Echo

I bought the Echo six months ago as a backup guitar to my Martin 000-17 that cost me $1400 used, compared to the $275 I paid for the Echo. For the first five months, I played the Echo very little. It was buzzy in a couple of places, and when I tried to fix it by adjusting the neck rod, the action got too high, and the guitar became uncomfortable to play, especially in comparison to the 000-17, which is super light and has really low action with zero buzz. Then, a week or so ago, I had to take the Martin in for a fret job and some work on the binding. I knew I'd be without the Martin, so before I let it go, I took the Echo in and had the action lowered at the bridge and some new strings, E'Addario Phosphor Bronze EJ16's, put on. When I picked it up, I heard buzzing in a couple of places, and the tech spent another half hour or so making minute adjustments to the truss rod until the buzzing was gone. I've been playing the guitar a couple of hours a day for a week now, and I have to say I'm very pleased with it as a back up guitar. Compared to the Martin, it feels heavy, and the sound is not nearly as good. But the thing is built like a tank, and I doubt I ever have to take it to a guitar shop to have the binding or cracks in the sides fixed, which has happened with the Martin a couple of times since I've owned it. Also, this guitar can be left on a stand all the time as opposed to having to be stored in a case with a humidor, which is what a solid wood guitar requires. Bottom line, a solid guitar that doesn't have to be babied but may require a professional set up to sound its best. My set up cost me all of $39, strings included, so no biggie there.

Echo

Beautiful build, fit & finish. Setup a tiny bit low, some buzz, easily fixed. Tone has that big dreadnaught bass & jangly top & sustain that I was looking for. Design just right, restrained, nothing unnecessary (except for the loop thing on the headstock). Not crazy about the pickguard, designing my own (wise of you to make it DYI). Very happy, will recommend. Thanks!
(Thank Paul Davids!)

It's what I expected. I used to own a Martin D-41. This guitar, while not quite that supreme, comes pretty darn close. Love the look and the tone, play-ability, etc.Very happy with my purchase.

I don’t know how you guys do it, but my Echo sounds like it could be a $2000 dollar guitar. Seriously. The action is high for my taste, so I’m going to get a setup by one of Nashville’s finest luthiers. With a setup tweak, this will be plenty of guitar for my recording studio.