Have Orangewood Guitars Improved? Morgan and Dolores Reviews

**Corrections: Orangewood Guitars reached out to clarify that the Dolores is all-solid wood. All Orangwood guitars feature a professional setup.

Orangewood guitars - the direct to consumer guitar manufacturer has continued to introduce new models, improved their guitars and refine their offerings; including their logo (wink, wink). The latest guitars they sent to us to review, the Morgan and Dolores showcase an evolution in their build quality and resonance that may offer buyers another options and at times a better value than guitar from some more established companies.

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[davebrantner]

I bought a Morgan Black special edition guitar a couple of years ago from Orangewood and it got to me with the neck broken just below the headstock. I contacted Orangewood immediately and received a new replacement in two days. Outstanding customer support. And I have to say that it played extremely well for a $300 range guitar. I am sold on the company and have purchased three more Orangewood guitars as gifts for my grandkids.

[joekagerer]

I find it interesting that Orangewood would send a retail store their products to review, and also that you seemed to give them an honest review even though you don't deal in the brand and they are essentially competitors in the same space. I also find it interesting that "Direct to Consumer" companies would be at NAMM which is what I thought a trade show for Music Merchandisers. The market is definitely changing...

[stoopotts]

I get a lot from all of your reviews. Great information! You and Cooper are very knowledgeable, which really helps a newbie like me. Thanks for all you do!

[paulmackie]

It’s hard to argue with the specs of the Dolores at this price level…Torrified Spruce top, solid Mahogany back & sides, Ebony fingerboard and bridge, Tusq nut & saddle, hard shell case, Grover open gear tuners, etc. most of what you asked for to differentiate itself IS already included. For another $330 the can buy the guitar with the LR Baggs Anthem installed.
That said, as each guitar is different, you are taking a risk in not being able to play it before you buy, and in my experience that CAN make a real difference.
I did buy a Orangewood Berkeley and my experience was good. I love the guitar. Being a solid wood guitar, it is VERY sensitive to changes in humidity, especially in its first year. So it has needed a few truss rod adjustments and I chose to crown & polish the frets, as I prefer pretty low action. It’s under 2mm with no buzzing anywhere.
It’s not perfect however, but it was just over $800US, which seems like a petty good value to me. I’ve played many “better” guitars, but usually several multiples of price more expensive.
If I decide to buy a guitar in the $3-5000 range or higher, I would definitely want to play it first, but sub $1000 I think Orangewood has a place in the market.

[danno]

I just got a Morgan Mahogany Live yesterday and boy does it actually sound great. I think it's a fantastic value.

[climber]

Guys, I really love your videos, always, learning something new, thanks to you both. THANK YOU FELLOWS!

[leoscomputerandguitarrevie]

Those guitars sound superb. The Delores sounds so full and the sustain blew me away. I still have my orangewood hudson and its a great guitar.

[Nozzall]

I have a Morgan Mahogany for the last two years. I love it. It's exactly what I was looking for. A reasonably priced guitar that plays really well and sounds good.

[RhinoRuns]

Love my Taylor Academy 10e. Not being able to try an Orangewood out before shelling out cash makes it a harder sell to me. But they look nice. Glad you’re showcasing them … Gives people info on the myriad of options out there! Thanks!

[patrickblakeslee]

The Dolores is solid mahogany back and sides with a torrefied spruce top not laminate back and sides as stated. Read the specs on the website.

[leelossi]

I appreciate your honest opinions and excellent reviews!! I would only buy from a company like yours that stand behind their products.

[jimgaskell]

You guys are really solid. I love your introspect and reviews. Very credible.

[cristinapayne]

I definitely support startups. Even as an acoustic Alvarez woman I may try one of these. I heard Cooper and another reviewer play the Morgan and loved the tonality on these. It's not easy in a rough economy to do what orangewood is doing. Btw, you guys are awesome reviewers and players. I like both of you but relate more to Chris cause he is a bit older😂❤

[jhernandezdmd]

Nice video! The Alvarez Masterworks line of guitars offer a great value. Example: Alvarez MD60BG all solid guitar $659.00 on Reverb brand new and sounds great. That is a nice guitar that sticks out for a review.

[paulmoran]

The Dolores is advertised as solid mahogany back and sides. I just received one with a pickup lrbaggs. Seems like a good value to me. If it is solid wood, then why did you review it as layered?

[ramboii]

I own 3 orangewood guitars. Hudson, oliver maple, mason live. I purchased a Taylor 814ce, Academy, 10e. Mason and the 814 are my favorites. I only had one orangewood I didn’t care for and sold that. Orangewood with good strings sound just as good as the big dollar ones

[I_Am_Bone]

I love that you guys reviewed guitars you don't even sell, and a positive honest review at that! I am on the hunt for a guitar and the Orangewood Morgan is TOP of current list.

[ronmoore]

Thanks for showcasing all the guitars you do. It is appreciated. These two didn’t do anything for me and, snob that I am 😄, I’d get an Academy series over the Morgan. Thanks again gentlemen.

[scottfishkind]

First, I'm a big fan of your channel, have been watching for a long time and really appreciate the great content!

I also love that you are willing to even review products you don't even carry because of the sincere and knowledgeable insights you both provide!

I though it would be great to see you both review Walden Guitars which are also In this price range. Jonathan Lee, the founder and owner, has a long history in the business, is a luthier by background, and Walden is producing amazing instruments!

I have a Furch Yellow Master's Choice Gc-CR as my high level guitar but also own 3 models of Walden's (G630CE, O550E, G570ETB) and absolutely love them and perform with them all the time!

I purchased a Walden G630CE instead of a Taylor 214 because I found it to be a better instrument at about half the price.

[Bluesky]

I have a two year old Orangewood Mason Live with the torrefied spruce top. After a truss rod adjustment, some quality strings, and the addition of locking tuners, the guitar is definitely a nice sounding guitar for doing gigs. It has great tone, holds tuning well, and the action is low and extremely nice to play playable. For the money spent, it's a much better guitar than the more expensive Fender electric acoustic that my son plays. I've heard people complain that the Orangewood acoustics don't resonate as well as a Gibson or Martin, but I get compliments all the time on the way my Orangewood sounds.