Roy McAlister has been making quite a name for himself, as big name satisfied customers like David Crosby and Jackson Browne have spread the word about his skill. This cool Smeckalister model was developed for Jackson Browne and it proved to be such a hit that Roy offers it as a standard model. I was blown away by the quality of the woods in this guitar when it arrived - gorgeous flamed mahogany with beautiful shimmer and depth, figured bindings, and an absolute master grade Adirondack top. The unique configuration this slope shoulder 12 fret dread gives it a powerful, distinctive tonal signature that's complex somewhere between the stereotypical Martin or Gibson sound. I hear the thick, loud mids and round trebles that I associate with Gibson instruments, but the bass is more clear and deep than a typical Gibson. There's a touch of the 12 fret rasp, but not at all the boxy sound I've heard from some 12 fret instruments. Setup is currently a medium-high flatpicker's delight but there's plenty of fossil ivory saddle left if you'd prefer a lower action. This one is priced to move quickly at well under $5000 - Roy's current base price is $6200 before the upgrades!
