guitars for women

Subject: guitars for women
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 05:03 PM

I'm thinking of getting a new guitar (electro-acoustic). Budget limited sub £300. I've played a big acoustic Aria for the past 15 years, bought without advice and I've always had a love/hate relationship with it - it's never been the easiest thing to play. I'd like something smaller both in looks and in ease to play for small hands.

I play a Daisy Rock Heartbreaker electric which is great because it is designed for women - it has a narrower neck, but I don't like the design of their electro-acoustics. I've also used a Dean Playmate which is a great sounding travel/child's guitar, but can't cope with a capo about second fret due to its short scale. Any ideas or advice greatly welcomed.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Rapunzel
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 05:08 PM

Sorry - that above post was from me Rapunzel - not my other half, Sedayne - who is not a woman and does not want info on guitars! I forgot to log him out before I signed up!

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 05:09 PM

My late wife was tall (5 foot 8) but not skeletally large. She played a dreadnought until her death, one with a wide flat-ish neck.

Choose the guitar for the sound you want.

Buy second-hand. Taste and try, before you buy.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 05:22 PM

I always find the sight of a woman playing a large guitar slightly bizarre.

I am probably the most ardent Emmylou Harris fan in the known universe, but I always wished she would take a leaf out of Joan Baez' book and play a small Martin rather than that gigantic J200 ...

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 10:40 PM

I tried to help my grown daughter pick a guitar a few years ago. I found a parlor sized Art & Luthrie with a solid cedar top and a great sound but she said that she found it too small and she picked a dreadnought of the same make. She got a good buy and a great sounding instrument without my help and it was right for her. The Art & Luthrie cedar tops are inexpensive, come in different sizes, and are a good buy. For a bit more its sibling brands, Simon & Patrick, Seagull, and Norman are worth considering as well.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Melissa
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 10:59 PM

I've never played a small-body guitar that didn't feel like a toy. I'm not shopping, but I'll sure be watching this thread to see what everybody says.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Janie
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 11:27 PM

Have you considered a small-bodied Martin?

Janie

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 12:02 AM

Martin 00 and 000 series whether 18's or 28's have great balance of sound, projection provided one doesn't get a 'dud'. Another option is an M-38 Martin which I'm not sure if they're still being manufactured or not. Eric Clapton played one is the MTV Unplugged video/DVD. Older small bodied B-25 Gibsons and F-30 Guilds are very good, also. Gurians...if you can find one are among the best American made acoustic guitars made in the 70's. The finest guitar I ever heard was built by a little known luthier named Jan Burda who lives in Michigan. It was a Walnut sides/back and Red Ceder top w/ mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard. OOO-28 size w/scalloped bracing. Good luck in your search.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,harry
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 04:51 AM

For God's sake guys, she's only got 300 pounds.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 05:46 AM

It does depend on the sound you want. If you want "big thud" you are not going to get it out of any small-bodied guitar, no matter how fine. You may get loud (my Martin OM-1 does that) or you may get "sweet" (I have a friend with a Lamacq that does that) but you will not get the big thud.

Big thud = dreadnought or jumbo.

If you want the sound, you will have to have the size.

In terms of value for money if you shop carefully you mght get a good Daion or Mugen (second hand) for that price (eg £300 to £400) and allow another fifty to a hundred for a good setup and maybe a Bridge Doctor) which will sound a lot more expensive than any of the mid-prices from Canada (eg Garrison or Seagull) or Australia (eg Ayers) and to my ears the new East (eg Blueridge, or Indie).

Another undervalued maker is Morris.

There is a WAY overpriced 12-string DAION THE 80 on ebay at the moment. I would suggest a THE 78 for a dreadnought (none listed right now) and there was a set of smaller-bodies, the L999, L99 and L9. There was a Jumbo too, but it is so rare I have never even seen one.

Or if you find a good Yamaha FG360 preferably Nippon Gakki, grab it. The necks are quite small although the lower bout is big even for a dread.

Or a good Suzuki (there was one with some body damage on ebay for about £200 a month or so back) - flatter more finger-style neck than the Yamaha.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Rapunzel
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 07:47 AM

Thanks for all the comments/advice so far. Don't think my budget will stretch to a Martin though! I stumbled across a website for Luna Guitars - made specially for women and although some of the styles are a bit girly/gaudy the 'Muse' collection look quite nice. Anyone ever heard of or play a luna guitar?
Luna Guitar Catalogue

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 08:16 AM

Murray old friend, I have always known and often told you that you are not Emmylou's biggest fan here as I have that distinction. Admittedly we are always in a fight over that with about 20 others but you have now proven you are indeed a second tier contender.

Emmylou...........The Gibson Girl...........How can your pathetic ass possibly want her to play something besides those pretty much signature Jumbos? Especially going back to the day of that black one with the red rose..........Geeziz Murray................Joan Baez???...........ferchrissakes..........pissant tiny Martin........it just ain't for Emmylou!

Ya' know, you really are a cretin................

Spaw

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 08:27 AM

People should be blindfolded before trying guitars. It's all about the sound.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Rapunzel
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 08:41 AM

I might try that tactic Richard...

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 09:01 AM

Below is an old but probably the best post written on the subject of blind tests..............

ubject: RE: Brazilian vs. Indian Rosewood
From: Rick Fielding - PM
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 10:38 PM

I've mentioned this before but it may be appropriate here. A number of years ago I participated in an experiment held in a New York guitar maker's shop. Twenty guitars were played (by one person) while about 10 of us listened with blindfolds on. We could (and did) ask the player to go back several times to guitar #2 (or 4, or 18 etc.) and then we rated them for tone, volume, presence etc.
The ones who were asked to be on the panel had to be able to differentiate between two notes played one right after the other that were a scant hair apart in pitch. The store owner wanted to make sure that his guinea pigs had really good ears.
Anyway, the winner..to our horror..was a medium priced Yamaha with a solid top and rosewood VENEER sides and back. The finest Brazilian rosewood D-28 (an old one too) came in something like 11th! From what I remember, we pretty much hated a couple of Guilds and Gibson Hummingbirds (or Doves) I do remember that a Catseye (Japanese hand made) rated highly as did a Franklin. There may have been a Larrivee as well but I'm not sure. There were about six vintage Martins and a couple of new ones, and they were rated all through from almost the top to almost the bottom. For what it's worth, I picked the Yamaha first, and the Brazillian 4th or 5th.

The funny thing about this is that I found out a few days later that the owner did exactly the same test with different people but with NO blindfolds! Naturally it was win place and show for the old Martins..followed closely by the Gibsons. Trailing badly were the Japanese guitars!
I guess it shows that when you see "Brazilian" you probably "think" Brazilian.
Oh the reason the owner did this was cause he was introducing a newer inexpensive line of guitars in his store, and he felt the proof was in the pudding. They were Yamahas..of course.
Me, I love the "look" of the word "Martin"..still a sentimentalist after all these years.

Rick


Sometimes I think I oughta' post this at the beginning of every guitar buying thread.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Rapunzel
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 09:12 AM

Thanks for posting that. It's encouraging to think that I might be able to get something sounding decent within a budget, and that the big names are not always an indication of best sound.

So before I hit the guitar shops, I'd better have my hearing tested and invest in a good blinfold!

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: redsnapper
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 10:47 AM

Nothing wrong with mid-priced Canadian guitars... I gig with an excellent 000-sized Norman (same company as Godin, Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Art et Lutherie) that cost me £200 secondhand

Rapunzel... you will find something at that price if you are prepared to shop around and listen to a fair few. Do not bother too much about name. Many cheaper instruments can sound better than their expensive cousins.

RS

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,fogie
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 10:55 AM

take a look at the yamaha APX guitars theyre multipurpose and varied prices and most are very easy to play

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 01:14 PM

Depends on the sound you want. I think the APX series are horrid acoustically and only passable plugged in.

I haven't seen many Garrisons. Those I have were acceptable but not great and I worry about differential expansion and wood shrinkage from the fibreglass frame. I have seen two good Seagulls, and a lot of very average ones. By this I include the other instruments fromteh same factory.

The best bet is second hand, honestly it is!

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 02:35 PM

Spaw's inability to think rationally and make balanced aesthetic judgments re Emmylou can only be attributed to unaccustomed testosterone rush grough on by thinking about the goddess. (I have the same problem, but ay least my aesthetic faculties remain unaffected)

Sorry Spaw, Gibson J200's are for overweight male rug-wearing country singers who require a cover-up for their beer bellies.( If Gary Davis hadn't been blind he would never have played that J200 btw )

Emmylou's svelte figure would be much better enhanced by a OOO, or, dare I dream, a Backpacker ...

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 02:36 PM

"*brought* on by thinking ...."

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Melissa
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 03:47 PM

I looked at the Luna line a while back and have been watching for the chance to get to play one. I like the idea of them being designed for women (instead of being a shrunken-head version of a "real" guitar) Besides, they're pretty.

My mother has a little Martin. The neck is about the same width as my guitar, stumpy, and doesn't sound very good. With new Martin's, the "new" smell seems to last forever.
I play a J-45. The neck on it is narrower than the 45 a friend has, so there's apparently differences in that according to year.

I'm routinely surrounded by about a half dozen Blueridge..and one of them sounds good to me. If you shop that brand, I hope you'll play it before you buy and listen to someone else play it too.

Not long ago, I wanted to experiment with different stringing and bought a Yamaha (full sized) on clearance. It took a couple days of playing before it got any music in it. At under $100, it's an excellent thing to play with, but if I was buying a guitar to really play, I would want a used one to save the aggravation of requiring set-up immediately (plus, I like the idea of guitars that are already full of songs)

If you resemble EmmyLou Harris in any way, it might be a good idea to consider getting one that you can easily play behind your back?

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 04:58 PM

The Gibson J-200 is not very useful for men with handsome beer-bellies, because unless they have exceptionally long arms they cannot reach the strings. A bit like the lavatorial habits of the sumo wrestler, I am told....

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 07:15 PM

Try a Faith Mercury - that's the parlour sized model. the electro acoustic range are called eclipse. I paid just less than £300 for the Faith Jupiter the jumbo model from Becketts of Southhampton - via e-bay. Small music shops charge a lot for them, but they are very reasonable on the net. The series two models had input from the great luthier, Patrick Eggle.

theres a dreadnought model called the Saturn - you can get that as a black eclipse or as a solid wood natural one. they are all fitted with shadow electrics.

I just love Faith guitars. I have loads of them!

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 09:49 PM

Well, Rapunzel, I've been on a girl guitar fetish for a while and have found some jewels. We're going to have to talk about that budget though. Requires a lot of luck to find cheap and good. We're talking love here. How can you put a price on that?

I've had everything from a single 0 to a dreadnaught 'cause I been lookin' for the perfect guitar. Still lookin'. Found some danged nice guitars in the process though.

I stick with the narrow necks when I buy sight-unseen, but it's not just about width, also about shape. And size wise, I actually find the single 0 size causes me to curve down around the guitar. My all time best fit and sound (I'm 5'4"), is 000 and 0000 size. But, I play my single 0 the most 'cause it's got character. (Now my sister Janie has so much character she don't need no guitar.)

Good luck. It's the journey, not the destination.

Annie

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: redsnapper
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 04:57 AM

I also have a Yamaha APX10CN. Excellent both acoustically and plugged in which I gig regulary (more than once a week) with as well as my Norman F30 Folk. Both purchased at very reasonable prices secondhand.

These are two of the most pleasing guitars to play I have had in 45 years playing and I have owned Guild, Gibson, Martin, Manson, Lowden and Lakewood guitars as well as "lesser" makes in that time, plus Martin, Eccleshall, Roberts, Hathway, Docherty and Fylde in other instruments (the Fylde has been my favourite of those though not the most expensive). I have repaired and set up most other makes too when I worked in that area.

It all depends on the individual guitar, which is a unique combination of woods and build, and the sound you like, not the make.

Sorry if this doesn't necessarily fit in with some expert proclamations on the subject from others concerning these makes.

As before Rapunzel, you could easily find exactly what you are looking for wellwithin your budget if you bide your time and look around.

RS

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 05:10 AM

Rapunzel, go to a lot of retailers, play a lot of guitars in your price range, buy the one that gives YOU the best Warm Fuzzy, the one that looks and sounds 'right'. Do NOT be pressed by others into buying the guitars THEY like - nobody can tell you what YOU like best, and it's you who'll be paying and playing! And never, under any circumstances, believe people who tell you that this or that brand are crap - I personally loathe Taylors, but there are hundreds of thousands of Taylor-owners who'll tell you they're fantastic. Who's right, them or me? It's your decision (as they say on BB) :-) :-)

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 05:12 AM

Oh, BTW, weelittledrummer's Faiths DO look and sound very nice (and I've seen and heard some of them!).

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 06:03 AM

£300 is currently around $585 USD. You can find a Martin in that range if you're willing to settle for the "all mahogany"* 15 series. That's about what they sell for used.

They're great sounding, no frills guitars made from all solid wood, no plywood. I have two of them (a 00 and a 12-string J) and love them both. I'd have a 000 slot-head too if I didn't already have too many guitars and too little money. They're pretty easy to come by in the US, but I don't know if they're common in the UK.


* When the series first came out about ten years back, they were all mahogany, but since good mahogany is getting rarer and more expensive, they're mostly made of sappelle nowadays.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 06:38 AM

Alas, teh US Dollar price for US guitars tends to be the UK sterling price - so the $585 guitar in the USA is the £585 guitar in the UK, pretty closely.

Seriously, secondhand will save a huge amount. Take time to look at a lot of retail, but simply to educate your ear and decide what you like (the sound, not the name on the headstock). Then start hunting second-hand.

To get an idea of what does what, try Hanks and Andy's in Denmark Street, and Mairantz just off New Oxford Street (but don't buy there). You could also have a look in Rose-Morris, and there are a couple of other shops on and off the Charing Cross Road.

Then start lurking ebay. If something comes up close to you, go and try it out. Gumtree is another possible. Befriend your local luthiers and get them to tell you if something they think you will like turns up.

But above all buy with your ears not your eyes. I know a female player who has a (well, I won't name it, but it is an English luthier's guitar) and she is soooooo proud of it, and I think it sounds like old socks. I know another player who has a Yamaha FG360 he got for very little in a junk shop and it is fully the equal of some very expensive Martins and Tayors I know.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 06:52 AM

The Yamaha APX range is very extensive - some very expensive, some very cheap and there is enormous variation. yamaha quality control guarantees a decent quality, but I will agree with what some people have said that acoustically, most models don't really kick ass. Plugged in, I think they are damn good.

The Yamaha CPX range is a style called concert style - not quite as big as a dreadnought. the CPX 9000 are a bit stodgy acoustically, but they are fitted with the new ART electronic system, which is simply shit hot good!

Yamaha have since come to their senses and started fitting the ART system to their more expensive models, but you may be lucky and pick up an early model from about two years ago second hand, in your price range.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Rapunzel
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 07:45 AM

Thanks for all the good advice - I will take a lot of time over this.

I'm a bit too far from Charing Cross Road (about 300 miles) as I live on the North West Coast. Might take a day out to Manchester sometime soon though to check out Johnny Roadhouse Music on Oxford Road. Any other reccommendations for Manchester guitar shopping?

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 08:55 AM

My advice would be to PM Penny Black. Pete lives near you in Blackpool, and he knows all about guitars and has got loads of them. I was at Fylde Festival and he had just bought another electro acoustic - very much in your price bracket. besides that, he is a brilliant guy and his expertise is exactly what you need.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Rapunzel
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 09:37 AM

Good idea WLD - we do see Pete around and about so I'll ask next time I bump into him. Thanks.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: rhomu
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 11:01 AM

Rapunzel... might be worth checking out Forsyth's in Deansgate, Manchester who should have a wide selection to try.

RS

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 07:00 PM

I've always liked Gibson acoustics because of the small neck. I have fairly small hands.

And I've always thought acoustic guitars were especially designed for women -- nicely curved in the right place to support my right breast.

Alas, I'm 100 lbs. older than when I learned to play -- and I can no longer see what I'm doing as I have to hold the guitar so much further away from my body now. Sigh.

Linn

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: number 6
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 07:05 PM

Since I have only seen Ovation guitars played by humans of the female gender I'd assume there must be something about those accoustics women find attractive.

biLL

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 07:10 PM

Don Williams and glen Campbell used to play Ovations, so did I....

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: number 6
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 07:20 PM

I know, I know.

but you did say "used to" .... seriously, the only Ovations I see these days are played by females.

biLL

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,Pete the hat.
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 08:06 PM

I play an Ovation and so do a few other chaps down at Folk mob.
Ok I did buy from a female friend of mine she now plays a Telecaster?

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,annie
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 08:33 PM

If it were only about sound, I think we'd all play Ovations.

Annie

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 08:15 AM

"If it were only about sound, I think we'd all play Ovations"

Like, it's a, you know, a joke - right? :-)

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: mattkeen
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 08:17 AM

Gotta be a joke

The only reasons for playing an Ovation is as a possible solution to the beer belly problem mentioned earlier

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 08:22 AM

Right, how many women do I need to trade in, to get a Taylor 12 string?
G.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Jon Nix
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 08:44 AM

Richard,

The Hagstrom, of course.
Your dear wife Jacqui, you may recall, I knew from MCOFT.
(I still think about her and have 11th May noted in my diary.)
You said you'd look me up when north of London......still waiting!

By the way, where is your usual club?

Kind thoughts
Jon

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 11:40 AM

Hi Jon

Yes, that big Hagstrom. It was her trademark so much so that at Brixton Bert's wake I was talking to Pete Chopyn (ex Crayfolk etc) who we had not seen for years. I was holding her guitar and he said to me "I used to know a girl who played one of those". He had been talking to her 10 minutes before and had not recognised her, but had recognised the guitar.

I have not been to North London for ages - but my daughter has just moved to near Brick Lane and her usual acoustic guitarist lives I think near Holloway Road.

I am not going to as many clubs as before, just at the moment, it's a work thing(!) but my most frequent is the Good Intent (Rochester).

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Jon Nix
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 12:13 PM

Hi again Richard,
I am well north of you, in Rutland (half way between Leicester & Peterborough).
However, if I'm ever down your way I'll let you know. It would be good to catch up on the Rochester club scene.
All the best
Jon

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Trevor Thomas
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 12:26 PM

Rapunzel, seeing as you like your Daisy Rock electric, did you know that they make acoustics now as well? You might want to give one of those a try.

http://www.daisyrock.com/

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,Pete The Hat....folkmob
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 01:51 PM

The only problem I have found with my Ovation Guitar is that it tended to move about in all directions when I stood up to play.( I do not have a Beer gut)Anyway I have sorted this problem with a simple piece of velcro placed on the back of the guitar.
Another problem is that the barrel back tends to pick up all kinds of little scratches.I use liquid Black shoe polish to re blacken. This does not come off on ones clothes and brings it up lovely.Leave over night once you have applied the polish and be very very careful it does not run over on to the face..
Only When changing strings,I use Olive oil to bring up the wood on the fret board. It does not make the neck slippery.It does not affect the life of the strings or fret wire,s.This is standard pratice with my ovation and it looks and sounds WONDERFUL.
Richard Bridge,Hello. How are You? Having worked for the Imperial War Museum for over 10 years Ive always assumed that the Dreadnought was a class of bloody great Battleships from WW1? Never heard that term of thrase for a guitar before?

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 02:06 PM

That's what the D stands for.
G

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 05:50 PM

let that be a warning to anybody thinking of playing an Ovation ...

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 05:51 PM

AND the dreadnoughts were originally intended to play while standing up.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 06:25 PM

Most Dreadnoughts were great big heavy clumbersome things that blew up for no reason and sank.Jutland 1916.If that not good reason to play an ovation I dont know what is.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 06:12 AM

You can't play reggae on one!

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: deadfrett
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 08:07 AM

The Blueridge BR40 is a nice little OOO size guitar. It has mahogany back and sides and spruce top. Solid woods scalloped braces and nice pearl inlays. It also has a smaller size neck diameter which is good for finger style picking. In the states it lists for under $500 so it can probably be found at some discount dealers for less. These guitars are just now starting to get some notice by us Martin and Gibson pickers and as they become more popular I'm sure the prices are going to go up up. I was totally impressed by the ones I played.
Try a lot of different brands I'm sure you'll find your favorite in time. Be patient. Dave

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's windmilling Apprentice
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 11:07 AM

My late Mother played a 1960 Fender Strat, which I still use.

Charlotte (very unladylike on the guitar)

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 12:18 PM

Hi Pete. You should use lemon oil on the fingerboard. Olive oil will build up a greasy deposit that will get very string-unfriendly.

Ovations are very bad for round fronted men because they wobble thier round backs around on the round fronts. They may be better for women lucky enough to conform to teh cultural preference of slim stomach and large not too wobbly wobbly bits, as they will sort of snuggle in without any sharp edges.

But if you are after the sound, buy for the sound.

Subject: RE: guitars for women
From: Greg B
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 08:17 PM

Have two guitars.

Send pictures of wimmen.