New Guitar Arrived Today

It's always a good day when a new instrument arrives. I open the case, give the instrument a quick check to see that it has arrived safely, then put it back and leave it without playing. This guitar was freezing and needed to get up to room temperature before tuning up. An hour or so later I tuned it up, but the first string broke. I noticed the nut was rough - not a good sign - and my heart sank. The next string stayed the course. I had to go out, so left it again without playing - a bit frustrating!

Well, I managed to get a good play of it this evening. It is a Manuel Rodriguez y Hijos, FC Senorita-scale, 6oomm string length, Canadian Cedar soundboard and neck, and ebony fingerboard, and the top is French varnished. The only negative aspect is that nut. Everything else is beautifully manufactured. This is a replacement for my wife's C3 model by Rodriguez which I've recently borrowed and have used on my videos. She can have it back now - in fact our daughter has her eye on it. The FC model is three times the price of the C3, and the woods and workmanship justify the expense - except for the nut, that is. I have written to Manuel Rodriguez III Jr to complain about it. I await a response. EDIT: he is sending me a new nut...

The guitar is very loud, given its size. The strings are very bright - new strings and a new guitar is all a bit too bright for my liking. But after a couple of hours of playing, the strings are mellowing out, and the tone is really singing. I think this guitar will open up a lot over the coming weeks.

I'll post a video when I can...