Blogging Ottinger (tim)Washburn Montgomery
I found a little guitar store and spent a little time playing the guitars and talking with the owner.
The new Washburn guitars look wonderful, and I played around a little unamplified. I did decide to plug in when I found a “Montgomery”. The guitar I played was a few years old, but hardly played and it still had the plastic over (most of) the pick guard. It looked a lot like this:
The price was reasonable, but I’ve not met the conditions for buying a new guitar. I still have a strong urge to run out to a guitar store where they’ll let me play a ES335 (pref the Larry Carlton model), but I’m interested in other hollowbodies also. This one is pretty and sounds good, so a guy could do worse.
I also spotted this cutie on the wall and played with it (not plugged in) for a while. The picture is identical to the guitar I had in my hands:
It is not an expensive guitar, but it’s gorgeous. The lesson, I think, is to have some kind of structure so it doesn’t look like a plank (arch top or beveled sides or something), and to have wood stain covered by some lacquer finish, plain or translucent and colored. People like to see wood grain showing through the finish. Those opaque polyurethane finishes are ugly, or at least lacking in elegance.
I bought this basic black model and refinished neck that was bare wood. I Love it. I set up the adjustments and plays like a dream. I plan on doing a custom air brsh “Cracked Look” paint and adding a pick guard. Having trouble finding factory pick guard may have to cut one to fit. I get so many compliments and people think its a 600 or better axe.
Comment by Dennis White — 2006-November-8 @ 07:20