Goodall RGCC

Grand Concert Cutaway. Master grade spruce top w/ East Indian Rosewood and Koa binding. Abalone Rosette. Ebony fingerboard/headstock plate/bridge and ebony/abalone bridge pins. Gotoh 510s.

This is one of the most 'basic' models but it has a number if nice features.

I'm tempted to have a pickup installed in it, but at the same time I don't want to drill any holes in this beautiful guitar! I may resort to using something like a Fishman rare earth blend. Still deciding. I feel like this would sound great even in front of a regular microphone!

This guitar is LOUD and responsive. The sustain is incredible. People [Goodall owners] weren't kidding when they said these guitars sound like pianos. The sound is so sweet either fingerpicked or strummed. But most response with a thin pick in hand. I played an engelmann-topped RGCC at Buffalo Bros and was blown away by the sound when fingerpicked. Engelmann would still be my first choice but this particular RGCC can't be beat in terms of sound.

The playability took a day or two to get used to but I've discovered that it's lightning fast. Hammer-ons/offs are like butter on this guitar! I am by no means a fingerstylist, but this guitar alone is motivating me to become one! The guitar takes getting used to coming off [mostly] Martin guitars but it's really comfortable and easy to play. Of course, the previous owner had it setup for lower action too.

So far so good! It seems like this is a pretty solidly built guitar, and the reputation of Goodalls seems very good too. But I'm not going to speak to soon on this

Haven't had to call in for support. Yet.

This is the best sounding guitar I've owned. Hands down. It was well worth it. This is definitely a keeper. Now, in terms of how it compares to other high end guitars out there, I can't say for sure. But I'm pretty positive it ranks up there with them. I won't be letting this one go anytime soon.

2004 RGCC. It's the standard model with EI Rosewood back and sides and Sitka top. The woods are quite beautiful, as is everything about this guitar. The only upgrade is that it has gold Gotoh 510 tuners. It has everything you need and then a little extra like MOP slotted diamond inlays, MOP rosette, curly koa binding. I love turning the guitar in the light and watching the koa "wave".

I play many styles of music including pop, reggae, folk, blues, rock, classical, & country. To be honest, this guitar can do it all. It is very well balanced with great note separation and clarity. The richness of the tone is remarkable and inspiring. Every time I sit down and play I am led down uncharted musical paths. With my previous guitar (D-28) I felt like the guitar was a bit lifeless with no color or overtones to explore. The Goodall is the exact opposite. The bass strings are clear and powerful with no whoomphiness like the D28 has. The mids are a little less pronounced and the highs are bell-like all the way up the fretboard. I am amazed at the volume and bass response of this small-bodied guitar.

I play mostly with a flatpick but have been fingerpicking more now that I have a guitar that sounds so awesome played in any style.

I guess I have to give it a 9 though since there's a dead spot on the 5th string at the 9th fret.

I bought it used. The action is medium and is well-suited for my styles of playing. The finish on the guitar is incredible. It seems thicker than the one on my D-28 and smoother. One small finish flaw is a tiny extra dab near the strap button at the bottom.

The woods are extremely beautiful. The Goodall rosewood actually looks like it came from a tree whereas the Martin looks like low-grade shelving material. The spruce top is fine-grained, even and has a nice honey glow to it. The mahogany neck is also beautiful and rich looking. You can tell that all the woods were chosen to have visual appeal. The koa binding is spectacular and looks great between the rosewood and spruce.

I love the added touch of the ebony binding on the fretboard that covers the fret ends.

There are a few minor detail flaws though. The koa binding on the headstock doesn't perfectly align on one side. There are a few other places on the body where the binding comes together where it's not perfectly aligned either. The MOP rosette has some slight chipping around the edge on one segment. The ebony fretboard binding could have been sanded just a tad better at the very end of the fretboard near the soundhole. It's not perfectly seamless with the fretboard.

These are very minor flaws but I thought they should be presented.

I guess I'll give it an 8 since I would expect a $4500 guitar to be near perfect. Maybe my expectations are just too high though.

Everything seems very solid and well-built to me. No worries here.

Never had to use customer support.

Overall I give it a 9 due to the few minor flaws stated above.

I think Goodall's site says it best: The grand concert is one of the world's most perfect guitars. It has a very comfortable shape, a cutout for great soloing up the neck, and a very balanced and rich sound. It fingerpicks, flatpicks, and strums well. I currently have my D-28 up for sale because the Goodall does everything the D-28 does and more.

I've been playing about 11 years. This is my 3rd acoustic: DR, D-28, now this. I don't think I'll be buying another acoustic unless I win the lottery, then maybe I'll get a master grade all koa Goodall just to put on display in my living room.

I compared this guitar to other high-end guitars and this one just had the sound that struck me.

2003 model new
Rosewood sides and back, Cedar top. Koa binding. Schaller tuners.
Nice hard shell case, Not fancy but I consider that a
plus (I hate gaudy).

Superb. I own a 30 year old Bozo which sounds great but this
guitar blows it away. I play fingerstyle almost exclusively
and I use plastic finger picks. The tone makes me smile and
motivates me to play even more.

This guitart looks, feels, and plays like a dream.

I play this instrument daily. It just performs great.
I'm not a pro but I hate to put it down.

I made a request by e-mail to find out when the guitar was made.
James Goodall answered the e-mail himself and provided the info.
I requested.

I have been playing off and on for 30 years. Now it is on all the
time. If this instrument were lost or destroyed, I'd by another in
an instant.

Goodall 2002 RGCC with rosewood back and sides and Engelmann spruce top; Koa binding, ebony Schaller tuners with TKL case. An absolutely beautiful guitar. The clear pickguard enhances the look of the Engelmann top. Mahogany neck with a great feel and perfect action. It looks like what it is; a carefully made handmade guitar.

Classic Goodall sound i.e. loud, resonant with lots of sustain and overtones. A different sound than the vintage sound more typical of Martins, Collings etc. Harmonics all over the place, not just on the 5th, 7th, and 12th frets. Has that James Taylor sound that he gets with his Olson.

No flaws, great fit and finish. Perfect action for me. Neck is not as thick as older acoustic guitars but noticably thicker than Taylors. Alot of sounds comes from the neck so I didn't want want one that felt like an electric.

A solid well made guitar. It does not feel delicate. This is a lifetime purchase that I will take of but not shelter. It's made to be played.

James Goodall answers his own email. Can't ask for more than that.

Been playing for over 30 years. Have a Ramirez R4 classical. Also have a 1973 Brazilian Rosewood, K. Yairi dreadnought handmade in Japan that is also great but with a warmer sound. I played many guitars that I compared to my Yairi; Huss and Dalton, Santa Cruz, Froggy Bottom, Collings, Martin, McPherson, Avalon and Taylor. If I was going to spend this kind of $, I was only going to get something that sounded appreciably better and different the Yairi. Only the Goodalls met that criteria for me though I do like the tone of Huss and Daltons and the Santa Cruz OMs. Goodall was the only brand where every model sounded great-incredible consistency of tone. James Goodall strives to build guitars that sound musical. I can't think of a better adjective for this guitar. Used Goodalls are a great deal because their owners tend to baby them. You can get them at significantly reduced prices over new. This guitar new is $4600.

2002 Grand Concert Cutaway. Englemann Spruce Top; East Indian Rosewood sides, back, neck; Koa binding; Ebony fretboard; Gold Schaller tuners with ebony buttons; ebony bridge; walrus ivory nut and saddle; abalone rosette; No pickup, when purchased - I added an LR Baggs I-Beam.

After considering a Taylor for a couple of years, the first time I played a Goodaall I was utterly blown away. Not just by the way it sounded and played, but by the way the sound felt. The body of the guitar resonated (against my body) in a way that I'd never felt. I compared it on several occasions to every other guitar in the shop (including Martin, Collings, Huss & Dalton, Froggy Bottom, Tippin, Taylor, Rainsong)but, in my opinion, none came close to the Goodall. People consistently comment on the sound of the guitar and ask what kind it is (since it's relatively uncommon and the head does not spell out the brand.)

Superb. Aside from being a great instrument, the woodwork is beautiful all on it's own. Everything about it is so superb that when adding a pickup, I was unhappy about having to remove the end-pin. No adjustment needed for action, intonation.

Reliable, durable - yes. But, I also baby it. Will not expose to belt buckles, rivets, buttons, etc.

Very Good. The pickup I installed was based on a recommendation from James Goodall. I called and explained that I'd love to get James' input on pickup selection (I wanted the least invasive pickup possible that would provide great sound). I was told, in a very courteous way, to send an email to James with my inquiry. That same day, James replied very promptly with a fairly lengthy, and very helpful message.

This is an incredible instrument. No doubt that it will never leave my collection. Would I replace it if it were lost/stolen? In a heartbeat. It's an expensive guitar, and it was tough to decide to spend that much. But after owning it for almost a year now, there's no question that it is worth every penny.

This Grand Concert Bent Cut-away guitar was made by James Goodall (www.goodallguitars.com) in Hawaii, USA. It has 20 frets. Solid AAA Adirondack Red Spruce Top. AAA East Indian Rosewood back and sides. Curly Koa and Ebony body binding and back center purfling. A premium abalone rosette. Ebony fret-board and headstock laminate, pegs, bridge, and buttons. Gold Schaller tuners. Two piece Mahogony neck. With Nitro-cellulose finish. It has a non-intrusive LR Baggs Ribbon Tranducer under saddle piezo pick-up which I run to a LR Baggs Para DI.

The balanced sound is rich and full. The bass really is amazing for a Grand Concert size. This is an amazing sounding guitar.

The action is perfect and the neck is extremely playable and fast. This guitar is the cleanest and best workmanship on any guitar I have played (Langejans, Larrivee, Bourgeous, Martin, Guild, Gibson, etc)

The bracing on this is very well done. Every attention to detail is payed. This guitar is not only gorgeous but really well-built.

Gene Goodall was the more help then she needed to be. They were all very kind and went out of their way to be helpful.

If you in the market for a hand-made guitar this is one of the best.