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Let's talk about it: is it important that u play on your own guitar? Do you play your best then? Do you realize immediately playing on a better (or more expensive) one? What's you relationship to your own instrument? Kind of karma?
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to guido)
Hi guido,
Well, I think it takes quite a while to get the "feel" of an instrument. Even the slightest thing can make a big difference when you are playing near the limit of your technique. Also there's the feedback issue...that is, when you do something, you expect to hear the usual response and I think this can throw you if it's not and you are under pressure, as in playing for an audience.
I heard that Tomatito got his guitar stolen when in New York to give a major concert. A friend of his there who owned a guitar shop said he would lend him a top end guitar, so not to worry...what make did he prefer.
Tomatito just said "Great, thanks..whatever you've got..."
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to guido)
I'm in the mood of talking a bit today... Some years ago at a guitar festival in germany (I did a cajon workshop with ricardo espinosa) I gave my guitar (f. manzanero) to Agustin de la fuente (a real festero I think, always in the mood for playing). There were some guys who gave their guitars to him, and really I noticed that he just played some chords an my instrument and didn't come along right with it! But I think he didn't like playing with it at all. O.K- but my guitar was happy...finally some flamenco to do...
The guitar Agustin liked the most was one of a german luthier hanging around. A. would have take it home immediately as he sayed and played on it for 1/ hour without interruption, really great stuff! But - as always - the flamencos have no money to afford the deserved instruments and the upper class collects them for their livingroom
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to guido)
I like my guitars. I'm not saying that I would be able to play as well on a yamaha; i make them sound like rubber bands. But, I think with any guitar reasonably close I could find myself able to play it.
Mostly with electrics i find that more noticeable for me.
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to guido)
I can play anything on my Yamaha that i can play on my Brune, its mainly the sound that is different. They are set up pretty much the same. They're both set up pretty low.
The Yamaha is not as resonant so, certain techniques have to be done a bit more solidly for things to come out clear.
If i had to play a short gig on a different guitar, i might be nervous momentarily, but if its a guitar that is set up well, i dont think i'd have any problem.
Im sure Grisha or Ricardo could play a show on a Yamaha and many of us wouldnt even realize they're playing a 300.00 guitar.
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to Ron.M)
quote:
The reason your guitar doesn't sound good is because you can't play well enough.
I can't work out whether the relationship I have with my guitar is similar to Pete Townsend and his guitars, or Jimi Hendrix.
In the sense that I'm not sure whether I want to smash it to pieces in a fit of rage, or pour lighter fluid on it, light the match, and watch the flames roar into the night sky.
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to Ron.M)
quote:
The reason your guitar doesn't sound good is because you can't play well enough.
right. how do you know if it's you or the guitar? and what happens when in a year your technique develops and your tastes change but you've already spent $100,000 on that guitar.
i think ****box guitars are great technique builders.
anyways, im getting real tired of my guitar and love to play better ones. but i was surprised when i found that a lot of the guitars in granada were really hard to play. do they sell them with high action?
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to at_leo_87)
i feel more comfortable with my own guitar, in my hands but then there's times i pick up others peoples guitars and i like them and want them as well.
i think left hand comfortabilty is one of the most important things in choosing a guitar, no point playing a great sounding guitar than is really awkward to play.
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
[Anthony:] anyways, im getting real tired of my guitar and love to play better ones. but i was surprised when i found that a lot of the guitars in granada were really hard to play. do they sell them with high action?
No man, your guitar is hard to play! You deserve a real one.
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 26 2009
From: The land down under
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to guido)
I find that my hands seem to be more of a factor in how much enjoyment i get out of my own or other instruments.
When i play one of my guitars and my technique is relaxed and i feel in control i say," man this guitar is easy to play" Then i will pick up the same guitar on another occasion when my hands aren't relaxing and i say, " Man this guitar is hard to play"
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to guido)
Too many variables involved to make a general statement, IMO. It takes a number of years to develop all the different muscles involved in playing and to develop efficient technique. Also, I don't know about the rest of you, but if I don't play for two or more days, I lose strength and stamina and it takes a few days of playing to recover that. So some guitarists might find a good instrument hard to play. I agree that the merits of good playing correspond more to the guitarist than to the instrument, and that beginners have to work hard to get to that level and shouldn't blame their guitars so much. But I also agree with Henry about the comfort factor, as a good guitar can make an intermediate player sound much better.
Getting back to Guido's post, I'm much more comfortable on my own instrument, although it's the only good guitar I've ever owned. It's 66cm from nut to bridge and 5.4cm across the first fret, so it's a little bigger than other guitars, but the action is very low (I don't agree about that being a gringo thing). It took a year or two for my left hand to "open up," but now it's the most comfortable guitar for me. About Tomatito's comment, I think that with time any guitarist will find it easier to play just about any well-built guitar. The exception might be someone with very small hands trying to play a big guitar.
Posts: 1156
Joined: Dec. 6 2006
From: Hamilton, ON
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
ORIGINAL: at_leo_87
quote:
The reason your guitar doesn't sound good is because you can't play well enough.
right. how do you know if it's you or the guitar? and what happens when in a year your technique develops and your tastes change but you've already spent $100,000 on that guitar.
i think ****box guitars are great technique builders.
anyways, im getting real tired of my guitar and love to play better ones. but i was surprised when i found that a lot of the guitars in granada were really hard to play. do they sell them with high action?
Dude don't you remember? You need to play on guitars with really high action to make your hands strong if you want to be a monster player like Manuel Diaz
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to HemeolaMan)
quote:
tony, low action is sort of a gringo thing...
LOL i don't know about gringo, but i do feel wimpy.
quote:
No man, your guitar is hard to play! You deserve a real one.
i just became desensitized to how crappy my guitar is. now you had to remind me.
quote:
High action = better tone.
interesting equation. i will have to test this!
quote:
Dude don't you remember? You need to play on guitars with really high action to make your hands strong if you want to be a monster player like Manuel Diaz
that guy had hulk hands. im pretty sure he injects horse steroids into his fingers daily.
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
quote:
Dude don't you remember? You need to play on guitars with really high action to make your hands strong if you want to be a monster player like Manuel Diaz
that guy had hulk hands. im pretty sure he injects horse steroids into his fingers daily.
The guy's a freak of nature - he's older than he looks, too; he gave me a serious brain-blink when he said that he had been playing professionally and building guitars professionally for 50 years!
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: What role does playing on your o... (in reply to guido)
I always fall in love with other people's guitars. Usually they have more bass or more overtones then mine or something different and I like it. After some time with the "other woman", when I return to MY guitar it is amazing all the little awesome details that jump out that I had taken for granted about her and it's like "man....what was I thinking!?".
For the record, the guitar I mean is Conde Hermanos A26, and I have experienced this also with other people's guitars of the same make and model. The hype argument does not carry for me as I have experienced this thing so many times over the years, wanted to think it IS just hype about these "over used" guitars, or it is just me, but it's not. It could be that there is a certain sound and feel they have in their head and many players gravitate to those guitars for that reason.
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