Simon & Patrick S&P Pro Flame Maple

I'm not sure when it was built, all I know is it sounds GOOD. I've this guitar for nearly five years and I'll never sell it. With the Epi Dot reissue I traded in it cost me $25. Don't ask--must have been a once-in-a-lifetime planetary allignment. Its got a solid spruce top and lovely flame maple back. The tuners are silver; I don't know what brand they are, but they're solid. The bridge and fretboard are rosewood, and the frets are biggish with wonderfully rounded edges. The neck is a bit thick and feels just right for my hand. The body is dreadnought style. What I appreciate the most about the features of this guitar is how understated they are. It is a very straight ahead no frills instrument that was built to deliver.

I love the sound of this guitar. I play a mix of blues, rock, and chordy stuff (whatever that means). I can get a big ballsy blues sound or something much more sweet and mellow. The definition of the strings is wonderful. There is just so much room to breathe in those chords! I often use a capo the guitar maintains its crispness all the up the neck. The bass is big, but not so huge that it overwhelms the higher end. Sometimes I wish it had a bit more of the 'boom' I've heard from some of the Martins I've tasted but that's a very minor gripe.

The guitar was used when I bought it so I can't comment on the factory setup. I have noticed that the finish is a bit delicate--it scratches a bit easier than I'd like--but any guitar that is truly loved is going to show it. Other than that I've only adjusted the truss rod a few times and it just keeps on sounding great.

I've had this guitar for nearly five years. I bought it in Edmonton at Guitars on Whyte (Edmonton has VERY cold dry winters and hot dry summers), moved out to the West Coast (wet winters), and then put it on a plane to Japan (VERY humid summers and chilly winters). Through all of that time I've never had to do more than tweak out the truss rod. Built to last and then some. I mentioned the finish earlier, but other than that she's the buisness.

Never spoken to them. Anyone got their email address?? I'd love to tell them how much I love it!

Had it for five years. Played the hell out of it. Took it places. Nary a complaint. Still lovin it.

Made in Canada of course, not sure of year. I bought it new in Jul 03, but it is sort of "new old stock" having sat at the store for over a year I believe. I got it on an unbelievable "blow-out:" listed for nearly $900 I think, and I got the guitar for $308 plus tax, and bought one of those Fort EPP cases for $60 plus tax. Out-the-door, my price was $380. Amazing.

Solid spruce top, beautiful 3-piece solid flame maple back; sides are 3-layer laminate I believe. Tuners have an "ivoroid" button, and the metal part is gold. Has "micro-dot" fret markers that look similar to Larrivee's silver dots. No pickguard, not sure if I like that, but of course I could always add one (and I just might). Rosewood board and bridge, both having nice tight grain. Neck is substantial but not overly chunky. Action is set fairly low with no buzzing, quite nice for an acoustic. Finish is an 8-step process I believe, and is designed to allow the wood to breathe. Seems to work, she sounds awesome. No electronics, no cutaway, just a simple large acoustic guitar. I'm not going to assign a numerical rating. The only features I really want in an acoustic are tone and playability. High marks on both measurables there. Features I would like? A cutaway, bone saddle, and electronics.

It sounds wonderful. It's not the BEST sounding acoustic I've ever played, but it certainly is the best sub-$500 acoustic I've ever played! It wasn't nearly as loud or full as an all-solid Larrivee I compared it to, but the Larrivee would've been over twice what I paid for this one. On the other hand, it sounded noticeably better than 3 "plain" Seagulls (solid tops, lam back/sides) and a solid-top Ibanez I compared it to yesterday. With it's solid top and back, the best thing is, the sound will only improve. Mids and highs seem to be it's strong point; the bass response is solid, but not as "booming" as I like it to be. When I first brought it home (I put on layaway one week), it sounded HORRID. I thought I'd made a MAJOR mistake. Well, it was the strings, they'd been on there since Gawj-Dubyah wuz appointed el Presidento. New strings (John Pearse 80/20 lights) brought it to life.

I will eventually install a bone saddle, I think it's the best sub-$50 thing you can ever do to an acoustic (except for buying a $10 humidifier).

Well, after I installed new strings, I had string buzzes all over the place and was concerned. Bad neck? Bad guitar? Aaggh! Well I took to my local ProSound and they tweaked the trussrod and now she's just right--no buzzing at all! I suppose I must've dropped down a guage or someting when I put on the new ones.

The woods selected for this guitar look awesome, ESPECIALLY considering the price I paid. I haven't found any flaws at all.

I should mention this (hands-down) the EASIEST playing acoustic I've ever owned! I don't know why, but even tuned to pitch, bending isn't too difficult and the action is fairly low for an acoustic. Very nice set-up!

Who knows? Seems solid. Mine's new with warranty, though I'm not sure all the details of LaSiDo's warranty. Limited lifetime I assume?

I did send LaSiDo an email when I began my search for an acoustic about a month ago. They NEVER responded. That's disappointing.

Very nice guitar and I got an exceptional deal on it. The main feature is the playability; it's second highest-rated feature is it's tone. This is the easiest playing acoustic I've ever owned (and I've owned three Larrivees, which are notoriously easy to play guitars).

Had I been looking to pay the "normal" street price of this guitar (ie, nearly $1000 list with case, discounted down to say $600-$700) I likely would've spent an extra $100 and bought a new Larrivee, or even purchased a local used one (I don't like to buy acoustics over the net). However, I'm quite pleased with this guitar and hope to own for many years and listen to that top open up more and more. I've played off and on for 20+ years. I like new rock, classic rock, punk and pop.

2000 model
21 frets
solid top and back, laminate sides
no electronics, straight up acoustic
beautiful flame maple back, interesting 3-piece approach
thin finish, very resonant tone
dreadnought styling
tuners are a bit cheap looking, but smooth action

I play finger style acoustic and the guitar is a very good fit. It offers very good response and awesome sustain. The neck is slim and fits my hand well. The bottom is amazing and the top is sweet and has good sustain. I can't put a dislike to this guitar. It was $650 Canadian and has amazing Taylor-ish looks and sound.

It was well set up from the factory, low action with light gauge which buzzed when struck crisply. I had the dealer put on medium gauge and adjust the neck appropriately. Very nice now. The guitar is adjusting to the new tension and sounding better and better every day. Awesome instrument.

It has a lacquer finish, which is a bit more fragile than the nitrocellulose finishes. I believe it can be damaged by exposure to alcohol or excessive moisture. But these are things you shouldn't expose the guitar to anyway.
However, the finish is meant to make the guitar more responsive to string energy.

I just emailed them a positive email on the quality of their instrument. I'll be interested to see if they respond.

I've been playing since I was a kid but only seriously for the last 3 years. This is the best guitar I've ever owned, no doubt about it. The materials and workmanship are very good. If it were lost, I'd buy the same make again no question. I compared it to others in this price category when I was shopping around and nothing came close. Fender acoustics were okay, but this was superior.

Like most guitars in its price range, the guitar has a solid front and back, with triple laminate sides. The flame maple finish is absolutely beautiful. If you buy one, you will receive many comments regarding its outstanding looks. The solid-top is very light in colour, which also makes it stand out in a unique way. Other than that, you're not paying for gimmicky pearl inlays, funky curvatures or whatever other brands try to sell you on - you pay for the sound... but it still looks great.

Gorgeous. I've played Taylor 310s, 410s and 510s, and this one is comparable. It has a very full-toned sound. The b-band pickup does not have a lot of control, but its small. Personally, I don't like having a big hole drilled in my guitar for the pick-up control... it messes with the wood's resonance. If you want more control, buy a little Dane Electro Fish and Chips box like I did ($70). It works awesome. Other than that, I'm always plugging it in, and it's always getting compliments.

It was sounding and playing great from day one. No complaints.

I've had it for a year now without any problems. I'd have to say it has been a very dependable guitar. I've given it a few dents here and there, but everything has remained solid.

Simon and Patrick are number one when it comes to service, or so I've heard, but I personally have never had to deal with anyone. I think it has a one year warranty, but I was told by a guy from the shop that S&P are great even once that warranty has expired.

If you want value, but don't want to buy a garbage guitar, this is the way to go. For $900, you're getting a sound comparable to $2000+ Taylors. Sure, you don't get anything overly fancy, but at $900, you won't find anything overly fancy. I'd buy it all over again if I had to.

1996, Canadaian.
21 frets, joins body at 14th.
Solid top and back.
Sides are laminated maple.
Handmade (aladgedly from old maple, naturally fallen !! Some job, waiting for trees to fall.)
Supplied with a Barcus Berry transducer.
Spruce top, flame maple sides, back is a quilted maple fillet and bookmatched flame maple, rosewood fingerboard, mahogany neck.
Frets are not too high, and fairly wide and flat.
Hard generic case.

Sound 10
I was in a shop (Hanks in Denmark St) waiting to buy strings or something. Picked this guitar up while I was waiting. I'd never heard of the maker and had no real interest in buying an accoustic guitar. I'm an electric player mostly, and I only ever buy name guitars that are sure to hold or improve their value, like Gibson, Fender, Gretch. I just didn't want to put this thing down, and after about an hour decided it would be best for all if we just went back to my place.

The setup suited me straight away, as I found it in the shop. It's quite tight and very responsive.

The transducer works well enough, though I dont use it that often.

I'v had the guitar for 6 years now, and haven't found a fault yet.

The finish, particularly on the front is a little soft, and I'm a little rough, so there are a couple of little marks. I think it could do with a transparent pickguard, but I like the look of it so much as it is, that I haven't put one on.

I would never go to a gig with just one guitar. I don't expect people to amuse themselves while I replace a broken string.

Haven't had a problem, so don't know

I've been playing for more than 25 years. I also have some vintage Gibson semis (125, 335, 345) 3 Strats and 2 Gretsches - a Country Gent and a Blackhawk (hands up who knows what that is?)

I would have no hesitation buying another of these guitars.

1996 (approx) Canada
Purchased secodhand (privately) for 425 UK pounds
21 frets, joins body at 14th
Solid top and back, only the sides are laminated
Handmade (but probably from machine made parts)
No electrics at all!
Spruce top, beautiful maple for the rest of the body, rosewood fingerboard, probably mahogany neck
Flamed back
Standard sized acoustic
Excellent neck, suits electric player like me well
Hard case - with maker's logo so supplied by them
Features - nothing flash, quite basic (not a bad thing)

Excellent. Stood up well against other name guitars tried against it
This will change my stye as this is an acoustic that I just cannot put down. As I normally play electric this is a surprise. The effort required to play this guitar is less than you would expect for an acoustic.
Rich sound, but more mellow than the Rosewood example that I tried in a shop (I liked that so much that is the reason I hunted down a similar private secondhand example). I prefer the sound of the maple version.

Needed some attention but played well as supplied. Quality of finish is very good with no flaws. Finish is lighter weight than others as you can actually feel the grain through the laquer.
Very 'plain' finish without a scratchplate or fancy bindings. However I think that adds to the look of this instrument. It looks 'class'.

Probably, it seems well made. This one is five years old and still looks new (although some of that is down to the substantial case)
Only one strap button so strap has to be tied at nut (the old fashioned way)

Not applicable

Played guitar for over twenty years (mainly electric)
Probably the last acoustic guitar I will need to buy (unless this one gets lost) I would have no qualms about replacing it with another.

I dont know all too much about this guitar. It was made up in Canada. Acoustic Guitar, 21 frets, solid-top I think, same with the back, its laminated too... It's got an L.R.Baggs Ribbon Transducer pickup with a presence control, mid-frequency variable, and 3 band EQ. The body is a flamed maple, I dont know what the neck is but the fingerboard looks to be rosewood. Dreadnaught body style. I give it a 10 because its very well-made, theres nothing else I could ask for from it.

This guitar sounds beautiful. When I wanted to buy an acoustic, I went straight to the thousand dollar Takamines and Ovations. I played them all, most of them were pretty nice. Then the store owner took this guitar out and let me play it, and I was shocked. It looked incredible because of the flamed maple, but the sound was nice and rich and full and bright everywhere on the fretboard. Intonation on it is absolutely perfect. I love playing it. Through the pickup, you can get a variety of sounds, it can sound like a soft nylon string, or through a combination of picking near the bridge, maxing out the presence and playing with the EQ, I made it sound like a sitar. You can do almost anything with this, its amazing. The best part is, the more you play it, the better it sounds!

The action is comfortable, especially for an acoustic. No acoustic has ever matched an electric in terms of playability (in my hands at least) however, this one strikes it pretty close. Everything seems perfect on this guitar, with the exception of some breaks in the lamination of the finish, but thats because I bought it used so the finish isnt in perfect condition near the picking area since the previous owner was apparently a little abusive. Its still extremely nice, I would have liked a newer one, but they sound better when theyre older.

I'm always careful with acoustics, I'm afraid I'll break them because they seem so fragile. This guitar takes its bumps and bruises with ease, but acoustics still make me nervous...

The best things to ever come from Canada; Hockey and Simon & Patrick.