Lakewood D-1

This was made in 1999 (Lakewood D1 (99-11024)). It was the first shipment of lakewood guitars that a local musicshop brought into Singapore. Needless to say, lakewood aroused the interests of many - German precision, quality control and all the talk hailing it as Germany's next best thing to their Benzs and BMWs.

This dreadnought has got solid sitka spruce top, solid mahagony back and sides. This is a D1 model, its satin-finished. Workmanship is great, as with all German products, not a discernable flaw to the naked eye.

It comes with inbuilt electronics. Pretty decent.

Overall rating for features? This is a step-down version, its cheaper and hence, its features are limited. No nice elaborate bindings to beautify it. Its a plain-vanilla guitar which lets its sound do the talking.

I do lots of strumming.

The sound started to open up into a year of playing...and my, did it blossom like a flower..

The sound simply flows like soft butter. When playing, it almost feels as if the D1 has a life of its own..the warm pleasant hum, the ring resonanting of the strings, the strong vibrations of the body. It comes to life with open chords. I have not played a guitar like this before. Its amazing.

The warmth from the mahagony was evident- lots of rich midrangy tones. Its got pretty good bass response too. Its got just enough highs without sounding bright. The sustain was unbelievable. You dont have to do alot to sound good. It allows for beauty in simplicity in music- a simple downward strum, a single pluck of a note speaks volumes.

The amazing thing about this guitar is that its got ability to project its volume, unamplified. I've compared it with other guitars and I'm amazed at how loud it can get.

Verdict- I cannot find fault with the Sound.

Action- this is a well known fact. Lakewood guitars tend to have high action. This can be easily rectified at the local music store. I've heard feedback from fellow lakewood owners that the volume is slightly compromised as result of a lower action.

The guitar is well made- german precision of course. No problems with the fretwork, the intonation, tuning pegs....

that was until I discovered a workmanship flaw ...

I wrote in to Lakewood...(you can see my postings on its forum http://www.lakewood.de/en/indexe.htm "Open seam crack please explain"

"There was a well hidden open centre seam crack on the mahogony back. Call it intution or what but something nudged me to explore a trace of glue on the inside back of the guitar. The trace of glue has been there since day one and I've previously dismissed that as a mere failure by its maker to clean up the excess glue. Its well hidden by the satin finish but shining a torch light through the back reveals a crack of abt 3cm. I am the first owner of this guitar, it never went through modifications. The crack was well disguised by the satin finish"

I was worried. A guitar's body is is subject to intense vibration. A repaired crack in the back could very well split open in the years ahead (the hardend glue and the more flexibile wood vibrates at different speeds)

An exchange was offered (by lakewood via email correspondence). I brought it back to where I had first purchased the guitar. I was glad to hear to know this was possible (offered by Martin Seeliger). Unfortunately, the Singapore local distributor no longer carried Lakewood and was in my opinion reluctant to ship this D1 back to Germany (shipping costs? troublesome? I dont know).

The guitar had originally been left at the local music shop for shipment. It became a game subsequently. The longer one holds out, the easier it is to force the other party to compromise. I lost out on my patience and fearing no near term resolution, offered to swap for a SWR Strawberry Blonde Amp instead. Not exactly a fair deal to many (a D1 retails for US$1500 in US, while a blonde is at US$400-500), but it could have turned into a waiting game.

Chapter ends.
I still hear the lakewood D1 sounds from memories. I had the guitar for 3 years. It still amazes me how that flaw slipped my attention.(i'm a careful person) Lesson learnt- I will for sure subject my intended purchase to very intense checks and scrutiny. Its wise to do so given the 1k+ price tag.

Martin did his best. His offer was genuine and I appreciated that fact.

Perhaps they would accept a suggestion from my end that QC at the factory can be further enhanced. Perhaps, they would accept another suggeston that a guideline at the factory-floor be instituted governing the exact circumstances when a work in progress guitar is to be trashed or is to be passed on in the production process.

Last words.
I think that D1 was put out again onto the Singapore market by the local shop. Not sure where it is now. But if sold, I feel quite sorry for the new proud owner of that lakewood D1. (the serial number is above. hope that helps)

2001, UK (where else?) 20 fret. Solid Spruce with Mahogany side/back acoustic classic dread shape, non-locking tuners seem solid enough. No inlay on fingerboard but guidance dots on side - fine as I don't look at the front when I'm playing!

Looks wonderfully uncluttered - almost the minimalist's perfect guitar.

The lack of a pickguard could be a problem for the over-enthusiastic as the top is pretty-much spruce with the lightest touch of finish on it.

I have never played an siz-string acoustic that sounds this good. I've been playing for about 30 years now and had the pleasure of a number of guitars (sadly not mine) over that time. Colleagues at work who also play have joined me in paying silent homage to it instead of eating lunch. The stunner is it's bass response - you know how some guitars boom and others just sound like a damp shoebox? well this one goes the subtle way - the bass is, well, just there, where it should be and sounding like it should.

There is one tiny varnishing flaw on the neck and the obligatory missing strap button (what kind of economy is that exactly?) but apart from that it just screams-out how well it was constructed.

Playing 30 years - have Yamaha FGX412C (great fun), Strat Copy, Antoria Folk (god alone knows which model). Would get another D1 without a second though. Not had it long enough to make meaningful love/hate comments

Typical dreadnought. Solid spruce top, rosewood fretboard. Rest is mahagony. No inlays on the fretboard, but small dots on the side of the neck. Seems like there isn't any kind of finish, maybe thin laquer or a little oil. Schaller tuners. Neck has a D-profile. No electronics. Bought it with a case, usually it's only a bag.
Only one strap button - WHY DO THEY DO THIS?
With a case and a second strap button rating was 10.

Very bright, loud sound, lots of harmonics - simply better than any acoustic guitar of any other brand I've tried up to 1750 list Euros list price. Fantastic for strumming, what I mostly do.

Perfect finish. Everything was perfect exept the saddle beeing MUCH too high. Thats easy to "repair", but they should do so at the factory. Without that problem rating was 10.

It's quite new, seems very reliable, I doubt anything could be made better at this point.

Never dealt with them, great homepage: www.Lakewood.com

I've not seen any better acoustic guitar. Maybe the more expensive ones by Lakewood? Never played one. I give a 10 because: You can buy a case seperately, also have a second strap button installed and lowered the saddle and still have to pay relatively little money for this great guitar.
I'VE READ THAT WHEN YOU INSTALL A STRAP BUTTON AT THE POINT WHERE BODY AND NECK ARE GLUED TOGETHER YOU MUST INSTALL IT FROM THE BACK. IF YOU COME FROM THE SIDE THERE'S A SCREW IN THE WAY!

This is the brand new D-1 model and supposed to be Lakewood's low end dreadnought...so wrong! It's actually the best wooden tone i have heard so far. You all know about dreads: 20 frets, junction at 14th fret, huge body, die cast tuners. All solid woods (unlike the cheap martins) with natural finish, mahogany back and sides, beautiful spruce top, mahogany V neck, rosewood fretboard without any dots, mother of pearl logo...this is a very "natural" beauty. I had it with a hiscox deluxe case included...cool

this piece of wood is a wonder, i'm still amazed. It really sings like the most beautiful woman on earth...a delicate warm voice, really emotional, that can get really loud too. Excellent wooden tone. This baby 's gonna make your girlfriend cry!

Perfect, just perfect. (and it smells like heaven)

This is a very well built guitar that will survive most of us BUT you'll have to be sweet with it. The natural finish could easily blemish if you're too tough

Never dealt with Lakewood

I've been playing for ten years and the d1 is my second acoustic, the first one was an awful jasmine guitar. I planned my purchase long before picking this beauty. I just fell in love with my lakewood, i think i'm gonna buy a Lakewood custom shop dreadnought at the end of the year. They rule.

Please try one of these before buying anything else, you'll do yourself a great favor.