Product: Raven RG2180 Nylon Acoustic/Electric
Price Paid: (N/A)
Submitted
12/01/2005
at
11:48pm
by
Mike Perlowin
Features
:
9
This electric classical is the latest from Ravenwest. They call it an A/E. but it really is strictly an electric guitar designed for classical guitarists. Like all such guitars, it has a transducer type pickup, and active volume control and 3 band EQ. The top is lightly quilted maple (it might be a laminate, but i'm not sure) and the body is mahogany. The bolt on neck is the standard 1&3/4 inch wide classical guitar neck with the standard classical guitar slotted head. It has 21 frets with a deep cutaway so you can reach them all easily.
Sound
:
10
Awesome. Rich and full. Exactly what you want from an electric nylon string. The 3 band EQ lets you dial in what ever tone you want.
However, this is a one trick pony. It does one thing every well, and nothing else. i gove it a 10 for what it does, but it's not versitile.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
The only flaw in the guitar is the stock strings. (Why can't the Koreans make good strings?) other than thatm the guitar was find right out of the box. i usually have my guitars teaked when I first get them. Not this one. It didn;t need any adjustiing whatsoever.
It get's a 9 because of the shitty strings. With better ones, it would get a 10.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
For me, this is a recording tool, not a stage guitar. I would use it on stage if I were playing in a coffee house, but not in a bar. This is after all a classical guitar, and is not meant for rock and roll.
Having said that, I think the guitar is rock solid. Another 10
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I should mention at this point that Eric Bergquist, the owner of Ravenwest guitars, is a personal friend. (You might want to take that into consideration when reading this review. I think I'm objective about the guitar, but my opinion could be colored by my friendship with Eric.) He has a reputation for being very good about supporting his customers, but I get special treatment. It pays to have friends in high places
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing for 45 years, full time for about 20 of them. i own around 30 guitars, including a eautiful hand made Brazilian rosewood Classical guitar from spain (a family heirloom). When I inherited that guitar I had a Lloyd Baggs pickup installed. This guitar sounds better when you plug it in.
As a matter of personal preference, I don't like the wide neck. Since it's a bolt on, I may replace it at come future point. but there's nothing wrong with it. Just not my style.
But overall, for somebody lookiong for an electric classical guitar, look no further. This is it.
