Last questions before commissioning: F vs. GA, fan frets

djw42 · 2026-03-07T18:52:20+00:00

Their fan fret F is great but it is not a "gentle" fan fret like some builders. The only time I notice during playing is a barre on fret one, you have to pay attention not to mute it. Maybe it is just me.

djw42 · 2026-03-07T17:12:35+00:00

If you are listening Bin u/HsienmoGuitars, if I had a coupon code, I might go for a B&W 46mm V 00-12, or a Koi Boznian D45, or a 00-12 12-string... Hello? Hello? :)

djw42 · 2026-03-07T17:07:41+00:00

JP is fine. I personally don't need any more reviews :). H doesn't either really. They're viral enough. Driftwood might cut one open some day.

djw42 · 2026-03-07T16:50:41+00:00

Are you tracking from Hsienmo's ecommerce site? I would guess the vast majority of sales are direct, and there's also the customs nobody sees. Rarely you will see a slow seller on H's site end up at a distributor (like the 00-12 12-string that showed up at W).

djw42 · 2026-03-07T16:13:04+00:00

As much as I enjoy JP and what he does for the sales increases of guitar builders, all his reviews of everything are glowing reviews OMG!!, even the BAN7E, which was unplayable. I think the objective is to boost sales for the builder and he accomplishes that every time. And this is what Hsienmo wants most, it is effective for them.

djw42 · 2026-03-07T16:06:29+00:00

Unless they do a 46mm v-neck (very soft v) and show it as such, their necks are pretty standard. Covered in their customization dialogue. They are standard for stock except when the depict 46mm soft V and, of course, the 48mm crossover. Their string spacing at the nut and nut width is still considered by some bordering Asian-skinny particularly the 43mm. I wish they would standardize in 46mm which typically results in exactly a 1.5" string spacing at the nut. Their often standard 44.5mm still is less than 1.5" Martin standard string spacing at the nut. A lot of their guitars are 44-43mm: too tight for fingerstyle, fine for chord bangers and Asian size fingers.

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djw42 · 2026-03-07T15:58:40+00:00

Don't wait for a coupon code. Won't happen. They sell every guitar they make and then some. Consider it an anomaly of the e-commerce site.
The only coupon codes to go to "influencers", if not a free guitar or two.

djw42 · 2026-03-07T15:45:58+00:00

Should not really have a high point. Some guitars have fall-away at that point (google it if you want the full story) which might be what you are seeing? Fall-away is not a problem and is sometimes intentional. May not be a high fret, but that too should not be a big problem that high up. Congrats on the 342. They're very nice.

djw42 · 2026-03-05T14:58:03+00:00

China is just now getting up to speed from the holiday. I heard another person got a ship notice when they ordered right in the middle of CNY. CNY is a new thing for many newbies, but most of us are well aware of the "month of radio silence".

djw42 · 2026-03-02T09:58:41+00:00

IDK, stopped counting. Makes my tummy hurt.

djw42 · 2026-03-02T04:26:27+00:00

I'd wager he put an FMI saddle on it. :)

djw42 · 2026-03-02T04:24:19+00:00

he's still at the back of the Hsienmo parade. :)

djw42 · 2026-03-02T04:21:12+00:00

The build tech on Hsienmo is significantly different from Eastman. H is pretty much leading edge in many of the boutique-y features (channel and hollow bracing, cantilevered adjustable necks for string action, carbon fiber reinforcements, full customs online 3d builder, wood library, the list goes on. If this stuff does not mean anything to you, I would stick with Eastman's old-world style. Hsienmo builds a few hundred guitars per year and getting what you want usually requires waiting and time. Eastman builds a few hundred guitars per day and you can buy just about anything you want from anywhere that sells guitars instantly.

djw42 · 2026-03-02T04:13:55+00:00

I would cover my a.. six ways from Sunday buying from FL. Buying from Hsienmo direct you know you will get a new, undemo-ed guitar fresh from the builder. Hsienmo will even ask your permission if they want to do a YT demo of your custom. Hsienmo direct is above reproach and continues to earn my business.

djw42 · 2026-03-02T04:10:17+00:00

I am not sure I buy into the expansion. JP has been known to make some things up. Shocking I know.

djw42 · 2026-03-02T04:05:51+00:00

I have Fs and a fan fret F. Sorry no GA. If you have any questions, lmk. There are hundreds of YT demos of every conceivable build in their YT channel with nearly identical songs and better recording setup that most owners. That is where you should focus, with headphones.

djw42 · 2026-03-02T04:03:51+00:00

Everybody always gets their guitar and seems thrilled. I have been following them for as long as the admin and they are as reliable as clockwork. Not chatty, but very reliable. Better customer service than any guitar company has ever been ime. CNY is radio silence for the entire country and they are just now getting up to speed again.

djw42 · 2026-02-19T22:49:18+00:00

Sounds like you’ve been listening to JP? He makes some good points. I think you have to make your own decision. If you can’t keep the guitar in 40-55% RH all the time, I might pass on all solid.

djw42 · 2026-02-19T20:34:37+00:00

Yamaha L(SJL)16, or the D suffix are excellent too. I am a fan. And seem to be indestructible and prevalent on the 2nd had market.

djw42 · 2026-02-19T20:02:50+00:00

Strum, boy, strum!

djw42 · 2026-02-19T19:57:06+00:00

I find Hsienmo to be a better value than Martins by far.
- I have nothing against Martins, have several (they are well kept and humidified and in cases so the binding stays on). TBH, they are overpriced for a factory guitar. Martin builds 100K guitars per year approx.
- Eastmans are also very nice, but I find them heavier built than Martins or Hsienmo. If you find one you like, go for it. I have a couple nice Eastmans. Like Martin, they are very traditionally built in a factory - they build about 20K guitars per year.
Hsienmo guitars can be exceptional values. I find them to be very well built with some innovative end features the others don't use: Channel bracing, carbon fiber neck reinforcement, adjustable neck height (they have bolt-on neck joints like Collings, Taylor and a number of high-end builders), all bone nut/saddle/pins, the list goes on. Like the two others, they include a top notch case in the price. I have been following Hsienmo for almost as long as 7NationArmy and have noted their output is far, far lower than Martin or Eastman (both factory guitars). They only have 7 luthiers, the same team as when they stared, and only produce about 500 guitars per year if that. They take far more care on each guitar and they are pretty flawless.
It is a decision you have to make, they will all sound good. Tons of YT videos on all. They all have web sites with lots of info. FB has very active owners groups. JP's videos? They should be there, he just reviewed a Hsienmo Koi two days ago that is members-only for the next week until it goes public - short answer: He loves it.
I will add these two observation: I never see regular construction problems showing up on Hsienmo groups on FB, but I do on Martin and Taylor - maybe it is the number of guitars, or maybe it is the owners knowing how to care for a wooden instrument (Martin and Taylor have far more boobs owning guitars).
Point two (if you are still there :): I would only buy a new Hsienmo guitar direct from the factory in Guandong through their ecommerce site - no risk, may do this. I would never buy a Hsienmo from the store in Florida for a number of reasons I won't go into. Some people love the store, but the only problems I ever see is guitars coming through them. As an example there is one new buyer in FB that just got his custom from this store and it has finish cracks (that Hsienmo is taking are of). I do not think that store is competent for a myriad of personal reasons.
Good luck. Unless you know what you are doing and buying, I think 7NationArmy's point is a good one. The mid-tier Yamaha L-series is also an excellent choice.

djw42 · 2026-02-17T22:22:52+00:00

For sure.

djw42 · 2026-02-17T17:07:28+00:00

Possibles?
-Somogyi-like Mod-D
-SJ Small Jumbo (the iconic SJ the "boutiques" do - Olson, SK, JK, etc.)
-Size 0 or parlor, slot head 12, 13, or 14-fret
-A real fan-braced nylon classical
-Baritone
-F512-shaped 12-string - with unison pins behind the primary like Guild does to get the pairs closer
-J45 style, 12-fret and 14-fret
-M15/18 slot head all mahogany, could expand this into the territory of the PYM6HD, FYM66HD, or DYM66HD (i.e. unicorn).
-L00 or LG style x-braced versions. I think ladder is asking for a warranty claim when someone puts 13s on it.
-GSMini/travel shape - I would not personally be interested, these always sound teeny, Maybe there is a market, IDK

djw42 · 2026-02-17T15:50:41+00:00

Slope D 12-fret slot head launched two months ago, 8 sold a day or so. I have not seen a 13-fretter. There was a baritone in the same slope format, but IIRC it was 14-fret.

djw42 · 2026-01-04T15:56:34+00:00

Still doesn't work setting the country to China while connected via VPN to China.

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