Recording King RD-10 – No Nonsense Midrange Guitar

Body And Neck:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

• Check Price on Amazon
• Check Price on Guitar Center
• Check Price on Musician's Friend

When it comes to acoustic guitars, Recording King has a track record that is full of hit and miss models. Sometimes they create a subpar acoustic guitar that simply isn't anywhere near the standards it was designed to meet. On the other hand, they are also known to design models which are giving even the best brands out there a run for their money. RD-10 belongs to the latter category. As a matter of fact, we think it's one of the hottest deals in the $500 range at the moment.

Body And Neck

What we have here is your standard dreadnought acoustic guitar. Recording King went with a proven combination of a solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany for the rest of the body. The top features black binding, as well as a custom designed rosette and a simple but decent pick guard. The neck is also a mahogany piece which features a slim C profile, and a pretty nice rosewood fretboard. Build quality they offer with this model is surprisingly good. Everything feels solid and the guitar inspires confidence as soon as you pick it up. Recording King RD-10 is a perfect example of what happens when a brand decides to design a simple, no-nonsense guitar using proven methods.

Hardware

In terms of hardware, the situation is similar. You have the rosewood bridge fitted with a compensated real bone saddle, which in itself is a rarity and something that more conservative players will appreciate. The nut is also made of real bone, while the guitar sports a set of quality die-cast tuning machines. When you combine everything, you get a hardware configuration that just works. You don't have to worry about dropping out of key frequently, nor do you have to babysit the guitar so that intonation doesn't suffer. No, RD-10 is solid in this regard.

Sound

Everything we've mentioned so far leads to one thing and one thing alone – great tone. This guitar is simply impressive in terms of sound you get. For what is essentially an affordable dreadnought, you get a lot of definition, clarity, and precision. That isn't to say that volume is suffering, or the projection. No, RD-010 packs enough heat to be heard in a decent sized venue without an issue. If you're into finger picking, this guitar should come naturally to you. It responds so well to input that even the most subtle details will be heard loud and clear.

Conclusion

You won't often see Recording King put next to much more reputable brands such as Taylor or Martin. However, with this one they definitely deserve to be in the spotlight. RD-010 is more than a pleasant surprise, it's a way for players on a budget to get a well-made guitar without breaking their bank account. That is something you have to respect no matter how refined your taste is.

For more info about the Recording King RD-10, click here.
For more best acoustic guitars under 500$, click here.