Submitted by 58d18 (see all reviews from this person) on 8/30/2008

Where Purchased: Leo Posch

Year Purchased: July, 2008
Price Paid: Posch guitars are in the $3-4K range historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

Norman Blake sings in the "D-18 Song" about a guitar that's "crisp & clean, rich & full, all a guitar oughta be". That's how I would describe this guitar. It's the epitomy of a dreadnaught. The Cuban Mahogany has all the crisp & clean tone production of a great mahogany guitar, plus all the richness/fullness of a great brazian rosewood guitar. I don't play dreads much anymore, because of some physical limitations, but, when I first played this guitar, I had to have it. It's got that "IT" that we all look for. The only reason I scored the sound as a 9, is that it's a new adirondack top & will take some time to break in.

Sound Rating: 9

Setup

Leo's set-ups are always right on. He learned good set-up in his 17 years as head repairman/luthier at Mass.St.Music & has since been able to apply that knowledge to the building of his own guitars.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

With it's top notch woods, greven pickguard, an unfinished ebony fingerboard with short form diamonds & squares inlay, & a very well done "Leo Posch" on the peghead, this is a really fine looking guitar.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

This guitar (if well cared for) will be around for a very long time. Leo has thought out all aspects of making a guitar & makes them to be played for many, many years.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

I've had a lot of experience with Leo over the years, as he has been my set-up guy for a long time. He is conscientious, very honest (at times, brutally so -- with a smile) & he is the best at what he does. He really cares about his customers & it shows.

Customer Service: 10

Components

This guitar is cuban mahogany b&s with a beautiful sunburst adirondack top. It has very cool looking cocobolo binding, bone nut & saddle & nickel waverlys tuners. It has a 1 3/4" nut with a 2 1/4" bridge pin spacing. All components are top quality.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

The only thing I wish was different about this guitar is that it were already "played in". The top is tight sounding, as are all good adirondack tops, & needs to be played hard for a year or two before it totally opens up. The guitar sounds great right now, but I think it will sound incredible in a year or two.

Overall Rating: 9