Review 6117 Sat, 09/12/2020 - 13:51
Randy
From Springfield
Reviewed Product:
Tofino X (10th Anniversary Limited Edition)Understandably, it took just a little longer to receive my Tofino than I had originally anticipated. Mind you, this was pre-COVID, but as they say in Toy Story 2, "you can't rush art." After unboxing the guitar, the first thing that struck me was how both rugged and classy the case was. Then I opened the case and saw the work of art within. The wood grain of the cedar top is exquisite, as are the mahogany back and sides. The abalone inlays are stunning.
My main guitar is a bowl-back Ovation that I bought brand new in 1984. The Tofino feels like it is half the weight of the Ovation - which is a good thing but the deep tonal quality of the Ovation is definitely richer and louder compared to the Tofino . With that said, the Tofino is definitely brighter in sound and is very playable with a slightly thinner neck than the ovation. It did indeed take me a full seven days to fall in love with the Tofino. It is now the first guitar I pick up when I want to wind down for the day.
There is one thing that I do not love about the Tofino, and that is the way the wiring for the Baggs pick-up just dangles inside the guitar and if you have a battery installed at the end of the wire, the sound of the banging of the battery as you pull your guitar off the stand and into playing position is disappointing and seems like an afterthought rather than an integration. With that said, the positive take on this situation is that it is extremely easy to change the battery. So being a glass half-full kind of guy, I'll focus on that aspect of this issue. Next battery change, however, I do plan on taping some foam around the battery to lesson the blow as it tumbles inside the guitar.
My overall impression is that this is one classy guitar. I would challenge anyone to find an equally priced guitar that looks or sounds as good as the Tofino for the price.
My main guitar is a bowl-back Ovation that I bought brand new in 1984. The Tofino feels like it is half the weight of the Ovation - which is a good thing but the deep tonal quality of the Ovation is definitely richer and louder compared to the Tofino . With that said, the Tofino is definitely brighter in sound and is very playable with a slightly thinner neck than the ovation. It did indeed take me a full seven days to fall in love with the Tofino. It is now the first guitar I pick up when I want to wind down for the day.
There is one thing that I do not love about the Tofino, and that is the way the wiring for the Baggs pick-up just dangles inside the guitar and if you have a battery installed at the end of the wire, the sound of the banging of the battery as you pull your guitar off the stand and into playing position is disappointing and seems like an afterthought rather than an integration. With that said, the positive take on this situation is that it is extremely easy to change the battery. So being a glass half-full kind of guy, I'll focus on that aspect of this issue. Next battery change, however, I do plan on taping some foam around the battery to lesson the blow as it tumbles inside the guitar.
My overall impression is that this is one classy guitar. I would challenge anyone to find an equally priced guitar that looks or sounds as good as the Tofino for the price.
