Sweetness paired with power, and articulate across the registers. This 2008 Solace Select from the late Tom Doerr sings in your hands at a light touch, but has plenty of headroom to dig into as well; the 16 1/4″ lower bout Cedar top and actively-braced Madagascar Rosewood back can attest to that. To keep a guitar of this size effortless to play, Tom outfitted it with not only a cutaway and wraparound arm bevel, but also introduced a subtle body wedge into the build to keep the bass side a touch slimmer, and therefore easier to get your right arm around. This Doerr plays handsomely, indeed. The multi-laminated neck is stable and slender in-hand, and transforms into a gorgeous routed out channel at the back of the headstock and at the heelcap. That, combined with the glassy fit and finish elsewhere, paints the picture of a well-dressed modern flattop that’s ready for just about anything. In 2017, Tom retopped this Solace with the current Cedar top and his latest bracing designs. So it’s got that openness that only comes with being played for years, plus the lively and quick response of a newer build. A Cedar Creek case keeps it safe when (rarely) not in use, and a Schatten pickup to boot.
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