Drooling over Flaxwoods!
› Forums › Guitars, Gear, Software & Education › Drooling over Flaxwoods!
- This topic has 18 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 9 months ago by
hscalfo.
- Post
-
Hello All! š
I’m sure that Rick and Richard (IG Instructors) will understand my experience from yesterday! It went like this:
I showed up at the music store where I teach, and the owner says “Bill I have a couple of rep-sample guitars I want you to try.” He seemed genuinely excited, so I asked him what they were, and he said “Well, I don’t want to explain what they are, or what they’re made out of, I just want you to do the “blindfold-test” so-to-speak! Besides, I doubt you will have heard of them.” So about 2 hours later (when I had a half-hour break) I asked him if I could try one of these new “rep-sample” guitars. He then said “Sure, do you want to try a P-90 equipped or Hum-Single-Hum model?” To which I said “P-90.” (Simply because I own a bunch of HSH-equipped guitars and ZERO P-90 guitars!) So he opens a case and hands me a GORGEOUS, shiny gold Flaxwood Liekki!!! HOLY CRAP! I start laughing, because I feel like I DO KNOW about these guitars (vicariously through Lundmark and Graham!) So he was a bit puzzled and said “You know about these?” Then I explained about Infinite Guitar and these two MONSTEROUS IG Instructors/mentors. (BTW, I already have visions of a future Massachusetts – USA – In-store Flaxwood Product Demo/Clinic featuring EITHER or BOTH of my IG buddies!!! How cool would THAT be?!?) š
Anyways I took a 30-minute spin on the Liekki, and I was HOOKED! This guitar is six-dtring heroin!!! (LOL!) I mean just GORGEOUS! It PLAYED great! It SOUNDED great! It FELT great! It LOOKED great! what more do you want to know?!? BTW, more specifically, it was very balanced. By that, I mean the weight was very even. Since most guitars in my experience are “body-heavy,” the Liekki may have seemed “neck-heavy.” However, in reality, this meant it was just “balanced.” The setup (straight from the “rep” (without tweaking) was perfect! The intonation was spot-on (I’m picky about that!) The tone was SO RESONANT! To me electric-guitars are “midrange-machines.” So the perfectly resonant electric guitar needs to have just the right midrange to NOT be too bright, NOT be too dark, and have that “singing upper-mid” quality that seems to resonate whether you use with a little gain, or with a LOT of gain! No matter what preamp/amp sound I used, the Liekki “sang” like a bird! AWESOME! Then I took a spin on the Flaxwood Voima (in natural matte-gray/black flaxwood finish.) This instrument was also superb! All of the above superlatives apply, except I personally liked the Liekki’s P-90 resonance (BTW, both Flaxwoods were Seymour Duncan equipped.) a bit more. (Again, I do NOT own any P-90’s, so I may have suffered from the “honeymoon-phase!” (LOL!) š
So my boss hasn’t decided whether he’ll carry them or not. (He knows how I FEEL now though!) For what it’s worth, the Flaxwood line is EXACTLY the type of guitar that Performance Music Center specializes in. We have a small shop, (relative to the likes of Guitar Center for example!) with a couple of VERY experienced salesman who can give a line like Flaxwood the attention they deserve and require. (In the past, Joe [the owner] has taken on lines like Blade, G&L, Hamer, etc as examples of smaller/lesser-known companies who make GREAT product, but don’t have the huge marketing budgets!) I really hope we bring them on-board. Incidently, I am NOT involved in retail in any way. I just teach there – and have for 21 years. š
I’m gonna end up in the “poor-house” if I dive-into a Liekki! (LOL!) However, I might have to do it anyways. We’ll see…maybe if I sell this-that-and the other thing…etc!!!) :rolleyes:
“Six-String Heroin!” :eek::o:D
~Bill Meehan~ š
- Replies
-
Bill,
Great review thank you or…er…maybe NOT! Because NOW, no thanks to you, my curiosity is really really peaked. Before I noticed this post, I spent about 20 min last night reviewing the Flaxwood website as well as checking out the players and links.
I need to find a place in NJ or PA that caries them so I can do the sets drive thing.“Six-String Heroin” š
@hscalfo 6757 wrote:
Bill,
Great review thank you or…er…maybe NOT! Because NOW, no thanks to you, my curiosity is really really peaked. Before I noticed this post, I spent about 20 min last night reviewing the Flaxwood website as well as checking out the players and links.
I need to find a place in NJ or PA that caries them so I can do the sets drive thing.“Six-String Heroin” š
Hey Enrico, š
I know what you mean about being interested in a nice guitar that’s expensive! It’s tough to say NO to, isn’t it?!? :rolleyes:
Anyways, I thought I might follow-up yesterday’s story with today’s events!
I went to work/teach at 2:30 P.M. (E.S.T.) and Joe said: “Bill, if you want, you can play either Flaxwood while you teach today?!?” Well, you could probably sense from yesterday that I was leaning towards the beautiful gold Liekki model! Therefore, I snagged that one, and proceeded to lock myself in my teaching room for the next five (5) hours!!! I so want that guitar! Damn! I wish I had some extra discretionary income kicking around! š Oh well, maybe if Joe becomes a dealer, and I can move a few pieces of existing gear that I own…We’ll see! š š
BTW Enrico, I know that Jersey is NOT exactly right next store, but if you REALLY want to try one, you could call Joe at Performance Music Center (to make sure he still has the demo-models, because I’m NOT sure if/when the rep is taking back his samples?!?) if you think it’s worth a trip to the suburbs of Boston (probably a 4.5 hour drive?!? If you can get to Woburn, Massachusetts (about 15 miles northwest of Boston) on a weekday morning, I’d be glad to meet you there and show you around the store and demo the Flaxwoods?!? Just an idea! š
Let me know! š
~Bill Meehan~ š
Bill,
Thanks for the offer. Yeah, Mass is quite a trek for me, but even more difficult is telling the Mrs. that I’m going all that way to play a guitar. Oh what fun that conversation would be.!!!!
On the Faxwood website they mention a place not far from in West Chester PA. Looks like he’s the rep for New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, BUT I don’t think its a music store. Must contact him and find out who sells them in the area.What is the estimated $$$$ for a Flaxwood. I’m guessing $2k+
5 Hours on the guitar? Sweet!
@hscalfo 6764 wrote:
Bill,
What is the estimated $$$$ for a Flaxwood. I’m guessing $2k+
5 Hours on the guitar? Sweet!
Hey Enrico, š
I DO understand that MA is a “hike” for you! I just thought I’d extend the offer. I figured it was a longshot! (LOL!) Anyways, maybe they’ll get some nearer to you in Jersey? That’d be cool. I know there’s a “push” with some “big-money” backing behind the U.S. distribution of these Flaxwoods! (That’s gotta be a good thing, right?!?) š
BTW, you were correct in your assumption regarding price. They’re actually a little higher than I think you had figured. I believe most stock models will sell in the $2300-$2700 price-range, depending on model/features/dealer-margins/etc. :rolleyes:
Oh yeah, the 5-hours I had on the gold “Liekki” model was pure bliss! However, a fair portion of that time was spent “one-on-one teaching” So while I had the guitar in my hands for 5-hours for sure, I probably REALLY played it for about 2-hours! Very sweet instrument! š
Best of luck finding some Flaxwoods to try Enrico! š
~Bill Meehan~ š
@billmeedog 6765 wrote:
Hey Enrico, š
I DO understand that MA is a “hike” for you! I just thought I’d extend the offer. I figured it was a longshot! (LOL!) Anyways, maybe they’ll get some nearer to you in Jersey? That’d be cool. I know there’s a “push” with some “big-money” backing behind the U.S. distribution of these Flaxwoods! (That’s gotta be a good thing, right?!?) š
BTW, you were correct in your assumption regarding price. They’re actually a little higher than I think you had figured. I believe most stock models will sell in the $2300-$2700 price-range, depending on model/features/dealer-margins/etc. :rolleyes:
Oh yeah, the 5-hours I had on the gold “Liekki” model was pure bliss! However, a fair portion of that time was spent “one-on-one teaching” So while I had the guitar in my hands for 5-hours for sure, I probably REALLY played it for about 2-hours! Very sweet instrument! š
Best of luck finding some Flaxwoods to try Enrico! š
~Bill Meehan~ š
Bill,
Again, thanks for the invite. It was appreciated. IG should be a place for us to attempt to network as well as learn. Thank you.
I sent an email to the dealer in this area. Lets see if I get a response.
However, I should probably learn to play the guitars I already have! š
But sometimes you get a fresh burst of inspiration (and perspiration) when you put a new axe in your hands!!!
However, I have an increased risk of sleeping outside with me new axe. But….however…but….:eek:
But it might be worth it!!! š
Just to tease you guys.. I’ve got a flaxwood too. š
@tjchep 6769 wrote:
Just to tease you guys.. I’ve got a flaxwood too. š
Hey TJ, š
I knew someone else here at IG (besides Rick & Richard) had a Flaxwood, but I couldn’t remember who?!? That’s awesome bro! What model? Was it new? Cost? (If you don’t mind answering that one?) Also, where did you get it? If it was a CT – USA dealer, let Enrico know, because he’s from Jersey and he’s looking to try one out perhaps?!? Maybe you could refer him to the place that you bought yours (if you didn’t buy “sight-unseen” from eBay or some other internet means?) :confused: š
So how do you like the Flaxwood so far? (Dumb question, right?!? – LOL!) :confused: š
~Bill Meehan~ š
I have ten Flaxwood guitars. I don’t play them though because they aren’t that great…
Just kidding. I’m just jealous. š Someday I’ll have to get my hands on one!
Hey Bill
I know how you feel bro!!:D Last year, I tried several different Flaxwood axes and the Liekki was really perfect for what I want from a guitar. You’e spot on about the guitar being very well balanced and how the sound just resonates so well. Because of the procedure involved with breaking the wood down into tiny micro fibres, there is no grain, which allows the sound to travel freely in all directions giving a very strong balanced sound wherever you play on the non existent fretboard š
A big thing for me is how a guitar sounds unamplified and this baby sings its little heart out, so, as you may have guessed, I’m a big Flaxwood fan. š @Rick Graham 6773 wrote:
Hey Bill
I know how you feel bro!!:D Last year, I tried several different Flaxwood axes and the Liekki was really perfect for what I want from a guitar. You’e spot on about the guitar being very well balanced and how the sound just resonates so well. Because of the procedure involved with breaking the wood down into tiny micro fibres, there is no grain, which allows the sound to travel freely in all directions giving a very strong balanced sound wherever you play on the non existent fretboard š
A big thing for me is how a guitar sounds unamplified and this baby sings its little heart out, so, as you may have guessed, I’m a big Flaxwood fan. šHey Rick, š
I’m glad that someone else hears it the way I do!!! (lol!) š
Anyways, the great news:
It’s official! Performance Muic Center – Woburn, MA – USA (where I teach) is bringing on the Flaxwood line! Apparently the Northeast US sales-rep knew that Joe (the owner) has an excellent track record of cultivating interest/”buzz” and bringing a relatively unknown (but quality nonetheless!) line like Flaxwood along! (They saw what he did with Blade, G&L , and Hamer over the years!) š
Needless to say, I am very happy about this announcement, as I’ll have more models to NOT be able to afford! (LOL!) (For now anyways…I’ll get there eventually!!!) :rolleyes:
~Bill Meehan~ š
Bill,
Congrats to Performance Music Center. I hope it works out well for both PMC and Flaxwood.
Hmmmm…perhaps I’m going to have to make a trip after all.
Yes, The Liekki is also my fave model =)
Just had my latest model updated with new Rautia custom
P-90’s that me and him developed together.
Ps. It also has LR Baggs Piezo, which works like a charm!!
No pictures can really capture the beautiful metallic white!
It’s almost like liquid metallic-meringue As far as the new P-90’s, I think you would like them. The are scatter wound with Heavy Forwar-wire (same as on vintage single coils), and not as potted as regular P-90’s. They are extremely vibrant and alive, and has a twang I have not heard in any other P-90!
Man, I gotta try the new P-90’s, I love the ones in the Liekki so I think I’m gonna love these new one fo’ sho’
Awesome pics man!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.