Product: Northwood FM80-D
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
08/09/2009
at
01:36am
by
Graham
Email: berenbaby at aol<dot>com
Features
:
9
The Northwood FM80-D is a dreadnought shaped guitar, handmade in Canada, by John McQuarrie.
All-solid woods, it has an Englemann spruce top.
Flamed Maple B & S and front veneer to the headstock.
Rosewood body binding.
Mahogany neck.
Ebony fretboard, bridge, bridge-pins, headstock binding and tuner buttons.
Bone nut and saddle.
And Abalone rosette and headstock logo.
The neck dimensions (1.75 inch nut & 25.6 inches scale)
Body has a gloss finish, the neck, satin.
It also comes fitted with a Fishman Matrix UST
Sound
:
9
This guitar came fitted with lightish (11-52) Elixer Nanoweb 80/20 strings. I usually use the 12-53 Phospher Bronze Elixers.
With the 80/20s, this dread sounds full, yet sparkly, with quite an open, vibrant tone.
When I put on the P.B. 12-53s, the tone became muddier and even seem to lose a little bottom end. Which was a complete surprise to me, as I've use the PBs on all my other guitars.
So I put some new lighter 80/20s on and all is well.
Full and vibrant but not as thick sounding as many dreadnoughts. Which to me, makes for a more versatile guitar.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
As with my other Northwood guitar, the FM80-D is pretty much flawless, in fit and finish.
The flamed maple B & S look wonderful, matching perfectly with the rosewood binding and spruce top.
A low action, kept strong by the guitars scale length, is a joy to play.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I've played out with this guitar and it is a professionals guitar.
Solid, high quality craftsmanship.
Striking and very dependable.
Customer Support
:
9
Just a single email to John McQuarrie, in Canada. Which he answered very quickly and in a friendly, helpful manner.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing around 37 years. Bass, then acoustic.
I recently reduced my acoustic guitars from 4 to 2.
Both Northwoods. A mini-jumbo and this dreadnought.
They both exude quality and have very similar feeling necks. Which is a big plus, in my book.
This is not a typical dread. For me, it's better.
It's a great strummer and flatpicker, yet fingerpicks better than any other dread, I have played.
I personally think the dreadnought is the most boring of guitar shapes, yet the Northwood manages to look sleek and stylish. Everything flows and with all the classy finishing, including a lovely flamed maple veneer to the headstock, the FM80-D not only sounds great, it looks cool, as well.
