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#1
08-15-2009, 07:39 AM
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Faith Signature 000 - PJE Limited Edition - Review & pics
Only 10 of these Patrick James Eggle Limited Edition Faith 000 models were made. And they became available to the guitar buying public from July 2009. The guitar comes with a 'Faith' logo, Hiscox, ABS, light flight case.
This is a 12 fretter, which gives a shorter, stiffer neck, that apparently sends more energy through the bridge, rather than through the neck, itself. The 12th fret join allows for a longer body too, which produces a stronger, fuller tone. Loosely based on the Martin 000-28VS and designed by Mr Eggle himself, this 000 was handmade in the Czech Republic. The specs are as follows: Top Wood - Solid AAA-Grade Sitka Spruce Back Wood - Solid AAA-Grade Indian Rosewood Side Wood - Solid AAA-Grade Indian Rosewood Binding - Selected Solid Koa Bracing - Spruce (Piano Grade) Rosette - Paua-Shell Abalone Neck - Solid Mahogany Neck Finish - Satin Neck Joint - Bolt on at 12th Fret Fingerboard - Ebony Fingerboard Radius - 310mm – 12.2 inches Fingerboard Inlays - M.o.P. 'F', at the 12th Fret, only Fret Qty. - 17 Machine Heads - Gotoh SEP 700 06MN Truss Rod - with Carbon Reinforcement Nut/Saddle - TUSQ / TUSQ Nut Width - 45 mm – 1.77 inches Bridge - Ebony Bridge Pins - Ebony with MOP Dot Strings - Elixir PB Nanoweb 12-53 Finish Type - AC Lacquer Body / Satin Neck Case - 'Faith' HIscox UK Hard Case Upper Bout - 275mm – 10.8 inches Waist - 224mm – 8.82 inches Lower Bout - 384mm – 15.1 inches Depth - 80mm – 3.15 inches (front) – 104mm – 4.1 inches (rear) Scale Length - 654mm – 25.7 inches Body Length - 521mm – 20.5 inches  Not being that well versed in all the shapes and sizes, originated by the Martin company, when I first set eyes on this guitar, I thought it must be a 00 model. I thought 000s were similar to OMs. Wrong! On closer inspection, I realised the body size is a fair bit larger than the 00s I had seen/played. This however is a vintage styled, slot-head 000. And a very cool one, at that. I’ve been a fan of the usual, low-mid priced Faiths, for some years now, having owned three of them. But these Signature models are a very different breed. The level of finishing and material quality, which was already very good on the standard models, has taken a number of steps, upward. The spec may seem conventional, with the sitka spruce/Indian rosewood combo but these are both AAA grade and you can hear, feel and see the difference. Add to this, the koa binding, with sympathetic purfling and it all comes together to create a lovely guitar. When I first played all 3 of the Signature models, I was impressed by the all-round tone of the cutaway-OM but immediately gravitated toward the maple/spruce jumbo. Probably, because it was very much like my Northwood mini-jumbo. In some ways, by it’s looks but particularly, in it’s tone. The first time I played the 000, I thought, what a great fingerstyle guitar. It’s warmth and presence felt so smooth, with that style of playing. On my next visit, unplanned, I played the 000 with my plectrum. And wow! what a sound. It didn’t have the massive bottom end or expansive tone of the jumbo but it managed to be ringing and very warm, both at the same time. An intimate tone, that was still very vibrant, with plenty of volume. Far fuller than most of the 000s and OMs, I have played and owned, over the years. This 000 is slightly more controlled somehow, than both my Northwoods, yet to my surprise, it not only finger and flat picked a treat, it also strummed out chords wonderfully. When I got this guitar home, I realised I had made the novice’s error of not checking the guitar was tuned to concert pitch, in the shop. Which I always do, normally. I realised I’d been testing it, tuned down a semi-tone. Alarm bells rang. It had been many years since I’d made that mistake. It may sound like an over reaction but years ago, when I played low-end stuff, I’d been caught out, once or twice by guitars than sounded and felt great, tuned down a fret or 2, but things went horribly wrong, in concert pitch. But thanks goodness, brought up to pitch, with only the tiniest increase in string tension, everything sounded and played as it had. Phew! I have had 12-fretters before and rather appreciate the tonal benefits they bring. But there is no doubt that that 2 fret difference in neck length, from the body to the nut, can feel slightly constricting, when you’ve not played one, for a while. Having said that, adjustment doesn’t take long at all, and in all my songs, I think I only go above the 12th fret in one of them. And I’d already found a very workable, alternative chord, when I owned a, now much missed, Stanford RD5 Vin.  Cosmetically, there is a slight shade difference, between the 2 sides of the rather lovely, golden coloured soundboard. But the only thing I don’t actually like cosmetically, is the Patrick James Eggle signature on the headstock. It’s not overly large but it’s just not necessary, as he’s already signed it on the internal label and to my view just the Faith “f” logo is all that was required. On the internal label, it states that my guitar is number 4 from 10. Which is nice. I can’t help thinking though that Mr Eggle may think twice about making any more signature models. Because to my mind, they at least match the equivalent models in his own range, but at less of a financial outlay. But it has to be said that the combination of Faith, Eggle and that mysterious, Czech guitar company, has produced a top value, top quality guitar. To my ears, some guitars one buys, sound a certain wa, in the shop but sound very differently, back home. Not this one though. It’s tone is quite individual. It almost has the warmth and body of a classical guitar, yet with the sparkle you get from steel strings. To my eyes, it has a really classic look. With the slightly elongated body, golden spruce top, closely grained rosewood B & S and gorgeous koa binding, it really is a winner. For those of you who remember my review of my Northwood dread, I was glad to be down to 2 guitars with very similar necks. Well, GAS got the better of me. But so far, the new kid on the block is fitting in very nicely. Not needing much re-adjustment, when swapping back and forth and providing me with a really different tone from my other 2 guitars.  
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http://www.myspace.com/gjpike Last edited by grayn; 08-15-2009 at 10:55 PM. 
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#4
08-17-2009, 02:02 PM
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Quote:
The more i play this guitar, the more I like it. It's kind of muscling out my other guitars, at the moment. Well, it is the newbie. 
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http://www.myspace.com/gjpike
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#6
08-18-2009, 12:33 AM
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Quote:
Although a good strummer, the Faith can't quite compete with the 2 Northwoods, in that department. I have noticed however, that on some of my flashier, flatpicked intros, the Faith does sound a little sweeter, than the others. I'm particularly enjoying the way the guitar feels, to play. There is a lttle more tension in the strings but this seems to add to the solidity of the sound and playability.
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http://www.myspace.com/gjpike
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#8
08-18-2009, 11:57 AM
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Quote:
I have been really impressed with their standard models as well as the Signature models. I've also recently played a "Carolina" model. These extremely limited issue models are hand built, in the USA by Patrick Eggle himself. The model I tried, was a "Neptune", a small-jumbo/OM type guitar. What a beauty, with a lovely tone. Mind you, they don't come cheap.
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http://www.myspace.com/gjpike
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