Description
New. SN: WL1313.
Select Sitka Spruce top with sunburst finish and ladder bracing and adjustable truss-rod. Mahogany back, sides and neck. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
Built with a big tilt toward the historic Gibson (and Gibson’s “Kalamazoo” parlor guitars of the 1930’s. This one has traditional “L-00” (or “L-0”) body shape. Maybe the most amazing thing about these Waterloo guitars is that in many cases they sound better than the 80+ year old originals. These come with 12-fret or 14-fret neck joints, with X-bracing or with Ladder bracing, and with fixed or with adjustable truss-rods.
Everyone wants to hear about a startling difference between the x-bracing and the straight (“ladder”), bracing… But, sometimes they are tough to tell apart when new. We can attest to that statement because on several occasions we have had ladder braced and straight braced Waterloo guitars hanging next to each other on our walls that sometimes sounded opposite what you would assume. I am referring to subjective things, like, which one is fuller, or which has a faster decay of the notes, or which is warmer…etc.
In my opinion the ladder bracing AND the X-bracing both will satisfy experienced, competent players, and there isn’t a clearcut advantage with either bracing choice that we hear. These are so well made that any experienced player of vintage guitars is impressed with them, for price, workmanship, materials, playability and sound.
Here is Matt Rieger from the Lil’ Smokies demonstrating this great little Waterloo #1313.
