The Sigma label was initially created by C.F. Martin & Co. in 1970 to deal with an invasion of more or less consistent Japanese copies on the world market. Operating to uncompromising specifications, the brand builds its instruments in China to offer an unbeatable price-quality ratio, and has diversified its licenses, thus now also producing Gibson copies.
The Sigma GME-ABK Swiss Edition is a special edition of a well-established model. It uses the 14-fret Grand OM body shape with cutaway, with a relatively compact body. Upper-fret access is easy, and the overall feel matches what you would expect from a steel-string acoustic of this size. The Aged Black finish is what sets this Swiss Edition apart from the standard GME, with an artificial relic treatment that gives it a striking worn-in look.
The solid Sitka spruce top provides a clear attack and good dynamic range. With a pick, chords come through cleanly, without excessive compression. Fingerstyle playing remains precise, with good note separation. The volume is more than sufficient to support a voice or other guitars, and playing dynamics have an immediate effect on the response.
The mahogany back and sides bring firm mids and a controlled low end. The result is direct, clear, rather dry, and not at all muddy, making it useful for vocals, simple rhythm parts, or arpeggios. The LR Baggs Element pickup admirably reproduces the nuances of fingerstyle playing to deliver a clear sound and enables quick mic-style amplification without requiring three hours of EQ.
2-year warranty from our workshop.
