One of the finest sounding (and most beautiful) new OM-model guitars you will ever have had the happiness to play, this barely used -- pretty much dead mint instrument (purchased October of 2008 and it appears to never have been played, which is why we keep it in its original hard shell case, not on display). This instrument has everything any fingerstyle player either wants or needs: a fabulous and demonstrative aging-tonered wide-grained Adirondack spruce top (wide grain is thought to increase tonal range, upper mids and highs), a magnificent and matched set of Brazilian rosewood back and sides – closer to straight-grained in the central section of the back – and wildly impressionistic on the sides, and a matching Brazilian rosewood headplate colorfully decorated with an intense and stylized script “Huss & Dalton” pearl logo.
We would call this a standard neck shape – definitely not “low profile,” also definitely not “modified V-shape.” It is rounded in the back, with a 1 ¾” nut width which makes the oval shape wider. I did a purely unscientific measurement of the depth of the neck (with a small white plastic ruler, not with a proper engineering tool) and I believe it is 1 7/8” in depth up to around the 7th fret and then it gradually deepens to maybe 1 15/16th at around the 12th. This is what I call “hand filling” and I like that shape; it’s exceedingly comfortable to hold and play.
Its squared corner headstock proffers Waverly brand #1129 Special Issue metal oval-button tuning machines; the unbound ebony fingerboard displays 5 etched diamond inlays in three positions; the abbreviated, beveled edge pickguard is tortoise shell colored and the top is ringed in wooden herringbone purfling set against a black background. The backstripe parquetry is “zipper,” the end piece and heel cap grained ivoroid and the sides and back are bordered in ivoroid and black. This gorgeous and indescribably amazing sounding Orchestra Model is housed, in the H&D tradition, in a fine, plush lined tweed hard shell case. When this guitar is brandy new today it has a List Price (gulp) of $9,417. Wow. We told you Brazilian and Adirondack is expensive. This one, however, is far more affordable.
This guitar will floor you. It sounds amazing, it is made from the finest tone wood money can buy. Other companies are getting $10,000, $12,000, $16,000 or even more for guitars made of these highest and best materials (C F Martin is probably closer to twice that). At this insanely low price it is a definite bargain and "best buy." Wait! Here it is . . . brace yourself . . .