Faith Venus Natural

The Faith 'Natural' FJCE guitar looks really beautiful with a high-gloss front and satin sides and back, a shallowish neck profile with a satin finish and gold Grover tuners with black keys. In style it is a jumbo cutaway electro guitar (Shadow pre-amp) and is part of Faith???s ???Natural series??? in the Jupiter range. (Hence FJCE). My guitar must have been made after March 2008 because that???s when they changed the inlaid logo at the 12th fret. The specs are as follows. This list was taken from the official Faith description, but with several added details from myself.

Top Wood ----- Solid Engelmann Spruce
Back Wood ----- Solid Indonesian Mahogany
Side Wood ----- Solid Indonesian Mahogany
Binding ----- Maple
Bracing ----- Quarter-Sawn, Scalloped Spruce
Rosette ----- Abalone
Neck ----- Indonesian Mahogany, shallow profile
Neck Finish ----- Satin
Neck Joint ----- Bolt-on and with a very comfortable heel
Fingerboard ----- Macassar Ebony
Fingerboard Inlays ----- Faith 'F' 12th Fret
Frets ----- 20
Machine Head ----- Grover
Trussrod ----- 2 Way
Nut Saddle ----- Unsure, but compensated
Nut Width ----- 43mm
Strap buttons ----- 2 - heel and tail. (The latter serving as jack-plug connection)
Bridge ----- Ebony
Bridge Pins ----- Ebony Slotted
Strings (as fitted) ----- Elixir 12 - 53
Finish Type ----- Polyurethane Lacquer (Hi gloss front, silk elsewhere)
Case ----- Complete with hard case. (My only niggle is with the handle, see note at end)
PreAmp Pickup ----- Shadow SH863
Scale Length ----- 650mm

The guitar has a very bright sound, but played sensitively, the bass and middle range are already mellow and warm. The guitar???s ability to sustain notes and to leave harmonics ringing is amazing. It seems equally suitable for plectrum, fingerstyle and rhythm ??? and can be very loud when pushed. The range of sounds and tones is very wide, with distinct and identifiable differences when played near and not-too-far-away from the bridge. Despite its potential for volume, the FJCE can be equally expressive, subtle and versatile ??? and that???s even before the excellent Shadow pre-amp is brought into the equation! For me, it???s a truly magical instrument.

When I bought the guitar I asked for it to be set up with a really low action because I have a damaged lead-finger on my left hand. The result astonished me. The action is incredibly low, but even when capo???d as far as the 10th fret, there isn???t a trace of fret buzz or rattle. Whatever the thickness is of a CD disc, I can JUST get that between the 12th fret and the string. Even with that low a setting, the potential volume of the guitar is still outstanding. It was only when I took a really close look that I noticed that the bridge saddle is very carefully and accurately chamfered to create compensation ??? not just for the ???B??? string but for all strings. As you would therefore expect, intonation is spot on and harmonic notes ring and ring and ring. The exterior of the guitar had no flaws whatsoever and the inside was clean with no suggestions of inadequate gluing. On one side there was possibly a hint of mild staining where glue had been wiped away, but it might just have been part of the wood. In short ??? I could find no flaws anywhere, despite looking very carefully for a very long time.

I can???t comment too much on durability because my guitar is new, but it is very well made and seems to be very robust and strong. No doubt the silk or gloss lacqueur finishes could be scratched ??? but that applies to any instrument. This guitar has been built to be played and not just admired, so I have no doubts about its potential longevity. The fitting and positioning of a second strap button on the offside of the heel is well thought out and is very well positioned. That???s a small detail but a very good one and it avoids the risk of splitting the heel if you tried to do it yourself. With a strap fitted, the guitar is well balanced and hangs comfortably.

I have had no cause to contact the company or the dealer for anything other than requesting details or for passing on my congratulations. Whilst still deciding what to buy, and from where, I contacted Faith and they were both fast and friendly in their responsiveness. Their website made it easy to identify dealerships in specific areas of the country and it was via that means that I initially found the dealer from whom I eventually bought my guitar. This was ???Baroque and Roll??? in Cinderford, Gloucestershire (UK). This turned out to be an unusual transaction because although I tried a lot of guitars in a lot of shops in both Leeds and London during my search, I eventually bought online without ever meeting the dealer or visiting his shop. There were two reasons for this ??? one was price (his were the equal of several others, and better than many, especially those in London), but the main one was the extreme helpfulness and patience that he showed as I gradually narrowed my search. This was done via email. It is also worth commending anyone and everyone to seek out the ???Baroque and Roll??? website which is fascinating because many of the guitars they stock are described and played in separate demonstration videos. This also proved to be another deciding factor because after trying many guitars, I could easily refresh my memory by re-visiting the website and hearing the guitar(s) being played. When my FJCE arrived, it was exceptionally well packaged inside a HUGE box and had travelled without any hint of damage.

Overall, then, I can only give this guitar a 10 rating. The only tiny, teensy-weensy little thing I don???t like is the handle on the hard case that comes with the guitar. For me, it is placed a bit too far forwards and makes the case swing back uncomfortably when being carried. It also has particularly ugly sewn padding with a deep ridge on the top ???.. but none of that effects my rating for the guitar inside the case. In my life I???ve had several reasonable and good guitars (Levin, Hofner, Yamaha, Fender) but this Faith FJCE is in a league of its own. During my search for a new instrument, I tried many different makes and models, but even after trying a mid-range Martin, a high-end LAG and a lovely Hofner jumbo, I still came back to the FJCE. It???s not a decision I???ll ever regret.

Engelmann spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Ebony board.
Cutaway provides good access to dusty end and the onboard system (Shadow) provides godd range of tones - which work well D,I'd).

The finish on neck back and sides is thin and matte. I've had it about 18 months however and the neck is buffing up nicely.

Ebony bridge pins and tuner heads are a classy touch!

It's proven to be a really good all-rounder. It shimmers when strummed - and is well balanced across the strings. I've used it mainly for finger-picking and have been really pleased - particularly in alternate tunings - though the bottom string can flap about a bit when tuned down to 'C'.

The finish is excellent. Everything is really well put together and the innards look tidy too. The fets are finished really well - no problems with fret ends. The maple binding really does look a treat!

It's very light - and I have had to tweak the truss rod once.

I would use it live, for specifically acoustic gigs. I'm currently playing in a noisy 6 piece electric band however - and would probably choose to use my other acoustic for this - if the need ever arose.

I had an internal lead work loose within a couple of months of buying it. It was sorted out under warranty with no fuss - and has not given any bother since.

I've been well happy with this guitar. I've played it rather more than I thought I would and my fingerstyle playing has really come on since I got it. Only problem is it has set me wondering what a really top-notch one would be like - if a mid-price one like this, sounds so good.

I have recently purchased this cutaway guitar. The natural series consists of a Solid Engelmann Spruce top with a hi gloss type finish & solid Indonesian Mahogany back & sides with a satin finish. You'll know that you have to sacrifice a bit of acoustic tone for the comfort & playability of a cutaway right? Well.... I think that this satin combination is the key to the amazing tonal qualities you can get from this guitar. It compares & holds It's own against many a Taylor or Martin and at fraction of the price. Grover tuners & nice playable mahogany neck. The first thing I did was take 2mm off the bridge to bring the action down lower, but it's about personal preferences here. It was perfectly playable straight from the case. Mine came with the Shadow SH863 Pickup and Preamp system. (I will miss having an on board tuner) When I plug it into my AER 60 acoustic amp, you really get that great, yet often illusive, natural acoustic sound. True everything sounds better through an AER in my opinion. The hard case is fine, it's not a flight case, great for your personal gigging, but I wouldn't stick it on a plane too often, anyway there's no lock on it!

Guys it's all about the sound & this guitar really cuts through the mix. I regularly play it, just acoustically, with 2 other guitarists (both plugged in) drums, keyboard & flute! It's still sweet, rich & bright. I play a variety of strumming techniques & often play acoustic lead.

Good finish. Neat abalone sound hole decoration. Nice combination of woods. Very comfortable to play. Lightweight. Lively.

I am convinced it will prove to be durable guitar that will improve with age.

I hope I never have to deal with the company. If their service matches philosophy I'm sure we will be OK
"We believe a guitar should be an extension of the player.
A medium through which the musician can express their
deepest thoughts, feelings and desires.
A direct link to the soul.

We believe that the player can indeed have it all:
Tone that guarantees an audience;
Feel that allows absolute freedom of expression;
Design that ensures the guitar matures with you.

We at Faith guitars believe that we cannot redesign a classic.
We strive only to redefine your expectations..."

I have been playing for 34 years. I've had the blessing of playing some great guitars & owned some too, but I love this guitar already. Currently have 12 string Ovation, 6 string Ovation, Washburn electro acoustic, Hand made classical electro-acoustic, Yamaha electric & 6 string bass. This Faith guitar calls to me from it's case "Play me, leave the others & play me" I give in to it! If it were lost or stolen, I would, God willing, seek replace it in a flash! The Faith brand still seem to be little known in some circles. I think they have a GREAT guitar in this particular model - Venus Natural series. I wish them well.