MacKenzie & Marr Guitar Owner Reviews

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MacKenzie & Marr Guitar Owners' Reviews

Please note: We publish all reviews exactly as they are submitted. Occasionally we may correct an obvious typo but that's it. The opinions you read are the owner's own words.
2022-05-18
Star Rating: 
5
Timothy from Abbotsford writes:
I've owned and played many different acoustic guitars over the years, and the Opeongo is my first instrument from MacKenzie & Marr. I own a Martin D18 and have had a few other Martins, Seagulls, Taylors, and assorted others. For my style of play, I prefer the parlour guitar as they are smaller and lighter, and I like the 12 fret configuration. The action is light enough, and positive up and down the fret board, with a nice feel all the way up and back down. The Opeongo is still pretty new at only 2 months old, but it has become my favourite guitar to play. It has a big sound, and is a great player for fingerstyle. While it doesn't have a bigger voice like my D18 Martin, it fills a room and sounds bigger than it is. I know it'll improve with age, too. It's very light, and small enough to let me play longer! It's a pretty balanced sound, with very decent lows, no 'muddle in the middle', and pleasing highs that ring nicely in the all-wood body. It's nice to look at, too. It's got some nice accents around the soundhole and on the back. I like the matte finish a lot, and the tuners are top-notch. It stays in tune nicely, and was buzz-free on delivery. The included case is a pretty decent 4 clasp enclosure, nicely lined that offers better protection than a gig bag and makes you feel safe about storing your guitar. I would have expected to pay perhaps $2,500.00 or more for something like this in another brand. The fact that it's built in China does not bother me, as the QC i obviously tight, and I know that M&M inspected and setup this instrument before shipping to me. I knew the Opeongos were out of stock when I ordered, so I had a little wait, but boy, was it worth it. I love this guitar. I'll consider another instrument from M&M in the future. My only regret: that I didn't add the offered pickup at the time I ordered. I will add one later locally. You can't go wrong here. There is nothing this nice at this price range on the market in your local store. If you like a parlour guitar, you will LOVE the Opeongo. Tim H in Abbotsford
2022-05-13
Star Rating: 
5
David from Port Hope writes:
I've had this guitar for about three months. It's actually the second guitar that I received. The first Tofino X had a minor cosmetic flaw that I could have likely simply ignored. It didn't affect the playability in any way, but it was always there, and it bothered me. I returned the guitar, under the "Love It or Leave It" seven day guarantee, and a replacement guitar was shipped to me without question. That guarantee is impossible to beat! This guitar sits on a stand, near my computer. I spend several hours each day at my computer and I find myself continually being inspired by something, and automatically reaching for this beautiful instrument. I've played for over fifty years. I've owned many different guitars, some at the lower end, and some way over the top, like a Martin D41 and a Bourgeois Custom Slope D, among others. The Tofino guitar is as playable, and as inspiring, as any guitar I've ever owned. The combination of tonewoods that are generally somewhat difficult to find in an acoustic guitar. The AAA western red cedar top over a AAA mahogany body was just what I was looking for. A soft, yet powerful and loud guitar with a very natural sound. Very attractive indeed. Feature after feature after feature totally unexpected in a guitar at this price. Maple binding top and botton. Also maple fretboard and headstock bindings. Abalone purfling. Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Grover Gold tuners. I could go on and on. This is definitely my goto guitar. Just picked up for a minute or two, often turns out to be an hour or two. I would highly recommend this very well priced, high end guitar, to anyone looking for an excellent quality instrument. Sometimes I can't even believe that it's really that good, at such a reasonable price. Dave.
2022-05-02
Star Rating: 
4
Richard from Longmont writes:
I put off reviewing my newest guitar (Algonquin 12) as I wanted some 'alone' time with the Big Al. Out of the box, Big Al, while not the biggest in size, came out with a big sound. It shines with big bass and warm mid-tones. However, the treble strings are a little thin and I don't know yet if that is the strings or just a function of the guitar's sound. What I noticed right off, was how easy Big Al was to play! OMG! Just a delight and a dream to work the fretboard, playing those 12 string songs everyone knows :-) And I've found that any song can sound special with Big Al. This guitar has brought me a ton of fun. I find that I reach for Big Al when I get that itch in the fingers to play music, even though I have a couple of old friends sitting in the guitar stand. I was so trepidatious about buying a guitar online, but I found the whole process painless and I have an incredible guitar value at a very reasonable price. Thank you, M & M!
2022-04-19
Star Rating: 
5
Michael from Hillsdale writes:
This is my first M & M guitar and I am more than impressed with the beauty, quality, sound and the experience! A friend of mine saw it last week, had never heard of the company but after playing it he researched the company. He said it would easily compete with $3000 guitars. Looking forward to hearing how the sound continues to get better with playing and aging of the wood.
2022-04-11
Star Rating: 
5
Chuck from Myrtle Beach writes:
Great guitar, great price.
2022-04-01
Star Rating: 
5
Albert from Woodstock NB writes:
Another outstanding instrument!! I thought my Grand Manan was well detailed, but my Riverboat Dread is over the top! The sustain is top of the line. I'll show this one off with pride! Well Done!!
2022-04-01
Star Rating: 
5
Michel from St-Guy writes:
Bonjour! Juste quelques mots pour vous dire que je suis un amoureux de guitares acoustiques, j'en ai eu plus de 30 dans ma vie. Je dois vous dire que j'ai eu un coup de foudre pour les guitares Mackenzie and Marr. Leur beauté esthétique, la qualité des matériaux et la gentillesse de monsieur Marr m'ont décidé à acheter une première guitare, la Opeongo. Après deux semaines de pur enchantement, j'ai compris que je commanderais une deuxième guitare: la Baby Boat. En 3 jours ouvrables, je l'ai reçue par Federal Express et après deux semaines de «réchauffement», la Baby boat a commencé à me donner une idée assez juste de son potentiel. Wow! Et ce n'est qu'un début! La preuve: j'ai commencé à mettre en vente mes guitares plus grosses et plus coûteuses! Il ne me resterait que mes deux M&M et je serais heureux! Longue vie aux guitares Mackenzie & Marr! Petit conseil: traduire votre publicité en français pour avoir une meilleure visibilité au Québec et même en France.
2022-03-14
Star Rating: 
5
Joe from Poplar writes:
The Baby Boat sailed in smoothly, well packaged. At first I thought the guitar sounded a bit thin and sharp. I prefer silk and steel or phosphor strings, so I changed them and she warmed up. I swear, the guitar warms up a bit each time I play it. The string sustain invites versatility, with a small body that I dig. It's a nice compliment to the Opeongo I bought a while back. The evolution of the Baby Boat character and soul will be interesting to experience. Thanks Mackenzie Marr for good sounding, good looking instruments. And just to mention, the saddle seemed a bit low, so you sent another saddle to me free, and I appreciate it. Hey everyone, get one of these guitars to cradle in your lap.
2022-03-14
Star Rating: 
5
John from Riverside writes:
Mackenzie and Marr guitars have a curious ability to sound unique.  Some models have distinctive shapes and woods so the difference in sound is to be expected.  What about an iconic dreadnought shape with a rosewood body and an Adirondack top?  Maybe that one should sound somewhat familiar?  It doesn't. The guitar is physically lighter that some of the lookalikes.  The beautiful Bolivian rosewood body has the familiar sapwood back stripe - a combination which has become a personal favorite.  The wood is just prettier than Indian rosewood with a colorful brightness that allows the grain of the wood to shine through.  There's a new thin zipper inlay at the rear peg - a nice touch that isn't a copy of anything. The body, neck and peghead are bound in curly maple with some additional wood accents.  The abalone binding and rosette are familiar and welcome.  My spec says the fretboard and bridge are also Bolivian but neither wood matches the body.  The board is a variegated brown and the bridge looks like ebony.  It's hard to imagine a tree with such a palate of colors. The neck is the only thing left to a CNC process,  If you like the M&M neck, this will be no exception.  The tuners are Grover gold Rotomatics - I prefer the open butterbeans which reduce the weight.  To each their own, I suppose.  I was overruled. I could have written this much within a few minutes of unpacking the guitar.  The sound, however, just left me scratching my head. My old Martins D-28's are more than a little bass heavy.  Apparently it made the Hawaiian players who requested such an instrument happy,  There wasn't a bass slide guitar or bass ukulele and they had need something in this register.  Early country musicians just needed something loud and after Earl joined the Bluegrass Boys there was need of a banjo killer. The Boat isn't in this tradition. So maybe it sounds like a D-18 with little less bass and a little more treble?  That's not quite right either.  My boat is almost even across all six strings with the slightly dominate ones being the 4th and 5th.  Neither the 1st or 6th strings fall into that category.  The 28 style is all about a loud 6th.  The 18's are often VERY bright with a very strong 1st in the treble.  The Boat falls happily in the middle.  Very happily, for a singer. The guitar can be LOUD as needed but still wonderfully responsive with a much lighter touch.  The smooth string balance can be fingerpicked and resemble the sound of an old OM or 000 which is not that common in a D body size. This was the first M&M I order but the fourth to arrive.  It was well worth the wait and I'm anxious to learn what the plan is to do next.
2022-03-14
Star Rating: 
4
Herb from Pickering writes:
Really enjoy the Algonquin 12 with the exception of a slight buzz on the high E string that seems to have disapated now. I'll be changing the strings in June and it can only get better. Not a huge fan of d'adarios.

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