Spectrum AIL 44TGB Full Size Brindled Acoustic Guitar with Bonus Gig Bag, Brown

Great sound - will play loud, deep and strong if you push it, great bass. I don't know one way or the other if this would be good guitar for a light, delicate fingerstyle sound, as I don't do that. Still, the high end sounds crisp and clear. I have never before experienced a guitar with the teardrop tuned port hole on the side, and I think that is what explains the special qualities. The sound seems to project better this way. You can see the side sound hole on the picture that shows the box. For some reason they don't stress this feature in the description, but they should, as it is rare and works GREAT. I've never seen another guitar that has one. Also, the tuned port hole faces you, so YOU hear the guitar extra loud, so you really know what it sounds like. I feel this kind of forces me to sing a bit louder, which I think is good. The neck is shallow, which makes it easier for your left hand to form chords without stretching or straining. It comes already strung (with what seems like a good set of strings), so that was a nice surprise. I think the extra hole is also a great conversation piece, and it's rather interesting to look inside and see the construction of the ribs, which look very light and graceful, and well made. The gig bag is very satisfactory. It is a beautiful instrument with a very high gloss finish, and from a distance it looks expensive; but up close in bright light of course you can see that the brindled wood is just a print on plywood, at this price naturally it would have to be. If you store the AIL44TGB hanging on a wall, with a reddish light (such as a colored LED in a clamp lamp) pointed at it, the face of the guitar seems to glow and shimmer like expensive wood finishes do, and it looks amazing. I leave mine this way in the living room, and in idle moments contemplate the beauty of the guitar, and how its pure sound is enabling me to move up the skill ladder as a player. With the custom-light strings I once tried, it sounded bad, lost the special sound. I normally use light strings, which sound fine. I normally use D'Addario Light or Martin. P.S. I continue to marvel at how great it sounds. I've played just to accompany my singing for 20 years; and only now, because I can really savor the subtleties of the guitar notes, I find myself actually trying to become a guitarist. Just after I bought the AIL44TGB I also bought my first capo that actually works - a Kyser. If you're going to play, you owe it to yourself to have a good reliable capo. I bought this guitar for about $150, which was a BARGAIN. Now it's even cheaper. I'm wondering why one of the reviewers said it needed to be "set up." I didn't have that done, and everything's fine. Other comments, after playing it for 1 1/2 years - be careful with the paint on the back - it scratches easily. Lay it on a towel to change strings. This guitar can produce a very powerful bass end, the next thing to an electric guitar. Can really fill a room. But, whether it's good for light, pretty fingerpicking, I think maybe not, but I can't say for sure because I don't do that style. If you want power in an acoustic, this is it.

Just be careful...as soon as you receive it take it right to a music store for it's first "set-up". Failure to do so will cost you more money than the guitar itself is worth. For instance if it needs fret work done plan on spending about $125.00. They cannot just do one fret they must do all for them to be consistent with one another.

This is a great guitar for the price point!! It's beautiful and perfect for beginners like me. It came all set up and after tuning was ready to play. The free guitar lessons it came with are introductory. You only learn a few notes and a few songs before you have to subscribe to pay. You do get a discounted rate if you wish to upgrade. The lessons were very helpful, however, to learn about the guitar before starting to play. They taught me all the parts, different types of guitars, and the terminology I would need to understand the lessons. The first lesson was so easy to follow that I will be upgrading to continue with them! It comes with a bag and strap which is a great bonus!

Great guitar for the price--the size is great and the sound is good. Easy to handle and comes with lessons that make learning fun and easy. It has a gorgeous finish. My husband really enjoys playing it.