My 814ce DLX arrived on Friday January 13th around 10:30 am, and after several hours of temperature acclimation, I opened the box, removed all of the additional packing material that was used to insure safer travels cross country to northern Michigan, then took the case out of the shipping box. I held my breath as I open the case....WOW...here it is, My 814ce DLX in all of its glory! I spent a couple of minutes just looking at it, the detail, the amazing woods used, the incredible fit and finish. I took it out of the case and looked over the back, sides,neck and headstock. What a beautiful instrument! Every inch of it screams beauty and class.
Now the real test. I tuned it (standard tuning) and slowly plucked each open string and listened to the wonderful sound of each note as they rang out then slowly melted together and hung on for what seemed an eternity. After strumming the obligatory "G chord" I knew this was a special guitar. I sat and strummed a bunch of different chords listening to each one as if a choir of angles were singing, they were. I sat and played several songs...the tone is so full and clear...and so well balanced across every string. The Adi bracing really increases the clarity and volume. The arm radius/bevel really is noticeable and the Gotoh 510's speak for themselves.
I had to go to Lansing MI Saturday the 14th for family business and decided to stop in at Elderly's again to see if they had a DLX and a standard 814ce, which is a fantastic guitar in it's own right, in stock to A/B them, they did. To my ears, the DLX is by far the winner. Fuller tone, more clarity, more responsive to light touch and louder.
When I got home I just sat noodling around listening and thinking...now I really have to learn to play well enough to justify owning such a wonderful guitar. I have had many fantastic guitars so far on my short (5 year) journey but this is by far the best sounding and playing guitar I have ever had my hands on.
Now the eye candy...please keep in mind these photos are only phone camera quality...it looks so much nicer in person.
