Product: Admira A-150
Price Paid: 18000 (Pesetas)
Submitted
02/25/2004
at
04:42pm
by
Nick Pu?al
Email: nickpunal at hotmail<dot>com
Features
:
8
6 string acoustic guitar. Made in Spain, circa 1985/86.
21 frets.
This guitar does not come with pickup and is full bodied (no cutaway).
Back + Sides: Unknown.
Top: Spruce although I don't even think its solid let alone 'A' grade.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fretboard: Rosewood.
Bridge: Ebony (Ehemm, we'll talk about this later!).
Gloss finish.
Tuners are the normal chrome type (no identifying marks).
Considering I was only 14 at the time of purchasing this guitar (and didn't know what to look for) I'll give this an 8.
Sound
:
10
I have been a Songwriter since I was 10 and always used the guitar as a tool to write songs. My style would be classed as RHYTHM guitarrist. This more than satisfied my need to compose and lyric writing and with the right strings, it sounds warm and rich. It almost feels like you are the band.
No complaints here.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
5
This is where I have the complaint about the bridge. The bridge started lifting back in 1988, so I took it to the local luthier and he said it was best to leave it. To this day it hasn't moved (must be good glue!), but nevertheless it should be flush. When I moved to Australia I took it to another luthier to get a pickup installed and he dared not touch it.
The nut became unstuck so I had to glue that back on and the saddle split in two (I'm still using it though, it doesn't get in the way of the strings).
Because I've had it lying around the house, travelled 3 continents with it (etc., etc.,) the tuners have become slightly oxidised.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
A 9/10 for durability as it has stood the test of time. I have played this live a few times and has survived being passed around from person to stranger to person...
The gloss finish has stood the test of time, but not the 'bunk bed test'. I'll explain: in 1988 I put the guitar in its soft case and placed it under the bunk bed. Later on I jumped on the bed and "CRACK"... The extent of the damage was 4 dents equally spaced alongside the lower part of the spruce... I never did THAT again!
Strap buttons are solid and the finish hast lasted 18 years of hard rhythm guitar playing...
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Can't comment here as I never needed them. Being so young when I purchased the guitar (with my hard-earned pocket money), I didn't know what a warranty was, let alone booking it in to get the bridge fixed, etc. So, I'll post a "No Opinion" here.
Overall Rating
:
8
I have been a songwriter since 1983 and have playing guitar since 1985. I am self taught, but having lived in La Mancha (Spain) for a number of years, you tend to pick up playing tips from some incredible flamenco guitarrists, it seems that everyone plays guitar in La Mancha!
I also own a Maton EAJ85 (a top of the range Australian Jumbo) which I only bought last week (still coming to terms with owning a $3000 guitar and acquainting myself to it before posting a review on H.C.). And of course there's the Ashton DM-25CEQ 6 string acoustic guitar, which I now plan to use for a live impersonation of THE WHO at my next gig (just kidding!).
