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This was the first review I got from a Road trip guitar I'm sending around. These kind of things make all the hours and hours of sweating over an instrument worth it! This came from Mike crixell over at acoustic player magazine. The man knows his guitars!!


{start copy and pasted review}


Hey Folks,

I regret to report that John's amazing Canzonet Grand Parlor guitar is no longer in my possession. I shipped it off first thing this morning to the rest of the lucky folks on the John Mayes Guitar Road Trip.

[Note: For those who might not be aware, the concept of a "guitar road trip" is the brainchild of master luthier John Greven. For decades, John has sent some of his fine builds "on the road" so that grateful players around the country could experience his work fiirst-hand. A few trusting and intrepid luthiers have followed suit with guitar road trips of their own. Fortunately, our own John Mayes is of one of them.]

First things first. When the box was delivered to my door by USPS, I was certain that John had had an early senior-moment while packing the guitar: this thing was WAY too light! At best, I figured John had shipped an empty guitar case. I anxiously cut the tape and opened the box to indeed discover a black case that was packed slightly more elaborately than King Tut. Man! John evidently packs his guitars for shipping with the same fervor that he builds them. Anyway, I finally extracted the case and opened it to find a jewel of a guitar waiting patiently inside.

Body

John calls this small-body Mayes model of a Canzonet Grand Parlor. Cool name, but I would routinely classify it as a 00 all day long. Some of it's specs certainly fit this time-honored tradition: 14.75" lower bout; 10.5" upper bout; 4" soundhole; 14 frets to the body.

Craftsmanship

John builds a pristine guitar. The attention to detail on this beauty is stunning. The purfling, binding, rosette are as meticulous as any of the best I've ever seen. John's joinery is flawless. It is patently obvious that a tremendous amount of care and precise talent went into creating this gorgeous instrument.

Woods

The choice of tonewoods on this pup are exactly that: choice. This small-body makes perfect use of every square inch with exquisite tonewoods. The top is Lutz, which is a hybrid of Sitka/White/Engelmann Spruces. The back and sides are from a set of unbelievable Curly Honduran Mahogany. The binding is Brazilian, as are the fingerboard, bridge and headplate. The purfling is black/Maple/black strips that sandwich a band of Curly Mahogany. The backstrip is made of the same b/M/b strips on either side of a Brazilian band. The neck is a one-piece Mahogany affair. Taken all together, the result is a riot of warm, glowing, woody goodness. Literally. This little Mayes simply glows like maple syrup on fine bone China.

Playability

John has done a fantastic job of setting up this fine Canzonet. The neck profile is fast and easy to play (for those of us who dig fast necks, that is). The fretwork was spot on in its evenness and finish. This Mayes is definitely a fingerstylist's dream music machine. The action is set low for effortless fretting, yet John has achieved the voodoo of balancing the nut action, saddle height and neck relief to prevent buzzing from all but the hardest picking attacks. Kudos, man.

Granted, going from climate to climate as it wends its way around the country might necessitate a tweak here or there, this guitar came straight from John's bench in Oklahoma to the heart (and heat) of Texas with nary a twinge. This little guitar played like whipped butter.

And, finally, Tone

I must say that I have an affinity for a finely made small-body. Over the years, I have searched high and low for Parlors, 0's and 00's that exhibited the tone I strive for in the music I play. Most of the guitar's that have moved me have been vintage Martins. One 1937 all-Mahogany 0 comes very fondly to mind. That little guy just sat up and begged for someone to touch it, just so it could produce its incredible sound. In short, it gave it to you. It was effortless to play and it responded with incredible, sustaining tone. No small feat for any guitar. Well, this Mayes Canzonet Grand Parlor is, as I mentioned, a 00 to me in every possible way, and it more than lived up to the standards of a great 00 in my experience.

The trebles of this guitar soar. Period. They are loud, lyrical and ringing—the trifecta for a world-class fingerstyle guitar. The midrange is proud and very present, too. Together, these aspects alone make for a wonderful instrument. The bass response was clear but understandably limited by the guitar's body size/depth and its Mahogany back and sides.

I have to confess that I kept this beautiful Mayes for a few days longer than I intended. Having participated in countless guitar road trips and guitar reviews before, I knew that a guitar needs at least a couple to three days under tension to get its leg under it. This applies all the more to brand-new guitars, such as this one. Well, this morning, before I sadly packed this pup up for its trip, I played it one last time. The difference in tone, projection and overall presence from the first time I played it until today was nothing short of remarkable. This Mayes small-body sang like an angel, with sweet fire behind every note. One reason, I believe, that the top opened up so much in such a short amount of time was that I did have a few sessions of some aggressive strumming and flatpicking. I have done the same with every supposedly dedicated fingerstyle guitars I've had at my house, from my Claxton and Ryan to McAlisters, Shantis, Beneteaus, Olsons and beyond. This little Mayes more than met that challenge with a responsiveness that belied its featherweight build. It roared.

Bottom Line

John Mayes builds one hell of a fine guitar. This is the first Mayes I've had the pleasure of playing for an extended, relaxed period of time. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I held it in my hands. It is a joy to behold and a testament to one of the most talented builders working today. To those who are on the list for this Mayes, guitar road trip, I salute you and smile in advance, because I know what you're in for. To everyone else, do yourselves a favor and check out John's site. There, you will find some great info and pics to whet your appetite, assuming your share my appetite for outstanding guitars.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

WOW, congratulations John! , when a person takes the time to write such a letter, it means he is more than just satisfied, it means that your guitar surpassed his every expectations well beyond words can express, i would put this letter in a frame in my shop for sure!

On ya John!

Congratulations, John!!! Great review, but I'll reserve final judgement until it reaches my doorstep. Er, whaddya mean I'm not on the list!!!


At any rate, please post pics if you haven't already done so.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I wish I was on that list too JJ. I would love to play one. From what I've heard from Koo Chung, I'm sure I'd love the sound of any of your guitars John. Thanks for sharing that awesome review. You deserve it John!
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Good for you, John!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Heck yeah, John. I'm glad you got that review.

Well done John!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Thanks guys. It's the little Curly Mahogany/Lutz I posted some pics of a while back. Here are a couple of them:









John Mayes38924.7196875

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Yup, that's lovely!

John...... it's what we've been saying for years now. Your work deserves this kind of recognition.

That is soooooo cool, is there going to be a John Mayes write up in AG some time soon? Better get some more materials on hand and say good by to the wife and kids cause your going to be busy I think.

Good on ya John, we're all proud of you.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

[QUOTE=Rod True] John...... it's what we've been saying for years now. Your work deserves this kind of recognition.

That is soooooo cool, is there going to be a John Mayes write up in AG some time soon?[/QUOTE]



and I don't advertise in AG so I seriously doubt they are going to do any story on me...that's fine by me though..I'm happy carving out my own little place in the world....

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Very nice. Be sure to notice how tight all the doorways get as your head swells up. A review like that should make it a tight fit.

Great work... Just think, some artists have to die before their work is appreciated!

Donovan

That has to be so fullfilling!


Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Great review....You deserve it! Keep up with the great work!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Way cool John! You deserve it!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Congrats John,That sounds like an absolutely wonderful guitar. I hope to be able to play one of your beautys sometime soon. Great Review!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Congrats John!

Another Okie boy does good. Watch out or you'll be as famous as Garth.   

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

What a tremedous compliment! Good on you John!

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Well, maybe he'll like the next one better.

Congrats, nice review!

You definatly da man John!!!!

as i read the review something told me he liked it, just a little.. WOW, that must give you a tremendous feeling of accomplishment. Such beautiful words of praise.. Congradulations again and again
Mike

Great going, John! It's amzing that I get to "hang out" with such fine craftspeople on line. Thanks for sharing your success!vpelleri38924.9557986111

Yeah, but what have you done for us lately?!

Congratulations, John. No doubt it's the first of many such reviews.

Fantastic.
You deserve all the praise. Your work is exceptional.
We all owe you, for without your help and DVD's many of us would be lost.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com