Product: Norman Unknown
Price Paid: US $300
Submitted
06/16/2000
at
12:14am
by
Gary Graham
Email: gngraham75<at>hotmail dot com
Features
:
9
The # in the Guitar is 4404152. It is a basic Norman Guitar. The only difference between this model and other models avalible in the guitar store, it has no finish. 21 frets, only 17 are somewhat usable since it is not a cutaway. CLOSE grain spruce top, cherry back, mahogany neck. It is your basic guitar, not much to say. Purchased in 1994
A side feature to this guitar is the smell. I know that sounds "gay". But, this guitar smells wonderfull. I am sure that it comes from the fact that it has no finish.
Sound
:
10
Absolutly Beautiful! I am not going to say it is better than a Martin, Taylor, etc. But, we will see in time. This guitar has a warm tone to it that is unmatched. I selected this guitar over the others that had finish on them, because of this fact. It stood head and shoulders above the other "finished" guitars. When other people pick up my guitar and begin to play, they soon look at the headstock and remark on it's tone. It's gratifying. The tone is my favorite aspect of the guitar.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
The action on the guitar is the only thing that I have had to modify. The bridge was extreamly to tall. The strings sat very high from the fretboard. I bought a new bridge and sanded it down..perfect. I may have $5 in that project. The frets are good..could be a little lower.
The Fit is good. There are no oversights or bad pices of wood on the guitar. Norman (Lasido) even "mirrored" the grain in the back of the guitar. This is a quality that is rarely seen in this price range. Very good quality.
The Finish (or lack of)is the most unique aspect of the guitar. The neck has some finish on it but the rest is naked wood. I love it!
Reliability/Durability
:
10
When I bought the guitar I was worried about getting stains in the wood were my arm laid across the top, since the wood had to protection. I could not stop playing it so, If it looks like Willie's Martin..so be it. No discoloration after 5 years.
I am not a professional guitar player. I have been playing 13 years for my own pleasure. I lived in a fraternity house during college, where I would get drunk and sing disgusting songs about sex and other lude subjects. It survived that. I now take it to my hunting cabin and.....get drunk and sing disgusting songs about sex and other lude subjects, and it is surviving that well.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never had a problem. Never needed it.
Overall Rating
:
10
I would rate it a 9.5. I know that there are better and nicer guitars out there. But, it would have to be a vintage Martin or something of that nature. I am sure that my guitar may sound that good in 40 years. I honestly believe that this guitar sounds as good as any other guitar that is 5 years old. Smooth and Mellow are the words I would use to describe the sound. I have played with guys that have had Gibson Hummingbirds and Martins and it was a dead heat.
I will say this, The guitar is more atune to the "strumer" than the "picker". When playing chord for chord is when this guitar is at its best. It is not a bright guitar by no means.
I will probably never own another acoustic guitar. Barring any unforeseen circumstance, I hope to own this guitar for life. If some thing dose happen, I will but another. No Doubt!
