|
Inspired by Joshua's thread on his TC opening up after a year, as well as Tom C's E15SS NGD post, I thought I'd share my own redemption experience. In 2017, I was about to order an E15SS (in fact, the exact guitar that Tom C just purchased; same S/N). But since I played mostly dreads, I got cold feet about a smaller body guitar, and at the last minute, switched into an E20OM-SB (still a burst finish, but OM/000 body size and Ebony bridge and board).
For the first two years, the guitar was tight, dark, and brooding. I experimented with strings, picks, and even picked up a used Tonerite. Side note: the TR divides some people, but I've used it with varying degrees of success. It was particularly effective on this E20OM-SB. Along the way, I commented in an old thread, called "Adirondack Spruce: An Exercise In Patience."
For those first two years, I thought about selling it more than I thought about keeping it. But I kept hearing small improvements from month to month, string change to string change, and TR session to TR session. So, I kept it... but I was prepared to sell it and replace it with a Mahogany/Spruce OM.
Eventually, something broke through, and this guitar began to find its voice. And wow, what a voice it has found! The dark sound has been replaced with a classic scooped sound. The tight is replaced with incredible responsiveness. And the brooding has been replaced with a warm, wonderful tone. It's an unbelievable transformation --- and still voiced completely different than my E40OM!
I guess my point is to share the story b/c prior to owning an Adi top guitar, I would make my mind up about a new guitar within weeks (maybe a few months), and if it didn't speak to me within a year, it was gone. But a couple of people cautioned me to have more patience with this guitar, and I'm so glad I heeded their advice b/c it turned into a keeper.
I just returned from a short trip to the mountains (Tahoe), and I took this guitar with me. Perhaps it was the dry mountain air or the smaller room (I played in the condo bedroom), but the guitar never sounded so good. The low bass notes rang deep, and the clarity was off the chart. I had to force myself to put it down before the neighbors complained, LOL.
This isn't to say that every frog will turn into a prince. In fact, I'd say that this is an exception, not the rule. But I'm convinced that Adi works on a different timeline than Sitka, Cedar, and other woods. So, if you have a newer Adi top that isn't all that you'd expect, but you hear some positive improvement, then have some patience b/c that guitar may simply be working off of a longer timeline.
Pura Vida!
|
, so my playing thus far has been relegated to late night). However, on the few occasions I haven't been able to contain my excitement and strummed full-on with my fingernails, this guitar sings. Bass and treble overtones swirl and mix when a chord is allowed to ring, but there's still a distinct clarity between chords when playing a progression. The effect is lesser when strumming with the fleshy part of my thumb, but chords and individual notes remain clear.
15% off + free shipping on Eastman guitars (and most other things) at Alto Music