Ian Clements

Well, after having a couple of days to play this thing I've come to the conclusion that it's possibly the nicest guitar I've ever played - for so many reasons. I've been fortunate to enough to have played some very nice guitars, and this really does beat all of them in playability, tone, and especially looks!

I got the opportunity to plug it in a couple of times too. Into my little 5w Class A tube amp, and also into a Carvin 'Acoustic/Bass/Vocal/PA combo system (solid state). It sounds exactly the same plugged in as it does acoustically - only louder. How the hell did you manage that? Unheard of! Usually, there's either 'quacking' from the transducer, or there is a weird bass overtone that has to be rolled off (especially with soundhole mounted pickups). This had neither. Clear as a bell. The beautiful tonal balance that this guitar has wasn't lost either. All the strings ring true and clear. Taking the 5w tube amp into 'gritty' territory, the sound was still very musical and the grit just added a nuance that blew my socks off. On the Carvin system, we added a little reverb to the mix, and I have to say that it really did nothing for the sound of the guitar. It didn't need it at all. The true sound of the guitar itself stood quite happily on its own merits.

Acoustically this guitar has a very musical tonal signature. The harmonics that ring out of the body are beautiful, musical, and really enhance the overall tone of the guitar (rather than detracting from it). I will bow to your superior judgment on the sound port. It makes all the difference. Very modern sounding, yet extremely traditional at the same time. Extremely unique. Again, I don't know how you do it. It's quite likely some kind of voodoo, or selling of souls so I won't pry!

Playing with a capo installed, the tone changes very slightly - owing to the difference between the 'zero fret' effect and the guitar's nut in standard tuning. This is where lesser guitars can show their weaknesses. I was pleasantly rewarded by the clarity and balance of the sound. Even with a sixth fret capo, the body tone didn't get weak or tinny as it does with a dreadnaught style (at least with those I've tried this 'tuning' on).

The provided strings are a little heavier than I am used to, but I found that I didn't miss the slightly lighter strings I usually play. The piano like tones when playing near the bridge are much richer, and the times where I strum over the neck are rewarding and balanced. The sound is reminiscent of, but nowhere near the same as, a Guild Jumbo. Very rich. I must say that the Haney is much more playable, and musical, at least to me. The Guild was always a bit of a 'fight.'

The fret dressing is superb, and the slightly wider fingerboard makes playing a joy for my big mitts, and the neck is a perfect fit. No discomfort or fatigue at all. It just makes me work a little harder to play cleanly as the reward is massive tone. Sloppy doesn't work at all, but even so it's quite forgiving. It seems to make me rise to the occasion when I play it; like it's coaxing my best playing from me commensurate to the quality of the guitar. Odd, but true.

I also A/B'd the sound against a couple of Dreadnaughts. Very different (which was exactly what I wanted). Versus the better of the two, a 'nice' Ibanez (old style 'spaghetti' logo), the Haney was richer, had a much broader tonal character, and was infinitely louder! It made the Ibanez sound like a toy, when it actually has a very good Dreadnaught tone (the owner grilled me on what it would take to get a Haney guitar for himself! Don't be surprised if you get an order). Even when you 'dig in' on this guitar, and hit the strings pretty hard, it just gives you the most musical sound. No distortion or fretting out.

The lovely forearm cutaway is the part my wife can't stand. Let me explain: Playing any other acoustic, there's a certain amount of fatigue that sets in. Not just in the hands, but in the forearm where my arm rubs against the bout. Probably just in the way I play - perhaps I have poor technique! With the contour, there's no need for me to stop playingOf course, all is forgiven when Linda looks at it. Plus my son complains that he can't hear his television because it's so loud.

It's a beautiful guitar. Very understated, but at the same time the detail of this unique guitar is eye-catching. It's very 'Art Deco' in style, but to me that's a lot of the appeal! I do love the shape and size too. The balance and symmetry are gorgeous. It's so light too. I've yet to put it on a strap (I'm thinking of waiting on that lest I compromise the 'young' finish on the neck and headstock. Thoughts?), but I'm sure it will be a huge difference from my bass (another Haney triumph) which weighs a ton (not that I mind. All that wood just adds beautiful tone).

This is, after all, a musical instrument. It's a fantastic musical instrument at that. It's also a work of art.

Stunning.