Northwood Borneo Rosewood 70 Series OM Gloss Natural 2016 Hand-Made Acoustic

This is a Northwood 70 Series OM acoustic guitar in Gloss Natural finish. Made in Canada in 2016, this guitar comes from the workshop of John McQuarrie- a former employee at Larrivee who set up on his own in 1994. Drawing on a lifetime of love for guitars & his experience working at Larrivee alongside his own luthier & repair business, John has turned Northwood Guitars into a celebrated name amongst those in the know.

Of course featuring an all-solid construction, this instrument comprises a Wintergrain Engelmann Spruce top, Borneo Rosewood back & sides, Mahogany neck and 20 fret Ebony fingerboard with matching bridge. The body is double bound in Figured Koa, which continues along either side of the neck and is also used for the headplate. The top is adorned with multi-stripe purfling & a Borneo Rosewood rosette. A set of Gold Gotoh tuning machines are fitted to the slotted headstock, whilst a direct output K&K Pure Mini undersaddle transducer pickup is also installed.

The Mahogany neck plays beautifully, with a profile which might be described as a gentle ’D’ shape thanks to the lightly flattened are to the centre rear. This feels easily manageable & promotes ergonomic thumb positioning in all registers. The nut width feels ample at 1.75”, providing plenty of string spacing for accurate fingerstyle playing, whilst the shallow depth of the neck assists with easy fretting and large stretches. The Ebony of the fingerboard is rich and luxurious under the fingers, with the traditional 16” radius providing comfort for chord playing and practicality for fingerstyle parts and lead lines. The OM body size is supremely comfortable in both seated & standing positions.

The voice of the Northwood Borneo Rosewood 70 Series OM is rich, beautiful & astonishingly soft. The OM body size has long been renowned for its clear, open and uniform response across all 6 strings. Striking the perfect balance between the strong bass response and volume of the dreadnought and the intimate, balanced sound of the Parlor, the tone is well suited to both chordal and melodic playing styles. The Wintergrain Engelmann Spruce top projects beautifully, delivering ample volume and dynamic range whilst retaining clarity throughout. The Borneo Rosewood back and sides add a warmth and character to the sound which is well complemented by the brightness of the Spruce top. A beautifully made and aesthetically understated instrument, perfect for the discerning fingerstyle player.