2011 Walden Review Book by Zakk Ho

Worldwide Magazine Reviews & Artist/Owner Testimonials

Music reflects your life, so does your guitar CONTENTS

Worldwide Magazine Reviews Jonathan Lee interview by Viol達o Pro Magazine (Brazil)

Madera CD4040-CERT Review by Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA)

Madera CD4040-CERT Review by Guitar Buyer Magazine (UK)

SupraNatura G3030CEQ Review by Guitar Club (Italy)

SupraNatura G3000: Belle naturelle by Guitar Unplugged (France)

SupraNatura G2070 by Akustik Gitarre (Germany)

SupraNatura D2040 by Australian Musician (Australia)

SupraNatura G1070CEQ Review by Guitar Ausgabe (Germany)

SupraNatura G1070 Review by Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA)

Natura G570 and Supra D1030 Review by Frets Magazine (USA)

Natura G740CE Review by Guitar Player (Brazil)

Natura G730 named Best Fingerpicker by Guitar & Bass (UK)

Natura D710 Review by Guitar Player (USA)

Natura D710 Review by Guitar World (USA)

Natura G630CE Review by Australian Guitar (Australia)

Natura G570TB Review by Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA)

Natura D550CE Review by Modern Player (China)

Natura O550 Review by Australian Guitar (Australia)

Natura O550CE Review by Akustik Gitarre (Germany)

Natura T550 Review by Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA)

Concorda CG2000CEQ Review by Australian Magazine (Australia)

Concorda CG670TB Review by Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA)

Concorda CG600CE Review by Acoustic Magazine (UK)

Concorda CS500CE Review by Guitar Magazine (Germany)

Natura N730 Classical Nylon Review by Acoustic Magazine (UK)

Natura N570: Votez vert! by Guitar Classique (France)

Artist & Owner Reviews SupraNatura G3000

SupraNatura G2070

SupraNatura G3030CEQ

SupraNatura G1070CEQ

SupraNatura N2030

Natura G740CE

Natura G730

Natura G630CE

Natura G570 Family

Natura D550

Natura D560 Family

Natura T550 Travel Guitar

Natura O550 Ochestra Model

Natura D552

Your choices matter

The following pages contain Walden guitar reviews from 17 of the world’s most prestigious music magazines, including the highly respected Acoustic Guitar Magazine, published in USA. “What does the world truly think about Walden Guitars?” One can now easily find out by reading these unsolicited perspectives by guitar and music industry experts.

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Worldwide Magazine Reviews

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WALDEN GUITARS: An American Dream Manufactured in China By Daniel Neves and Miguel De Laet for Viol達o Pro (Brazil) Are all Chinese guitars created equal? Be careful with the answer. Many have preconceived notions about products originating from Asian countries without checking into it further. Viol達o PRO talked with Jonathan Lee, one of the ones responsible for the development of Walden guitars, on the development of Asian manufacturing, the reasons for manufacturing in China, and on environmental and social responsibility. THE FACTORY Tell us a little about yourself and how Walden Guitars was born. I am currently the Division Manager of the Fretted Instrument Division at KHS Musical Instruments. KHS, a musical instrument manufacturer for over 75 years, is the sole owner of the Walden Guitars brand and produces Walden guitars in Lilan, China (located nearby Beijing). All Walden guitars are made at the Walden shop. Previous to becoming the Division Manager, I was the Research and Development Manager as well as the Marketing Manager for Walden. Walden Guitars originated as a collaboration between CFox Guitars, a company I helped found, and KHS. Original designs and specifications were created in consultation with CFox Guitars. Why manufacture in China? There are many reasons why building guitars in China was a natural choice for Walden. With lower average labor rates than elsewhere, it allows for the creation of a high quality instrument with far greater affordability. Chinese history has a rich and deep cultural and artistic tradition which also aids their ability to appreciate some of the finer points of guitar making. KHS Musical Instruments, is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Since all 6

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staff members speak Chinese, overcoming the language and cultural barriers to operating in China are furthermore minimized. It also facilitates the international distribution of all other KHS brands: Mapex Drums, Jupiter Band Instruments, Hercules Stands and Majestic Percussion. The KHS factories are all nearby and this allows for products to be combined into the same shipment, better servicing the needs of our customers. Today, we manufacture somewhere around 50 thousand instruments per year.

Scan this QR with your smartphone to read this article in the original Portugese.

THE MARKET How to associate quality and price? With a background in handmade guitars, finding the balance point between quality and price has been one of the greatest challenges for me. When building guitars that sell for around 3,000 US dollars and above, I could afford to work with the highest grade materials that offered ideal tonal, visual and stability characteristics. Woods that are perfectly quarter-sawn, each piece hand selected. Providing instruments at Waldenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competitive prices presents numerous conflicts from a luthierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view.

Although benefits are realized in terms of labor and overhead expenses, the material cost-toquality ratio becomes a critical consideration when creating instruments in the $300 to $1,500 range. A good example to illustrate this: When building hand made guitars, the cost of a Sitka spruce soundboard and backside set of Indian Rosewood, before any woodworking has begun, is already well above our distributorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wholesale price for some completed Walden models!

In fact, the price of some tuning machines we used at CFox were greater than the cost of the completed Walden. How do you create a guitar that even comes close to a fine handmade guitar when you can’t come close to affording the materials required to make an instrument of this kind? We and other Asian manufacturers simply can not afford to use these materials and have to work with lower grade, lower cost materials. The challenge then becomes ensuring that the materials used can satisfy the sonic, visual and stability requirements to create valid musical instruments. “What can be sacrificed? What can be compromised? What can not? Where is the line between acceptable and unacceptable?” These become the difficult questions to answer in our quest to create legitimate musical instruments and not just “guitar shaped objects.”

THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS Talk about the manufacturing process of Walden. All quality instrument making operations incorporate similar processes to achieve similar objectives, be they the solo, one person lutherie workshop or large scale factories. Walden’s manufacturing process draws specifically from my experience as a luthier at CFox Guitars, and from techniques used at USA large production shops such as Martin and Taylor. Our guiding principal is to respect 8

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the elements of the guitar building process that are critical to producing quality stable, excellent sounding guitars. Knowing what we absolutely can not compromise and knowing what we must to create instruments at this price level. In our four broad departments: Parts Fabrication, Body-Neck Assembly, Finish, and Setup, each process has its own jig, machine fixture or mold that ensures the consistency of result. Most work is done by hand with recognizable standard woodworking machines such as table saws, jointers, routers, band saws, etc. Some automated machines are used when either a better result can ensue, such as a fingerboard fret-slotting machine, or when an operation is too laborious for an employee.

How is this process is different from what is done in other Asian companies? If one looks into the history of Asian guitar making, you will find that most current factories can trace their history back to Japanese methods of the 1960’s where they were essentially producing low cost alternatives to USA and European made instruments. As labor costs rose in Japan, this system of guitar-building moved to Korea and Taiwan, and later Mainland China, and now Indonesia. Many Asian operations still make “guitar shaped objects.” This is due to a lack of understanding of the fundamentals of guitar design or manufacturing, or due to the business model of producing the cheapest instruments dictating their choice of poor

originating from Africa or South & Central America. Fingerboards and bridges are Indian Rosewood and Ebony imported from India and S.E. Asia.

materials or poor method. From a product standpoint, outside of procedural differences, all Walden guitars incorporate a bolt-on neck joint and 2-way adjustable truss rods which are both less common in Asian manufacturing. Fret ends are hand shaped and polished above standards even seen at Martin. The Walden Natura line may be the only line of nitrocellulose lacquer finished instruments in China, NC lacquer being known for its excellent sonic properties compared with the more common Polyurethane finished used in Asia.

THE CRAFT Here in Brazil we find some luthiers looking for alternatives in other species to substitute traditional woods in the manufacture of instruments. Do you believe that can also occur in the industry? A difficulty arises though when the balance of stability and sonority must be considered. The woods traditionally used, were chosen for these reasons. Choosing replacement materials on the basis that they happen to be sustainably grown simply does not work. A good example comes from experiments we have conducted using Bamboo. It’s so common these days for eco-friendly flooring, it’s hard, and grows like a weed. However, in our tests, it had horrible tonality. Tap a board created from bamboo and it sounds dead, like tapping a cardboard box. That said, we are actively on the lookout for suitable replacement materials that are outside of the traditional woods and can be sustainably acquired. Tell us specially about the Walden classical guitar series inspired in great guitars built by Antonio Torres and Hermann Hauser. How did the idea to try to reproduce the Torres-Hauser soundboard bracing occur? In 2004, at the Guild of American Luthiers

What are the most commonly used in woods in manufacturing Walden guitars? Wa l d e n c u r r e n t l y o n l y u s e s w h a t a r e considered “traditional” guitar tone-woods. Varieties of spruce (Sitka & Engelmann) and western red cedar. Back and side woods are either Indian Rosewood or Mahogany 9

I considered adjustments that we might make to the Walden classical guitar, I also had an opportunity to review drawings for two guitars built for Andres Segovia, the 1912 Manuel Ramirez and the Hermann Hauser 1937. Much like an aspiring painter practices the techniques of the masters, I decided that this was the place to begin the development and improvement of the Walden classical guitar.

Convention in Washington State, I attended a seminar hosted by luthier Jeffrey Elliot. The topic: “Restoring Tarrega's 1888 Torres." This guitar had been severely damaged and masterfully restored by Jeff. He also presented plans and measurements for this piece of guitar history and we had the privilege of hearing that particular guitar played in concert that evening. In truth this began my inspiration and respect for the modern classical guitar. As

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It is a Fact: every classical guitar built around the world is based on the Torres classical guitar, but with some soundboard bracing modifications. Are there some modifications in brace dimensions and angles? Is this really the most important topic to craft the sound and tone of the instrument? The soundboard is the most important element contributing to the guitar’s sound. The various vibrations of the side and back influence the tonal quality of the guitar’s voice, particularly the upper partials (the higher frequencies / harmonics), but too “flexible” and they can suck energy from the top and negatively affect sound and tone. T h e c u r r e n t Wa l d e n c l a s s i c a l g u i t a r soundboard bracing design stays quite faithful to the Torres / Hauser designs. Minor modifications include the use of a bridge plate which was not used by Torres on the 1888 but used on the ’37 Hauser. In terms of crafting the tone and sound of an instrument, the bracing dimensions and angles are only one piece in the puzzle. The 1888 Torres had soundboard thicknesses as low as 1.2 mm at the edge and 1.5 - 2.0 mm under the bridge – this is amazing when you consider that a typical soundboard is commonly about 2.5 – 2.8 mm. The way to achieve this is to find exceptional materials, high stiffness-to-weight characteristics allowing a thin the top without losing the stiffness to resist the tension of the strings. With this lower weight, the strings don’t need to work as hard to pump the top: energy is represented as sound.

Madera CD4040-CERT Review By Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA) Elegant mid-price dreadnought with certified FSC-pure tonewoods. Since 1996, Walden Guitars has been making high-quality classical and steel-string guitars in China for the North American market, and the company recently introduced the Madera line of guitars—instruments made entirely from certified FSC-pure tonewoods such as Sitka spruce and South American mahogany. Through a process known as “chain-ofcustody,” the Forest Stewardship Council ensures that each guitar in the Madera line is fully compliant, overseeing the woods from the time they’re harvested until they’re used in construction. Fittingly, Madera is Spanish for “wood,” and the headstock of each guitar is emblazoned in pearl with a Chinese character that symbolizes wood. We auditioned the Wa l d e n M a d e r a C D 4 0 4 0 - C E RT, w h i c h features all solid woods in a traditional dreadnought design—currently only one of two dreadnoughts with 100 percent pure, responsibly forested wood on the market, the other being the American-made Martin D Mahogany 09, which lists for more than twice the price of the CD4040. SUSTAINABLE ELEGANCE The Madera CD4040-CERT has a nicely streamlined appearance. The fretboard is devoid of inlays, and the abalone soundhole rosette, tortoise body-and-neck binding, and pearl headstock inlays are at once elegant and restrained. Our review model had an attractively grained solid Sitka spruce top with a hint of bearclaw figuring and some winter growth lines. The solid South American mahogany back, sides, and neck were similarly attractive and devoid of blemishes. Made of South American katalox, which 12

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has roughly the same density as ebony, the fretboard and bridge have a nice dark color and even grain. The craftsmanship on our review model was good. The nut was cleanly cut and the fretwork meticulous, but close inspection revealed a few file marks at random spots on the fingerboard. The binding was uniformly flush with the body, but there was a bit of bleed into the finish on the upper bout of the treble side. Inside, the bracing showed no excess glue but was rough in spots and could have used a bit more sanding. The high-gloss finish— a polyester base with a polyurethane top coat—was well applied and carefully buffed. Purists might be put off by that type of finish, but applying a traditional nitrocellulose finish is known to have deleterious effects on the environment, so it would have been out of place on this green guitar. STYLISTIC VERSATILITY AND SOUND The CD4040-CERT’s contemporary C-shaped neck is neither too ample nor too skimpy. Electric guitarists will find the nut width of 1

11⁄16 inches to be reassuringly familiar. While the neck is comfortable, the action on our review instrument was a bit high and the guitar felt a little stiff. The action, of course, can be adjusted to taste by a competent luthier and the guitar should loosen up as it accumulates playing time. The CD4040-CERT projects a clear and vibrant sound with plenty of sustain, in part due to its solid, quartersawn Sitka top. When I played some fingerstyle jazz with long sustained chords, the effect was piano-like, with an attractive natural reverb. Conversely, the guitar sounded appropriately punchy when strumming open-position chords Carter Family–style. As I tried various other approaches I discovered that the CD4040-CERT is a wonderfully versatile instrument. It responded equally well to anything I could think of. The open strings really sparkled on a countryblues improvisation in open E, while higher up the neck, some closed-position R&B-style chord work sounded clear and defined, and a pseudo-bluegrass flatpicked solo sounded clear and articulate in all registers. GREEN GUITARIST’S DREAM With its FSC-pure-certified tonewoods, the CD4040-CERT is perfect for the thoughtfully green guitarist. It’s also a bargain as an allsolid-wood guitar with good looks and a robust sound, suitable for a variety of styles. And with its versatile voice, the CD4040-CERT would also make a great go-to acoustic.

The CD4040-CERT projects a clear and vibrant sound with plenty of sustain, in part due to its solid, quartersawn Sitka top.

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Madera CD4040-CERT Review By Guitar Buyer Magazine (UK)

Play acoustic guitar and save the planet at the same time? What could be better? Sam Wise investigates going green. Walden Guitars may not be immediately familiar to you, and with the marketplace as crowded as we can remember it, perhaps that’s why the company has taken a bold step in order to differentiate itself. Responding to both the sharp decline in the planet’s resources and the rise in the general awareness of and interest in ‘ethical’ product, Walden has launched the Madera series, built using only Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sustainable woods. While guitar making is a relatively small industry and is far from the biggest consumer of endangered woods, it does have a relatively high profile and also relies on old-growth wood to supply the best tone. Walden is a partner in the Greenpeace Music Wood campaign (together with big players like Martin, Taylor, Fender, Gibson and Yamaha), which seeks to demonstrate the consumer demand for FSC-certified wood via the guitar makers and encourage more companies to get on board. With the Madera range, Walden is putting this issue front and centre, and the FSC stamp guarantees that all the wood used here comes from forests which are managed and harvested in a sustainable way. Body & Neck So what about the woods used on this guitar, the Madera CD4040-CERT dreadnought? The Sitka spruce soundboard is fairly broad-grained – more so than we’d normally look for in a guitar at this price point, though not disasterously so. The back and sides are South American mahogany, attractive enough in terms of grain figure but nothing out of the ordinary. Walden has gone light on the decoration for this guitar: there’s some understated tortoiseshell binding, which chimes in with the pickguard, and a fairly simple abalone 14

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soundhole ring. This subtlety extends to the fingerboard too, which is a slab of katalox, a sustainable ebony alternative which is pretty much indistinguishable to our eyes, and Walden has left it unadorned by any dot markers. The C-shaped mahogany neck is gloss finished and slim. We would perhaps have liked just a little more depth, but this is a matter of personal preference, of course. The neck finish doesn’t cause the squeaky, sticky feel that some gloss necks have, and the tortoiseshell fingerboard binding contributes to a very slick feel overall. On the topic of the frets, there are 20 of them, of what might be called medium jumbo size, with a few exhibiting some slightly sharp ends, which is disappointing at this price. The slim, tapering headstock is faced in what appears to be more katalox, and carries unbranded closed-back tuners with black buttons. These are made of a rubbery feeling plastic, and while they look nice enough, we might have preferred more katalox. The bridge is again of katalox, with a compensated bone saddle, and there’s a bone nut as well – it’s nice to see these details done right. The Madera is a pretty conservative-looking

guitar, and that’s probably deliberate. The tactic used by most companies selling ethical and fair trade goods in recent years has been to move away from the perceived alternative or ‘hippy’ markets, and to look as mainstream as possible. If Walden wants the world to buy this guitar, then it needs to look pretty much like other spruce and mahogany dreadnoughts, and in that respect it’s a success. Just because things are kept neat and simple, that’s not to say it isn’t a handsome creature; in particular, the unadorned fingerboard and tapered headstock really work for us. But it doesn’t scream ‘save the whales’, and that’s perhaps a win for Walden. Sounds Of course, we know what to expect from a spruce and mahogany dreadnought: there should be plenty of sparkle from the top end, but a certain amount of complexity and warmth introduced into the mid-range by the mahogany. The Madera not only doesn’t disappoint, but perhaps goes somewhat beyond our expectations. There’s not an excessive brightness to the top end, nor quite what we might call ‘sparkle’. Instead, it has a chiming, ringing quality. There’s plenty of sustain, which is likely to be enhanced by the bone nut and saddle, but picking big open chords and arpeggios with notes fretted up the neck really brings out the pure, transparent nature of the top end. Moving into the mid-range, there is the expected harmonic blossoming as the mahogany does its work, and for us, slightly more of that gentle warmth to the tone than we expected. There’s none of the muddiness which can occasionally afflict still-warmer-sounding cedar-topped guitars, though; as you progress into the bass register, there’s plenty of tautness and punch. Dig in and strum a little more, and the chord sings out, not losing clarity as you up the volume. Walden has done a fine job in offering warmth and harmonic richness without losing any of the note separation that makes spruce dreadnoughts such a favourite of strummers the world over. We find that the combination of plenty of body and depth to the tone, and lots of punch, means that the Madera lends itself in particular to funky blues fingerstyle. Rifs on the bass strings ring out, and when you hit a big chord, the

warmth and richness really fill it out. On a guitar at this price, we’ve come to expect the intonation to be perfect, string-to-string balance to be even: in fact, not to have to think about such issues at all, and the Walden really steps up to the plate. You could describe the tone as middle-of-theroad, but really it’s just an excellent generalpurpose guitar. It doesn’t have such a strong tonal character that it’s perfect for one style, yet unsuitable for another. Sure, you can find a picker’s guitar with a sweeter voice, or a cedartopped instrument with more warmth. Certainly a Gibson J-200 would give you a more booming, in-your-face sound, but if you want a guitar that can do all of those things well enough, a spruce/ mahogany dreadnought is your friend, and the Madera is a good example of the breed. Conclusion So, it appears Walden has done what it needed to do and produced a guitar that allows you to do your bit for the planet without looking like you knit your own yoghurt. Best of all, that doesn’t come at the cost of performance. Though some might look for a little more individuality in terms of looks and sounds, we think this guitar’s understated appearance and impressive all-round tone will win it plenty of admirers, whether ecological issues are a priority or of no concern.

Walden has done a fine job in offering warmth and harmonic richness without losing any of the note separation that makes spruce dreadnoughts such a favourite of strummers the world over. 15

SupraNatura G3030CEQ Review By Guitar Club (Italy)

l marchio Walden comparso di recente sul mercato italiano, produce una linea di chitarre, classiche e folk, cercando di coniugare alta qualità di lavorazione e materiali di primissima scelta ad un prezzo vantaggioso.Gli strumenti, progettati negli Stati Uniti,vengono realizzati in Cina. La produzione di chitarre folk prevede tre serie: Standard, la più economica e che potremmo dfinire entre leve, Natura, e la top of the line Supra Natura. Di quest'ultima serie, interamente realizzata con legni masselli, fanno parte i modelli 1000 (cedroe mogano), 2000 (cedro o abete e mogano) entrambi con tastiera in palissandro, 3000 (abete o cedro e palissandro) con tastiera in ebano, realizzato nelle seguenti versioni: G3000, G3000CE (cutaway electric con sistema Fishman Ellipse Pro) e la G3030CEQ (Cutaway electric con sistema Fishman Prefix Pro) oggetto della nostra prova. Il prezzo di listino di quest'ultima è di Euro1.142,00 (lva inclusa): è fornita di custodia rigida, chiave a brugola per la regolazione del truss-rod, libretto di istruzioni per il sistema Fishman e di un ultissimo umidificatore per la corretta manutenzione della chitarra stessa. Aprendo la bella custodia in dotazionerimaniamo immediatamente colpita dalle qualità estetiche di questa chitarra, a partire dai legni utilizzati e dall'ato livello di finitura. Date le premesse, non possiamo che cominciare la nostra prova con grande curiosità. IL SUONO Cominciamo a provare lo strumento. La prima sensazione è positiva, a partire dal volume di emissione molto vicino a strumenti di ben altra fascia di prezzo. Il timbro risulta già ben definito nonostante la chitarra sia nuova e sappiamo bene che, col tempo, dato l'uso di legni masselli, sarà destinato a migliorare. La gamma di 16

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frequenze è ottimamente bilanciata. Basse presenti, anche se non particolarmente potenti, medie equalibrate quel tanto che basta per non rendere troppo nasale il suono ed alte molto eleganti e mai invasive. Ottimo anche l'equilibrio tra le corde con una particolare nota di merito ai cantini caratterizzati da un eccellente sustain lungo tutta la tastiera. Anche la corda del sol, punto debole di molte chitarre, non crea problemi di alcun genere ed emerge anche nell'esecuzione di accordi complessi. Utilizzando la tecnica del fingerstyle, rimaniamo colpiti dalla sensibiltà delta Walden in grado di riprodurre tutte le sfumature del nostro tocco. Come già accennato in precedenza, l'action è regolata alla prefezione e la nostra mano sinistra si muove con grande agilità su tutta la tastiera,favorita anche dal profilo sottile del manico. Lo strumento reagisce bene anche con leaccordature aperte, pur se le corde extra light in dotazione faticano un po' su quelle di Sol e Re. Sostituite con una mula light (per interderci 012) il problerna svanisce. Gli armonici risultano estremamente sonori ed anche quelli presi al III IV e IX tasto escono senza alcuna fatica. Con il pletrro il timbro rimane ben definito, garantendo uno strumming inciviso ed elegante allo stresso tempo. Colleghiamo quindi la nostra

Walden ad un P.A. e verifichiamo le sue "doti electtriche". Nessuna spiacevole sorpresa. Il Fishman Prefix Pro è une sistema affidabile ed in grado di riprodurre con buona fedeltà la timbrica dello strumento e a volumi elevati (attenzione comunque a non esagerare) il controllo notch limita i problemi di larsen, garantendoci un utilizzo on stage di oltimo livello. In conclusione, possiamo dire di trovarci difronte ad un eccellente strumento realizzato con grande cura costruttiva, legni di alta qualità, manico e tastiera sorprendentemente confortevoli. E, soprattutto, di uno strumento dotato di un gran bel suono acustico, senza dimenticare il suo vantaggioso rapporto qualità-prezzo. Complimenti Walden! CASSA La Walden G3030CEQ è una Grand Autidorium a spalla mancante di tipo Venetian, con tavola in cedro rosso massello di qualità eccellente e priva di qualsiasi difetto. Fasce e fondo sono realizzati in palissandro indiano. Decisamente bello e raffinato il binding in acero marezzato, così come la rosetta in abalone e legno di grande sobrietà ed eleganza. Il ponte è in ebano con selletta in osso con compensazione per la seconda corda. I pins fermacorde sono anch'essi di ebano.La vernice alla nitrocellulosa satinata conferisce ulteriore pregio estetico alla nostra Walden anche se, data la sua delicatezza e l'assenza di un battipenna, richiederà qualche piccola attenzione in più onde evitare antiestetici graffi. Esaminando l'interno della cassa, notiamo la grande cura nella realizzazione delle cante (scalloped X pre-ware) e delle controfasce ottimamente lavorate. Totalmente assenti sbavature di colla. La regolazione del truss-rod è accessible dalla buca.

tale da permettere alle corde di scorrere senza trovare punti di attrito. La tastiera è in ebano e monta 20 tasti piccoli. Idots segnaposizione sono presenti soltanto sui profilo superiore. La realizzazione è impeccabile così come l'intonazione: precisa su tutta la sua lunghezza e su tutte le corde. Anche la regolazione è eccellente. (E' molto raro trovare strumenti perfettamente settati così come escono dalla fabbrica). L'action è sorprendentemente bassa e, nonostante ciò, le corde non sbattono mai anche se sollecitate a dovere. Sicuramente un punto di forza in più por la nostra Walden. ELETTRONICA Il sistema adotta dalla G3030CEQ è il supercollaudato Fishman Prefix Pro e prevede i seguenti controlli: Treble-Middle-Bass, più un controllo Brillance utile per aggiungere presenza al suono. Oltre al potenziometro del volume, troviamo l'utilissimo notch filter che ci consente di tagliare frequenze indesiderate ed evitare il fastidoso effetto larsen ad alti volumi. Presente anche il selettore di fase. L'accesso alla pila è estremamente semplice. (Da ricordare che, con pochi euro in più, è possible avere il sistema Fishman Ellipse dotato di microfono interno miscelabile con il rilevatore piezoelettrico).

MANICO E TASTIERA Il manico è in mogano dal profilo sottile e ottimamente sagomato, avvitato al corpo con una vite a brugalo raggiungibile con facilità dalla buca. Da segnalare l'utilizzo di barre di rinforzo laterali in Carbon-grafite. La paletta, dal design semplice ed elegante, monta meccaniche dorate di tipo sigillato, registrabili, con palettina in pastica tartarugata. Il capotasto è anch'esso in osso vero ed è lavorato alla perfezione in modo 17

Supranatura G3000: Belle naturelle By Guitar Unplugged (France)

L'importateur Hohner nous présente aujoud'hui la Walden G3000, modèle de milieu de gamme de la série Supranatura qui, pour rappel, a été conçue par un luthier venant de l'écurie Taylor. Un sérieux client. Cette guitare peut être considérée comme la petite soeur de l'électroacoustique G3030 bien que celle-ci ne bénéficie pas d'un pan coupé. Avec la G3000, vous ne trouverez donc pas d'accès <<haut débit>> dans les aigus et l'électronique (préampli, accordeur intégré, piézo) est absente. Rien que du naturel à l'état pur avec, comme vous allez pouvoir le constater, un vrai savoirfaire d'artisan. NOS IMPRESSIONS Tout d'abord, la G3000 est livrée dans son étui Deluze des plus robustes, recouvert d'un Skaï marron, imitation cuir, de très bonne facture. Ça nous change du noir ordinaire. En l'ouvrant, nous découvrons une belle fourrure synthétique mauve (Purple rain...). La classe! Avec lui, vous pourrez balader l'instrument un peu partout sans avoir à vous soucier d'éventuels chocs. Allez, sortons la Walden de son cocon et regardons cela d'un peu plus prés. Pas de grande surpise concernant la forme de type <<Grand Auditorium>> qui respecte la tradition. On remarque d'emblée le poids <<plume>> de la guitare. La table, en épicéa sitka massif, bénéficie d'un toucher naturel satiné qui apporte une note particulièrement sobre et délicate à l'ensemble. Elle est décorée d'un filet en érable flammé qui fait son effet. La rosace est entourée de deux liserés <<multiplis>> mixant l'abalone et le bois. Comme chez sa consoeur (la G3030), la table est renforcée d'un barrage en X dit <<d'avantguerre>>, également en épicéa. Le chevalet 18

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en ébène <<belly bridge>>, à douilles, est équipé d'un sillet compensé qui devrait nous assurer une justesse hors pair. Les éclisses ainsi que le dos sont en palissandre indien massif. Cela<<tranche>> bien avec l'épicéa. On retrouve un deuxième filet d'érable flammé sur le dos de l'instrument. Ici, même ce qui n'est pas visible est <<chiadé>>. Le manche, en acajou africain, présente une fine découpe en <<C>> et son profil (appelé Narrow) plutôt étroit nous facilitera la première prise en main. La touche est en palissandre et n'est pas décorée de repères d'abalone (comme on pouvait s'y attendre). Ceci accentue la sobriété générale de l'instrument. Pas d'affolement,les indispensables repères sont malgré tout visibles sur le côté supérieur du manche qui comporte vingt cases. Cependant,vu l'absence de pan coupé, il sera difficile d'acéder aux notes se situant au-delà de la quatorziéme frette (jonction corps/manche). La seule attache courroie se trouve sur la talon. Il faudra adopter la technique du <<lacet>> pour la jouer debout.

Nous arrivons ensuite à la tête où trône le logo de la marque en incrustation d'abalone. Cette dernière est équipée de mécaniques dorées <<non estampillées>>à bain d'huile. Les boutons ou clefs de type<<écaille>> peuvent rappeler les <<mushrooms>>. Dernier détail, la table n'est pas équipée de plaque de protection ou pickguard. Prudence, les joueurs les plus <<féroces>>devront moduler leurs attaques. Il serait dommage d'entamer sa finition naturelle. En commençant par une série d'accords ouverts, nous sommes tout de suite très à l'aise. Le manche, bien plus fin que sur de nombreuses autres guitares acoustiques, est d'une facilité déconcertante. Sa découpe, surtout dans les basses (vers la tête), se rapproche vraiment de celle des électriques. Bluffant!

musicaux. Du blues à la country en passant par la pop <<de caractère>>. CONVAINCANTE Cette belle guitare, bénéficiant d'une fabrication <<made in China>> de très bonne facture, trouvera sa place parmi les multiples modèles <<folk>> en dessous de la barre des 1000 euros. Elle affiche 860 euros bein mérités compte tenu de ce qu'elle nous propose. Maintentant, il ne vous reste plus qu'à l'essayer et à vous faire votre propre opinion. Avec un réglage <<cousu main>> et une action des cordes assez basse, nul doute qu'elle saura vous convaincre.

DU BLUES À LA COUNTRY Sans être envahissante, on perçoit une belle projection sonore ainsi qu'une agréable compression naturelle. La palette gravemédium-aigu est bien respectée, même si on aurait souhaité un poil plus de rondeur dans les basses. En la testant sur une rythmique d'un titre de la belle Natalie Imbruglia avec muchos <<balayages>> à la clef, elle remplit parfaitement l'espace.Le rendu est assez percussif...comme on aime, pas vous? Petit bémol sur notre modèle, l'action des cordes est un peu haute et, au-delà de la neuvième case, cela commence à devenir <<corsé>> pour jouer des positions d'accords barrés. En arpèges, exécutés au médiator ou bien en <<fingerpicking>>, le résultat est clair et dynamique. Notre préférence va néanmoins au jeu au médiator où les basses se font moins discrètes. Histoire de <<boucler la boucle>>, on l'essaie également avec un bottleneck pour aller <<chatouiller>> du blue-grass. Les médiums se détachent bien, sans jamais être agrerssifs. On peut dire sans problème qua la G300 saura vous accompagner dans de nombreux styles 19

Supranatura G2070

By Akustik Gitarre (Germany) Die Firma Walden Guitars wurde 1995 von P.W. Chen in Nordchina gegründet. Die Instrumente aus der chinesischen Kleinstadt Lilan finden im unteren und mittleren Preisbereich Beachtung. Mit der SupraNatura-Reihe bekommt man Instrumente, die konzeptionell auf Naturmaterialien setzen und bei zurükhaltendem Design klanglich auf den Punkt kommen sollen. Das Etikett im Schallloch trägt den schmückenden Aufdruck, Designed in the USA', was auf der Kooperation mit der amerikinischen Firma CFox Guitars b e r u h t . D i e S u p r a N a t u r a i s t Wa l d e n s Toplinie, dabei konzentriert man sich auf die Grand-Auditorium-Form in verschiedenen Ausführungen. User Testmodell stammt aus der 2000erReihe, die im repräsentativen Mittelfeld angesiedelt ist. Fangen wir an mit der Materialauswahl der vollmassiven G2070: Hier fällt die gleichmäßig fein gemaserte Rotzederdecke auf, das kreuzbeleistete Kernstück der Klangbildung. Für Korpus und Hals wurde afrikanisches Mahogoni verwendet; hier ist das Material etwas gröber, was durch die rotbraune Beize optisch geschickt kaschiert wurde und klanglich kaum ins Gewicht fallen dürfte. Das Furnier der zierlichen, etwas spitz zulaufenden Kopfplatte mit Perlmutlogo besteht wie das Griffbrett aus Palisander. Der leicht geschwungene Steg aus gleichem Material setzt einen weiteren optischen Akzent und bestimmt zusammen mit der Kopfplatte das Erscheinungsbild. Korrespondierend wurde für die Ech tholz Korpuseinfassungen neben Zierspänen auch 20

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Palisander eingesetzt und die Holzrosette dezent mit Zierspänen gestaltet. Abgerundet wird das Ganze durch vergoldete Mechaniken mit braunen Periodknöpfen und Endund Stegpins aus Palisander. Das Finish ist eine seidenmatte Nitrolackierung, die am Hals ein angenehm glattes, holziges Gefühl vermittelt. Eine Materialbesonderheit: Der geschraubte Hals hat eine Stabilisierung aus Karbon, was eine schlankere Form ermöglicht, ohne dass die Stabilität gefährdet wäre. Natürlich gibt es auch einen Einstellstab, sogar einen Bi-Flex, mit dem die Halskrümmung vom Schallloch aus in beide Richtungen korrigiert werden kann. Weitere durchdachte Details zeigen eine solide, saubere Verabeitung, zum Beispiel die akkurat eingesetzten Bünde und einen exakt abgestimmter Sattel, der wie die kompensierte Stegeinlage aus Knochen besteht. Die Walden G2070 hält auch bei der Spiegelinspektion des Innenlebens souverän der Überprüfung stand. HANDHABUNG UND KLANG Eine Grand Auditorium möchte spieltechnisch gern mit Fingerstyleund Picking-Techniken bearbeitet werden. Das Instrument überzeugt bei leichter Ansprache mit einem

runden, weichen Ton. Das ausgeglichene Klangbild inspiriert zu keltisch angehauchter Spielweise, wobei das Sustain eine angenehm tragende Rolle spielt. Hier hilft auch die Kombination von Zederndecke und Mahagonikorpus, ein Klassiker, wenn ein warmes transparentes Klangbild mit runden Mitten und zurückhaltenden Bässen gewünscht ist. So kann die Walden G2070 auch offene Stimmungenohne störende Resonanzen verarbeiten. Mit dem Plektrum erzielt man bei sensibler Spieltechnik einen luftigweichen, perkussiven Sound, bei dem sich so mancher SingerSongewriter gut aufgehoben fühlen dürfte. Komplexe Harmonien trennt die Gitarrre nicht allzu scharf, und auch spieltechnische Nuancen werden nicht in allen Feinheiten abgebildet. Dafür reagiert die Walden gutmütig auf kleine Unsauberkeiten. Gitarristen, die gerne beherzt zulangen, sollten einen Gang zurückschalten: Dafür ist diese Gitarre nicht konzipiert und würde übersteuern. Del schlanke Hals mit mittelbreitem Griffbrett liegt Dank sauberer Werkseinstellung gut in der Hand, wobei die Bünde für manche Spieltechniken gerne höher sein dürften. FAZIT Die G2070 Grand Auditorium bestätigt, dass bei Walden Wert gelegt wird auf alle wesentlichen Details, die Klang und Verarbeitung prägen. Viel Erfahrung fundiertes Wissen ermöglichen hier durch präzise moderne Produktionstechnik einen grundsoliden Fertigungs-standard, der angesichts des erschwinglichen Preises überzeugen kann. Wer sich momentan für ein vollmassives Instrument der unteren Mittelklasse (700 bis 1000 Euro) interessiert, sollte die Walden SuptraNaturas antesten. Neben der sauberen Bauweise und dem definierten Klang fallen auch weitere Dinge ins Gewicht: der mitgelieferte Luxuskoffer inklusive Gurt und Luftbefeuchter von Planet Waves sowie die Werksbestückung mit beschichteten D'Addario-Saiten.

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Supranatura D2040

By Australian Musician (Australia) Not a lot is known about Walden guitars other than they’re designed in the United States and built in the small town of Lilan, China. The name Walden is also the title of the autobiography of Henry David Thoreau, which is based around solitude and life in the woods. This may have absolutely nothing to do with where the company gets its name from, but it’s a fitting title for an instrument that would look right at home in an Alaskan log cabin. Currently the market is flooded with a massive range of mid priced acoustic guitars, so in order for manufacturers to stand out they need to make guitars that appeal to a certain calibre of muso. The Walden D2040 is such an instrument, with a cosmetic appeal that sets it up more as a luxury item than a tool to craft music with. It looked superb straight out of the box and on closest inspection the only flaw I noticed was the dot-inlay was slightly crooked at the 12th fret. A sturdy brown leather case escorts this guitar and it seems reasonable that any decent acoustic should come with its own case these days (manufacturers take note). The D2040 is part of Walden's Supra-Natura series, sporting all wooden manufacturing (including end pins) as well as thin neck to assist with speed and barring of chords. The tone woods employed are a Sitka spruce top, African mahogany body and neck, and rosewood fingerboard. A scalloped “X” bracing lies beneath the silky spruce top for additional strength and longevity. The Martin Guitar Company employed this process in the 1850s, and a scalloped brace differs from a standard brace in that it tends to vibrate more and produce 22

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more bass. Older Martin guitars feature scalloped braces, resulting in a vintage tone that appealed to bluegrass players. African mahogany is becoming the manufacturing norm as Honduras mahogany (South American) declines to the point of extinction. Luckily enough deforestation laws are now protecting this prized tone-wood for future generations, and its African counterpart sounds equally pleasing. Mahogany is highly regarded for its warm, rich tonal properties and thick midrange and its influence on this axe is also apparent. An ebony bridge is used to hold a set of D’addario EXP strings with beautifully crafted rosewood endpins providing the anchor, making this guitar a certifiable timber orgy. The neck is also a sturdy slab of mahogany with a rosewood fret board, that’s smooth to the touch and features the most beautifully finished frets I have ever come across on an acoustic guitar. The frets were thin, smooth

and even along the entire neck and a two way adjustable truss-rod is also routed into the neck cavity (becoming the new “norm” on acoustics) ensuring additional stability and the ability to straighten the neck. Gold Tortoise shell machine heads adorn a sleek headstock, and the travel on the strings is flawless from bridge to tuner without any annoying “chinks” when tuning. A bone nut and saddle are superb additions adding to some already great sustain and the setup would have been perfect for me if the action wasn’t so high. To top it off, the satin nitrocellulose finish on this instrument is superb, with no risk of oily finger-prints or sweat stains being left behind like on gloss surfaces. Okay, a lot has been said about how great this guitar looks and feels, now let’s get to the important stuff. What’s the tone like? First off, the tone is very balanced, smooth and not too ‘boomy’ in the bum (bottom end). I’d describe the sound as sweet with no ugly frequencies jumping out even with an angry strum. Finger style picking resulted in rich, smoky overtones that would sit great in a jazz track. This guitar's only real setback is a lack of volume, which can be an issue if you decide to use it live or are fighting to be heard when its your solo. The thin neck makes barring chords a tad easier but, the action is too high for Al DiMeola style shredding if that’s your calling. However, for an RRP of $795 you get a quality acoustic guitar with a sturdy case that plays wonderfully, looks fantastic, sounds great, with the only issue being volume. If you need a great acoustic to play in your apartment or record with, then I’d recommend the Walden D2040 to you.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the D2040.

SupraNatura G1070CEQ Review By Guitar Ausgabe (Germany)

Schon der erste Blick lässt erahnen, dass es bei der Walden G1070CEQ nach guter Tradition des Hauses in erster Linie um den guten Ton geht und nicht um überflüssigen Perlmutt-Schnickschnack und sonstigen Unfug, der nur den Preis in die Höhe treiben würde. Da wir uns knapp under der 1.000-Euro-Grenze befinden, sollte die Walden klanglich schon einiges zu bieten haben. So viel sei vorab verraten: Sie ist ihr Geld wert. Auf ein besonderes Schmankerl hat man bei Walden Guitars nicht verzichtet und dem Instrument gleich ein Fishman-Tonabnehmer system spendiert. Damit steht dem großen Auftritt nichts mehr im Weg. Die Reise dorthin tritt die Gitarre im edlen Koffer an, der im Preis enthalten ist. Bei der G1070CEQ handelt es sich um ein Modell namens ,,Grand Auditorium", das inzwischen jedoch bei jedem Hersteller etwas anders aussieht und nicht mehr viel mit der ursprünglichen Bezeichnung ,,000" der Firma Martin zu tun hat. Wenn man so will, handelt es sich um eine Mischung aus Dreadnought und Jumbo: das Beste aus beiden Welten. Wenn Gitarrent sprechen könnten Die Supranatura-Line von Walden besteht ausschließlich aus ausgesuchten massiven Tonhölzern. Plastikteile sucht man bei dieser Serie vergebens, da alle Einlagen und sogar das Binding aus verschiedenen Holzarten gefertigt sind. Das verleiht der Gitarre eine sehr natürliche Note und macht sie zu einem kleinen Kunstwerk. Geschmackvoller geht es nicht mehr. Sogar die Bridgepins sind aus Holz hergestellt, Sattel 24

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und Steg aus echtem Knochen. Das Halsprofil liegt angenehm flach in der Hand und sollte damit auch für kleiner Hände geeignet sein. Sowohl auf dem Griffbrett als auch auf der Stirnseite markieren kleine unscheinbare Punkte die Lagen. Aber wahre Cowbows brauchen doch sowieso nur vier Bünde und drei Akkorde, oder? Nachdem ich mich von der Optik zum Schwärmen hingerissen fühlte, steht nun die einzig entscheinde Disziplin ins Haus: Kann die Gitarre auch klanglich mithalten? Da wir doch eh gerade im Wilden Westen waren, wollen, wir gleich mal einen Walking-Bass à la ,,Ring Of Fire" anstimmen.Yeeahhh! Da fühlt man sich doch gleich wie in der weiten Prärie. Genau so klingt die Walden nämlich. Der dünne Nitro-Zellulose-Lack steht dem Schwingungsverhalten nicht im Weg, so dass sich sofort ein angenehm voller und ausgewogener Ton entfalten kann, für den das passende Adjektiv erst noch gefunden werden

muss. In jedem Fall ist es eine Mischung aus Charimsa, Atmosphäre und einer Menge Persönlichkeit. Diese Gitarre hat mich bereits überzeugt, dass sie ihr Geld wert ist. Der Preamp Mein Eindruck bestätigt sich auch bei genauerer Untersuchung. Fingerpicker werden begeistert sein, da sie es versteht, die Dynamik und den Ausdruck eines sauberen Fingeranschlags wiederzugeben. Arpeggios verdichten sich mit jeder angeschlagenen Note dichter zu einem äußerst harmoniscen Klanggeflecht.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the G1070CEQ.

Diese Gitarre spricht eine deutliche Sprache, und wenn ich mich etwas auf ihr verliere, habe ich sogar das Gefühl, als würde sie sich mit mir unterhalten. Genug der Schwärmerei, Widmen wir uns zuletzt einem ganz weltlichen Thema: dem integrierten Preamp, der die übliche DreibandKlangregelung und einen zusätzlichen Brillance-Regler besitzt. Dieser entschärft den für meinen Geschmack zu elektronischen Ampsound etwas. Das bleibt hängen Die Gitarre bietet für jeden Spielertyp etwas. Ein echtes Allround-Instrument mit einer bestechenden Optik und einer Menge Persönlichkeit, von der sich so mancher Musiker mit Sicherheit gerne verzaubern lässt. Dieses Instrument versteht es, kleine Soundwelten zu erschaffen, und unterstützt die musikalischen Ausflüge zusätzlich mit einer vorbildlichen Bespielbarkeit.

Ein echtes Allround-Instrument mit einer bestechenden Optik und einer Menge Persönlichkeit, von der sich so mancher Musiker mit Sicherheit gerne verzaubern lässt.

SupraNatura G1070 Review

By Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA) Excerpts from the review: "Breedlove, Simon and Patrick and Walden Small-Bodies" March 2005 Walk into almost any guitar store, and it will soon become apparent that large dreadnought-sized guitars are the most popular style available. Although dreadnoughts are great for their volume, punch and bass response, smaller people often struggle with the large body size and many players find dreadnoughts too â&#x20AC;&#x153;boomy.â&#x20AC;? Fingerstyle players, singer-songwriters, and soloists who don't need a lot of volume generally prefer guitars that respond better to a light touch than a dreadnought. Although previously available in other parts of the world, Chinese-made Walden guitars have only recently been introduced to the US. While the name will most certainly be new to most guitarists, the company's Marketing and R&D Manager and primary designer, Jon Lee, was a former business partner at the CFox guitar company. The G1070, part of Walden's topof-the-line SupraNatura series, has a solid cedar top, solid mahogany back, laminated mahogany sides, bolt-on graphite-reinforced mahogany neck, and a cosmetically simple appearance with nice touches like maple binding. The materials, construction, and craftsmanship of our review guitar were very good all around.... The guitar has a 25 1/2 -inch scale and a 1 11/16 -inch nut width. I was first struck by the Walden's rich, fat bass response, a good indication of what was to come as I put it through its paces. It had a mature tone, was suited to fingerstyle playing and light strumming, and sounded open and balanced... It responded equally well to light 26

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and hard picking... All of these instruments offered incredibly mature acoustic tone and would be great performing axes. The Walden SupraNatura G1070 definitely exuded the most "high-end" vibe in terms of tone and looks... The market has definitely been greatly enriched by this trio of small-bodied flattops.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the G1070.

Natura G570 and SupraNatura D1030 Review By Frets Magazine (USA)

Walden introduces us to their guitar universe with two reasonably priced lines—the entrylevel Natura Series, and the more plush SupraNatura Series. The lightweight Natura G570 offers a grand auditorium-size body, a solid-red cedar top, sapele mahogany back and sides, and Walden’s signature satin-matte nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Nitrocellulose is typically associated with high-end and vintage instruments. Besides the fact this type of finish is much thinner—allowing the guitar to vibrate and breathe more freely—it’s also comfortable to play, with none of the tackiness or stickiness of some high-gloss finishes. The factory setup was just about right, for me—a fairly straight neck with a low action and the strings following the radius of the fretboard. Other neck features are the smooth Indian rosewood fretboard with a matching rosewood head plate and a pearl logo, and a carefully carved dovetail neck joint.The nicely plated chrome die-cast tuners are stable, and they turn smoothly with no grittiness. Some of the nut slots are cut a bit low, causing a little open string buzz, although nothing too bothersome. The fret job is admirable, with no excess glue, sharp ends, or noticeable high or low spots. Although the pickguard is cut a little roughly, the basic plastic rosette, binding, and trim were carefully cut and attached. The 570’s voice is warm and mellow— especially when strumming open chords. Overall, the G570 is an attractive and approachable guitar that gives up enough rich tone and sustain to totally inspire a developing guitarist. In terms of price, features, and playability, the G570 is perfect for the 28

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beginning or intermediate player. There was a time—not so long ago—when there was no such thing as a solid-top guitar streeting for $250. Instruments such the Walden G570 may inspire a whole new generation of guitars and guitarists. The D1030 features the same comfy feeling nitrocellulose finish as the G570, as well as a solid-red cedar top (possibly chosen for its richly dark tonality that is favored by many fingerstyle players). The dreadnought body

offers pre-war-style scalloped X-bracing, Indian rosewood sides, a solid Indian rosewood back, and a rosewood bridge with wood endpins. Other appointments include die-cast gold-tone tuners with fauxtortoiseshell buttons, maple trim with wood purfling, and a maple and mahogany inlaid rosette.

of much more expensive guitars, such as solid top, solid back, and wood binding. It adds up to a smart-looking instrument with a sturdy feel and a strong sound. Walden’s SupraNatura Series is sure to get plenty of looks from guitarists shopping in the under-$1,000 price range.

The neck is what makes the SupraNatura series unique in the Walden line. My first impression was that it felt too thin. However, the bolt-on, rosewood-on-mahogany neck is as strong and rigid as can be, reinforced by two inlaid rows of stiff carbon graphite. The neck is shallow front to back and is described by Walden as a modern profile, designed for “smooth execution of the most complex fingerstyle techniques.” The lack of depth may feel a little weird for traditionalists, but it’s excellent for beginners, electric guitarists who play acoustics every once in a while, or players with smaller hands. Graphite adds strength without a lot of excess weight, contributing to a neck that should require fewer adjustments due to string gauge or climate changes. (The neck is equipped with a 2-way adjustable trussrod when that day eventually comes.) The D1030 also includes a compensated bone nut and a compensated bone saddle. These improve sustain, as well as helping the guitar play more in tune in all positions. When strumming open chords, the D1030’s notes are focused with lots of fundamental and punch. It’s hard to say how much influence the graphite reinforcement has on the tone, as it takes the place of some wood and affects the vibration of the neck. The rigidity of the neck does transfer to the overall feel of the guitar, which, along with the tight mids and treble, will make it an excellent choice for recording situations. The D1030 has good string-to-string balance while picking, but it may not have the volume that some fingerstylists crave. Many features on the D1030 are characteristic

The 570’s voice is warm and mellow.... the D1030’s notes are focused with lots of fundamental and punch.

Natura G740CE Review By Guitar Player (Brazil)

These days it's not hard to find high quality, well-finished Chinese instruments at a good price. The Walden G740CE is just such an instrument. The body shape is similar to Taylor's grand auditorium and the guitar is built with quality materials that result in a beautiful sound. The G740CE has a blemish-free nitrocellulose l a c q u e r f i n i s h . M a d e f r o m t r e e f i b e r, nitrocellulose lacquer has been the material of choice for guitar finishing since the eighteenth century. A satin finish is smoother than a high gloss finish, allowing for easier and faster movement along the neck. The G740CE 's top is made of solid Sitka spruce, a wood that delivers tons of volume and equilibrium. It is the top choice for guitarists who play with a heavy hand. The abalone rosette is a nice detail and inside the body you'll find thin brace wood that structures the sound. The braces increase the bass sound without losing the harmonics and treble sounds. The bridge and fingerboard are made of Indian rosewood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the most desired wood for acoustic guitars, as well as electric and bass guitars. The beautiful design adds to the overall quality of the instrument.The sides and back of the G740CE are made from African mahogany, which produces consistent sound and maintains stability. Walden Guitars uses only mahogany on the neck of their instruments. The comfortably shaped G740CE neck has 20 frets.The cutaway affords easy access to the treble frets and the neck body joint is like a dovetail, yielding great sustain. An important detail of 30

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the instrument is the truss rod which precisely and securely adjusts the action, even with heavy strings. The instrument is 64.77 cm between the top and bridge nut. Locked, gold machine heads assure accurate tuning. The headstock features Indian rosewood and a pearl Walden logo. The Fishman Classic 4 is a four band EQ that yields different sounds. SOUNDS First, we tested the Walden plugged into a Beringher console and Antera amplified speakers. In all EQ and volume set ups, the G740CE had a great sound. When connecting it with a microphone, in addition to the preamp, the sound quality increased most noticeably at high volumes. Next we connected it to a Fender Acoustasonic 30. The sound was even better and fuller. Using maximum volume, flat EQ and no effects, the G740CE performed extremely well, without noise and feedback. Using DSP effects, the guitar produced full, great sounds with sufficient dept to convince the most demanding guitarists. A little chorus and reverb provided beautiful lines that are useful in pop-rock, Brazilian country and other styles. The Walden G740CE is a professional and adaptable guitar for any musicians work.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the G740CE.

The Walden G740CE is a professional and adaptable guitar for any musicians work.

Natura G730 named Best Fingerpicker By Guitar & Bass (UK)

If this guitar came with a price tag of ÂŁ500, we wouldn't have blinked. It has a solid cedar top, a solid rosewood back, scalloped bracing, cast tuners and a satin nitro-cellulose finish. The sides are laminated: some luthiers prefer this because it effectively decouples the top from the back. You even get an abalone rosette and a pearl logo. The Walden ships with a humidifier, but no case or gigbag - but who's complaining when it sounds like this? It chimes, rings, thumps and kerchunks - everything you could ask of in an acoustic guitar. This is the unmistakable sound of solid wood combined with effortless playability and a sonic character that's equally suited to strumming and picking. Even the build quality is virtually flawless. Add a proper bone nut and saddle and some classy tuners, and this could slay the big guns - for peanuts.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the G730.

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Natura D710 Review

By Guitar Player (USA) The D710 is a dreadnought-sized guitar that features a satin finish, a solid top and back, and nice looking appointments. The bindings (white/black on the body, black on the neck) are grade A, and the multi-layer back stripe and wedgeshaped end piece are precisely set. Ditto for the abalone rosette and the abalone "Walden" logo that's inlaid into the rosewood headstock facing. Tortoise-shell buttons class up the gold-plated tuners, and the nut is carefully worked and polished. Despite a white-ish mottling on the fretboard's surface, the frets themselves are finished well and don't have any sharp ends to dig into your hand. The D710's interior construction is generally clean and tight, although some of the bracing could stand a bit more sanding to remove "hairs" that pop out of the wood. Set up with reasonably low action, the Chinese-made D710 plays easily and sounds musically in tune. As you'd expect from a dreadnought, the tones are muscular and present. The D710 delivers a good amount of volume, and with its abundant bass and punchy midrange, notes ring out clearly and have good dynamic feel. With no onboard electronics, the D710 is less suitable for stage use, but it sure records well. We had the opportunity to hear it miked with an SE Electronics SE4400a condenser and tracked it into Logic on a Mac laptop through a Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 multi-audio interface, and the resulting tones were warm, rich, and nicely detailed. A versatile guitar for an attractive price, the D710 stands out as an excellent value for those seeking a purely acoustic experience (the D710CE comes with Fishman Aero+ electrics and a cutaway). 34

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Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the D710.

The D710 delivers a good amount of volume, and with its abundant bass and punchy midrange, notes ring out clearly and have good dynamic feel.

Natura D710 Review By Guitar World (USA)

Walden's guitars remind players what acoustic instruments are supposed to deliver: living tone. At the same time, the Chinese-built Walden D710 proves that properly managed overseas manufacturing can produce a superior instrument at roughly half the price of a similar American-born guitar. The D710 is part of Walden's Natura Series, which emphasizes simple aesthetics and gorgeous sound through the use of intelligent design and select woods. There are no frills or fancies on the D710, but its sound is nothing short of spectacular. FEATURES "Elegant" and "subdued" are apt descriptions of Walden's Natura D710. Indian rosewood sides create the D710s modest dreadnought shape, and the same black-swirled exotic wood covers the guitar's back. The soundboard is solid Engelmann spruce, which is known for its powerful projection and warm overtones. Tall scalloped braces in an X pattern form the D710's inner framework, serving to efficiently focus this guitar's output and quell stray resonance. Walden's own uniquely curved rosewood bridge design helps to spread the strings' energy like waves across the soundboard, and a subdued abalone rosette surrounds the sound hole.

Electric guitarists accustomed to moderately thin C-shaped necks are going to love the D710's silkyfast-mahogany neck. Gracefully thin plastic binding dresses the rosewood fingerboard, and the fretwork is flawless, allowing low action with no issues. Other tastefully incorporated appointments include tortoise shell keys on gold tuners, an inlaid mother-of-pearl Walden logo and rosewood headstock fascia. PERFORMANCE Most steel-string acoustics create a lot of noise with each note, because their bodies are not specifically designed to process the acoustic pressure and dynamics from their accompanying soundboards. The Walden's body and soundboard work harmoniously, producing exceptionally pure notes. I was impressed by the first sound I heard through the D710 and continued to be inspired by every cleanly defined nuance and bell-like ring of sustain. Few affordable acoustic guitars can create this kind of warmth and note separation. THE BOTTOM LINE Walden's Natura Series D710 has a thin and fast neck on par with an electric guitar, its action is low and fast, and it exudes a wonderfully conservative beauty. The Walden D710 sets the standard for bargain acoustics and embarrasses many guitars at three times the price.

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Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch D710 video review.

I was impressed by the first sound I heard through the D710 and continued to be inspired by every cleanly defined nuance and bell-like ring of sustain. Few affordable acoustic guitars can create this kind of warmth and note separation.

Natura G630CE Review

By Australian Guitar (Australia) (SOLID TOP) GRAND AUDITORIUM ACOUSTIC WITH CUTAWAY & PICKUP Walden is a manufacturer of "affordable" guitars. Those few words can make you run for the hills or see real bargain potential. Every now and then when the Australian Guitar staff hand me a guitar to be reviewed they ask me straight up 'how much do you think it's worth?" It's a good test because it only takes a few minutes to formulate an immediate opinion of an instrument, but much longer to make sense of it and write it down, which also gives you a chance for much more playing time. At first I guessed into 4 figures as I saw the grand auditorium shape, Fishman pickup, solid top, gold tuners and a reasonable sound. Needless to say I was surprised to hear my guess was almost double the actual price of this guitar. BACKGROUND Your average guitar lover will know a one or two sentence background to a lot of the common guitar manufactures, so here's one to add to your mental list. The company Walden came into existence around 12 years ago and is the result of two American luthiers designing guitars then sending them to China to be put together. The company actually doing the cutting, bending and gluing is not new to the game, they've been making instruments since as far back as the 1930's. You might already be starting to draw conclusions about craftsmanship and guitar royalty lineage, so if you're the kind of person that won't buy any guitar that hasn't been sneezed on by an age old luthier wood worker in Alabama then keep on walking. 38

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ALL ABOUT The Grand Auditorium shape has immediate benefits of being light and easy to play standing or sitting, the size a little more manageable than a dreadnought or jumbo. Up on the headstock the tuners are gold and die cast and the Walden logo unobtrusive and classy with a pearl finish. The binding and inlays bring a bit of flair to an otherwise plain design and the pick-guard follows the shape of the cutaway and sound hole. There is no denying that as far as looks, they got it very right with this guitar. Build quality is also impressive with no obvious bleed of the stain or lacquer and all the joins tight and even. The even grain of the laminated back and sides adds aesthetic appeal to the otherwise plain finish and the bracing internally is finely cut and lacks rough edges and tool scoring marks that you sometimes see in less expensive mass produced acoustic guitars.

The guitar sits halfway on Walden's lineup, as part of the 'natura' finish line. They claim the wood will age and mature the more and the longer that you play it, changing to match the style of your playing. The first point is likely true but in all honesty an ivory saddle and neck nut to replace the stock plastic items would go along way to sweetening the tone of this guitar. PLAYING IT How each strings tone and volume is balanced on an acoustic guitar can make a big difference to what you use it for, some guitars with a spectacular low end may sound tinny and weak up top. Like other features of this guitar, Walden have found a good middle ground and extracted about as much low end that is possible out of a typical grand auditorium shape.Typically, the mids are the most prominent of the sonic spectrum meaning fingerpicking, picked chords and the odd solo sound fine, but I wouldn't be using this as an open chord strumming machine, it responds better to a gentle touch than to a smashing with a 2mm thick Dunlop.

sound and feel good, we all know that can be different from one guitar to the next that came off the same production line. This guitar immediately impressed me and even after a number of days of playing it, I couldn't fault it in any game-ending sort of way. I consider a grand auditorium style guitar much harder for manufacturers to get right, as you can't just replace tone and balance with sheer volume attainable on other types of guitar designs. Walden have done an impressive job with this model, putting a great shape, look and pickup system into the hands of people with a limited budget.

The Fishman pickup system installed on this guitar is the same that is used on many other (and some more expensive) guitars and is your usual peizo under the bridge type design with a 9 volt powered preamp. You get treble, mids, bass and brilliance controls along with volume and a low battery warning light. I wouldn't say that it adds anything to the sound of the guitar, but I consider cheaper guitars without pickups quite limited, this factory fitted system opens up the instrument to many more buyers, and while the tone plugged in isn't considerably sweet, it cuts through a band mix well enough. THE BOTTOM LINE With instruments at this price point, it all comes down to value for money and how many features can be packaged up into a product that attracts buyers. With guitars however, you have that trump card that it must 39

Natura G570TB Review

by Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA) Handsome sunburst cedar top delivers three dimensional tone and responsiveness at an attractive price. While the Walden Guitars name is relatively new to the US market, the company has been marketing instruments from its own Lilan, China, factory to European, Canadian, and South African guitarists since 1996. Starting with a business built around a traditional dreadnought and a single classical guitar design, Walden has built its output into three lines each of classical guitars and steel-strings made with a wide range of woods, body styles and price points. The affordable G570TB Grand Auditorium steel-string is part of their mid-level Natura line. APPROACHABLE, ATTRACTIVE, AND AFFORDABLE Despite its low price, the Walden's build quality is hard to fault. Fret ends lie flush against the bound-rosewood fretboard, and the precise dot inlays and appropriately cut nut slots demonstrate care. The book-matched-cedar top's dark tobacco sunburst and the back and side's attractive wood grains are protected by a seamless, satin nitrocellulose finish, with no excess buildup anywhere.The black/white/ black rosette and matching body purfling also give off a classy vibe that belies the G570TB's low price, and the backstrip, tailblock strip, and finely carved heel point all match up with lay-line accuracy. A look inside revealed clean kerfing and svelte, scalloped bracing, with minimal visible excess glue— confirmation that this no thrown-together job— while the flawless bolt-on neck joint adds uptown mystique. In all, fit and finish are excellent, and Walden takes care to include a second "winter" saddle (to offset the lowered action 40

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that occurs in low-humidity conditions) and Planet waves soundhole humidifier (with refill syringe). BRIGHT AND BALANCED BIG BODY The robust and aesthetically pleasing 15 7/8-inch grand auditorium body— vaguely reminiscent of a cross between a Taylor grand auditorium and an OM— combines with the nicely C-shaped mahogany neck and medium factory action in a very comfortable and playable package, though the action could easily go even lower with the help of a setup tech. Played fingerstyle, the G570TB cheerfully responds with a bright, airy, mahogany tone and plenty of smooth sustain behind the initial clear cedar edge. The 4 5/8-inch-deep body supports the tonewoods with a three dimensional tenor midrange and just enough baritone on bottom to balance things out. I found the bass strings to be focused and tight, with almost none of the low-string thud that can plague guitars in this price range.

Spinning the smooth chrome tuners, I was pleased to find that pieces in open or altered tunings ring out with power and ĂŠlan; each note in a chord sings with clarity and distinction. Playing with a pick produces a responsive, engaging tone, with a jangly sparkle evident during open-chord strumming, and plenty of volume, sustain, and punch available for palm-muted power chords or biting single-note solo excursions. Throughout, the G570TB rewards player nuance with the appropriate response: Vibrato, picking dynamics, and color changes are reproduced on demand. In all, there is more than enough tactile feedback and satisfying tone to reward beginners, advancing intermediate players adding new techniques to their to their repertoire, and advanced players alike. THE WRAP With an appealing mahogany voice, versatile body size, and excellent build quality, the G570TB will work nicely for any player wanting a dose of rich acoustic tone and grown-up feel at a rock-bottom price. Its handsome, woody looks and open-string sparkle make it a natural choice for beginners learning to strum their first chords, and an instrument that's likely to remain rewarding to play as they develop.

Wi t h a n a p p e a l i n g m a h o g a n y v o i c e , versatile body size, and excellent build quality, the G570TB will work nicely for any player wanting a dose of rich acoustic tone and grown-up feel at a rock-bottom price.

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Natura D550CE Review

from Modern Player (China) In our last issue, we reviewed the G740CE. This time we will be reviewing another acoustic-electric model: the D550CE. Please refer to the last issue for more information about Waldenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s product line. The D550CE has more standard guitar specifications, when compared with the G740CE, which allows for a more affordable price but at the same time still provides the high quality voice of a solid top instrument. Appearance & Craftsmanship Inheriting the same style of brilliant headstock design, both the D550CE and G740CE have a pearl inlay Walden logo. Although the D550CE has normal die-cast chrome tuners it is easy to smoothly turn the tuner buttons to the desired position without losing any strength and the quality of the material is tangible. Sprayed with the same Nitrocellulose lacquer as all other Natura and SupraNatura model instruments, the surface is delicate and smooth in your hands. Also, there was none of the pungent smell that is sometimes associated with NC lacquer. We applaud Walden Guitars for the brilliant work. The D550CE guitar body is composed of a solid spruce top and Mahogany sides & back â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the same key elements in wood configuration as G740CE has â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so the D550CE can guarantee the same beautiful sound of a Walden solid top instrument. The overall craftsmanship of the D550CE represents the Walden Guitars family design in every detail you can see: the special designed Walden pickguard shape, and the just-right position of sound hole label. Each of them proves what the Walden is.

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Playability There is almost no difference in playability between the D550CE and G740CE. I felt very comfortable holding the D550CE in my hands and after setting up my fingers can play smoothly along the neck without hesitation. Without losing cares about being in the lower price range, the guitar comes with wellmanaged frets and a beautiful, high quality, maintained rosewood fingerboard. Please let me remind you again that all Walden guitars incorporate a 2-way adjustable truss rod that allows you to control the exact string height suited to your personal playing style. Walden's 2-way truss rod also allows for the precise tuning of your guitar's setup in response to seasonal changes. Players can find the best playability they desire at anytime. Tone After tuning the D550CE I tried a variety of playing styles including fingerstyle, fingerpicking and strumming. Basically, the tone is similar to G740CE. The reason that

the D550CE is cheaper than the G740CE may come from the lower end specs. For example, the D550CE incorporates die-cast chrome tuners instead of tortoise plus gold machine heads; a 2-ring ABS soundhole inlay instead of Abalone…etc. But you can still have the great sound provided by the G740CE with the D550CE. The D550CE is a good choice for players who are chasing after great tones instead of fancy decorations. The D550CE comes with D’Addario EXP11 light gauge string which provided the warm sound which Walden guitars like to give. Installed with Fishman Classic 4 preamp, the acoustic-electric D550CE produces almost the original resonance of the guitar body itself. If you are connecting to a mixer I would recommend adding an acoustic-electric guitar sound effects processor for getting more solid voice. Although it falls in the lower price range of Walden solid top instruments, Walden still provides a Planet Waves acoustic guitar humidifier so customers can protect their solid top instruments. The dryness of northern China has always been a problem for acoustic guitars whose material are mostly wood. Walden Guitars “teaching” consumers how to protect their own solid wood instruments is a good example for other guitar suppliers to follow. It proves that Walden treat their customers thoughtfully and I applaud them for that. Please take a chance and try Walden Guitars personally and you will feel both its attractiveness and its high quality.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the D550CE.

We applaud Walden Guitars for the brilliant work.

Natura O550 Review

by Australian Guitar (Australia) We take a look at a petite offering from Walden Guitars. Walden Guitars are rapidly establishing an enviable reputation for producing high quality, low cost acoustic guitars. Our expectations have routinely been pushed higher and higher over the past decade, so that it becomes increasingly difficult to raise the bar further, however our initial impressions of the Walden instruments did just that. Designed in the U.S.A and manufactured in China, they are an object lesson in taking advantage of the global manufacturing paradigm â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it is far too easy these days to source a generic model and have your logo printed on the headstock, with predictably uninspiring result, whereas the guitars that have been pushing the budget envelope have utilized cheaper off-shore manufacturing in service of solid design and with the benefit of demonstrably proactive quality control. The 550 has been a foundation model in the Walden range to date, and has previously been available in dreadnought and grand auditorium configurations. This year, the company expanded the range to include orchestra and traveler versions of the 550, and this issue we have the orchestra version O550 for your perusal. THE ORCHESTRA QUESTION While the O550 is also available as a cutaway electric-acoustic, the review model is the plain vanilla version. This is not a problem as it allows us to concentrate on the indigenous tone of the guitar, which is very impressive for a guitar that retails for $399. One of the features that surely contributes greatly to the quality of its output is a solid spruce soundboard, which although much more 44

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common on guitars in this price range these days, is still a wonderful development â&#x20AC;&#x201D; nothing sucks up the tone like a laminated soundboard, and there was a time not so long ago when any guitar in this price range would have necessarily been stuck with one. The back and sides are sapele, which is an African timber closely related to mahogany. It has become quite popular in luthiery over the past decade, and it is an attractive tonewood, both in terms of its figured appearance and mellow yet clear tone. In tandem with a spruce soundboard, sapele back and sides contribute to create a well balanced output that is warm without sacrificing definition, and that is as good a description of the tone of the O550 as any. The orchestra body shape is a little smaller than a dreadnought, and although this inevitably sacrifices some volume, it also helps to ensure that the O550 does not have the strident tone that characterises so many sub-$500 acoustic guitars. COUNTRY COMFORT

Picking it up, the O550 is one of the most comfortable acoustic guitars I have played. This slightly smaller orchestra shape is very nicely positioned when you sit to play, and the body is about half an inch shallower than the corresponding dreadnought model. The result is that the string length seems more accessible, which is particularly important for fingerstyle players. The O550's neck is a very subtle V-shape, which is not too deep but still feels substantial in your hand. As we said earlier, the O550 has a beautiful natural tone, which is mellow and rounded without losing any of its definition. Walden suggest that this body shape is particularly well suited to recording due to its focused voice, andit is easy to agree with them. It really comes alive when you fingerpick, its evenness allowing each note to emerge equally, however it is just as well suited to strumming, where its natural restraint smooths any dynamic rough edges. THE BOTTOM LINE The Walden O550 is an impressive instrument regardless of price, and the fact that it retails for so little only makes it all the more of a stunning find. There are lots of affordable guitars around these days, and you could easily make the mistake of assuming that since even the cheapest instruments are pretty well put together these days, an entrylevel guitar is going to be pretty much equal, however the O550 proves that is not the case. One of the things you are looking for in an expensive acoustic guitar is character, and it is something you rarely encounter in an instrument costing as little as this one, however that is exactly what the Walden O550 has. All in all, it is an expressive and attractively voiced instrument that you would not baulk at spending twice as much on.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the O550.

Natura O550CE Review

by Akustik Gitarre (Germany) Walden-Gitarren sind im mittleren und Einstiegssegment immer wieder dann gefragt, wenn es um Instrumente geht, die möglichst viel Ton zum kleinen Preis bieten sollen. Pünktlich zum Jahreswechsel wurde die Einstiegsserie Natura um einige Bauformen mit und ohne Tonabnehmer erweitert. Neben einer Sieben-Achtel Travel- Guitar gibt es eine neue OM-Form unter der Bezeichnung Orchestra, die um einiges handlicher und kleiner ist als Waldens Grand Auditorium und die vor allem für Fingerstyle-Techniken interessant sein dürfte. KONSTRUKTION Laut Herstellerangabe soll die zierliche Orchestra, die an die bewährte alte PreWar Bauform anknüpft, auch besonders für Gitarristinnen geeignet sein — sicher ein nachvollziehbarer Aspekt. Das würde dann aber für alle OM-Modelle gleich welcher Herkunft gelten. Das vorliegende Modell hat einen Cutaway und ein aktives Fishmann Pickup-System zu bieten, was sie klar zur Bühnengitarre macht, obwohl sie auch akustisch einiges zu bieten hat. Mit einer kreuzbeleisteten, vollmassiven Fichtendecke bekommen wir hier von vorneherein gute Grundvoraussetzungen; der Korpus wurde aus Sapele-Mahogani gefertigt.Steg, Griffbrett und Kopfplattenfurnier bestehen aus Palisander, die Kopfplatte trägt das Logo aus Perloid.Das ist neben den dazu passenden Griffbrettpunkten und Korpus-,Decken- und Schalllocheinfassungen aus Kunststoff auch schon alles, was das zurückhaltend gestaltete Instrument an Schmuck zu bieten hat. Für den geschraubten Hals wurde ebenfalls auf Mahagoni zurückgegriffen, er hat zwar wie 46

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alle Walden- Gitarren den in beide Richtungen verstellbaren Biflex-Einstellstab, nicht aber die Karbonverstärkung der SupraNaturaReihe. Für Sattel, Stegeinlage und Bridgepins wurder weißer Kunststoff verwendet — ein weiterer Unterschied zum Knochenmaterial der SupraNatura. Die Verarbeitung ist sauber wie gewohnt. Gerade vor dem Hintergrund der Preislage bekommt man hier einen sehr positiven Gesamteindruck. PICKUP & ELEKTRONIK D as Fi shman-System beinhaltet einen koaxialen, Sonicare'-Tonabnehmer unter d e r S t e g e i n l a g e u n d d e n Vi e r - B a n d Equalizer in der Zarge, der neben den drei Standardreglern einen Brilliance-Regler für mehr hochfrequenten Glanz bietet. Der 9-Volt-Block ist direkt unter der Elektronik z u g ä n g l i c h , d i e m e n f ü r d e n We c h s e l herauszieht. Eine schwache Batterie zeigt die Kontroll-LED, die ansonsten bei Inbetriebnahme kurz aufleuchtet. Das System arbeitet grundsolide, die Saiten werden in ihrer Lautstärke gleichmäßig übertragen, die bedienungsfreundliche Klangreglung sollte auch Ungeübte auf Anhieb und schnell zum Ziel kommen lassen, zumal Fishman in der Bedienungsanleitung Tipps und Vorschläge bietet.

HANDHABUNG UND KLANG Spieltechnisch gibt es bei dem zierlichen Intsrument keine Hindernisse. Der Hals macht das Spielen mit seinem schlanken D-Profil leicht, die Werkseinstellung ist optimal. Klanglich weiß die O550CE rein akustisch mit dem für diese Bauform typisch mittig fokussierten Ton und ihre Ausgewogenheit zu überzeugen. Ihre Hauptstärken entwickelt sie vor allem bei Fingerstyle-Techniken, aber auch Strumming mit dem Plektrum kann die Walden gut verkraften, ohne in den hohen Mitten harsch zu werden. Ansonsten eignet sich die Gitarre über das gesamte Griffbrett auch gut für jazzige Singlenote-Linien. Spieltechnische Nuancen geraten etwas in den Hintergrund, auf der anderen Seite reagiert die Gitarre bei gröberer Spielweise recht gutmütig, was in dieser Verstärkt rückt der perkussivtrockene Gesamteindruck noch mehr in den Vondergrund, was der Gitarre einen gewissen Charme gibt. FAZITB Gerade in der Einstiegsklasse ist es wichtig, ein gut bespielbares Instrument zu bekommen, das sich auch verstärkt problemlos bedienen lässt. Mancher findet mit einer solchen Gitarre sien zweites Instrument, das bei den Ansprüchen schon für ernst gemeinte Auftritte reichen soll. Für solche Anforderungen ist die Walden O550CE gut geeignet, speziell in den wesentlichen Merkmalen wie Klang und Bespielbarkeit. Ein Luftbefeuchter ist im Preis inbegriffen.

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Der Hals macht das Spielen mit seinem schlanken D-Profil leicht, die Werkseinstellung ist optimal.

Natura T550 Review

by Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA) Review of a compact travel guitar that's a blast to play—even when you're not out on the road. For a lot of guitar players, travel guitars are a compromise by definition. But as smaller-bodied guitars return to vogue, some of the industry’s most respected builders are devoting more attention to the quality and sound of travel- and parlor-size instruments. Walden Guitars is now among the manufacturers aiming to improve the sonic possibilities of the travel-size guitar. And on many counts, the new T550 hits the mark. Walden isn’t yet a household name among guitar consumers. The company began building instruments in 1996, primarily for the European and Canadian markets, and entered the US market for the first time several years later. But in that short time Walden carved out a respectable niche in the cluttered affordableguitar market, built on a reputation for value, quality construction, and playability. And it’s on these fronts that the T550 delivers. SMALL, SOLID, AND SUBDUED Like other Waldens we’ve seen, the T550 conveys an understated air of quality right out of the case. The satin nitrocellulose finish is flawless and reveals a handsome straight- and even-grained spruce top that you’d expect to find on a more expensive guitar. The bookmatched laminate mahogany back, meanwhile, is quite striking in sunlight, revealing a deep grain pattern that radiates outward from the bass end of the body to achieve a subtle but cool sunrise effect. It also lends a sense that Walden is choosing its wood and materials with considerable care. A peek around the interior revealed the same 48

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attention to fit and quality. Kerfing and bracing were both exceptionally clean. And details like the truss-rod access —which are often marred by the splintery by-products of drilling on similarly priced guitars—were spotlessly tidy. A small, tortoiseshell-colored pickguard, black and white rosette, and matching binding all contribute to a traditional, classy look, and only the slim, tapered headstock hints at any kind of contemporary design influence. RESONANT AND CUTTING By virtue of their diminutive dimensions, travel guitars can’t achieve the full-spectrum tone or volume of a full-size guitar. But those inherent limitations are part of what makes the T550’s projection, presence, and character so remarkable.The Walden can’t quite muster the sustain you’d get from a big-bodied, full-scale guitar, either. But the T550 makes the most of its 7/8-scale body and compensates with tones that are complex and versatile across several styles.

In standard tuning, country-blues fingerpicking sounded delightfully dry and funky, but still quite full bodied. Single-note picking on the third and fourth strings yielded tones that were a bit on the angular, boxy side, but the first and second strings rang with authority, and the faster decay of all the notes worked well for snappy, percussive strumming and flatpicking. Tuned down, the Walden is surprisingly bassy. And when I strummed some big, open drones in my favorite C tuning, the Walden’s dry, barky tonal tendencies gave way to a low end rich sustain that that belied the guitar’s small size and reinforced what a well-balanced guitar the T550 is.The Walden’s neck feels very substantial. And while the thick profile made the neck feel largish compared to the small body, it enhanced the Walden’s overall sense of substance and quality, and more than likely contributed to the guitar’s tuning stability and sustain in lower open tunings. THE WRAP On more than a few occasions during my time with the Walden, I would reach for the T550 instead of a number of full-size guitars around my house and in the office. A lot of that has to do with the instrument’s unobtrusive size—it’s a really easy guitar to keep sitting next to the couch or your desk while you’re working, listening to records, or chatting. But it also speaks volumes about how good the Walden sounds and feels. With its rich palette of tones; substantial, high-quality feel; and responsiveness, the Walden makes a travel companion that would be a delight to spend time with in a hotel, around the campfire, or on the trail. It’s an ideal guitar for smaller players and students, and it’s easy to imagine recording situations where the Walden’s rich but not-so-boomy voice could come in handy. That versatility and more-than-satisfactory sonic qualities help the Walden stand apart from much of the affordable travel-guitar pack.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch a T550 video review.

With its rich palette of tones; substantial, high-quality feel; and responsiveness, the Walden makes a travel companion that would be a delight to spend time with in a hotel, around the campfire, or on the trail.

Concorda CG2000CEQ Review

by Australian Magazine (Australia) SIMPLICITY, SIMPLICITY, SIMPLICITY! I have reviewed a couple of Walden guitars over the past year, an orchestra body and a dreadnought, both from the 500 series of the Natura line. Retailing for about $400, they were exceptionally good instruments that we contend would have been just as compelling at twice the price. With solid spruce tops, and mahogany back and sides, they had the sort of well-balanced voice that distinguishes a good acoustic instrument, though more than that, they had character; an indefinable something one doesn’t usually encounter with instruments in that price range. This issue we are going to take a look at a considerably more expensive Walden guitar. The CG2000CEQ is one of the premium 2000 series models from the Concorda line, which is basically the gloss finished range, while Natura and SupraNatura models are satin finished. In addition to the orchestra bodied CO2000, which like the review model features a Sitka spruce top with rosewood back and sides, there is the CG2010 (grand auditorium shape, as is the review model, with Engelmann spruce top and rosewood back and sides) and the CD2040 (dreadnought with Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides). All have a mahogany neck, the 2000’s with an ebony fretboard, the 2010 and 2040 with rosewood. ECONOMY Retailing for almost four times as much as the Walden models we have seen before, the CG2000CEQ raises our expectation considerably – it is one thing to unexpectedly discover character in a $400 guitar, but we demand character (and a whole lot more) from a guitar retailing for $1500. Obviously materials will be superior, and the CG2000CEQ is constructed entirely of solid timbers, whereas the cheaper models had 50

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solid tops with laminated back and sides. Of course, this issue’s review model has a Fishman Prefix Pro preamp and cutaway, whereas the corresponding models with such appointments in the 500 series (albeit the Fishman Classic 4 instead of the Prefix Pro) retail for up to $600, which of course closes the gap significantly.The timber used in the making of this guitar is absolutely gorgeous. The deep dark grain of the back and sides is mesmerising, and the face of the headstock is finished with a veneer of the same rosewood. The neck is mahogany, which is also used alongside maple in creating the elegantly simple rosette. The Sitka spruce top is quite blonde, and though it appears relatively plain, there is a subtle quilting that is very attractive. SOUNDS The grand auditorium shape is one I like very much. It is most similar to, but not as waisted as the orchestra shape, both of which are rounded and more waisted than a dreadnought. To my ear, these shapes produce a more focused and better-balanced bass and mid-range, and are generally

more mellow than dreadnoughts. The grand auditorium is a little larger than in the lower bout than the orchestra, and indeed it shares characteristics with what other manufacturers might term a mini-jumbo. Though it has a warm and balanced voice, mellow relative to the dreadnought, you should not assume that this one is a wallflower. The tone is rich and powerful, and even in an ensemble with a couple of other acoustic guitars, confidently projects. As with the other Waldens we have seen, balance is the key, and in that regard the CG2000CEQ is superior. Dynamic variations are as much about saturation as volume, and fingerpicked passages retain their presence. The Prefix Pro is the perfect pre-amp to translate the CG2000CEQâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gorgeous natural voice, it perfectly conveys that sense of balance and manages to capture the essence of the instrumentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complex tone. It features a 4-band EQ (bass, mid, treble, brilliance), plus a notch filter and phase reversal switch, and the control panel is hinged to allow access to the battery compartment.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the CG2000CEQ.

THE BOTTOM LINE Well, the 500 series Waldens were so good, it was difficult to imagine how the top shelf Waldens would stack up relative to them. I am happy to say that the high standard they set in terms of design and construction, when executed with premium materials, produces an instrument that is absolutely deserving of its place toward the top of the range. It is like this guitar delivers on a promise that the 500 series only hinted at. The much feted character exhibited by those earlier instruments springs fully to life with the CG2000CEQ; it is a guitar that can confidently play whichever role you assign it, and all with a voice that you just want to keep hearing. ...a guitar that can confidently play whichever role you assign it, and all with a voice that you just want to keep hearing.

Concorda CG670TB Review

by Acoustic Guitar Magazine (USA) Affordable grand auditorium with elegantly understated style, a slim neck, and versatile, full-bodied tones. In just a few short years Walden Guitars has carved out a stellar reputation for manufacturing beautifully designed, wellcrafted, great-sounding guitars at affordable prices. The instruments are built in Lilan, China, and designed by luthiers in the United States. Walden division head and chief designer Jonathan Lee was an associate of master luthier and custom-guitar builder Charles Fox and vice president at CFox Guitars, and the pedigree shows in Lee's well-considered aesthetic as well as design elements like a simulated Spanish foot and Walden's distinctive bridge shape. All of the Walden instrumentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from the relatively humble Standard models through the topnotch SupraNatura seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;exhibit elegant lines, superclean detailing, and understated details that belie the bargains on the price tags. GLOSS FINISH, SOLID WOODS Walden unveiled its new Concorda line of mid price instruments earlier this year. In contrast to the satin finishes on previous Walden instruments, the Concorda line boasts highgloss finishes on every model, as well as solidwood tops and solid back and sides on some models. The CG670TB, which we received for review, is constructed with Walden's grand auditorium body shape, which has a 15 7/8inch lower bout and a depth of 4 5/8-inches, giving it a slightly wider lower bout than a traditional dreadnought but a narrower upper bout and waist. It's a bit curvier than a Martin 000, with dimensions similar to Taylor's grand auditorium. The guitar sports a rich, carefully 52

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modulated tobacco sunburst on a solid western red cedar top. The laminated sapele back and sides and solid African mahogany (khaya) neck are lightly stained to accentuate the grain and contrast nicely with the darker top. Appointments are minimal but well chosen: White plastic binding inset with black/ white/black purfling on both top and sides provides a richness of detail and accentuates the curvy profile of the body shape. Black fingerboard binding, a maple and mahogany inlaid rosette, microdot position markers, and a simple pearl logo complete the elegantly understated scheme. THIN, COMFY NECK The overall feel of the neck was very c o m fo r ta ble in all positions, but the 1 11/16-inch nut width resulted in tight string spacing that might be challenging to some fingerstylists and anyone with large hands. However, there is sufficient room in the nut slot to accommodate wider string spacing, and modifying the stock instrument with a new nut that has slightly wider spacing would

make this a more comfortable instrument for many players. Although the stock bridge had conventional compensation built in, the intonation at the 12th fret on the lower strings was a tad sharp. This wasn't noticeable in the lower positions, and it could be corrected by having the guitar properly set up, especially since the action was a bit high.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch a CG670TB video review.

STRONG, BALANCED TONE Walden characterizes western red cedar as having a "dark, rich, smooth tonality" and suggests that guitars made with cedar tops are favored by fingerstylists and those favoring a light touch. Although the CG670TB sounded just fine with light fingerpicking on some blues and folk songs, it stood up well to more aggressive picking, and seemed to really shine when strummed with full, open chords. I used standard and dropped-D tunings and played a variety of song accompaniments, ranging from boomchuck bluegrass rhythm to strummed pop songs. I also flatpicked some country dance tunesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;hoedowns, jugs, and waltzes. The guitar was very comfortable to play and worked well in all the styles I tried. It has a pleasantly bright, full-bodied tone that would be perfect for accompanying a voice, flatpicking melodies, or fingerpicking blues or folk tunes. It doesn't deliver the bass frequencies demanded by a harddriving bluegrass rhythm machine, but nearly everyone else should find an appropriate and pleasing sound in this versatile guitar. STYLISH VERSATILITY Walden's Concorda CG670TB bundles elegant design with easy playability and pleasing, balanced sound at an affordable price. The striking sunburst finish and simple, refined appointments lend it a classy appearance that makes this guitar stand out from the pack. The full, well-balanced tone is appropriate for almost any music that doesn't need a big, thumping bass, and the comfortable neck should please players who prefer narrow string spacing.

Walden's Concorda CG670TB bundles elegant design with easy playability and pleasing, balanced sound at an affordable price. 53

Concorda CG600CE Review by Acoustic Magazine (UK)

By virtue of its minimalistic headstock design and distinctive scratchplate, it is its own guitar. But does it deliver sonic individuality? The first thing that grabbed my attention with this guitar was the elegant body shape design, which is not dissimilar to certain brands in the marketplace. The cutaway adds more than just good access to the upper registers of the fingerboard in that it contributes to the flow of the guitar's proportions. Further finesse is to be enjoyed with the simple yet smart white plastic binding and bridge pins. The tidiness of finish on the Chinesemade instrument is genuinely impressive. Set up with an average height on the action, this Walden was fun to play and will suffice as a solid workhorse for your gigging venues. The mahogany neck profile is just fantastic â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a shallow C cross-section. It is slim enough to be well seated in your hand for delicate playing and yet substantial enough to give a great pivot for vibrato. I would have liked to have made a small adjustment to the truss rod to lower the action marginally, but this should be readily achieved by asking your retailer. It is light, well balanced, evenly fretted, with clean fret ends. Upon inspecting the back braces it's easy to see that they are quite tall and well finished in their tapered profile. Extra consideration has been taken in assisting the live performer. The Fishman Aero Plus preamp features a three-band graphic EQ (bass, middle and treble), but unlike many systems available today it also comes equipped with some more professional touches.There are notch, brilliance and phase controls, all of which help provide practical solutions to live-performance situations. Perhaps the notch filter is the most useful part 54

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of the preamp as it whips away unwanted frequencies which typically contribute to feedback â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a particular burden in some venues when you have little choice but to sit virtually on top of your amplifier. To operate it, you set the volume to your desired level where feedback starts to occur, and the you gradually turn the notch filter clockwise until the feedback is vanquished. The brilliance pot dials in more top-end sparkle and classy qualities to your sound. If you have ever become frustrated with finger noise coming from the strings when you are striving for a clean recording, this subtle control can also assist you with this, simply by turning it counter-clockwise. If you are required to play at low volumes on your gigs, you may well find yourself using the phase switch, as it improves the bass response and also assists in reducing feedback at high volumes â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a versatile sidekick. The tuner itself has a large digital format readout of the note being played, with suitably clear indicators for overly sharp or flat notes.

Note tracking is sensitive, responsive and distinct, much in the same way as the EQ operates with good integrity to each respective frequency. When plugged in, the breadth of this guitar's vocal character widens in potential immensely. After playing for a few minutes the battery expired and replacement was a painless process. Access is easy as the whole preamp rotates outward towards you. The battery itself is held in place with a simple and effective push-down locating clip.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the CG600CE.

The guitar is also thoughtfully supplied with a spare replacement saddle, bridge pin, Allen key, and even a Plant Waves humidifier designed to sit inside the soundhole. In addition you are provided with a simple booklet describing how to get the most from your preamp along with some practically useful suggested EQ settings for playing fingerstyle, with scooped mids, for strumming patterns and for cutting through the mix. The features which are the best assets of this guitar are the quality Fishman Aero Plus preamp system, its rosewood back and sides, and intonated saddle. I found the rosewood fingerboard a little dry to my tastes, but this is nothing a small amount of lemon oil wouldn't rectify very quickly. So in answer to the question, 'Does it deliver?', the CG600CE does so, and reasonably well at that. At ÂŁ410 it represents a great tool which may perhaps offer you greater value for money than its more expensive and similarly proportioned cousins. This price point is fiercely contended, more so than ever, so it is refreshing to see the quality of components which make this guitar and accompany it, adding further to its value. The EQ system is the show-stealer and sets it up as a fresh competitor for your consideration. It is definitely worth your attention as a stock guitar for your rack.

The mahogany neck profile is just fantastic â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a shallow C crosssection. It is slim enough to be well seated in your hand for delicate playing and yet substantial enough to give a great pivot for vibrato. 55

Concorda CS500CE Review

by Guitar Magazine (Germany) A Rockin’ Stage Hog! Neck: thick as a baseball bat. Top: like Bob Dylan played it since he was a kid. Pickup: nonexistent. It’s quite useless when a guitar isn’t suitable for the stage. Fortunately, Walden provides a great alternative at a great price.There are compelling arguments against bringing your 50 year old vintage guitar on stage and we question if the audience can even hear the difference between this readymade instrument and the guitar Jimi Hendrix was rumored to use for his only acoustic recording. This is the reason why we reviewed the Walden Concorda CS500CE, an attractive model that applies for the stage with a fullsized [body], thin side [depth], and an onboard preamp. Kudos for the sorely needed second strap pin; a prerequisite to really rock onstage. Furthermore, the neck is joined to a gloss finished rosewood body whose generous cutaway suits playing the high registers. The strings pass over a rosewood bridge and fingerboard into smooth tuning machines on a rosewood decorated headstock. Preamp is a Fishman Aero+ with on-board tuner. With a notch and phase-shift it has two tools against feedback and interference. The first strums generate a driving and warm sound that resonates in the ear. The midpitches provide a concise and fat tone. The CS500CE is made for jamming, warm acoustic sounds à la “Rock´n´Roll will never die”. Only for campfire songs and delicate picking do the treble strings lack a bit of content. A preamp – what for? The Aero+ enables boundless alternatives. Remarkable is the high acoustic volume without blurring and 56

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wheezing. With the well functioning equalizer only the player decides the natural sound. Any way you strum your Walden, she gives it all back. She responds dynamically and carries forward every single nuance without losing her good tone. With the amplifier beautiful overtones become more noticeable. If you pull down the bass and mid frequencies a little you get a balanced sound with a touch of treble, perfect for both strumming and picking. The Walden’s precision reveals your every mistake – so strictly practice your arpeggios! Of course solo playing is allowed. But be mindful of the brilliance-controller that, if carelessly set, makes the tone appear artificial. This one’s a winner! Put away your vintage axes! There are more important things on stage than nostalgia. Whoever carries the attractive Walden CS500CE on stage will be rewarded with a rich sound with lots of harmonics, and also enjoy the important subtleties for gentle playing. The great Fishman preamp balances any unamplified weaknesses and really makes this acoustic guitar a real “stage hog.”

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the CS500CE.

Any way you strum your Walden, she gives it all back. She responds dynamically and carries forward every single nuance without losing her good tone.

Natura N730 Classical Nylon Review by Acoustic Magazine (UK)

Quality materials, beautiful finish and great sound! Walden Guitars have scored again with the N730, a great guitar at an unbelievable price. Walden Guitars have established a reputation for producing high quality instruments at very competitive prices. Their instruments are designed in America, built in China, and clearly demonstrate that a properly managed overseas manufacturing operation can produce quality instruments at a fraction of the price of an entirely home-grown effort. The N730 classical guitar follows in this tradition and for the price the result is excellent. This instrument looks, plays and sounds like Walden have really taken serious note of guitarists’/guitar teachers’ opinions of what they would like to see in an entry level guitar. Build and Features The most striking and immediately obvious feature is the finish. Satin nitrocellulose lacquer, thinly applied, gives this guitar a natural, elegant and subtle aesthetic, enhancing the clean, simple and uncluttered lines of the instrument. An understated abalone rosette complements the natural appearance of the top. The soundboard is fine-grained solid western cedar, with solid Indian rosewood back, rosewood sides and fingerboard. Hauser/ Torres inspired fan bracing, traditional rosewood bridge and saddle construction, and standard 650mm scale length ensure the N730 remains true to its heritage. A cedar top generally gives an immediate and robust response and plays in quicker than 58

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spruce, so in the few days I had this guitar I noticed the instrument developing.The overall tone is resonant and clear, with an abundance of overtones, and for a guitar of this price quite remarkable. As is often the case with cedar tops you don’t need to coax the sound out as you sometimes have to with spruce — it’s just there, punchy and bold. The balance between bass and treble tends to lean towards the bass — usual in new nylon-strung instruments — but with a little more playing the treble should develop further. Sounds The instrument responds well to a wide range of dynamic demands.The bass response is positive over the entire range and has a belllike clarity in mid register. The treble is clear and bright with more than enough sustain in the upper register and no wolf notes. This guitar is loud, a result not just of the excellent materials and craftsmanship, but also the minimal use of finishing lacquer allowing the

wood to breathe, move and resonate. I had to remind myself on more than one occasion that this is an entry-level guitar and comment accordingly. The acid test with classical guitars is how the top three strings respond, especially in the higher positions. The N730 scores well in all departments. It has a consistency of tonal quality, producing a solid core sound throughout the entire range and an even sustain, especially above the seventh fret on the first string. The string set-up is excellent and, importantly, the distance from the first string to the edge of the fretboard is sufficient to allow space for correctly executed ligados (not enough space is a common problem). The neck contours enable a comfortable playing experience, and the satin finish also ensures that the thumb glides smoothly along the back of the neck, with none of the drag sometimes associated with gloss lacquer.

The overall tone is resonant and clear, with an abundance of overtones, and for a guitar of this price quite remarkable.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the N730.

Natura N570: Votez vert!

by Guitar Classique (France) Hohner distribue depuis longtemps des instruments à des prix très raisonnables et contribue à la démocratisation de la musique. Cette guitare est conforme à cette démarche honorable et indispensable dans le paysage de la lutherie grand public. La Walden Natura se présente sous une apparence un peu <<écolo>> apte à séduire plus d'un ou une jeune guitariste. Avec sa robe entièrement satinée, la Natura N570 a un petit air de guitare ancienne. Les coloris assez vieux bois de la table et des éclisses renforcent ce look pas désagréable. On a une table massive en cèdre (ou en épicéa au choix) entourée d'éclisses d'acajou africain. Ce même acajou constitue le manche, qui supporte lui-même une touche en palissandre de dix-neif cases. La tête est plaquée de palissandre et équipée de robustes et standard mécaniques dorées. La finition est simple: une rosace assez rustique dans les tons vert-jaune, un filet sur toutes les bordures de table ou d'éclisses, ainsi qu'un gros filet noir sur la séparation des deux demifonds. Le barrage d'épicéa est en forme de X allégé. Le tout est recouvert d'un vernis satiné à base de plantes –(merci pour la nature), qui semble fin et laisse respirer le bois. La Walden est simple et pas frimeuse. Prise en main et sonorité Elle s'apprivoise vite et on la sent bien en place malgré un très léger excès de poids côté manche. Il est peut-être dû au système de réglage dont celui-ci est équipé et auquel on accède par une vis, visible sous la touche dans la rosace. Certains pourront penser 60

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que le talon est un peu trop prononcé et que les démanchés dans l'extrême aigu sont une question de point de vue. Le confort est très satisfaissant des deux côtés, avec une action de main gauche particulièrement basse. La contrepartie c'est qu'un jeu puissant amènera un petit frisement. Dans ce cas, nous suggérons donc un réglage légèrement plus haut à la douzième case. En première position, nous avons constaté un angle pointu du sillet qui s'enfonce dans le premier doigt en case de barré (par exemple, sur un accord de Si bémol Majeur). C'est un petit problème de finition trés simple à éviter, et qui se corrige d'un petit coup de lime. La sonorité est assez généreuse et longue. En tout cas, largement suffisante pour obtenir de l'expression musicale dans un répertoire simple. La couleur du son est plaisante, pas fatigante à l'oreille, et c'est un sérieux atout pour un instrument a priori destiné au débutant. En somme, une un étui Deluxe rigide et un petit cadeau en prime, un hydromètre Planet Waves pour prende soin de la belle.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more about the N570.

La couleur du son est plaisante, pas fatigante à l'oreille, et c'est un sérieux atout pour un instrument a priori destiné au débutant. En somme, une guitare sympathique et économique, intéressante, même si un effort reste à fournir au niveau des réglages. 61

The following pages contain stories from real players (including Walden international artists and worldwide owners) about 14 of Walden's popular models: G3000, G2070, G3030CEQ, G1070CEQ, N2030, G740CE, G730, G 6 3 0 C E , G 5 7 0 f a m i l y, D 5 5 0 , D 5 6 0 family, T550, O550, and D552. Potential customers conduct independent research and seek information from musicians as well as other customers who have purchased similar products. In addition, your music reflects your life, so does your guitar. Look at the choices they made. We trust that you will be as inspired by these Walden friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories as we are. In the end, these experiences are the true reward for making great instruments and it is why we are in the guitar business. Scan the QR code with your smartphone to read artist reviews.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to read owner reviews.

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Artist & Owner Reviews

My choices matter 64

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SupraNatura G3000 “I’ve played a Walden SupraNatura G3000 for quite a while now. This steel string guitar is more than just worth its money! It enlightens the room with its open voice and is rich in harmonics. The Walden is comfortably to handle and easy to play. I love to use my Walden in my project studio for extreme strumming. It also performs very well when playing pop ballads with a pick. It’s an allrounder which inspires me to try new things. My guitar students and I are enthusiastic about both the SupraNatura series as well as about the lower price ranges. If you think about getting a better guitar you should definitely think about getting a Walden. You’ll get a lot guitar for medium money!” Andreas Oberholz Walden German Artist gitarrenunterrichtberlin.de

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“This is 'my path' to finding my Walden guitar - G3000. At the age of 8 I had classical guitar lessons till I was 16. From the age of 16 – 20 years old I played all sorts of music still using my classical guitars. It wasn’t until I saw Antoine Dufour’s song 'Spiritual Groove' off Youtube when I was 20 years old that my life changed in terms of guitar playing. The likes of Don Ross, Andy Mckee and Antoine Dufour play a type of Fingerstyle Percussive playing involving technical techniques like harmonic tapping on a sort of grand auditorium/jumbo shaped acoustic guitar. “So, eagerly having this desire to dive straight into this style of guitar playing, I needed an acoustic guitar of this nature. Having no knowledge or experience in acoustic guitar brands, I knew one thing: I wanted the same style of guitar as these amazing guitarists. After a long time searching the internet I came across the G3000 and I fell in love with it. I loved its dark, thick Indian Rosewood back and sides, satin finish and its neck. You also receive a hardback case, which looks just as beautiful as the guitar itself! I was impressed with the price and the clear sound it produces from a harmonic tap, it’s amazing! “I actually told one of my good friends, who has the same guitar background, about Walden and he also fell in love with the G2070. Being 6 months down the line since we both bought our Walden guitars, we love playing them and they're our treasured possessions. Walden’s G3000 guitar has met my needs and desires in providing me with a beautiful guitar with the clear and perfect sounds I want.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone for more information on the G3000 .

“This is 'my path, my dream. My Walden' story.”

Glen Kingsley Ewing UK youtube.com/user/glene7

SupraNatura G2070 “I love the quick response to finger picking — the sound springs off the top in such a lively manner...there seems to be a natural compression in these guitars.” Michael Mucklow Walden USA Artist michaelmucklow.com

“The guitar has an amazing crisp and precise top end, yet has awesome bass tones and nicely rounded mids, an ideal sound for my style, that coupled with a very responsive design and a superbly ergonomic neck profile makes this the best guitar I have played since I began some 15 years ago.” Dave Warren Walden UK Artist davewarrenguitarist.com

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“I am a middle-aged, short woman with small hands and I decided I wanted to take guitar lessons. I have been using a Washburn 3/4 size guitar (a model Washburn doesn't make anymore) because the neck on a full-sized guitar is just too wide for me. So, even though the Washburn guitar is all right, I decided I wanted a new guitar. “I went to the internet and started studying up on different guitar makers, and I ran across an article about the new narrow necks on your guitars. I went to your website and checked out the guitars. Listened to the different artists playing different models of your guitars and decided I liked the G2070. “Well, the closest dealer to me is over 2 hours away so that is why I went to eBay. Anyway, I bought this guitar and got it delivered to me Friday and I have spent a lot of this weekend playing it. It is everything your website said it would be and I love it! “The neck is just right for me. It is the same size (if not a little narrower) as my 3/4 size guitar yet it has this wonderful, resonant sound of a full size guitar because it is one. I love the way it is made and think it is just gorgeous. Just thought I would let you know what I think of it. I am going to tell all the women guitar players I know about your guitars. Thanks for a great guitar!” Robin Riley Evansville, IN, USA

“I have played fingerstyle guitar for 25 to 30 years. My last name is Walden (no connection), which led to my initial curiosity about Walden guitars. I recently bought a G2070, and feel blessed. It is difficult for me to imagine that any other guitar at any price could be significantly better in aesthetics, playability, or sound. It’s like a handmade custom instrument. This thing is as clear as a bell, and set up perfectly. I would be embarrassed to tell you what a deal I got on it. I own several other steel string and classical guitars. Over time, I intend to replace them all with Walden models. Thanks a million for making these guitars available at such a great price. Walden Guitars has to be one of the biggest made-in-China success stories.” Wayne Walden North Muskegon, Michigan, USA

Scan the QR code with your smartphone for more information on the G2070.

SupraNatura G3030CEQ “I like its raw tone a lot, bright and powerful and yet finger picks beautifully.” Joe Brooks Walden UK Artist myspace.com/joebrooksmusic

“I love my Walden G3030CEQ. It's rich but bright, and incredibly easy to play, which I really appreciate as a finger-style guitar player. Its extended highs and lows give me a nice, full sound, and its tone cradles my voice perfectly.” Michelle Lewis Walden USA Artist michellelewismusic.com

“I have got to say it has to be one of the best acoustic guitars I have played in many years. It felt like an 'old' guitar from the moment I picked it up and started playing (that's a good thing I hope you know)!” Dizzy G Gillespie Walden USA Artist myspace.com/dizzgillespie

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“My Walden G3030CEQ is a top instrument that I don´t want to miss anymore, neither on stage nor in the studio.” Daniel Wagner Guitarist of 4backwoods Walden German Artist myspace.com/4backwoods

“Its extreme playability makes the Walden G3030CEQ the guitar everyone has ever dreamed of.” Jean-François Walden French Artist

“I love my SuperNatura G3030CEQ. Plugged on stage, with microphones in the studio or totally unplugged: its natural warm sound with strumming, the sparkling brilliance with fingerpicking and the dynamic sustain in playing solo inspire me time and time again. These characteristics linked with its excellent workmanship and elegant finish make it a real piece of jewelry that I don´t want to put down.” Tobi Born Guitarist of Nadine Kraemer Band Walden German Artist tobiborn.de

SupraNatura G1070CEQ “I have owned many guitars and my Walden is by far the sweetest sounding one of them. Sweet highs, gentle mids, and basses that are full without being boomy. The neck is perfect for my hands and fast runs are smooth all the way up and down the neck. The Fishman Prefix perfectly recreates the acoustic sound of the guitar and it's simple to dial in a great sound. This will be my main guitar both on and off the road. I simply could not be happier. Great job!” Scott Bravo Walden USA Artist myspace.com/scottbravomusic “I really love my G1070CEQ. I use it both live and in the studio. It has great feel, sounds great and looks cool too! It's also a great writing tool. Having the pickup makes it super easy for writing demos.” Mike Krompass Walden USA Artist myspace.com/mikek

“Walden Guitar has helped me compose and express the true me; Walden Guitar enables me more freedom; Walden Guitar makes it easy to pray, compose and be free.” Maite Kelly Walden German Artist maitestarkelly.com

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“The Walden lies very well in the hand and is easily playable. It convinces with its warm sound and I very much like the simple design. A really beautiful guitar that perfectly fits my music with its true sound.” Nadine Kraemer Walden German Artist nadinekraemerband.com

“This is a guitar with a strong character, perfect for playing chords and melodies. The guys at Walden have spent a lot of time in developing a great sounding instrument. With perfect tuning stability and a superb feeling, it is able to capture the attention of both the player and the audience! The Walden Paolo Gianolio Signature is an acoustic guitar that I would and could really recommend to all of my guitar player colleagues!” Paolo Gianolio Walden Italian Artist paologianolio.com

“This is a top shelf guitar in so many respects, and its available to folks in a way most guitars of this caliber would only be dreamed of. If you dream of one day owning a truly fine acoustic guitar but feel that it's just out of reach — guess again! That day is here.” Sean Harkness Walden USA Artist seanharkness.com

SupraNatura N2030 “ I p l a y a Wa l d e n S u p r a N a t u r a N2030. This one is just ingenious and easily playable with it´s smallish distance between the strings and fingerboard. Barrés work is troublefree, something that can be a decisive factor for beginners and really recommends buying a Walden guitar. And you get an unbeatable value for a commendable price.” Sonja Ullmer Walden German Artist

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Scan the QR code with your smartphone for more information on the G2030.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Walden guitars (steel and nylon strings) are in constant use, live and in the studio. They sound great, are easily playable and do really amuse.â&#x20AC;? Tobias Meinen Walden German Artist gitarrenunterrichtberlin.de

Natura G740CE “I've owned Martin guitars in the past and tried many guitars before making my most recent purchase (Martin, Taylor, Alvarz, Breedlove, Atlas, Takamine) and have to say that I'm really impressed by the playability, sound and value of your guitars. Thanks for making such a guitar available for those of us that don't have thousands of dollars to spend, but still want a good sound.” Derek R.

“Bought a G740CE last Fall and like it so well that I just bought a G630CE for open G tuning and slide. After playing dreadnoughts for many years I find the G-body more comfortable and with a better-balanced sound than most larger guitars.” Charlie A. Thunder Bay, Ontario, USA

“Walden is a versatile guitar appealing to various genres allowing for a variety of uses from one single guitar.” Justin Willet Walden USA Artist willetonline.com

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Natura G730 “When I recorded 'Rest Now (Reprise)' I was stunned at how the guitar recorded so effortlessly. By that I mean there was little EQ used and Reverb was only for flavor. The guitar is now 5 months in my possession. It has gotten better and better and there is a personality that comes out of this instrument that just makes me smile. “You know that Walden is the first choice of mine when recommending a guitar. “It must make you smile to know how many people love these instruments. I sure do. I think I sold another one tonight... A guy who is coming to my studio for a recording project played it and FELL IN LOVE ! I told him to go to Play It Again Music in Ann Arbor, MI and buy himself one. He seemed pretty interested. He asked if he could use mine in the studio if needs be. I said of course. “So now I am getting a G570... Tho I am awfully tempted by the O550.... We'll have to see. Anyway thanks again for these fine instruments... I am a fan for life. I have a pretty big stable of guitars but I will buy more Waldens and sell others I don't like as much. “This is my Walden with a student's new G570 and is she ever happy! She wants me to record with it so my next unheard of "greatest hit" will be with hers and mine Gs.” Cliff Sullins

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;My new Walden guitar delivers a rich, warm tone which turns any concert venue into a living room with a small fireplace, blanket and hot cup of coffee.â&#x20AC;? Jeremy Willet Walden USA Artist willetonline.com Scan the QR code with your smartphone for more information on the G730.

Natura G630CE “I have played guitar on and off for about 27 years and, although I am pretty proficient in various styles of electric and acoustic type music, I am not a professional musician. I do know a good instrument when I see one though, and I have had the opportunity to play quality instruments such as Martin, Taylor, Ovation, Takamine, etc. “I bought my G630CE from eBay as a new but blemished due to two tiny hairline cracks in the lacquer, so I paid only about one third of the normal United Kingdom retail price. Because of that I knew I would be getting a pretty good instrument for a bargain price, but this did not prepare me for what I discovered when I opened the box. “The guitar was presented very well in its standard cardboard box, and comes with a great little humidifier and full instructions for that and the electrics. I was a little worried about the darkness of the back and sides and feared that it may be inferior wood or plywood stained to emulate rosewood very convincingly, but quickly discovered that not only are the back and sides good tonewoods, but the cedar top is of a close-grained quality that is quite rare these days. The finish quality is as perfect as one can hope for in a natural wood instrument, and the fretwork was immaculate. The only thing I would say is that the bridge and fingerboard do need some feeding as they look and feel a bit dry, but this is normal and should be done regularly by the user anyway. “I could feel the resonance even by handling the guitar before tuning it to pitch which was done accurately with the quality gold coloured machine heads that enhance the appearance. Wow! The guitar sang sweetly and stayed in tune after a quick stretch of the strings and a re-tune. The intonation is spot on, and harmonics ring out better than any other acoustic I have played. The neck is very comfortable and string spacing feels somewhere between a standard steel string acoustic and a Fender Stratocaster, so it's easy to get an immediate feel for the fretboard. “The Fishman Classic 4 transducer does not let the guitar down when plugged in. Even though I first tested it on a little 10 watt Ibanez acoustic amp, the tones were true and very lively. The graphic equaliser works very well when playing through different amps and altering playing style, and gives enough variation and compensation for just about anyone's needs. I tried to make it boom and feed back, but I found it almost impossible where much more expensive guitars have annoyingly done so without trying. “I'm going to love playing this guitar, and I would recommend this model to any serious amateur or professional musician without reservation at the full retail price. In other words, my bargain purchase is not flavouring my perceptions of what is a quality instrument.” Bill Dalziel Scotland 80

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“I absolutely adore my Walden. I have recently bought a G630CE and without doubt, it is my favourite acoustic. “I have been playing for 30 years, during that time I have horse traded so many guitars I can't count them all. In the late 90's with a new job and starting a family — my music went into the closet. Now my daughter does not need so much attention lavished on her — I have in the past two years got back into playing guitar again. “I have too many strats, 335's and some home brew guitars. I wanted a nice classy acoustic, but just could not find what I was looking for — until I found Walden. The balance of sound is just perfect, the resonance is to die for. The intonation as supplied was perfect and makes the harmonics just ring. I play all sorts of genres and have used this from classical pieces, through jazz and blues, to rock and experimental. “Thank you Walden for producing my most prized guitar — a guitar that will get even better over time. This one will stay with me forever, it's a keeper and a joy to play.” Ian J Cowan Washington, UK

“It took me four years to find my true love (a Gretsch Sierra Jumbo with the Fishman 'prefix') but your G630CE beat it out....I've owned Martins, Epiphones, a Gibson, a Guild, a Blueridge, Jay Tursers, Washburns and many others within the $500 to $800 range. I purchased the Walden for less money and it's better than any of these.” Steve Bottcher

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Natura G570 Family “I just bought a G570, and I’m astounded by the amount of quality and tone packed into such an inexpensive package. I’ve owned a LOT of nice guitars over 25 years, some as much as 5 times the price of the G570, and this one can hold its own against any of them. Thanks Walden!” Rob S. Needham, MA, USA

“I am the proud 2nd place winner of your G570 through the Walden Giveaway with Playguitar! What a beautiful guitar! The tone and action are perfect for me. It's even caused me to venture out of the woodshed and into a small band. Not a bad start for a 52 year old that's been stuck in the same chords and simple riffs for the last 30 years, eh?” Dave Middleton

“I picked up my Walden G570CE about a year ago and it was absolutely love at first sight. I personally have always been a dreadnaught fan but the feel of the Grand Auditorium blew me away. Walden’s are becoming extremely popular among my friends and fellow pickers. A close friend of mine that I perform with took one look at my Walden, played for about ten minutes and then went out and purchased one identical to mine. We have since had to have our names stitched into our gig bags to tell our instruments apart. I was asked one Saturday night at an open mic night if I liked my Taylor I was playing and my only response was, 'You must be mistaken, I only play Walden guitars.' Thanks so much for producing a guitar that sounds like a million dollars but doesn’t cost it.” John Hudson Spartanburg, SC

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“Today I got my new Walden, a lovely G570TB. I am still surprised at the cost since to me it sounds and plays and seems built and set up like a much dearer instrument. I initially played the all solid and more expensive G3000 at Manson’s guitar show last weekend in the UK, but I liked the cedar top of the 570 and the price too! I would add that I have played guitars by Freshman, Yamaha, Takamine and Tanglewood in this price range and up to about £500 and although very good, I can say that to my ears this guitar is better. Owing to the low cost of the Walden and a favourable p/x deal I was also able to afford a dreadnought I had my eye on as well, so I can now benefit from two totally different bodied guitars giving me a broader range of sound.” Matt Allen Exeter, UK

“It was love at first sight! When the Walden G570TB became available I bought her at first chance. What a beautiful looking guitar as well as an amazing sounding guitar! Still can't get over the price! I will be forever, a life-long Walden guitar fan. Thanks.” Trina B. Ogden Dunes, IN, USA

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Natura D550 “I just purchased, yesterday, a D550 and absolutely love it! I feel like the luckiest 58year old guy in the world. It was the only Walden in the store, hanging among Martin's, Larivee's, Gibson's, Cort's, Seagull's, Fender's, Epiphone's, and others. Although many of those others were excellent guitars, when I played the Walden D550 it had the most wonderful, musical voice I could imagine. The fit and finish superb in every detail. The set-up and action were perfect. My fingers glide effortlessly up and down the silky fretboard, and the strings do not screech when sliding over them. Moreover the string spacing is great for fingerstyle playing. I cannot believe how easy this instrument is to play. The string tension in regular tuning seems so relaxed, and yet the tonal qualities do not degrade under moderately heavy strumming. The strings are so very easy to press down, and yet there is no buzzing.”

“I recently purchased a nice affordable Walden D550 acoustic guitar for a friend that wanted to learn how to play. I looked around a few stores and the guitars in that price range were typically in need of severe adjustments, then I came across the Walden Guitars. This guitar played nicely right off the shelf with a nice rich tone and the factory setup was great. For the money I figured she couldn't go wrong. So I gave a few lessons and the more I played this guitar the more I liked it. So after a few nights on the web and reading up on Walden Guitars I've taken the plunge and just ordered a 12 String D552, a G3000 and a G1070CEQ for my own personal use. The quality of the parts and workmanship is fantastic and make these the best value in acoustic guitars that I have seen in years. Keep up the great work!” Paul Toracinta From Rockville, RI, USA

Ralph Fourt

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“The fit and finish are very good, the playability is very very good, and the tone is a cross between Martin and Taylor. Every string plays true with punchy trebles and a very present bass. I am very pleased.” Tom Gindorf

“I have been playing acoustic guitar since I was 8 and I am 42 years old. I play for my own enjoyment and never really have had any desire to be a professional player but I have owned a lot of different low priced guitars over the years. I have owned Washburn's, Ovation, Alvarez and Oscar Schmitt to name a few.

made by Martin or even some of your lower priced Taylors. I own a ESP-LTD EC-100 and a Jay Turser Tele but the guitar I seem to not be able to go more than a day without picking up and playing is my Walden D550. This guitar feels as good as it sounds and I could not be happier with it. If your looking for a quality guitar that is pleasing to the ear snag yourself a Walden, you will be glad you did.” Scott Tuckness

“With a wife and 3 kids to support going out and snagging a Taylor or Martin is not going to happen so when I was looking to get rid of a Jumbo sized acoustic I went shopping. A little place by the name of P-Hill auctions in Pleasant Hill Missouri was selling some Walden's, so I got curious and being an IT manager for GE I research everything I purchase. While I could not find a lot of ink on Walden guitars what I did find was nothing but good. Normally you find 50% of the people love a brand and the other 50% hate them and start talking about the action being too high or the tuning keys being horrible or the neck not having a good feel and of course the most important thing about any guitar: TONE. “Finally I went to P-Hill played a Epiphone, Jay Turser and a Washburn D-10S before I picked up the Walden D550. While it did not have fancy tobacco sunburst or blue or red shiny paint job it was nice looking in a natural way, thus natural finish. However I tuned this guitar up, and starting playing some chords and the tone of this guitar just about knocked me off the stool I was sitting on. “Folks this guitar has tone that I believe could stand up against 800 to 900 dollar guitars 85

Natura D560 Family “I was in the market for a new acoustic guitar to take traveling and to the beach when a good friend of mine told me about Walden guitars. I had never heard of Walden but he had bought one and was very happy with it. I went to the local dealer and tried the D550 and D560 models and said to the store owner 'these sound and play pretty damn fine for a $200 guitar!' He told me he had sold several hundred of them and has never had a complaint or return.

“After trying out about 20 different guitars I decided to purchase a D560. I just wanted to let you know after playing it for about a week I am now more pleased than I was when I first brought it home. Thank you for making a quality guitar at an affordable price.”

“I eventually bought a Larrivee 6-string acoustic at 5 times the cost but could not keep my mind off the Walden. Since I was unwilling to bring the Larrivee to the beach I went and purchased a Walden D560. The Walden D560 is a proud member of my small but high quality guitar collection, which includes the Larrivee, a Guild 12-string, an American Fender Stratocaster and a Fender Telecaster. The Walden is my travel and party guitar, mostly because of its low price point, but the quality is that of a guitar 3 times the cost and I care for it the same as the other guitars I own. It plays and sounds better than several Martins I tried which cost between $1200 and $1500!

“I bought a D560CE a few days ago having tried offerings from Tanglewood, Takemine and Fender. My gigging guitar is a Takemine 12-string which cost a helluva lot more than the D560CE. However, for tonal quality, body and neck finish and overall playability, the D560CE is absolutely brilliant. I have been playing guitars for over 45 years. In that time I have owned a plethora of brands, including Gibsons, Gretsches, Fenders and Rickenbachers. The D560CE, penny for penny, beats all these hands down. Well done, Walden. I shall be recommending your guitars to my playing friends.”

“Thank you for making such a quality product for such a low price point. Walden is far and away the best value in acoustic guitars for the budget minded musician.”

Fraser L. Amble, Northumberland, England

Robert Kung Victoria BC, Canada

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Drew Smith

“Toco desde os 14 anos e nunca tinha ouvido falar da marca Walden aqui no Brasil. Hoje tenho 29, e a há um ano atrás, ao procurar por um bom violão elétrico que mbinasse preço, sonoridade, afinação, qualidade das matérias-primas e um acabamento bem feito, só encontrei no meu Walden D560CE, foi amor ao primeiro acorde. No princípio fiquei desconfiado porque nunca havia ouvido falar de tal marca, nenhum dos meus amigos tinha ou conhecia tais violões. Tive muita sorte quando o atendente me ofereceu para testar um violão que eu sequer tinha percebido na loja. Sou apaixonado pelo meu Walden. Plugadou ou não, é o som que eu sempre esperei de um violão. English translation: “I've played since I was 14 years old and had never heard of Walden here in Brazil. Today I'm 29 years old and last year I was looking for a good electric guitar that combined price, sound, refinement, quality materials and a good finish. I found it only in my Walden D560CE and it was love at the first chord. In the beginning I was distrustful because I have never heard of the brand and none of my friends had or knew of these guitars. I was very lucky when the salesman let me test it so I could hear what it sounded like in the store. I have gotten passionate about my Walden. Plugged or unplugged, it's the sound that I have always wanted from a guitar.”

V. Zotelli São Paulo, Brasil

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Natura T550 Travel Guitar “With a great acoustic sound for the studio and the more intimate venues, the T550 is also small-bodied enough to avoid feedback issues when equipped with a pick-up and plugged in for the big stage. It is reliable, versatile and has a tone entirely its own — just what I've been looking for.” Andres Roots Guitarist of Bullfrog Brown band Walden Estonia Artist myspace.com/bullfrogbrown

“Just unpacked my Walden travel guitar. I'm speechless, it sounds great first and most importantly. It's beautiful, it was in tune out of the box, the gigbag is great and there is a humidifier! I can't believe it, how do you do it? My baby Taylor sounds like a toy compared to the Walden. I have to work in Switzerland unfortunately even though I live in Torino, Italy, but you guys just gave me some help to get up in the morning and go through my work days knowing that when I get home I have a real guitar to play even though all my axes are back in Torino.” Paolo Torino, Italy

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Natura O550 Ochestra Model “I´ve chosen the Walden Orchestra O550CE. Her body is comfortably small, but anyhow it sounds warm and pressing. It is perfect for live sessions and sounds exactly the way I wished for. The sound is sparkling, but also deep and warm.” John Goldtrain Walden German Artist myspace.com/johngoldtrain

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“The O550 has the same Walden qualities of sound as the other models I own and/or have played. There's an 'air' or 'lightness' to the tone. I've just never been able to aptly define it with words. This guitar also has that quick response, 'snappiness', off the soundboard that I've personally come to really like about Waldens. I like what I hear, especially with regard to how nicely it recorded. The O550 will be used for a song or two on my next Fingerstyle CD. “I find the tone to be a bit similar to a parlor guitar I own. Yet, overall, it does have the OM type sound which is comparable to the nicer OM style guitars that are in the $1400-2000 price range. But you know yourself how subjective guitar tone is. “Yeah, I like what I hear with the O550...definitely!”

Michael Mucklow Walden USA Artist

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Natura D552 “I've had my D552 for about a month. I love it. It plays well and holds tune very nicely. This is my first (and probably only) 12 string. I've heard they can be hard to tune and keep tuned, but this one does very well. I play it and my D550E about equally leading praise and worship in the church I attend. Thanks for two great instruments.” . J. Smith of Seven Springs Church Calera, AL, USA sevenspringschurch.net.

“My wife bought me a D552 for Christmas. What a fantastic gift! I had played many other 12 string guitars at a local music store, including Fenders, Seagulls, and Taylors. I found the Walden D552 be be a very comfortable 12 string to play. This is a guitar sounds excellent and was my favorite of the lot. An incredible value as well. Everyone that has seen and played my Walden is amazed by how great it sounds and how great they compare to other 12 strings.” Robert Jacobson Chicco, CA, USA

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“I let my brother and three other friends try my Waldens and none of them believed the quality, and the voice on such affordable guitars. Bottom line, they now all own one.” Michael C. Troy, NY, USA

“I traded in my Yamaha 12 string for a brand new D350CEB for my 12 year old son. This guitar, even for being on the entry level of Walden, is fantastic! He loves it. Hell, I love it! It's very comfortable/easy to play and sounds great....not to mention it's great looking black gloss finish. Also, I sold my 'Little Martin' and picked up the D552 for my son for Christmas. It arrived and I had to take it out and try it before I wrapped it and put it away. What a great sounding guitar. Blows that Yamaha away by a long shot! This D552 is also comfortable/easy to play and sounds incredible. Keep up the good work! I don't know how many more Walden's one family can have! It amazes me that with this quality (and price point) that Walden's aren't more common.” Steve Valenti Weston, CT, USA

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