Ruphus -> RE: Blackshear/Reyes style (Nov. 26 2010 18:20:34)
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quote:
Is it because it is ART? I think so, yes. I agree with what you see. Markets are out of hand, with the guitar section not being the most disfigured yet by far . A reasonable way of economizing would be keeping pricing of goods in relation to moneys equipoise / average wages, but instead at the brink of deserting the planet, culture and economy aren´t as much about reason than about inasinity anyway, indeed. That about contemporary markets, and from there prices for handmade guitars up in the tenthousands of dollars. Next there is the attraction aspect of some guitars that can make musicians give in into the inflated marketing, even despite of tight budgets. As an example you might notice how not a few who play their very expensive instruments in videos on youtube, considering the background ( room, furniture or what have you ) seem to be with humble living-standard, yet spent a huge amount for a guitar. Notwithstandingly, fortunes paid for luthiery that can be bordering magic. Analog to say audio engineering. Since the upcoming of digital consumer technology, millions got themselves recording gear to track music. Yet, only some dozen engineers being at the top, delivering distinctively better sonics than the crowd; - yet even if left with just low-end gear. Most of their special qualification to my observation is the ability to predict. They know how a current single tracks properties will be blending into a future mix. ( And from there set up the individual miking etc. - Often times self-confident enough to omitt / cut out considerbale bandwith of frequency irretrievably from start.) Something so simple to describe, yet so special to do that it takes decades, some good luck and special talent to come together. Behind fine luthiery I suspect something very similar. A neat gift of prediction. Since the Nazi term of "degenerated art" and afterwards during the Cold War the US answer to Soviet "Realistic Art" through total arbitrariness, the term "art" has been blured and undefined to no recognition. But to me it is a rather profane matter, greatly described once through my art teacher ages ago. He said something to the extent of "Art means the combination of idea and proficiency". In sight of luthiery that would be adressing the specific picture / properties in mind the luthier has while building ( = idea), and his craftmanship to fulfill it ( = proficiency ). Now, there always occures the occasional exception among batches of mass produced guitars. Lucky strikes that jut out from their siblings. On their own account, after all enchanting specimens that one could be content with throughout his musical life. But, compared to all around masterfully accomplished instruments you might find that the difference reminds of the one between family cars and sport cars. "Sport cars" in the sense of resonating units so immediate that it feels under your fingertips as if there was rearing before you even spored. Or how notes won´t lower in volume when you travel up the trebles. Or overtones in delighting harmoy. Or separation; bold fundamentals. Playability ... All refinement that can spoil you to no return. Just lately I saw a post from someone on this board who considered quitting guitar playing altogether, just because he had to give away his two concert-level instruments. While I completely agreed with his fellow players who marked that one can do with a medocre instrument as well, - which I personally defintily would -, me felt the frustration of the poster as understandable. You can make a search on youtube for a "2004 Blackshear" flamenco guitar. If you let yourself sink in and listen attentively, despite the imperfect audio, I am sure you will perceive those characteristics of that guitar that potentially can make oneself constrict to eating cripsbread only to safe up for insanely expensive guitars like that. Ruphus
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