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bikerdude2
Well-known member
Miss my McNaught and wonder how they stack up
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fearhk213
Well-known member
I actually replaced my McNaught Phoenix with a Jet Earlewood. I sold the Phoenix because the ergonomics of the guitar while standing up did not work for me at all; for some reason it was very uncomfortable in the upper registers for me. I was not unhappy with the tone or quality of the guitar in any way shape or form. That said, I do prefer the Earlewood tonally for my style and the ergonomics of it when sitting or standing are perfect for me.
Fit and Finish:
As far as build quality, fit & finish, etc. they are both cream of the crop, so I really can't give one a clear upper hand here. Only slight nod I can give in this department is when the Jet is set up properly the intonation is scary good. I've never heard chords on the upper registers sound so in tune. Also, the neck on the Jet is a standout IMO. You can get custom neck shapes, but I just went with whatever his standard specs are; it has a slightly wider feel and a moderately thin/soft v shape. Everyone who's played it always comments on how much they like the neck.
Sound/Tone:
These guitars sound very different from each other. They both had the same pickups and similar wood combination. Both had korina bodies w/tone chambers, maple tops, and ebony boards, but the McNaught had a korina neck and the Jet has a maple neck. I'd have to attribute the differences in the tone to both the neck wood and the overall design differences. When I was first getting the Jet spec'd out I asked Jeffrey, the builder, about going with a korina neck since matching neck and body woods in set necks seem to be more common than not, but he felt it would be too dark. I figured he knew his own builds best, so I went with his advice.
The overall tone of the McNaught was wider (more Les Paul like in that regard) with a smoother, compressed tone. The attack was a little soft without being sluggish, and notes were fat. The tone was overall balanced, but leaned towards the warm side without getting muddy.
In comparison, the Jet has slightly rolled off lows and highs with a more aggressive/biting, open tone. The attack is very immediate (notes jump off the board), and note weight is moderate. The tone is overall balanced, but leans towards the bright side without getting ice picky.
They both sound killer, so the tonal differences will just boil to preference. The Jet does have more of its own character/sound going on, though. Honestly, it has a lot of tonal qualities that are usually mutually exclusive IME, and it's really hard to describe in writing lol. It's extremely tight and focused, but it's not stiff and doesn't fight you. It also has an airiness (likely due to the chambering), so even though it's very tight the tone still has some depth and complexity to it. It is also the least picky guitar I've owned/played in regards to what amp I plug in to; it just seems to play nice with everything.
I hope that helps some. The Jet certainly stacks ups, and for me, it just has something to its tone that suits me better.
Fit and Finish:
As far as build quality, fit & finish, etc. they are both cream of the crop, so I really can't give one a clear upper hand here. Only slight nod I can give in this department is when the Jet is set up properly the intonation is scary good. I've never heard chords on the upper registers sound so in tune. Also, the neck on the Jet is a standout IMO. You can get custom neck shapes, but I just went with whatever his standard specs are; it has a slightly wider feel and a moderately thin/soft v shape. Everyone who's played it always comments on how much they like the neck.
Sound/Tone:
These guitars sound very different from each other. They both had the same pickups and similar wood combination. Both had korina bodies w/tone chambers, maple tops, and ebony boards, but the McNaught had a korina neck and the Jet has a maple neck. I'd have to attribute the differences in the tone to both the neck wood and the overall design differences. When I was first getting the Jet spec'd out I asked Jeffrey, the builder, about going with a korina neck since matching neck and body woods in set necks seem to be more common than not, but he felt it would be too dark. I figured he knew his own builds best, so I went with his advice.
The overall tone of the McNaught was wider (more Les Paul like in that regard) with a smoother, compressed tone. The attack was a little soft without being sluggish, and notes were fat. The tone was overall balanced, but leaned towards the warm side without getting muddy.
In comparison, the Jet has slightly rolled off lows and highs with a more aggressive/biting, open tone. The attack is very immediate (notes jump off the board), and note weight is moderate. The tone is overall balanced, but leans towards the bright side without getting ice picky.
They both sound killer, so the tonal differences will just boil to preference. The Jet does have more of its own character/sound going on, though. Honestly, it has a lot of tonal qualities that are usually mutually exclusive IME, and it's really hard to describe in writing lol. It's extremely tight and focused, but it's not stiff and doesn't fight you. It also has an airiness (likely due to the chambering), so even though it's very tight the tone still has some depth and complexity to it. It is also the least picky guitar I've owned/played in regards to what amp I plug in to; it just seems to play nice with everything.
I hope that helps some. The Jet certainly stacks ups, and for me, it just has something to its tone that suits me better.
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bikerdude2
Well-known member
Thank You that helps tons! Trying to keep my options open and wait for a deal on a killer handmade axe. The McNaught was the best handmade guitar I owned to date but I always wanted to try a Jet. They seem less popular so I hope I can get a better deal on one.