Well, my Double Top Small Jumbo made it today to its new owner in Florida and I was surprised by the review he posted in another forum I am a member of.
I certainly wasn't expecting a review like this but this is what he said about it:
"Ok, I've just spent an hour playing my new Cornerstone guitar. Really not a great amount of time to go into the complexities of what I am hearing, because I don't really understand it all yet. It's really hard to explain. I don't know if it is the wood selection, the bracing, the double top, soundport, and I don't care cause it is remarkable.
The guitar is extremely balanced. But, hmmm, when I have said that in the past it is usually my way of being nice when playing a guitar that is average or has nothing that really stands out. In this case, it is very different.
If you love clear sparkling highs, you'd love this guitar. They are clear, the harmonics are incredible and the sustain is ridiculous.
If you love punchy, strong mids, you'd love this guitar. There are very clean, but warm and hmmmm, toothy, like a great Martin or Collings OM.
Now, this is not a big guitar, but Peter assured me that the bass of this guitar would not be thin. Well, wow, ummmm, I don't know how to even start. The bass, like I said earlier, is very present. It is deep, it is LOUD, warm, and hmmm, loose. Lots of vibration against the chest when you play it. This guitar has all the bass and space as my 23 yr old 17" Taylor 815.
The SJ seems like it has already opened and is not tight at all. I really have never experienced anything like it in a small body guitar before. I have had small Taylors, Breedloves, Goodalls, Grevens, Martins and Collings and I have played Olsons, Applegates, Ryans, Doolins, and so many others. Usually I had a fair amount of exposure to the guitars that were not mine so I have a good feel for them. This guitar does not sound like them, it sounds, much, well, bigger.
If I were gonna compare this guitar to guitars I have played, well, it sounds bigger than my old SJ Collings with brazilian and adi. My best comparison is to one of Lance McCollum's guitars, walnut and redwood, but that was a much deeper and bigger guitar, and the other I think it is similar to is a redwood/madrose 5.0 MacPhearson I have played and almost bought. It has that warmth and power to it. Those guitars have a very loose sound, not tight, like there is a lot of space for the sound. This is consistent to that.
I have played and owned alot of large and small new acoustic guitars. I have never heard a guitar out of the box with such maturity and presence. I don't know how to even explain it. In fact, the guitar is almost as loud and warm played lightly as it is loudly.
As far as the craftsmanship....
I have been over this guitar to look at every little detail. First thing I notice is that the top and bloodwood is much darker, much richer than the pics show. The camatillo rosewood is absolutely a beautiful warm wood with amazing figure.
The bindings, the mitered corners are beautiful. The paua is gorgeous all the way around, bold blues and greens are great against the dark woods. The workmanship to my eyes is as good as what I have seen in guitars that cost 3, 4 and 5 times more.
I have to remind you that before this guitar started, I did not know Peter, and while I have a good relationship with him I would not taint my review. I just cannot get over what I have here. This is the nicest guitar I have ever owned. No doubt. And usually I cannot say that until I had it for a while.
I would not hesitate to recommend Peter's guitars to anyone. I still have to figure out the soundclips thing, but wow, I am so impressed.
Thanks Peter. Hard to believe what you have learned in such a short time."
Thanks for reading,
