Text: Román Vega

Buying an acoustic guitar is a painstaking task, even more so when our budget is considerably limited. Acoustic instruments tend to be less flexible than electric ones. Given that there are no built-in electronics to help us shape the sound, we need to feel “love at first sight”; that is, the sound has to hook us. Once we have experienced that feeling for the sound, we need the guitar to feel comfortable and, ideally, the woods to be of the best possible quality. Few moderately priced acoustic instruments score well on all of these counts. This is one of them.

Introduction
This new guitar brand, which we had not tested before, has arrived at ISP. When I was checking delivery notes and so on, I saw this model listed as a €199 acoustic and mistakenly formed a preconceived idea of how it would be built and how it would sound. My doubts and expectations remained open to change until the moment of the test.

I have already noticed a certain curiosity among various guitarists about this brand, who were wondering what Durango was all about. Well, today we'll clear things up. As general information, Durango has three series: Standard, DeLuxe and Professional. Logically, the guitar range (and the price) varies depending on the series we look at. At the same time, there is another division based on the size of the instrument: Grand Concert, Dreadnought and Jumbo. Now you can imagine the possible combinations of series and body size, with the resulting variations in sound, quality, size and price.

Unboxing the Durango B-18 Standard Jumbo
This is the model we have in our hands today. When I opened the box containing the B-18, I got a pleasant surprise: a dark, open-grain mahogany finish that gives it an aged, very warm look. We are used to seeing acoustics with light finishes, such as those provided by spruce tops or similar finishes. In this case, the mahogany gives it a look that, besides being visually pleasing, fits perfectly with its vintage orientation. Its build quality, and therefore its feel, pleasantly surprised me, as I was frankly expecting a lower-quality guitar (given its price).

Construction
When we come across such a reasonable price, the first thing we wonder is where the quality has been cut. Perhaps in the raw materials, the finish, the drying processes, an uncomfortable feel (of neck and strings), etc. This is where the surprises began, because the guitar sounded good: a powerful, round, full sound (considering the size of the body), good blend and natural sustain more in line with higher-end guitars.

After strumming the first chords, I checked the prices and model again, because it seemed like a more expensive guitar. There was no mistake, so my first impression was that I had a guitar with excellent value for money in my hands.

After this first pleasant surprise, I stopped to review the details: the finish of the varnishes, the quality of the tuners, looking for traces of glue or signs of mediocre workmanship, etc. This second look confirmed that the guitar was well made, showed precision in its finishing touches and revealed no sign of careless manufacturing.

The feel of an acoustic is something that generally concerns guitarists. Even on expensive instruments, we sometimes find stiff strings that are hard to handle, especially for bends, or uncomfortable barre chords. In this case, the Durango surprised me again with a fairly comfortable feel: strings at a very reasonable height and, in short, quite pleasant playability.

Its sound
This guitar is inspired by the acoustic sounds of the 1920s and '30s. Getting hold of an original from those eras in good condition is practically impossible, especially considering what it might cost, if we can find one at all. On the test bench, the Durango shows this vintage vibe, both in its looks and in its sound. You know I don't like to pigeonhole instruments into types or musical styles, since imagination should always rule in this respect. Even so, the sounds of the guitar under review are especially rich for bluesy flavors, acoustic rock, country, tasty pop grooves, etc.

The tonal colors of this acoustic are, in short, quite versatile. Ultimately, it's up to your head to find a place for each of them and define your own style.

Conclusions
If you have read the previous sections of these pages, you will already have reached some clear conclusions. Without losing sight of the price, which is surely the most striking thing, we get more than decent, even surprising, quality: careful finishes, good volume, good blend and generous natural sustain. A different look that can also add an aesthetic or visual touch to your stage presence.
For €199? What more can we ask?

01/04/2007