Unbiased Review: Laguna LD-1 Little Brat 3/4 Mini Acoustic Travel Guitar

[Sterling Indigo]

When comparing mini acoustic guitars recently, I stumbled across the Laguna LD1. I found out it's Guitar Center's corporate brand made exclusively for them and I think it's fair to mention that I am of no relation to either the brand or company. It was actually my very first time in a Guitar Center!

I went in looking specifically for the MIM Little Martin LX1, but I didn't really bond with the look of their Stratabond neck that did not include fretboard dots (only side markers). I did like Martin's solid top and strap hooks. It also sounded great and felt more substantial (weighty for a small thing) than the others I compared. The Martin had a really nice gig bag and was $299.

The MIM Baby Taylor was nice but, that thin neck joint had me worried. I didn't like the two fretboard screws either. Taylor has a carved back which made it project and sustain nicely, solid top, nice gig bag, fretboard dots, also for $299.

I also tried the Indonesian made Yamaha JR1 which had a nice looking aging toner look to it's solid top, pickguard, nicer dove tail neck, fretboard dots, strap hooks (not that you need them with a smaller guitar) and was the cheapest at $139 with a thin gig bag.

Then I saw the Laguna LD-1, also made in Indonesia. It stood out in appearance with its abalone rosette and headstock inlays. No gig bag or strap hook on the neck but it sounded absolutely incredible with lots of projection and piano-like, swirly sustain.

I'll admit, I'm kind of a brand name guy myself so despite never having heard of the Laguna brand before, I was really quite impressed. This guitar even had a bound neck and double bound body! Additional features include; fretboard dots and side markers, solid top, x-bracing and carved back. I was so impressed with the quality of sound, I asked the guy to let me compare with one from new stock. So, he opened up a sealed carton and once tuned, voila, same awesome experience! $199 was the GC price on the Laguna LD-1 Little Brat.

Aside from the missing gig bag and strap button; if you're looking for a mini acoustic guitar that sounds as terrific as it looks, check out the Laguna Little Brat. It has amazing rich tone and is feature rich at a medium price point.

 

[RiverDog]

Cool! I've nver seen one of these but thanks for the review. Next time I wander into GC I'll have to check one out.

 

[KevinB]

I've been thinking of a "mini-acoustic" for a while now too. It would be nice as a "travel" guitar as I'm not so keen on taking my Martin or Guild out in very hot or cold weather.

Last year I bought a Yamaha JR1 as a gift for my nephew's 8 year old. For what it is, and what it costs, it seemed a perfect starter guitar but I want something better for myself. I did try a Baby Taylor, and as impressed as I was with the tone and projection, I just couldn't get past those two large screws through the fretboard (although I've heard that they make shimming the neck very easy).

Next time I'm in a GC, I'll see if they have a Laguna LD-1 in stock. From your description, it sounds just about perfect.

 

[mudbean]

Nice review, thanks Sterling.

At Casa de MudBean, we've also got a Yamaha Junior 1, purchased for my daughter (7 y.o.) - yes, it's excellent, for a toy guitar. My little one can shred "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" like no one's business.

I have a Crafter TRV23 travel size. Now, this is a nice one - Solid Sitka top, well-made, pretty. I see them for around $250.

mud

 

[Sterling Indigo]

The other solid top mini acoustic I really wanted to compare was out of stock ($299 street with gig bag): Morgan Monroe Creekside MMV-5 with solid top, x-bracing, micro dot inlays and bound neck with full heel, made in China (I believe).

I do recall picking one up at Elderly once. I remember thinking it was a good build with lots of features for being Chinese. Alas, it was not available to compare with the others.

Two more quick but important intangibles about the Laguna that are worth mentioning; it has an incredible real wood smell that you have to experience to believe and if you hum an open D into the soundhole, the whole thing comes alive resonating and humming back like a cave of Himalayan monks! The carved back design acts as an echo chamber swirling those notes around like a snifter of fine cognac.

 

[KevinB]

A "cave of Himalayan monks"! That's quite a visual!

Thanks, I'll look for the Morgan Monroe too. Just about all the new Chinese acoustics I've seen have shown exemplary build quality (Blueridge, Guild GAD, Epi Masterbilt, etc).

 

[snap88]

Great little guitar

I know this is a really old thread, but I thought I'd toss in my two cents.

I got an LD-1 a year ago for my birthday, but didn't really start playing it seriously until lately. I'm now taking lessons, and my music teacher was so impressed with this guitar that he wanted to buy it from me for his son.

I'm short and heavy-set, so the smaller body of the Little Brat is a very good fit for me. The sound is as good as or better than a lot of full-size guitars. And I think that the abalone inlay makes it look like a much more expensive guitar.

 

[tap4154]

What a great sounding 3/4 size travel guitar!

I also know this is an old thread, but just received one of these Laguna LD1's from MF. With a internet coupon and a credit they'd given me, it cost $155 shipped ($299 MSRP, street $199). No gig bag included, but I already had one this size.

I can't stop playing it! It sounds better than the ones I tried in GC (fresher strings) and the action is lower than any of my other guitars, including my Teles. Chords ring out and sustain forever, and playing blues is great on this little box!

Solid spruce top, very thin satin finish, beautiful sapele body with a bowl on the back, and very comfy, palm-filling dovetailed neck. Also has a Tusq nut and intonated saddle.

The only issue was that the 12th fret had a small very nick on it below the b string that would catch a bit when bending. I suspect this happened in shipping since there was no wrapping around the strings. I emailed Laguna about it (no reply yet) but was so anxious to get it fixed that I took it to a local M&P music shop and had a quick fret dressing done for $25. It plays like butter now! Turned out that 3 frets were just a bit high, including the one with the small groove (the guitar was probably on it's face in the box, and the string wore the tiny groove in during transit).

I HIGHLY recommend this little Laguna (GC/MF house brand), and I've played Little Martins and Baby Taylors in several stores over the past few weeks to compare it with, side-by-side. This one just felt and sounded right, is louder, more "open", and for soundhole sniffers it has a great woody aroma (unlike the Martin). Nice abalone rosette and inlay on the HS, and body/neck binding too.

Pics:

 

[rjes]

I know this is an old thread, but I just received one of these Laguna LD1's from MF. With a internet coupon and a credit they'd given me, it cost $155 shipped ($299 MSRP, street $199). No gig bag included, but I already had one this size.

I can't stop playing it! It sounds better than the ones I tried in GC (fresher strings) and the action is lower than any of my other guitars, including my Teles. Chords ring out and sustain forever, and playing blues is great on this little box!

Solid spruce top, very thin satin finish, beautiful sapele body with a bowl on the back, and very comfy, palm-filling dovetailed neck. Also has a Tusq nut and intonated saddle.

The only issue was that the 12th fret had a small very nick on it below the b string that would catch a bit when bending. I suspect this happened in shipping since there was no wrapping around the strings. I emailed Laguna about it (no reply yet) but was so anxious to get it fixed that I took it to a local M&P music shop and had a quick fret dressing done for $25. It plays like butter now! Turned out that 3 frets were just a bit high, including the one with the small groove (the guitar was probably on it's face in the box, and the string wore the tiny groove in during transit).

I HIGHLY recommend this little Laguna (GC/MF house brand), and I've played Little Martins and Baby Taylors in several stores over the past few weeks to compare to it side-by-side. This one just felt and sounded right, is louder, more "open", and for soundhole sniffers it has a great woody aroma (unlike the Martin). Nice abalone rosette and inlay on the HS, and body/neck binding too.

Pics:

I love the look.....simple + elegant....way to go

 

[tap4154]

I love the look.....simple + elegant....way to go

Thanks ;o)

She's a keeper!

I just can't believe how light and resonant the body is.

Indonesia puts out some good stuff! They do very well in ukes too. Never overbuilt, in my experience.

 

[tap4154]

Update: Laguna finally responded to my complaint about the grooved fret, and used the excuse that they aren't open over the weekend (but I emailed last Thursday, right after receiving it...). They did offer to do an exchange through a local dealer, but I've already had the fret job done, so that's out. They did say they normally ship with wax paper around the strings, which mine didn't have, so perhaps I was sent a returned guitar? I called MF and explained the situation, and with no hesitation they offered to give me a house credit for the $25.

So all is now well in the Universe, but Laguna needs to work on it's customer service response times. Even an auto-response would have been nice, but not a peep for almost 4 days? However they are very nice guitars for the price point.

 

[Sterling Indigo]

Glad it all worked out tap, I guess 4 days is not too bad. Bonus you got the $25 credit. Mine came with the paper around the strings. I just replaced the same D'addario's that came with it. They're really silky.

I bought a SKB-300 flight case for my LD-1 and it fits fine with the round back molding and neck heel. I think it's the same hard case that fits the Baby Taylor and Little Martin.

 

[tap4154]

Sterling, it just so happens that right now I'm looking into cases for it on MF. That one looks great. I have a cheap 3/4 size gig bag I was planning to use, but I need something better for this baby. Agreed that the stock strings feel and sound great. Which exact set is it?

I'm thinking about these cases too:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/SKB-Baby-TaylorMartin-LX-Guitar-Soft-Case?sku=502477

http://accessories.musiciansfriend....Acoustic-Guitar-Case?sku=546203&rec=product_A

Maybe I've been too hard on Laguna. I was so thrilled with the guitar, I wanted the fret fixed NOW and I wanted to keep this one, which looks nicer than some I've seen in GC.

And after all, it probably wasn't even their fault anyway.

 

[dqami]

Update: Laguna finally responded to my complaint about the grooved fret, and used the excuse that they aren't open over the weekend (but I emailed last Thursday, right after receiving it...). They did offer to do an exchange through a local dealer, but I've already had the fret job done, so that's out. They did say they normally ship with wax paper around the strings, which mine didn't have, so perhaps I was sent a returned guitar? I called MF and explained the situation, and with no hesitation they offered to give me a house credit for the $25.

So all is now well in the Universe, but Laguna needs to work on it's customer service response times. Even an auto-response would have been nice, but not a peep for almost 4 days? However they are very nice guitars for the price point.

My guess is that their CS is done by an Asian 3rd world country so if you sent it Thursday (which would be their Friday), then they probably didn't get to it until the following week.

That was cool that you got a credit back. Cheers!

 

[Sterling Indigo]

Sterling, it just so happens that right now I'm looking into cases for it on MF. That one looks great. I have a cheap 3/4 size gig bag I was planning to use, but I need something better for this baby. Agreed that the stock strings feel and sound great. Which exact set is it?

I'm thinking about these cases too:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/SKB-Baby-TaylorMartin-LX-Guitar-Soft-Case?sku=502477

http://accessories.musiciansfriend....Acoustic-Guitar-Case?sku=546203&rec=product_A

Maybe I've been too hard on Laguna. I was so thrilled with the guitar, I wanted the fret fixed NOW and I wanted to keep this one, which looks nicer than some I've seen in GC.

And after all, it probably wasn't even their fault anyway.

There should have been paper around the strings for shipping, it got missed. It's just that I've waited about the same time (maybe longer) for a response from F company, and it was the weekend. Both cases look nice but for the few extra dollars, I'd get the Gator. It appears to have an arched back from the picture. I'm not at home now so I'll post string type later. I'm pretty sure I saved the string tag that came with the guitar and it's probably in the case. D'Adarrio EXP maybe, but I dont want to guess.

 

[tap4154]

They are D'Adarrio EXP, I just wasn't sure which gauge. I think 11-52? The string tag doesn't say.

After looking at the specs, I think the Gator case may be a bit too big for the LD1, so I'm thinking either the SKB case you have, or the soft version of it in the first link above. Both have the same interior.

 

[tap4154]

My guess is that their CS is done by an Asian 3rd world country so if you sent it Thursday (which would be their Friday), then they probably didn't get to it until the following week.

Hmmmm... I didn't sense an accent in the emails, but maybe you're right ;o)

 

[Sterling Indigo]

Laguna Beach, California.

 

[tap4154]

Laguna Beach, California.

Just 20 min down the coast from me. In fact I worked in Laguna today. I think they do CS there, and/or in Thousand Oaks CA.

 

[Sterling Indigo]

Oops
Delete