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Martin D-18GE "Golden Era" submitted 12/28/2008
Submitter	Guitarplr1975 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	My Favorite Guitars
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	3400.00 ($US)
Sound	This is my very first NEW guitar and I was concerned about getting a "dud". I asked that the seller (Jon Garon) to pick me a great sounding box and he did. The D-18GE has a great "bright, yet adds just enough "bass" to be heard.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	The D-18GE came ready to play and setup perfect..No adjustments were needed to make this guitar turn heads. I did change the strings to medium gauge. That eliminated some VERY minor buzzing...
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	The D-18GE is typical of the Martin quality and appearence. This is a perfect guitar.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	The D-18GE came stock with Waverly tuners and scalloped braces from the 1934 specs. This guitar also came with bone nut and saddle / bridge. This contributes to the great sound.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	www.myfavoriteguitars.com (MFG) is a great company to deal with. Jon Garon is a guitar player and MFG is the 6th largest Martin dealer in the nation. Jon sell hundreds of Martins world-wide and is a great guy to boot.
Customer Service	10
Components	All the parts on the guitar are very high quality....
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I love this guitar......I have set my 1951 D-28 aside to pick this guitar.....
Overall Rating	10

Martin OMCX1KE submitted 11/27/2008
Submitter	backline steve (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Guitar Showcase, Bascomb Ave. San Jose, CA
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	649 ($US)
Sound	Good all around sound similiar to mahogany sides and back OM pattern guitar, but uses HPL (High Pressure Laminate) sides and back with a solid spruce top. I use it for all styles from Travis picking to Flatpicking Jazz; Blues; Country; Gospel; R&B; Soul; and original Folk instrumentals. OM's are great for fingerpicking with the wide 1.75" nut, but I use it for various pick styles a lot too since it's my only acoustic guitar presently. I can play some of the simpler flatpick instrumentals like "Irish Washer Woman," but my forte is with more commercial sounds like Pop, Showtunes, Gypsy Jazz, etc. It has a nice crisp punch acoustically when whammed on for rhythm duties but note separation for chord solos is sufficient for that style and various others too. I don't play the standard repertoire showcase flatpicking style much, but individual lines ring out well and the sustain doesn't fall all over itself, though the body has typical flat-top wolf tones splashing around in there like reverb if you don't damp them out. When I play out it's usually dinner-Jazz, or contemporary church Worship music through a little amp with a link out to a P.A. The onboard Fishman Classic 4T is pretty good, though I have trouble getting the under saddle pickup over to the treble end of the slot under the high E, so that string is generally a bit attenuated. Not terribly but I can hear the difference. I install a rubber "FeedBack Buster" soundhole plug to mitigate feedback when using it plugged in. This guitar holds up pretty well to whammin' on it and the sound doesn't start blowing apart with 12's until you're getting a lot of elbow into it. I sometimes think it sounds quite a bit like a Larrivee D-03.
Sound Rating	8
Setup	As I recall it was fine as purchased, but I immediately went down to 11's because my fingers were wimpy and out of shape from years of electric guitar jobs. For traditional flatpicking chores, the wider string spacing might seem slow for some guys, but it helps my accuracy a little. I'm not Tony Rice by any stretch. The truss rod adjustment is functional and the neck can be adjusted concave (with the strings on) or convex with it. Works good and responds predictably. I trimmed the edges of the fret ends on the treble side with a fine file and buffed the frets and fret ends with a Dremel and some jeweler's rouge, not that the frets or ends were bad but I like a "broken in" feel. I eventually replaced the Tusc saddle with a bone one and lowered the action a bit. I'll go up in string gauge when my fingers are in better shape. I've been doggin' it for a while (and my chops show it). Intonation is good with the string sets I've used (Martin standard PB in 11's, and Darcos in 12's).
Setup Rating	7
Appearance	I like the HPL Koa look with a nice straight grained satin finish spruce top. The Indian rosewood fretboard and bridge tie the top, sides, and laminate neck together visually, while offering some mild contrast too. Since it's unbound I think it looks better without a pickguard for a more modern monochromatic vs traditional look. It has the Schoenberg style cutaway common on Martin cutaway OM's now. It's basic but I like that. It's stock with no pickguard, so I applied some clear tape to keep pick scratches off the front as well as dirt where my fingers rest on the face. It's utilitarian and simply appointed. Real working class stuff but that appeals to me. I guess I relate to simple proven designs. I don't care about frills.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	I don't worry about it at all. It's made to be played, and the HPL seems like a nuclear isotope proof laboratory counter top. Naturally the top needs to be protected and there's no reason to see just HOW well the fingerboard responds to humidity changes. Outside of a steel National, this is maybe the most durable acoustic out there besides a totally HPL Martin.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	Joe McNamara is the local regional Martin rep and he is great (plays a mean guitar too). Martin has a full lifetime warranty to the original owner for defects in materials and workmanship (including neck resets), but you have to be able to prove you're the original owner (sales receipt is fine) at the time of repair. Believe me, having had a used '76 D-18 that needed a neck reset when I had no dough, I will be VERY careful to retain my original owner's sales receipt in a safe place for the next 30 or so years.
Customer Service	9
Components	Good nut and saddle material, as opposed to some competitor's plastic at this price level. The sound of the HPL back/sides seems crisp and reflective. The glue-lam neck is stable and I love the feel and shape. It's beefy but not sloppy fat. Tuners are sealed mini-Gotohs I think, and work well. The fingerboard isn't too oily. I shoot it with FingerEase to slick it up some. I've seen better, and worse. I see a lot of ad copy about the premium woods being reserved for the upline models, but there's nothing "less than" about the top on this one. It's satin finished straight grained solid spruce with perhaps a hint of tint.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	Love the hand filling neck shape. It's oval with a hint of V. I'd definitely recommend it for playing out where you don't want to risk a nice lacquered or more fragile guitar, yet still want something with good response and playabilty. I also tried out a full HPL Martin dread with cutaway, but it sounded a bit "funny" and compressed, acoustically. Intriguing though. The solid spruce top in this guitar makes a big difference. Someday maybe I'll have another lacquered Martin, but this will suffice for all my needs now and for the foreseeable future as long as I am still sometimes putting my guitar in harm's way on band stands, or REALLY dangerous places like church, with uncontrolled kids running around, screaming, and orbiting through the place like little hellions during rehearsals and between services, etc. I always thought a couple of the 15 series models or the Standard series Martins were the least I would want. This one was built in Mexico! EEeeeeewww! But once past that, I have to admit that as a cheap alternative to a "real" Martin, a Martin can be a cheap enough alternative to its own upline stuff. It manages to please me when couch noodling too, which is what I do mostly now anyway. I play this a lot. There's nothing I don't like about it. If I don't get rich this could be my last guitar, and that would be ok with me.
Overall Rating	9

Martin D-18 submitted 11/13/2008
Submitter	robin jones (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Jubilee Music
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Sounds like a million dollars, as any "real" Martin should.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	They put light strings on it when I bought it. All it need was to have mediums put back on and the buzzes were mostly eliminated. It still has a few but they're very minor and the authorized Martin repairman is talking about lowering, not raising, the already low action.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	I love it. Beautiful red mahogany. Nice spruce top with with several bear claws.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	Seems like it'll survive a nuclear attack.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Haven't dealt with Martin and hope I don't have to. Still, the lifetime warranty is a big plus for me.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	Top-shelf all the way.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	Just a beautiful, great sounding ax. The only way to improve it is to play it and let it age.
Overall Rating	9

Blueridge Carter Stanley BR-160 submitted 11/5/2008
Submitter	rhssaxplayer (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased
Year Purchased	2006
Price Paid	1200 ($US)
Sound	I play mostly Bluegrass, thus the BR-160 is most suitable for my musical taste. It is an extremely loud guitar, being based on the exact design of Carter Stanley's personal guitar, a Martin D-28. Though mainly suited for bluegrass, the bright sound extends it's versitality into other genres as well.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	The guitar was setup to the best of player's specification. I made minor modification myself, but that was to suit my individual needs.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	Very beautiful guitar. Just simply beautiful wood in every aspect. The two-piece back simply adds to the beauty of this instremunt as well as the abalone hexagonal inlay in the fret-board. Simply "breathtaking", I have been told.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	I have had the guitar for a while now, and have had good luck with it- No finish wear, etc. I think it is reliable enough to use on a gig w/o a backup.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service
Customer Service	not rated
Components
Components Rating	not rated
Overall Comments	I Love this guitar, as you probably can tell... This guitar is a good as any Martin ive played (and for $2000 less, i might add).
Overall Rating	10

Blueridge BR-0S submitted 10/7/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Janet Davis Music
Year Purchased	1999
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Not bad for a cheap guitar, but not enough bottom end for my taste. Medium volume level.
Sound Rating	6
Setup	Action was a little high. I removed the saddle to lower it and there was a plastic shim under it that I removed and I just replaced the saddle.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	It had the dull lacquer finish that I do not find appealing, but there were no flaws in it. It was obviously made of plywood as the inside grain on the back and sides looked like mahogany, but the outside grain appeared to be rosewood. A plain Jane looking guitar.
Appearance Rating	7
Reliability	It has held up very well and sounds a little better with age. The current owner is a friend of mine.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	Never dealt with them.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	Nothing outstanding, but it does what it is supposed to do. If I still had it, I might consider replacing the saddle with real bone.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	It’s a decent guitar, but not outstanding. Certainly not the best Blueridge I have ever played. I originally bought it as a present but it was rejected and replaced by an electric guitar, so I sold it. I’m not looking to replace it.
Overall Rating	7

(Dave) Sturgill Carolina 300 submitted 10/6/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Mountain View Guitar Shop
Year Purchased	1976
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	It had a great sound. Very loud and leads cut through a bluegrass band great.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	The setup worked, but the unique A-shaped saddle could be difficult to change or re-position for proper intonation.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	It was a beautiful Birds-eye Maple back and sides. Plain dot inlays in the neck.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	The only problem I ever had with it was the neck. It bowed and twisted.
Reliability Rating	5
Customer Service	They were made in Piney Creek NC and the first time the neck bowed and twisted I took it back personally and because they could not straighten the neck, kept the guitar and installed a new maple neck in it. Once I got it back that new neck also warped after a short time. I returned it again, and they were unable to straighten it. They refused to replace the neck again claiming it was my fault the neck warped. Pissed me off and I sold it and never had anything good to say about them again.
Customer Service	2
Components	The maple necks would not stay straight and warped or twisted.
Components Rating	5
Overall Comments	It was a beautiful, powerful guitar, but because of a warped neck and poor customer service, I sold it and never dealt with them again. I understand they are no longer in business.
Overall Rating	4

(Dave) Sturgill Carolina submitted 10/6/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Mountain View Guitar Shop
Year Purchased	1976
Price Paid	Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	It had a great sound. Very loud, comparable to a D28 Martin in sound.
Sound Rating	8
Setup	The setup worked, but the unique A-shaped saddle could be difficult to change or re-position for proper intonation.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	It had very pretty rosewood back and sides. Plain dot inlays in the neck. It also had a very large white “S” inlayed in the head stock for Sturgill that I though was ugly and very gaudy.
Appearance Rating	7
Reliability	Never had a problem with the guitar.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	It was used and not under warranty. They were made in Piney Creek NC. I had a problem with another brand new Sturgill I owned that was supposed to be under a lifetime warranty that they refused to repair a warped neck in. I never had anything good to say about them again.
Customer Service	2
Components	The unique A-shaped saddle could be difficult to change or re-position for proper intonation.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	It was a powerful guitar, but because I had a new Sturgill (I thought) under a lifetime warranty I sold this one. Because of poor customer service, I never dealt with them again. I understand they are no longer in business.
Overall Rating	7

Ovation Balladeer submitted 10/6/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Mountain View Guitar Shop
Year Purchased	1974
Price Paid	255.00 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	It was a very loud guitar. It was the first acoustic guitar that I ever bought and I used to mostly to play bluegrass with and it projected very well in a band.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	I never made any changes to it. It worked for me as it was.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	It was a plain looking Ovation with a natural finished top.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	I never had any problems with it.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	Never dealt with them other than to report it stolen in 1974.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	The neck really impressed me at the time. Beautiful wood and played sweet. I was also impressed with the durability of the (then unique) back construction and the way it projected to an audience.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	I have always like Ovation guitars, but the bowl back has become a problem fitting against my belly in my old age. When it was stolen (13960) from Radford College in 1974, I replaced it with a new Sturgill maple guitar.
Overall Rating	8

Yamaha FG-365S submitted 10/6/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	individual
Year Purchased	2004
Price Paid	80.00 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	It sounded weak, but had a good tone. It had an under saddle piezo pickup that sounded thin and electric.
Sound Rating	4
Setup	It had a beautiful set up and played like a dream.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	Very pretty rosewood guitar with a nicely aged lacquered finish.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	Never had a problem with it.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	It was used and not under warranty. I never deal with the company.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	I did not like the sound of the under saddle pickup, but it worked well as did everything else on the guitar. I replaced the worn plastic pins with new ones.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	It was a good guitar that played excellent. It had a good tone, but was very weak in the volume department, perhaps because it was heavier that my other acoustic guitars. The piezo pickup made it sound like a hollow body electric guitar. A great beginner or intermediate guitar well worth the price.
Overall Rating	7

Gibson J-35 submitted 10/5/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Grandpa Smith's Music Store
Year Purchased	1976?
Price Paid	250.00 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	I've always loved the sound and volume of this guitar, but especially the wide neck. I do not like narrow thin necks. Most Gibson acoustics I had played up to then were pretty weak in the volume department, but this one was a real hoss. It had issues when I acquired it, but over the years I have gotten it pretty close to the way I like it.
Sound Rating	8
Setup	Sadly the guitar was hanging in the music store with the bridge pulled up, the tuner buttons were crumbling, cracks in the sides and back, frets worn out, decals on the top and deep gouges in the back of the V neck where someone had used a screw-down capo without a pad and dug holes into the neck with the screw. It had been played so much the top looked like Willie Nelson’s guitar, but without the holes. My friend and luther Mark Richard repaired it for me after I bought it. It is far from original, but it does not matter to me, as I never intend to sell it. I call her Maybelle and she has been my picking companion for many years now. I only replaced her with a new Martin a few years ago, because she looked so rough and worn out and was irreplaceable to me if anything should happen to her.
Setup Rating	1
Appearance	This is an ugly duckling, but it was a nice looking box in its day. The top is scratched and worn badly and I’ve never had it refinished. There are still shadows of some foxhunt decals on the top that I removed. The mahogany back and sides have faded an unbecoming orange color. Even the Gibson painted script logo on the headstock is half worn off
Appearance Rating	2
Reliability	The guitar now is very dependable and reliable, dispite the thin finish, cracks and scratches. Heck, I’ve used over 30 years now and played it outside in the rain, sun and even snow and it has never let me down.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	I bought is used, so I have no warranty. It has no serial number either, so it is difficult to date it as well.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	Since this guitar was (best guess) made about 1937, the only thing I can complain about were he plastic on the tuner buttons that did not last.
Components Rating	6
Overall Comments	I have seen a similar guitar, but all original and in good shape sell on eBay for over $10k. So somebody likes them beside me. If it were stolen I would probably replace it with a Gibson Advanced Jumbo in rosewood that Gibson currently makes today. I’ve seen some Martins that were louder and a few that weren’t in shear volume. The tone is very balanced and decays quickly like most old guitar often do. The wide neck is something I very seldom see on new guitars today. I love a wide neck. That alone would be hard for me to replace in a modern guitar. I’ve heard louder guitars, deeper guitars and guitars that played better, but I’ve gotten so used to this one, I’ve never liked anything else better.
Overall Rating	8

Fender FR-50CE submitted 10/5/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Traded with an individual from Trading Post Magazine
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	This sounds like it is supposed to sound. It is probably not the loudest resonator guitar around, but it is louder than a normal acoustic and has a nice tone. It was a third control to blend the magnetic pickup with the piezo pickup which makes feedback an easier issue to deal with when plugged in.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	It was set up OK when I got it, but I lowered the action some and put smaller strings on it to use mostly electrified. It did not seem to greatly affect the volume or tone as I feared it would. It does have a very narrow neck, which I do not like, but plays as easily as an electric guitar.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	It is a pretty guitar with nicely done and tasteful inlay. Fit and finish is clean.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	I have no issues with it. Everything seems well made.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	It is used, so there is no warranty.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	The neck is well made, but narrower than I like. Great action. The chrome plating seems to be holding up very well and the internal pickups sound very good.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	It is good guitar for the money I got in it. Other than the small neck, I have no complaints about it. If it were stolen I probably would not replace it. It is a neat sound for some songs, but not something I need. Only reason I got it was it was a good deal in a trade, I was not looking for a resonator guitar. I’ll probably sell or trade it off sometime.
Overall Rating	8

CFM Mitchell MD-100B (E) submitted 10/5/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	eBay
Year Purchased	2006
Price Paid	$75.00 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	It has a thin sound typical of cheap guitars. However I have added an internal mic and it does and excellent job as an amplified stage guitar. I give it an 8 when it is plugged in.
Sound Rating	5
Setup	It was set up very well when I got it. Only thing I’ve changed is the addition of an internal mic, sound hole cover and strap button.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	It has a painted black finish with white binding that looks really good.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	I have not had any problems with the guitar and seems well made.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	It is used and does not have a warranty. I understand these are made for The Guitar Center overseas.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	I like the fit and finish and the neck is well made. The wooden top is probably poor quality due to its thin acoustic sound, but I bought it to electrify and it does that job very well.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	For the money these are well made guitars with a nice neck in them. Acoustically they sound like a cheap guitar, but once I added an internal mic/pickup it sounds as good as any guitar through an amp. Which is what I wanted it for. It has a nice neck and a good finish, so it plays good and looks good on stage. It is cheap and easy to replace if something every happens to it. I’m not sure if I would replace it with another Mitchell guitar if it was stolen, but I might. I don’t think they come in black anymore.
Overall Rating	7

Mitchell 34 SG12M submitted 10/5/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	eBay
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	It is a cheap guitar and bought as a gift or to resell. Sounds thin with a dull foggy finish.
Sound Rating	4
Setup	It had a high action. I had to lower the nut and the saddle.
Setup Rating	6
Appearance	The finish looks like it has water damage, but seems solid other than the foggy look of the top. It has a mahogany top and sides.
Appearance Rating	3
Reliability	The only problem I see is the bridge is pulled up from the top a small amount in the rear. However it has never moved any since I have had it and plays fine.
Reliability Rating	6
Customer Service	It is uses and not under warranty. I’m not sure who made it or sold it originally either. It says M&M Music in Ft. Worth TX on the inside label. It is probably made overseas for as this stores brand.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	Parts seem well made and put together well, but the finish and bridge are it’s biggest drawbacks.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	It would be a good beginner guitar or to use as I do, just to sit in the corner gathering dust to pick on when the notion strikes me. It did not cost me much and would be a great camping, river-rafting, loaner and general knock around guitar that I would not be very worried about it if something did happen to it.
Overall Rating	5

Martin D-35 submitted 10/4/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Don's Music City
Year Purchased	1998
Price Paid	1665.00 ($US)
Sound	When I made up my mind to buy a new guitar, I always took along my old Gibson J35 to compare it to. I was not going to buy a new guitar if I could not find one that was better than my old one. When the salesman cut it out of the plastic and I played this D35 Martin I was sold. I had to have it. Loud, crisp and a bass that just boomed.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	I’m sad to say the set up was awful. Played like a barbed wire fence. One of the first things I did was lower the nut and the bridge. I later replaced the micarta saddle with bone and later replaced that with an ivory saddle. Both the bone and the ivory brought out the highs and boosted the volume more. I replaced the pins with bone as well. I also replace the pickguard with tortoise color.
Setup Rating	5
Appearance	No flaws in the wood or the finish. I did stain the ebony darker, but just because I like the darker color. I was a little disappointed in the center V on the back of Rosewood in that it looks like the grain is going slightly sideways and not straight from end to neck.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	The finish seems fine. No problems.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	Never had a problem that involved the company. I believe it has Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	The micarta nut and saddle are a cheap substitute for real bone.
Components Rating	6
Overall Comments	It is difficult to beat a Martin in sound and resale value. It only took a few inexpensive modifications to bring up it to my personal setup that I prefer, which I understand is why Martin does not go to great lengths to set up their guitars, because they know the new owner will always change something. If it were stolen, I would go out, buy another one and modify it just like this one. I love the guitar, but I have noticed I am more careful with it than I ever was with any other guitar I’ve owned. There are a lot of great guitars being made and many much fancier, but I haven’t found any new ones I’d trade this one even money for yet.
Overall Rating	9

Epiphone Masterbuilt AJ500M submitted 9/24/2008
Submitter	illinoishillbilly (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Guitar Center
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	450 ($US)
Sound	Loud, warm and well balanced. Excellent tone and very responsive to picking dynamics. All strings, even the B string ring loud and true with good sustain. Tone, tone, tone. This guitar has it in spades.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Setup was average, medium high at the 12th fret. Intonation was spot on. Lowered the action a hair by filing the nut about a 16th of an inch and added Tusq bridge pins.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	Tastefully decorated, glossy polyester finish, no flaws anywhere except slight rub marks from the hanger at the store.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Quality Waverly open back tuners, bone nut and saddle. Finish is typical polyester of average thickness, should hold up well. The tone is so good as it is but I wonder how much better it would be with a lacquer finish..... I would never go anywhere without a backup, but this guitar is built as well as anything else out there regardless of price.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Lifetime warranty. Haven't had to deal with them.
Customer Service	10
Components	Bone nut and saddle are excellent for tone. The only thing that I didn't like where the bridge pins, poor fitting cheap plastic, replaced them with Tusq pins and may try bone at some point
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	I would recomend this guitar even if it cost more than it did. The tone and quality are outstanding for the price. A lacquer finish would be nice but hard to find at this price. If it was lost or stolen I would cry first and then go buy another. I played a Martin D18, thinking that was what I was going to buy, this guitar blew it away, seriously. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. Play one and you will see what I mean.
Overall Rating	10

Yamaha FG-300 submitted 9/20/2008
Submitter	mainejohn (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Denver, Colorado
Year Purchased	1972
Price Paid	175 ($US)
Sound	Loud and bright. Certainly not as rich and mellow as my '99 D-28, but that's apples and oranges. A very durable, attractive, playable guitar for the money.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	Set up was fine. It was a gift from a friend in 2005. I had loaned him the $175 to buy it new in 1972 and was with him when he bought it. It sat in his closet for years, and was seldom played.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	Back and sides appear to be rosewood...I could be wrong. Excellent shape for a 36 year-old that spent much of its life in Colorado with no measures taken to keep it humidified.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	Hardware functions perfectly after 36 years. Finish is in excellent condition.
Reliability Rating	not rated
Customer Service
Customer Service	not rated
Components
Components Rating	not rated
Overall Comments	I don't play it much, but it has alot of sentimental value. A great guitar for traveling. One that I would let my kids take to a party. (well...maybe not)
Overall Rating	8

Guild A-25 [1994] submitted 9/17/2008
Submitter	kimmattis123 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	CA House Music, St Clairsville, OH
Year Purchased	2000
Price Paid	400 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	It sounds great. NOT really loud, the A-25 is a small bodied guitar [like a Martin 00] but it has that Guild even balance over the strings.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	When i got it it was owned for a few months by a guy who wanted a fingerpicker, this guitar is not that, flatpicked it was set up prefectly, I never touched a setting. GREAT action.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	LOVE the classic Guild look [ only smaller] Rosewood tailpiece and fingerboard [ the A-50 an even rare model has ebony] Full GLOSS finish. workmanship made in America, fit and finish 100%.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	I've had it since 2000 -it was almost new when I got it, it has some small wear spots on the neck by the nut, that had to be refinished [ but with some heavy use] other than the dings I put into it, its still 100%, I never had to fix or even change anything but the strings.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	The orig. Guild went out of business, Fender now imports Guilds, I never had to contact them but Fender I have, and they have been pretty good about things. So I'm guessing that the CS will be ok.
Customer Service	7
Components	No weak parts. Great tuners [gold plated] Mahogany with spruce top, Rosewood fretboard and tail. Face plate on neck with Guild logo matches the rosewook. Its a joy.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	For what I paid [$400 and the Guild HS case was worth $100] it was a steal. Its not a dreadnaught by any means. I play bluegrass and its a bit thin in a jam [ no pickups installed ] but when you get to the mike it sings.
Overall Rating	10

Goya by Martin G-335 submitted 9/17/2008
Submitter	kimmattis123 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Flea market
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	150 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	It sounds pretty good. It's a weird model. Its a lot like a Martin Sigma Dreadnaught [ in fact almost identical ] BIG booming sound, Sounds like a "D"
Sound Rating	7
Setup	Setup was good [ for a flea-marketer] it rattles a bit up the neck around 12/14 and I've been working on that.
Setup Rating	6
Appearance	Looks good, It looks like a copy of a Martin D-35/D-42,[ the regular Sigma is more like a D-18] Mother of somthing inlay all over the neck and headstock. Spruce top [solid], Magohany back and sides -bookmatched. Gold plated hardware. Fit and finish were great, Nice high gloss finish.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	Dont know, Martin bought Goya and started to make these in Korea with the Gibson type 335 number? I've never seen another, Its very solid and Sigma like.
Reliability Rating	7
Customer Service	Who knows? Does Martin even recoginize this model? Martin's CS is GREAT but this? And from a flea-market? 50/50. Its not made anymore [ why make 2 sigmas?] I'm not sure why they made this model.
Customer Service	5
Components	Wood is good, inlay work is very good, tuners are asian fair quality, gold plating is thin. Wood workmanship is very good and its a very solid import guitar. GREAT beater. BIG neck, baseball bat thick.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	When my daughter said she was buying a Martin from a flea-market I cringed. but its a nice import guitar. People [esp, Martin people] just stare at it - its so Martin like but says Goya on the faceplate. No real case I had to buy a good one. IF stolen where would I get another? The guy wanted $200 but we got this for 150. Used Sigmas go for around that and more, so it was a pretty good deal. Made in early 90s. I think.
Overall Rating	8

Larrivee D03R submitted 9/13/2008
Submitter	crewdog151 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Atlanta Premier Guitars
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	1100 ($US)
Sound	The sound is awesome. Perfect balance! Could be a touch louder but tone and balance totally make up for a little volume.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	The setup was in fact perfect, I played a 6k guitar today at the same shop that didnt play as well!
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	This guitar has a satin finish which took a min to warm up to but love it now!
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	havent had to deal with c/s but I've heard from others its good too.
Customer Service	9
Components
Components Rating	not rated
Overall Comments	I would absolutly recommend a Larrivee for anyone! These guitars blow away Taylor and Breedlove, which were my favs before I played Larrivee..... Do yourself(and your wallet) a favor before you buy your next guitar and play a Larrivee, You wont regret it!
Overall Rating	10

Recording King RD-26 submitted 9/8/2008
Submitter	HD28 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Cliff Fitch (Fitch Banjos)
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	300.00 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	This guitar has solid Mohog. back and sides with a solid spruce top. The sound is compariable to a D-18 that I use to own. It is very loud due to the higher action on it with not a lot of bass response. This guitar has great mids and highs which makes it very bright but great sounding for flatpicking in my opinion.
Sound Rating	8
Setup	The guitar had what I think was a factory set up on it with the action being a tad high. I bought this guitar for a beater and will experiment on it over time.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	This is a catagory that is in the eye of the beholder but I think the guitar is very pleasing to look at. Most folks do not like the pickguard but it dont really bother me to much. I did not notice any flaws of any consern right off the bat. This guitar as most that I have heard about does have a little belly below the bridge but not as much as some I have talked to. I do not care for the headstock logo and crown I would like to see something else on the headstock, I will prob. in time sand it down to nothing.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	Hey what can you expect for a PacRim guitar. This one is one of the better ones in my opinion, but could use some new tuners. I will play it till it falls apart.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	I bought this guitar used from Cliff Fitch who is a banjo maker in TX. I have had great communication with Cliff and he has done a great job keeping me informed via email during the entire sale of the guitar. I will not return the guitar for any reason but I am sure Cliff would do his best to make anything right. Kudos to Cliff!
Customer Service	10
Components	Nothing really stands out on this guitar as extrodinary. It is a basic D-18V copy with SOLID Wood. It has a modified V-Neck and a volute at the headstock. I do not like the cheap tuners and will upgrade them and I will change out the bridge pins to ebony to get a less bright sound out of her.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	I think for the money you will not go wrong with this guitar no matter what you do. A solid wood guitar that sounds great for around $500. oo new and used for cheaper. This will make a great guitar for anyone wanting a backup or a beater or someone wanting their first guitar. I do enjoy playing this guitar to is fullest and I will play it till it falls apart.
Overall Rating	10

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