NGD - Artisan D45 Koa

[slowhand84]

Picked this one up because it was only $350 and the looks just blew me away...plus it came from Guitar Center so it was risk-free. Hardly any real reviews out there so figured I'd share my thoughts. Obviously an import, and it seems several brands have guitars like this likely all made in the same factory.

Solid flame koa top, flame koa laminate back and sides, ebony fretboard, a B Band preamp, and obviously some pretty wild inlay work all over. Nice volute too, no headstocks breakin' here!

Judging purely on tone and playability, I would say it compares to what I'm used to from other brands in the $800ish range. I have a nearly $3K Takamine EF450C and this Artisan admittedly does not compare with that...but of course the Tak is nearly 10X the price.

On to the looks...really just stunning. Gorgeous woods, the bracing inside looks super clean, and the inlay is incredible. Its so beautiful that even if it was unplayable I would probably be happy to just hang it on the wall as a decorative piece. Glad it didn't come to that though!

Anyway, on to the pics...will try to get some less crappy photos tomorrow. Click on em for full res, for some reason they show up a bit blurry until you do.

[mickey]

Congrats! Sorta reminds me of the old Agile EP-1. Except for being koa.

[Tonray's Ghost]

My British friends from London would refer to that as a 'litt-el bling bling there mate"

[slowhand84]

Congrats! Sorta reminds me of the old Agile EP-1. Except for being koa.

Just looked it up, I can see what you mean! And thanks, really loving this one. With these looks at this price point I honestly expected a wall hanger but its pretty awesome...especially liking it for fingerpicking.

[mickey]

The Agile EP-1 was an extremely pretty wall hanger. I flipped mine as quickly as I could.
But I may be a bad judge because I kept doing A-B comparos between it & my D-28.

[slowhand84]

The Agile EP-1 was an extremely pretty wall hanger. I flipped mine as quickly as I could.
But I may be a bad judge because I kept doing A-B comparos between it & my D-28.

Yeah, I had an Agile acoustic as well and it wasn't super impressive...certainly not as impressive as their electrics.

As I mentioned I feel this Artisan is on par with acoustics I've played at more than double the price I paid, so its pretty killer. My Tak is certainly a better sounding instrument (but again, $3,000), and I definitely wouldn't compare this Artisan to a Martin D45 since I imagine a D45 this ornate would probably be like $20,000

[slowhand84]

My British friends from London would refer to that as a 'litt-el bling bling there mate"

I would too! Somehow it’s “just enough” for me rather than way too much.

[LancerTheGreat]

Dude! Congrats! I flippin' LOVE Koa, and that is a very nice representation as to why.

[slowhand84]

Dude! Congrats! I flippin' LOVE Koa, and that is a very nice representation as to why.

Thanks! I love it too, this is my 3rd koa guitar (the all flame koa Warmoth in my avatar and my Carvin CL450 being the other two). Seems to be getting tougher to find really nice koa these days, at least at reasonable prices. If I recall correctly they can’t legally cut the trees down…it has to be harvested from trees that have fallen naturally.

[JeffBeck]

Some people are a bit put off by elaborate inlays - but not me! That’s truly beautiful. That top really holds its own against the inlays. Beautiful all the way around. You’ve got a stunner there. HNGD!

[slowhand84]

Some people are a bit put off by elaborate inlays - but not me! That’s truly beautiful. That top really holds its own against the inlays. Beautiful all the way around. You’ve got a stunner there. HNGD!

Thanks! The best part is it’s actually a really nice instrument too. Usually in my experience the import super fancy looking stuff is more wall hanger material but not the case here .