Quote:
Originally Posted by fletch
But the make of guitar that has impressed the hell out of me is Crafter. Man, these guitars sing and at a price that you really can't believe. And I don't even own one (I do have a Crafter mandolin that I love, though.)
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+3! That is the 3 Crafters I own! Really nice guitars - JE-18, WF-Bubinga and D-7. The craftmanship is awesome, although some models I find a little too "over the top" in terms of decoration/cosmetics. I love the fact that unlike many manufacturers in their price range, they have opted to used solid Cedar tops on many of their models as well as Englemann spruce as opposed to Stika spruce. They also have many models with the slightly wider 45mm nut - great for fingerpicking. The LR Baggs pickups and preamps are really good too. Anyone keen on a Crafter, check out this page here:
http://www.carlinoguitars.com/CRAFTE...GE_1_2008.html
In the meantime, the new Gretsch acoustics are a whole different instrument! I can't wait to get my hands on one! That's because I'm so impressed with the Epiphone Dove, I know the new Gretsch Ranchers will be better sounding and better playing guitars.
Also, don't use a nylon pick on an acoustic! They sound terrible! Get yourselves either a .73mm Jim Dunlop Tortex or Ultex pick, and hear the difference in tone. If you're platpicking or strumming, use the rounded corners and not the tip. It makes such a huge difference to the tone, even on laminated acoustic guitars. The nylon Jim Dunlops are great for electric guitars, but too soft of acoustics, especially Dreadnaoughts and Jumbos. For thumbpicks, I highly recommend using one of these:
http://fredkellypicks.com/slick.html
I friend played my Epi Dove using a nylon pick and it sounded thin, and tinny and aweful and "cheap". My teacher played the same guitar using the Ultex and it sounded great, although he couldn't get used to how bright a maple guitar is. So, for all those who have bought any of the new Gretsch Ranchers, give these picks a go, and hear your guitars sound they way they were designed to sound.
