How Many NGD's Did We Have in 2022?

[donlyn]

#19 and #20

New acquisitons, or take two and hit to right:

Really not actively hunting in the wild anymore. Especially since I'm retired and not holding a full-time job.

But I recently decided to get a laminated big body 12 string to use in times of wicked humidity when the solid bodies don't sound so solid at the time. Not having a lot of disposable income and not wanting to sell anything, I decide to check out the inexpensive Guild F-2515 Jumbo 12 string natural. In addition, my favorite Guitar Center (the one behind Fenway Park) was having a small sale on low end items. So I went down and played one, loved the playability and sound (the tuners are a little wonky, but I can live with them), and it ended up following me home. Very happy and can put a little bow on this simple story.

But here comes the call of the wild. Spent some time with a used sunburst Sigma J-200 Jumbo clone. Was in really great shape, maybe never been played. The strings were really aged from disuse. But it was well set up and obviously needed a new set of strings. Time for a little 'net research on this bad boy.

So here I go back to GC and taking another serious look at it. Spent some more time with it and figure it was worth a shot, even if new strings didn't work out, I could always return it with the new strings gratis.

Wicked happy I took that chance. Old strings were actually extra light .011 - .052 (handy analog calipers at home) which is way understrung for a big bout Jumbo. Put some of my favorite Elixir PB HD Lights (.013 - .053) on it as soon as I got home, and that axe began to sing a sweet song or three. Strings stretching out a bit even as I write. Turns out the guy who traded it in had some Sigma catalogs in the accompanying padded Sigma gigbag. I have some conflicting info and some outright incorrect info between the catalog and the 'net. For example, the catalog implies that it is a short scale, but it measures the same as a Gibson J-200 Jumbo scale at 25+1/4". And there is some uncertainty as to whether it's a solid body or a laminate. Just on the numbers, it seems by a 3-2 opinion of the research that it is a solid maple back and sides. Not going to worry much about it, but it seems closer to my solid bodies than my laminates.

Anyway, wicked happy about my new Guild 2512 and my new-to-me Sigma GJA SG-200. And not too bad a hit to my credit card for that one either. Important for a semi-retired retiree.

I fingerpick all my instruments using my nails as picks. And this Sigma is one sweet fingerpicker I can tell you. And so is that Guild 2512 too. And as I've mentioned before, my favorite guitar body shapes are the Jumbo and Jumbo-related shapes.

* *
New Edit ==> Forgot to mention a couple of important things.
 
The Guild 12 string neck is 1+7/8" wide at the nut, same as a Taylor. Jumbo body is cut slightly different from a Gibson/Epiphone J-200 and will not comfortly fit into an Epiphone J-200 case. Currently resides in a nice Guild soft shell padded gig-bag.

The Sigma CG-200 has a nut width of 1+3/4". And the neck is carved fatter than is currently fashionable. I like the nut width better than the 1+11/16" on a Gibson/Epiphone J-200. (Most Taylors have that same 1+3/4" width.) And I like the carve a lot; feels like a natural extension of my hand. Carve reminds me of a Gibson Les Paul Custom 2 pick-up 'fretless wonder' I used to own back in the 60s. (Wonderful electric guitar, second only in sound to a Gibson flametop cherry sunburst Les Paul standard. Those were the days.)
* *

Be well and play well.

Don

{Originally posted in another guitar forum, in a thread titled "Thrill of the Hunt?"}

[TaylorGirl]

Next one to report should be numbered #21.

[donlyn]

Sorry Susie,

In my new-found excess and excitement, I forgot to put the numbers to them. Plus I had so much fun with it, that I had to tell the story. Guitars were not purchased on the same day, but were the unintentional and direct result of deciding to acquire a laminate 12 string and the ensuing visit, during which I got distracted by the Sigma 200 Jumbo.

Made #s correction to post.

Be well and play well,

Don

[TaylorGirl]

Don, that's no problem. I enjoyed reading your post. Congratulations and enjoy!

Next one to report will be numbered #21.

[Toucan256]

#21 Taylor GTe Mahogany and I couldn't be any happier. I just can't believe the years almost over and I'm only number 21.

[Bob Womack]

#22 2022 Martin HD-28





Bob

[donlyn]

#23

Got bit by the Catfish Blues

My local (and favorite) Guitar Center (Boston, behind Fenway Park) built a Taylor Room a short time ago. I very recently went there to generally check it out, and specifically in the hope of finding some Grand Theatres that I could play. Hadn't played one yet. They only had a used urban ash model that I played for over an hour. Sounded much better that I expected, but I was hoping to play an 811 spruce over rosewood model or maybe an exotic cedar top.

Anyway I was pleased with the one I played. It was strung with light gauge strings (I have an analog caliper to check string gauges). Nut was definitely not 1+3/4" wide. But it was very playable, even if I tended to pull the treble E a bit. (I usually string my six string guitars with a .013 treble using the Elixir HD gauge.) I was mentally comparing it to my 412e-R spruce over rosewood Grand Concert. The lower bout is the same 15" width, but the GT is shorter in length and scale than my short scale GC. Overall my GC is a superior guitar in the smaller size group. Again, I was unable to compare to an 811 GT; maybe another time.

Conclusion was that it was a nice instrument, but in no way did it out-perform my GC. No sale. I would re-visit the model for a different version, but the cost of the 811 is a bit too much for this retired, but not too retiring, soul. So I doubt I would ever be able to justify getting one.

Now, about the 'catfish' comment. Since I retired I no longer have the wherewithall to be buying expensive instruments, and have been mostly looking at budget offerings. Hence the bottom-feeding catfish reference. But the funny part is that I enjoy shopping these instruments.

So after chatting with the salesperson, I was about to head out when I spotted another guitar in a side office. A 'brand' new Epiphone Inspired-by-Gibson sunburst J-200 12 String model. I just had to play it, so I inquired about it and got to play it. Tuned it to D# (I also had a chromatic tuner with me; part of my guitar shop 'go-bag') so my ears and fingers would feel at home, and put it through its paces. Really liked it. So much so that I now own it. Thing is that I can't find any information about it on-line. Don't care. (Doesn't appear to be the 'Studio' model version.) Plays easy and sounds great even though a 'budget' guitar. And it's a Jumbo, my favorite guitar size and shape.

Considering I got an Epiphone IBG Gibson sunburst J-200 6 string a while back, I was more than willing to take a chance on this 12 string one. Haven't had it a week yet, but liking it more and more everytime I pick it up. 

Be well and play well,
Don

[rbr49x]

So as I think about doing this it seems like I'm probably reporting on a mental illness, but then maybe it'll actually be therapeutic.

I already have #3 and #8 in this list, but I'm way behind in reporting:

#24   5/3/22  2013 Fender American Special Stratocaster - Surf Green.  All stock and a nice guitar acquired in trade for an '06 Gibson Les Paul Studio.

#25   9/5/22  New 2022 Reverend Contender 290 in Medieval Red.  My first Reverend and first guitar with P-90 style pickups - love it; it gets picked up almost every day.

#26   10/26/22  2016 Fender Deluxe Roadhouse Stratocaster - Classic Copper.  All stock except for a Callaham tremolo and easily my best playing and sounding Strat, even though I have a couple of others with much higher "pedigree" on paper.

#27   11/16/22  2015 Taylor T5z-12 Custom Koa.  Acquired in trade for #24 above plus some other stuff.  This thing is beautiful and the sound is awesome (it's my first 12-string, so there's that).  The gold tuners paid the price for living near the beach in a home that was often open-air, but an experienced Taylor luthier who knows these well looked it over and said it's structurally sound and he believes it'll be fine once it acclimates to a normal air-conditioned Florida humidity - maybe a neck reset at worst.  I've admired the T5/T5z series since I first saw them at a Taylor Roadshow by Marc Seal years ago and I'm thrilled to finally get one.



OK - maybe that'll stop me for awhile...

[Earl]

#28  A new-to-me 2002 Rainsong WS-1000 Classic.  An elderly friend had to stop playing and singing, so I helped him out and bought it.  It perfectly matches my 2001 model that was bought new back then, but this one has seen a somewhat rougher life.  I'm the third owner.  It could use a minor fret dress but that is not an immediate problem.

This is the first inbound guitar in quite a while, as I am more in a selling off mode these days.  Sold five in the past two years, with two more to go.

[Nsbadge414]

#29 Taylor 2003 414-RCE

#30 Taylor 2022 GS Mini-e Koe Plus

[rbr49x]

The force is strong - I can't resist:

#31  2022 Taylor AD17e Blacktop / Walnut 

I've seen a lot of comments about the Grand Pacific tone and had to try.  Very nice!

[CoryB]

#32 - Taylor 312ce-N

[McBrain]

#33 Taylor GT 811

[ddub]

#34 - Been wanting an American Stratocaster for a long time, but I also wanted a project, so I decided to build one out of all Fender USA parts. Body is an American Professional II in 3 color sunburst, Neck is an American Ultra in rosewood (satin finish, compound radius, modern D shape), American Ultra hardware (bridge, tuners, string tree, etc.). The electronics are the only non-Fender pieces - for this I chose to go with an HSH config (Seymour Duncan Jazz in the neck, Custom Flat in the middle, and JB in the bridge). Master volume is a push-pull to split the neck pickup, master tone is a push-pull to split the bridge pickup, and the third knob is a blender to mix in the neck or bridge pickup depending on the switch position. I put it all together for less than the cost of an American Professional model. Very happy with how it turned out.

#35 - Taylor 414ce-R

#36 - Baby Taylor for my daughter (when she gets big enough to play it)

[Toucan256]

#37
Eastman E8 OM Natural.
Went in to LGS looking for something different, and this one spoke to me. Even the salesman that I usually see said that he thought it had mojo. He was thinking of trading in a Taylor for it.