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Review by
a visitor on 21.4.2007
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Purchased Johnson JD27 Carolina 2 with hardshell case from centsiblesounds.com march 2007.The main things that made want the JD27 are,Solid Engelmann Spruce Top,Solid East Indian Back and Sides,Fully Scalloped Forward-X Bracing,Classic Butterbean Tuners,
Hand-cut Abalone/M.O.P. Detailing,Dovetail Neck Joint,Grained Ivoroid Binding,One-Piece Mahogany Neck,
Rosewood Fretboard,Traditional Diamond Volute,Bone Nut & Compensated Bone Saddle,1 and 3/4 inch nut.vneck,
Snowflake Position Markers,Lifetime Warrant.This guitar was bought as special for 519.00, street price now is around 650.00,it list for 799.00
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Features |
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I like the tone,good for bluegrass..clean inside,nothing outstanding to see down inside,no excess glue,maybe some wood dust inside.braces looked well fitted and clean.all the edges are great,the finish looks real good, uniformity and quality seems well, all bindings look good .frets are good and setup is very playable right out of box.I like the v neck, the bridge was like a dull, black,and dusty and left black powder on cloth,but it looks good after wiping cloth on it,neck fretboard looked dull but after i wiped this dust off it seems good too,the mop inlays on neck are great, and i like the craftsmanship mop on the peg head,a little much, for me but good work and well done.on the back of guitar where the middle seam is it looks good , you can feel it where they join but you cant see it.my freinds d1 mahog back is done the same way .JD27 sounds very powerfull,it seems balanced too,flatpicked ,and strummed,i strummed it pretty hard too when i was by myself.i dont like the pickguard ,it is too shiny,and on the tip toward the neck and soundhole of it, a cloth .caught on it,but it looks like it is on there good,color of pickguard is ok, but traditional black or +tortoise would prefer. |
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Playability |
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I love the way it plays,notes easy,the innotation, up the neck too.The sound and playability makes you want to play it and I am only limited by my abilties.I have owned dreads costing much more and when i compare them to the jd27 i am happy. |
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Quality |
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Actually the performance , sound of my JD27 , the all solid v neck , 1 3/4 nut ,help me and this guitar will not get lost in a jam of higher priced instruments. |
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Durability |
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Seems and feels like a quality instrument,stays in tune very well.The attack and sustain of individual notes make me happy.when flatpicked or strummed it rings out too. |
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Overall |
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Other than a few cosmetic issues,the wood and craftmanship are great,and this baby is a player.I have owned and played dreads that cost 3 to 6 times more , I am amazed how Greg Rich , Team Carolina ,and Johnson ,can do this at this cost. I am glad they do and I thank them for making instruments of this quality at their good prices.I would feel good playing this guitar on stage or anywhere else. Play one, and compare.Buy from a reputable dealer. Priorities to me are sound,tone,woods and marerials used , craftmanship,performance,quality,price,and warranty.Cosmetic and/or things I can change with minimal cost if whatever it is bugs me are the latter things that influence my decision.I will in the future purchase another Carolina maybe the jd 26 mahogany version or a new Torch Series.This guitar lives up well to my expectations of a bluegrass performing dread. |
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Review by
a visitor on 13.4.2007
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I bought my Johnson JD27 from centsiblesounds.com.They done a good job with correspondance,answered all of my questions to help me choose this instrument.Guitar was shipped with hardshell case inside box with foam,bubble wrap ,and cardboard.The package was sent as scheduled and arrived on time.Thanks centsiblesounds.The guitar lists for 799.00 ,Centsiblesounds sold it to me for 200.00 + less than list plus hardshell case and free shipping.I bought this from them because they always answered my questions,by phone or email,it took me about 3 months to make up my mind on my list of guitars that I was inquiring about,they are freindly,plus I read a few good reviews about them.Their prices were good too but mainly it was the service before the sale and they did not get tired of answering my questions on their guitars either,I will buy again from them.
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Features |
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Out of box ,My first look.Soundhole inspection showed clean inside,nothing outstanding to see down inside,no excess glue,maybe some wood dust inside.Braces looked well fitted and clean.No crappy looking braces.The Engleman Spruce top looks good.Grain is straight and is about 1/16 to 1/8 +in width.all the edges of instrument are smooth,the gloss finish looks good, uniformity and quality seems well, all bindings look good .frets are good and setup is very playable right out of box.I like the v neck. Closer inspection.the bridge was like a dull black and dusty and left black powder on cloth,but it looks good after wiping cloth on it,neck fretboard looked dull but after i wiped this dust off it seems good too,the mop inlays on neck are great, and I like the craftsmanship mother of pearl inlays on the peg head,a little much for me but good work and well done, i like plainer and less shiny finish too."let the cost and efforts of making guitars be in the wood and quality instead of too much eye candy."On the back of guitar,solid rosewood, where the middle seam is it looks good , you can feel it where they join but you cant see it. My freinds d1 mahog back is done the same way .This guitar sounds very powerfull,it is balanced too,flatpicked ,and strummed.I strummed it pretty hard too when i was by myself.It has Martin light gauge phosphor bronze strings. I dont like the pickguard ,it is too shiny,and on the tip toward the neck and soundhole of it, a cloth caught on it,but it looks like it is on there good,color of pickguard is ok, but traditional black or tortoise I would prefer.HOW IT LOOKS,Not a bad looking guitar,solid rosewood back and sides are nice and almost black in color,but the reds and brown show in light,the grain and quality of the back and sides are great. HOW IT SOUNDS,volumn with a good balance between the lows and highs,It has punch for a driving rhythm,clarity on the notes when flatpicked.HOW IT PLAYS,plays great,frets are good,feels kind of loose and easy to note,plays well up the neck too.This instrument can make a statement even when played next to a D16 gt and D1,both cost much more, and this guitar is all SOLID woods. The sides and back solid East Indian Rosewood looks great,dark to black in color.The mop inlays are all neatly done,the transition from the inlay sides to the neck are done well.All the inlays shine up nice too at different angles.I love the solid but fast v neck too.Tuners are smooth,vintage looking,now these babies are a little off.The straight edges of tuner machines should be perfectlystraight,lookatpics ,http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/webbfeet65/Backpegheadjd27.jpg the tuner pegs are inline but square base parts are not.This is cosmetic ,Grover Tuners upgrade will remedy. All transition spots from bindings to wood are great,the heel to guitar body is great,the nut fretboard great .Other than a few cosmetic issues,the wood and craftmanship are great,and this baby is a player.I have owned and played dreads that cost 3 to 6 times more .Yes.and they were good dreads ,but I am amazed how Greg Rich , Team Carolina ,and Johnson , can do this at this cost.I am glad they do and I thank them for making instruments of this quality at their good prices.I would feel good playing this guitar on stage or anywhere else.Play one, and compare. priorities to me are sound,tone,woods and marerials used,craftmanship,performance,quality,price,and warranty.Cosmetic and/or things I can change with minimal cost if whatever it is bugs me is the latter things that influence my decision. This instrument lists for around 800.00 , average street price is around 650.00 |
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Playability |
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IT PLAYS great,frets are good,feels kind of loose and easy to note,plays well up the neck too.This instrument can make a statement even when played next to a D16 gt and D1,both cost much more,only limitations are my abilities.This dread makes you want to play it,and it sounds good too. |
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Quality |
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It is powerful,has that sound you would want for Bluegrass.It notes easy for a dread ,the v neck i like too.The bone nut and compensated saddle i think enhances the sustain.You need to play one. |
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Durability |
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Carolina Series II
Style: Dreadnaught
Top: Solid Spruce,
Englemann
Back & Sides: Solid Rosewood
Neck: 1-Piece Mahogany
Finish: Glossy
Rosette: B/W Vintage
Fretboard: Rosewood
Fretboard Inlay: Snowflake
Frets: Nickel, 20
Tuners: Butterbean
Bridge: Rosewood
Pickguard: Tortoise
Truss Rod Yes
Strings: Martin
Nut, Width: Bone, 1-11/16"
Scale Length: 25-3/8"
Depth: 5"
Upper Bout: 11.75"
Lower Bout: 15.5"
Body Length: 20"
Total Length: 40.75"
This guitar has a limited lifetime warranty.They way it is put together , the feel ,and the look ,of a much costlier dread. |
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Overall |
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I expected this guitar to be fairly good,too many good reviews,just not enough quality pics or sound clips avaiiable on this jd27.Other than the pickguard being the way it is and the tuner bases not being perfectly straight,I am well pleased.It actually sounds and plays better than I thought it would, right out of the box.In the future I am going to buy a couple more different models of Johnson guitars ,One for my son to start on ,and one for my stepson. |
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