La Patrie Presentation

Brought new from UK dealer on Ebay. Presentation 2009 QI with added basic bridge pickup system. cedar top , mahogany neck, truss rod. rosewood fretboard, not sure whether laminate back and sides or not. On the website it says rosewood laminated, whatever that means.
But at least the guitar has a website. I would consider that a feature.
Tuners a bit cheap and no ebony fretboard - no neck strap button.
Didn't come with la patrie trig case. but a generic hard case.

I play any old trash on it kind of jazz and wonky classical. Its got a great dark sound though perhaps lacking sustain on the treble strings- not interested if it just sounds great plugged in. I like guitars that sound good alive acoustically or electrically.
The plugged in sound was suprisingly very good considering its only a piezo pickup with vol.treble and bass controls. Really good sound in the bass registers.

Action was high. Though I was tempted to keep it high for the added projection and tone, it got on my nerves after a while so I got a good reputable luthier to shave the bridge down and tweak the neck angle with the truss rod as necessary. Plays low now with no noticeable loss of tone. Every classical guitar I ever see in the shops seems to have a high action, I always get a pro setup for the action adjustment with a new guitar.
Very nice neck wide but slender and with a slight radius. Intonation was very good. Tuners aren't the best though and it does drift sometimes during a playing session.
Everything else like frets and finish, is all up together

Seems well made. If you were really bothered you might want to change the tuners if you were going to seriously gig regularly with it. Truss rod is a good sign of longevity.

No idea.

This is a great guitar with a lot of features for the price range and the sound is very rich especially acoustically , which you don't get with other cutaway crossover style nylon strings guitars in this price range. I haven't got much to compare it to apart from a martin dcx1e and and old cheap classical but its definitely got character and great playability. Just worth going that extra 5 yards and paying a little extra to get the action professionally set.

My Presentation is an FS. I got home and, dumb me, I looked in Pandora's Web mailbox, and saw all kinds of warnings about the Presentation FS. I saw Presentations with frets akimbo all over the Web, I dreamed about them. Well, one or two.

To my hands, the treble strings feel a little too solid. I use medium tension. I am afraid of getting a tension fretache.

It has a "radius" fingerboard and bridge that is curved and is supposed to be ergonomic for barres, etc. (And heavy on the et cetera.) I haven't found this to be the case, I find barres a little harder on this guitar.

I got mine because my Yamaha GC-7 has a sort of "muddy" sound sometimes. When the strings are just right, and it's in tune, nothing can beat it, but that's every bluesy tune, not every day.

The rosewood fretboard had some (red!) stains right next to the nut in a couple of places. The back isn't solid on the FS 07, the pattern is different.

I've had training as a classical player. I played a lot from age 14 then majored in classical guitar performance to 20, first used a handmade Yamahog, then got a GREAT Englemann spruce Kiboto handmade guitar, then off and on, then a few years ago, I picked the guitar up again. Back in the late 80s, my partner bought a "Koto" Yamaha. I have a lot of problems to address, as I want to add rasgueado to my "toolkit," increase left-hand strength, et cetera. My right hand has some problems due to bad habits picked up by typing.

I do some recording, I tried it with a couple of AKG C-1000S active mics and my cheapo tube preamps and I messed around with the mic stands. I got okay, results, but kept messing with mic placement, and I hit a sweet spot. I just couldn't believe it, I had not heard sounds like that before coming from a guitar. My Yamaha has a sweet, ringing sound. This has a warm, bassy sound. A PERFECT second guitar. I just hope it sounds that way coming back from the monitors when I play it and am not mixing it.

Very warm, lush.

Waaaaay up the neck is a different matter, though if you do retardando you can get an echo.

I am heartened by the reviewer who said it "opens up". If THIS thing sounds BETTER, wow. Just wow. It sounds very full when strummed, and first through seventh frets, it beats the Devil playing against Daniel Webster or whatever. If you really open it up and play with some volume, especially on the trebles, my goodness, and use a good combination of nail and flesh, this guitar will produce spectacular results there, but, the sound kind of falls off in the high registers. I am using D'addario Pro Arte medium tension strings, I immediately put them on and replaced the Godin strings they put on it in the store.

As SOON as I changed to the D'addarios, though, I got a buzz at the fourth string, seventh fret. It may have been there before and I didn't notice it. It only happens when I really pluck hard at the string, and my Yamahurl does the same thing. One of the reasons I wanted a "new ride" as I call my guitars is that the Yamaha's neck is warped. I insisted on getting a guitar with a truss rod and a thinner neck.

If you're expecting to play "Ave Maria" and sound like Parkening, and have angels at Angel Records weeping at the console, you're not going to, but if you're accompanying voice or even playing some Baroque or Renaissance seance music, then, fine. The guy who said this sounds better than a Ramirez, this guitar has a unique sound, and I couldn't afford (not by a long scale shift) a Ramirez 1A. Something tell me if THAT guy was given $5K and sat down with a Ramirez and this guitar, he'd spend the WHOLE $5k on, you guessed it, a Ramirez. Without blinking, without deleting that review. You can't make silken sounds without the right gear.

But I wanted a distinctive sound, and I got it with this guitar. A got a nice second guitar, too. My Yamaha is another guitar with a distinctive sound, in many ways a better one. With a Ramirez, I'd have a Ramirez, and I'd sound like me playing a Ramirez. I don't collect guitars, I just play them, and I wanted a second guitar that would provide a nice contrast, and that's what I got.

The action is high, higher than my old Yamahootie. Though with the slapadoodle buzzing string...(I've been working on the Yamaha bone trying to get a better action.)

As others have mentioned, the tuners are junk, I was able to twirl mine with one finger. I don't really like the style of the headstock.

I am wondering how the "FS" differs from the other non-FS models.

Also, I was on eBysmal and saw a Presentation for much less that I paid, with exterior blemishes. I don't care if it's got ZZ-top zits, I would have liked to have saved the money. Though getting a guitar on eBog is risky.

I am EXTREMELY rough on guitars, and the older I get, the rougher I am on them. I performed at a Carlevaro master class (awful), and as C. was handing the guitar back to me, it hit the music stand. I have 100% tolerance for dings, dents, scratches, total thermonuclear meltdown, everything short of splinters and the bridge flying off and hitting me on the bridge of my nose.
Music stands, guitars hitting the floor and making that "kluh!" or the dreaded "kluh, DING!" sound, I worry more about how the music sounds than how the guitar looks.

I've never dealt with the company.

I've been playing off and on for 26 years, in the middle there, for a LONG stretch, doing freelance writing and mostly off. However, during that time I wrote a lyrics.

I have a very sparse setup. I have pieced a VERY basic setup together that made some brown hair go greenish gray, and have a lot of work to do with it.

I wish I had asked what the "FS" designation in the 2007 model signified and how it differed from the baseline. I am sort of worried that I got an odd duck.

If it were stolen, I'd probably get something else, something with more zing in the upper registers. One guitar to rule them all, and all that. My favorite feature is that it plays MUSIC.

I compared it to five or six guitars, including an extremely low-end Yamaha (a $300 one, and my GC-7 went for $800 at a time when that bought MUCH more guitar) and another presentation that just didn't have the echo that this one did, and also had a satin finish. I played some slow tremelo notes, and got hookd on the Pres. (Hail to the chief.) I should have just sat there for hours and hours, but the music store guy was standing there waiting for me to make up my mind. "Excuse me, but I'd like to just sit here and play these until I decide on one, I hope you don't mind" (that I put down in words) would have gotten him out of there, and I would have been more confident that I made exactly the right choice.

I wish it had a built-in recording contract along with firm buttocks and the the ability to cross the fretboard in a single bound and a better technique.

One note about price, I asked the guy what the Yamaham was going for, and he disappeared and came back with a price, then after I decided on the Presentation, he came back and ... I ALWAYS get ripped off. He acted like he was Moses taking me to the land of milk and "Honey Pie". "I'll take one hundred off". Then he threw in a free fingerstyle XMAS carols book. Hmm.

My favorite guitar ever had to be the Kiboto, Englemann spruce top, french polished to ecstasy rosewood back and sides, I miss that guitar. The best guitar is next year's Hauseruckirez.

Finish: feather light special laquer
Body Style: Classical
Tuners: nothing special
Neck: truss rod, thin, 2 1/8 inch wide at the nut thin and easy to play
Ordered a case with it.
Solid cedar top with rose laminate back and sides
19 frets
Incredable sound, excellent volume, warmth of tome, super bass projection.
I've had the guitar for 6 years and it is holding up well. Cedar top easily damaged due to the light finish but worth is for the sound.
Wish they made a cutaway model with this finish and tone. Just bought a cutaway La Patrie with 7 coats of polished laq. It's a beautiful guitar but does not have the bass respone. Maybe different strings and age will mellow it out.

I've had over a dozen classical guitars and the Presentation model beats them all.

I play mostly gospel and folk and this sound is incredable

Factory set up a bit high. No flaws.

retro fitted the strap button with Snap Locks. very durable

No experience with the company or any warranty issues

I've been strumming for 40 years. No disicipline to pick or play scales. Own two othe Seagulls, love them. 7 other guitars of various qualities. Just bought a Walden with awesome electronics, but can't match the warmth of sound of my La Patrie Presentation.
I love this guitar.

Yup, all the features noted on earlier built models. If it's true that the first 2 numbers of the serial number are the year built than mine was built in 2007. Made in Canada of course. Solid Ceder Top(smell it), 3-ply rosewood-poplar-rosewood laminate back and sides. Rosewood fingerboard, mahog neck, truss rod (a plus), very light semi-gloss laquer finish. Tuners aren't top of the line but are smooth and seem to do hold tune so I'm not sure why some folks are complaining about them. The humble/simple looks of this guitar is a deceptive match as it has great volume/sustain and tone. The perfect combination in my humble opinion.

Super easy to play. Good action from the factory. I was looking for buzz, as with a lot of classical strings, especially used ones without truss rods, buzzing can be a problem. If you're not slapping the bass strings like Les Claypool, I think you shouldn't have any problems.
It was a toss up between the Concert model and the Presentation. The Presentations' more pronounced bassier resonance is what sold me in the end. Plus the nearly matte finish in comparison to the glossy of the Concert model gives it, in my opinion, a mellower, deeper, penetrating sound opposed to the high gloss that some say complements a brighter sounds of the treble strings.
I probably played a dozen classical guitars over the course of a week, and I honestly couldn't say that the difference in sound between the Presentation and classicals in the $1500 to $2000 was any "better".
As a rule of thumb, I suggest shopping in the most objective way possible. This means not looking at the brand or price tag. Perhaps not even trying to spit out adjectives describing the sound or looks(which should always be secondary or last) but simply deciding which sounds better overall to you. Often the "x" variable which determines how a guitar sounds is really the person playing it. So who gives a shit about price or brand (within reason). If a $450 sounds better with your skill set and playing style, than why buy something thats $550, $750 or $1000.

The action is good. If anything it could be lowered a little bit, but I'm gonna play it for a while first. The craftsmanship is very good. Seems, joints and finish are clean.
I also have a ceder top Yairi and well, Ceder dents and scratches easily. Dents and scratches are unavoidable with this wood and especially with a very light finish. It's a trade off. I think have a very light, thin finish allows for more vibration and resonance through the pores of the wood compared to something like the Concert model. That said, I can't prove it and although it sounds good, if someone told me that I'd call it B.S. So shot for paranoid and careful and settle for a dent/scratch now and then.
Played instruments pick up imperfections along the way. Letting others play your instrument, jamming at a party where animals, kids and intoxicated people are running around is all in the spirit of real music. Ceder is a soft wood. The thought of someone not being able to understand that a soft wood with a thin finish might get scratched easily sounds like a Yuppie to me. If you bought it for looks and durability, go buy a carbon fiber guitar for $3500.
Many would agree that some of the best sounding instruments are those made of good wood but that are just hanging together by a thread. If you want something hard, stiff and durable you could also consider buying an entry level plywood Costco guitar.

These guys have a good reputation and I expect mine will be no different. Tuners work fine but are mid-range (kinda like the price of the guitar).
The finish is perfect for what it is. Only time will tell.
No strap buttons present.

Never dealt with the company, but they make a series of great instruments, including the Seagulls. After reading others' experiences, I would expect great service.
I'm not aware a warranty was included from the factory and definitely not that shop I bought it from.
A factory warranty might be something to look into.

I've been playing for about 8 years off and on. Getting really into it the last 2 years. Have also fiddled with the mandolin, bass and lute-family instruments.
Own an 1982 Yairi Ceder top/burled mohag back/sides.
Used to own a nice Yamaha Classical til my sister took it back.
Within this price range ($350-500), there is no other classical I would buy. Although I might try to get my hands on a CW model or one with electronics.

rosewood, not overly glossy finish. my fingers havent made the throat greassy looking yet--fairly resiliant finish!

love the depth. not too bright, really mellow,chill sound

i dont know anything about this stuff, but anything that sounds this good looks good to me

harware is plastic in bits, makes me think it may not withstand years of tough ware. finish wont show scrapes too badly

i love this guitar. (ive been diggin it more than my DM martin lately:)

This has all been well-covered by previous reviews. Solid cedar top, rosewood back, sides, neck, and fretboard, no electronics. Price did include a case, though I think that was a mistake on the shop's part ;) And yes, the tuners seem kinda cheap, but I haven't had any problems with them. The guitar keeps excellent tune - the best of all my guitars. Mine was made (ahem, HANDmade) in 2001.

Excellent bass and midtones! Strike a low power chord in a crowded room and you will get everyone's attention. I have to agree with an earlier reviewer on the rich tone and echo you get from all the strings when it is perfectly in tune. The only problem is the sound of the first 2 strings at higher frets. They get very tinny and/or hollow-sounding with poor sustain. Other than that, you will get great sustain on all the strings. Overall a great sound. Sometimes I'll just sit with my ear close to the soundhole and strum the same notes over and over because the rich and warm tone is so pleasing.

The action is moderately set - neither high nor very low - and it is very comfortable.

See "Reliability/Durability" for my notes on the finish.

An earlier reviewer emphasized nothing but how fragile and flimsy the finish is and how it will get scratched up and ugly after a couple years even just sitting in the case. This is not true at all. I have had mine for about 3.5 years now and it is still in great condition. I have one or two extremely minor dings on the top and maybe a couple scratches on the fingerboard, that's it. It would take you a while to find them. It is true that the soft cedar top and thin finish leave the guitar a bit open to wear and tear, but if you can manage to take reasonable care of it, it will keep its simple beauty.

I haven't needed any repair work, but I did phone the company once shortly after purchase. I had heard a rumor that a recent batch of La Patrie guitars (at the time) had to be recalled because of an error in the glue manufacturing process. I spoke to a very helpful guy who explained the exact dates of models that recall applied to, which didn't include mine. He asked for my serial number and gave me the guitar's birthdate and some other cool info. Really friendly and helpful. Hope to reach that guy again if I ever have any problems.

I've been playing guitar for about 11 years now and I just turned 25. I also own an Alvarez acoustic (my first guitar), a Martin Backpacker, a Fender Strat, and a Gibson Les Paul Studio (and as of tomorrow will own a Hofner Violin Bass). As far as classical playing, I'm still a novice. My favorite thing about the La Patrie is the unexpected volume it puts out, particularly in the low and mid-ranges. The only drawback for me is the disappointing tone from the higher strings at higher frets. I still consider this guitar my best instrument, even though it was not the most expensive. I love that I own something so unique and well-made; everyone that plays or hears it is always impressed.

A 2005 model, and as others have said, cheap tuners. With the quantum EQ...

I am studying classical (for the lat 18 months) and for a low end classical guitar (price wise)it sounds better than others I have casually picked up. It has definitely improved in tone and volume over the past 18 months...however...

I am getting a buzz that comes and goes, worse on the second and fifth strings...seems to be coming from the saddle area...see comments below.

Finish is thin and scratches any time someone other than me plays it...but, I knew that going on.

The saddle was chipped on the bottom (store replaced it) and does not fit squarely into the bridge. Store shimmed it.

Action set high from factory leaving lots of room for adjustment.

As mentioned, buzzing is really runing the sound of my classical playing...trying to improve the distinct sound of notes in an arpeggio is difficult when there is a buzz coming from the saddle area.

Background...The local store immediately sent the guitar to a local luthier to inspect for a loose brace...he saw no loose braces and could not trace the buzzing source...he recommended it go back to La Patrie for warranty work. The shop sent it to La Patrie, they had it for 7 weeks without letting the local store know what was going on. Shipped it back claiming it was fixed and without any information as to what was wrong or what they did. There was a new saddle in place with very high action though. And Still buzzing...I am meeting the store owner later this week to see how he wants to proceed.

La Patrie - Very poor. As mentioned, no communication as to the problem or solution with me or with the local store, a 7 week turn around after they received the guitar with no explanation as to the delay. To quote the store owner "it seems like every time I ask them what the status of the guitar is, it just gets them irritated and they take even longer."

Local store -- well, they seem to be assisting me, but I am a little concerned why they remain a dealer and keep complaining to me about the Factory support...

After a year and a half, the sound has improved generally, however the buzzing issues have me ready to sell this guitar (time to upgrade anyway, but I will not be keeping this guitar)

Without the buzzing this would make a good first guitar for any student, but the rating reflects my specific guitar and expereince with La Patrie

Solid cedar top, laminate rosewood back and sides. The neck is a little flatter on the underside and there is a built in truss-rod - commendable and unusual in this price range. It looks a little different due to the minimalist satin finish....nice.

I tried many different guitars - Yamaha, Alvarez, Yairi etc. in this price range and slightly more. Nothing could compare with the treble bass separation and tone of the La Patrie. I will be putting in a K and K mike system [these things are great for the price]

Bought as "shop used" with several scratchy areas around the soundhole. Fretting is excellent with moderately high string set-up. No buzzing out of the box. The tuners will need replacing - 12 - 18 months.

The guitar will last - it may look the worse for wear due to the satin top and soft cedar - but I didn't buy it to hang on the wall...the more I play it the better it sounds.

Bought it from Steve's music in Montreal - good to deal with. The manufacturer's? Haven't heard bad news so I think all will be OK - The Presentation is the sort of guitar I will look after - I have local guitar making people who could help out if required - but I don't think that will be necessary.

I've been playing 30+ years. My other guitar is a cedar top Takamine EN40 - great sound. I don't collect guitars - I have a life, wife mortgage and kids. I play in the basement and record - I've done the band thing. I just love to get this guitar out and play it!

I have had my Presentation for three years. I assume it was made in 2002. I bought it new for $425, which was not a great deal at the time. La Patries are made in Canada. I have played steel string acoustic and electric for 40 years, and wanted to start playing classical. The guitar has a solid cedar top, a mahogany neck, and a laminated rosewood body. The fingerboard is rosewood, and the finish is a thinly applied satin lacquer, which makes for good sound, but it mars easliy. Tuners are OK, not great.

The sound is interesting. It has a very strong bass, and is loud... louder than my new classical, an Amalio Burguet Nogal. It was fine for beginning classical, but it doesn't have good highs, especially up the fretboard. It would be a good choise for someone who wanted to do the Willie Nelson thing, or for a a steel string player who wanted to have it as a nylon string option.

The guitar is very well made. It has a thick top, and will last forever. It has dot markers on the side of the neck, which are great for a steel string player, but a distraction now that I am used to my main classical (Burguet) which has no markers at all. (Typical of a Spanish made guitar)

It is solid and reliable. The hardware is entry level, but solid. The finish gets ugly because it is so thin. I plan on keeping the guitar as a backup.

Although I play mostly nylon string now, I still have a Martin HD-28, a Taylor 510, a Carvin AE185, and an Aria TA-100. If I had it to do over again, I wish I would have spent a more and bought an all solid wood spanish classical. But until I got better at classical, I didn't know what to look for. Or even how to hear the difference. It is a fine choice if you're simply a fingerstyle guitarist who wants a nylon string. Or the Willie Nelson thing. Not so great for Spanish classical music where you play up the neck because the highs are so so.

2005 Model.

I finally got myself one of these yesterday. Sounds Amazing. I work in a guitar shop in Sydney and have played Takamine's and Admira's worth around $1700 that are total crap next to the $675 Presentation. Yamaha's have no soul next to a Presentation. Some Admira models were ok but lacked the richness in sound coming from the La Patrie's old timbers.

A full rich sound that jumps out of the guitar. The volume of this guitar is excellent.

Set up - Perfect considering it came from a cold place to a hot Sydney summer.

Finish - For the price its 20 times better than it has to be. Once you play one of these you wont care about its cosmetics.

Nice thick solid top and a truss rod(Very cool for its price). It should last forever if correctly cared for. The tone and volume should improve considerably after a few years of playing too.

If the finish wears it doesnt matter to me. I prefer tone over pose. As most good players know, guitars get more comfortable after a bit of wear.

Excellent. In Australia It's really up to how good the customer support is at the store you purchased it from. Canada is a bit far away for warranty work.

Been playing for 16 years and play professionally for Television and Radio plus Daytime job in musical instrument store.

I needed tone and playability as most of what I do is recorded so a cheap thin sound is unusable for me. This guitar recorded with a good condensor mic in front of it is unbelievable when compared to the many other Classicals I have recorded. The playability surpasses guitars 3 times its price.

If this guitar were stolen I would find who took it, Beat them severly and take it back (and maybe take their wallet to teach them a lesson).

I have played 100's of different Classical guitars in the last few years of working in a music store. There are other guitars as good as this but the problem is that they cost $2000 AU or more.
The only one I could find to give the Presentation a run for it's money was the Admira Capricho($499AU) but it didnt quite have as rich tone as the La Patrie.

For the $$$ no other Classical can match this guitar.