Review
Quickly gaining the guitar industries attention for being the lower cost handmade solid top alternative Timberline guitars definitely impressed us with the CRG-7C-S++. High end features like a solid spruce top, solid rosewood sides, tortoise shell tuning keys and mother of pearl fret markers are all standard on the CRG-7C-S++.
Featuring 1/4 inch and a balanced XLR outputs having the choice of using a guitar cable or direct in with the XLR input is a great feature especially the XLR if you forget that direct box at home. Right into the snake or mixer it goes. A feature you might not appreciate until you get to the gig and forget your direct box. With these type of features Timberline is raising the bar for what is standard in this price range.
Big balanced focused tone was had right out of the case unplugged. The solid top, back, and sides play a huge role in this robust focused tone of this guitar. Putting it up against a laminate acoustic here at home there really was no comparison and the initial price difference between the 2 is not significant. Plugging it in and using it in a live situation was a real treat as the AGE-7 electronics let you dial in almost any acoustic tone you have in your head. 4 band EQ, notch filters and easy top load battery access. Having the battery access top side with the electronics is an easily overlooked feature until you are playing an acoustic with the battery hidden inside and it goes out while you are performing. Suddenly you will see the value of an easy battery change. These great features make the AGE-7 electronics perfect for any live situation.
Doing the initial testing thru a Bose PAS system the Timberline sounded brilliant and truly inspiring plugged in. Using this guitar for close to 8 gigs now with house sound systems with the Timberline I am very comfortable with this guitar as my main acoustic and has all but killed my interest in a guitar that cost twice as much. <Yes it starts with a T>
Myself being primarily a lead guitarist being comfortable playing leads on an acoustic is a must. After slightly adjusting the action I was able to blaze thru Clapton style blues to Freebird outro solos with ease. This Concert model Timberline is nice and loud and actually had to back it off a little thru the small PA system. Loud and focused.
All in all a great value solid top acoustic that competes with guitars more than twice its price.
