Farida O-16

This is rather a well-kept secret in the UK right now. Made in China, but don't let that fool you.

Basically a very good quality copy of the 1920/30s Martin "Parlour"-style guitars with slotted headstock and neck meeting body at 12th fret. All the right materials here - Spruce top, Rosewood sides and back, Mahogany neck with Rosewood fingerboard.

These guitars are something else, tone-wise. The placing of the bridge more to the centre of the sweet-spot in the spruce top makes these 0000 or Parlour-style babies project like you wouldn't believe. A wonderful big sound from something so small - great mid-range complexity - you play these with your fingers as they just seem to work better that way - you don;t need a pick to make the notes jump out. Good for strumming, but really outstanding as a finger-picking instrument. Mic'd up these sound like 1000 dollars.

While it hasn't got the low-end of the Dreadnought, the O-16 has quite acceptable low-end in perfect balance with the overall tone - which is remarkable - everyone who's played mine has said as much and now wants to buy one as well.

Well, I played several mid-range Martins recently, and this little beauty is up there with the big boys in the construction quality stakes. The binding/purfling is obviously not made using real mother of pearl/etc. but it looks fine and most importantly is finished with as much care and skill as a top-flight instrument.

The neck is wonderful - an old-fashioned V-neck and a lovely mahogany finish - a proper handful and you grow to love the way it fits your hands very quickly - that and the way you can just reach out a pick the instrument up anywhere you are. It just fits your body. The scale length is only actually a tad less than a normal Dreadnought and the neck is standard width so you don't feel cramped there especially.

The O-16 is so dinky you can actually play it without a strap, standing up and holding the body against you with your strumming forearm. As mentioned above, top quality materials and construction make this as road-worthy as any acoustic - though it's more of a home/recording instrument really. Really nice plush lined hardcase included in the price, BTW.

Spoke with the Farida/Dawson's guys at a recent event - they are good guys and agreed the O-16 is possibly the star of a stellar line-up.

Been playing a long time and this little baby has made me foresake my other guitars almost completely since I got her a couple or so months ago. Just something about that little body and the amazing sound that makes it my default reach-for instrument around the house. Basically, unless you fancy forking out several grand for a Martin 0000 or Collings this takes you a long way towards that fabled place for a frankly crazy price.