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Here’s an intriguing take on very high-end guitars from JMG Del Ray in a blind test. His evaluation is surprisingly off, which underscores just how subjective sound perception can be, and how it often takes a back seat to the “feel” of the instrument. The video is dubbed entirely in Russian, but fortunately, the closed captions work well.
RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (in reply to dartemo1)
Thanks for posting, that was quite interesting and funny at times.
FWIW I found his comments easy to relate to my first impressions of the recorded sound of the guitars, especially on the first three, before my attention started to wander.
Posts: 15953
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (in reply to dartemo1)
quote:
His evaluation is surprisingly off, which underscores just how subjective sound perception can be, and how it often takes a back seat to the “feel” of the instrument.
I did my own blind test many years back and it was shocking. I learned that you can't tell objectively which guitar is which (I did a quick play back at random of my own 5 guitars I had just played). Of course when it is in your hands the FEEL is important.
In the end the Hauser 2, yes not surprising it was the more "Spanish" sounding of the group. Segovia and Mario Escudero felt the same about those German guitars.
RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (in reply to Ricardo)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Ricardo
quote:
His evaluation is surprisingly off, which underscores just how subjective sound perception can be, and how it often takes a back seat to the “feel” of the instrument.
I did my own blind test many years back and it was shocking. I learned that you can't tell objectively which guitar is which (I did a quick play back at random of my own 5 guitars I had just played). Of course when it is in your hands the FEEL is important.
In the end the Hauser 2, yes not surprising it was the more "Spanish" sounding of the group. Segovia and Mario Escudero felt the same about those German guitars.
Hauser family first two generations really blending Santos with Vienna
Posts: 4532
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)
RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (in reply to dartemo1)
We all know that once you open your eyes and look at the label and it says Conde, all of a sudden the guitar magically changes it sound and feel and becomes the best one on the list. It is like quantum mechanics and the waves function of the sound collapses from the state of mediocrity to a state of supremacy.
Joking aside, we did a blind test recently with my friend who had around 15 guitars from the same brand, but different qualities, ranging from 450 dollars laminated wood noob guitar to their top of the line 3000 dollars professional one. My favourite was one of the laminated ones. Of course, one could say well they were all from the same brand, so it is not comparable, but it was still kind of really surprising, not to say shocking.
By the way, the very first sentence in the video can be further discussed , contested and possibly refuted, when it comes to one other specific genre
Posts: 15953
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (in reply to Arash)
quote:
By the way, the very first sentence in the video can be further discussed , contested and possibly refuted, when it comes to one other specific genre
Keeping in mind the guy saying it not only taught PDL how to play the Concerto de Aranjuez, but from my perspective, I watched him destroy Cañizares on stage with technique/sound/musicality in a concert called "Mano a Mano" that the two brought to DC. I was shocked to be frank, and sort of had wished he did that concert with Nuñez instead for a more balanced presentation.
Back to the video above, the cutie pie interviewer has several videos promoting the cheapest guitars ever like Yamaha C40, and some low end electric guitar. She has single handedly destroyed the high end snob market for classical guitars with this video, it is hilarious to me. This is way better than the Marshall Brune/Acker blind fold video where Marshall was too good at hearing/distinguishing the high end builds.
RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (in reply to estebanana)
quote:
ORIGINAL: estebanana Hauser family first two generations really blending Santos with Vienna
That's the thing, along with his Staufferish Viennese work, Hauser I was an able and active copyist. Before studying Segovia's Santos he had copied Torres and, of all things, seems to have had some success copying the uniquely designed early Romantic guitars of Gaetano Guadagnini II (John Williams used an original of 1814 for his recording of Giuliani op. 30). Guad guitars seem to have been an influence on Stauffer through Legnani one way or another, although they are underappreciated today compared to Stauffer and Lacôte.