NAGD: Huss & Dalton OM

bermudianbrit

Hi all,

After waxing lyrical about Bourgeois acoustics in another thread, I really had my eye set on one when I returned to the UK. First I thought to enquire and see what secondhand delights Fretboarders might have in store.
I met up with @GRBaldwin last weekend who was kind enough to allow me to try 4 of his high class OMs - 2 Santa Cruz, a Bourgeois and this Huss & Dalton. I put all 4 through their paces in a literal blind test (i.e. I'm blind and I asked him not to tell me which one was which) to avoid bias.
This H&D came out on top. It was a toss up between that and a Santa Cruz Prewar OM.
I may sound like a cork sniffer here but the spruce and sinker Mahogony combination really was something extra over the spruce/rosewood of the prewar. All 4 were fantastic instruments but the H&D sold me. I'm hoping that it is going to be a lifer. The bourgeois was a hog top and was the first to be rejected, strangely enough! I think the all mahogony thing just doesn't do it for me, which is why I was surprised to learn that the H&D had hog back and sides. Really remarkable what happens when your biases are taken out of the equasion.
Anyway, Huss & Dalton need to be better known in the UK, because this thing is a beast!

I'm also hoping these pics work...and are the correct pics! Someone please tell me if one of these photos is of another instrument please lol!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xlvkm93zwzfusl9/2022-11-24 15.53.16.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1dl247k53ct7s15/2022-11-24 15.54.45.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/033v8r9cle2p8xk/2022-11-24 15.54.58.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/87tsgfqpetvf1rk/2022-11-24 15.55.02.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ao513n7ovh1ng1w/2022-11-24 15.56.27.jpg?raw=1

Mellish

Happy NAGD  

CountryDave

Happy NAGD. That’s lovely.

Gassage

I played a few when Chandlers stocked them- sensational things.

Wazmeister

Photos good, and it looks incredible !

Soupman

Looks a nice instrument. Congrats!

thomasross20

That's super nice and the pins match the saddle slant yay!

thomasross20

Hog back & sides with spruce top is a fave of mine. Haven't tried Adirondack top, right enough. Clips online of sinker mahogany do sound fantastic. Sound clips?

GRBaldwin

Hi Matt or @bermudianbrit ;

Really nice to meet you and glad you got chance to try out some amazing OM's and picked your favourite. I'm kinda missing the H&D a little I've gotta say, but all the others are amazing too. There are certainly no slouches, just different flavours, so I'm sure I'll get by

I hope it brings you many years of playing joy!

All the best,

Graeme

Dave_Mc

Wow that looks absolutely awesome! I like the case, too 

Tannin

Nice one @bermudianbrit! Huss and Dalton make a lovely guitar. They are uncommon because H&D is, quite deliberately, a small operation focussed on quality above quantity. For example, until he retired in 2020, Mr Huss hand-carved every Huss and Dalton neck himself. 

I had the privilege of playing a lovely Huss and Dalton jumbo in spruce and maple two or three years ago. It was one of about four guitars I particularly had my eye on at the time (the others being a high-end Maton and two 000-sized Martins). Eventually, after much thought and many trials, I crossed off the other three and very, very nearly bought the H&D. In fact I actually made my mind up to buy it before having second thoughts and eventually letting it slide. I still remember it fondly and - who can say? - might just buy another one one day. 

One of the great makes. You will get endless pleasure from it, I'm sure.

malcolmkindness

Sitka and mahogany is a great combination and Graeme is a nice bloke with some lovely guitars, you did well, enjoy it.

GRBaldwin

Thanks for the kind words @malcolmkindness, ; you're not too bad yourself, haha. Hope you're doing well!