1990s Augustino W-15 (Donna LoPrinzi) Dreadnought Guitar

I've worked on a number of older Augustino/LoPrinzi guitars in the past -- see here and see here for some blogged ones -- but this is the first one made by Augie's daughter Donna LoPrinzi that I've had the chance to try-out.

I'll come out and say it: the construction is a lot tighter and better than the older ones I've had through. The bolted-on neck joint is more accurate, the bracing is more practical, and the neck is more comfortable. It handles like a modern guitar from Taylor, Breedlove, you-name-it. It reminds me a lot of what a Martin D-16 or similar should be -- in that it sounds like a D-18 but incorporates modern features and a satin finish at a lower price point.

What the D-16s got wrong is stability: I'm constantly fussing with the truss rods of ones coming into the shop for work and having to tighten-up and/or adjust neck angles on them, reglue bridges, and whatnot. The tops always belly a bit too much because of the simplified bracing, too. This box is the same age as most of those '90s and early '00s Martins but doesn't look like it's been touched at all before I adjusted it and it was almost good to go out of the case.

This one has a solid spruce top over ply walnut back/sides. I was fooled by the ply because it looks right more or less on the inside -- but the owner pointed-out my mistake. Thanks! Fit, finish, and build quality are good and clean. Now that it's been gone-through, it also plays spot-on and is ready to go.

Repairs included: fret level/dress, new bone saddle, setup.

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: ply walnut

Bracing type: x

Bridge: rosewood

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 54w-12 lights

Neck shape: slim C

Board radius: ~14"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Scale length: 25 3/8"

Nut width: 1 11/16"

Body width: 15 1/2"

Body depth: 4 1/2"

Weight: 4 lbs 6 oz

Condition notes: it's crack-free. There's mild pickwear/usewear on the top especially around the soundhole and upper bout -- small dings. Otherwise it's all-original save the saddle and looking good.

It comes with: a good hard case.