REVIEWS

"I bought this guitar hoping that it would exceed the build quality and playability of the Les Paul special. This Mallory J9 exceeded my expectations significantly.  It represents the culmination of incredible build quality, dedication, and top shelf components.  This is likely the finest guitar I have owned or played.

Out of the box, the intonation and action were perfect, and I mean perfect. Perfectly intonated up the neck and without dead spots or buzzing.  The fret work is second to none.  Not a sharp edge to be found, and the medium frets feel slick on the fingers. Even after subjecting the guitar to higher humidity, the neck remained stable and did not require a truss adjustment.  

The Fit and Finish of the J9 is exceptional. From the Tru-Oil stain to the immaculate and accurate routing and contouring, the guitar was without blemish.  All parts are symmetrical in how they are positioned on the guitar.  Everything seems to have a modicum of thoughtfulness behind it.  The cutaway allows for great access to the upper frets.  The controls are positioned well.  The guitar is beautifully balanced.  There is a theme of slight distressing on the guitar that gives it an elegant look. The mortise and tenon joint is precise and well designed.  The cuts of wood are excellent, from the rosewood to the Spanish Cedar.  The neck is very strong and resists warping due to its 3-piece design. Every component is as it should be and there are no shortcuts taken in its assembly.  

I played the guitar through numerous amplifiers and pedals.  The Righteous Sound El Granada P90s are an absolute joy to hear.  They growl when asked and can whisper with clarity.  The interplay between the tone knob and volume knob unlocks a seemingly infinite pallet of tones; all useful and all vigorous. The guitar holds its tuning very well and rarely requires interacting with the tuners.  I used it for all manner of music from rock to blues, to country, to rockabilly, and jazz.  It even sounded wonderful for all manner of strumming and chording.

The Mallory J9 is where the tone road stops for me.  I’m not sure what else one could ever need in his or her guitar arsenal.  But, among the 3 or 4 must have guitars for a musician, this guitar sits at the front of the pack.  My only complaint is that I did not acquire this guitar earlier in my playing career.  

If you are looking for a top-quality handmade guitar that performs exceptionally and sounds as good as it looks, look no further.  The Mallory J9 is it."     -BILL SHEEHAN, NJ