Recording King R0-17

Same as my previous review, but for some strange reason the spruce top really has gotten darker. I was a bit taken aback by how pale the top looked when I first opened the box on day one. Both the growth rings and the fibers in between have gotten darker.....very strange for polyurethane. I give it an 8 because it's not a fancy model....a bit boring to look at.

I've owned this one for a little over a year and I'm pleased to say that it sounds better than it did new. The best sounding string so far (at least to my ear) have been Martin Flex cores, MFX745.

This guitar has played well since I bought it and continues to please.

I'm not Pete Townshend so it's held up pretty well. Stays in tune, no undue fret wear, doesn't scratch easily. Just normal wear like the strings biting into the rosewood bridge.

Haven't needed it.

I'm sure a 000-28 Martin or similar Gibson would probably sound a bit better, and if I was a pro I'd have one, but I doubt THAT much better for a guy like me. Sure, this one isn't likely to appreciate in value but I only paid $147 for it. If the big names made a guitar within $75 of this one, I'd have saved a bit longer and bought one.

Recording King R0 - 27 (not R0 - 17)

Gloss Poly fin' - Well applied but a few blemishes (one foreign item trapped under finish)

Style 000

Tuners Hmm.. I had to upgrade these as the factory fitted weren't the best

Neck Yes! Big, round, leaning towards a V. a triumph compared with some of the Yamahas I tried. NIce Rosewood with diamond inlays.

Accessories Pah. This is a no-frills affair. 1 strap button

Made in China Prob 06/07

Solid Top and sounds great for it

Sides & back are made from Rosewood making this guitar a touch more special than the usual low-mid priced acoustic

This is where it excels

Sound a lot (a LOT) warmer than a lot of acoustics I tried

Sound is full, well balanced and I think would lend its self well to most styles. Makes you work for any finger-picking volume but that don't worry me

Harmonics are good, strumming is joy, picking is

Action is good - could be lower but I like to remember I'm playing an acoustic, not an electric

My only other grumble, other than the blemish in the finish, is that the pieces that make up the top and the visual differences between them seem to have grown more pronounced since I bought her. Giving a subtle striped effect..

But as I said, the spray job is well done, really makes the rosewood sides look glorious

I have no doubts that this guitar could be restrung, fiercly strummed and generally used to vent your anger for many a long year

Gig without a backup? No worries

Aside from the solitary starpbutton & the need to upgrade the tuners, everything about this instrument screams Value for Money

I've played it for around 6months and it replaced a Fender Telecoustic, which, by comparison sounded shrill, harsh and generally under developed. Playing this sort of solid wood acoustic is an abosolute joy and life afirming (yes, you read that right)

Would I buy another one if someone stood on the neck? YES! And I'd probably check out what else RK do..

What do I love about it? Aesthetically; the gloss Fin, the beautifull Rosewood sides, the Old fashioned square headstock with the mother of pearl logo.
Aurally; everything. You know that way when you eat something you really like, say a good slice of pizza and there's a certain satisfaction you feel? Well, for the money I believe this guitar may make you feel like that

It's a no frills acoustic so I wont bang on about what it doesn't have

The neck and sound help me to overlook any small problems this guitar has

Summary; If you can stretch to the extra ??100, go for the R0-27 (R0-17 are laminate and less expensive but reports I've read are good) Also if you like the look of Rosewood and a palm filling acoustic neck, this might be the guitar for you. The quality of sound is unquestionably inspiring

Finish transparent gloss polyurethane

Body style 000

Tuners Unknown brand, closed back, butterbean

Neck Mahogany, rosewood fingerboard with abalone snowflake inlays
24.9" scale, 14 frets to the body, 20 total

Solid Engelmann spruce top, scalloped forward X bracing, rosewood back and sides...since they don't advertise them as solid rosewood, I'll assume they're laminated although the grain patterns match inside and out.

I've now owned this guitar for 4 weeks and I have to say I like it more each time I play it. It has a nice full sound, rich in bass and mids, bright clear highs. It doesn't sound boxy or small, yet it has a tighter sound than my Fernandes dread with a cutaway.

I held off on writing a review to make sure my judgement wasn't clouded by the thrill of the newness. I only played for for about an hour before tearing into it and filing down the saddle to lower the action. I also changed the string to Ernie Ball Slinkys so I could get a better feel for bending the strings. I think I'm going to put some DR Rares on it next.

I couldn't be more pleased with it overall. The sound seems to be openning upslowly, revealing a little more each time I pick it up. I could swear it looks a little darker too, although poly finishes aren't supposed to do that.

I recommend this guitar to anyone who wants a 000/OM sized acoustic.

Quality built, very few and very minor finish flaws, excellent bookmatching on top and back, fretboard well made, frets level and nicely crowned, well dressed ends. Extremely tight fit on all inlays and bindings, they look like they grew there as part of the wood. The action was a bit high for my liking, might suit others well as is. After I filed down the saddle and cut the string slots deeper in the nut, it plays like a dream with only slight buzzing on the top E string when played hard open (can't fault the manufacturer as I lowered the action).

Guitar feels sturdy and well built, smooth tuners, nice frets

Like all poly finishes, this one seems hard and glassy, I haven't babied it and there still aren't ant scratches in the finish

Only one strap button, I might add a second one one the bottom of the neck heel so I can use a standard strap.

I suppose you could depend on it with fresh strings at a gig, though I just play at home for now.

I bought this guitar from instrumentpro.com and was initially frustrated with thier service, but they eventually made it right with me. I originally ordered the mahogany/spuce model R0-16, but they couldn't get one, so they sent me the rosewood model for the same price of $247 dollars delivered. The only added equipment was a Korg tuner, though the 'hog model is advertised with a stand. I didn't push it because I got the more expensive model. In hindsight, I wish I would have ordered it from instrumentally.com as I would have got the Johnson J0-16 I wanted with a case. I'm satisfied with my purchase, I'll buy or build my own hardcase to fit this one, my no-name reso and my dad's Old Kraftsman acoustic (similar size, spruce/'hog ladder braced '50s oldy but goody).

I've been playing for 35 years off and on, recently got more serious hoping to to use whatever I learn to suppliment my SS and pension (better than bagging groceries). Learning is much more convenient these days with the advent of the internet with tab sites, YouTube ect. I'm sure there'd be more people making music today if those resources would have been available 40 years ago. Check out "deltabluestips" and others on YouTube. Good stuff.