Samick Ls 10

The Samick LS-10 is a high quality, affordable acoustic guitar that punches above its weight class. In this blog post, we’ll take an in-depth look at the LS-10’s specifications, construction, sound, playability, and suitability for various music genres and skill levels. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this excellent entry-level instrument!

Overview and Specs

The Samick LS-10 is a dreadnought style acoustic with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and mahogany neck. It has a 25.59″ scale length and a nut width of 1.69″, making it a great choice for beginners and intermediate players looking for their first serious acoustic.

Some key specs of the LS-10 include:

• Top wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Back & sides: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard & Bridge: Rosewood
• Nut & Saddle: Urea
• Tuners: Chrome Covered Samick Tuners
• Body binding: Multiple Layer ABS
• Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
• Strings: Samick Phosphor Bronze Light Gauge

The LS-10 features a traditional dreadnought body shape with a solid spruce top. Spruce is a classic acoustic guitar top wood prized for its balanced tone, crisp highs, and good projection. The all-mahogany back, sides, and neck offer a warm, rounded midrange and low end.

Construction and Build Quality

The LS-10 is an all-laminate construction guitar, meaning laminated or engineered wood is used for the top, back, and sides rather than solid wood. However, Samick uses quality laminate woods that are nicely grained and resonant. Fit and finish is excellent for the price range, with nice binding and a flawless gloss polyurethane finish.

The neck is made of mahogany which is known for stability and balanced tone. It joins the body at the 14th fret in classic dreadnought style. The rosewood fingerboard is a good match for spruce’s crisp tones, helping to accentuate the trebles.

Chrome enclosed tuning machines keep the LS-10 in tune nicely. The nut and saddle are urea, which is less desirable than bone but typical for guitars in this range. Overall the hardware is decent quality and there are no sharp fret ends or other marks of subpar craftsmanship.

Sound and Tone

Despite the laminate construction, the LS-10 produces pleasing acoustic tones. The spruce and mahogany are a tried and true combination that results in balanced sound across the tonal spectrum. Mids and lows have a pleasing warmth while the spruce adds nice shimmer and sparkle to the highs.

Volume and projection are impressive for a guitar in this price range. The dreadnought body with solid spruce top allows the LS-10 to fill a room and be heard whether jamming with friends or busking on the street. Sustain is also quite good.

The tones are versatile enough to handle strumming chords for rock or pop as well as fingerstyle work. It’s not the most nuanced acoustic in terms of tone complexity, but certainly impressive given the very reasonable price point.

Playability and Feel

The LS-10’s playability matches its good construction and materials. The neck has a pleasing rounded “C” profile that fits comfortably in the hand. Combined with the 1.69″ nut width, it’s a nice playing experience even for smaller hands.

Action is set medium-low from the factory, making barre chords up the neck quite comfortable with only minimal buzzing. Intonation up the fretboard is also accurate and required minimal tweaking out of the box.

Fretwork is decent with no sharp ends to snag the hand during play. The gloss finish helps with smooth playability up and down the neck. Overall it’s a very playable guitar both sitting and standing.

Who Is the Samick LS-10 Best Suited For?

The LS-10 hits a sweet spot between price and quality that makes it very appealing for:

• Beginner guitarists – The easy playability, good action, and quality construction mean beginners will have a positive, enjoyable practice experience free of frustration. The balanced tone and volume help new players sound their best as they learn.
• Intermediate players – The laminate woods and mid-tier components keep costs down while not sacrificing tone or play. Thus it’s a great step up guitar with better sound and play than typical budget acoustics.
• Folk and pop players – The versatile sound can handle pop strumming but also shines for mellower folk styles. The dreadnought shape provides ample volume for jamming or small gigs.
• Students – An affordable price while retaining decent re-sale value makes it ideal for parents looking for a good student guitar. The quality inspires young learners to practice.

Some more advanced players may want an all solid wood guitar with higher end appointments. But for most needs under $300, the LS-10 is an outstanding value.

Alternate Versions

The LS-10 is part of Samick’s line of quality budget acoustics. Samick offers the LS-10 in a few different configurations:

• LS-10 Custom – Step up model with abalone rosette and inlays
• LS-10 Flight – Package with gig bag, tuner, strings, picks, etc.
• LS-10 SW – Features darker stained mahogany back and sides
• LS-10 CW – Custom wider nut width of 1.8″

So there are options if you like the LS-10 but want something a little different. Check Samick’s website for full specifications on each model.

Pros and Cons

Here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of the Samick LS-10:

Pros:

• All laminate construction provides great value
• Quality materials and good resonance
• Versatile warm, balanced tone
• Good volume and projection
• Easy playability right out of the box
• Dreadnought shape fills out sound
• Spruce/mahogany classic acoustic tone

Cons:

• Not as complex in tone as solid wood guitars
• Hardware is mid-range quality
• No cutaway for upper fret access
• No electronics or pickup options

Summary and Where to Buy

The Samick LS-10 punches far above its sub-$300 price point. It’s among the best playing and sounding acoustics available in its range thanks to quality woods, impressive construction, and easy playability. From beginners to intermediate players to working musicians, it’s a reliable instrument that will exceed expectations.

The LS-10 is stocked by most major music retailers like Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend as well as online at Amazon and the Samick website.

For an impressively crafted and great sounding instrument under $300, check out the Samick LS-10! Its combination of playability, build quality, and warm, balanced tone make it the perfect acoustic for almost any player.