Post by Greg Ballantyne on Jan 20, 2017 19:44:36 GMT -5
RockyMtnGull ,Derick ,TonyKgull ,jamesM , it's NGD. I have to admit I'm a fortunate fellow indeed. This 514ce LTD is a very sweet guitar. I also got very lucky in hitting very close to the target on the sort of guitar I was going for.
I just spent the last several hours playing the new guitar, playing it off (a/b) my 418, and in general living the dream, if my personal delusions are anywhere near reality....
Anyhow, the GA body with this tonewood combo is a mellow dark sounding guitar, with a powerful low end and great definition. It's my small body guitar, which has a large body voice. Compared to my 418, it's not as big a voice, but the difference is only slight. I must be an overtone afficianado. The complex sound of my 418 is due to overtones that come out of the ovangkol, and the cedar/granadillo combo is even more overtone rich. The sound is quite complex, and different to the players ears between a sitting position and standing using a strap.
This guitar is not so suited to heavy strumming, but tonight I've put it through a fair range of paces that included some strumming heavy numbers. It is overtone rich when strongly strummed, but as a complex sound appreciating player I don't mind. It is well suited I believe to my style, which is a flat picking combo without much strumming when I'm playing alone.
The HD light strings are nice. I still have the random thought to try medium guage, but the HD lights do the job very nicely. They are medium at the treble end, and this guitar does not ring or shimmer in the treble registers. At the same time, this tonewood/GA body combo seems to offer a variety of sound possibilities when you consider different playing attacks.
Since I am a dumb ass I'm already thinking of a rosewood guitar and the comparisons there, but this one will keep me busy and motivated for quite some time I am sure. The playability of the GA body is great, the action is superb, and it's a wonderful playoff from my 418 spruce/ovangkol - with which a nice shimmer can be brought out of the treble registers.
First impressions, on a magical NGD. The Sweetwater photos were indeed the guitar sent to me, so I haven't taken any myself to this point. I think I'm in love.
I just spent the last several hours playing the new guitar, playing it off (a/b) my 418, and in general living the dream, if my personal delusions are anywhere near reality....
Anyhow, the GA body with this tonewood combo is a mellow dark sounding guitar, with a powerful low end and great definition. It's my small body guitar, which has a large body voice. Compared to my 418, it's not as big a voice, but the difference is only slight. I must be an overtone afficianado. The complex sound of my 418 is due to overtones that come out of the ovangkol, and the cedar/granadillo combo is even more overtone rich. The sound is quite complex, and different to the players ears between a sitting position and standing using a strap.
This guitar is not so suited to heavy strumming, but tonight I've put it through a fair range of paces that included some strumming heavy numbers. It is overtone rich when strongly strummed, but as a complex sound appreciating player I don't mind. It is well suited I believe to my style, which is a flat picking combo without much strumming when I'm playing alone.
The HD light strings are nice. I still have the random thought to try medium guage, but the HD lights do the job very nicely. They are medium at the treble end, and this guitar does not ring or shimmer in the treble registers. At the same time, this tonewood/GA body combo seems to offer a variety of sound possibilities when you consider different playing attacks.
Since I am a dumb ass I'm already thinking of a rosewood guitar and the comparisons there, but this one will keep me busy and motivated for quite some time I am sure. The playability of the GA body is great, the action is superb, and it's a wonderful playoff from my 418 spruce/ovangkol - with which a nice shimmer can be brought out of the treble registers.
First impressions, on a magical NGD. The Sweetwater photos were indeed the guitar sent to me, so I haven't taken any myself to this point. I think I'm in love.
