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21 Mar 13 - 06:14 AM (#3492939) Subject: Review: Recording King all-mahogany 12-fret 000 From: GUEST,matt milton Treated myself to a new guitar the other day. A Recording King 000 (orchestra-size-ish) This thing: http://www.recordingking.com/products/guitars-all-models/guitars-ros616 I'm usually reluctant to buy an acoustic guitar unplayed, but there was no way I was going to be able to try this one out beforehand; it's just not stocked in any London guitar shops. I already knew I really liked the sound of guitars with necks that join the body at the 12th fret - it sort of darkens the timbre – and I already knew I was a big fan of mahogany wood in guitars. That, coupled with the wide fretboard (46mm) meant I couldn't really resist when I got paid last month.Plus, it's an all-solid wood guitar for £340 inc. delivery from Thomann, so figured if it was awful I could probably either return it or re-sell it for not much less... But anyway... It has an absolutely GORGEOUS tone. Very distinctive and beautifully woody. I was expecting it wouldn't have much sparkle in the top-end, and be a very low-mid-centred woody guitar. It certainly is the latter, but there's plenty of brightness too. The nut width is great for fingerstyle and just how I like it (and anyway it's good practice to keep your fingers nice and stretchy). Downsides? It has a retro style "V" to the neck. I didn't actually even know what that was before I played it: essentially there's a bit of a V to the curve of the neck, which feels a bit strange at first, as if the neck is trying to push itself into the palm of your left hand. But you soon get used to it. Also, arguably, the guitar could have a bit more sustain to it. Then again, it's an all-mahogany guitar... What you lack in long sustained notes, you gain in a cheeky, warm resonance that you can really feel vibrating from the guitar's body into your bones. Playing blues on it sounds amazingly authentic. Playing chunky Martin Carthy-style DADGAD sounds great too. A fantastic instrument at any price, let alone under £350. Might have to go play it now... |
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21 Mar 13 - 08:20 AM (#3492958) Subject: RE: Review: Recording King all-mahogany 12-fret 000 From: Midchuck I bought the next model down - ROS-06. Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides. It listed at $US 250 when I bought it, and with my local music store's standard discount for his "regulars," I got it for just over $100. I was VERY impressed with the tone and power for the price. I did some minor setup work - sanding saddle, adjusting truss rod - to get the action the way I wanted it, and purchased new Grover tuners from Elderly for another $50. There was so much slack in the tuners that came on it, I was fighting with them constantly. Once I had everything the way I wanted it, the bridge lifted off. It has gone back to the distributor under warranty. I'm waiting to see if they replace or fix it. It was a nuisance, because I didn't want to send it off with the new tuners, since they might just replace it and I'd have to buy another set, or they might use my having replaced them to claim the I'd voided the warranty. Fortunately, I'm a pack rat, and still had the originals, so I put them back on before I took it back to the store. I think one failing of a lot of "Pacific Rim" guitars, especially the less expensive ones, is that the maker does the tops the easy way - finish the entire top first, without bothering to mask the bridge outline, then glue the bridge OVER the finish - which makes it much easier for it to pull loose. We shall see what comes back, and how it works in future. Peter. |
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02 Mar 14 - 07:34 AM (#3606387) Subject: RE: Review: Recording King all-mahogany 12-fret 000 From: GUEST,kmg of Colorado Mine is also a 12-fret 000 It is especially lite weight & it plays like a dream..mahogany w/Ad.top. Luthier John Baxendale ~ Colorado Guitar Co. |
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02 Mar 14 - 11:54 AM (#3606441) Subject: RE: Review: Recording King all-mahogany 12-fret 00 From: Mark Ross Great guitar for the price. Mark Ross |
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03 Mar 14 - 07:40 AM (#3606703) Subject: RE: Review: Recording King all-mahogany 12-fret 000 From: GUEST,matt milton The Recording King 12-fret 000s seem to have gone up a bit in price since I bought mine about a year ago. I'm still equally delighted with mine. So much so that I'm keen to try out the spruce top/rosewood back and sides version of the same model. Sadly no stores in the UK stock it. And it's not cheap - it's about £600-700 new. One went on eBay recently for about £360 secondhand and I'm regretting not bidding a bit more extravagantly. One of many reasons, I suspect, why these guitars sound so good is an all-round lightness of construction: the bracing is light and the varnish is very light. It's apparently hand-rubbed. This means the guitar's super-prone to nicks and scratches, but more importantly it means it really SINGS. |
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03 Mar 14 - 08:59 AM (#3606728) Subject: RE: Review: Recording King all-mahogany 12-fret 000 From: GUEST,silas I to have a ROS16 and it is wonderful. However I hardly ever use it so I am going to flog it if anyone wants to buy one. |