Moondog Guitars

Subject: Review: Moondog guitar
From: Fidledidee
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 06:21 AM

I`m loking to buy a new guitar, and have been impressed by the moondog instruments. Has anyone tried one? Has anyone got one ? Any comments ?

Subject: RE: Review: Moondog guitar
From: GUEST,alex s
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 07:05 AM

My mate is a professional player and he thinks they are superb - better than his Fyldes (and cheaper!)

Subject: RE: Review: Moondog guitar
From: Fidledidee
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 08:35 AM

I must admit the price is also very attractive

Subject: RE: Review: Moondog guitar
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 01:43 PM

Keith Christmas had one and he let me try it.

I don't like them at all. They had a neck that is very similar to a Fylde, sort of wide feeling. If you like fyldes, I think you will be okay with them.

Keith was saying he liked it because it was loud, and tonally good. I note that several great guitarists are using them including my personal guitar hero - Ken Nicol, of Steeleye Span fame.

Subject: RE: Review: Moondog guitar
From: Fidledidee
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 10:02 AM

Too late ,gone and bought one , absolutely fantastic, very loud, and unique build and finish. Looking forward to learning more on this

Subject: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Hugh Brown
Date: 25 Nov 08 - 03:25 PM

Just as I was thinking about buying a Moondog guitar their web-site disappears and no-one answers their phone. Does anyone know what has happened to this Cardiff based company?

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Nov 08 - 08:01 PM

I'm glad you didn't get one. They gave ones out to all sorts of famous guitarists. But you couldn't see one in a shop. You had to send for one on the strength of the admittedly fabulous reviews.

I eventually got to try one when Keith Christmas let me have a go on his. I didn't like the neck. Its big and chunky like some Fylde guitars are.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Hugh Brown
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 05:43 AM

I was looking at these because of the wide neck and to use so that my precious Fylde Orsini could avoid any further damage by colliding with door handles, cupboard corners, etc. My fingers can't cope with narrow necks.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 06:44 AM

Try Ken Nicol's website - they gave him one. he plays Fyldes as well. Perhaps he will know something about it.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 10:00 AM

Darn it, I've been thinking of getting a Moondog for a while, and now they've disappeared off the face of the internet.. There's no trace of their eBay store either.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Simon G
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 10:23 AM

I tried out a friend of mines Moondog, I liked it, but not enough to buy one.

Some of the website can be found here

http://www.bemoneywise.co.uk/instruments.htm

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 08 - 03:49 PM

No idea whats happened to Moondog

I bought one of there guitars about 4 to 6 weeks ago, a Grand Master which is the most expensicve 6 string steel guitar. Its purchase was very strange, I had been brousing the web wondering about this company that seemed to good to be true, I then happened to see these models being auctioned on ebay instead of the usual buy it now. I payed £250 for a guitar that should have been £800, a risk I felt well worth takeing, had to be at least worth that. All I can say is that this is the best acoustic I've ever played and the workmanship seems spot on, can't put it down. Appreciate the comment about necks, personaly I love the neck, but necks are a mater of choice. The guitar arrived in perfect condition and very well set up.

I e-mailed Moondog at the time wondering why so cheap, they said that they where changing the line up a bit, now they seem to have gone! I hope not because there claims certainly live up in the guitar that I purchased, would have been a bargain at the full £800, its got tone and it sings!

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Nov 08 - 05:15 PM

I had looked at the Moondog site for quite some time, and I always had an uneasy feeling about it.

In my experience, if something looks too good to be true, then it is too good to be true.

Making guitars of the quality which Moondog advertised, at their ridiculously low prices, just didn't add up, imo.

I have no doubt they will surface again, with a more realistic business plan.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 08 - 05:21 PM

Most stuff you read about Moondog is written by people who doubt them, but don't actually own or have tried one of their guitars. All I would say is play one and then comment, they are infact really quite excellent. I think that their main crime is making people suspicious of themselves by selloing a very good product at at very good price.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Nov 08 - 05:23 PM

so why have they disappeared off the radar, GUEST ?

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 08 - 05:40 PM

Hey, I'm googling looking for that very answer, which is how I wandered onto this forum. Was hoping to find a post by someone who new where they are. There selling pitch was certainly controversial, maybe that's why, maybe they where underpriced, I don't know. Actually finding something by someone who owns one is difficult, maybe they are all to busy playing them, all I now is that the one I've got is spot on

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,John Mackinnon
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 06:53 AM

Like GUEST, I bought a Grand Master through eBay at a much lower price than they were asking on their website. I already own a Grand Auditorium (the problems with that one were dealt with very swiftly). The GM arrived with a horrible setup, and if I hadn't had some previous experience doing repair work, I would have had to send it back. However, once I had tweaked the guitar, it turned out to be a wonderful instrument. Build quality is a little sloppy, but the sound is unique and very pleasing to my ears.

However, I then won a Liberty Bell twelve-string on eBay as well, and from there on things got worse. At first I received no replies to my email, and when I finally did, it was only to tell me that I would have to wait six weeks for the next batch of guitars to come in. I was miffed, but decided to persevere. Sadly, no one answers the phone now or replies to email, and the website seems to be down permanently.

My impression is that Moondog offered potentially great guitars at very reasonable prices, but that there were serious problems with quality control. They certainly didn't manage to offer the standard of build or set-up they claim on their website. A real pity, since they had a good thing going.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Splott Man
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 04:25 AM

They are based in Cardiff. The "boss" of the company has been on extended leave abroad recently, so that may be why business has ceased, hopefully temporarily.

I have to say, that I am very pleased with my Spirit. For the price, a much better guitar than a Crafter for instance (my opinion, please don't shoot me down if you like Crafters).

They are hand-made in China.

I hope they are back up and running soon, as their after-care service was excellent.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Splott Man
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 04:28 AM

Incidentally, the web page that Simon G linked us to is dated 2007, and would have certainly been updated, the prices have gone up a tad since then.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,John Mackinnon
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 08:19 AM

I hope Moondog Guitars will resurrected, but they will have a hard time coping with eBay feedback such as this: http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=moondogguitars&ftab=AllFeedback

It seems things have gone seriously wrong in the absence of Tim Nicolai, who has always been extremely courteous and generous in his dealings with me.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,SMUDGER
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 12:18 PM

I too bought a Grand Master for £330 in the auction. It is a very nice instrument and it would be a shame if Moondog have ceased trading. Maybe it was all too good to last.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 02:30 PM

I knew Moondog! (As well as anybody knew Moondog---which means not well at all.)

Chicago----1963. One day, there he was --- horned headdress and all the Viking accouterments --- just hanging out --- for about a month --- in front of Rose Records. --- That was my day job then. I was singing at The No Exit coffeehouse in town at night.
And then ------ just like this guitar (apparently) he was just gone!

Seeing this thread brought it all back.------It's like day-job-vu all over again!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Amos
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 02:43 PM

I believe that MoonDog went to LA, after that, Art. But he was not a guitar--more of a screwball!



A

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Amos
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 02:45 PM

No, I am sorry--I had it all wrong. He moved to Germany.

Wikipedia: "Moondog had an idealised view of Germany ("The Holy Land with the Holy River" — the Rhine), where he settled in 1974. A young German student named Ilona Goebel hosted him, first in Oer-Erkenschwick, and later on in Münster in Westphalia, Germany, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Moondog visited America briefly in 1989, for a tribute in which Phillip Glass asked him to conduct the Brooklyn Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, at the New Music America Festival in Brooklyn, stimulating a renewed interest in his music.

He recorded many albums, and toured both in the US and in Europe — France, Germany and Sweden."

Quite the strangebird, he.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 03:56 PM

Yes, I almost had him convinced to go on the CTA elevated train with me up to the No Exit. At least, I thought I had him convinced. All I got was a sign language of his. No talking. He did come with me as far as the stairs leading up to the tracks, but before we were on the second or third step he split and was gone again.

That would've been a great story for this thread---the ride up to my gig----but it never happened.

Art

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Amos
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 04:28 PM

LOL!! I can just see you trying to lead Moondog-dressed-as-Thor up the stairs of the CTA station!!!


A

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 04:03 PM

Sadly Moondog appear to have gone bust - a victim of the credit crunch I would guess. I think they offered a good product for the price - no problems with my Studio Classic. I had some communication with them after my purchase about another product but it all went quiet very suddenly. You can see when it happened by their ebay feedback. About a week after I last spoke to them their ebay listing stopped, and another week later their website was pulled as well.

There is nothing more sinister it it than another small business failure, and it is a sad tale...
Sean

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,keith
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 08:06 AM

I too brought a Moondog, in the last few weeks of the operation it seems. I am more than pleased with my grand auditorium it plays and sounds superb. I went down to Cardiff and bought it direct from Tim Nikolai a more helpful and courteous man you could not wish to meet but I suppose the people who didn't get goods they paid for wouldn't agree. Mine is the gloss finish one used for the promo pics bought before they were on sale officially, did anyone else get a gloss one or do I have a unique guitar? There was also a grand auditorium there with the natural finish and abalone purfling also unique I believe, so someone else has a prize I don't suppose they will be worth a fortune but it is nice to think you have something special.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 08 - 02:54 PM

I bought a Grand Master from Moondog about 10 months ago Although the finish is far from perfect,and it really punishes sloppy picking,I've never come across another matching it for tone absolutely regardless of price(which seems to be the main selling-point of high-end mass produced acoustics).I'm sure that few of the citics have actually played one.I hope that they return because otherwise it could become irreplaceable if lost or pinched.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:43 AM

I bought a Moondog Spirit around a year ago and have had some problems.

The initial setup was poor with fret edges which cut my thumb. A trip back to Moondog cured most of the problems but there was still a bad rattle on the bottom E string. A friend eventually sorted this for me.

The guitar looks great and has a very sweet tone. However, in my opinion it has one serious flaw - it lacks the dynamics I would expect from a spruce-topped guitar of this quality. When I first received the guitar, it was completely dead. It has opened up a little with playing, but is still miles behind my other similar sized guitars (a Johnson Carolina and a couple of all solid Tanglewoods) in terms of responsiveness and projection.

The above may not bother some players, in which case the Spirit is an excellent buy, but in my experience it would not suit an expressive player.

Still, it is a great shame that Moondog have gone under, as they were an excellent company and seemed committed to providing the best possible service to their customers.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Hogg-Robinson
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 04:37 PM

I bought my Grand Concert just over a year ago after many hours of discussion with Tim Nicolai.He was more than happy to give me his time and advice me on what route I should take in my quest to learn Guitar. In my view I got exactly what I ordered and was thrilled. My Guitar teacher was so impressed he bought one and so have some of his other students.After six months I had an accident with my Guitar damaging the top, purely cosmetic, but I was gutted. In one of my conversations with Tim I mentioned it and he insisted that he should send a courier to pick it up as they might be able to repair it.In fact what he did was replace the Guitar with a new one and the improved version as well.I did not pay a penny. It is better in every department and I love it to bits.For me Moondog Guitars was a superb company that did what they said they would do!
I went to see Tim Nicolai play a couple of times and he was outstanding,and good company, a true gentleman.
I hope they will be back soon.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Tom
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 03:54 PM

Hi, I bought a Spirit Dreadnought about 13 months ago and it is the best guitar I've ever had bar none. I spoke to Tim as well and it is beautifully set up.

However, I always wanted a liberty bell 12 string but at £1000 no way!
Then like some other people I bid on one and won it for £370. Well chuffed until it arrived.
The bridge had lifted, the top was rippled and very cheap wood plus it was unplayable so it went back and said I could have a refund within a month. Didn't happen so Paypal got it back for me.

I did some digging and discovered during November there were 3 CCJ's issued in 3 different towns totalling £22,000!

Guess they're history now.

Tom.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Flynned
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 07:54 PM

I am very sad to see the demise of moondog guitars. I have a Studio Bossa, a cutaway classical guitar. It is a wonderful instrument and without doubt the best classical guitar I have owned. It sounds beautiful both acoustically and amplified (excellent pick-up arrangement). I was looking them them up to buy one of their electric violins but sadly couldn't find them.

Whatever may happen to Tim, I wish him all the best for the future. He was a pleasure to do business with.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,guest dave jones
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 08:02 PM

Hi,
Bought a Shogun Dreadnought in September 2007.I've played most in my 46 years of guitar, and this is as good as it gets.Solid spruce, rosewood,ebony,grovers,workmanship, the lot.
Hope they come back as this guitar's become precious 'cause I can't get another one if it gets nicked or wrecked.
More power to your elbow to Tim N. and colleagues for bein' so bold,
This guitar sings like an angel.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Mackinnon
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 04:59 PM

It's heartening to see that Tim Nicolai is receiving so much kudos. Personally, I'm still disappointed that I never got the Liberty Bell twelve-string I won on eBay. If anyone here has a LB, and might consider selling it, drop me a line...

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:24 AM

I also bought a Moondog guitar last year, the Grand Auditorium, a real quality piece of kit. Sounds good and looks great.
Shame to hear that the company has gone, from my dealings with them they couldn't have been more helpful.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 08:17 AM

I also bought a Grand Auditorium last year.
Mine is a lovely guitar and I bought a strap for it from Tim before Christmas.
Shame they have disappeared.

The guitars are actually made in China by Nanjing Aileen

Interesting that they posted this on 12 Dec 2007.
http://www.a-violin.com/blog/?p=21

or watch

http://aileen.en.alibaba.com/videoshow.html

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 06:21 PM

I have a moondog Shogun for sale if anyone is interested? Contact me on [e-mail]

Cheers
Tim

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,stuart cumming
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 11:04 PM

I purchased a pro electric violin last july. In October it ceased to work so after discussing this with moondog i sent it make for repair or replacement. That was the last I saw of it. No replies to emails, letters to the directors, or telephone calls. In my opinion they have stolen my violin. All I want is it back and I will repair it else where. This is the 2nd company that the directors have had that has disapeared. LEAVE WELL ALONE.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 11:56 AM

I bought a Spirit cutaway electro-acoustic in Feb 2008. When it arrived it was set up perfectly for my style and played like a dream. It was £250 and the case that came with it (hard fiberglass) must be worth £100 of that. The reason why this particular model was so inexpensive is because the back and sides are laminate, it's a stack and scarf neck build, and the electrics aren't the best in the world - 3 things that always make the build cheaper. But judging it by its sound, you'd never know that. However, after a month or so, I couldn't get a note out of it because it "settled" into my house which is far too warm and moistureless for a guitar made from natural products to stay as stable as it should be ex-works - all I got was fret buzz. Moondog took it back by courier - at their expense - reset everything and returned it to me - again at their expense - and it was perfect again. Where they've gone now I don't have a clue which is a bit sad really. The guy who ran the show was called Tim Nikolai and if you want to witness a guitar maestro in action - google his name and watch some vids of him. He's a genius. Judging by their lack of presence right now, I'm guessing you'll no longer be able to buy a new one. But if you see any of their models for sale 2nd hand, they'll make a great buy at the right price.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,Vegetableman
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 07:29 AM

I'm sad to hear of Moondogs demise. I have a 'spirit' and have just used it to record with. It chimes beautifully. I agrre, the ecelctrics are not top notch but that's no big deal for me. Sad.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,richd
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 07:44 AM

I recently bought their top-end acoustic new from a guy in work who was selling off a load of them cheap to help clear the warehouse in Cardiff which they had to clear out of quickly after going bust.paid about 100 pound for it, which is just about the best deal that I've had for 100 pound. It plays lovely, better than guitars that cost 5 times as much. It's still a great shame they folded though.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 09:06 AM

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,GUEST - PM
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 11:56 AM

... The guy who ran the show was called Tim Nikolai and if you want to witness a guitar maestro in action - google his name and watch some vids of him. He's a genius ...

Maestro ? Genius ? just a tad OTT n'est-ce pas ?

A good competent player for sure, but never likely to attain genius status.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 12:04 PM

un peu OTT peut-être mais améliore certainement que moi et chaque autre joueur aux lesquels je m'associe.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Zonc
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 04:27 PM

Hi Tim,
      this is my 3rd attempt at getting a mail to you.Im interested in the guitar.My address is [e-mail]
                            cheers
                               Andy

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST,ll
Date: 05 May 09 - 05:53 PM

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-125977373.html

http://www.joestead.com/Ramblings/March2005.htm

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 09 - 07:50 PM

http://www.joestead.com/Ramblings/March2005.htm

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 09 May 09 - 08:42 PM

interesting sleuthing by GUEST there.

so maybe Nikolai is back inside ?

it's beyond coincidence that there could be two people with such an unusual name who both have a penchant for conning the public.

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Zonc
Date: 30 May 09 - 05:27 AM

Have you still got the moondog for sale?

Subject: RE: Moondog Guitars
From: Zonc
Date: 12 Jun 09 - 01:23 PM

This goes out to anyone who may be thinking of selling there Moondog on.I am looking for a cutaway version of a spirit or a grand auditorium.
My e-mail is [e-mail]
                      Thankyou
                              Andy