a_arnold -> RE: Castillo Blanca (May 17 2010 14:07:04)
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quote:
I have 216, 254 and 258. I really love them all, but 216 is my favorite. A little more woody, earthy. Just a touch less of the metallic edge and bite of the other 2. Just a hair sweeter in the tone in my opinion. Michael, I have #187, #200, and just this week received #317. The first is blanca (Mex. cypres), the other two negra (BRW and palo escrito, in that order). All are Euro Spruce. Everything you say agrees with my experience. The last one (new bracing pattern) is incredibly loud and responsive. The difference is immediately noticeable. I have played #187 (old bracing pattern) alongside a conde blanca and it was both sweeter, louder and easier to play. But #317 (new bracing pattern) is a huge step forward for Castillo and a big step beyond what he (or anyone else, IMO) can achieve in projection. I have to expect his demand is going to skyrocket as word gets around. But, as you say, the sound is not just louder, but more brash. However, I have to say that the #317 guitar CAN be sweet and lyrical if I back off to normal volume. It only becomes brash when I push it enough to overshadow the other guitars in the cuadro. Which it will easily do now at the top end of the dynamic range. I've never heard another unamplified flamenco guitar that was louder. I have looked inside the guitars (old and new bracing) with a mirror and I can't see any difference in the bracing. Maybe I don't know what to look for. There are 7 Torres fan braces, and two angled ones at the bottom of the lower bout, almost at right angles to the bottom of the fan, and almost touching in the middle. They look like they are intended to stiffen the top and stop splits from starting at the lower binding. They are visible in one of the photos on Castillo's web site. Anyone know what these 2 braces are called? In the exact center between those 2 braces is a small cleat. Probably to prevent splits between the 2 lower braces. What differences might I look for to understand the new bracing? Castillo is reticent about the difference, other than to say it starts with #248. But certainly had the effect he said it would. One difference might be this: there is a significant amount of "silk" in the top of #317. I posted under "luthiery" about that. But, of course, that isn't bracing.
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