Cole Clark Angel

The features have been described well already, the face brace pick up is the standout.

General Angel specs, all-solid construction, satin finish. Circa 2006 build, pre-official release model that was a custom build for a CC 'endorsed artist'.

No custom Angel case existed when this was built so I use a dreadnaught gator case which does the job with the help of some padding.

Even though it has a smaller (auditorium) body, to my ear it is almost as loud as my other full sized dreadnaught acoustic. Just a fraction softer, but the wonderful richness in tonality gives it great flexibility in playing different styles.

Plugged in, particularly through the wider dynamic range of a good P.A... the sound just quantum leaps... there is a YouTube video explaining that, when the Angel was released CC couldn't work out why the Angel had a lower bottom end than the larger FL series. This is very evident in my guitar... I have to generally fiddle with my bass EQ during live gigs, particularly when plugging into different amplification setups, as sometimes the bass is overpowering, particularly if there is already a bass guitar in the mix.

If you are going solo or without bass reinforcement, this increased bottom end may be a big advantage. I generally have my bass EQ at about 25%, and the others mid range or so to suit the music I am playing.

For me, the sound is amazing and with so much range of tonal adjustment, by using the facebrace <--> bridge pickup blend slider coupled with very good EQ, the sound you can tailor is amazing.

Fit and finish is excellent, just as you would expect from a high quality instrument.

I cant comment on the initial action, as mine was a custom build for a particular artist.. then sold to someone else and then to me.

For me it is perfect, the playability of the action was the selling point. Instant attraction when I first picked it up.

It is set very low and there is some fret buzz when I strum too hard. But that is just issues in my technique, and learning to adjust to the low setup.

Well this is always a difficult question to answer, being the 3rd owner of this guitar in two years the playability is better than off-the rack models I have played in shops.

The finish has wear and tear as expected, but I guess CC owners are careful with their instruments, and this guitar still looks stunning.

The strap buttons are rock solid, as is the hardware and obviously built for the rigours of live performance.

I've only dealt with CC for advice as I have bought this guitar privately, but Brad Clark has always replied with detailed and accurate answers. To have the designer answer your questions is quite a buzz.

I use this guitar mainly for live gigs, with an acoustic 4 piece group. I would be shattered if it were lost or stolen, mainly as I couldnt really afford to replace it with a new one, and they are as rare as hens teeth to find second hand, as mine was. Furthermore, to have a custom build was the icing on the cake.

It is a Cole Clark Angel - #10 - doesn't even have the blue angel label, because they hadn't made labels yet! The label i signed by Brad Clark as well ... :-)


- Spruce top,
- Blackwood sides
- 3 pc queensland maple back that is stunning.
- Neck is Qld Maple , with rosewood freboard, snow flake inlays,
- CC dual pick up system.
-Rosewood bridge

I have owned this gutiar now for a little under 2 years. I actually got this gutiar before it even hit the general public!

To describe the sound of this thing in words ... is well quite difficult. Amazing.. about the only word I can muster up. I have owned American Breedlove's, played Taylor's, Martins, Larrivee's and all the rest. The only other guitar that has a sound I like are McPherson's... but for the price range this is very nice. A local classical gutiar luthier was amazed by the sound quality and build quality as well.

Needless to say, this guitar is great. I use it for strumming and fingerstyle. The notes just pop out with such clarity and definition. I play in standard and alternate tunings and it performs well in all areas. Plugged in, this guitar is a gem. Hands down, just is nice. You can use the Face Brace and Bridge pickup with the EQ to get nice tonal varieties if you want, or just set it to a good setting and leave it, and its good.

The guitar was set up very well. My one minor complaint would be is that the action is a little bit higher than I would like, but its playable. I have adjusted it as much as feasible. The neck is comfortable, and is a great guitar to play standing or just sitting and bumming around.


I have not had any issues like the fellow below, mentioning the matching of the back and the nut. Rest assured, IMHO, I personally would take a great sounding instrument with few minor cosmetic issues, than a perfect cosmetic gutiar that sounds like rubber bands and a cardboard box, like many other guitars on the market today.

This guitar has been very reliable. I play it about an hour or so each day, some more of course, and just keeps sounding better the longer I have it. It has aged well so far, and I have no complaints here. I specifically have waited a while to see how this gutiar would hold up, before I submitted a review. Top notch.

I have not dealt with Cole Clark directly, but I guess thats a good thing.

If this were lost or stolen, I think I would cry like a little girl and then hunt down the thief...

I have almost thought about getting a 2nd angel just so I can baby this one even more. As mentioned before, I have owned several and played dozens upon dozens of other guitars out there. Very unique and awesome guitar. This gutiar will not be leaving my collection.

All solid grand auditorium cutaway electro-acoustic (Face Brace sensor).

Bunya top, Indian rosewood sides, Queensland maple back and neck (kind of like a light coloured mahogany). Wooden stripe fret markers (not sure of the wood), ebony tuners and arrows rosette (never seen this combination on another guitar).

No case!!! so its a 9.
(the awesome guys at Broadway music chucked one in though)

I play mainly finger pick open tunings and some mid to hard strumming. I like the style of Xavier Rudd, Jack Johnson, Sigur Ros and Mogwai. This guitar suits my style just perfect. It suits the picking the most, but i can really lay into this guitar and it just sings. The closest sounding guitar i found was a Taylor GS LTD.

May be too much low end for some (a bit more than a dreadnought).

Plugging this guitar in is such a treat, its the first guitar ive heard that still sounds like a real guitar when its plugged in. (i do a lot of live sound so i hear a lot of acoustics plugged in). I also tried Taylor, Martin, Maton, Breedlove, Moon, Ayres, Larrivee, Seagull... and the Cole Clark Face Brace pickup beats even the Taylor Expression System (in my opinion).

Its not quite as 'perfect' or clinical as a Taylor (if you know what i mean). But i like that, i like the way i can tell its handmade. Some people may not been to keen on the markings of the Bunya top though.

Ive only had this for a month, so no problems yet. Because of the satin finish it will mark easier than a gloss. Everything is solid and i would gig without a backup (as long as i changed the strings before the gig)

This guitar suits me perfect and i would definitely try and replace it if it was stolen. But i would miss the custom options (i doubt i could get the exact same setup again, not in the UK anyway).

The angel is a remarkable smaller sized guitar, the dual pickup designed by Cole Clark is a remarkable and useful developement for plugged playing.

I loved the sound of htis guitar and was sorry to have to return it as is discusssed below.

The use of Australian tone woods is excellent.

Probably a little muted in output, but the body size has to be considered; well balanced tone with a beautifully organic low/mid tone.

Here???s the thing; Cole Clark place a great deal of emphasis on the quality of the guitars they produce and the accuracy that they are able to machine the different parts; the top and back are routed/carved to tune the resonance, the neck/headstock joint is a marvel of design with a male-female joint chiselled to remarkable levels of accuracy to make a remarkably shaped modified scarf joint that is probably very strong. This is all done with the aid of CNC machining; or robotic accuracy. In part it was the reputation for accuracy and finish that made me confident ot buy at long distance as I live in North Qld and was buying through a regional NSW dealer.

The Angel shipped to me appeared to be very well made; I could have niggled about some poorly finished joins or intersections in the x bracing that were visible through the sound hole, but that was about it. The rosette, and all the wood bindings were excellent. But functionally it had one flaw that showed itself when I fitted a set of 11???s in lieu of the standard 12???s; the nut was cut too deeply on the D string which led to buzzing.

As such it came as a shock on my third day to discover that the three-panel back was off centre, or askew. The centre panel was about 8 mm off center to the heel and neck alignment. Further as was later pointed out to me the heel itself was carved asymmetrically!!

I had already raised the issue of the badly cut nut with the dealer and he suggested this was not that unusual, and to go and get a tech to fill and re-cut the offending groove. Curiously the contact at CC seemed unwilling to accept that the nut was incorrect suggesting instead that it was okay for the strings fitted as standard 12???s, and by implication that my fitting 11???s caused the issue!

When I raised the issue of the back alignment the dealer was shy of accepting it was, despite my photos, but the Cole Clark contact quickly said that this shouldn???t happen and must be due to human error. The dealer was more of a mind to suggest no one else had found any fault like this, and that it was a minor issue. Sound wise he was correct I guess but from a production and aesthetic issue this was a problem that most other makers of guitars at this price point would describe as a 2nd. I was then offered an exchange, which suited me. Unfortunately the next batch of Angels with the 3 panel back were also askew or off centre; three out of three guitars were similarly flawed.
A guitar at this price point should not be released to the public with a back that has been carved and fitted off centre. And the fact that the factory was releasing guitars that were consistently flawed suggests a problem with QA and standards. I lost confidence in being able to purchase with safely at long distance. I bailed out of the deal at this stage and asked for a refund; which I received after a small amount of argy bargy.

I only write this as others should be cautioned to watch out for this alignement defect as my experience suggests this has occured on a number of the three panel back Angels released. As of May 08 the factory advised it was going ot redress this problem.

In conclusion a company that has such an excellent and innovative product and wants ot compete on the world stage has to do better with a simple production/QA issue.

Not able ot comment.

Excellent support from the factory despite them not really seeing this alignment issue as a "real" problem. And the attitude about the nut was curious.

The Angel is the latest model acoustic in the Cole Clark family.
Grand auditorium cut a way electric. 2007 model #33..this particular
guitar is all solid,as are all Cole Clarks. Bunya pine back and front.
Black wood sides. Cole Clark Pick up system = one under bridge pick up
plus one "Face Brace Sensor" that picks up the resonance of the vibrating top. Drop dead looker.

Believe me I sell Cole Clark and a lot of other brands. I have been a
player, Teacher & demonstrator for over 25 years..If I did'nt think
that Brad Clark was onto something special I woul'nt be writing this.
Players like Jack Johnson & Ben Harper can afford any instrument they
like. They play Australian Cole Clarks. The two pick up systems gives
you so much more of the timber speaking to you and is great for percussive playing.

Personally I would rather have an instrument that looked like a shoe box,if it played and sounded great. Rather than the almost sterile mass
produced products being built just to satisfy demand. But with this Angel I see no problems. It Looks Superb.

I have read a lot of "hot air" descriptions re: will these guitars still
be stable etc in 30 years..One things for sure. I wont be. What a lot of
Bullshit. You buy an instrument to play the crap out of it now and enjoy it. Do you buy a new car thinking it will still be with you in thirty
years.

I have dealt with the factory by phone and email. Brad Clark himself will answer your questions about his creations..Imagine having a line
to Leo Fender 40 years ago.

Try all of the major brands..But don't spend a cent with out trying
any of the Cole Clark Family.