Olympia OD-8CE

This guitar is dreadnought, cutaway. Top is laminated.
Soft wood color. Made in somewhere in Asia.

When I bought this guitar, the sound was actually great. At the time of five years its gone worst. But sound is quite rich and bright.

This guitar works in action pretty good. Its quite easy to play.

After couple year of playing it started to show problems. First was, that the pick-up system started to resonate with some of the notes. I removed it and annoying sound was gone. Something other has also happened, because sixth and fifth string causes in some frets extra sounds. I will try to fix these problems by someone, and maybe sell away.

It was a nice start but last years has give too much problems.

Here goes:
This guitar is pretty normal for an economy model acoustic guitar: laminated spruce top, mahogany sides, etc. It looks pretty nice, the finish is even and clean. The tuners are nothing to write home about, but what can one expect?
The pickup and preamp were surprisingly good. I gotta say I was impressed when I saw that it had a 4-band EQ.

The guitar has a nice voice: even string resonance and an open sound. I would say that it sounds as good as a guitar in its price range can sound. (It lists at around $300, I think). I generally used it through a PA or my cheapie solid state; sadly, it didn't last long enough for me to run it through my PODxt, which has some great options foir acoustic-electric. Plugged in, the pickup has a very open, up-front sound, though it doesn't get the richness of a miked amp.

The action coulda been better. It was too low, and strings were buzzing as far down as the third fret (eek!). Not too hard to fix, if you know how. If not, that's a $25-50 operation at the guitar shop. If you don't know the difference, then it's not that big a deal.
Like i said before, this is a decent-looking guitar in the natural finish. I don't know what other finishes it comes in.

**THIS IS WHERE THE REVIEW GOES BAD:
I've had this guitar for less than a year and a half, and it is now unplayable.
I bought it new in January of 2002, and in September, I took it in the shop because the intonation seemed a little off. The guy at the shop revealed to me that the top had pulled up, and the body itself was warpedf, explaining the intonation problem. I shelled out more than $100 to get the braces re-glued, and then it was working ALRIGHT. The intonation was still off by a little, but I blamed that on the shop that I took it to.
In ANY CASE, less than six months after getting repairs done on the guitar, the neck has gone south to an unbelievable degree, and the top is warped again - despite the fact that I'd been using a humidifier.
At this point I've Given up on this guitar. Moreover, it's not worth anything in trade. I have no acoustic. I strongly recommend that you pass over the Olypmias in your local shop.

No contact with the company.

Excuse my language: This guitar is a piece of shit.

1998 or 1999 Korean made for Tacoma (Olympia) cutaway acoustic/electric. 20 frets, split top with EQ 505R (9volt Bass, Mid, Treb and volume knob)active pickup. Body back and sides look like mahogany. Neck, too with rosewood fretboard. Thick glossy finish, Tacoma bridge non brandname non locking tuners but of good material (no chrome flaking, solid metal). Pretty guitar. Nice "ivory" looking plastic accents around the body and neck, fake mother-of-pearl inlays around the sound hole, and stylish pick guard. Only corners cut seems to be the strap peg -- only one and made of kinda cheap plastic. I have to tie my strap at the neck.

Surprisingly nice sustain and intonation. Generally pleasant sound, I think. For a split top, has a real full tone. I play it mostly as an acoustic. I think I've plugged it up twice, so I can't say how it would suit an electric player. Buzzes just a little sometimes, and needs retuning if you bend a whole lot. But plays much better than other acoustic guitars I've tried at the store which cost twice the money.

Nice low action. A great steel string to learn on. Seems real well constructed. No complaints. Especially for an inexpensive, off-shore guitar.

Play this guitar every day. I bought it used after it had been a rental. And I've dragged it all around in moderate heat and cold. Holds its tune and keeps sounding better all the time.

Never had to deal with the company.

Real fine guitar for the first-timer or as the guitar you pack around. For the price, I think it's the best thing going.