Garrison Guitars AG-400 12-String

I have some of the g-series garrison and found this 12 string to be a bargain it put to shame my friends yxmxhx with it rich appointments and sound.

I wanted a John Denver guitar sound and found this guitar handled that style very well. The built in electronics and cut away style allows the player to tranverse all modern elements of guitar exacution style playing. I amp mine thru a behringer di box right to the power mixer with 12 in speakers and 10 in monitors. the sound is taylored by the 4 ban eq on board. rich warm tone to lanky gingles brings this baby in to the whats not to like catagory.

Factory set up is alittle sloppy but noththing a good dealer and tech cant handle mine needed a neck adjustment. electronic are first rate and punch thru in a band setting. all wood work is first rate. I found a flaw at the peg head near the string post looks like a drill split the wood. not a major flaw but one non the less.

the top is held together with unique bracing made of a space age material the composite glue use to bind the instrument together is a trade sectret. hard ware is solid and well made good finnish on the instrment with no strap buttons in front only on the tail. instrument has been and continues to be a show stopper dependable and stong.

Support has never been a issue and I hope to not need it, seems to be a little diffacult to get a human voice or person to rep this company.

35 years of guitars has taught me not to spend a arm and a leg on expensive guitars when garrison will out fit ya for less. I have three of these guitar all have different uses and character. if ever lost or stolen I would replace with garrison again. I love the simple style yet the great projection and sweet tone with easy playablity. buzz feiton tuning system on the upper modles

Made in China, BUT BUT BUT ..........what a way to go. I'm telling you the Chinese have got it down. Mahagony back and sides, bound rosewood neck, chrome tuners, compensated saddle, pearl fretboard markers, nice tight grain RED CEDAR top. Has the Garrison bracing on the sound board underneath. Comes with Garrison electronics that is a copy of the Fishman Prefix. Satin finish on neck and back of headstock. Gloss finish on the body. Bound with white ivory on all sides. Dreadnought size.

Sounds great and fantastic. I have a Martin DMCE series that I just love. I needed a 12 string to use in worship services to fatten up the sound more. Most 12 strings sound "tinny" to me. Not enough bottom end and the trebles are just to piercing. Not this Garrison. It sounds "boomy" like a Martin but has a clarity on the trebles that are not "tinny". I usually use a light pick, but on the 12 string I use a medium or heavy pick to darken the sound. The overall sound is a pleasant "woody" sound. Just right. In the store I played the acoustic intro to "Hotel California" and had an audience of 3 looking on. The guitar sounded just like the record. Very nice indeed. I like it, I like it, I like it.

Guitar was set up with D'Addario elixer type strings. 10 guage. I can't say I care for the Elixr type strings. I prefer John Pearse for all my acoustic strings. They sound fantastic and last a pretty long time if you wipe down your strings after you play. Most people don't.
Action was spot on. Intonation was spot on. Couldn't ask for the strings to be any lower without hitting frets when strumming. Nice balance. Easy to fret and play. No flaws as far as I can tell. Inside glue work was neat as a pin. No dust or shavings floating around. No bubble marks in finish, etc.. I'm telling you. The Chinese have it down.

This guitar will stand up to live playing. Hardware is a 10. Finish is glossy and durable but not coated on thick like some instruments. I would and will use this instrument for a long time. Great name in a Garrison. Very comparable to a Martin in price and TONE.

Have not used it yet. Store owner told me to keep my receipt and if I had any problems I can take it to any music store that sells Garrisons and present the receipt and guitar and warranty would be covered. Speaking of, the Warranty is a Limited Lifetime Warranty. And........it's transferable. If you sell the guitar within 5 years of the date of purchase, the new owner gets the warranty too !

Overall Rating 10. Given that the G series Garrisons are handmade in Canada and the A series are "Assembled" in China, I think they are a bargain. Only difference between the two is the chinese labor is cheaper than American so they can sell the guitar less expensive because of the savings on labor costs. Do yourself a favor. Save some money and go with the A series. You won't be dissappointed at all. AFTER ALL, I own a Martin and chose the AG 400 over a Martin .