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This post is for those foro members who own several guitars.
And, like me, need to choose which one to play at any given time. And just what influences that choice. . ?
I'm a self-indulgent old bugger. I have five that I like to play regularly. They are all a little different, and strung and tuned differently -some at A440 and some at A432.
And each time I go to pick a guitar to play, I have this same dillemma; 'which one do I play today?' I try to rotate them with some regularity, but its not always consistent.
And the strange thing is that they seem to change from time to time. One day one guitar will sound great, but feel 'stiff' and tight. Another day it will sound 'so-so' but feel light and easy to play, etc. etc. And my 'favourite' one seems to change almost weekly. . .
I'm curious how other Foro members with several guitars deal with this same dillemma. How do YOU choose which guitar to play today, and why???
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
Varies. My two classicals have different personalities, with the Cordoba C9 being warm and sonorous and the (huipe?) being crisper and more articulate. Depends on what I feel like playing.
I only pull out the GK Studio Negra when I'm trying to work on Flamenco. Unfortunately, my teacher moved to Japan, and I haven't been able to replace him yet. It's practically impossible for me to learn on my own... I hate to think how many bad practices I'm going to have to unlearn.
The Cordoba Fusion 14 is a beater. That's the one I take to picnics and stuff.
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
Don't you, on any given day, hear the 'call' of one guitar over all others?
I heed that call... and find that it reconciles with what I want to play, magically so. It may turn out to be the same guitar for an entire week, and then, unexpectedly, one morning I pick up a different guitar; it feels new, as if fresh off the box, opening a new realm of possibilities.
In fact, it seems that upon switching guitars, that novel tone and sound, along with that gentle exercise we are required do in order to re-adapt to the new instrument, ignites creativity.
[Chester, i enjoyed your witty reply, LOL, but I keep them all downstairs -and certainly not in any trunk- so the topographical approach does not work for me...]
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
Most often at home, I play the older flamenco guitar I have 1973 sobrinos de esteso. Shame because of that the strings are almost always dead as I save my strings for my gigging guitars. About 30% of the time I feel bad for my neglected negra. I actually felt so bad I took her to the gig 2 weeks ago and miked her up for the first time in a while. Sounded amazing with a close mic Shure beta 87A....just cut some bass and cranked it....but it was tough because of the mic stand on the stage bouncing from heavy foot work.
anyway, I am still using it to practice at home and the jealous 73 (not touched for at least 2 weeks now) protested by popping the D string in the case (like I said old strings). Every blue moon I pull out my dad's classical and do some flamenco tremolos and bach etc. My gigging guitars pretty much stay in the cases at home as I use them 6 times during the week. (conde A26 3x, Gypsy Kings Cordoba 4x not including special events and juergas). My poor Maple Sanchis Lopez only gets attention when I have to travel by plane, couple times a year. but on those trips she REALLy gets played.
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
I have three Glenn Canins, two blondes and a brunet (another brunet is on the way) All are different but wonderful, so as the closet opens, it is "which one of you little darlings wants to come out and play today?" But, seriously, it is wonderful to have choices, different voices, and they do, as some have said, seem to change from time to time.
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
I have more guitars than I like to think about gathering dust as they failed to perform to the sound template I carry in my memory. One a blond to Blackshear's Rayes plan by Lucio Nunez fills the bill once it warms up and is very comfortable in my left hand. He is building a classical now for me spruce and Indian, as I don't play flamenco (too noisy) though I somehow love the idea of it as a cultural artifact possibly some ancient echos from my Spanish ancestors, which sadly did not transmit the right genes over the ages. .
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to aeolus)
quote:
He is building a classical now for me spruce and Indian, as I don't play flamenco (too noisy) though I somehow love the idea of it as a cultural artifact...
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
Depending on the repertoire that I am performing/practicing. For traditional flamenco and rhythmical flamenco pieces I use my blanca. For solo flamenco pieces like tarantos, rondenas, and Spanish classical pieces I use my negra. If I am performing and can take only one guitar, I take the negra. I also have a teaching guitar that I use at school.
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
I switch with the life of the strings. The strings die, I put it away, grab the other one and change the strings, play it until the strings die.
I love both guitars and every time, the change is satisfying, like getting a new guitar. I think that I would eventually get bored of the sound if I just played one, even though they are great guitars. I mean, I would get used or eventually dull its sound.... for example, like when you do something to remind you of something, like hang a big note on the wall, after a while, you don't even see the note anymore.
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
quote:
If its too loud your too old. JK(kinda), but seriously, that is an odd thing to choose to write on a flamenco forum......
I will soon be 81 so I can't disagree on your supposition and having survived to this point I feel empowered to say anything I damn well please. . But I hang around here from time to time to pick up on stuff like VA's new album and I was really thrilled to hear his latest Roma. It was disappointing that no one commented on this link as to it's accuracy or usefulness. I can't play by ear so if I can get tabs for Roma Guitar Pro will convert them to staff notation.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to aeolus)
quote:
ORIGINAL: aeolus
quote:
If its too loud your too old. JK(kinda), but seriously, that is an odd thing to choose to write on a flamenco forum......
I will soon be 81 so I can't disagree on your supposition and having survived to this point I feel empowered to say anything I damn well please. . But I hang around here from time to time to pick up on stuff like VA's new album and I was really thrilled to hear his latest Roma. It was disappointing that no one commented on this link as to it's accuracy or usefulness. I can't play by ear so if I can get tabs for Roma Guitar Pro will convert them to staff notation.
With all due respect, they talked till blue faced about this silly piece...and your chords are all completely wrong as it is transposed from Bminor to Cminor via the cejilla....a tool of those noisy flamencos.
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
C minor B minor what's the diff? You think transcriptions scrupulously adhere to key? And if it's so silly why be concerned. I am sorry if I didn't retrace all the posts on this silly piece but there it is. I have a hunch it won't wear well probably wearing out its welcome long before I can get into my fingers ( the usual problem). I seem to detect a degree of religiosity here concerning flamenco which is fine I suppose but I hope Vicente is not excommunicated from the brotherhood because of error.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to aeolus)
quote:
C minor B minor what's the diff?
For a classical pianist only a half step tonality. For a generic guitarist a fret. For a FLAMENCO guitarist, it's the difference between taranto/levante toque and... nothing worth playing. Ramzi made the tutorial note for note video it's crystal clear.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to Leñador)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Lenador
10 hail Marrys for blasphemy aeolus
It's not as though Vicente is at fault...it's just silly to me that out of ALL of vicente's magnificent contributions to flamenco guitar this ROMA song has gotten SO much attention.
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to britguy)
quote:
10 hail Marrys for blasphemy aeolus
I am getting off easy. Remember in Fellini's 81/2 he had to kneel on pebbles to recite his penance. Yeah, I grew up when belief was at flood tide and remember well the bookkeeping of ones transgressions and the elaborate means of their amelioration . .
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to FredGuitarraOle)
Can I just say, I've followed this forum in silence and many posts that Ricardo has made (I'm not a stalker I swear) and this is the first time I've seen him say "WTF" and it really made laugh.
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to Aretium)
quote:
Can I just say, I've followed this forum in silence and many posts that Ricardo has made (I'm not a stalker I swear) and this is the first time I've seen him say "WTF" and it really made laugh.
RE: "Which guitar do I play tod... (in reply to aeolus)
quote:
I will soon be 81 so I can't disagree on your supposition and having survived to this point I feel empowered to say anything I damn well please. . But I hang around here from time to time to pick up on stuff like VA's new album and I was really thrilled to hear his latest Roma. It was disappointing that no one commented on this link as to it's accuracy or usefulness. I can't play by ear so if I can get tabs for Roma Guitar Pro will convert them to staff notation.
I do the same thing and I'm only 49, I can't imagine what a grouchy & dirty old bastard I'll be when I'm 81....
Printable Version
. But I hang around here from time to time to pick up on stuff like VA's new album and I was really thrilled to hear his latest Roma. It was disappointing that no one commented on this link as to it's accuracy or usefulness. I can't play by ear so if I can get tabs for Roma Guitar Pro will convert them to staff notation. 
Ramzi made the tutorial note for note video it's crystal clear. 
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