Product: Indiana Guitar Company Syracuse
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted
12/16/2005
at
08:14pm
by
Russ M.
Features
:
10
2002 Anniversary Model. I first saw this guitar on eBay and was struck by its simple elegance. I did some searching on the internet and couldn't find very much. I finally saw another one on eBay and I got it for $99.00. It's an amazing guitar, very bell-like. I've got a combination of titanium and steel strings on it, and it's turning out to be a really astonishing guitar. Makes me want to get more of these, or maybe a Shelby. Mind you, I have a Martin J-40, which is a cannon, but is not quite a sweet and bell-like as the Syracuse. Oh, solid spruce top, over-varnished, some kind of laminated back and sides; rosewood bridge and fingerboard. Nice finishing; built like a tank. I had it set up and it is just a honey.
Sound
:
10
I play fingerstyle; ragtime, celtic, folk. No amps; bright sound, but it's new. It will mellow - has already begun with the titanium strings (D and G) and various steel strings. It looks quite like a Martin D-28 but of course isn't--similar markings from the front. I just love this guitar.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Very nicely finished. It needed set-up/truss rod adjustment. Big bow in the neck when I got it. Well a luthier fixed it and it's just great now. No flaws, though there was a small scratch on the back. I can live with it. Oh, I put in Tusq bridge pins, and that helped the clarity.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
The newer Indiana guitars come with a 10 year warranty. This one is built like a tank. Heavy duty. And yet, it has a very delicate done, very bell-like, perfect for my style of play. Even better sustain than the Martin J-40. The Martin has better overall sound, but the Syracuse mics better because the bass in't boomy--ringy instead. I rarely play out; I record at home occasionally play at friends' homes. That's about it. I don't like playing gigs any more.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never had any dealings with the company. Just a set-up by a fine technician.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've played for 40 years or so. Always had Martin guitars. Love them. But the J-40 is appraised at $3,900 so I don't want to take it out of the house very often. The Indiana is tops for recording and for those rare occasions I go out and play with other musicians. I chose it initially because I liked the way it looked, and "intuitively" felt it would be a fine instrument. I was right. I think Indiana Guitars (along with Crafter guitars perhaps) are highly undervalued. The Syracuse is a fine, comfortable, lovely sounding guitar.
