Red Rocket assessment

Garland
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Posts: 4,661
AKA: Gdjjr Thistime
Location: Texas!
Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on

Red Rocket assessment Nov 23, 2021 21:38:01 GMT -5

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Post by Garland on Nov 23, 2021 21:38:01 GMT -5

I'm liking the sound, but the volume is lacking and it is hard to play.

The lack of volume puzzles me as it has a deeper body than the Lag T118

It has a shorter scale than my Lag making the frets closer together and there in lies the hard to play situation- none the less, I really like it's sound. I currently have D'Addario EJ 16's (12-53) on it and though I'm not a fan of their strings I like them on the Red Rocket- I have a set of Ernie Ball 80/20's I plan on changing to before too long- maybe they'll increase the volume- we'll see.

Oh- and while I'm at it, I ordered another tuner last night- a Fishman FT-2, it a K.I.S.S. tool for $14.95 which is a nickel more than the refund I got on the Sweetwater brand

Last Edit: Nov 23, 2021 21:38:52 GMT -5 by Garland

Playin at playin guitar-

SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME

Guild D140 Natural
Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White
Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body
Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son)
Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green
Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric
Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric
Lag T118ASCE-BLK
Guild D240E
A-M-I J45 clone
Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

TonyKgull
Global Moderator

Posts: 6,425

Location: Ontario, Canada

Red Rocket assessment Nov 24, 2021 1:20:55 GMT -5 Derick and Garland like this

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Post by TonyKgull on Nov 24, 2021 1:20:55 GMT -5

Garland, Have patience man. Godin's acoustics are built quite heavy, or "overbuilt" or whatever you want to call it. They don't resonate much at first. But....if you play it long enough, they will eventually open up.

I bought my brother a Simon & Patrick (Godin) dread many years ago. He still has it. It's starting to look somewhat like Willie's guitar. lol. Anyways, it too at first sounded very tight and not as loud as other dreads. Still sounded great, but tight. After about 5 years, give or take, it did start to open up though. Now, it's over 15 years old and sounds fantastic. He won't part with it.

I've found most Godin acoustics go through this with the exception of the classic cedar topped Seagull S6's and the Seagull Artist series guitars before the "big change." Even the Seagull Maritime series of guitars that I used to really love, had to be played hard for a few years until they really came into their own.

I still know the guy who I sold my Seagull Maritime Mini Jumbo to. He still has it and plays it regularly. It now sounds amazing. Just takes time. Acoustics age like a fine wine.

=====================================
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Jesus, from Matthew 11:28-30

Derick
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Posts: 7,594

Location: Staffordshire UK
Playing guitar since: Way back yonder.

Red Rocket assessment Nov 24, 2021 6:52:10 GMT -5 TonyKgull and Garland like this

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Post by Derick on Nov 24, 2021 6:52:10 GMT -5

Garland ,

I hear what you are saying about the Red Rocket.
What we tend to do when we have a few guitars is to compare them with one another.
Unfortunately the Red Rocket is not coming out on top, now you could do as TonyKgull said, and play it for 5, 10 or 15 years and end up with a possibility great guitar.
But unfortunately all the time and effort you would be putting in to getting it to open up or play better, you would be missing the enjoyment of playing the guitar/s that you like playing and getting enjoyment out of.
Now I'm not saying what you should do. but if it was me I would resell it, and enjoy playing some of them great guitars that you already have, life is to short to spend time playing a guitar that you don't enjoy for what ever reason.
From a financial point of view you should be able to get back what you paid for it.
Some young guitar player that is a heavy Strummer with a pick may well think it's a great guitar.
But you must do what is right for you there is no rush or panic.

Last Edit: Nov 24, 2021 6:53:23 GMT -5 by Derick

Faith Mercury, Parlour Guitar.
Tanglewood TW40 Sundance Historic, 12 freter. Solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides.
Takamine GY93E-Nat, Parlour Guitar, solid Spruce top.
Epiphone ES339, semi acoustic Electric guitar,
Fender Mex Stratocaster, White with Maple neck.
PRS se Custom, 24 fret, Mahogany back with Maple cap.
Tanglewood TW 45 Re Sundance Reserve, All solid wood, Cedar Top,Mahogany back and sides.

Garland
The Mostest Bestest Member

Posts: 4,661
AKA: Gdjjr Thistime
Location: Texas!
Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on

Red Rocket assessment Nov 24, 2021 9:11:26 GMT -5 Derick likes this

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Post by Garland on Nov 24, 2021 9:11:26 GMT -5

TonyKgull, Derick, yeah, 4 or 5 years is a bit ambitious at soon to be 74, if I'm lucky

TonyKgull, I kind of was thinking that is the case- being over built.

Derick, I'll keep it, unless/until- ya know? I do like the sound. And it checks boxes, like sounding a bit trashy when I get it/want it to- my others don't unless I play them really hard-

It's hard to describe how it sounds, except that it isn't very loud- well, I will say this and I think I've said it before- it sounds the way I wanted the Jim Dandy I had a few days to sound- not fancy, not flashy, not necessarily melodic- but, neither am I

so it's a good fit-

Last night I did a little experimenting with the mini loud box to see if I could get more volume to my phone- no matter where I put the amp or adjusted the volume (which I had set at just under feed back on the guitar, the gain and the master knob)it was not any louder played back

I can't wrap my head around the why of that-

Anyway, I've a new song, an original, I'm working on and I'm wanting to use it for a video-
we'll see-

Playin at playin guitar-

SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME

Guild D140 Natural
Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White
Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body
Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son)
Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green
Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric
Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric
Lag T118ASCE-BLK
Guild D240E
A-M-I J45 clone
Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

TonyKgull
Global Moderator

Posts: 6,425

Location: Ontario, Canada

Red Rocket assessment Nov 25, 2021 5:54:50 GMT -5 Derick likes this

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Post by TonyKgull on Nov 25, 2021 5:54:50 GMT -5

Garland , Ya, that would probably have me scratchin' my head too. But sometimes, a guitar just is what it is for better or for worse.

It is possible, not saying this is a thing, this is just a pondering, but ya, it could be possible that the guitar was designed with people who play with a pick in mind. I dunno. But a lot of guitars sound very different with a pick vs played with just the fingers. Again, depends on the guitar. By different I mean some might sound better with a pick and some might really shine better when played finger style.

I know the smaller acoustics I've always had I really felt the need to "drive" them. Whereas most of the dreads and GAs I've played felt more flexible in what different styles could do because of their size putting out more volume and sometimes resonance. It occurs to me that this is probably just one of the reasons I've always loved my dreadnaughts.

Last Edit: Nov 25, 2021 5:55:47 GMT -5 by TonyKgull

=====================================
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Jesus, from Matthew 11:28-30

WELCOME TO THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR CABIN!!!

Post by Garland on Nov 23, 2021 21:38:01 GMT -5

Post by TonyKgull on Nov 24, 2021 1:20:55 GMT -5

Post by Derick on Nov 24, 2021 6:52:10 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Nov 24, 2021 9:11:26 GMT -5

Post by TonyKgull on Nov 25, 2021 5:54:50 GMT -5

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