Pimentel M1 Cutaway Electric

I bought my guitar new a year ago from the Pimentel shop. It was made in late 2006. I had a Fishman active pickup installed and it is outstanding. This particular guitar is a M-1 custom, because of the narrower neck. It has mahogony sides and a spruce top.

I play mainly folk and music at church. I use the electronics 2+ times a week and the sound is full and beautiful. The pickup is very sensitive and I have to adjust accordingly. The guitar just recently opened up and I am amazed at how rich the sound is.

Just recently I had Rick lower the action just a bit and it really made a difference. There are a few places closes to the neck, where it looks like they had not finished properly, or the finish is thin in that particular place.

This guitar has been my main guitar for the past year. I have a Taylor 214E, but am drawn to the beautiful sound of the Pimentel. This guitar has been very reliable the past 14 months and I am still on the original battery installed....go figure. I had them install a strap button and it is solid.

The best thing about the Pimentel guitars is the customer support. I live in Albuquerque and frequent the shop often. I have never been given anything but A+++ service. Everyone is kind and helpful, the best!

I have played guitar for about 3 years now. I own 2 other guitars, a Taylor 214E and a vintage Aria AC-50. If this guitar was stolen or lost, I would be beside myself. That is how much I love this guitar. However, I would replace it with another Pimentel without hesitation if something happened to it.

I wanted to add a comment to my last review of the M1 Cutaway electric concerning Customer Support. I recently called Rick Pimentel to inquire about having another guitar built for me, and after discussing the guitar, he offered that I could (a) trade in the M1 Cutaway Electric for what I bought it for (after a year of use!), or (b) take 15% off the new guitar, for being a return customer. I think this type of customer support rare in the industry, and very pleasurable to experience as a customer.

This nylon-stringed guitar was made in 2001 and says "1951-2001, 50 years" on the back of the headstock. The back and sides are solid mahoghany and the top is Engelmann spruce. The woods are beautiful and finished immaculately. It has a built in Fishman pickup and equalizer cut into the top side. I don't know the make of the tuners. It came with a TKL case which was discounted to me since the lock doesn't work (but I never use locks anyway. I cannot imagine anything that I would have asked for that this guitar doesn't have.

When I first got it I was a touch disappointed at the sound, but Rick said it would open up quickly and it has. It seems the sound gets better every week--warm rich basses and clear ringing highs--on some songs it just sings by itself. I would rate this sound better than most classical guitars I have played. I play some new age, and have been working on instrumental renditions of pop classics--this guitar is perfect for the latter. I am giving it a 9, but it might be a 10 in a few months, and I'm curious to know what it will sound like in a few years. Plugged in it gives you anything you want--it is not as rich as a rosewood back cedar top classical but it cuts through easier and doesn't have to be backed off on the bass like most rosewoods.

The guitar was set up perfectly at the factory because I talked with Rick and told him what I wanted. This is the unique thing with Pimentel--they talk with you personally and try to give you what you asked for. the action, fit and finish are perfect--no flaws observed anywhere on the guitar. Rick even included a couple of extra saddles of varying heights in case I was unhappy with the action and wanted to change it. I also told him that I was going to use it for pop songs and wanted it to have fret markers, so he went back and put them on for me. Custom service--what more can you ask for?

I assume the guitar will stand the test of time. I initially got interested in Pimentel because a local 70 year old musician who works playing dinner music let me play his and his is from the early 60s. Considering he plays it every night, and has since the 60s, it is in great shape. I think the hardware will last. I cannot judge the finish yet, but it is beautiful. This is an heirloom to give to my daughter. 9 for unsure of durability, but pretty confident given workmanship.

Well, since they asked me what I wanted and then gave it to me, I consider the service outstanding. I have never needed work on it, but I imagine considering my first interaction with Rick that service would be personal and impeccable.

I have been playing since 1965. I own currently a Rodriguez classical and a Robertson acoustic. I have owned >30 guitars, including many classicals, electrics, and acoustics, and I would never part with this classical--it seems to have some "magic" playability and tone to it that just grabs me. My favorite feature(s) are the looks of it when I open the case (wow!), the easy playability of the neck, the lightness of the guitar, and the tone, which seems to be getting better and better. I consider that for $1200 I got a great deal.