More ranting (my monologue)
Have I fallen off the wagon?
I've whittled my "collection" down to three: Two Canadians and one Little Martin. The latter was purchased new a few weeks ago and I'm struggling with buyer's remorse and I'm not sure I am willing to trade sound for ultimate portability (and less stressful air travel). I've retained the receipt and have thirty days to return it for a refund. Tick tock, Clarice.
Unlike some, I could not be less interested in any electric instruments and really won't even consider an electric-acoustic at this point. So my choices are limited and relatively easy, or they should be. But you know what; there are countless acoustic guitars for my consideration. I have been partially successful with my eBay/Craig's List moratorium but suspect I may have to extend it to guitar shops (brick and mortar) as well. Why only yesterday, proud of myself for not shopping the Internet, I found myself in one of my favorite guitar shops at lunchtime. Oh, the agony and the ecstasy! Of course, this turned my neat and orderly world upside down and I have bruises on my arse where I've been kicking myself ever since.
There was a delicious Alvarez RD-20 priced so as to summon a Pavlovian salivation response so strong I almost needed a bib. And then there was robust offering from the Recording King line. I've been watching these for a few years. It is EXTREMELY difficult not to purchase one of these Asian wonders: all solid woods, beautifully-finished, and more features and tasteful appointment (not garish or cheesy) proffered than a modern Mercury (automobile) TV commercial... and they play, as they say, like butter. Really that is the BEST description.
Really my latest (and most burning) manifestation of guitar acquisition syndrome (GAS) is a mahogany-bodied instrument. Yes, I had one of these, the Guild I scored in Washington, D.C. recently. But it was old (1984) which is cool for the vintage vibe but it was staring down the barrel (double-barreled with rabbit-eared hammers) of a neck reset. I did not want to pursue this. It was playable, and probably would be for some time, but eventually I would need to have this work done. No thanks. So, I sold it (happily) for what I paid for it. No damage done.
For mahogany-body acoustic guitars one needs to look no further than the venerable Martin 15 series guitars. I've studied these, priced these, played these (all variants: D, 00, 000), and engaged in the never-ending "mahogany versus sapelle" debate/controversy. (Spare yourself: don't look into this!) But the Martins consistently cost from $600-$1100 depending on the model and whether it is new or used. And believe you me, you want to conjure a whopping dollop of buyer's remorse just let old David part with this much money for an instrument he can barely play!
Of course Guild offers two mahogany variants with a full palette of wonderful features and quality so high you can eat off of it. But, they too are pricey ($600ish), have a (high) gloss finish which I don't care for, and are produced in Asia. Nothing wrong with imports from Asia, I was raised transporting myself through childhood (and adolescence) on motorcycles manufactured in Japan. These things were reliable and indestructible even with my shameful disregard for preventative maintenance.
Since I've open the door to Asia, we now can consider the entire Asian guitar menagerie. Alvarez offers the RF-20SM (recently supplanted by the RF300) solid mahogany top 000-body guitar. There is no doubt this is a fine specimen of workmanship with sonic qualities well above its class. Available for less than $300 new, it is tempting. I've seen used ones on CL for around $100!
Cort (manufactured in South Korea) offers a solid top (and back) mahogany 000-bodied guitar with Grover open tuners for less than $300 also. These are less readily available but I have found a shop which carries the line and will order one for me.
Then there is the aforementioned Recording King ROS-606 and 616. Designed in the U.S. and manufactured in China, they are high quality, feature laden (bone nut saddle, all-solid mahogany body and neck, Grover tuners, etc.) instruments in the $600-$800 range. This puts them in direct competition with the Martins (and Guilds) with much more "value" than the former w/o the "Made in USA" badge of honor. One con to these guitars is that they are a 12-fret variant (12 frets clear of the body) so their proportions take some getting used to and the nut is a vast 1 and 13/16 inches wide (for finger style). I'm curious if these would adapt well to the dual role of strumming and finger-style. Also the price is likely to summon the buyer's remorse gremlin.
All this said (and written) I've all but talked myself into a frenzy of indecision (which is arguably better than carrying an aura of ignorance around with oneself) but if I was compelled to the purchase today I am likely to accept the low risk of the Alvarez offering.
I've talked to a few people at my church regarding our praise team. I'm not sure I'm quite ready for that but it does offer a degree of anonymity while forcing me to practice and learn songs. The latter is the persistent struggle I face.
Fretfully yours,
David
p.s. I guess I should get back to playing.
