Norman B15

- In What Country was it made? (USA, Japan, Mexico, France...)
Like Seagull and various other brands, Norman is basically Godin, so Canadian/US.

This is just a regular dreadnought, but it has a fairly large body and a very thin varnish, so the guitar has bass, it's dynamic (loud when needed) and the top let's the sound through thanks to that thin varnish, something you won't get on most guitars (especially not the black ones with the thick paint...).

The finish is nothing fancy but i really like that basic feel, without being rough: it's not trying to look fancy, and it sounds 'honest'. No messin around!

UTILIZATION

The neck is ok, although if you want a really easy guitar to play you might want to try a £2000 Taylor... This is ok, though. The frets on mine were getting worn and it was so expensive to replace them that it was cheaper to change the guitar...!

The neck is quite wide, with jumbo frets. Forget about accessing the higher notes on this one. Norman do cutaway guitars too but they're probably not quite so loud...

The body is quite wide so it can be a little uncomfortable to play when sitting down...

SOUNDS

Thanks to the wide body and thin varnish, and choice of woods, this guitar has a very well balanced sound: plenty of bass, of treble and of mids.
Might sound like something you would take for granted but from my experience this isn't often the case. A lot of guitars have no bass or treble and sound aggressive. This one sounds great for pop rhythm, and if you're good enough you can probably get away with a nice solo too, although i haven't really done that much on this one.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall, this is not the best guitar in the world, as you would expect from its price, but i've heard plenty of much more expensive guitars sound nasty next to this.
If you can find a second hand one of these that is in good nick, go for it.

Recorded lots of stuff with this, it sounds great.
Few people know Norman but, well, let's put it like this: when i sold my B-15, i got a B-18 and a B-20 12 string. Get my drift? These guitars don't sound like a Yamaha or a Takamine, they sound like Norman. Not ideal for everything but they have personality.

Norman is a Canadian box located in La Patrie (as Seagull ...). The D15 is a lefty while birch (table, sides, bottom), type "Dreadnought", in short, a folk, whatever ... Fishman preamp with an electroacoustic system one to three settings (volume, bass, treble), with a matt varnish a little "rough around the edges" not very rewarding. but hey, this is not what matters ... I would like to know if the table is massive (as stated in this forum RickD) or laminated three layers (in the words of Olivier 333 in this subject ...). Frankly, I would like to know and have the last word, just to know what I have. I tried to search the net, but even the site of Norman, this is not specified. Since this is an entry-level home, I do not think the table is massive. Finally, to see and know. If qualqu'un can give me the info firm and final, I'm interested ...

UTILIZATION

Nice handle, a handle of folk, what, between the classical and electric, the action is pretty low for my taste so no need for adjustment and luthier, it suits me like that. Hand weights, a little heavy but as I sat playing it does not bother me especially it does not affect the sound too. Acoustically, I find it very powerful in volume but with a very good well-balanced sound, everything passes (low, mid, treble). But connected, then it's the top. I amplified with an amplifier Charlie Junior Series Marcel Dadi special electro-acoustic guitars of the 70 four I bought in 1985, if you know what I mean ...
For cons, I fired all the old strings on it that there were oxidized (used oblige ...) and put all new Martin. A treat, even by light against it kills your fingers, I no longer used and I have to do the horn

SOUNDS

Ok to play the "folk" (I love that word ...) but also the blues or even bossa, fingers (preferably) or with a pick ...

OVERALL OPINION

I have since yesterday and I just play one hour with new ropes. I tried two before taking a ibanez electric acoustic cutaway (I can not remember the model ...) very beautiful, beautiful violin, good hardware, made in china (yes) to absolutely shit , no sound, no bass, no treble. In short, a pot, what ... The guy wanted 203 euros, I would not even give 50 ... In short, I did not say anything, not to hurt his feelings, just, thank you, goodbye ... And a Aria (another Asian ...) any folk poquée Touet striped one is my attempt in building a driveway because the girl had two big dogs and would not let me enter her, to 60 euros . I would have given 20 uros in a pinch ... Again, no comment, thank you and goodbye ...
The one pint a bit boring as it is to change the 9 volt battery should loosen the strings as it is within the sound box.
A remake? Absolutely, 155 euros is a value / price ratio, when we see that the entry level in Lakewood is 1650 euros. She has not variment of the mouth (matt varnish, while cherry ...) but it sounds. At 155 euros, nothing to say!

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UTILIZATION

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SOUNDS

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OVERALL OPINION

I have 3 years and she used guitar "travel-holiday-weekend" ... that is pretty much aa it supported: the aircraft (cabin or cargo) on long road trips hot car, as extreme weather conditions and varied, and so on.
In fact I was looking for a guitar with a value affordable to do all that and ... I found!
It really is the "tough-Canadian lumberjack-" and after a good start setting (action a little high and adjustment of the handle) it has absolutely unchanged.
Side "sound" it srait rather "neutral" and well-balanced sound with a volume more than acceptable (I had the opportunity to compare a bit of the sisters of my most prestigious périgrinations and she never had a blush )
recommend a quick purchase

The B15 is ideal for beginners, with its laminated table for guitarists seeking a second instrument development.

The B15 is equipped with the same round hand finished our models to solid wood table. His table is made of three layers of cherry, and like all the other guitars Norman, is covered with a lacquer authentic.

Colours: Tobaccoburst, Burgogne, Black and Brown

UTILIZATION

Access to acute unclear, but hey it is not really made for that
against love by the handle, the strings are very close to the handle
it's very nice especially for me since starting the agreements seem easier to press than other guitars I've tried
the weight is correct and sound also

SOUNDS

It's happening everywhere
it's just a metal which has its charm

OVERALL OPINION

I have 8 years now and it has not moved
what I like most is the handle
on the other hand I do not like the matte varnish that leaves a lot of fingerprints
great guitar especially for beginners because it is simple and robust.
I have paid 300 euros at the time. Now the price has dropped and makes it more affordable.
I would do that choice again!