acoustic magazine July 201456

App ExtrA DownloaD the Acoustic App to hear this in action

056-058_Gear_James Neligan_Rev6.indd 56 09/07/2014 09:30

July 2014 acoustic magazine 57

£255 James NeligaN DeveroN series gear

JaMes neliGan DeVeron series DEV-PFIcash-strapped songwriters rejoice; James neligan has dished up yet another bargain. alun lower investigates…

if you were to ask the average gear-head to list the potential fl aws with a sub-£200 guitar,

you’d soon have a pretty comprehensive list that would be sure to strike fear into the heart of any intrepid beginner. iffy laminate construction, fl imsy hardware, shoddy woodwork, frets rougher than the m25, abysmal fi nishing, poor intonation, unplayable action – the list continues, and i’m sure you could add plenty of your own. it is refreshing, then, that James neligan has seen fi t to release a guitar that is genuinely affordable to the strictest of budgets whilst also managing to avoid many of the aggravating conventions in a way that many modern brands seem unable to manage. i’ve always been of the opinion that an all-mahogany guitar is often a strong representation of a guitar manufacturer’s commitment to quality as the bare-basic nature of the style leaves so little room to hide any fl aws and inconsistencies.

BuilD QuAlitYWhile my particular example

used here and a common sight on guitars in the price range. in fact, i can honestly say i’ve seen more build up on guitars costing two or even three times as much and beyond. inevitable there is the odd slightly rough spot but overall the satin fi nish is up to a much higher standard than i had initially anticipated.

topping the neck is a slab of rosewood that looks to be of a very good quality for the price. the fi ngerboard is then further enhanced by the addition of maple fret markers – a really classy touch that i would personally love to see more often on more expensive instruments. the look of the guitar in general is one of understated (but nonetheless pleasing) quality, epitomised by the inlays, a set of black satin tuners and the austere, but modern, James neligan logo on the headstock. another small but more practical feature to note is the use of graphtech’s nuBone nut and saddle, which are descended from graph tech’s much-lauded tusQ material and are designed to offer increased resilience and tone compared to the plastic equivalents found on other entry-level guitars.

the overall visual and approach of the DeV-PFi then is one of pure simplicity. if fl ashy is what you’re after then you’re best off looking elsewhere – but in this reviewer’s books the consistency and quality of design seen here is something to be praised and should be something that all guitarists should be looking for when shopping in this kind of price range. it’s a great start, but now it’s time to fi nd out if the

DeV-PFi’s brains can match up to its brawn.

sounD QuAlitY

all-mahogany guitars have a reputation for straightforward, no-nonsense tones that match up to their uncomplicated presentation, and at fi rst listen the DeV-PFi seems to fall very much into that category. the parlour is a wonderful shape for this kind of tone, offering a crisp, clear, punchy tone. this also results in a slightly sharper, more distinct top-end that’s backed up by a generous mid-range as a result of the woody,

does not come with a gig bag supplied, it’s worth noting that for just £20 you have the option of adding one to your purchase – a sum well worth paying in my opinion. nevertheless, unwrapping the DeV-PFi from the plastic and cardboard surroundings i was presented with still brought a big smile to my face, as it’s clear that this guitar has been designed and manufactured with care and attention. For starters, you’ve got a parlour-style body with a solid mahogany top, which although not unheard of is still not a guaranteed feature of many comparable instruments. this is joined neatly to laminate mahogany back and sides courtesy of some tasteful and restrained black binding. a herringbone-style rosette surrounds the soundhole, with a quick peek inside revealing a reassuringly tidy level of construction with no horrible blobs of glue or stray splinters of wood to be seen.

the mahogany neck is fi tted securely to the top of the body with very little build up around the join – a true testament to the quality of the fi nishing

JAMES NELIGAN DEV-pFitECHniCAl spECiFiCAtion

Manufacturer: James NeliganModel: Deveron series, DEV-pFiretail price: £255Body size: parlour Made in: chinatop: solid mahogany Back and sides: Laminate mahogany neck: Mahogany Fingerboard: RosewoodFrets: 20tuners: Diecast nickel nut Width: 1 3/4”scale length: 645mm onboard Electronics: Fishman isYsstrings Fitted: D’Addario EXpGig Bag/Case included: No, £20 optional extra

ACOUSTIC tEst REsuLtspros: A great sounding instrument for a bargain price.Cons: Might be a little plain for some people looking for more “fl ashy” elements.overall: An instrument that beginners and more seasoned players alike will enjoy.

ACoustiC rAtinG

Build Quality sound Quality Value for Money

5 stars: superb, almost faultless.4 stars: Excellent, hard to beat.3 stars: Good, covers all bases well.2 or 1 stars: Below average, poor.

ContACt DEtAilsEMDwww.emdmusic.com

056-058_Gear_James Neligan_Rev6.indd 57 09/07/2014 09:31

acoustic magazine July 201458

gear James NeligaN DeveroN series £255

almost honky vibe of the solid mahogany top. it’s a voice that lends itself well to lead and fingerstyle playing as the tone pushes through the mix when played against its larger-bodied cousins. that’s not to say that strummers won’t find a lot to love though, as the parlour offers just that little bit of extra kick that affords it a degree of extra versatility.

naturally, the laminate back and sides mean that you’re never going to have the most sophisticated or harmonic sound, but for an all-mahogany approach this is less noticeable to my ears than if the guitar had been equipped with a spruce top instead. in fact, the laminated surfaces can offer increased projection (particularly on smaller bodied guitars) and in this case the DeV-PFi certainly has a confident volume with good balance across the strings. more aggressive playing will inevitably result in a little bit of muddiness, but thankfully this

is kept to a relative minimum, with the DeV-PFi remaining enjoyable across a broad range of styles.

the guitar also offers a very usable set of plugged-in tones, with the Fishman isYs (complete with built-in tuner) giving a great representation of that parlour “kick” we experienced earlier. it’s worth nothing that James neligan also produces (amongst many other keenly-priced alternatives) the

Although the JN brand isn’t yet a household name, this is likely to changeThe DEV-A has a confident volume with good balance across all strings

DeV-acFi, which features a Fishman isYs preamp, complete with a tuner and a cutaway for reaching the dusty end of the fingerboard. this, of course, comes with an increase in price, but for the money Jn is asking, it’s still an absolute bargain!

ConClusion

as you can probably tell, i’ve come away from my time with the DeV-PFi very impressed. grown-up, professional design

is mixed with a competitive spec, accomplished build quality and a charming, enjoyable tone that should have all but the pickiest of guitarists grinning from ear to ear. other than the lack of electronics (which is an issue easily addressed by other guitars in the range), i find myself really struggling to fault the DeV-PFi in any meaningful way. it almost goes without saying that this would be an excellent guitar for any beginner, but i can even imagine more seasoned players being more than happy picking this up as a second (or third, or fourth or… oh, you get the idea) instrument to expand their collection. it may not have the luxury of a household name plastered across the headstock, but the DeV-PFi remains a hugely impressive little guitar that should push James neligan ever further into becoming a much more widely recognised and respected name in the guitar world. Alun lowerThere’s capable electronics on offer with Fishman’s ISYS and built-in tuner

056-058_Gear_James Neligan_Rev6.indd 58 09/07/2014 09:31