that. Although the top of this OM looks fine, its sonic delivery is truly awesome.

 

On my Huss & Dalton "TDR Custom Brazilian Rosewood" the sound delivered by the top is also remarkable. I believe that most luthiers, when motivated by top quality Rosewood (including, of course, Brazilian) go out of their way to ensure that the guitar's top is their "tonally best" Spruce. Personally, I love Adirondack, and I feel very fortunate that it is currently available to buy.

 

Brazilian Rosewood is just in a class by itself. From your initial remarks about your new guitar, it seems that your first impression is pretty positive. Experimentation with different choices for strings may help you to get just the tonal balance you prefer. Good luck, and have a lot of fun with your new guitar.

 

Jack6849

 

p.s. Dana Bourgeois has an interesting video on-line about selecting guitar topwoods. Perhaps you've seen it... if not it's worth a look. Bonnie Lloyd, who works with him, is also very interesting (and friendly).

 

 

Thanks so much Jack

I havent seen the video but I have read some really long writings by him a few months ago which have left a serious impression. And is very much a reason why I decided to get another Brazilian guitar (I have one other)

The efforts he describes to voice a top has partly fueled my complaints on this forum for Gibsons need of more attention & time in that area.To me the name Gibson is like the name Steinway & it should be up to that.

Though Ive played very few of his guitars I did focus on a few of his in addition to Santa Cruz,Collings,Breedlove,Gibson,Martin...& I found the most outstanding to be Lowden's & Huss & Dalton's..(also a 1929 Martin).

I think a lot of these exceptional tone woods are wasted in the mass production process as instruments are not tweeked to they're full potential. Its like the status symbol of it but it is there only superficially.

Im going to look for that video.Thanks.

 

It was interesting to read that you like your guitars set up to the point of a hint of buzz..that rattly hint of buzz is part of my playing.

This makes it kind of hard to zero in on the right guitars as they never come that low & by the time I get it down to that point just right in an acoustic, I sometimes end up with an acoustic not as good as I had thought due to dead resulting sound.

It must be a sort of Jazz players set up as oddly many used L5's Ive tried have that perfect low action .

 

The set up on this guitar is too high even though the guy did lower it before sending. Ill have to begin filing the saddle..The guitar is very responsive & light.

Ultimately the Shorter Scale version of this guitar possibly may have suited me more but hopefully lowering strings results in that rubbery feel,

Im happy & very fortunate to be able to own a guitar like this really that is fit for a prince.

 

It's good of you to buy the best & support that level of craftsmanship. When we are gone the good stuff will pass on and be of good use. In the past I tried to do the same but from here on Im getting a little old to grow up a brand new guitar. : )

The last 3 which I got all at once in 2009 were all new & as handmade as they offered.

Well All the best & health to you Jack

Sincerely

Nick

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http://www.acousticvibesmusic.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_11&products_id=1984

 

Used the proceeds of Studer Revox Reel to Reel sale to partly fund this 2009 Huss & Dalton but am biting my fingernails.

Ive liked to buy a H&D as it was the Lowden & these that I liked the most, in new guitars,when I last went out hunting in 2009.

Back then I went for a Braz/Adi Lowden F.

 

This specialist Acoustic Guitar shoppe in Arizona had a nearly identical Lowden(Braz/Bearclaw Sitka) to mine which I used as a referece to ask questions but the owner of the shoppe said he prefered this H&D to that Lowden.

So I selected it.

I kind of am getting it looking for a better sounding Martin..but It is very plain looking though

 

The 2 H & Ds I've heard have been superb. Can't wait to hear if it meets your expectations relative to Martin. Congrats, I'm sure you'll love it!!

 

Unnervingly as I grilled the technician who was setting the guitar up,..he gave his approval on it but then said..

"the best sounding guitar that ever came out of here, was a Brazilian/Adirondack Lowden..now there is a guitar that definately is NOT a Martin. The overtones..etc" !

Echh!

 

The other guitars I was open to & had in my mind was a Gibson L5 Reissue 1934 Acoustic (used) if one came up... a short scale F Lowden in different woods...

Gibson J200 Vine (used) ..but that is in Japan & too much money even on sale .

 

Oh well if H&D is better sounding than Martin I will probably let Martin go dispite that great neck & looks.. I dont think having 4 acoustics is so sensible for myself.

Hope we're not disappointed.

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The efforts he describes to voice a top has partly fueled my complaints on this forum for Gibsons need of more attention & time in that area.To me the name Gibson is like the name Steinway & it should be up to that.

 

I recently watched Pianomania (available on Netflix), which is a documentary about the selection and tuning of Steinway pianos for concerts. It's fascinating and speaks to how even a great instrument can be coaxed to deliver even more in the right hands.

 

Another really interesting movie is Note by Note, which is a documentary about the production of Steinway pianos in New York. The people working there are real craftsmen and the love of their job comes across quite nicely.

 

I don't play piano, but I think any musician would really enjoy both of these movies.

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Gibson is a business and a mass producer of guitars. Even in the past they only took this kind of care with their top of the food chain instruments like the J-200 and Super 400 of which only a hundred or so were made each year. They did things like hand carve the tone bars for each guitar based on the individual characteristics of the top wood. No two sets of tone bars were the same. But the regular production line instruments never got this kind of attention. But back then though they were still able to get old growth wood, kiln and air dry their own wood, and such.

 

Gibson knows that much of their customer base will pay more for a guitar with a wide grained Adi top guitar than one with a tight grained Sitka top with loads of silking because of the reputation of red spruce.

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I recently watched Pianomania (available on Netflix), which is a documentary about the selection and tuning of Steinway pianos for concerts. It's fascinating and speaks to how even a great instrument can be coaxed to deliver even more in the right hands.

 

Another really interesting movie is Note by Note, which is a documentary about the production of Steinway pianos in New York. The people working there are real craftsmen and the love of their job comes across quite nicely.

 

I don't play piano, but I think any musician would really enjoy both of these movies.

 

Im gonna see that one.

Another worthwhile movie for the musician to see is "The Red Violin".

A famed master violin maker in the 17th Century is in his work shoppe but then is summoned, as his wife is giving birth & in crisis.

She dies..he is so distraught..that he takes her blood,and mixing it in with varnish finishes his violin..and never makes another violin again.

The whole thing of it..anyway.

The film continues following the instrument through history.The main story is what happens around it. fantastic.

Finally it turns up at a major auction house..where the violin catches the attention of one of the experts(Samuel Jackson)who gets a feeling that this might be.. etc

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Hey,

 

 

Enjoy your new guitar merseybeat, she sounds like a beauty [thumbup] .

 

I have an adi and rw combo, and it sounds nice to my ears.

 

About the action, mines a little high, fine up to the 5th fret or so. I was reading somewhere that if you lower the action it takes away the tone, that's what's stopped me taking mine in for a set up. Well that and the fact I don't want to part with her for that long, lol.

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Hi Thanks Texas

It always takes time to really settle in a guitar.For me usually years : )

But here are first impressions.

 

Very responsive..it feels like every part of this guitar is producing sound.

It is all vibrating.

Bold & notes have overtoney reverb in the body. Thin strings are really clear & bass has really come up after hours of play.

 

When you play on the lower part of the neck & then up high, it has nearly the same exact volume..I think thats not usual.

It kind of is like what a new D28 would have been back in 1937..though it seems to look & feel more like a Gibson of that era.

 

The Martin (a very good one) sounds polite next to it..thin strings are a bit invisible..but the rest is tight silky,focused..and beautifull too

It is also older (2004/5) & used a little more as the H&D (2009) which looks totally unplayed!

 

It has not blown the Martin away in tone.

But the Martin is less vibratey.

Dana Bourgeois wrote..a D always sounds like a D..never like an OM..& an OM never sounds like ..etc,

But the H&D looks like in time & play will pull away.

 

The action on H&D is stiff & high right now with out my prefered strings on it but that usually gets settled with lowering saddle..usually...sometimes not. On the Martin I am flying all over the fingerboard (not making music..just flying)

I definately prefer the Black Ebony to the Doberman Brown of H&D fingerboard..but much prefer figured maple binding to plastic on neck..this is just looks though. H&D looks more historic with that Braz body.

Smell..dont under estimate smell. No contest..nothing smells as good as a Martin guitar.

 

My wife said the Martin sounds like it has some age on it...but concludes the H&D sounds about 30% better.

She says "that singer..(H&D)..has much more potential."

I think the difference is 15-20%.

But the Martin V neck with narrow width, flat ebony board & low frets is my thing on any guitar.

 

If I had to pick one to buy today I would select the H&D but maybe under terms that it be on approval of set up.

So there it is.

Both wife & I agree neither sounds as good as the Braz/Ad Lowden short scale F we have. (Could be due to body shape but I think its more like because Lowden since 2006 is in its golden era)

I think you will find a new H&D to sound better than a new Martin in most cases.

But if you can have more than one..10 more like it.. ; ) Get em all.

Take Care

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Hey,

 

 

Enjoy your new guitar merseybeat, she sounds like a beauty [thumbup] .

 

I have an adi and rw combo, and it sounds nice to my ears.

 

About the action, mines a little high, fine up to the 5th fret or so. I was reading somewhere that if you lower the action it takes away the tone, that's what's stopped me taking mine in for a set up. Well that and the fact I don't want to part with her for that long, lol.

 

Thanks : )

I see you have a J45 with that hyper nice rosewood..

Hopefully Ebony Fingerboard..?

How is it?

Theres something about having a guitar that good looking...that sounds great..but with the name Gibson on it.

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Smell..dont under estimate smell. No contest..nothing smells as good as a Martin guitar.

 

I might beg to differ on that one. To my nose, nothing smells like the combination of Honduras mahogany, red spruce, and nitrocellulose that I get when I open the case of my L-OO.

 

That, my friend, is positively intoxicating! Smells like history to me.

 

Now you've got me opening cases and sniffing my guitars. I hope my wife doesn't catch me doing this. She caught me surfing guitar porn last night, and just shook her head and left the room....

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I might beg to differ on that one. To my nose, nothing smells like the combination of Honduras mahogany, red spruce, and nitrocellulose that I get when I open the case of my L-OO.

 

That, my friend, is positively intoxicating! Smells like history to me.

 

Now you've got me opening cases and sniffing my guitars. I hope my wife doesn't catch me doing this. She caught me surfing guitar porn last night, and just shook her head and left the room....

 

Ah..I can almost smell it ..

When my wife is near by I stick it in front of her and say smell this..

I bet if a line of cologne was made this good it would sell..Martin fragences..Wood & Nitro ..only at Bloomingdales.

The Huss & Dalton I must say does not smell good ,its almost poisonous....maybe Ill leave the guitar out of the case for a few weeks as it must have been bought & hardly opened.

The Lowden smelled a lot like Spanish Cedar which I cant stand the smell of either..I wonder if he used that instead of mah for the neck. Or maybe its because these guys are not using nitro.

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I'm drooling over the Ren-built Brazilian AJ that dealer has listed....

 

It's a 1990, though. Would that be a Fullerplast finish rather than nitro?

 

I asked once I read this & was told about the Braz AJ ....guys are not in love with the Gibson AJ..its alright, but you are paying way too much in relation to what you are getting.

 

Ten Thousand dollars !..yeechs!..

before leaving the factory, it should have been worked on till it sounded as good as it looked.

Good for a person who can afford to pay a whole lot for just a pretty good sounding guitar that looks stunning.

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Ten Thousand dollars !..yeechs!..

before leaving the factory, it should have been worked on till it sounded as good as it looked.

Good for a person who can afford to pay a whole lot for just a pretty good sounding guitar that looks stunning.

 

Yeah, but it sure is purdy!

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  • 11 months later...

Yep.

 

-- Bob R

I know Poly finishes are impossible to "fix" once they've been dented or chipped, but how is "Fullerplast"? Can it be repaired like Nitro, or is it problematic like Poly??? To refinish a guitar is about $600-1000 locally, and aparently a big pain in the rear......Would it be worth it to remove a fullerplast finish? Any guys have guitars from this era??? How they holding up???

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