Product: Dell'Arte Custom Dreadnought
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
04/01/2006
at
05:28am
by
David
Features
:
10
John Kinnard built me a custom dreadnaught in 2005. The specs are as follows: Adirondak top, figured mahogany back and sides, ebony fret board, foward shifted scalloped bracing, dual action truss rod, 1 13/16 bone nut, bone saddle.
Sound
:
10
I've been playing guitar since 1969. I've played most of the high end acoustics over the years. This Dell'Arte dreadnaught is by far my favorite acoustic guitar so far for both flatpicking and fingerpicking. The guitar has a deep balanced tone that projects and cuts through and projects abnormaly well. In the studio, this guitar really shines. I do session work in Nashville and this guitar records so easily. I've not run into a situation yet where the engineer and producer don't love the tone of this instrument. As this guitar is only a year old, it is still opening up. I'm sure a couple of years from now the tone will be absolutely astonishing.
I've not placed a pickup in this guitar as I prefer to mic my acoustics. I've been told on several occasions at various acoustic jam sessions (bluegrass festivals, etc.) that my guitar could be heard standing out above other guitars in the jam.
I have some buddies who are some top song writers in Nashville who love using my guitar when writing - its one of those instruments that just brings music out of you at a greater artistic level.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
John Kinnard set the guitar up for me. When I went to his shop in San Diego to pick it up, I was blown away at the feel of the guitar. Passages that I would stumble through on my other guitars seemed to glide under my fingers on this Dell'Arte. The incredible feel of this guitar accompanied by the tone makes it one of those instruments that takes you up a few levels on your playing and musicianship.
The intonation is PERFECT. There are no dead spots on the neck. The finish is perfect. The workmanship is that of an absolute artist and craftsman. The guitar is beautiful to look at with the figured mahongany, the finish, the headstock/tuners. This guitar is a work of art - one that I will never part with.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I put in several hours of guitar playing everyday. This is now my main guitar. It has done nothing but improve with time and playing. Given the workmanship with which the instrument was built, I'm confident this guitar will be around long after I am gone.
Customer Support
:
10
John Kinnard and Alain Cola are so great to work with. In this day and age of Walmart, Home Depo, Guitar Center, Taylor, etc. driving the small guys out of business, it was a great experience to connect with the real music world (not the corporate world) when dealing with Dell'Arte. The great vibe I got from John and Alain only make this guitar more valued to me.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing over 35 years. I've played 'em all. I'm a serious guitarist who has studied jazz and classical guitar at North Texas State, put in years of 6 to 8 hours/day practicing, played on sessions and live all over. My favorite electric was my '63 Strat - for the sound, the feel, and the vibe. My favorite acoustic is my Dell'Arte custom dreadnaught - for the sound, the feel, and the vibe.
If you want to rush to Guitar Center with all the other lemmings and buy whatever a corporate marketing scheme is pushing, go ahead. If you want to own an instrument that is hand built by an artist/luthier, that stands out in sound, looks, and feel like a jewel above the mass produced guitars that are flooding the market, then get in touch with John Kinnard and Alain Cola at Dell'Arte and talk to them about building you a guitar. I didn't put the price down for my instrument because it was a special deal we worked out. However, just ask them about the custom dreadnaught John finished in JUne 2005. You will be amazed at the price when comparing to other mass produced guitars.
Why do I give such a high endoresement?
1. This is an incredible instrument
2. The guys at Dell'Arte are great
3. As a musician I want to promote the small shops, the luthiers that make still make handmake instruments using art (not CRC routers). The skill and gifting that goes into instruments such as my Dell'Arte truly enhance the musical world.
Peace.
