Palen archtops

**redwun** · 10-21-2012, 01:16 AM

I've had a hand carved Palen 7 string w/a floating pickup for a few years now.It' OK.Does anyone have an opinion on Palen guitars?

**Jabberwocky** · 10-21-2012, 01:50 AM

Since you own one, you'd be the best person to give us an opinion

"It's OK" is kinda terse, isn't it?

What do you think about it?

**Broyale** · 10-21-2012, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Since you own one, you'd be the best person to give us an opinion

"It's OK" is kinda terse, isn't it?

What do you think about it?

^^Second what this guy said.
Are you looking to sell it and gauging interest/desirability?

**redwun** · 10-21-2012, 04:55 AM

Broyale,I find your remark insulting.I'd sell anything I own if the price was right,but if that was my purpose for starting this thread,I would have been very forthright regarding my intent,and I would have waited until my 50th post to do so.

**redwun** · 10-21-2012, 04:57 AM

Since I haven't seen a thread about Palen guitars,I guess I was more interested in the opinions of others than starting out by offering the details of my own.Since the same make/model of a solid wood,hand carved boutique guitar can vary from piece to piece,I'm kind of interested to hear what people have to say about their Palen & ones they may have test driven.I've been told a 7 seven string needs a flatter fretboard,but I still like a little bit of a radius to the fretboard,& my Palen is pretty flat.Especially when comared to Bill Moll's "John Pizzarelli 7" and even my Mortoro 7. The Palen's neck is also flat in the back.(feels a little funny to me) It also seems to close up pretty tight if I don't play it for extended periods of time.Aesthetically speaking,it's a beauty though.I think they're an excellent value as well.Most guitars made with the same materials & with the same apointments go for quite a bit more money.I really don't know how he does it.

**marcwhy** · 10-21-2012, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by redwun

Broyale,I find your remark insulting.I'd sell anything I own if the price was right,but if that was my purpose for starting this thread,I would have been very forthright regarding my intent,and I would have waited until my 50th post to do so.

Hmm, I'm pretty sure no offense was intended there ...

For such an expensive guitar, your initial "It's OK" review was a bit strange, so I'm glad you added some detail in your last post. I've heard good reviews from people who own or have tried them at Guitars 'n' Jazz, etc., and they sure do look nice!

**redwun** · 10-21-2012, 10:01 AM

Yeah,last I knew,Lou at Guitars 'n Jazz is the sole distributor for Nelson Palen,so I'd like to see some opinions posted on a more "impartial" site.It's really a great guitar,but if I had it to do over,I would check out a couple more 7 strings from Bill Moll first.

**mikeSF** · 10-21-2012, 12:51 PM

Years ago, I was researching luthiers and shopping for a new 7-string, and came across Palen via a friend who owns several of them. I traveled to NJ to try his guitars and also meet Lou at G'n'J. In short, the guitars are excellent and the service & communication from both of these gentlemen throughout my build process were top notch. I know I wrote a review in HC Reviews that detailed my good experience working with these fellows, so I will find it and link it here for you to read the whole story.
That was probably 2006 or so, and I still use my Palen as my main fingerstyle (solo and duo work) gigging guitar.

Here is my review from Lou's testimonials page:
http://guitarsnjazz-comments.blogspot.com/2010/12/mike-oria-palen.html

I have no business affiliation with Lou of any kind; I am just a happy customer.

**redwun** · 10-21-2012, 12:54 PM

Thanks Mike SF!

**mikeSF** · 10-21-2012, 12:58 PM

here is an older video of me playing my Palen:

A duo clip at a recital from around the same time:

**Jim Soloway** · 10-21-2012, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by redwun

Thanks Mike SF!

The internet is full of experts with varying degrees of knowledge so a word of advise about MikeSF's comments ... I've known Mike on-line for many years. He is a superb player and has probably the best collection of high quality 7-string archtops of anyone I know with examples from several of the most renowned buiders in the business. If he vouches for the quality of the Palen, you can absolutely bank on what he says without any reservations whatsoever. There is probably no one I would trust more on the topic.

**Bflat** · 10-21-2012, 04:48 PM

MikeSF! That video is great. Amazing playing: very lively. Where are you located?

**Jonathan0996** · 10-21-2012, 05:42 PM

Mike's version of Yardbird Suite truly is amazing. I heard it a few years ago and I'm still amazed.

The guitar ain't bad either. :-)

**mikeSF** · 10-21-2012, 10:26 PM

Jim, you remain a gentleman. Always good to see you and glad to find you are a contributor here. I haven't been active on any music forum in a couple years, since RMMGJ died out. Good to be here.

Bflat, I live in the SF Bay Area.

Jonathan, thanks very much.

**Klatu** · 10-21-2012, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by mikeSF

here is an older video of me playing my Palen:

OMG!!!!!!!!

I am only now comming to grips with the fact that I'll probably never get out of jazz guitar kindergarten.

**helios** · 10-22-2012, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by mikeSF

here is an older video of me playing my Palen:

A duo clip at a recital from around the same time:

That's some high octane monster playing on "Yardbird Suite"! The tone of the Palen is great too!

**Pat Clare** · 10-22-2012, 02:35 PM

I bought a Palen Performer 6 string with a built in Armstrong pickup from Lou at guitars and Jazz about a year ago.
I tried out bunch of guitars from various price ranges and this guitar stood out. It's the best sounding and playing guitar thatI've ever played.
In my opinion Nelson Palen is a Master Luthier.

**Wildcat** · 10-22-2012, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by redwun

Broyale,I find your remark insulting.I'd sell anything I own if the price was right,but if that was my purpose for starting this thread,I would have been very forthright regarding my intent,and I would have waited until my 50th post to do so.

As with you I am reality new to his site. I find both of their comments to be obnoxious and typical for many of the other guitar maker specific sites, but not this site. Your reaction was warranted given the hostile/confrontation tone and that was to defend yourself.

**Wildcat** · 10-22-2012, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

Hmm, I'm pretty sure no offense was intended there ...

Bull!

For such an expensive guitar, your initial "It's OK" review was a bit strange, so I'm glad you added some detail in your last post. I've heard good reviews from people who own or have tried them at Guitars 'n' Jazz, etc., and they sure do look nice!

I'm sorry, but the gentleman was asking a question about the guitar maker, not solicting reactions to his opinion on the model. Jackasses.

**Broyale** · 10-22-2012, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Jackasses.

Stay classy, my friend.

**Wildcat** · 10-22-2012, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Broyale

Stay classy, my friend.

You are absolutely correct in your sarcasms’ and I sincerely apologize for my poor behavior. This site is above this type of name calling.

**phazyme** · 03-08-2016, 05:44 PM

Although I understand the originator's question, I thought the reply from the 2nd guy was merely funny. The originator sounds not exactly wild about his Palen guitar. Anyhow, I have spoken to Lou over the years. He was , and maybe still is, a pharmacist. For some reason he went from hi-end archtops to this Palen line that, although I am no expert on these, have thought they were for the player with a more modest budget. Perhaps I'm wrong there, but if one had 7 thousand dollars or more to spend, he would probably get one of the L5 Gibson models. I can say that I have always thought that Lou was a pleasant and honest dealer. Years back I bought a Vestax D'Angelico NYL-2 from him at a very very low price. I went on later to buy L5's from many different places but never had any other interaction with Lou, or Palens.

**deselby** · 03-08-2016, 11:07 PM

I bought one of the earlier Palens with a floating pickup from Lou which I still have. It's a lovely instrument. On the other hand, if I'd had the opportunity to play it before I'd made the purchase, I don't think I would have bought it. It's not the guitar. It's me. One of the problems with the wealth of choices that the internet has opened up is that we are presented with options that might speak to our desires but not to how we actually play and use an instrument. Living on the outer fringes of civilization, Ottawa, means being circumscribed by the instruments that are available for immediate evaluation. On a trip to NYC about 10 years ago, I visited Mandolin Brothers and of all the instruments I tried I was most taken with a modified 40's Epiphone that I passed on. I was only passing through and thought about resale value. But, in retrospect I have often thought about it. It was a 'Me' instrument. That's not to say I still don't engage in unplayed purchases. I dropped a dime or two on an older Japanese GB10 that was available from on ebay from a Canadian seller, an estate auction guitar I think, which is really everything I could have imagined at the price. And quite a bit more. Between it and the JB Sadowsky, that again, I bought on spec, I think I'm set. At least, until the bug bites again. So, Palens, yes. For this body, no. And please, understand. A Palen is a beautiful instrument that will more than meet the right player's expectations.