S10J

This is a Timothy S10J medium jumbo model from Sinamex in Singapore with standard features. As stated on their website, standard features includes: Sitka Spruce top, Ovangkol back and sides and maple binding, ebony fingerboard, wood rosette, top abalone purfling, gold machine heads and ebony buttons. Since 2006/2007, the newer S10J models now comes with Fishman Prefix Pro which is the one that came on mine. To me, Prefix Pro sounds pretty much the same (even though some claim it¿¿¿s better). I just like the fact that the pickup is smaller in size so save a bit of wood on the guitar. In the past, S10J models have had gloss/satin finish as an option, but seems like these days, it only comes with satin, which I am fine with.

The neck and fingerboard is designed quite ok¿¿¿ plays comfortably. I have however in the past played 1 or 2 S10J models that have slightly buzzing necks. So you should really play a few before picking one out.  I also like the ebony buttons. They do look nice with the guitar. Alternative tunings and open chords sounds great as well. Action on this guitar is adjusted well. For some reason, the harmonic response on this particular guitar is VERY incredible! This is probably the biggest surprised I had when receiving this guitar. I¿¿¿ve played about seven Timothy S10Js in the past and I feel that this is the best sounding one so far.

If you really look into guitars in the price range of S$1000-S$2000, you will find out that it¿¿¿s not easy to find a guitar that sounds as good as this. There are some good ones around (ie. Taylor DN, GC series) but with no on-board pickup installed. So after you factor in the pickup and labor cost, the final price comes out to be a lot more. Ovangkol is becoming a more popular wood for guitar (as you can read from many online reviews). It is supposed to ¿¿¿resembles the warmth of rosewood with the sparkling midrange of mahogany or koa.¿¿¿ I agree with it and would add on to say that Ovangkol not only sounds good, it also ¿¿¿looks¿¿¿ good. Comparing to my other guitars with different tone woods, this guitar has a much brighter sound and I feel the midrange comes out more. Strumming and finger picking both sounds good. The guitar has great sustains. I also like how the design of S10J is elegant and simple.

S10J has a standard limited warranty to the original owner. I hope I will never need to use the warranty for any reason. The guitar looks well-built. The big complaint here is that the S10J comes with a free case called TRIC, made by Godin/Seagull guitar company of Canada. The case is suppose to be made with this very high-tech material (EPP) and suppose to provide very good impact protection. My wife tells me that she loves this case because it is very light. It is! But honestly, I am not sure if I can really trust the case! The latches on the case look very unreliable. The interior looks very cheap. I am giving the case maybe 1, the most 2 years, before it wears out. Another issue is that the S10J doesn¿¿¿t fit all that well in it. First of all, since the guitar has a 16.5¿¿¿ lower-bout width, you actually have to pull the case lightly to fit it in. Second of all, what bugs me greatly is that the headstock is a bit too big for the top area and so the first two tuners always ¿¿¿touches¿¿¿ the sides of the case, which means slightly out-of-tune guitar strings each time you take the guitar in and out! Errr¿¿¿ Sinamex, can you do something about this? Either take this case out and lower of the price of the guitar or pick a better fitting case?

Sinamex is one of the few high-end guitar stores in Singapore. I frequent their shop and have helped a few friends bought guitars from there. The sales reps are helpful in stores and usually quite prompt at replying emails. I do have to give them a lot of credit for creating a great store with good selections of guitars and willing to allow people to play any guitar placed in the sales room. That might sound nothing at all¿¿¿ but wait until you visit some other guitar stores in Singapore. Let¿¿¿s not say names here¿¿¿ but I have been to a few where they stare at you the entire time playing the guitar and give you this really annoyed face if you play more than 5 minutes on it. That¿¿¿s just plain wrong!

I¿¿¿ve played anywhere from 50-70 guitars in the last two years (mostly in US)¿¿¿ everything from Yamaha, Tacoma, Takamine to Martin, Taylors¿¿¿ I really like this guitar and would recommend it to other friends who have a budget around this range. In comparison, I think S10J sounds much better than most of the low-end Taylors and Martins. There are however a few things I wish were different: 1. The price. I think for a guitar made in Asia and hoping to gain popularity locally or internationally, the price is a bit too much. By the time I received the guitar, it was already priced at S$1650. I think that price was more appropriate at S$1500 (a year ago). The $150 increase is really pushing it. The other S7 model, also a great guitar, used to be around S$900, now around S$1200 which is also kind of ridiculous. I think if they have stayed at S$900, I would have been able to recommend MANY of my friends for that guitar, but now at the price has gone up so much, it¿¿¿s impossible! I don¿¿¿t agree with their marketing. Anyways, but the thing that REALLY kills me is that the sale person keeps telling me that they not only don¿¿¿t make any money on these Timothy guitars. In fact, they loose money on it. It¿¿¿s only priced at this level because they are ¿¿¿promoting this brand¿¿¿. Now, who in the world will believe that? That is just a lame excuse! 2. The pickup The guitars I have own in the recent years all have dual pickup systems. Once I started using dual pickup, I was spoiled with it. I think the sound from a dual pickup system is much better and more natural. I tried to ask Sinamex in the past if they can customize a Timothy S10J with Fishman Blender and the answer has always been ¿¿¿no¿¿¿. So that has been quite disappointing! I think many would be willing to pay slightly extra for a better pickup. But mostly, I believe S10J deserves a great dual pick-up system. I have been playing for about 17 years. My S10J is currently being used as a second guitar. My primary one is a 2004 custom-built Rosewood Grand Concert (RGC6) by luthier Del Langejans of Holland, Michigan, USA. Though Langejans guitars are one of the best guitars I¿¿¿ve ever played and owned, it¿¿¿s difficult for me to drag it every where because it is so expensive. So I am very glad that I have the S10J now and very very grateful for my generous friends (a big group of them) who gave me this as a surprised birthday gift. Of course, one of my favorite part of this guitar is that it shares the same name as me. So people get a kick out of it when they see it.