Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). NGD Faith Naked Neptune from Richards Guitars. - Acoustics Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

NGD Faith Naked Neptune from Richards Guitars.

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JemahlJemahl Frets: 5
in Acoustics
Hi All, my first post. I normally review books and comedy stuff on my blog but picked up a lovely Faith acoustic and wanted to share. I've put a link at the bottom to my blog as there's some images there as well.

Review Faith Naked Neptune from Richards Guitars.

A bit of a departure for my blog to review a guitar, but I have picked up a beautiful model from Richards Guitars in Stratford-on-Avon and decided to share. To note: I am a very amateur guitarist (I’ve always been a singer in bands and actual guitarists who know me will agree to my limited proficiency with the instrument), but I have played/owned a few high end models and brands over the years.

The Faith Neptune is a baby jumbo sized guitar, made of all solid wood, and designed by Patrick Eggle. The highly regarded team at Faith been winning awards galore for their acoustic guitars, although I confess I only knew of Eggle’s electric guitars so when I started looking for a new acoustic it wasn’t first on my list. I spotted the Neptune on Richards Guitars’ Youtube channel and was instantly drawn to the instrument’s looks and sound. 

The Naked model is stripped back with a satin rather than gloss finish, and an austere look about it that makes it cheaper to produce than some of the more expensive Faith range. Actually, the satin finish gives it a beautiful tone that I preferred to a more expensive Seagull I tried, and much better than a mostly laminate Martin I saw at nearly twice the price (there’s a reason Donavan told John Lennon to sand the gloss off his Epi Casino and Martin). I managed to get hold of a shop model and give it a go and it was good but needed a setup. It was also far more comfortable to hand than the aforesaid Martin and Seagull. This is where I came back to Richards Guitars.

I have a wonderful local guitar tech who I have taken my instruments to in the past, but he has a six week waiting list and we are in a global pandemic so pickups and drop offs are limited. Richards offer a setup as a part of their service to every customer. So I pulled the trigger on one just over a fortnight ago. I can’t speak highly enough about the service from Richards Guitars. The process from purchase to workshop to despatch was updated as my model worked through the system, and I was kept updated with automatic emails. I did have a query and the responses were quick and helpful.  I dealt with Sally and Richard over email, and a genuine passion for the guitars and their customers just exuded from them. That was a refreshing change in the modern world of disposable consumerism – don’t worry I’m not about to go on a rant.

Despite a global pandemic and four day bank holiday weekend it only took a fortnight for a perfectly set up instrument to arrive at my door. You can see from the pictures just how well setup the action was and the beautiful wood top and back. For fingerstyle players, there is enough room at the saddle to take the action down some more, but I generally dig in with my pick so it is perfect for my heavy hands. Guitarists will talk about having a bond with their instrument and it generally takes me a while, but it honestly felt like I had been playing the Faith for years. The look and sound is absolutely stunning.  There is a swirling red grain in the ebony fretboard that I adore, and it came with a free gigbag to keep her safe although I may invest in a proper case.

If you’re on the lookout for a new acoustic, the Faith range is a rare breed: a British designed, award winning, beautifully built instrument. All Faith guitars are CITES compliant if you’re at all concerned about sustainability – hint, you should be – and there’s lots of different sizes and models to fit any frame (I’m 6.4 so a baby jumbo size is perfect for me). Richards Guitars is a wonderful seller with a team who are happy to help if you’re unsure what exactly you need. All in all, a fabulous experience and a guitar that will be with me for the rest of my days – hopefully a very long time! Now, I just need to stop myself from looking at the Gordon Smith electrics that Richards have on their website…


My website https://jemahlevans.wixsite.com/jemahlevans/single-post/2020/04/21/Review-Faith-Naked-Neptune-from-Richards-Guitars



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Comments

  • idiotwindowidiotwindow Frets: 1204
    I wouldn’t buy from that shop if it was the last remaining guitar shop on the planet. 
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  • WazmeisterWazmeister Frets: 8918
    This should be good...
    Feedback here - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57555/
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 26143
    Richards??

    I don’t think they’ve been mentioned here before...
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • mrkbmrkb Frets: 5594
    Hi Richard!
    Karma......
    Ebay mark7777_1
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  • TeyeplayerTeyeplayer Frets: 2811
    Oh dear, here we go again...
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  • fastonebazfastonebaz Frets: 3775
    I half expected the blog link to be to Richard's blog.

    Those Faith acoustics are superb though, great guitar there!
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  • octatonicoctatonic Frets: 33263
    mrkb said:
    Hi Richard!
    Actually in this instance probably not- the OP is fairly easily googleable as a real person and not a sock account.

    Welcome to the forum @Jemahl.
    Just so you understand some of the comments Richard has been a contentious vendor on this forum- no point into going into the specifics.
    James Richmond

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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24559
    octatonic said:
    mrkb said:
    Hi Richard!
    Actually in this instance probably not- the OP is fairly easily googleable as a real person and not a sock account.

    Welcome to the forum @Jemahl.
    Just so you understand some of the comments Richard has been a contentious vendor on this forum- no point into going into the specifics.
    Indeed, this poster has been thoroughly checked out by the modmin team given Richard’s past penchant for socks, and there is no evidence to suggest any puppetry at all.
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  • idiotwindowidiotwindow Frets: 1204
    Don't make me laugh. The poster might be real but the posting is written like an unsubtle press release. It just isn't the kind of thing anyone writes normally.
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  • Fifty9Fifty9 Frets: 459
    I mailed them last week asking about a faith that was showing as available on the site but for some reason wasn't possible for me to add to basket/checkout. No response. I was expecting they'd jump at the chance to sell me the guitar or an alternative if it actually wasn't available. But nada...
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  • imalrightjackimalrightjack Frets: 3503
    I have a high gloss one that I pretty much couldn't give away on this site :)
    Trading feedback info here

    My band, Red For Dissent
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  • EricTheWearyEricTheWeary Frets: 15603
    idiotwindow said:
    Don't make me laugh. The poster might be real but the posting is written like an unsubtle press release. It just isn't the kind of thing anyone writes normally.
    He’s a teacher and professional writer/ author. So perhaps this explains why the ( my head hurts, there are reasons why people don’t drink at 5pm them post online...FFS...what word am I after...) language isn’t ‘normal?’

    Anyway, off for a nap...
    I’ll handle this Violet, you take your three hour break. 
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  • Andy79Andy79 Frets: 881
    imalrightjack said:
    I have a high gloss one that I pretty much couldn't give away on this site :)
    I remember it well. I too am now in the can’t sell a Faith for toffee camp. 
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  • WhitecatWhitecat Frets: 5078
    Fifty9 said:
    I mailed them last week asking about a faith that was showing as available on the site but for some reason wasn't possible for me to add to basket/checkout. No response. I was expecting they'd jump at the chance to sell me the guitar or an alternative if it actually wasn't available. But nada...
    I emailed them about a Gordon Smith once and similarly got zero reply and I had lost interest just a few days later. I presume their email filtering is too aggressive. 
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  • droflufdrofluf Frets: 3144
    There’s obviously a backstory here that I’m unaware of (and if someone is happy to fill me in, privately if necessary...) but in the interest of balance...

     I’ve bought 2 guitars from him in the past 9 months and both have been very easy: good communication, well set up guitars and an enjoyable experience. I tried out one guitar in the store before buying later online: they had it ready for me and gave me a room to play in, even staying open late for me.  I met Richard and he came across to me as very passionate about what he does. 

    P.S. if you want to get in touch I’ve found that they’re very responsive on the online chat. 
    Trading feedback thread:https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/172761/drofluf
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  • TheOtherDennisTheOtherDennis Frets: 2010
    edited April 2020
    @drofluf  ;A few people on here have had issues with him in the past. He joined tFB and defended himself very aggressively, started a few rows and wound up getting banned for creating multiple accounts, amongst other behaviour. The modmins then had to fend off multiple attempts to re-register himself, again amongst other things.

    I think it's fair to say he'll always get mixed reviews on here.
    If you must have sex with a frog, wear a condom. If you want the frog to have fun, rib it.
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  • Fifty9Fifty9 Frets: 459
    drofluf said:
    P.S. if you want to get in touch I’ve found that they’re very responsive on the online chat. 

    It was the online chat I used but nothing back.
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24559
    TheOtherDennis said:
    @drofluf  ;A few people on here have had issues with him in the past. He joined tFB and defended himself very aggressively, started a few rows and wound up getting banned for creating multiple accounts, amongst other behaviour. The modmins then had to fend off multiple attempts to re-register himself, again amongst other things.

    I think it's fair to say he'll always get mixed reviews on here.
    To be factually correct, it was the threat of legal action against the fretboard that instigated the original ban.
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  • TheOtherDennisTheOtherDennis Frets: 2010
    @Bridgehouse My apologies
    If you must have sex with a frog, wear a condom. If you want the frog to have fun, rib it.
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24559
    TheOtherDennis said:
    @Bridgehouse My apologies
    Nothing to apologise for - the other facts you stated were true - but I reiterated the original cause as per our rules 
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  • EricTheWearyEricTheWeary Frets: 15603
    I seem to remember him using his YouTube channel to slag off TheFB at one point as well. 
    I’ve never had dealings with him ( I did drive past his shop once) but it seems odd behaviour for a business. He also slagged off Gordon Smith at one point on YouTube but now he’s a dealer again I guess that’s all water under the bridge. 

    Fifty9 said:
    drofluf said:
    P.S. if you want to get in touch I’ve found that they’re very responsive on the online chat. 

    It was the online chat I used but nothing back.
    Just looked at his site and his chat is open. I seem to remember Richard made a big point of spending his evenings doing it . 
    I’ll handle this Violet, you take your three hour break. 
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  • octatonicoctatonic Frets: 33263
    idiotwindow said:
    Don't make me laugh. The poster might be real but the posting is written like an unsubtle press release. It just isn't the kind of thing anyone writes normally.
    I wouldn't be surprised to find out that someone had asked someone else to write a review here but I don't think it is any more sinister than that.
    James Richmond

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  • droflufdrofluf Frets: 3144
    @TheOtherDennis thanks. Seems like there’s much more to this than I was aware of and I’ve no wish to stir up a hornets’ nest.  
    Trading feedback thread:https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/172761/drofluf
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  • BRISTOL86BRISTOL86 Frets: 1916
    I stopped thinking it was genuine when I read that getting a guitar delivered with a decent setup in a fortnight was somehow remarkable!
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  • JemahlJemahl Frets: 5
    Man, I wasn't expecting that. All I can say is I'm a real person and it was my experience. I can't talk about others' experience only how it was for me and the guitar is awesome. Just to add, I am a professional writer so, you know, I write well generally, but I did that review off my own back. I don't know Richard and other than buying a guitar from them have had no interaction. I do read here a lot but hadn't realised I was going to kick something off; just wanted to share.
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  • WhistlerWhistler Frets: 270
    edited April 2020
    I too bought a guitar from Richards Guitars and could not be a happier customer. It sounds, from the comments above that he went through a bad period. Hopefully that is behind him and us and we can all move on and hope that he moved on too. Who hasn't had a rough patch at some point?
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24559
    Whistler said:
    I too bought a guitar from Richards Guitars and could not be a happier customer. It sounds, from the comments above that he went through a bad period. Hopefully that is behind him and us and we can all move on and hope that he moved on too. Who hasn't had a rough patch at some point?
    With regards to his relationship with the fretboard, it’s been more of a quilt than a patch...
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  • Fifty9Fifty9 Frets: 459
    edited April 2020
    I seem to remember him using his YouTube channel to slag off TheFB at one point as well. 
    I’ve never had dealings with him ( I did drive past his shop once) but it seems odd behaviour for a business. He also slagged off Gordon Smith at one point on YouTube but now he’s a dealer again I guess that’s all water under the bridge. 

    Fifty9 said:
    drofluf said:
    P.S. if you want to get in touch I’ve found that they’re very responsive on the online chat. 

    It was the online chat I used but nothing back.
    Just looked at his site and his chat is open. I seem to remember Richard made a big point of spending his evenings doing it . 

    It was mid afternoon and ‘open’ when I messaged them on it but instead of someone online it went to email. Fair enough but i’ve heard nothing at all since. Maybe the flip to email when they’re actually offline doesn’t work properly so they didn’t get the message
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