Goodall

When we special ordered this guitar years ago, it was designed to be a big guitar for a big man (but a very sweet big man, who will be missed!). It was his dream guitar; and, when it arrived, it was clear that James Goodall had hit the mark like Robin Hood, as the dream was now a reality.  This Goodall Koa Jumbo comes just about as close as one can to being a piano squeezed into a guitar-sized box, albeit a very large guitar-sized box as guitar-sized boxes go. As a super jumbo, this KJ has tremendous breath of tone and power, which create a commanding presence so three dimensional that it inspires one to climb inside the guitar and listen to the notes bounce around with cavernous echo. Indeed, in such a space, it seems one can get lost for days in the ringing sustain before they realized they were out of food and water and needed to find their way out of the cave back to loved ones and, perhaps, a job. Thanks to Goodall’s inherently bright voicing, the guitar has a beautiful shimmering treble and remains surprisingly balanced, while retaining a good deal of clarity in the mid-range. Whether used for strumming or fingerstyle applications, the player is at the helm of an extremely dynamic and spacious voice.

Meanwhile, featuring James Goodall‘s highest grade of Koa, “Special Reserve,” this instrument is a truly exceptional and captivating visual display of natural materials—as is typically the case with Goodall’s guitars, there isn’t a lick of plastic evident anywhere, other than the pickguard. Here, it bears mentioning that, while certainly very curly and well-matched, the Special Reserve Koa is top-rated primarily for its sonic properties; and, as we have come to appreciate of curly woods, it is often the case that less dramatic figure (i.e., more shallow and uniformly tight curling) is preferred in terms of consistency as it pertains to transmitting vibration.  Of course, as is always true of prized tonewoods, the value of the premium associated is subjective.  Regardless, the Special Reserve Koa on this instrument delivers all the clarity, sustain, and subtle warmth in the upper and mid registers that we expect of Koa and then some. Meanwhile, the gorgeous back and sides are elegantly set against rosewood binding and wooden purflings to create a fittingly understated contrast, while subtle touches of abalone give the guitar the right amount of aesthetic “pop” without being garish.

Finally, for those daring enough to amplify such a giant, this guitar also comes equipped with an L.R. Baggs Dual Source pickup system, which is one of our long-standing, golden oldie favorites for blending systems. Featuring a tuneable internally-mounted microphone and an under-saddle transducer, the Dual Source offers a very natural and dynamic amplified capability that is also quite versatile, particularly as the mic and transducer signals can be either combined in mono or split in stereo and mixed independently.  So equipped, this Special Reserve Koa Goodall Jumbo is ready for just about anything a player could demand of it.

Condition

In terms of condition, we can attest that this guitar was lovingly used, but very well maintained on the whole. It does have a few minor bumps and bruises in the form of the occasional shallow dent or scuff that are consistent with such regular but respectful use, but certainly nothing glaring.  EXCELLENT PLUS to NEAR MINT condition.

• Super Jumbo Body Size
• AAA Sitka Spruce Top
• Spruce X-Bracing with Maple Bridgeplate
• Special Reserve Flamed Koa Back and Sides
• Indian Rosewood Binding, Backstrip, Endpiece, and Heelcap
• 5-Ply Fiber Top Purfling
• 3-Ply Fiber Back and Side Purfling
• 2-Ring Rosette with Abalone Center Ring
• High Gloss Body Finish
• Mahogany Neck with C Shape Carve
• Ebony Fingerboard
• Abalone Slotted Diamond Fingerboard Inlays
• Ebony Fingerboard Binding
• Ebony Headstock Veneer with Gloss Finish
• Abalone “G” Headstock Logo with Mother of Pearl Wings
• Indian Rosewood Headstock Binding
• 3-ply Headstock Side Purfling
• Satin Neck Finish
• Ebony Belly “Wing” Bridge
• Gold Gotoh Delta Series Tuners with Ebony Buttons
• Clear Pickguard
• Bone Nut
• Bone Saddle
• 1 3/4” Nut Width
• 25 1/2” Scale Length
• R. Baggs Dual Source Pickup System Installed
• Gold Strap Button Installed
• Original AVS Arch Top Case