Sold: 2024 McIlroy ASP18C

danishbacon

Every couple of years I convince myself I really ought to play more acoustic guitar and that serves as a justification to go out and buy a pricy instrument. I then come (again) to the realisation that I'm really not a flat-top player, certainly not one that can get the best out of an instrument like this.

So - without further ado, the specs (more expanded in the spec sheet pictured):

This is the 1364th guitar that Dermot has built, finished in April 2024 and cost £3940 new from project music.

The back and sides are solid Brazilian mahogany with beautiful figuring.
The top is solid reclaimed redwood from a 1500-2000+ year old US coastal redwood tree, tonally it's a mix of cedar and spruce, with more warmth than sitka and more attack and headroom than cedar. Paired very nicely with the mahogany.

The ASPc body is roughly the size of an OM guitar, AS is roughly in the same ballpark sidewise as a Lowden S, P designates the performer series which is about .5" narrower in depth and C designates the cutaway option.

There's one small surface chip on the lower bout edge of the binding, pictured, otherwise it's pretty clean.

£2300 and happy to discuss postage/meet, I'm in Swansea.

mikew

10-47 strings give away your non acoustic tendencies!

danishbacon

mikew said:

10-47 strings give away your non acoustic tendencies!

Surprisingly it's 13s on the electrics  the McIlroy has 11s on now.

Bradders

Wow, that is a beautiful guitar. I've owned an A25 and regret selling it. I love the visual simplicity of the design, which is elegant and understated. That is some of the tightest grain I've seen on a redwood top, such beautiful examples of top grade woods used. They are priced really well, such good value for money considering these are built in a family boutique workshop at world class standards. It is tempting indeed. If I had the spare money I would find it hard to pass up. I'll keep an eye on it, perhaps some funds will pop up from somewhere

danishbacon

Bradders said:

Wow, that is a beautiful guitar. I've owned an A25 and regret selling it. I love the visual simplicity of the design, which is elegant and understated. That is some of the tightest grain I've seen on a redwood top, such beautiful examples of top grade woods used. They are priced really well, such good value for money considering these are built in a family boutique workshop at world class standards. It is tempting indeed. If I had the spare money I would find it hard to pass up. I'll keep an eye on it, perhaps some funds will pop up from somewhere

Agreed with all points. When you think a used custom shop Martin can cost the same as one of these new, it really puts it into perspective. I’ve owned Lowden and Avalon, multiples of each. The McIlroy is a step above in every respect. 

Bradders

Ive been trying to find examples of an asp18 but there isn't any on YT. Ive found an asp30 which is spruce over rosewood I believe which sounds lovely. Its hard to get a sense of the low end. Would you say it has a punchy low end with all round good balance? How is the responsiveness and resonance of the guitar? I remember the A25 was really response and so well balanced, it had a lovely tight warm bass and sweet smooth highs. It was quite dry souding with the cedar over walnut. I have a Lowden 010, which is lovely too, I'd say the Lowden has more complexity, sustain and an lovely note blume. Its also well balanced and has an interesting airiness, I think this is due to the large body.

danishbacon

Bradders said:

Ive been trying to find examples of an asp18 but there isn't any on YT. Ive found an asp30 which is spruce over rosewood I believe which sounds lovely. It’s hard to get a sense of the low end. Would you say it has a punchy low end with all round good balance? How is the responsiveness and resonance of the guitar? I remember the A25 was really response and so well balanced, it had a lovely tight warm bass and sweet smooth highs. It was quite dry souding with the cedar over walnut. I have a Lowden 010, which is lovely too, I'd say the Lowden has more complexity, sustain and an lovely note blume. It’s also well balanced and has an interesting airiness, I think this is due to the large body.

It has a very well defined, tight low end, note definition, without much boomyness or air pushing if that makes sense. Relative to the rest of the guitar it’s very well balanced string to string throughout, like a good mahogany and spruce guitar. It’s very responsive, quick attack and with lovely overtones on the decay that are not overpowering. It doesn’t have the woofyness of a big bodies Lowden that resonates against itself. The ASP18 has a direct tone, with plenty of volume and works well strummed or fingerpicked, it has the headroom. 

What a load of waffle did it just write!?! I hope it makes some sense @Bradders I’ve done a few video calls with it, I appreciate it’s difficult to assess remotely but happy to try my best if you’d like to hear it. A couple of chaps I chatted with on another forum over FaceTime about it were impressed. 

Bradders

That certainly is a detailed and well crafted description of the tone. I know, there really aren’t the words in the English language to capture the personality of a well crafted instrument! The way you describe it makes sense. The quick attack and subtle overtones as the not decays sounds nice, not too fundamental. Fundamental is good but I do like some overtone complexity for depth and character. 

I really shouldn’t be considering another guitar, lol! I would have to re-home the Lowden first. I’ve loved the Lowden 010. Its buttery smooth to play and feels effortless and it just has that unique Lowden voice. Though I must say McIlroy has also carved out a rather unique voicing. 

Lets see how things play out. These are rare beauties indeed! 

TheMadMick

Not surprised this has sold. Her indoors would have my hide if I bought another but I was tempted.

tomjax

+1 @TheMadMick ;

I was considering adding it to compliment my McIlroy A30 but a second one would have taken some justifying!!

Someone has got themselves a beautiful guitar though and at a fabulous price.