Goodall TROM

This is a TROMMh. I have listed the guitar as a "used" purchase, but it actually was bought from the store and returned virtually untouched. Don't know the story behing that but, as James Goodall wrote me, "one man's loss in another man's gain". The guitar was made in 2005 for NAMM. Top is a creamy Adirondak, back and sides are a beautifully figured fiddleback Mahogany; trimmed in maple. headstock and bridge do not have the normal Goodall "flare" shape, but rather or more in line with the traditional OM configuration

The sound is perfect. I play Christian, country, hillbilly, bluegrass, flat-pick, finger style and strumming. The nothing this guitar does not respond to. It has a rich bright souund, perfect intonation all the way up the neck. It is easily my most versatile guitar. Volume can easily compete in the presence of dreadnaughts. Sustain is incredible...longer than you can hold your breath!

Action, fit and finish are typical James Goodall....perfect. The finish on this guitar is so smooth and clear it a pleasure just to hold the guitar...best to wear a bib to keep the drool off the guitar. There are no flaws...none.

This is my second Goodall...never had a single problem with either. I play this OM pretty hard around the house. I should probably treat it with kid gloves...it is, afterall, a piece of art...but I buy my guitars to play...not just look at. I have no reason to think that the Goodall guitars I own are anything less than durable and reliable.

I corresponded with James before and after buying both my Goodall guitars. He always responded to emails...once or twice it took a week. But, he's got a small shop...travells to shows...and responds personally. Besides, I wouldn't "rush" to make a 3-5K$$ purchase. I have been very pleased with their support. Never had to have anything repaired.

I have been playing for over 25 years. I own a Martin HD28, Goodall GC in redwood and rosewood, this Goodall TROMMh, a Seagull S6 which I keep at work for lunch jams, an Alvarez classical. I've travelled to large cities all over the US and I always go to the guitar shops. Recently while in the Chicago area I visited a single shop and played OM's; Collings, Tippin, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois...and a Goodall. All these other guitars were really fine instruments, but there was nothing in that room that could hold a candle to the tone, volume, sustain, or playability of the Goodall. I almost bought that Goodall in Chicago, but was looking for a differnt set of tonewoods and I have found them in this TROMMh. I love everything about this guitar. I have scarcely played my others since acquiring it...to my shame! If something happened to it or it was stolen, I would definatley try to replace it though I would probably have to order it custom from Goodall to get close to the same aesthetics in the tone woods. One final plug: I bought the guitar from Danny Brevard of Acoustic Pro Musician in Lufkin, Texas. Danny was great to work with and inluded a large number of extras in the purchase price. I couldn't be happier about the transaction and would recommend him to anybody serious about purchasing a quality guitar! www.acousticpromusician.com

I have not purchased this guitar...yet.
Made on "The Big Island" Kona, Hawaii - USA
The features are what I believe are the best quality E.I. rosewood b/s
Adirondack spruce top, great feeling matte finish mahogony neck.
It has that herringbone perfing around the body and rosette...too many luthiers miss this beautiful feature. I love the herringbone look! It's one reason I even looked at this guitar of this price.
I agree with the previous review: "...ivoroid tuners that make this guitar look a bit cheap." However, they are Waverly tuners, and they are considered among the best. OHSC is top quality as well. The color of the tuners is something I think I can get over.

Like any acoustic...none are created equal. This one has the 'right stuff'. Great to greatest one I have heard out of an OM...and I have owned an played plenty of them!
Never played a "dog" from Goodall. I like em 'open' from the start. Some Goodalls sound more open from the beginning. They just get 'bigger' from there.
I am not a hard player...just a softee finger picking type. But when strummed hard...this one stands up like a Dreadnaught!

Cross grain is fairly obvious in this one. Very well bookmatched and built like a tank. James Goodall makes some of the most stunning hand made guitars around, that sound as good as they look. That includes this TROM. More quality woods go into Goodalls...even around the binding! NO FINISH FLAWS...at these prices and reputation, Goodall cannot afford it!

Built to last. This will be my 4th Goodall and I have the checking account balance numbers to proove it! They are built to last. No problems in 7 years with any of them.

Jim Goodall or his wife will email back directly. Warranty is as solid as their guitars. Goodall's website gives all kinds of useful advice for acoustic guitar owners. Jim Goodall is a real credit to the industry.

Have not bought it yet...but close to putting $$$ down
Compared it to Martin OM, Santa Cruz OM/PW (best bang for the buck),Huss & Dalton OM, and Collings OM. I am still trying to figure out what I need to sell to get this gem.

I also own a two Concert Jumbo Goodall Guitars: a Cedar top cut-away with rosewood back/sides and a Spruce top with AAA Koa backsides.

This Goodall is more expensive, but it has the tone and feel of a great OM...perhaps the greatest. Tuners are a bit of a drawback. They are available in black ebony, but after all it's a TRADITIONAL OM...so there may be a bit of luthier license, here.

I love this guitar for it's tone, feel and looks...in that order.
I wish it had a lower price tag. Every product has a point of diminishing return...IMHO, handmade OM's are around $2500...after that the rest is fluff.

A "10" because it's a "Fantastic value"? NO...because it is the best sounding and playing OM I have come across in my 40 years as a player.

2004 or 2005 (not sure which year) Traditional OM with Adirondack spruce top. No cutaway. Rosewood back and sides. Waverly tuners. The ivoroid tuning knobs look a little cheap on a guitar of this price range but it was an attempt to match the coloring in the maple binding and maple strip in the edge of the headstock.

25 1/2" scale length. 11" upper bout, 15" lower bout. 9 1/2" waist.
4 1/4" depth. Length of box is 19 1/2".

Came with a very nice TKL hard shell case with lots of buckles and beautiful dark blue velour interior. Fits guitar like a glove; almost a little too tight but that will change with use.

Best guitar I've ever heard and I don't do it justice. It does have that recognizable Goodall sound. Much more volume and no break-up like my previous cedar-topped Goodall.

Great volume, highs are bright with lots of sustain. The lows are just amazing, no boominess but tight even if I tune down the 4th or 5th string two steps -- with light gauge strings no less. For some reason the sound reminds me of a precision machine. Everything is spot on and clear with no muddiness all the way up the neck. Some songs I play that pluck strings simultaneously finally sound like they are supposed to. The mid-range sounds a little pinched up the neck but the guitar hasn't really opened up yet. Intonation is perfect. Good for fingerstyle and flatpicking. I've tried many guitars over the years and owned quite a few and think this is the best guitar I've ever heard.

Good action from either the maker or store (The Podium) in Minneapolis where I bought it. No complaints about the finish. I like the herringbone trim on the top and the maple binding.

I think intentionally thin finish on the top because I can see the wood grain in the finish under the right light. End button installed but no strap button on the heel of the neck. I'll be careful with this guitar given its price and don't plan on gigging with it other than maybe some old folks apartment concerts that are indoors and unamplified.

Every time I play this guitar I find myself grinning and saying "wow! Amazing! I can't believe this thing" out loud to myself. I give this guitar a 9 instead of a 10 for the tuner knobs looking a little cheap but the sound is just fantastic.

I've been playing for 30 years and have owned Tacomas, Taylors, Guild, Washburn, and a cedar top Goodall. None of them stand up against this Goodall OM. Now I'm set for life.