The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 10-04-2009, 01:56 AM
btdvox's Avatar
btdvox btdvox is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 638
Default 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!

__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-04-2009, 01:58 AM
btdvox's Avatar
btdvox btdvox is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 638
Default

Just a few more Pics:




__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-04-2009, 02:16 AM
Fliss Fliss is offline
happiness
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: England
Posts: 6,252
Default

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
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-04-2009, 03:14 AM
btdvox's Avatar
btdvox btdvox is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 638
Default

Thanks! Everyone should definitely checkout the first youtube video of Don Alder playing.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-04-2009, 03:36 AM
hnuuhiwa hnuuhiwa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 1,870
Default

Fantastic Partho!
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-04-2009, 04:15 AM
Wolf Wolf is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 333
Default

It both looks good and sounds good!! Lucky You!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-04-2009, 05:34 AM
Kitchen Guitars's Avatar
Kitchen Guitars Kitchen Guitars is offline
Formerly Yamaha Junkie
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South West Pennsylvania
Posts: 7,930
Default

Wow. Thats a stunner!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-05-2009, 12:42 AM
btdvox's Avatar
btdvox btdvox is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 638
Default

Thanks Wish I had time to post a video of me playing it through the K&K it sounds really good live too.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-05-2009, 07:57 AM
tpp tpp is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: MD
Posts: 1,274
Default

Beautiful koa, it turned out very nicely! Enjoy!
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-05-2009, 09:30 AM
blue-wily-fox blue-wily-fox is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Francisco / Bay Area
Posts: 1,007
Default OM-my.....

OM-my.....very nice....and great sounding sound bytes.....congradulations
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-05-2009, 09:36 AM
Ted @ LA Guitar Sales Ted @ LA Guitar Sales is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 12,231
Default

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
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-05-2009, 09:52 AM
walkin_man walkin_man is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Gainesville, VA
Posts: 1,926
Default

Stunning! A true work of art in both looks and sound.
__________________
2006 Taylor W14CE
2014 Taylor GS Mini Koa

The Desert Wind - Patrick's Flight
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-05-2009, 11:11 AM
FGBR FGBR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 149
Default

- Beautiful guitar!
__________________
Collings Baby
Collings 01
Bourgeois OMC
Martin 00L-17
Martin D-18
Gibson L-00
Gibson J-45
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-05-2009, 12:59 PM
Thin Crust's Avatar
Thin Crust Thin Crust is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mesquite, NV
Posts: 3,404
Default

Para-who? Seriously, quite tasty.

Quote:
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.
I used to own that guitar as well............ole' #116. In fact, I wrote the Harmony Central review that you have quoted on your site. And you're right, it's a fine, fine guitar, and about as nice of a maple set as you'll ever see.
__________________
John

Petros, Paragon, National, Martin, Rainsong, and Santa Cruz
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-05-2009, 01:17 PM
riorider's Avatar
riorider riorider is offline
*mahoganut*
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Central Rural Oklahoma, off old Route 66
Posts: 7,112
Default

That's a delicious looking guitar! Congrats!!!

rr/Phil
__________________

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
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=