Simon & Patrick Pro Folk Rosewood

The Pro Folk is a replacement for a S&P Cedar dreadnaught-bodied guitar. I wanted the smaller body due to experiencing shoulder problems that were aggrivated by the larger guitar. The Pro Folk is very nicely built - fit and finish are excellent, especially the lacquer. The solid spruce top has some very pretty 3-D grain patterns, that aren't just straight grain lines, that I particularly like. The solid rosewood back with 3-layer laminated rosewood sides look nice, but it's the sound quality that counts. Overall, the guitar is relatively plain, with very little "decoration" - it's very buisness-like. This guitar's got the B Band A3 pickup/preamp, which I haven't used, yet.

After playing the larger-bodied dreadnaught, especially with the warm cedar sound, the Pro Folk was initially somewhat smaller and thin sounding, but now the aging process has begun to give it's fruit, and guitar is sounding fuller and richer with every day. Very cool! Also, the Pro Folk is much more "accurate" in tone than the cedar dreadnaught, which tended to muddy the harmonics of chords together (in a very pleasant way, I must say), but the Pro Folk is simply clearer and nicer to listen to. It's easier to tune than the cedar, and stays in tune nicely.

I was initially drawn to the Pro Folk due to it's low action, but, within a week or so, I returned to the store due to excessive buzzing. I'm not an advanced guitarist, thought it was just my poor skills, but the store technician, who is a much better player than me, immediately agreed and made some adjustments to the neck that improved things. He said that he'd cured 90% of the issue, and suggested that I play the guitar for a while to let it break in (it was literally just a week old at that point). When I got home, it was much better, and now, after several months, no trace of buzziness remains, and the action is still nice and low.

Way less scratchable and dentable than the satin-finished cedar. The glossy finish does need to be wiped free of finger prints, though, where the satin finish didn't. Oh well...

Excellent. As mentioned, the store (L&M in North Vancouver, BC) was of great help - at no cost and with zero wait.

Only my second guitar, and I traded my first in on this one (I don't intend on being a collector - I just want to play!) So far, both have been really good guitars, but the Pro Folk is definitely a guitar I can grow and improve with.

Lasido acoustics are usually knocked for their modest looks but this is a beautiful folk size guitar. The back and sides are a gorgeous rosewood and the top's a beautiful blonde bookmatched spruce...honey colored and all done with S&P's buffed laquer finish. Nice tuners...remind me of Grover rotomatic minis...smooth and silky.
Very comfortable neck...a Lasido tradition. Nice ivory binding.
Came in a good, strong hard case.

I mostly finger pick and the guitar is very good for that style...no pickguard makes me think that's a well-suited style for this guitar. Very good sustain and deep, rich rich resonance. The spruce top ensures a bright, cutting sound. I love the way it warbles long after the last chord or note is played.

The guitar was set up preatty well from the dealer but I've only seen a few guitars that wouldn't benefit from a little further set up...I lowered the saddle a little and adjusted the truss rod carefully..now plays beautifully...makes bar chords simple. All work on the guitar appears flawless to me. Frets fitted very well. Bookmatching appears perfect.

Seems robust but not heavy....the very best guitars I've ever played were mostly light it seems. Very dependable...once new strings set in...it's a lock for tuning. If it had electrics would gig no sweat.

No contact with the company.

I love the looks...sound...playability...if lost or stolen would call Mike for another if possible. Plays like much more expensive guitars.

This is a 1999 model if I read their serial numbers correctly
Solid Spruce Top Solid Rosewood Back, laminate Rosewood sides.
Neck is Mahogany
No electronicc.
Finish is 8 coats of alcohol lacquer if I recall, you can check on
www.simonandpatrick.com if you like.
It's a fully bound body, with a simple rosette, and gold tone hardware the dealer installed the second pin gratis. The fret markers are MOP, tiny, and unobtrusive, but there if you need them. I think it's a thing of beauty since it lacks all the MOP/Abalone etc that some Guitars in it's price range have on it, but then I'm not fond of flash and am a bit more impressed with the way it handles and sounds.
It's the smaller "folks" body style, which is pretty much what I was looking for, easy to hold, fret, and play. No buzzing that isn't my fault, didn't come with a lot of extras, but I bought a basic gig bag anyway since they didn't have any hardshells for this size that I liked. What it lacks in Bells and whistles it makes up for in sound

The sound is a bit smaller the a dreadnaught, but this is a new, not much played despite it's age guitar, it mostly sat in a corner waiting for me while they sold others of the same model by hook and crook. I expect as it opens up it will only get better, and it's pretty good now. I played about 15 or so guitars before I bought this particular one, it's a decent balance against my 12 string.
The tone is rich, that's really trite but it's the only way I can describe it, full of undertones, and rings like a bell when you want it to, I've been ducking 6's for sometime, and this is the first one under 1000 that I really like the sound of.

the action is flawless, light and responsive, no buzz's etc. The only fault I've found in the finish is where the back binding meets itself there's a bit of a black line like a touch of dirt got in and the luthier didn't quite catch it before he lacquered.
the "fit" is perfect as far as I can tell, no creaks cracks or anything I can spot.

I have no doubts that the hardware will last, and take the beating. This is my second SnP, I also own a 12 string basic spruce top model, and have not had any issues with it. the strap buttons are fine, and I fully intend on playing this as my only 6 for some time.

Haven't had to deal with them in any important way. They do respond to emails sometimes when asking specs on stuff, most of it's on their site, and their dealers in town here all love them since when they call they get straight answers. I met one of their salespeople in town here one day, great guy, even told me straight when he didn't know the answer to a question, and call the home office to find out instead of bs'ing me.

only been playing guitar since about last july/aug Played some mando and some celtic 'zouk before that and still play a bit of those, though since I'm splitting time and working a lot right now a bit less then I'd like. The dealer cut me a pretty good price far as I can tell, though I'll admit to looking more at the guitar then the price. It was far and away the best I found in the price range, and size. Tried a lot of the various korean/chinese stuff, deans et al but found they sounded flat and dead after playing SnP's and Seagulls. Have to admit the $3000 Breedlove sounded a bit nicer, but my lady strummed it and looked on in awe saying "It even sounds good without fretting"..she can't play a note but is now eyeing it up..(anyone got a locking case for sale ;oD )