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The H&D 00-SP is a 6-string, 12-fret, short scale, 00 size Sitka and rosewood guitar with a slotted headstock and what I consider a uniquely noticeable radiused soundboard. For a complete physical description of the guitar, including dimensions, materials, and construction techniques see the Huss & Dalton website or call Gayl Swinehart at Betterbilt.
I’m basically a folk dreadnought player learning finger picking and I had little experience with, or knowledge of, 00 body styles. When I seriously took up finger picking it didn’t take long before I knew that I needed a more comfortable type of guitar to practice on: one that didn’t have the long crowded neck, bulk, length, or string tension of a full 14-fret dread. I was fortunate enough to play several different good instruments including Martins 00-18, 00-21, 00-28VS, a Santa Cruz 12-fret 00, a Froggy Bottom 12-fret parlor (00), and a Larrivée 00-50. At a festival in upstate New Hampshire I finally got a chance to play an H&D, (I’d never even seen one before) specifically an 00-SP Custom with Sitka/rosewood, and I knew that would be it for me. It was several years old I believe but what I remember most was the broad sound, playability, and the fact that the sound hole was all chewed up from finger picks – that was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Obviously, this guitar was played – a lot. I wanted to use this for mostly folk, traditional, and some old-time music but mainly to help my learning process in finger picking.
The fit and finish of H&D is pretty well known, and the bindings, finish, fret-work, and head stock are impeccable. Oddly enough, it’s small – but then again it’s not. The projection and volume from this guitar is surprising, even after reading the reviews from other owners. The set-up, right out of the box as I received it, was perfect for me – and the light gauge strings that are recommend for this guitar were very familiar and comfortable. One alteration I may try someday is silk and steel strings for even less string tension. The first thing I noticed was the saddle to soundboard relationship – the saddle appeared high exposing a lot of material, but the action on the neck was razor close. I know very little about guitar making, but I’m sure this has some meaningful relationship with the very noticeable radiused soundboard and the projection volume. The 1-7/8 fretboard is also perfect for me and offers lots of room for my big fingers to move around. I can’t say enough how comfortable the neck is. The switch from 1-3/4 to 1-7/8 was noticeable but seemed to eventually relax my left hand. I had read in online forums, and from the websites of other high-end guitar sellers, where several of these models have been “revoiced” with adi soundboards and “shaved” bracing in an attempt to “make the sustain more even across the neck and up the fredboard”. I have yet to find any noticeable dead spots – at least with fingerpicks and a moderately aggressive attack. Although, tone wise, while playing virtually any finger picking piece the guitar’s tone does seem to pull me personally toward the lower end of it’s bandwidth. For my taste – that works fine. To my ears so far, the sound feels even and balanced across the strings in a standard or drop-D tuning, up to the 10th fret anyway – I normally don’t use much above that. The night I got this guitar I stayed up for hours playing it – it was exactly what I had hoped it would be. I know it will help me spend more time practicing.
Without a doubt this is the easiest guitar to play, and the most responsive to volume and voice alterations, that I’ve ever owned. The highs and lows are both great to my ears. It can be crashing loud, it can easily be made to bark, or be as smooth and quiet as a church mouse - all with very little effort. The guitar comes with what I can definitely tell you is a very durable case. I’m looking forward to playing this guitar for many years to come.
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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