Crafter Guitars

[beandip]

The store I work at is a Crafter acoustic dealer. I'd never heard of them until a year ago when I stopped by the store to check out inventory. I've got an open mic night tomorrow, and my Seagull's preamp is crapping out, so I borrowed a Crafter Lite TE/SP. So far, I have to say I'm pretty impressed, especially for a guitar that lists for 539, and sell for a hair over 400 at MAP.

First off, it's a complete copy of Taylor's Grand Auditorium cutaway body style. Which, even though I'm a guy who's on the large side, I seem to prefer the smaller guitars unless it's a Martin. Who'd a thunk it.

Solid Sitka Spruce top, laminate mahogany back and sides. 3 piece mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, with some very very nice grain. Tusq nut and compensated saddle.

My acoustic impression is that it's not too bad. a little lacking in response and complexity, but it's not a bad guitar at all. Nice medium jumbo frets. Bound fretboard with black binding, same as around the body. My only quarrel with the body binding is that it's very sharp, not rounded off at all. Not very comfortable.

The plugged in sound isn't too bad. It's usable, but not spectacular. The neck is nice and chunky, nut isn't Seagull wide, nor is it vintage Gibson slender. It's just right, but I don't know what the width is, sorry fellas.

I'm really thinking about trying to do an "employee layaway" kinda deal on this thing. We'll know tomorrow for sure how it'll hold up, but so far I'm thinking that for my cost, this is a great guitar.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Crafter Guitars

Sounds good bro. Is there anything you are going to change on it? Like the binding?

 

[beandip]

Re: Crafter Guitars

Well, the action is a lot like Martin's "standard" action, that's a medium high and allows for it to be changed to the players preference. I'd be taking it down a few notches, just so that I don't have to strangle the neck to fret a chord.

The frilly looking pickguard is outta here, and probably wouldn't be replaced. The top is much too pale, so I'd have to leave it in direct sunlight for a week or so.

And the binding would have a razor blade ran around the entire edge of the body to take the sharpness off. While I'm at it, I'd probably round over the fingerboard edges. Make it feel a little more worn in.

But other than that, even for the 500 list, this thing is pretty **** good. The cedar topped model is even better (but I'm a fan of red cedar tops)

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Crafter Guitars

Well, the action is a lot like Martin's "standard" action, that's a medium high and allows for it to be changed to the players preference. I'd be taking it down a few notches, just so that I don't have to strangle the neck to fret a chord.

The frilly looking pickguard is outta here, and probably wouldn't be replaced. The top is much too pale, so I'd have to leave it in direct sunlight for a week or so.

And the binding would have a razor blade ran around the entire edge of the body to take the sharpness off. While I'm at it, I'd probably round over the fingerboard edges. Make it feel a little more worn in.

But other than that, even for the 500 list, this thing is pretty **** good. The cedar topped model is even better (but I'm a fan of red cedar tops)

Cool, But a few questions...You can make a guitar darker by leaving it in sunlight?

How do you round off the fingerboard edges?

 

[Pontiac Jack]

Re: Crafter Guitars

If you have a chance,check out their small body travel and "baby" sized guitars.
I was looking around for one of these about 6 months ago and was amazed to find the Crafter was as good and even better than some other brands that were 3 or 4 times the price.

Cheers,PJ

 

[beandip]

Re: Crafter Guitars

Cool, But a few questions...You can make a guitar darker by leaving it in sunlight?

How do you round off the fingerboard edges?

Nitrocellulose and poly finishes will yellow with age and UV light. It usually takes years, but you can speed the process by a large amount of direct sunlight. It won't turn it a nice amber color, but it will take away the harsh paleness.

And to round over the fingerboard edges, I usually use 600 grit at first, holding it in my hand and swiping the edges of the fingerboard. Then using micromesh finishing papers, I work it up to 12,000 grit and put a real nice polish on some frets (much better than I've ever seen with steel wool).

Jack: The Cort and Crafters both have really surprised me with their travel sized offerings. If I ever feel the need or desire for one, they'll be ahead in line of Martin, Taylor, and a few other makers.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Crafter Guitars

IMO, Cort makes some bloody good guitars. Sometimes, they even put their own name on them.