2011 Crafter TA-050 Fancy 000-Size Guitar


At first glance, this guitar looks a lot like an interpretation of an old Martin 000-45 from the early '30s or late '20s. However, it's really its own thing. It has a much-wider lower bout than your average 000 that's just a hair under 16" and it has a much longer scale (25 1/2" vs 000-style 24 7/8" or close to it). The latter bit of that makes it more like an OM with a bit more snap and bite to the tone than a more-relaxed short-scale length. The wider lower bout gives it a bit more chunk and bloom in the lows. It's a bit like a "000" built for a player used to dreadnoughts.

So, yes, it's a bigger, pearl-bedecked, fancy-pants, nice-playing, good-sounding, 12-fret, Korean-made flattop. It has enough warmth to suit flatpickers and enough clarity and fullness in each note to suit fingerpickers. Plus, you know, it's hard to argue with pretty.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, minor cleaning, and setup.


Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid rosewood

Bracing type: x

Bridge: ebony

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/slight soft V

Board radius: 12"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium


Scale length: 25 1/2"

Nut width: 1 11/16"

Body width: 15 7/8"

Body depth: 4 1/2"

Weight: 4 lbs 9 oz


Condition notes: it's in very good shape with only minor usewear and scratches here and there throughout the body. At some point a pickup was installed and the owner has fit a reducer-style button into the endpin area to plug-up the oversize hole meant for an endpin jack. He also fit nice, Waverly-brand (expensive) tuners to the headstock which are a great upgrade. Otherwise it appears to be original throughout.


It comes with: its original gigbag which is in good order except that the zipper pulls are missing. I will put on some wire pulls before shipping.





















Comments

Les said…
Hi I’m I. Uk and just picked up one of these pretty girls for £200 😳…It’s 2001 (pre Crafter head logo) and has been a wall decoration for the last 20 years so immaculate.
I note you say the sides are solid rosewood, I thought these were layered, is there anyway I can check ?
Thank you for your excellent review
Les