DjangoBooks.com

Thoughts on Vintage Strings Manouche Moreno guitar

Jangle_JamieJangle_Jamie Scottish HighlandsNew De Rijk, some Gitanes and quite a few others

I've found one of these Manouche Moreno models for a very sensible price. A little internet trawling suggests the early ones were handmade by Jeongwoo Cho. The one I've found is I believe a later version, though I'm guessing as I haven't seen the label. The Moreno inscription is not on the headstock. The tuners look lovely. It also comes in a nice ivory Hiscox case.

I have no idea about how it will sound and how faithful it is to a true Selmer construction. It appears to be a spruce top (stained a rather horrible orange) and rosewood laminate back and sides as per usual.

Does anyone here have one and what do they think of it? It's been years since they were made. I wonder how they measure up to some of the more recent offerings from Altamira and Gallato (thinking mid-priced/affordable guitars here).

Thanks, Jamie

Comments

  • Jangle_JamieJangle_Jamie Scottish HighlandsNew De Rijk, some Gitanes and quite a few others
    Posts: 266
  • crookedpinkycrookedpinky Glasgow✭✭✭✭ Alex Bishop D Hole, Altamira M & JWC D hole
    Posts: 925

    Hi Jamie, I'm sure that all JWC guitars are made by Jeongwoo Cho. But there are two versions, one made under the partnership between two chaps - John Vickers and Tony Walker (I think) that's when they were branded Vintage Strings. Tony and Jeongwoo then st up JWC guitars.

    I owned one of the Moreno guitars from Vintage Strings and while it was a lovely thing to look at, we'll maybe the orange stain was a bit strong, soundwise it didn't measure up. I remember there were posts about this particular guitar and model and the concensus was that either early models were better than later ones or vice versa but I can't remember which was which.

    Later guitars built by Jeongwoo are much much better in my opinion. I suppose it all comes down to how much is being asked.

    BillDaCostaWilliamsJangle_Jamie
    always learning
  • CraigHensleyCraigHensley Maine New Barault #138 studio, Mordeglia OH
    Posts: 78

    The earlier ones made by Jeongwoo Cho are better than the latter. They will be signed by him on the label, "J.Cho", or some variation.

    Jangle_Jamie
  • Jangle_JamieJangle_Jamie Scottish HighlandsNew De Rijk, some Gitanes and quite a few others
    Posts: 266

    Thanks for the info. That's pretty much what I've read too. I've bought it and should have it in my hands on Thursday. I thought I'd take a chance as it was £300.

    I will report back on what it is exactly and most importantly, how it sounds! If I think a heavy finish is holding it back, I may well do my usual trick of stripping the whole thing and finishing with shellac.

    Then, to give me more problems, there's a nice looking David Hodson oval hole with flamed douka back and sides. Goodness knows what that sounds like, but it's a very reasonable £465. Pickup only, from Devon. That's about as far away as anyone can be from me in the UK!

    BillDaCostaWilliams
  • luckylucky New
    Posts: 52

    £465 for the Hodson is a steal. That barely covers the costs of the materials and Hodson was a good luthier.

    I agree with crookedpinky, the early JWCs were nothing special, his more recent guitars have been excellent.

    CraigHensleyJangle_Jamiebillyshakes
  • Jangle_JamieJangle_Jamie Scottish HighlandsNew De Rijk, some Gitanes and quite a few others
    Posts: 266

    Get yourself to Devon and it's yours!!!

  • Jangle_JamieJangle_Jamie Scottish HighlandsNew De Rijk, some Gitanes and quite a few others
    Posts: 266
  • Jangle_JamieJangle_Jamie Scottish HighlandsNew De Rijk, some Gitanes and quite a few others
    Posts: 266

    Manouche Moreno arrived today. Impressions are: Heavy guitar, heavily built. Very similar to my Gallato RS1939 Angelo Debarre, but with a mahogany neck. Nice tuners and tailpiece. Traditional chunky neck. The top is thick and could do with 1mm taking off it, plus the thick layer of top coat! I will totally strip the guitar of all finish and take some thickness off the top. It plays nicely and feels good. The strings have probably been on it for a few years - dead! There's no label inside which is a shame. No sign there ever was one.

    Oh, and I've bought the Hodson - picking it up tomorrow!

    *must stop buying guitars

    BucoBillDaCostaWilliamsbillyshakes
  • ScoredogScoredog Santa Barbara, Ca✭✭✭✭
    Posts: 900

    I had one and it was good, well worth what you paid for it. I sold it to a friend and he had the neck shaved down...that improved it more...I like the guitar a lot, especially at that price.

    Jangle_JamieBuco
  • Posts: 5,001

    @Jangle_Jamie I was gonna say just send the guy the money and pick it up whenever.

    It makes me feel good hearing about someone else buying guitars all the time. Thanks for the therapy.

    Don't stop!

    Jangle_JamieBillDaCostaWilliamsbillyshakes
    Every note wants to go somewhere-Kurt Rosenwinkel
Sign In or Register to comment.
Home  |  Forum  |  Blog  |  Contact  |  206-528-9873
The Premier Gypsy Jazz Marketplace
DjangoBooks.com
USD CAD GBP EUR AUD
USD CAD GBP EUR AUD
Banner Adverts
Sell Your Guitar
© 2024 DjangoBooks.com, all rights reserved worldwide.
Software: Kryptronic eCommerce, Copyright 1999-2024 Kryptronic, Inc. Exec Time: 0.005882 Seconds Memory Usage: 0.997742 Megabytes
Kryptronic