Magnum Opus MJ-300CKC

I first submitted my review for this awesome guitar under electrics by mistake so I'm resubmitting under proper acoustic category. Where do I begin with the features on this amazing instrument. The guitar is completely made by hand without CNC machines and the workmanship is just plain stunning. This model has Master Grade beautifully figured Koa back & sides with the most amazing tight grained cedar top I've ever seen. The inlay on this instrument is flawless. My guitar has dual abalone rosette rings with koa leafs, koa, walnut & white wood short vine stretching just below the 12th fret. Also has 3 wood Torch in headstock. The neck and headstock also have koa purfling. The guitar is stunning with it's appointments and yet not over the top. Tuners are 18:1 custom MO. They hand make the Ebony tuners as well. This piece is almost beyond description. I love it!!!

The MJ-300CKC plays and sounds as good as it looks - and that's saying something. The tone on this guitar is so warm and rich and balanced. Not bright and tiny like many acoustics on the market. The bottom end, mids and highs are the most evenly balanced I have ever experience in an acoustic. Most acoustics fall apart in the mids (in my opinion) and this thing roars. It sings and rings forever. I read a MO review in one of the trade magazines and they said it chimed like a grand piano - I agree. This guitar vibrates so much I get a massage when I play it. It's the best guitar for recording I've ever used because there are no annoying overtones - the definition, the tone and the clarity is just plain awesome. The medium jumbo cutaway body is so versatile - it excels in flat picking, strumming, and finger style. The medium jumbo is smaller than a jumbo, yet larger than an auditorium. It's just perfect for all my needs and I'll never let it go.

The guitar came straight out of the case perfectly in tune and plays like a dream. In fact, it plays as easy as my solid body electrics. The neck profile is so comfortable it's scary. The heel, neck and headstock are hand-carved from one piece of solid mahogany. The action and intonation is magic. The finish is absolutely flawless. I've searched every inch of the guitar, not one flaw. That's unusual because I can find an inlay or finish flaw on almost any new guitar, but not this MO.

I've played it daily for a year and a half now and it's a modern day Stradivarius in my opinion. The cedar top has opened up nice and it sings and rings forever. When I change strings, I tune it up to 440 and that's it. The intonation is amazing - best I've ever experienced. I would use this guitar under any conditions and I have. I'm full of confidence under any application when I'm holding my MO.

I have not had any problems with my MO guitar, but I have talked with company 2 or 3 times with various questions. They have been great! They took the time to answer my questions without making me feel rushed and I felt like I was talking with an old friend. I would say the only thing better than owning and playing your MO is talking with the company. Guitar comes with same limited lifetime warranty as most high-end manufacturers.

I've been playing, recording and performing since the early 70's and I have owned hundreds of acoustics by pretty much every major and boutique builder worldwide - on the high-end side. I've always been mainly an acoustic player and Magnum Opus is by far the best acoustic I've ever held in my hands. If it were lost or stolen I'd feel like I lost a best friend and I would have MO start building a new one for me immediately. But, just like losing an old friend, I'd never forget it.