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Yojimbo -> RE: entre dos aguas - what u think? partly fake? (Feb. 24 2012 0:14:19)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Munin
Go on then, tell us how Ruben actually and unexpectedly redeems himself in person? Both you and kudo saying the same things but refuse to go into any details. How convenient.
The rest of us haven't met him in person, but we sure have witnessed his short stay in the forum here. And we are basing our opinions on that (and in Ricardo's case maybe more, not sure). Were you around to see that?
I once messaged him on YT about the use of a technique in one of his videos. He proceeded to blast me with 1-2 messages a day for a whole week or so (despite me never replying back) in which he went on his usual endless rants and tangents of being the only true teacher of PdL technique, pushing me into signing up for his lessons or buying his guitars, etc. All that for simply asking 1 simple and unrelated question.
I first met him a year ago in Toronto when I was looking for a flamenco teacher. I found him to be extremely friendly, enthusiastic and helpful.
When he was in Toronto I would sometimes be with him for 1.5 hours or more and I was only paying for 30 minutes at that time. He didn't care about watching the clock (I was the last person of his day) and he just tried to help me. And being a beginner I sure need lots of help. It couldn't have been a lot of fun for him.
He's far and away the best guitarist I have ever seen; however, I have seen no ego about his ability. All I saw was a genuine desire to help people learn guitar. I signed up as one of his students - and I still am.
When I brought my Conde to our first lesson he almost fell out of his chair when I took it out of the case - he recognized it right away. He told me it sounded great, was in mint condition and very valuable. He gave me advice on how to take better care of it and he did some minor maintenance on it for me - no charge. He also wants to buy it if I ever decide to sell.
I told him I thought I should get another guitar to learn on and he suggested one of those Andalusian guitars you all seem to hate without ever having actually seen up close. He didn't force it on me, or pressure me in any way. After reading all the negative comments here I decided not to get it and I told him I was going to look at other guitars. No problem.
I eventually bought the guitar. It doesn't sound like my Conde but then why should it? It is a different design with different wood. It sounds ok to me and I'm happy with it. I didn't pay anything like the valuation that is attached to it.
I actually have a theory about those guitars. Ruben says he has a group of backers that donates those guitars to deserving people. I don't know if there's a fee attached to the donation but the high valuation makes sense if it's being used as a tax writeoff. As in, a guitar is donated to someone, perhaps for a much reduced cost, and then a tax writeoff is claimed for the full valuation. Ruben has said nothing to me about this so please note that this theory is entirely my own invention.
I did a trip to Paris for work last year and I did a side trip to Malaga. He was very busy teaching so I didn't see a whole lot of him; however, he arranged accomodations at a good price in the heart of the tourist area, and he had his wife come and pick me up at the airport. His wife also showed me around a little and helped me get a ticket to visit the Alhambra - she also took me for a traditional Spanish breakfast and also a traditional Mexican dinner - she's from Mexico and I think she misses the food she grew up with.
Ruben took me a couple of times to have some nice port in a little hole in the wall place that Picaso used to visit. He didn't have a lot of time between lessons so we didn't have very long. He also loaned me one of his guitars to use for the entire time I was there. On one evening I ended up at a club with him and some locals (including Chato de Malaga if you've ever heard of him) where they all played and danced until about 5:00 AM when his wife dragged him out of there. I could tell he was just loving it - he played for hours and hours.
And speaking of those guitars, he really believes in them. His wife told me he has at least 50 guitars including some really good ones (including 3 or 4 Condes) but he never plays them anymore - he just likes those Andalusians. She also told me some stories about them visiting PdL many times at his home in Mexico. For you skeptics out there I can't corroborate this, but I believe her. Ruben also managed to get one of his young students backstage to see PdL when he was last in Toronto (June 2011) by writing a letter of introduction. I've seen the pictures of that - and I've also seen pictures of what looks like PdL in his pajamas with a young Ruben in his home.
I read what Rumbaking says about having the dl on Ruben and PdL from PdL's manager and I think he's full of ****. As someone else here said a bit earlier, if PdL took offence at what Ruben is doing then I'm pretty sure YouTube would have shut him down.
I asked Ruben about his connection to PdL and he told me his mother is a family friend and that's the connection. He said his mother was a dancer in a tablao where PdL played before he became famous.
Ruben is an excitable person and sometimes it's hard to get a word in edgewise, but he's passionate about flamenco. I think he is incredibly skilled both on the technical side and the theory side. He has multiple music degrees and can talk as much music theory as you might want to hear - if that's what you want.
I don't think he is the best writer in english and I don't think he conveys his ideas very well. I also see posts from him all over the place and I don't think they're very effective and I think he should stop. I wish I was here earlier when the flaming wars or whatever happened were going on as I might have been able to temper them a little.
And speaking about PdL - I can't stand his music or contemporary flamenco guitar and Ruben knows it. He doesn't blow up or try to persuade me otherwise, he just says he understands and tries to give me more traditional material that is more to my taste. I only ever had one other guitar teacher and that was over 30 years ago when I was a student, but I'm thinking if I had had Ruben back then I might not have quit trying to learn. I don't have a lot to compare to but I do know I am much improved over where I was a year ago and I'm going to stay with him.
I've seen the posts here about speeding up that video. I wonder if those of you who say it's sped up think so because he's playing much faster than you can and you find it hard to believe. If so, how petty of you. I've seen him play that fast in person - his alzapua speed is just awesome.
I think it's time people here with an axe to grind stopped. It's always best to take the high moral ground and when you start calling people names and accusing them of posting misleading videos (with no evidence to back it up), you make yourselves look like very small people.
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