I've waited a while to write this review. It's too easy after a new guitar purchase to get over excited and try to justify spending a sizeable chunk of money on an acoustic that doesn't have Taylor or Martin on the headstock.
My advice to those that have a sizeable chunk of money to spend - don't buy a guitar with Taylor or Martin on the headstock. Buy a Dowina. Full disclosure - I own a Taylor.
The build quality at this price point is what you should expect. No excess glue permeating the bracing etc, neck smooth as butter, first class tone woods and absolutely on point when it comes to the detail.
Dowina has this in spades and then some. Blows the water out of Martin and Taylor at this price point, it's no contest. This guitar is so responsive, you can make it whisper, you can make it shout out loud - in every scenario it is perfectly voiced. If I had to choose one word to describe it, it would be....
Incredible.
As an aside to the guitar review, let's talk about Richard's Guitars and the buying experience.
These guys are special. In the current climate of buy fast and buy cheap they are beacons of what customer service and quality products should be. They are wonderful individuals, the absolute best. I can't find enough superlatives to describe these folks, but what I will tell you is that they know their guitars, they recognise quality, understand how personal a guitar choice is and will always do what is best for you not them.
Rang numerous times, no one answers, tried to purchase Furch Red Deluxe twice and not in stock but on the wedsiteand still waiting for notification of availability,
Do you think it would be possible for me to discuss the issues you have had?
I really do feel an explanation would put your mind at ease and help us help you.
I will try and convey my sincerity as follows:
I introduced the brand to the UK market over 20 years ago
I am the UKs largest dealer and have been for 20 years
I know the products like the back of my hand - every single one set up to perfection to your requirements
I personally spend hours and hours revising, calculating, forecasting stock to try and ensure the very best balance of models in stock at all times, ensuring all my favorite models are either in stock or about to arrive shortly.
I currently have 67 models in stock in the building
I have 30 guitars allocated in stock at Furch
I work tirelessly to provide the very best personalised service - as a dedicated specialist.
I employ just 2 other people in sales to answer calls - it is a workshop environment and we are incredibly personal in our service.
Sadly - this means that sometimes - especially if someone is off sick - we may be stretched to reply to every phone call in real time but we always have an answer phone and we always return calls.
Life is a balance - we try our best - its not always going to be a perfect scenario but its how our customers treat us - and how we treat them in response - that ultimately ends up with the majority being overwelmingly happy.
I never take any sale for granted and I also ensure my success helps incredibly positive projects - which may or may not be of interest - so I wont bore you with that side!
I would love to help you further
Richard
Sometimes buying a guitar online can be a disappointment ( I've been there on a few occasions) but not this time. The guitar is everything I expected and more . Even better , my guitar teacher was most impressed. A great sounding guitar. It came with a set of 12's but I changed them to 10's as they suit me better. Nice low action . Sustain was better than my Taylor 324e . All said and done a good purchase and was recommend Richards Guitars! Case was great too!
SPA a great sounding pick-up .
One of the best purchases I have ever made. I was helped from start to finish helping me choose the right guitar then setting up and delivering. The guitar made me a beginner sound good. Thanks
Just picked up my beautiful new Kremona Sofia ST-C classical guitar from Richards Guitars in Stratford upon Avon.
What a sensational instrument!
Great build quality and materials, and a sublime sound. I can’t believe how these instruments can be sold for such a competitive price. It plays beautifully after being set up by Richard’s team.
A personal thank you to Jon for his advice, guidance and sharing is detailed product knowledge.
A happy customer and a great purchasing experience.
I sought advice about purchasing a guitar of excellent quality at a reasonable price for my daughter to learn on.
Jon and Jake are trusted advisers in all matters of guitar. They guided me through options with patience and sagacity but without any pressure. This took time as I wanted to get it right.
I chose this Eastman PCH model.
I chose to have it delivered for convenience sake and at an extremely low price.
The guitar arrive safe and sound, and set up to absolute perfection.
It is a beautiful guitar. Way beyond my high expectations.
The set up makes a huge difference and the quality control at RGuitars is very stringent.
A wonderful experience from start to finish.
RGuitars are themselves first class and the Eastman will make my daughters first class joyous!
Thank you.
Eastman's Juliet felt "right" from the moment I picked it up. It arrived perfectly set up from Richards Guitars - and still in tune(!) despite changes of temperature and being bounced around by the courier. It's just about my ideal electric guitar - so comfortable and accurate to play, with beautifully articulate pickups and a very stable Bigsby to add subtle shimmers. It has a totally unique vibe all of its own which I really like, and yet it feels like a guitar that I've played for years and is a trusted go-to instrument.
I wanted this guitar for 18 months before I ordered it. It’s not super-expensive but getting it to Australia really jacks up the cost. It was absolutely worth it though! I’ve already recorded my new single with the guitar. It’s great!
I am satisfaid, strings are a bit higher.. Otherwise is really nice and pleasent sound.. Need time to get use to strings...
My second guitar from Richards Guitars and I couldn’t be more delighted. I wanted a good quality guitar for everyday gigging. My trusty Yamaha APX500iiEW is a great workhorse but lacked the tone I wanted.
My Auden Chester Neo 45 is too good to be used on the road. The LAG T70 ACE fitted the bill perfectly. The clarity and brightness of sound from the spruce top is just what I wanted at an affordable price. The staff at Richards Guitars know their stuff and never try to “up-sell” they just want you to get the guitar that is perfect for your needs and budget. Many thanks to Jon and Jake.
I am extremely happy with my Danelectro DC59, Richards Guitars really do pay attention to detail regarding the setup of the instrument. The guitar arrived well packaged and was really well set up to the point where it was a joy to play. I will definitely be using Richards Guitars for future purchases, it really is worth the wait to receive a guitar that has been given the care and attention it needs before being shipped out.
The overall buying experience was much better than I had experienced from many of the faceless box shifters that dominate the U.K guitar marketplace.
I cant thank Richard and his team enough for such an amazing instrument and the Danelectro DC59 is no exception it resonates beautifully and I was also impressed with the decent build quality.
The Danelectro DC59 is a phenomenal guitar at this price point. Richards Guitars unique service and pre-shipping set up is the icing on the cake.
Thank you ever so much for a very special instrument that feels so good to play and will be treasured going forward.
Thank you SO much. I am so grateful that you have shared this experience and allowed us to share it with future customers.
We strive so hard to ensure you get the experince you detail and so glad its worked out so well for you.
Feel free to make use of the 6 and 12 month check and reset too, if you are in the area :)
Thanks again
Richard
Richard and his staff fitted this amp for me in a Furch GN2 and it works like a breeze. What really surprised me is how true the sound behind the amp sounds. I recorded and couldn't tell what was recorded behind the amp and without it. Incredible
So pleased you love it - I have spent my life in retail trying to distinguish which products suit my ear - and then I have to hope our customers agree. I suppose its no coincidence that the brands I love tend to focus on Fishman and LR Baggs - as their prefered pickup systems :) Thank you for the review.
Richard
Great guitar, extremely versatile and looks very cool. Straight out the box and did two gigs with it. Excellent service from Richards Guitars.
Thank you so much for your review. I am so grateful you took the time. Much appreciated.
We are here for you if you need us!
Richard
String broke after 3 days. Ordered locking tuners. wouldn't fit it because of the silver things inside the head stock holes. Do you know any locking tuner brands that will fit it. I had to bring it to local shop to get restringed I don't do standard tuning only locking. Apart from that a great guitar
Recommend it to anyone.
Hi there, thank you for your feedback. We apologize for the inconvenience you experienced with the locking tuners not fitting on your Vintage V100AFD Electric Guitar. We recommend checking out brands like Grover or Schaller for locking tuners that may fit better. We're glad to hear that you are enjoying the guitar overall and we appreciate your recommendation. Please let us know if there is anything else we can assist you with. Thank you!
A great guitar for the price. The build quality is great, set-up was on the spot and sound is on a par or above with what I have seen in this price range. Highly recommeded!
Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're so happy to hear that you are enjoying your Eastman PCH1-OM acoustic guitar. We take pride in providing high-quality instruments at an affordable price, and we're glad that you've had a positive experience with the build quality and sound. We appreciate your recommendation and hope you continue to enjoy your guitar.
We are here if you need us and thanks again!
Richard
Muy buena comunicación con el equipo de Richard Guitars. Inicialmente solicité el modelo E30ME. Durante el traslado a la tienda de Londres la guitarra sufrió un desperfecto, por lo que me ofrecieron un descuento en este modelo Deluxe. Acepté y no puedo estar más contento. El único problema (culpa mía) fue el pago de impuestos y aranceles cuando el paquete llegó a España por proceder de fuera de la unión europea.
Pero la guitarra es perfecta. Muy buena puesta a punto por parte del equipo. Acabados muy buenos. El Ovangkol luce precioso y el sonido que emite la guitarra es fantástico.
Muy contento con la compra.
Your review in English...
Very good communication with the Richard Guitars team. I initially requested the E30ME model. During the transfer to the London store the guitar suffered damage, so they offered me a discount on this Deluxe model. I accepted and I couldn't be happier. The only problem (my fault) was the payment of taxes and duties when the package arrived in Spain because it came from outside the European Union.
But the guitar is perfect. Very good setup by the team. Very good finishes. The Ovangkol looks beautiful and the sound the guitar makes is fantastic.
Very happy with the purchase.
And my reply!
Thank you for your kind words and for choosing our Eastman E3OM Deluxe guitar. We are glad to hear that you are satisfied with the communication and service provided by our team at Richard Guitars. We apologize for the inconvenience caused during the transit of your guitar, but we are happy that we were able to offer you a discount on the Deluxe model. We understand the frustration with taxes and tariffs, but we are pleased to hear that the guitar itself is perfect and that you are enjoying its beautiful Ovangkol finish and fantastic sound. We appreciate your business and hope you continue to enjoy your new guitar. Thank you again for your review.
Richard
Gracias por sus amables palabras y por elegir nuestra guitarra Eastman E3OM Deluxe. Nos alegra saber que está satisfecho con la comunicación y el servicio brindado por nuestro equipo en Richard Guitars. Nos disculpamos por las molestias ocasionadas durante el tránsito de su guitarra, pero nos alegra haber podido ofrecerle un descuento en el modelo Deluxe. Entendemos la frustración por los impuestos y aranceles, pero nos complace saber que la guitarra en sí es perfecta y que estás disfrutando de su hermoso acabado en Ovangkol y su fantástico sonido. Apreciamos su negocio y esperamos que continúe disfrutando de su nueva guitarra. Gracias de nuevo por tu reseña.
ricardo
Bought my first Furch earlier this year and it was also the first purchase from Richards Guitars. I absolutely love this guitar, it has a great sounds and is so tactile… l love playing it and everyone compliments the sound. I fabulous but from a great dealer.
Thank you for your positive review! We are so happy to hear that you love your Furch Violet Gc-SM Deluxe Acoustic Guitar and that you had a great experience purchasing it from us. We strive to provide high-quality products and excellent customer service. Keep on playing and making beautiful music :)
Richard
At first I was disappointed but this guitar grew on me and I began to appreciated the quality of this guitar
I initially ordered a mandolin with an oval hole. Jake got in touch to tell me this was out of stock but could be ordered to arrive within a few weeks, or alternatively I could have one with f holes which was in stock. I chose the latter and am delighted with it. The Mandolin arrived in perfect condition and the set up was superb, so lovely to have someone take the time to make sure your instrument is tuned correctly. I would highly recommend for the high quality customer service.