Freshman 500 Series

Since the age of 15 i have played every conceivable type of guitar from high end to low end electric, electro acoustic and acoustic guitars and now i have decided to hang up my ego and just play for my own pleasure, so i popped in to a local music shop just to see if they were interested in my equipment when, out the corner of my eye i saw the quality end of acoustics in the guitar testing booth,and was drawn firstly to the Named guitars. Undoubted quality and build but price in this day and age prohibitive to my pocket for the sound i was looking for in my swansong guitar.

I then tried the Freshman GA500GACED more out of curiosity and not expecting the revelation to my ears. For a mid-priced guitar it's SUPERB. I put my money down and bought one. Names NO CONTEST Siggyt.

I went looking for a Martin D28 or D35 or possibly a Gibson SJ100 but after playing every guitar in the shop during the course of a long afternoon I came out with the Freshman FA500JCE. Not only did this guitar look the part, its tonality and playability knocked everything else into a cocked hat. At fifteen hundred pounds sterling it wasn't exactly cheap, but you do get an awful lot for your money - Triple grade "A" sitka spruce top, rosewood back and sides, ebony fretboard, bone nut and saddle, and as an added bonus, the wonderful Schertler sound hole dual system pick-up. This guitar is a full sized jumbo but compared with the Gibsons and the Faiths it feels quite compact under the arm; it is beautifully balanced and superbly set up, giving the player total control. The thing which really sells this guitar is the incredible presence of tone. Play it gently and it provides an amazing intimacy with almost spiritual undertones - play it hard, and the sound is simply awsome! Incredible volume but without the harsh jangles and hard bark of a dreadnought. In fact, it is more like a giant 000 grand auditorium on steroids. I play gentle jazz and hard aggressive blues, and for me this guitar is perfect, fitting both criteria with ease and sophistication. The build quality is superb, which for a gigging pro on the road five nights out of seven, is extremely reassuring. Do I think this is a good guitar? Yes I do. Would I recommend it to others? Absolutely and without reservation. Do I think it is expensive? No, I don't - it represents incredible value for money and it looks better and plays better than some guitars costing a £1000 more in my opinion. Do I have any links with the Freshman guitar company? No, none at all whatsoever.

A small niggle, but I would have appreciated a strap stud on the heel. Having said that, having to use a strap secured to the machine head seems to give the player a lot more control.

Freshman FA 500dce I went into the shop to try Taylors and Martins around £2000 but I couldnt put this baby down, iw was crisper, and clearer and just more lovely to play than anything else there, I left because I had intended buying a "name" as well as a guitar, but returned a week later to purchase and am well pleased. I'd like a strap fastening thing on the body I cant do with straps going up around the top of the neck and the case is spectacular!

When i first saw Freshman guitars I assumed that they were another budget range of average guitars. I was so so wrong. I played the FA500GA grand auditorium model in a music store yesterday. As an experienced acoustic guitarist I have tried loads of guitars, including many high end ones. This is up there with the best but at half the price. The sound was frankly astounding with rich full tones on every string. Resonant basses and rare fat trebles. The playability was wonderful. I could hardly put it down and I plan to check out the range further if that is really possible here in Northern Ireland with 3 local dealers. The projection for a medium bodied guitar was amazing. I liked it more than many Taylors and Martins. The tone quality reminded me of a Collings but without the fuller sound and absolute bell like clarity. Intonation was great too right up the neck. The set up was nigh perfect right out of the case. The tonewoods were of really high quality for the price and it really showed in the sound quality. I was taken aback to be honest. This was a new guitar but the depth and complexity of tone was incredible for that. In a few years it would be nothing short of sensational.

I played the 500 series dreadnought before and quite liked it but not as much as this one. Wanting the big brand names is normal but this is something worth checking out first -use your ears, listen and feel how this guitar almost plays itself -it makes it easy. Wonderful. I was planning to buy a Collings D3 at £3k but now I am not so sure. I could have several of these guitars for that. I am resting my case for now - literally. Well done Freshman - great work.