Goodall TROMC

2004, AAA E.I. rosewood back and sides, adirondack spruce top, mahogany neck w/ebony fingerboard, ebony fingerboard binding and peghead veneer, herringbone inlay, chevron marquetry backstripe, maple binding, and Waverly vintage nickel tuners with ivoroid knobs.

Wide bout: 15 inches ~ Upper bout: 11 inches ~ Waist: 9 1/2 inches ~ Depth: 4 1/4 inches. Length of box: 19 1/2 inches ~ Overall guitar length: 39 13/16 inches ~ Scale length: 25 1/2 inches

Great "all around" guitar. Deep, rich lows, punchy mids, and singing, chime like highs that are not too bright (even with the stock Elixir Nanoweb strings). This is the most evenly voiced guitar I have ever played, from low to high, and all the way up the neck. It is also a cannon! If you hit it hard it is very loud, with virtually no buzz or break up, and the bottom end never gets muddy. On the other hand, this TROMC responds surprisingly well to a light touch with crisp, piano like bell tones. This guitar is probably *best* suited for flatpicking/strumming or acoustic rock/blues, but I think it sounds wonderful for fingerstyle as well, with remarkable note separation (while remaining rich and full). This holds true when comping jazz chords as well. Again, this is a refreshingly versatile instrument. I sincerely aim to be "critical" in this review, but I cannot find *anything* I don't like about the sound of this guitar. It really is an amazing instrument and literally stands a head above everything else I have previously or currently own, or anything I tried during my lasted 3 month search.

Almost every guitar I have had in the past needed some type of post-purchase set-up. However, this TROMC, which literally had just come out of the shipping box when I first played it, is set up fine. It does not have the low action of a Taylor, but it does not buzz anywhere on the neck and I can easily bend the strings. I would, however, still call the action "low." The neck is c-shaped (as opposed to v-shaped) with even thickness all the way down to the body. The neck is on the shallow side, but not as much as a Taylor/electric type neck; it still feels like an acoustic instrument. The fret height is even with no popped frets or sharp fret ends. Adirondack spruce tends to have a wider grain than Sitka or Engelmann, and it not as "lovely" to look at, but the top on this guitar is still an attractive, very light, creamy color. At first, I did not like the thick tortiouse shell pick gaurd, but it really does fit the "traditional" theme of this line of guitars, and the plastic protects the guitar from my aggressive playing style. Overall, the TROMs are subtle looking guitars, without intricate inlays or bindings. To me, it is a handsome, classy and refined looking guitar without needless flash (exemplified by the tasteful herringbone purfling and rossette). Even the ebony neck binding is virtually indistinguishable from the ebony fingerboard, giving the guitar a vintage appearance. Finally, the most pleasing aspect of this guitar is the spot on intontation, all the way up the neck-truly remarkable for an acoustic guitar. Also, this guitar stays in tune!

Can't say yet, but the pickgaurd should keep it from looking like Willy Nelson's Martin any time soon. It seems like a pretty rugged guitar, I have not had to do a truss rod adjustment; it stays in tune and easily switches between alternate tunings with little fuss. This guitar came with a fantastic (though very heavy) case. Sometimes you buy/play a wonderful sounding guitar but can just "feel" that it is delicate or tempermental. My TROMC feels robust. Even the vintage style tuners feel rugged, belying thier delicate look.

I have not had to contact Goodall. The guitar came with a 5-year warranty.

I really can't find anything I dislike or would change about this instrument. I tried some other wood combinations in the same model (cocobolo, mexican hardwook, mahogany) but liked the rosewook/adirondack spruce combo the best. Regardless of price, this is the guitar I would have chosen. In addition, this is an incredibly comfortable guitar. It is smaller in size but still sounds large. It's easy to get your arm around while standing at a gig, or just laying low on the couch at home. Again, a great all-around instrument.