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Paragon Grand OM "The Om" Review - All Koa Guitar (Pics and Videos within)
Hi everyone,
I've been meaning to do this for quite awhile now but never got the time to write it up until now! I picked this guitar up from Rob about 2 months ago and couldn't stop playing the guitar until I had to leave Vancouver for vacation. Well a 3 month vacation! But I finally got some spare time to write this up! I first got in touch with Rob Bustos (Paragon) through an AGF member, due to the member wanting to give his wait position away! I quickly grabbed the chance and started to create a new guitar with Rob ASAP. The Guitar was created in about 4-5 months and I have been SUPER happy with every sequence. Rob Bustos is first of all a stand up guy all around, because I live about 30 minutes away from his Factory I was in contact with him throughout and met up quite a few times. Rob let me have a say in quite a few things but in the end I wanted him to put as much input to the guitar and I am very glad I did. SPECS: -Grand OM Body -Some of the best Koa wood I have ever seen! -Brazilian Rosewood Accents (Binding, Bevel, End Graft, heelcap, Headplate etc) -Maple Purfling -Matched Koa Rosette -Bevel -Soundport -"Om" Inlay in Koa -Heelcap Inlay/Headplate Inlay -Bound Neck/Fretboard -Bone Nut/Pins -K&K Trinity (Awesome P/U) SOUND: The guitar's sound is very different from any other Koa guitar I have played. The guitar as the perfect amount of crisp to it and tonally it's attack is perfect. It is never harsh or brittle and has a nice warmth to it that doesn't get lost. I think the string to string separation is really what I notice most about the guitar. I was going to make a video especially for this review but didn't have the time. Thankfully I have two videos one of great quality and the other not so much. But both by a much better player than myself, Don Alder. I'm sure you'll all be happy to even watch the guitar as Don is an AMAZING player. These videos were taken at the Montreal Guitar Fest, if you went this year you probably saw this guitar. Here are the two video links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ep2xCzJGso http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdQjLtRpEb8 PLAYABILITY: I'll just quickly talk about a few aspects that really stand out when playing this guitar. First off the neck has been hand rubbed satin and feels amazing. It's definitely improved my playing and that I am grateful for. I am use to gloss necks but I think I will be staying with satin for the neck for the future. Secondly the Fretboard width is a bit larger than the standard 1 and 3/4. I believe it is 1 and 13/16 but it gives me much more space and is a definite must for those who feel cramped when playing on smaller guitars. The last thing I'll state is that Intonation is spot on and the action on the guitar is perfect for me (to change from Standard to DADGAD and some alternate tunings) as I get no string buzzing whatsoever. FIT/FINISH: First off I have posted a pic of the Neck Join on this guitar. It is probably the best I have seen on a guitar , pretty much seamless. The Finish on the guitar is very nice, it is UV Poly I believe and gives the Koa a real shimmer. There are various beautiful subtle nuances to the guitar like the purfling lining up with the heelcap. The Back Head Veneer being outlined in maple and the bridge pins and nut have been "colored" to give it a nice aged look. bridge/pins etc There is alot more but I won't dwell on the details! LOOKS: Now looks... Well it's probably easier just to post some pictures! Check out the Neck Join and the Purfling lining up with the Heelcap. I love subtle nuances!
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My Acoustics: - Paragon Grand "OM" - All Koa with Brazilian Rosewood Bevel/Binding and Maple accents - Cornerstone Zion - German Spruce/Sinker Redwood Double Top with Madagascar Rosewood B/S and Koa Bevel/Binding Incoming: - MichaudMade OM-R Flamed Brazillian R/W & Euro Spruce |
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Just a few more Pics:
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My Acoustics: - Paragon Grand "OM" - All Koa with Brazilian Rosewood Bevel/Binding and Maple accents - Cornerstone Zion - German Spruce/Sinker Redwood Double Top with Madagascar Rosewood B/S and Koa Bevel/Binding Incoming: - MichaudMade OM-R Flamed Brazillian R/W & Euro Spruce |
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Wow, congratulations! That looks absolutely stunning, I love all the little details, and it sounds as though it's the perfect fit for you.
Fliss |
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Thanks! Everyone should definitely checkout the first youtube video of Don Alder playing.
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My Acoustics: - Paragon Grand "OM" - All Koa with Brazilian Rosewood Bevel/Binding and Maple accents - Cornerstone Zion - German Spruce/Sinker Redwood Double Top with Madagascar Rosewood B/S and Koa Bevel/Binding Incoming: - MichaudMade OM-R Flamed Brazillian R/W & Euro Spruce |
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Fantastic Partho!
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Andrew White Production: Cybelle 112 Rosewood/Sitka Andrew White Production: Cybele 312C Crossover Rosewood/Red Cedar Clark: A-Wedge Koa/Snkr Rdwd 12-str Clark: A-Wedge Monkeypod/Snkr Rdwd Cornerstone: Zion All Koa Cornerstone: Tenor Ukulele Prototype #2 All Koa Fay: OM Mac Eb/Englemann Stehr: Aud. Braz/Snkr Rdwd 8-str Plaid Coyote's gone home to play |
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It both looks good and sounds good!! Lucky You!
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Wow. Thats a stunner!
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Thanks Wish I had time to post a video of me playing it through the K&K it sounds really good live too.
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My Acoustics: - Paragon Grand "OM" - All Koa with Brazilian Rosewood Bevel/Binding and Maple accents - Cornerstone Zion - German Spruce/Sinker Redwood Double Top with Madagascar Rosewood B/S and Koa Bevel/Binding Incoming: - MichaudMade OM-R Flamed Brazillian R/W & Euro Spruce |
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Beautiful koa, it turned out very nicely! Enjoy!
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2009 Cornerstone SJ: MdRw/Adirondack Spruce 2000 Taylor 510 w/2005 ES retrofit: Mahogany/Engelmann Spruce 2013 Gretsch G5420T: All stock 1991 Fender American Std. Stratocaster: Keystone single coils and updated controls/wiring |
#10
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OM-my.....
OM-my.....very nice....and great sounding sound bytes.....congradulations
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Gorgeous guitar, congratulations.
I own an early Paragon from the time when Mark Vanta built and "voiced" the bodies and to this day after playing hundreds of guitars I have yet to find a more "perfect" acoustic. Ted |
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Stunning! A true work of art in both looks and sound.
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- Beautiful guitar!
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Collings Baby Collings 01 Bourgeois OMC Martin 00L-17 Martin D-18 Gibson L-00 Gibson J-45 |
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Para-who? Seriously, quite tasty.
Quote:
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John Petros, Paragon, National, Martin, Rainsong, and Santa Cruz |
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That's a delicious looking guitar! Congrats!!!
rr/Phil
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Paragon RW/Macassar Ebony Baritone Rainsong S OM1100-N2 Woolson LS RW/30s African mahogany LG 12 Baranik LS RW/"tree" mahogany OO Baranik Blue Spruce/"tree" mahogany OM Boswell RW/koa OO Baranik Retreux Parlour Adi/Pumaquiro Baranik Blue Spruce/Coco Meridian "Geo" Baranik Blue Spruce/Kingwood OO Woolson T13 RW/Walnut SIG |