Product: Northwood R80-MJV
Price Paid: US $2199
Submitted
08/03/2005
at
12:33pm
by
Chris Setty
Features
:
10
2005 Mini Jumbo, Venetian Cutaway
Rosewood back and sides
Englemann Spruce Top
Ebony fingerboard and headstock overlay
Mahogany Neck
Body is bound in Rosewood
Fingerboard and Headstock bound in Ivoroid
Shell inlaid Headstock Logo "Northwood"
Shell Rosette around soundhole
Shell Dot Fretboard Inlays
Bone Nut
Nut Width 1 11/16"
This is out of the box standard on the 80-level guitars from Northwood and it is absolutely gorgeous. Nothing fancy - which suits me perfect - but totally elegant and amazingly well done.
Came with a deluxe hardshell case that fits like a glove, you actually have to put some pressure on it to slide the guitar into the ultra-thick padding.
One thing to note: There is no strap button. I have come to understand this as a common thing among Canadian hand-built instruments. I plan on having a pickup installed and will obviously have a strap-jack put in then so no points lost really. Just a heads up...if you want one, make sure you ask for one.
Sound
:
10
Okay...I have only been playing a short time so I can't wax eloquent about how "woody" or "throaty" this guitar is. But I can tell you this - I played a whole lot of guitars from virtually all the major manufacturers (Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Ibanez, Larrive, etc.) and this guitar sounds exactly the way I wanted my guitar to sound. It is super LOUD with great sustain. Muted strings have that great "thud" and the notes ring on and on. Whether you use a flatpick or your fingers, this guitar just sounds awesome. And it is still only 1 ay old...I can't wait to hear it after it has had some time to really loosen up.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
The action was set pretty good, a little high for my liking so I will have the saddle lowered and get it all set up nice. Certainly playable right out of the box. The finish is amazing - you can't find a single remnant of glue anywhere inside. The neck is a nice satin finish - which I wanted, and the body shines. The binding is done superbly - the fingerboard and headstock look great with the black ebony contrasting with the white ivoroid.
The neck on this guitar is the most comfortable, most playable neck I have had my hands on. I am not a huge person and my fingers are not freakishly long like some so I wanted a neck on the thinner side. The Northwood neck is in a word: Perfect! I have gotten quite a few comments about how comfortable it is to play because of the neck.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I have no doubts that a guitar this well-built will last me a long time. I don't "gig" so I can't comment on that. The hardware is all topnotch, they even engraved "Northwood" on the back of the tuners.
All in all this guitar is the last guitar I could ever imagine buying.
Customer Support
:
10
I bought this guitar through Dave Schmidt at GuitarAdoptions.com. Let me say this loud and clear: Dave is by far the most professional, courteous, and responsive online retailer I have ever had the pleasure of doing business with. Any question, and I mean even dumb ones, he answered lightning fast. No waiting around wondering if he got your email or is on vacation or something...it was so great to count on that. The pricing was way competitive and everything was awesome. I cannot comment on Northwood since I have had this guitar only a day. But I did communicate with John McQuarrie at Northwood ahead of time and he was extremely helpful in recommending different options and features based on the style of music and my own physical abilities.
Overall Rating
:
10
Amazing! Don't hesitate. I had never even touched one. Just went off of online recommendations and reviews and I am 1000000% satisfied...way beyond my expectations.
Northwood Rocks!
