N(O)GD

[SJ VanSandt]

I pulled the trigger on this today - my first vintage (kinda sorta) guitar. A continuation of my search for a guitar that sounds good tuned down a whole step. Here's the web site info. https://staygoldguitars.com/products...bedf15fc&_ss=r

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Wow! If that sounds half as good as it looks you got something!

[SJ VanSandt]

What makes me think it will sound good tuned down to D? 26 1/2" scale length. Sean, the owner, always tunes his long scale Stellas down a whole step. Strung with 11s!

[SJ VanSandt]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Bob

Wow! If that sounds half as good as it looks you got something!

Thanks, Bob. I think they did a really nice job on that new top - it certainly doesn't look like it came off an assembly line yesterday. I'll post about the sound, as soon as I know something!

[sedandelivery]

Wow! That thing is killer! I love the minimal rosette. Long scale is also super cool.

Also...how am I just finding out about this site now?? This shop is the stuff of dreams.

[SJ VanSandt]

Originally Posted by sedandelivery

Wow! That thing is killer! I love the minimal rosette. Long scale is also super cool.

Also...how am I just finding out about this site now?? This shop is the stuff of dreams.

The owner told me he had only been in business for a year or so: the pandemic threw a monkey wrench into his original business plans.

[pagedr]

Stay Gold consistently has some of the best inventory of any guitar shop out there, and Sean is a really great guy. That Stella looks like a good one, hope it's what you're looking for!

[nacluth]

Nice axe Stan! Shawn is a great guy, and we’re glad that he is a dealer of our instruments. He has very quickly built up one of the most impressive guitar stores in the country. I can’t wait get to Sante Fe to visit in person. But it is a fun website.

That 26.5” scale should be perfect for some tuned down magic.

[KevinH]

Wow, very nice. The understated elegance is really appealing. Much like a Waterloo WL-k - and a Stella of course.

[CopyCat]

That looks sweet! Looking forward to the update

[SJ VanSandt]

[SJ VanSandt]

I've only spent an hour or two on it so far, but the first impressions are:

1. Considering the 26.5" scale length and the 1 7/8" nut width, it's way easier to play than I imagined. In fact, I hardly noticed it. It also has a baseball bat depth and a substantial V on the neck, but that hasn't created a problem either, so far.

2. I've been strumming songs in the keys of G and C and it sounds fine strummed, to my ears. I was worried that any guitar tuned down a whole step (D to D) would sound muddy strumming open chords, but this doesn't seem to be the case here.

3. It was shipped with 11s (extra light), and the owner told me that he usually tunes these long-scale Stellas down to D and strings them with 11s. He said he thinks 12s would work fine but would hesitate to string it with mediums, even tuned down a whole step. Since I'm finding the unwound strings to be a little slack and buzzy, I'll probably replace them with a 12 and a 16 tomorrow and see if that helps. I like the sound of the wound strings fine so I think I'll leave them for now.

4. Overall, the sound is lovely. Not very dry, to my ear, but with good string to string separation and clarity. Fairly loud too. I'll share more as I get to know it better.

[jricc]

That is one very cool guitar! Congrats and all the best.

[SJ VanSandt]

Originally Posted by jricc

That is one very cool guitar! Congrats and all the best.

Thanks Joe! Where are you on the Jersey Shore? I spent a summer in Stone Harbor when I was a kid, many decades ago. Always wanted to go back, but haven't yet.

[zombywoof]

Cool & Congrats! The Stella Grand Concerts are not all that easy to come by re-topped or not. I own an Oscar Schmidt-made Galiano jumbo which also has a 26.5" scale. And yeah, I keep it tuned down. But I do that with all of my old guitars with no neck re-enforcement. I just sleep better at night.