Bought new from Riff's Music in early 2014. Was a special order by Riff's featuring Italian Spruce top, an extra cost upgrade, with Rosewood sides & back. Current new price for this combination is $ 4700.
If you haven't played one of these, they are very light and loud with outstanding sustain. What attracted me to this guitar is the incredible string to string separation, clarity of notes and great sustain. Easy to play would be an understatement.
I've included a quick and dirty sound sample, no processing of any kind. It starts with a couple of examples of just bare thumb and fingers followed by examples using a thumb pick and just a hint of nail on the fingers. The strings are a brand new set of Elixir Polyweb 80/20 mediums.
This guitar has only been used in my home studio for recording, never gigged. The top has very nice "silking" which can be seen in the detail pictures and there is no wear. The neck has a "soft V" shape with a 1 3/4 width nut and 2 3/16 saddle spacing.
The only thing that keeps if from brand new condition are some very light, hard to see, pick scratches on the guard by someone who played it at the dealers prior to my purchase and a tiny mark on the peg head edge.
It was recently checked out at the factory by none other than Richard himself during a recent visit . In fact he liked it so much he spent a considerable time just playing it while the rest of us talked. His comment was "I just kept playing it because it sounded so good". Can't get a better endorsement than that.
Being a 2013 it received the latest SCGC PLIK treatment during manufacturing. If you aren't aware of the unique PLEK treatment that they developed watch the video at the bottom of the listing.
Specifications are :
BodyWood :Type Indian Rosewood Back Stripe: None Binding: Black Top Wood Type : Italian Spruce Rosette: Violin Purfle Combo Purfling: Single Violin Purfling Bracing/Voicing: Advanced X/Scalloped Neck Peghead : Solid Peghead :Binding None Overlay Material : Indian Rosewood Headstock Inlay : SCGC Width at Nut : 1-3/4″ Neck Shape: V with Volute Fingerboard : Side Dots White Inlay : 2mm dots Width at 14th Fret : 2-3/16 Binding : Black Scale Length : 25.375 Finish Top : Clear Back & Sides : Clear/Buffed Neck : Clear/Matte Pickguard : Tortoise Tuners/gears : Nickel open-back
I've never bothered to register it and according to Richard they don't really keep track of owners, their only concern is fixing any problems that are due to their work. Sorry no trades, I've been seduced by a very expensive custom guitar and am selling a couple of great SCGC guitars to pay for it.
