I'm looking at the maple-bodied C-09 on ebay this week. I used to own a great mid-90s OM-09 (s/n 12xxx) in EIR. I liked the sweetness of the sound but found it didn't project very well.
I'm attracted to this one because of the L body depth and the cutaway, and the sparkle in the highs of a good maple guitar. But I'm concerned that the sound may be lacking in depth. I play fingerstyle, mostly a mix of ragtime, Nashville and Celtic, and fingerpick behind a bunch of Texas folk songs (Lovett, Clark, van Zandt).
I'd much appreciate comments from members who have owned/played this model.
I've got a maple J-09 and parlor and I've played a L maple from that "vintage". I have not played the C-09 maple, but that's just a L with a florentine cutaway....
I think the maple projects very well. It's clear, focused and direct with lots of sparkle. Maple doesn't color the sound much and keeps things simple. Have you played any other maple guitars? I feel most folks would agree that maple makes a great sounding instrument but they're not for everybody. If you do like other maple guitars Larrivee makes a great one, and being an older one it will likely sound full and open. The style of music you play would work well with the maple C-09 IMHO. It's a very versatile guitar and has to be a beauty! Let us know if you buy it and fill us in on what you think.
Justin
If you feel it's lacking, what else do you need to know?
I don't know that it's lacking, I've never heard it. I am considering this one because I have heard several L bodies and found them consistently richer in tone than my OM was. So applying that logic, the body shape may combine with the maple to give a sound that would work well for me, especially miked or amplified.
I went to eBay to check it out. Unfortunately, it appears that he took almost $1K from the last guy and never sent the guitar. I might be a little wary at this point. If anything, make sure you pay with a credit card or pick up the guitar in person.
Just to be fair, the seller only has 11 feedbacks. The buyer of the last guitar registered in Dec 2007, racked up 65 feedbacks, and is no longer a registered user. He very well could have bid on the auction, not paid, left a negative, and closed his account before the seller had a chance to leave any feedback.
Who knows? I guess that is the chance you take. I like to thing the best of people, but when it is an iffy proposition for this amount of money I tend to shy away.
Anyone in Brooklyn, NY that could take a look at it, or maybe pick it up and ship it for Bob? That might be the best insurance.
Quote from: BobN on March 28, 2008, 08:35:23 PM
I don't know that it's lacking, I've never heard it.
I'm sorry, I misread the post.
Dale, thanks for the heads-up. I ran Ebay Negs (Firefox add-on) and don't like the feedback. I've emailed the seller with a few questions. The seller doesn't say anything about the guitar's condition in the ad. I'd need to see it in the flesh before closing a deal. We'll see.
If anyone is in the Brooklyn area and wants to look that guitar over, I'd be much obliged.