I've been asked about my guitars.
The one used in my tutorials is a double-top, nomex, by Yulong Guo. Not your usual loud and no character; it's very sweet sounding, of course it is loud, but with a huge tonal palette. I had to change my angle of attack and touch at first, it's a beast that needed to be tamed. I normally just tell people it's a Chinese guitar and then they hear it and are blown away. I was talking to Paul Fischer yesterday about the future of guitar design, he seemed to suggest that the future must be in guitars with great projection, but with character, I suppose that's why he created his taut system. I remember the first time I played one of his guitars, I was blown away (I now know it was his adapted lattice bracing system that was responsible). I thought I would never own one of his guitars, missed a few over the years (including one for £500 from 'Barry Mason's Spanish Guitar Centre'!!!) - but today, yes today, he offered me a Tiple he'd made years ago, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides for a price I couldn't refuse; sadly not a fully fledged, full sized, classical, but it has his signature sound, not sure what the bracing is, I'll check when I collect it, but it is loud and resonant with lots of personality. The other guitar in the video is by Paul Fischer's apprentice (back in the day), Christopher Dean, who also lives just up the road. I'm pretty sure it's a Torres five brace top. Incredibly responsive. A beautiful instrument. Very sweet sounding, very subtle and, to be honest, gives the player nowhere to hide, it reflects what the player plays - so, great to keep a check on my technique and dynamics. I'm very fortunate to own two beautiful classicals, both very different and ideal for contrasting repertoire.
2 Comments
8/12/2017 03:50:52 pm
Very interesting.
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Andrew Howell
5/1/2018 10:17:56 am
Intereresting. As you know I am not a classical player but I do enjoy listening to great classical players. I tend to think the projection thing is over-blown.I also prefer the sweet sound of an instrument and I wonder if in a decent concert hall projection is everything. I have heard a few players (and guitars) that simply don't sound nice to me!
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