This Guitar Has No Business Sounding This Good
I rarely write reviews this enthusiastically, but this guitar absolutely deserves it.
I recently purchased a Pomona Live from Orangewood Guitars, and from the first strum, I was genuinely blown away. The initial guitar I received sounded incredible: rich, balanced, resonant, and remarkably alive for an instrument in this price range. The build quality was impressive, and the tone immediately stood shoulder-to-shoulder with guitars costing far more.
That said, the first one did have a few minor finish imperfections that I simply couldn't overlook. They didn't affect playability in the least, but they were small things that would bug me over time. So, I reached out to Orangewood, and their customer service was absolutely exceptional. No pushback, no hassle, no questioning. They handled the exchange quickly and professionally, and the replacement they sent was flawless.
For context, I own and play acoustics from brands like Martin, Takamine, Gretsch, PRS, and Fender, and I’ve played professionally for more than three decades. I do not say this lightly: this guitar rivals anything I’ve played. That is not exaggeration. In fact, it's replaced my Martin 000-15m as my weekly player for Sunday morning worship leading.
The feel is effortless. The neck is comfortable and inspiring. The dreadnought body delivers remarkable sonic depth, warmth, clarity, and projection. The electronics are clean and resonant in all the best ways. It feels so responsive that you want to keep playing long after you intended to stop. And the finish and overall beauty of this guitar are nothing short of art. It's stunning.
For around $500, the Pomona Live may be one of the best-kept secrets in the entire acoustic guitar market. This was my first Orangewood guitar, but it absolutely will not be my last. I could not recommend it more highly.
