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11-03-2009, 04:27 PM
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Aaron Andrews - Eclipse-F Model
Eclipse-F from Aaron Andrews   Another exceptional handbuilt acoustic guitar from luthier Aaron Andrews, this model is crafted with a bearclaw sitka spruce top and cocobolo back and sides. The top is carved with a slight arch, as is the back. The oval soundhole is beautifully bound with cocobolo, and the body of the guitar is trimmed in highly figured maple and multi-ply purfling. The 3-piece maple/mahogany neck is joined to the body just above the 14th fret, and a subtle Venetian cutaway adds to the visual appeal while giving some access to upper frets on the treble side. The rosewood fretboard is very minimally adorned with mother of pearl diamonds and rosewood center dots. A thin maple strip is visible just below the fretboard. The figured maple stripe at the back of the neck starts with a maple heel cap, traveling up the neck and opening to a flamed maple headstock backstrap at the top. The joints of the pieces of maple are practically invisible. The headstock is covered with a lovely rosewood overlay and fitted with Grover open tuners which seem tight and precise. Inside it's apparent that Aaron has employed his own bracing design, with the back bearing an X-brace pattern similar to a guitar top. This guitar is also fitted with a passive pickup system (K&K or B-Band... I'm not sure which). Bone nut, saddle, and bridge pins are the final premium appointments to this beautiful work of art. It came packaged in a quality Guardian case with humidistat.   Sound-wise, this guitar has a sweet tone with excellent projection and good string-to-string consistency. What I like most about this guitar is its ability to pickup and convey the subtleties of your playing, without compression. The quality and beauty of the sound does not diminish or change radically between louder and softer passages in the music. The guitar handles and projects dramatic sound changes without overdriving or compressing the music. It's really the perfect instrument to record soft/subtle passages of music... AND it handles strumming and flatpicking with ease. As a matter of fact, the first thing I noticed about this guitar when it arrived was how much air emanates its small oval soundhole. You can actual feel air pulsing from the soundhole as you play hard. The guitar is producing an incredible amount of energy, and this is no accident. This guitar has been hand-tuned and dialed in by its creator until it was just *right*!    JR 
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