Photo credit: Ray Larsen

See the video review of the First Act CG914

First Act isn’t yet a decade old. But in that time the Boston company has turned into a major musical instrument manufacturer and distributor. The First Act brand now appears on everything from student-level band instruments to handcrafted electrics designed by rock stars including Paul Westerberg and David Hidalgo to a family of sensibly priced acoustics. First Act’s first real foray into the latter category (it has sold a number of budget guitars for students and kids for several years) is a recent development. But the CG914, a mini-jumbo, single-cutaway flattop, delivers on the formula that has made many of First Act’s electrics a pleasure—playability, fit, and finish at a reasonable price.

THE FIT AND FINISH

With its asymmetrical headstock and bridge, Grover Rotomatic tuners, offset fretboard inlays, and natural finish, the CG914 has a handsome, if decidedly modern, appearance. Side-mounted electronics make for a clean, uncluttered look that is complemented by tasteful adornments including multilayered pearloid inlays, ivoroid body binding and heel cap, and a patterned back strip.

The CG914 sports some attractive tonewoods, as well. The finely grained Sitka spruce top contrasts nicely with the exotically figured zebrawood back and sides and plain mahogany neck. And the guitar’s high-gloss finish, while on the thick side, looks nice and even and feels smooth.

Overall, the CG914’s construction was tidy. The binding and inlay work was flush with the wood, the frets well seated, and the nut neatly cut. A glance inside revealed very clean bracing work, and while some glue was apparent here and there, the workmanship was superior to many instruments I’ve seen in this price range.

THE SOUNDS AND STYLES

With its medium-size C-shape neck and medium action, the CG914 is very comfortable to play. Barre chords and swift single-note lines fell easily beneath the fingers, and the guitar responds equally well to a variety of right-hand techniques: flatpicking, strumming, hybrid picking, and fingerpicking.

The First Act is well balanced across all registers, with a tight bass, clear midrange, and sparkling trebles that will appeal to those who favor a more contemporary, midrange acoustic tone. And despite its overall lack of volume, the CG914 musters a fair bit of sustain that works well in both strumming and fingerpicking contexts.

The CG914’s limited volume ceiling resulted in a rather compressed dynamic range, which felt somewhat inhibiting when I played tunes that rely on quiet-to-loud mood variations. Interestingly, though, the CG914 does not suffer from the harsh buzzing that often plagues instruments with a narrow dynamic range, which invites speculation about how this guitar may open up as the solid spruce top ages and mellows.

Experimenting with a variety of styles and performance situations, I found the CG914 to be a versatile instrument. I used the guitar to work up some chord-melody arrangements of jazz standards and found that it was well suited to complex voicings—including those that use a combination of fretted notes, open strings, and natural harmonics—and its easy playability meant that it could be played for hours on end without hand strain.

The First Act worked well in a jam context, too. Duets performed with a recent-vintage Martin D-28 and a vocalist found the CG914 blending quite nicely whether soloing or strumming accompaniment—complementing vocals with its jangly, midrange-oriented tone spectrum. The guitar also comes with a Fishman Classic 4T pickup with four-band EQ, which provided a flexible and fairly transparent amplified platform for accompaniment and lead work.

THE WRAP

In the CG914, First Act has delivered a well-built and attractive acoustic-electric at a reasonable price. Its even voice and excellent playability make it perfect for a player beginning to explore more nuanced acoustic styles. It’s also a perfect ax for a primarily electric player who needs a pickup-equipped instrument with a more contemporary feel and sound to project power ballads out over a complex mix. It may not be the best guitar for those seeking brawny, bassy, vintage growl, but this First Act is well worth a gander by any contemporary musician seeking playability and flexibility, whether onstage or in a backyard jam.