It’s crazy, but true. Tom Bedell kicked
off his own line of acoustic guitars in 1964,
when he was just 14 years old. A lot of time has
passed since then, of course, but Bedell is still
passionate about guitar making, and his company
now offers a custom shop and a vast armada of
off-the-rack acoustics, including Kenny Loggins
and Skunk Baxter signature models. Currently,
ten different lines are offered, and the affordable
Heritage Series features two dreadnoughts
and two orchestra bodies—all with customized
Engelmann spruce, scalloped “X” bracings. The
HGD-28-G and HGM-17-G reviewed here both
go for $399 street, and the price includes a pretty
kick-ass, padded gig bag. Even more impressive,
it appears that Tom Bedell actually signed the
label inside the guitar bodies.
I tested both guitars throughout tracking
sessions at Potrero Post Studios in San Francisco,
miking them with a selection of tube and
solid-state condenser mics (large- and small-diaphragm
models). The sounds were routed direct
to Pro Tools without adding any compression,
EQ, or other effects.
HGD-28-G
 |
| HGM-17-G |
The HGD-28-G dreadnought has a wonderful
sound. When strummed, the low end is
warm and inviting without becoming muddy,
the mids ring nicely, and the high-end is clear,
yet restrained. It fills a lot of sonic space without
being abrasive. The sound is perhaps too
subtle for fingerpicked country and bluegrass
runs that pop and snap, but the HGD-28-G
provides more than enough sparkle for folk-y
arpeggios. Intonation is good, and I was able
to move back-and-forth between several different
tunings without experiencing any tuning
problems. Appearance-wise, the HGD-28-G
isn’t exactly flashy, but its build quality and
cosmetics are solid for an under-$400 acoustic.
My only complaint—and it’s an extremely
minor one—is that it would have been nice if
the fret ends were smoother. While the HGD-
28-G is a fantastic working songwriter’s guitar
for coffee houses and big and small venues, it’s
also a fun steel-string for simply hanging out
in the backyard on a sunny day and strumming
your favorite tunes.
HGM-17-G
 |
| HGD-28-G |
Although it costs the same as the
starkly refined HGD-28-G, the HGM-
17-G looks supermodel gorgeous. The
Canadian cedar top exudes the vibe of
warm summer nights, and the grain of
the African sapele sides practically shimmers
like a jewel. Sonically, the HGM-
17-G is pleasingly versatile. It’s not as
bold and full-bodied as the HGD-28-G
when strummed, but its focused midrange
frequencies make it a great choice
for rock tracks and layering guitar textures.
On the other hand, the benefit of
having a less-studly low end means that
fingerpicked passages cut right through
with crisp articulation. All of this makes
the HGM-17-G a go-to acoustic for band
sessions, while I’d likely select the HGD-
28-G if I were tracking a solo-acoustic
number or a singer-songwriter with minimal
instrumentation. Like its sibling, the
HGM-17-G is well crafted—though the
fret ends could also be smoother—and it’s
a very comfortable guitar to play. I constantly
found myself grabbing this guitar
for overdubs while recording, and even
just to goof around with when the studio
wasn’t in action. I think there might be a
lot of songs in the HGM-17-G.
Specifications
Contact Bedell Guitars, bedellguitars.com
HGD-28-G
Price $519 retail/$399 street
Nut Width 1.7" bone
Scale Length 25.5"
Neck Mahogany
Fretboard Rosewood
Frets 20 medium
Tuners Bedell chrome, closed-back
Body Solid sitka spruce top, laiminated
Indian rosewood back and sides
Bridge Rosewood with bone saddle
Factory Strings D’Addario EXP16 Light
Weight 4.24 lbs
Built China
Kudos Wide tonal range. Nice lows. Good
workmanship.
Concerns Fret edges could be smoother.
HGM-17-G
Price $519 retail/$399 street
Nut Width 1.7” bone
Scale Length 25.5"
Neck Mahogany
Fretboard Rosewood
Frets 20 medium
Tuners Bedell chrome, closed-back
Body Solid Canadian cedar top, laminated
African sapele back and sides
Bridge Rosewood with bone saddle
Factory Strings D’Addario EXP16 Light
Weight 4.08 lbs
Built China
Kudos A beauty. Sweet mids. Good workmanship.
Concerns Fret edges could be smoother.