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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2 3 4 5   |
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| Solid spruce and curly maple 12-string - General Guitar - Guitar - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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Will Approved 
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Music123.com had an unannounced sale on their Chinese-made line of Fullerton acoustic guitars. One of the guitars that I had my eye on was the Fullerton Kingwood Jumbo 12-string that sold for $299. Just a few days ago, I checked on-line and it was discounted to an unbelievable $149. I ordered it immediately and it arrived in the mail in just 1 day. It was a much better instrument than I expected. It looks great and sounds fantastic. The workmanship is excellent, with a solid spruce top, beautiful curly maple back and sides, gloss finish, full binding, abalone rosette, Guild-style abalone-on-pearl inlaid fretboard markers, gold-plated sealed tuners, and very low string action. In fact, the action was a bit too low when I used a capo and to eliminate fret buzz, I had to shim up the bridge saddle a bit (first time I've ever had to raise the action of a new guitar rather than lower it). It plays nearly as easily as a 6-string. It is the loudest guitar I've ever played (louder than the 6-string Gibson SJ200 I onced tried out at a guitar store - of course, this is a 12-string.) The tone is deep and resonant, even when played bare-fingered without a pick. Unlike many 12-strings that I've tried, this one has a good deep bass to go with clear highs which really project due to the maple body. Like many 12-strings, it's a bit neck-heavy and you need to install a strap button on the heel of the neck. At this price, these Fullerton Kingwood 12-strings are probably going to sell out fast. Last edited on Fri Mar 16th, 2007 01:46 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Philj200 Approved 
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What a deal! I can't believe they can make, trans-Pacific ship and retail an instrument with materials like that as a give-away price. Play it long and in good health.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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Will Approved
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Thanks, Phil. The 12-string arrived in 1 day, and Music123 didn't even charge me for shipping! That jumbo sure sounds sweet, and I'm going to enjoy playing it for years. I can't believe I own a Guild copy for the price of a starter guitar. Last edited on Sun Feb 25th, 2007 03:30 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Will Approved
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Philj200 wrote: What a deal! I can't believe they can make, trans-Pacific ship and retail an instrument with materials like that as a give-away price. Play it long and in good health. After some sleuthing, I've discovered that Music123 is being purchased by their arch-rival, Musicians' Friend. So, these one-time deals are going to be limited to existing inventory, most likely: http://www.guitarnoise.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=269385&sid=78edc19e8f2c10729accecbc4709b11b
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Charlie Approved 
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Wow, That is a great buy and I don't even play a guitar It is tempting to buy one and just put it up and look at it, but I want do that as some one else that plays one might miss out. Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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ericb73 Approved 
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hey,i just bought probably the last one of these off of music123 last friday. i can't wait until it gets here. i would appreciate any advice on setup or maintenance of this guitar. thanks!
____________________ proud owner of: Washburn WD32SW Fullerton Kingwood Jumbo 12 string Washburn HB-30 |
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Will Approved
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ericb73 wrote: hey,i just bought probably the last one of these off of music123 last friday. i can't wait until it gets here. i would appreciate any advice on setup or maintenance of this guitar. thanks! Congratulations on your purchase. The Fullerton Kingwood 12-strings are now sold out. I was so impressed with mine after I did my own set-up that I ordered the 6-string Kingwood and the Cumberland spruce & mahogany jumbo 12-string. In my experience, the tone, materials and workmanship on these Chinese-made guitars is quite good, and they are a steal for the purchase price paid. These guitars do require a bit of minor tweaking to make them playable, but then, nearly all of my guitars, including much more expensive guitars such as the Martin, Blueridge, Seagull, etc., have required the same or more amount of tweaking and set-up. My only guitar that has played great right out of the box without any tweaking or set-up was my Guild 12-string. If your Fullerton guitar arrives in good condition as mine did, you might note after tuning up the strings, that the string action is quite low. If that is the case, you will get string buzz if you strum moderately hard with a pick, and you will need to loosen the strings and then raise the bridge saddle by shimming it up with a thin layer of hard material; typically, I use 2 pieces of old guitar string (the E bass string). After raising the saddle, I tested the string action by playing first position chords to see how hard they are to fret, then I test the string height down the neck with the guitar capoed at the 5th and 7th fret and strumming the strings with a pick. If the strings chord easily and don't buzz with a capo on, then, I consider the set-up to be satisfactory. The neck is pretty straight, at least on on my Kingwood 12-string, so don't use the included truss rod wrench until after first adjusting the bridge saddle. Turning the wrench clockwise tightens the truss rod and straightens the neck; counterclockwise loosens the neck and allows it to bow slightly under the pull of the strings. If setting up the guitar yourself seems a bit intimidating, you can always take your guitar down to a local shop for a professional set-up. A reputable shop should be able to adjust the string action without charging you more than $20-$30. Good luck, and have fun with this guitar! Last edited on Wed Mar 7th, 2007 12:42 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Totoro Approved
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I heard that there are quality problems with some of these guitars. What are your experiences? Last edited on Thu Mar 8th, 2007 09:17 pm by Totoro |
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Will Approved
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The Kingwood jumbo 12-strings are sold out, but the Fullerton Cumberland jumbo 12-string (solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides) is still on sale for $149.99. The one I ordered is on its way... http://www.music123.com/Fullerton-Cumberland-12-string-----Acoustic-Guitar-(Closeout)-i732858.music 
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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ericb73 Approved
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Will- thanks for the info. it is greatly appreciated. i will let you know what condition the guitar is in when it arrives(hopefully soon!). this is my third guitar, my others are a washburn WD32SW and a washburn HB-30 natural finish. both well made guitars for the money. thanks again!
____________________ proud owner of: Washburn WD32SW Fullerton Kingwood Jumbo 12 string Washburn HB-30 |
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Totoro Approved
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They are now all sold out of the Brigantine. Last edited on Wed Mar 14th, 2007 10:55 pm by Totoro |
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Will Approved
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Totoro wrote: I thought you guys might want to know that almost all the fullerton guitars are now $99 or less. I just purchased the brigantine all solid guitar with solid spruce top and solid mahogany side and back for $99! I bought the Brigantine dreadnought a week ago, when it was still $200! The Fullerton Kingwood solid spruce and curly maple jumbo 6-string is now reduced to $99.99 http://www.music123.com/Fullerton-Kingwood-Jumbo-----Acoustic-Guitar-(Closeout)-i732867.music and so is the Cumberland solid spruce and mahogany jumbo 12-string, which I'm picking up tonight: http://www.music123.com/Fullerton-Cumberland-12-string-----Acoustic-Guitar-(Closeout)-i732858.music Another really nice looking auditorium (000-size) guitar is the Fullerton Greenwich (solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, full abalone trim), now selling for $99.99 Except for the headstock, it looks like my Blueridge BR-73, which I bought from Music123 last summer: http://www.music123.com/Fullerton-Greenwich-Deluxe-Auditorium-guitar---Acoustic-Guitar-(Closeout)-i626085.music  There is even a resonator guitar on sale for $99.99: http://www.music123.com/Fullerton-Winslow-Resonator-Guitar-i599402.music 
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Totoro Approved
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I almost went for the auditorium when I saw it, but the solid back and sides are what swayed me to the Brig. I almost bought the Steelman last week, but I am glad I waited. This one looks like a much better deal. I just wanted something cheap to take out of the house and this looks like it will more than fit the bill. BTW: The Cumberland 12 string is in the $99 list too. Have you got your brig yet? You said you ordered it a week ago. How do you like it? Last edited on Fri Mar 9th, 2007 09:48 pm by Totoro |
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Totoro Approved
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Will wrote:
You should be able to get a refund for the difference. 2. 45 Day Low Price Guarantee We guarantee the lowest price - not only when you buy, but for 45 days after your purchase as well. If you find the identical item, in stock and advertised for less at any authorized U.S. dealer (auction web sites excluded), we will beat that price up to 45 days after shipment of your purchase. This guarantee does not apply to discontinued, special order, blemished, damaged, closeout, open box, refurbished items or auction items.
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Will Approved
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Totoro wrote: I almost went for the auditorium when I saw it, but the solid back and sides are what swayed me to the Brig. I almost bought the Steelman last week, but I am glad I waited. This one looks like a much better deal. I just wanted something cheap to take out of the house and this looks like it will more than fit the bill. As with the jumbo Fullertons (I now own 3 - a Kingwood 6-string, a Kingwood 12-string, and a Cumberland 12-string), the Fullerton Brigantine solid wood dreadnought required a bit of work to set it up for optimum playing comfort. Unlike the Kingwoods, which came with the action set a bit too low, the Brigantine needed a slight trim of 1/16" from the bottom of the compensated saddle to lower the string action. On my Brigantine, the fret wire edges were a bit sharp, so I applied masking tape to protect the binding of the the neck and I used sandpaper to round off the ends of the metal fret wires. The guitar now plays very well and has a nice full mellow tone. I prefer the deeper bass of a rosewood body guitar (got spoiled by my Martin and my Blueridge), but there's now a place in my collection for a spruce and mahogany 6-string. For a solid wood instrument, the Brigantine is far more guitar than $100 or even $200 can usually buy. One thing of note when comparing the Fullerton Greenwich 000 guitar with the Brigantine: the rosewood body, even a laminated one, gives Greenwich a nice deep bass; my Blueridge BR-73 has the same construction and I think it's the best sounding 6-string that I own. The Brigantine has nice abalone snowflake fret markers, but faux abalone trim around the rim of the guitar top and headstock. The Greenwich has real abalone trim. For $100, I would have bought a Greenwich, but I already have a Blueridge BR-73. There's even a chance that the same factory in southern China that makes the Blueridge also made the Fullerton Greenwich. I've received my Fullerton Cumberland 12-string, and like the Kingwood, it is a stunning instrument. The glossy finish of the mahogany really enhances the wood grain when it catches the light. I haven't needed to adjust the string action just yet. It has a really full sound; with a mahogany body, the tone is mellower and less bright and aggressive as the maple bodied Kingwood. And now I await the arrival of yet another $99.99 closeout, the Fullerton resonator guitar. Looking for a travel guitar? Music123 is selling a discontinued tobacco sunburst version of the Washburn Rover, complete with a case for $49.99! (Yeah, I bought that one, too.) http://www.music123.com/Washburn-Rover-Steel-String-Travel-Acoustic-Guitar-Tobacco-Sunburst-i387702.music 
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Will Approved
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Totoro wrote: Will wrote: The Brigantine and the Kingwood 6-string are both closeout items, so I guess a refund is probably not going to happen. I had no idea that the sale prices would continue to drop as they did. But, hey, those are great instruments for the price I paid.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Totoro Approved
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Will wrote:
I agree that Fullertons look like inexpensive versions of Blue Ridge guitars, including the brig. I didn't see anything in the description that would lead me to believe that the abalone on the Greenwich is different than the brig. Also, wouldn't it be a jump to assume it would sound like the Blueridge because it has the same tonewoods? Anyway, I got a shipping confirmation on the brig and it should be here by Wednesday. I also order the Rover. It will be nice to have something I can take on flights with me without having to put a full sized guitar into the luggage hold. 
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ericb73 Approved
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i just got my 12 string kingwood today. it looks, feels, and plays great. as will said, the action was a bit low with a lot of string buzz. i did a quick shim of the saddle and got rid of most of the buzz, but i did not adjust the truss rod as the neck looked just about right. i think i am going to purchase a bone saddle from bob colosi and then replace the bridge pins with some nice ebony/abalone dot bridge pins. all in all, well worth the 149 bucks. this thing sounds sweet.
____________________ proud owner of: Washburn WD32SW Fullerton Kingwood Jumbo 12 string Washburn HB-30 |
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Will Approved
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Totoro wrote: Will wrote: One clue about the abalone trim that I've noted is that the pickguard covers the faux abalone trim on the Brigantine dreadnought and the Cumberland jumbo 12-string. The Kingwood jumbos have real abalone inlay around the sound hole and the pickguard borders it, but does not cover it; the same pattern probably holds for the Greenwich auditorium guitar. Out of the 4 major factors for rating guitars: tone, playability, appearance, and cost, the 4 Fullertons that I've bought have passed all those criteria with flying colors. Given that track record, I'd expect the same to hold true for most of their other guitars. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Winslow resonator guitar sounds.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ | ||||||||||||||
