The Guitar Spa

02/09/2026

Collings vs Martin …

Please note that a Collings is not a Martin and will never sound like a Martin though from a distance it may look like a Martin .

The Collings delivers a unique tone that is totally different so don’t be confused by what some enthusiastic owners who makes loose statements .

Listen to the video and those that know .. will know ..

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27/08/2026

Just worked on this Harley Benton with an Acacia top solid and laminated back and sides. It was setup too low elsewhere and had nuts cut too low .. uneven frets and saddle too low too.

Fixed it up by raising the nut and fmi saddle , slotted the pin holes and dyed bone pins in .

19/08/2026

If you are on a tight budget and want to gift to someone you love with a reasonably good guitar that would put a hole in your wallet ..
then this $349 Cort Earth100 NAT is what i highly recommend .

Only thing is do get a good guitar tech to set it up .. watch the video as i go through the details and elements what this is the best budget acoustic guitar .

https://www.sweelee.com.sg/products/cort-earth100-nat-acoustic-guit...

19/08/2026

This $349 Cort Earth100 NAT adjust blew me away . Owner wanted to fit the LR Baggs HIFI Duet that cost more than twice the amount of the guitar plus a full setup .

I was skeptical till i saw and felt the guitar .

Cort China guitars have upped their game ..

1. neck is pitch back like most custom luthier guitar which allows the saddle to be higher that produces a louder guitar
2. Finishing under the hood is smooth as compared to rough ones from china or even many entry level yamahas
3. Perfect UV finish .. could not find a flaw

Had to lower the nut slots and saddle that was a bit high and neck needed alot of adjustments .. final verdict clean clear trebles with a balance bass due to the scalloped braces .

Highly recommend this exact model from Swee Lee if you want to gift a close friend or your nephew or niece for a starter guitar .

https://www.sweelee.com.sg/products/cort-earth100-nat-acoustic-guitar-natural?srsltid=AfmBOorlpSxbFa1CNsfE6iDWjoSHu9PinO7b18srLFChiq0Rf684hocR

16/08/2026

Had this Limited edition 2020 Peace Takamine that came in . 2nd owner bought it at a steal as collectors normally that buys this don’t play it and kept it .
Owner told me it sounded dead dull so we opted for new set of FMI saddle , slot the pin holes and dyed bone pins.
Owners was just so surprised with the transformation .
The top shade was more like a green tea matcha stain over the spruce top.

16/08/2026

A New Yamaha Deluxe .. LL16D came in and was in need some enhancement work.

All i can say is if you can always buy the deluxe LL16D over the normal
LL16 as they look better and sounds way way open ..

New Fmi saddle , fret levelling for
the uneven frets , dyed bone pins , slotted the pin holes and change the crappy tuner to Gotoh japan ones.

03/08/2026

Finally I managed to use the NV Tone Swam Mic system together with Grace Roxi Pre- Amp floor board system live in a band setting with a Gibson J45 just yesterday Z

The FOH and sound man were pleasantly surprised how natural it sounded in a band setting . There were no floor monitors so we didn’t have any feedback issues.

It sounded exactly like your guitar which is what we want when we have out IEMs on .

Shout out to for making such an exceptional ground breaking product that is so transparently natural and usable for acoustic guitarist like me chasing the natural sound that can be heard on stage .

A shout out to for this beautiful pre-amp floor board system.. I love the boost pedal switch and even the mute button that made me using this NV TONE SWAN a breeze on stage .

Do note that i bought both products with my own money to try test and am happy with the outcome.

Two weeks later i will try it with another small guitar to see the results .
NV Tone

29/07/2026

The New PRS Parlor just arrived and not your usual one but the highest premium PRS Parlor P50e that arrived from ordered online .

Owner ordered it directly .

What’s the differences we have on this ..
1. Fully gloss finished ( P20 are satin finished)
2. Sitka Spruce top instead of mahogany so you get a totally different tone
3. Abalone top purfling and rosette ( P20 are all herringbone) so this one stands out so lovely
4. Flame Maple back and sides ( P20s are all mahogany )
5. Black Gold finish with a burst finished on the backs plus an abalone middle back strip .

27/07/2026

The PRS TONARE P20e just came in and it had a terrible action .. not sure if it’s the strings or action but it sounded lifeless .

Neck was not straight , saddle was loose shaky and it’s really due to the factory misfortune of production issues with these cheaper outsource OEM.

We decided on a new FMI saddle, dyed bone pins and slotted the pins holes plus new set of elixir strings PB on her .

After the full setup .. this fella came alive .. like the 3rd day resurrected from
the dead .

It’s a small guitar but packed with a distinct tone that is just different from other guitars of this size .. loud yet articulate but could be due to the unique X Hybrid classical bracing pattern where the X Braces are tapered down ( not scalloped ) below the X brace instead of the usual two tone bars they fitted 4 fan braces that voice this uniquely sound.

Do i love this piece .. yes i do .. in fact if i get a good pickup on this .. it will be a killer guitar that not only wins in looks but also plays dynamically punchy .

The fishman voiced pickup voiced for this guitar specifically is decent yet different sounded that the normal stocked fishman of this model .

This exact guitar saddle was upgraded to the FMI saddle , slotted t...

25/07/2026

New 1 month old Yamaha FGX5 Made in japan piece was sent in .

Owner was struggling to play as he said the action was extremely high.

These models have scalloped braces so the tendency to swell at the bridge with high humidity is very common . In fact I strongly suggest new owners to immediately get it setup and have the action lowered which will lower the tension at the top to prevent excessive stress and swellings

Neck was straighten. The orginal bone saddle crown radius was off and I managed to reprofile regrown it using file and my reverse radius sanding block to perfect it .

We installed a lovely set of dyed bone pins and owner made one trip in which he only had to wait 70 minutes ( have a drink at the kopitiam next block ) which i work on it as i had some spare time .