Palen Archtops: have you tried these?
mikeo
Nelson Palen. His instruments are sold exclusively through Lou Del
Rosso at Guitars N Jazz (Summit, NJ)http://www.guitarsnjazz.com/ -
more about Lou later. I have read reviews from those who buy a new
guitar and are so excited about their purchase, the newness, the
anticipation, etc, their critique becomes wrought with exaggeration and
hype. On the day I received my new Palen guitar, I knew I wanted to do
just that, however, I've restrained myself for 5 months in order to
properly get acquainted with this instrument and allow it some time to
open up and tell me its story.
Almost two years ago, I switched from playing 6-string to 7-string,
which sadly rendered all my treasured archtop guitars obsolete. I
owned a Gibson ES-175, a vintage Guild X-500, an '80's Benedetto
Manhattan, and an Eastman; I knew they all had to go the first time I
plucked a low A string with my thumb...heaven! We 7-stringers are
painfully aware that the market for our instrument is so small that
shopping for a guitar is often limited to a tiny population of stringed
candidates, usually via the internet. It is thus unreasonable to
expect to walk into a music store and find even a single 7-string
archtop to play, certainly not here in northern CA.
My friend and fine NJ-area jazz guitarist, John Zweig, suggested I
check out Palen; John owns several Palens himself, and has owned scores
of fine guitars through the years, including the aforementioned
Benedetto. I knew his recommendation was solid, so I contacted Lou to
place an order. A modest deposit ($500) got me in line for a custom
Palen guitar - no more money would be due until the guitar was ready
to ship, AND it carried a full money back guarantee. Wow, that
definitely removed the risk of buying sight unseen! I sent him my
preferences, including neck dimensions, wood choices, color swatches,
etc, and then prepared to curb my excitement for the next several
months. Periodically, I would receive email updates and a photo from
Nelson Palen showing his progress. As it started to take shape, I
began to understand his commitment to quality; Nelson is a very
meticulous person and not only wants to do a job well, he is intent on
establishing reproducible protocols along the way, as if to tighten up
his process for subsequent instruments. I suspect that each batch of
Palen guitars gets better and better.
Nelson designed a unique new 7-string headstock, which I immediately
loved, as it reminded me of the graceful style of Jimmy D'Aquisto. I
asked for curly Hawaiian Koa appointments (headstock and binding), my
favorite wood from my favorite place. He was most accommodating.
Nelson even had Kent Armstrong build the exact pickup I wanted and
waited for it to arrive before constructing the guitar's X-bracing to
optimally surround the pickup routing.
Now let me say a few words about Lou Del Rosso. My business brought me
to New Jersey at one point last year, and though my free time would be
limited to a single evening, I phoned Lou, hoping to have a chance to
meet him in person. It was late, but he offered to wait for me at his
shop. I braved a severe rainstorm on the NJ turnpike and finally
arrived in Summit, NJ, where Lou patiently invited me to try every
guitar and amp he had. Lou keeps an amazing array of high end jazz
guitars on hand. I got to play several Palens, including those
personally owned by our mutual friend John (he had dropped his off
earlier that day). I only needed to play one note to know that I had
made the right decision about ordering a Palen...but I played a few
more anyway. Meeting Lou was like visiting a dear friend. He even
treated me to dinner afterward!
Fast forward to June of this year. My own Palen was completed, and Lou
sent it out for a professional set-up before shipping it to me. I
removed the case from the box and eagerly unlatched it. I was not
nervous; I already knew this would be something very special. Viola!
It looked spectacular in every way. He nailed the honey amber finish I
had requested. The flamed woods were breathtaking. The finely shaped
ebony fittings exuded a supreme level of quality. The frets were
precisely crowned and polished. I tuned it up and played the first
chord. This guitar was alive. The acoustic sound was big and
pleasing. I immediately perceived the qualities that set this one
apart from other guitars I have known: a long and pleasing sustain, and
an incredible sensitivity to even the most lightly plucked note.
Amplified, it likewise did not fail to impress, as I heard the very
sound I had been hearing in my head; it was pleasantly warm and mellow
with a clear attack.
I have been selectively gigging with my Palen 7, dubbed by Nelson,
"The Koa Konstrictor", and am very happy to own it. Here she is:
http://tinyurl.com/yma3zz
Mike Oria 11/2006
http://www.milleroria.com/
Mark Cleary
Just a curious question, if this was a new guitar why did it need to be sent
out for professional set-up. Did Lou get this from the maker himself. If
that is the case the guitar should be set up by the builder and at the price
of these guitars they should be perfect. I can see it might need an
adjustment after a few months but maybe I got this worng.
--
Mark Cleary
Hollenbeck Jazz Guitars the Finest
Handcarved Jazz Guitars
http://members.cox.net/ruthster/hollenbeck/
"mikeo" <mike...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1164492630.8...@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com...
Kevin Van Sant
in message <1164492630.8...@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com> :
>Recently, I took delivery of a very special custom archtop built by
>Nelson Palen.
A student of mine recently got two six string Palens. One with routed
PU one with floating. They are easily the best sounding of all the
independent luthier guitars I've heard or played. Like you said, you
hear one note and you know. Congrats and enjoy.
_________________________________________
Kevin Van Sant
http://www.kevinvansant.com
CDs, videos, mp3s, gigs, pics, lessons, info.
mikeo
No worries, they are ready to be played straight from Nelson, but Lou
gave me the option of having it sent to one of his pro set up guys for
fine tweaking. This was included in the price, and yes, it was(and is)
perfect. Lou is a conscientious guy and I could tell he wants his
customers to have the best first impression.
hope that helps,
Mike
Mark Cleary
I have never played one and would really like to given the reviews I have
heard. I must say I really enjoyed the sound you get out of the guitar on
you webpage. No easy feat to play Joy Spring solo with a singer as a duo you
did it first class. Great work!
--
Mark Cleary
Hollenbeck Jazz Guitars the Finest
Handcarved Jazz Guitars
http://members.cox.net/ruthster/hollenbeck/
"mikeo" <mike...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1164494350.2...@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
mikeo
on "Joy Spring". I am playing the Palen on "For No One", most of the
other tunes are my McKerrihan Kenza 7.
Rick Ross
congratualations on your new guitar..but, after listening to the clips on
your website, I think you'd make anything that stays in tune sound good...:)
rick
Max Leggett
wrote:
>> Mike Oria 11/2006
>> http://www.milleroria.com/
>>
>mike
>congratualations on your new guitar..but, after listening to the clips on
>your website, I think you'd make anything that stays in tune sound good...:)
>rick
Yeah, Joy Spring was jus fahn.
--------------------------------------
Without music, life is a mistayke.
Friedrich "Spelling R Us" Nietzsche
--------------------------------------
Pinner
Jazz Suprema at lou's store and I am still haunted by the sound. Simply
the best guitar I have ever played and I have played a lot. I bought my
used Heritage Golden Eagle and a Kent Armstrong PAF floater from Lou.
He is truely a great guy. No pressure to buy. Just a guy who loves
archtops. There was a weak solder joint on one of the pots and even
after I told him I could and would fix it, he insisted that if there
was a problem to send it to a tech and send him the bill. His buisness
is actually a hobby for him as it is not his full time job. As you can
tell I highly recommend him and his store. (and Palen's too)
jaz
price!
Max Leggett
>Aren't they around $6k? I would think they'd be pretty good at that
>price!
:-) Yeah: I rave about my Sadowsky, and at 4k it damn well _better_
be a good ax.
Bill Williams
Sure is (and has the original intro which I've always liked)
Bill Williams
Tone
On Nov 25, 11:20 pm, "jaz" <j...@jackzucker.com> wrote:
> Aren't they around $6k? I would think they'd be pretty good at that
> price!
Yeah you'd think it was a given that for that much money they'd be
pretty good, but evidently it still comes as a surprise just how good
these things actually are. Same thing with the multi-$k amps reviews I
guess :-) Just putting the word out, right?
Mark Guest
and they're not *all* great guitars.
Mark Cleary
played a number of jazz guitars at over $5 price that did not sound good. I
have yet to play a recent Gibson Citation that goes for huge money that I
thought sounded great. If you pay $14k for a Gibson Citation acoustically it
better sound like some vintage guitars that go for less. I have also played
some really nice Gibson L-7s that sounded great and the noncuts can be had
for a song at times.
--
Mark Cleary
Hollenbeck Jazz Guitars the Finest
Handcarved Jazz Guitars
http://members.cox.net/ruthster/hollenbeck/
"Mark Guest" <Mark.C...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164556102....@l39g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
jimbol51
LeGrand plays and sounds better than the Citations that I've tried. Of
course LeGrands (the new Johnny Smiths) are not cheap either. jim
"Mark Cleary" <mcle...@verizondot.net> wrote in message
news:4Piah.13337$w37.11432@trnddc08...
mikeo
jaz wrote:
> Aren't they around $6k? I would think they'd be pretty good at that
> price!
Jack, yes, one hopes with any handmade piece, but keep in mind many
private luthiers these days are asking in the neighborhood $10K-$18K
for their guitars; some make great ones and some make average ones. It
is all relative, but when one can identify a luthier making first
quality instruments at tremendous value, I think it is worth letting
others know.
cheers,
mike o
tom walls
mike...@comcast.net says...
> I am playing the Palen on "For No One", most of the
> other tunes are my McKerrihan Kenza 7.
>
>
>
beautiful, too.
--
Tom Walls
the guy at the Temple of Zeus
C6
Hi Mike,
Does your palen guitar have a floating or set-in pickup? Any
observations about the difference in tone between the two types of
pickups on the palen?
Thanks.
mikeo
>
> Does your palen guitar have a floating or set-in pickup? Any
> observations about the difference in tone between the two types of
> pickups on the palen?
>
I opted for a set Kent Armstrong PAF. Like some, i used to think
carving a pickup rout in a solid top was an abomination, but I have
since REALLY come to prefer the sound of a set humbucker vs a floater.
It seems to get just a little more electric sound with some of the
positive elements of such(sustain, etc), but still keeps most of the
acoustic guitar quality, particularly on the attack. If the gig gets
loud, i think it is easier to tame than with a floater. For the quiet,
at home, lightly amplified sound, I have a magnificent Benedetto
7-string with floater that covers that situation well, so i was mainly
looking for a mid-volume gigging guitar in the Palen. YMMV.
mark on ubuntu
NJ. Awesome guy and an amazing store.
A few years ago I took the 2 hour drive up there to check out a Gibson
ES-125 he had for $1000. I have very limited experience playing guitars
other than the few that I've owned through the years, with none of them
being worth/costing more than $300 or so, so $1000 was a big price for me
: )
Anyways, that was the day I learned I'm not a fan of P-90's or
non-cutaway archtops. Lou, bless his heart, made me try every single
archtop in his store even though he knew that my absolute price limit was
$1000 and there was nothing else in the store under $1600 at the time. He
told me he wanted me to get familiar with the different sizes and types of
guitars so I'd know what to look for when the time came for me to buy.
If I ever get a couple grand free to throw down on a guitar I will happily
bring it to Lou's just to repay him for his having to listen to me play
the pentatonic scale for 3 hours on his $10,000 guitars : )
mark