Anyone tried a dread? Got any thoughts? If Jim Hurst plays it, it can't be so bad.
-sk

Yes. I like them a lot. So much that I have purchased a few of them. They are hard to find to try, but there is a dealer in Colorado, one in Indiana, one in California, one in Texas and one in Virginia (that I am aware). Below are some other opinions.

http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2011005424/...991019825#1991019825

http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2011005424/...811039274#9811039274

http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2011005424/m/5161033224/p/1

http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2011005424/...251060025#2251060025

http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2011005424/...231060364#8231060364

Well Today has been a damn Good Friday! woot!! Just received my second Rockbridge.Braz/Adi Style 21.How can it be possible to build this combo of wood and be as light as my Red/hog.This Dread is very,very fast to a pick and response's to the lightest touch.Randall and Brian are getting better and better.The finish is superb and it plays perfectly.Even threw in a Custom Cedar Case for free.All this for less than 5k.I'll post some pics when I can find time to put the beaut down.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: moondoggy,

Here's the back,also this guitar has very good tone,crystal clear on the wound strings and vibrant B and high E.Needs some breaking in to increase volume but 95% of what this guitar will be is already here.

Man that is nice Walt. I have GOT to find me a full sized RB to test drive some day soon.
The little single 0 is great, but all it did was make my GAS for a full sized Rock even worse.

Now seeing this just compounded it. Dang it !

Just a headsup that there is a Rocker for sale at http://www.gruhn.com/ 3250.00.

Thanks Walt. This is good info, especially because Rockbridge does not list their dealers on their website as do most other luthiers.

Other Rockbridge dealers of whom I am aware:

Old Town Pickin' Parlor http://picknparlor.com/
Quincy's Guitars http://www.quincysguitars.com/
GuitarMatch http://www.guitarmatch.com/
Cotten Music http://www.cottenmusic.com/
Sylvan Music http://www.sylvanmusic.com/

Steve,

Former Rockbridge dread owner here. Received it last April, traded it away 5 months later. Honduran rosewood/bearclaw red spruce.

Beautiful guitar. Excellent fit/finish. Neck profile matched templates I sent exactly.

Tone was "okay." Volume? Not very good. My other guitars trumped it for the jams that I frequent, to the point that other players often noticed and commented about how "quiet" that guitar was. (NOT something you want to hear in a bluegrass jam!)

It could turn into a tone/volume monster in another year or three after a lot of playing, but I doubt it. I think a guitar is 95% of more of what it will eventuall be, brand new. Maybe mine - their first lefty ever - was an aberration, I don't know.

But a good friend had a brazilian/red spruce slope shoulder Rockbridge dread (their first-ever slope... hmmm, a pattern for "first ever" guitars???) with similar issues and also traded his away after 16 months or so.

Guitars ARE subjective! Every last one of 'em, brand name wise. So test drive one before you commit, is my advice. I didn't on the Rockbridge - my bad.

Randall and Brian are great guys to deal with, fwiw. I have no gripes or complaints, the guitar just didn't suit me, that's all.

Gary Collier

Hey Homer I'm with you The 2 that I own are just about the best new guitar I ever bought.I love the neck on em,the hefty size makes it easier for me to chord, especially the C.You'll not find a better bang for the buck than a Rocky.BTW,having owned 5 which is your fav?Do you perfer the OM size or the Dread?

Walt: My favorite really is the Red Spruce/Quilted Mahogany dread. But, then again, I'm more of a dread guy so it may not be a fair comparison. I really think the short scale with the Martin body and the Gibsony bracing, as well as the ultra-thin water-based lacquer does something special and unique to the tone.

Ditto to Homer: My red spruce (hand-selected from Old Stand by me and John Griffin, the owner) is combined with fiddle-back mahogany, cut 75 years ago.

Ditto on the construction too; same basic build and very high quality finish.

Mine is plenty loud and it is my regular jam guitar. I don't take the D1A custom to jams much, largely for safety and security reasons; and while the tone is different from Collings, I like it very much, and every one comments on how easy the stock setup is to play.

After you've got your Collings, get one of these! Great dealers, great guy builders.

Has anyone tried one of the cedar topped Rockbridge Guitars. The reason I ask? I placed an order this past November for a 000. I ordered a 000 with Panamanian rosewood back and sides. Brian seems to be pretty high on the cedar tops. I am leaning towards red spruce but would like to get some opinions. I am not strictly a finger picker but like to play all styles. I would also like feedback on their 000 in general.

Thanks,
Steve