A Baker’s Dozen

[Disclaimer:  I have not received as a promotional consideration any guitar or music related product, nor am I mentioning anything in this post to secure compensation / income for myself or the manufacturer(s) of the products mentioned.  I am only posting about this / these item(s) because I personally purchased it / them and am excited to be learning about music and playing guitar.  This is a long post…  You’ve been warned!    —    kmab]
Background:  If you’ve been following this blog for the last two years, you are probably aware I’m trying to learn / teach myself how to play guitar.  I began this journey in late 2020, when I decided to try, and, then in January 2021, when I purchased my first guitar.  Since then, I’ve gone deep into Guitar Acquisition Syndrome  (G.A.S.) and I now have thirteen!  So, yes, after a brief 25-ish months, I’m averaging about one new guitar every two months.  How’s that for “G.A.S.”?!!
My most recent purchase is:  “Idyllwild (by Monoprice) Full-Size 4/4 Spruce Top Classical Nylon String Guitar with Accessories and Gig Bag“.  This is the “bigger brother” of the “Idyllwild by Monoprice 3/4 Classical Guitar with Gig Bag, Natural“, which I bought back in June of 2021.  The 3/4 cost me (roughly): $43 and this full-size version cost: $75.  Despite the fact I feel like I’m pretty hooked on guitar at this point – “doubt I’d keep playing” was the main reason for buying “inexpensive” (re:  cheap) guitars when I started out.  I’m pretty happy with all of my purchases, but I’m STILL resisting the urge to splurge on an expensive “big-name” guitar.
This is my third “Monoprice” guitar and second “Idyllwild” brand guitar.  I have the two already mentioned (this and the 3/4) and I have one “Indio” guitar (by Monoprice).  That guitar is an electric “telecaster” style.  I guess, their electrics are “Indio‘s” and their acoustics are “Idyllwild“.
Start of review:
So, this (4/4 size “classical” acoustic) is the latest guitar I’ve purchased – as of March 2023.  It was ordered on 24 February and received on 1 March, so shipping was less than a week – an initial very good impression!  The box had a couple of slight (1in x 1in) dents in it, so that was a negative, but they did not necessarily have anything to do with the manufacturer / seller, so it’s merely a comment on delivery status.  (Note:  Virtually every guitar I’ve purchased has come with a slight – or not so slight – issue with the shipped box / container and NONE have resulted in a damaged instrument.  I may just be lucky…)
Per their site, this is what I received for $75 and change – all-in (including tax and shipping).
Strings:  6 – nylon;  the three bass strings are metal wrapped.  The strings do not feel “real”.  They feel like they should be on a $2 plastic, toy guitar, BUT though cheap feeling, they have held tune surprisingly well.  By not “real”, I mean they feel VERY thick.  They are BY FAR the thickest strings I’ve ever played on a guitar.  I don’t know what gauge they are.
Electronics:  N/A
Tuners:  typical chrome (three to a side, linked) classical tuners, but they neither look nor “feel” flimsy.  They also do not have dead spots (when you turn and nothing happens, then suddenly the gears seem to grab).  The tuners on the 3/4 were a “brassy” looking color.  I don’t know if they were actual brass.  I doubt it.
Neck Shape:  I’m not sure how to describe it.  It is WIDE.  The top is flat;  almost to the point of being concave.  I have very wide fingertips and this is BY FAR the most string separation I have on any guitar I own.  To be honest, I LOVE it!!  I have virtually NO bleed over from my fingers in ANY chord.  The down side, of course, is that any chord with a 6th string is much harder to reach.  I had thoughts of buying a twelve-string guitar and removing the extra strings, just to see what it would feel like to have room for my fingers.  This is no longer necessary.  I now know what it will feel like…
Neck Material:  Okume
Top Material:  Spruce / Solid
Body Size:  4/4, 39in total length
Body Shape:  Classical (no cut-away) Acoustic
Number of Frets:  19  (but the “upper range” 7 frets are virtually unreachable except for tapping)
Note:  the above image is from the Monoprice product site and I make no claim to ownership.
Fretboard:  no idea (unspecified)  Note:  As with most “classical” style guitars there are NO fret markers inlaid on the face of the  fretboard.  Unlike, most classical style guitars there are “dots” on the upper side (the base strings side) of the fretboard.  I don’t know if they are true inlaid or simply painted under the gloss varnish.
Frets Size:  2.2mm
Nut / Saddle:  Plastic (Minor tuning adjustments make the strings “ping” at the nut.  This means I need to “lube / graphite” the nut a little when I get around to changing the strings.)
Nut Width:  not stated;  but I believe it is “classical”:  i.e. 2 inches wide
Bracing:  not stated
Back / Sides:  No idea.  I am assuming it is Okume, like the neck, but I haven’t seen this documented.  I don’t know if the back and sides are solid or laminate.
Bridge:  no idea, but the saddle appears to be plastic (like the nut)
Pickguard:  none
Finish:  Natural gloss all over (including the full neck and headstock).  Wonderfully smooth to the touch!
Included Accessories:  Battery operated electric tuner, extra set of strings, 3 picks, strap, gig bag  (Note: the picks were NOT received and the strap is useless as there are no knobs to attach a strap to.  Most classical guitars are held, not strapped.)
Gig Bag:  Included.  This bag is ok considering the total price.  It is more than a dust cover in thickness (but with no padding at all), and it seems tough, (but not waterproof).  The zippers look medium weight and works smoothly.  There is also a zippered pouch on the front of the bag.  The bag is sufficient for most carrying about, but it is baggy (not form fitting) and offers only the slightest of protection.  It does not have a super sturdy handle or padded shoulder straps, but the straps are adjustable, so that’s something.  Lastly, the strap guides are metal – not plastic – as you would expect on a simple, unpadded gig bag.
Not mentioned on the site:
They give you an Allen wrench to adjust the truss rod which runs through the guitar’s neck.  The truss rod is accessed via the sound hole, so there is no visible clue on the headstock.  The neck is visibly straight;  not bowed one way or the other.  The top fret is 12, where the neck joins the body.  I believe this is why the nut can be tuned and open chords sound good, but the top frets are all uniformly (still) sharp ended and will be a devil to round (if I decide to make the effort).  (Note: it is my understanding that most “classical” style guitars do not come with a truss rod.  Also, you cannot put steel strings on a guitar meant for nylon strings. They lack the physical support to hold steel strings and you will most probably either severely bend or outright snap the neck off the guitar body when you try to tune it.)  As the intonation is already perfect, there is no need to adjust the truss rod.
Main Review –
First:  the guitar is light weight.  Even in the box, it feels weightless!
Second:  my first visual and hold – the finish is beautiful and the guitar does not “feel” cheap (or inexpensive) – except for the extreme light weight.  The top is blonde and the sides and bottom (body and neck) are a beautiful, dark honey-yellow color.  The fret ends do not extend past the neck edges (good), but they are not rounded, so they feel a little bit sharp.  This is the same as was true for the 3/4 purchased earlier.  The fret board surface seems slightly ash grey-ish – again, like the 3/4.  I believe it is supposed to be black.  Again, I think this means it is just overly dry.  I will add some lemon oil to it when I get around the rounding the fret ends.  The neck is good for relief (not bowed up or down) and is not warped.  As mentioned above, the string action is high at the high frets which I would have thought would effect the intonation.  It did / does NOT.  Once tuned, this guitar is the best intonated guitar I have EVER received.  It is PERFECT at open, 5th and 12th frets!!
Third:  the strings are new and appear wrapped enough to hold without slipping, but they are not excessive – as was true for the 3/4.  It is nit-picking, but the strings do not appear to be wound consistently – all left or all right.  In practice, this means they could vibrate against each other.  They don’t at the moment and it will be a simple thing to correct when I get around to restringing.
Fourth:  There are two very minor blemishes on the finish.  One looks like the side got a wide brush scratch and the other looks like a speck of something was caught under the varnish.  Both are virtually undetectable without very close examination.  There is no dip or lump in the varnish finish to provide a tactile clue there is any damage / fault.
Fifth: (exactly like for the 3/4) the “gig-bag” is a functional dust cover / carry-all.  It will NOT protect the guitar from any but the most trivial bumps.  Having said that, it is FAR better than one of the “gig-bags” I got for “free” with a more expensive guitar.  It has a handle and un-padded shoulder straps.  The straps are not long enough for someone my size to use, but I suppose they would be fine for a child or slender teenager.
Sixth: This guitar has very high action!  Visually, it is off-putting.  In practice, it is irrelevant!  The intonation is perfect at open, 5th fret and 12th fret AND the strings are very flexible and easily pressed.  Today was my second time using the guitar and I practiced for well over 2 hours with no discomfort to my fretting hand finger tips.  There is no buzzing (high frets) and there are no dead frettings.
Finally:  What this guitar reinforced was that nylon strings are extremely forgiving for longer (over one hour) practice sessions. The flat neck definitely has more room for my chubby fingers to practice scales and chords, but is only slightly more difficult to practice / play barred chords.
Recommendation:  I would highly recommend this guitar to any adult thinking of beginning guitar lessons who would like to learn guitar with an inexpensive “starter” guitar.  The fretboard may be too wide for children or adults with shorter finger lengths.  You may outgrow this within a year or two, but you’ll keep it handy and pick it up frequently because if it gets a little banged up, it can be easily (and inexpensively) replaced.  Like it’s little brother (the 3/4), I bought this specifically to keep laying around, for a quick pickup to practice (specifically finger-picking and classical style playing).  It will certainly exceed those simple requirements.   Caution:  unlike my inexpensive electric guitars and LIKE my other acoustic guitars, you should NOT purchase this thinking you will be able to use it for a “mod” (modification) platform.  Other than changing the strings and (maybe) polishing fret ends, there is almost nothing you can do to make this a “better” instrument.  Just bite the bullet and shell out for a more expensive replacement guitar when you get past what this has to offer.  Then, keep this one for when you go to the beach or camping.  Please remember if you pay full retail price, it is STILL only a $75 guitar.  Actually, “my” guitar was $75.  The “normal” retail price is $99 as of March 2023.
One final “comment” – which may sound unfair – this is a “listeners” guitar, more than a “players” guitar.  By that I mean if you play it, it feels good and sounds okay.  Not great.  Just okay.  But if you turn the guitar face so the sound hole is to your ear, this guitar sounds fantastic.  The difference is – to me – amazing and I repeat the exercise every time I pick it up.  I have noted this effect on my other acoustics, too, but nowhere near this level of difference.
Because my impressions / opinions of the guitar may change over time, updates to my reviews will appear on the specific guitar review page and not in a daily blog post…
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On This Day In:
2022	Putin Invades Ukraine To Recreate The Old Soviet Union
2021	Even If It’s A Nice View
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2020	First Steps – The (California) Primary Vote
	#IncompetentTrump Administration Faces A Pandemic
2019	Hearts Torn In Every Way
2018	Recently Seen On A T-shirt:
2017	Rhythmical Creation
2016	In The Beginning
2015	False Gods
2014	But Sometimes Careers Choose People
2013	Pretty Sure Of Uncertainty
2012	Face Reality
2011	Intelligent Luck

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Living By The Seat Of Our Pants

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.
––     Ernest Hemingway
[Realist, Modernist, Expressionist, Impressionist, Abstract…  We each paint our own picture with our lives.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	Putin Invades Ukraine To Recreate The Old Soviet Union
2021	Even If It’s A Nice View
	There’s A Calm Before The Storm
2020	First Steps – The (California) Primary Vote
	#IncompetentTrump Administration Faces A Pandemic
2019	Hearts Torn In Every Way
2018	Recently Seen On A T-shirt:
2017	Rhythmical Creation
2016	In The Beginning
2015	False Gods
2014	But Sometimes Careers Choose People
2013	Pretty Sure Of Uncertainty
2012	Face Reality
2011	Intelligent Luck

Read Full Post »