NGD - Oaky from Musk.. er, Devon

So, I was planning to buy a White Falcon with some money that had come my way unexpectedly.

But then I found myself passing the Brook guitars workshop in Devon on the way from one gig to another.

Simon at Brook was kind enough to open up the workshop on his day off for me to have a look around - and it's an amazing place.

But not as amazing as the guitar I left with - a Tamar (medium jumbo) with oak back and sides and European spruce top.

I've had a hankering for a Brook for ages - have been looking out for a top-end acoustic for a while and tried pretty much all the names you could think of. But Brook have always been the stand out guitars for me.

So it was a delight to finally get down there, and to find this guitar.

I had gone there expecting to order a custom build in walnut and cedar, but after playing the Oaky all bets were off.

I tried a bunch of their guitars - including Simon's own Brazilian Rosewood Tamar - and Oaky knocked them all into the weeds.

Best guitar I've ever played - and one very, very happy owner.

 

And from the front

 

I'm not a tonewood Kool Aid drinker, but even so I know it means something in an acoustic guitar, even if nothing in an electric.

When I was handed the oak guitar there was a residual part of me that wanted not to like it because oak isn't a typical guitar wood - but this baby sings. In a room full of some of the best acoustics you've ever heard this one jumped out and said "I'm the one".

Once I played it all thoughts of a custom build went out the window - I'm sure Brook could make another guitar that sounds as good, but at the point I was there I wasn't going to take that chance.

Hands down, this is the best sounding guitar I've ever played. It's personal taste, I know - but to me this sounds like the acoustic I've had in my head for the last few years. At that point, it could be made of cardboard for all I care!