All user reviews for the Simon & Patrick Showcase Rosewood

Here's my opinion on the Simon & Patrick Showcase Rosewood. In the nomenclature of the brand, this model corresponds to the high-end, with other models, which are characterized by wood backs and sides. Here, it is of course an Indian rosewood.
Simon & Patrick brand is part of a series of trademarks Godin, among which we can count as Seagull, Norman and La Patrie for making acoustic guitars. Simon & Patrick having a particular niche, that of making guitars using traditional technical criteria, while Seagull in order to propose some technical improvements in manufacturing (in the words of Godin).

In short, all this to say that the Showcase Rosewood aims to provide a good quality instrument, made with fully solid wood at an affordable price:

- Dreadnought shape with a round of 14 boxes off table;
- Soundboard sitka spruce and spruce Adirondack dam;
- Back and sides of Indian rosewood;
- Mahogany (in several parts, however: a piece for the heel, a room for the entire length of the handle, and a final piece to form the head of the guitar);
- Fingerboard & Bridge: Indian Rosewood;
- Nuts easel and head Tusq (Graphtech);
- Mechanical Godin;
- Drawing Original: Light, 012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053
- A tether strap on the bottom of the guitar, but it lacks the heel stick.

- It is possible to equip this guitar with a mic / piezo / preamp system sensor, and a cutaway. But I do not have on my guitar.

The overall finish of the instrument is good, with a glossy varnish on the body, and a satin finish on the neck and head. The varnish is quite thin and suggests some pores of the wood (including rosewood which takes a little more than spruce).

The guitar comes with a handy carrying case light, and protects very well the differences in temperature and humidity that can occur when changing place, by turning on heating in winter, etc.. The only fault I find it is very slightly abrasive aspect of interior fabrics, which tend to score a bit where the handle rests in the suitcase (3rd box in the center of the handle). Just to avoid any problem of having a cotton swab or soft tissue in this area to avoid abrasion of the coating stick.

Otherwise, no complaints about the features of this guitar. It is aesthetic, sober, well finished.

UTILIZATION

I'm playing guitar for over twenty years now, but I've always played on electric guitars. It is thus my first acquisition of an acoustic guitar (shame on me! I really regret not being there made me much much sooner!). Therefore, I consider myself a novice in this field, and should be considered in my remarks because I am a young guitarist 10 months of age, with knowledge of the field of acoustic guitar proportional to its age which still needs much progress fingerpicking, and pulls the hair on partitions Tommy Emmanuel!

Having made that clear, let the guitar.

We are dealing with a dreadnought shape quite traditional, so it is a fairly large and deep guitar with a round of 14 non-cash boxes, round and round in a homogeneous profile. Some find it difficult to play, for my part, I do not ask me: I hang the guitar and I play it, period. However, I find it comfortable and enjoyable, but to each his own.

I still put a damper to the original setting on my guitar. I find it necessary to lower the action, playing both on the bridge saddle (there is no shim under the bridge) on the Nut. This consideration is to balance with what is usually played on a guitar if it is rather strumming with a pick, a relatively high share will do, and we will gain power and roundness, in which case the original action will be perfect. But if one is adept fingerpicking, high action makes the most complicated game, and for once, I think the original setting is perfectible.
In short, for my part, I will as soon as possible to a luthier to make some changes: I think of saddles and ankle bones, and why not Grover if it takes me).

Besides that, I see nothing wrong, the guitar is comfortable, and very enjoyable to play.

I will complete this review once the guitar will be placed in the hands of a luthier and I have grown myself.

SOUNDS

I bought this guitar, and have been derived from the original carton. It was manufactured in 2011 and remained two years in the carton before I acquired it. Suffice to say it was stiff new, factory settings, original strings ...

It took a few weeks of regular play that guitar softens, and his stamp stabilizes. I think now, after ten months to be performed daily, it will not move or more too. The thing that now contributes to significantly improve its sound, it is mostly my own progress.

Nevertheless, it is really important to directly change the game Original strings. I kept mine for quite some time, and when I changed to the coated wound D'Addario 80/20 EXP11 12-53, I could finally hear what this guitar could offer.
A warm and balanced sound, delivering deep bass, brilliant but never aggressive treble, mids and relatively dug. This is clearly the typical sound of this kind of wood system. She is doing very well for strumming arpeggios, blues game, and for my part, I work mostly with finger-style playing (although now I know that there are better guitars without doubt intended for this a dreadnought with a little wide, but good round, I hear ...).
I find him particularly good with new strings, good sound projection, and dynamic range and sustain a suitable (compared to an electric amplified ... this is my reference, even if it is not relevant ). However, my knowledge and my ability to make comparisons with other guitars is not huge. I know it sounds much stronger and more defined as Takamine electro-acoustic models in the same way rates, even several hundred dollars more expensive (blame a dam that significantly constrains soundboard) .

For my part, it delivers sound like me, I find it balanced, musical and interesting.

Again, I will update this review once the guitar has seen its saddles changed by bone nuts, and I have taken a few gallons in acoustics.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought this guitar in March 2013, and as I said at the beginning, she is my first acoustic. I consider it an excellent study guitar, because it is what it is for me today. However, I think she has all the qualities to be a very good instrument for group play, accompany a voice, and if it is a good or a good micro electronics, it must certainly be doing well in concert .

I am not able to make comparisons with other guitars of the same brand, or other brands. We often hear that these models of Simon and Patrick compete without problems instruments much more expensive American brands, insofar as it is made of solid wood. I honestly do not know, although I tend to hope that guitars 2500 euros will be better than this: but it is an instrument for double the price of that which I speak.
I do know that Simon & Patrick sounds great and is suitable for individuals wanting to invest in a very good guitar, without necessarily taking credit for three years and be afraid out of its bag not spoil ...

For those whose finances extend to 1700 euros for a wireless electronic guitar, take a hit on the ear S & P, it may perhaps surprise you.