Tone Comparison: Newport Pro vs Monaco-Monaco

[oloboy]

Can someone with experience with both these beauties compare the tone differences/similarities? On paper, I imagine the Monaco-Monaco is a little tighter due to the longer scale length and possibly a bit fuller due to the larger single cut body. Just guessing though.

I was lucky enough to be invited by a very nice HFC'er to play a number of his Hamers this weekend. Great experience! Among other things, I was looking forward to playing a Newport for the first time. I was shocked by how responsive that guitar is. I have never played a guitar that....alive. Too responsive for my ham-handed playing. The phat cats were transmitting everything loud, bright and clear! Mistakes and all. I played a stock Monaco after that and it was very smooth and more forgiving in comparison. That got me wondering about how a Newport with humbuckers would compare.

Thanks!

[pirateflynn]

I have to say after owning 3 Newport Pros that the 'responsive/alive' feeling you experienced has to do with the spruce top. Maple on a Newport Pro will exchange some of that sensitivity for a slightly heavier more fundamental tone. Same goes for the Monaco. The spruce makes it incredibly sensitive and complex.
I would go with the scale length you prefer and then decide how much sensitivity you want (spruce or maple). The Newport and Monaco are among the BEST guitars I have played from any builder.