Product: Stanford DM
Price Paid: 400 (EUR)
Submitted
06/25/2002
at
11:18am
by
Anonymous
Features
:
8
Recent model of Stanford's entry-level Dreadnought without electronics.
Specs:
Beautiful solid cedar top
Back & sides laminated Mahogany
Rosewood fretboard without binding (Minidot inlays)
Multiple body binding b/w
Herringbone soundhole inlay
Kluson chrome tuners
Tortoise Pickguard
Satin finish
Nut width 45mm
Made in Czech Republic (yes, its not Korea!)
Pretty much a "plain jane" instrument, just the way I like it. If you're into abalone and other fancy stuff you won't like it.
Sound
:
9
Mmmhh...lots of mid-range, nice "woody" sound. Not too boomy not too bright. Excellent sustain and very loud.
Works great for strumming and fingerpicking too. I play mostly blues/ afro blues (check out Boubarcar Traore!), sometimes country or some singer/songwriter stuff as well.
Remeber - you need to find a guitar that suits YOUR style. This one works fine for me.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
Factory setup was excellent, medium action. No buzzing. I was impressed on the quality of the fretboard and the frets - its just perfect.
Construction is flawless - bookmatching very good, bracing smoothly sanded, etc.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
The cedar top and satin finish definitely don't make this one a stage instrument. It is build very solid, but I'd never dare playing it live.
There is one black plastic strap button which has - as well as the bridge pins - an unusual "big head" shape.
Considering that it is NOT a stage guitar, I'll give it an 8.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Bought it new on eBay, so there's no warranty.
Hope I'll never have to deal with them (check www.furch.cz for info).
Overall Rating
:
9
Got it for 400 EUR, what a steal! Lists for ~650. You could compare the guitar to a Martin DM (considering that the DM is about 1100 EUR in Germany and the Stanford would probably list for 1000+ in the U.S.).
I simply love it. It gives me the feeling of a very good guitar for a reasonble price (as it was not imported from overseas). Wonderful neck profile!
Had quite a few entry-level guitars before (Cort, Yamaha, Washburn) and this onebeats the all. It is even better than my old Suzuki (hard to believe). I'm still impressed by the quality and the sound, of course.
I had always wanted a Stanford as they are known for superb quality, but I couldn't afford it. But at nearly 250 EUR off I couldn't resist and would definitely buy it again.
There might be better guitars out there, but I would certainly be afraid of scratching a 2000$-Guild, so I stick to less expensive axes.
