Hello! It’s time I purchase a dread for all these lessons! I really like the look (and feel) of the recording king 318 but haven’t met too many that have one. Would this be a solid guitar for me to play, learn and go to BG jams with? Thanks!
Recording king RD-318
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I see there is an RD-318 at the Banjo Ben General Store. I’ve purchased a couple of instruments from the General Store and the set up is the tops. Based on the description it looks like you would fit right in at BG Jam with that box. I myself got an Eastman and love it. Oh! And welcome to the Forum, great bunch of folks on here to walk this journey with you.
https://store.banjobenclark.com/collections/instruments/products/recording-king-rd-318-dreadnought-acoustic-guitar
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Welcome to the board!
I think the best thing to do would be to call the guys at the General Store and talk to them. Jake knows just about everything there is to know about all the guitars they carry. They can ask you some questions and let you know if that model is what you’re really looking for.
Looking forward to seeing some videos of you with your new toy.
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Thank you! I play on a little parlor right now! Excited to move on!
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I appreciate your response! JP Cormier really has me looking at either Yamaha or RK haha. His channel is just too good! Marketing works I guess, haha.
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Oh yeah! Jake at the Store speaks very highly of the Yamaha Red Labels they sell. I think he even uses one on stage. I played one at a recent camp of Ben’s. They have amazing tone for the money.
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I recently acquired a Recording King RO-328. It is the triple-0 size. The RK “tone reserve” series guitars are clones of Martin guitars, with RD- designating dreadnaughts. Their 318 means that it is mahogany with brown plastic binding, mimicking a D-18. The 328 label copies a D-28, with EI rosewood, and the 342 copies a D-42. These guitars all come with 30 year-old adirondack spruce tops, which require an upgrade from Martin. I was so impressed with the quality of material and build in my new guitar that I scored all three of the remaining RO-342’s in the Banjo Ben General Store for students that I am teaching. They arrived perfectly set-up by Jake. The first reaction of folks is to say that these are great guitars for the price, when in fact they are just great guitars. I own 4 Martins, a Bourgeois, a Collings, a Santa Cruz, a Taylor, and a Larrivee. In terms of tone, playability, and structural quality my Recording King doesn’t take a back seat. The only thing it lacks is snob appeal. You cannot go wrong with an RK from BBGS.
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Thanks for the reply! I almost get nervous when I hwar “good for the price.” Because does that mean it would be a “bad” guitar if coming from let’s say Martin? But, what I’m hearing is its just a solid guitar!
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I had an RD-318 for a while. Very good guitar for the price. The solid wood construction puts it above a lot of more expensive guitars. I wouldn’t hesitate to get one.
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What are you pickin’ on now? The consensus seems to be that they’re good guitars. I appreciate the response!
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A Collings D1 I got used from Carter Vintage Guitars. The RK is a really good value though. Very solid guitar and will open up nicely over time.
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You really can’t go wrong with Eastman, Yamaha, or RK according to your budget. That’s why I carry those guitars.
If you want to get into more of a pro model but not super high priced, check out the American-made Gruene guitars!
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I’ll chime in…
Are you going to keep playing the rest of your life? Get ya a $1500-$2500 guitar. If you have to wait and save up more? Then do so for now.
Look at an instrument as something you will keep for life. Heck, I’m 52 and play a 53 year old guitar most of the time (Martin D18). Sure I have a new one too…they will never depreciate in value unless you smash it.
If you are going to play another 30 years? $3000 guitar only cost you $100/yr. How much is your cell phone bill/year?
You can trust Ben. If something is wrong? He’ll make it right. I’d buy one from Ben long before I went looking at Guitar Center or something,
Lot of good guitars out there. I prefer Martin. Takamine is good. I have an almost 100-year-old Gibson too! All still sound fine. Gibson probably cost $50 back then. I think it’s $35K now.
Have fun. Everyone likes new instruments.
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I’ve never heard of Gruene guitars! I appreciate your response and will start looking into them asap. Cheers!
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I like this advice. Though, I’m playing on a pretty cheap Yamaha storia right now. Anything all solid, dreadnought and recommended/sold by Banjo Ben is a major step up! I plan to play as long as I can! Would like something sooner than later, though! I have a loar mandolin and an RK banjo, both I love! So figured I’d ask how their guitars are considering I like the mando and banjo so much.
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The fact that you own Chinese-made mandolin and banjo indicate that you do not appear to suffer “brand envy”, and are only concerned with getting a really good guitar. I am very confident that you would be pleased with the quality of the Recording King RD-318, and might be able to find another use for the $2 K to $4 K that you saved by not buying a “name”. As I indicated in my previous comment, I own a small collection of well-known name-brand guitars, ranging from the Martin D-28 which I bought new in 1964, through to an '04 Martin D-42, and boutique Collings, Bourgeois, Santa Cruz, and Larrivee dreadnaughts. I enjoy them all, but have no reluctance to play my Recording King RO-328 in any setting. In fact, it’s such a clone of the Martin line that people have mistaken it for a Martin.
Folks who have been around guitars for a while know that vintage name-brand instruments have become relatively valuable. But that has to do with the smaller numbers produced in years past. I would question what the future holds for residual value of the mass produced, largely machine-built guitars coming off of the Martin, Taylor, or Gibson lines. If you are buying an investment a contemporary guitar is not likely to yield much. If you just want a quality instrument for the joy it will bring in its playing, the RK will do the job admirably. If you would take pleasure out of the “pride of ownership” of a more expensive name-brand guitar, then buy one and enjoy it.
Enough said! I promise not to rant any further on this topic (unless provoked).
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Thank you for the response! This is well-worded and just awesome! RK it is for me. I had the opportunity to play one last week at GC. I’m holding out for Banjo Bens store to get the 342s back in stock. $1000 for an instrument that I can play all the time! Thank you so much! Cheers!
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You want something “sooner rather than later”? The General Store has the Recording King RD-328 in stock NOW for $800. It gives you the same East Indian rosewood/30 year-old adirondack spruce combination. Just less mother-of-pearl bling than on the 342. You should consider getting the 328 model, add a hard shell case, spend under $1000, and get one in your hands. That’s what I did and it made me a Recording King big-time fan.
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That’s good advice @epjacobs.
@Nic, consider calling Jake at the store and talk about differences between the two models and our timeline on restocking the 342: 833-226-5623
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Thanks for the heads up and keeping this thread alive! Cheers!
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