Mr. Wu Guitar

**yolandateam** · 07-02-2016, 09:34 AM

Hi, Djelley,

Could you please send feedback to my another working email [email protected]? My gmail is not working these days.

Yours
Lora

**abelljo** · 07-03-2016, 12:23 PM

I like it, it's similar, but different. Love the color and wood binding contrast!

**djelley** · 07-07-2016, 06:25 PM

I've now had the guitar for a day and am very happy overall. It arrived one day after tracking said that it was at JFK, so it obviously sailed through customs. I removed it from the amazing packing provided by Ms. Lora and immediately brought it to my shop for a setup.

My tech went over it with a fine-toothed comb. The slots on the nut needed to be cut deeper, the truss rod needed a fair amount of adjustment, and the wiring on the pickup was backward. It might need a fret leveling, but I'm holding-off for now.

These are all easy fixes, I just want to make it very clear to anyone who orders one of these guitars, that a full setup is required. Don't take it out of the box and expect it to be awesome.

The overall quality is very good. Having said that, it is obvious that this is completely hand-made. There are little imperfections in many places. This isn't a bad thing at all, just don't expect CNC perfection that you'll get with say, Ibanez. It is clear that this guitar has never seen machinery! The closet guitar that I have to compare this to is my Eastman AR910 LTD, which cost three times as much. I would say that the Yolanda isn't quite as good from a quality or playability standpoint, but it is close enough to make me want to order from Yolanda before I buy another Eastman. And I LOVE Eastman.

The neck is quite large and seems wider than anything I'm used to, so that will take a while. Acoustically it is pretty loud. I haven't decided if I'll keep the pickup, although it does sound good. I just think a Benedetto floater might be worth the cost.

Now for the photos (I can't hold a candle to 2b here!):

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**citizenk74** · 07-07-2016, 06:49 PM

Gorgeous! Give me a lovingly hand-crafted instrument like this any day! Congratulations. and play it in good health!

**Jim Soloway** · 07-07-2016, 07:06 PM

I follow these threads with some interest and I suspect there might be one somewhere in my future but one thing I don't understand: why does anyone have the electronics installed before they take delivery? Everyone keeps saying how the electronics have to be fixed so why no just have the openings included and have the pickups and controls installed during the setup after taking delivery? I'd much rather deal with installing the electronics from scratch than fixing what's already in place.

**djelley** · 07-07-2016, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I follow these threads with some interest and I suspect there might be one somewhere in my future but one thing I don't understand: why does anyone have the electronics installed before they take delivery? Everyone keeps saying how the electronics have to be fixed so why no just have the openings included and have the pickups and controls installed during the setup after taking delivery? I'd much rather deal with installing the electronics from scratch than fixing what's already in place.

That is exactly what I did. They ship with the pickguard and pickup assembly wrapped separately. The issue was that it needed to be re-wired before my tech installed it.

**Bluedawg** · 07-07-2016, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by djelley

That is exactly what I did. They ship with the pickguard and pickup assembly wrapped separately. The issue was that it needed to be re-wired before my tech installed it.

If I've been understanding these Mr. Wu threads correctly ... most experienced Wu buyers would recommend putting the pickup assembly aside ..... then rewiring and installing quality stuff

**NSJ** · 07-07-2016, 08:01 PM

To The people who have had these custom builds done, how does the guitar sound? They sound like Eastmans? How is the acoustic sound? What kind of guitar sound would you compare it to ?

They all look beautiful, but are you as happy with the sound and play ability ?

**jads57** · 07-07-2016, 08:56 PM

I too was wondering this as well! Since the Eastmans I believe are based on Bob Benedetto's book, I find them to lack the mids of say a Johnny Smith Gibson. I'm sure it this has to do w/ the Gibson's thicker top and back as well as how the bracing is carved as well.

**Archtop Guy** · 07-08-2016, 06:02 AM

Jelly,She's beautiful. Mr. Wu did a great job copying 2Bs burst. You did a great job yourself with the appointments.So how long was it from start to finish and the cost,if you wish to divulge it? Congratulations with her.

**john_a** · 07-08-2016, 08:30 AM

That's a great looking guitar, thanks for sharing pics, and congratulations to you and the builder!

John

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-08-2016, 09:21 AM

So, we've had two interesting comments regarding quality and playability. One from 2B who thinks his is better than his Eastman's (if I recall correctly) and now djelly, who says "I would say that the Yolanda isn't quite as good from a quality or playability standpoint".

I take from this that they are there or there about the same quality...but cheaper. But once you factor in fret levelling, set up, wiring of and purchase of new pickups, attachment of scratchplate, paying someone to do all this for you if you are not up to it yourself...how much cheaper are they?

I'm quite prepared to imagine that Mr Wu was one of the top luthiers at Eastman, judging by looks and comments. Kudos to him - he seems an excellent luthier.

Unfortunately, with the UK Pound sinking like the Titanic, I've had to put all import purchases on hold. I almost paid a deposit, but things are too scary at the moment, financially speaking.

**Jim Soloway** · 07-08-2016, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

So, we've had two interesting comments regarding quality and playability. One from 2B who thinks his is better than his Eastman's (if I recall correctly) and now djelly, who says "I would say that the Yolanda isn't quite as good from a quality or playability standpoint".

I take from this that they are there or there about the same quality...but cheaper. But once you factor in fret levelling, set up, wiring of and purchase of new pickups, attachment of scratchplate, paying someone to do all this for you if you are not up to it yourself...how much cheaper are they?

I'm quite prepared to imagine that Mr Wu was one of the top luthiers at Eastman, judging by looks and comments. Kudos to him - he seems an excellent luthier.

Unfortunately, with the UK Pound sinking like the Titanic, I've had to put all import purchases on hold. I almost paid a deposit, but things are too scary at the moment, financially speaking.

I think that price is only one of the elements driving the interest. The other is their willingness to customize to an almost endless degree.

**2bornot2bop** · 07-08-2016, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by NSJ

To The people who have had these custom builds done, how does the guitar sound? They sound like Eastmans? How is the acoustic sound? What kind of guitar sound would you compare it to ?

They all look beautiful, but are you as happy with the sound and play ability ?

I've only experienced the "one" guitar. Every guitar is unique to itself. Eastman does NOT produce an 18" archtop...especially one that features a 3.75" depth. So, the Eastman comparison ends with they're each made in China.

Once my Biltoft CC pickup is installed I'll get a sound sample up for all of you sound junkies

**2bornot2bop** · 07-08-2016, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by djelley

That is exactly what I did. They ship with the pickguard and pickup assembly wrapped separately. The issue was that it needed to be re-wired before my tech installed it.

So I'm curious...did you measure the depth of the guitar yet? How deep?

**BigMikeinNJ** · 07-09-2016, 11:27 AM

Don't waste time comparing Eastman to Yolanda. Eastman does not do the custom stuff that Yolanda thrives on giving their customers. The inlay work, the body shape, width, depth are all totally up to the customer.

Having to do a serious fret level and setup and installing top flight pickups and pots is nothing. I want specific pickups for specific guitars and it's not cost effective for Yolanda to carry all that in their inventory nor is it safe or cost effective to send parts to them. This current custom build I am having Mr Wu make me I have asked for it to be totally acoustic, no electronics. It's a 17x2 3/4 or so with very fancy abalone inlays and flamed maple wood bindings, sort of a cherry sunburst Byrdland style if you will but with a floater. WHAT FLOATER well I am considering a number of pickups, been considering a Bitloff CC floater or a Dearmond Reissue 1100... who knows. That's half the fun of it. See what I am saying.

And as you know I'm not just an all China guy, I have been acquiring a number of guitars lately. For me it's about getting something really unique done up to my request. I have a ball doing this. And they never fail me. When Greg shared photos of the burst big girl I wrote Lora and told her "now the guys on the Jazz Guitar Forum are gonna go nuts", you guys are very traditionally influenced and that burst Mr Wu did is so gorgeous...

Big

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-09-2016, 12:19 PM

I understand, Big Mike. Yolanda is unique, and Mr Wu is clearly a talented luthier, for sure.

**abelljo** · 07-10-2016, 11:07 AM

I think it is important we point out the areas that need improvement and praise the good so that other keep buying and Mr Wu's guitars keep getting better as they gain in popularity. Yes his necks need to be cut in more of a soft vee or soft U shape as opposed to a D. The actual thickness is not any more than my main archtop, but there is more wood on each edge due to the D shape. The plastic binding needs a little more refining, so attention to detail is important so that the final finished product looks more high end.

Eastmans may look better cosmetically, but the pats are not better. Eastman electronics are cheap and many upgrade them. Yes, these need set up, but most of us usually do a set up to most guitars we purchase so that it is more to what we are used to playing.

I purchased 3 guitars from Yolanda/Lora, one I think was under Yunzhi, but the same email. Very different feeling neck and a little better cosmetically. The second was very good, but the neck was huge, very much like my last one. The last one was very nice, but the neck is too big for my taste. The difference with the last one is that this time I used plastic binding and it was a little sloppy.

But all sound excellent once set up, I used my own American parts for all three guitars, so no comment on the import electronics.

One additional thing worth mentioning, the sunburst and finish an all three is about the best I've seen!!!!