Product: Northwood OM
Price Paid: US $1700 used
Submitted
08/08/2004
at
06:24pm
by
Al Hodge
Email: e7b9b13<at>yahoo dot com
Features
:
10
2002/2003 Acoustic (no built-in or added pickups)
14 Fret, 25.5" scale
Solid Englemann Spruce Top
Indian Rosewood Back & Sides
One-piece Quarter-sawn Bound Mahogany Neck
Maple Binding
Ebony faceplate W/shell-inlayed Logo
Ebony Bridge
Sound
:
10
Sound is truly amazing. Great balance overall with clear midrange and pure highs & lows. I can play pretty hard at times, and this guitar handles it with no problems in tone. The guitar sings at both high and low volumes. It's as good as it gets.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
I bought this guitar used (in almost-new condition), and was immediately impressed by the perfect playability. The neck is spot-on and intonation is perfect. The action was lower than I usually prefer, but there was no buzzing or intonation problems even while playing hard. This makes for dreamy fingerstyle playing! A look inside shows clean bracing and a nearly-finished quality. I simply can't find anything wrong with this guitar.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
I'll give this catagory a 9 simply because I haven't had the guitar long enough to make a fair judgement, but for the 6 months I've had it, it's had no problems whatsoever. If I absolutely HAD to go on a gig without a backup guitar (yikes!), this is the guitar I would want onstage. I trust it that much.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I haven't had any need to contact Northwood as of yet. No opinion on this category.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing for 29 years, and gigged for 12. Right now I have five electrics and the Northwood is the only acoustic I currently own (in the past I've owned Taylors, Gibsons, Martins, Takamines). It is without question the best acoustic guitar I've ever played, both in playability and tone. Should it ever get lost or stolen, I would put in my order for a new one. I believe that John McQuarrie makes some of the finest acoustics money can buy, and at a price most can afford.
