Tone Dexter

[Tim Benware]

Right. And the fact is that people listening to a performance just want to hear good MUSIC - be it a Lowden or something that came over the Great Wall of China.

Proof - the various blind guitar tests on youtube. Scott Grove did one with 6 guitars, price range $6500 (Taylor 914) to $179 - all-laminate Washburn. In between was a Martin at $2k, an Ovation at $1k, and something else.

His listeners voted. The Washburn came in first for many, thought the Taylor got some first-place votes as well.
And the Washburn had a ton more bottom-end than the Taylor. The WB had a picture of Gene Simmons on it. ;-)

I myself liked the Washburn. Lots of variables, yes to be sure - but they were all played into the same mic during the same time period, and had the same strings.

The Taylor was a beautiful cocobolo instrument, and really shiny, but did not have the 'wood' that a few of the others had.

I went and listened to that and picked the Ibanez with D'Addario strings (the only guitar with those strings). I guess it may be the strings to me that made the difference as those are the type I like and play. I dislike the bright sounding Elixirs.

[Dave Bagwill]

Right - I'd forgotten about the two guitars that did not have the Elixirs.
Scott is not much of a finger-picker either, so a more fair test would include someone fingerstyle picking into the microphones, not just strumming.

[Tim Benware]

I remember the first time I heard one of my guitars and it didn't sound "right" to me, the owner had changed out the D'Addario EJ16 (light gauge) that it came with with Elixir Nanoweb (medium gauge). He liked the sound I was not impressed with it. MY OWN GUITAR! Oh the humanity!

[Dave Bagwill]

The first time I strung up with the bronze strings - Plectrums from Thomastik-Infeld - I thought I heard angels singing. Well not really, but it was the best sound I'd ever heard from a guitar I was playing. They don't last long, and they're expensive, but worth it. I use the EJ-16 D'Addarios and like them just fine.

[Dave Bagwill]

Tone Dexter - $399.00
Can't quite see it at that price.

[Tim Benware]

Tone Dexter - $399.00
Can't quite see it at that price.

If Amazon's not selling it, it ain't worth buying! (JK)

[John Parchem]

Tone Dexter - $399.00
Can't quite see it at that price.

If Amazon's not selling it, it ain't worth buying! (JK)

$400, not for me.