Glenn F

The Yamaha Red Label re-issues are absolutely worth trying out. Save a pile, too.

It's new.

Baaaaaaaaaaaa!

Happy Ghosts of Goats Past Day for me! This is a very good guitar. I also got it a couple of days before the price went up. Had it set up to perfection. I wish I'd tried it 3 years ago. it is supposed to be 'the last guitar.' If I push for another, I'll have to cook every meal for my wife for the rest of my days. I've tried quite a few small-bodied spruce/hog guitars, even a few Martins from Fellowship of the Acoustics, but this Yamaha is better than all of them. So, hi to everyone…left…. Glenn

Enjoy the Dune movie, seeing Frank in your sig?

Ok, I see this place is somewhat of a mausoleum. I posted this as a 'hot tip' kinda thing for people here, and I get one daft reply. Be well, you longhaulers! May all your guitars bring you joy! Especially theones that didn't need a setup! 🤣

Damn! I know I should've looked past the setup needed for my Martins, Lakewoods and Guild. Who knows what may be waiting for me. 😝

I recently decided to try out the FS-3 AND THE FS-5. I've driven myself nuts trying to find a 000 spruce/hog guitar that didn't cost a 000-18. I ended up choosing the FS3 (China) over the FS5 (Japan). The FS3 was lighter, and its problems easily fixable. Sharp fret ends, high saddle and nut, but the frets were good, neck angle bang on. The sound was exactly what I've been looking for. The FS5, in contrast, had an issue with the nut in addition to the high saddle and nut. It's neck angle was 1/8 inch too low. The FS5 was better finished. The neck was silkier, less patchiness on the finish. Comes with a nice case as opposed to a hard gigbag, which is fugly. I've given up on Eastman guitars. I don't like their necks, and there's usually, at least in my case, problems with the frets, nuts, or both. There's about a 500€ difference between the FS3 and FS5. The prices just rose by 9% here, too. So, I'd put the Red Label series on the checkout list. They impressed me. Not beautiful. The finish on mine is patchy. The tone and playability trumps all. and how are you, Mr. Wilson? 🤪

I asked my luthier friend about doing this kinda mod, and he flatly refused. I wanted to turn my D-28 into a HD-28. This guy could do it if he chose, but I expect he was thinking of his nerves and my pocketbook. Something to try on a banger. Not a Martin OM-21, jaysus,lol.

Come near my OM-21, and I'll get a restraining order.

Keep practicing. It took me 3.5 months to be able to play an F major chord when I began. If you get past the initial problems, sore fingers and the like, and if you really want to, you will improve. Good luck!

Best thing for n00bs to do is go shopping with an experienced player. Look: I learned on an Aria 12 string strung for 6, using extra-light gauge strings. Not the easiest neck for a beginner, and the action and intonation were mediocre at best. It didn't stop me from learning. I doubt a Zager would've made my journey any more pleasant. I loved that guitar and played it from Rocky Raccoon to Purple Haze 4 years later. Granted, a decently setup guitar will be better for the beginner, but if the will is there, smewhat irrelevant.

That's a shame. I seem to remember a long time ago something about cancer.

Yeah. My collecting days are over, and I'm selling off 4 of my guitars. This was a hard one. The Eastman was gorgeous,but it wasn't comfortable for me. I tried out at least 4 others, settled on a Martin D-16GT, but the Micarta started to bug me. So, end of last August, I bought the Guild and the Martin is still up for sale. Hope everyone got through the last 15 months ok. I bought the Guild after a preliminary cancer Dx, and then an op and 7 months of chemo and radiation. So, that's shifted my focus away from 'he who has the most toys at death wins' game, and going with the guitars I actually gravitate toward and play more. When the gits are sold, I'll be down to a relatively sane 13. at the peak of my insanity, I had around 28. I think. I lost count.

Had a Swede Deluxe. I didn't like the thinness of the neck and the artificial fretboard. By the time I sold it a few years later, the pup switch was buggered.

Doubtful. This is a Stanford Thinline 30. I bought the 35AV, which had humbuckers instead. Great guitar. I have an Inspired By John Lennon Casino, and have been curious as to how the Thinline 30 would compare. https://www.session.de/produkt/stanford-cr-thinline-30-vintage-blonde/

I ended up with a Guild F-40E. Great guitar, mediocre saddle pup.

Of all my guitars, I'd choose this one: it's a Stanford Crossroads Thinline 35AV. Bought it in April. Best semi I've ever played.

I miss CSM, Bb with his 120+ Les Pauls that always elicited jealous responses, and a couple of others. I was always more of a HCAG person, though.

You got a purty mouf!

Been there, done that. Again, twice. Were named Gertrude and Heathcliff.

Lol. My neurosis on full display... It's been a while since the little mönkey has gotten out to play so crazily. I already have a Taylor 320,:hog/sapele dread. Rib rattler, great for alt-tuning. I want a good spruce/hog combo. The one I'm getting doesn't have an ebony fretboard, something I usually aim for. it would be nice to walk into a local shop and there'd be 5 or 6 guitars all on my radar, waiting for me to try them out.

have 2.

After a thorough thrashing out with it last week, I've declared the truce over and am sending it back. Again. As I've said above, the guitar just doesn't suit my hands, and there's no getting around that. The sound was amazing, but that isn't enough. The shop has graciously allowed me leeway over the 30 day guarantee period to send it back (again) and choose another. my first thought was a Blueridge BR-243A, and it is still in the running. There's something about owning a BR, mass produced dipped in poly that doesn't appeal, so I am trying out a small maker, BSG, for a spruce/mahogany OM. trouble with having nice guitars is that I'm now harder to please.

Neck is also slightly chunkier than I am used to, and it is a short scale. All of these variables probably play some role. I put some .011-.052s on it, and it is much better, and no real sacrifice of sound depth. My wife said "that guitar doesn't need lights." She loves the sound, too. Gonna see if I can lower the action a little bit, too. If the sound wasn't what it is, I wouldn't be going to this trouble.