GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Full Version)

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JBASHORUN -> GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 10:09:14)

I was wondering how much emphasis other people put on aesthetics when choosing a guitar.

I know that in the electic guitar world, aesthetics are often highly prized, and some people even buy guitars "just because of the way they look". Others buy guitars and customise or "modify" them to their own particular tastes.

Is there a similar culture within the Flamenco world... or would people play woooden planks with strings tied to them if they sounded good?


Thanks,


James



Doitsujin -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 10:20:27)

Hmm.. No aesthetics are not very important for my guitar. It have to be smooth playable and sound good. It could be pink. No problem for me.



Ron.M -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 10:26:35)

quote:

It could be pink


Hmmm...Paco or Gerardo wouldn't really look quite the same with a pink guitar....

Vincente?

Maybe..[:D]


Ron



Romanza -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 10:36:48)

I saw a really cool black flamenco guitar in a market the other day and was tempted to buy it (still using a classical at the min [&:]!) but it had the name Westfield written across it which put me off. It just didn't sound very... flamenco! (Has anyone heard of this make??)



JBASHORUN -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 10:55:20)

quote:

I saw a really cool black flamenco guitar in a market the other day and was tempted to buy it (still using a classical at the min !) but it had the name Westfield written across it which put me off. It just didn't sound very... flamenco! (Has anyone heard of this make??)


Jacqueline,
Westfield are one of the lesser known cheap guitar makers. They basically make "cheap guitars". You can pick up a Westfield electric guitar from under £100 on ebay, and I'd guess that acoustics might be cheaper.

That isn't to say that they're not well made though, as I have never actually examined one to see the details for myself. I'd guess they are made in the Far East somewhere (perhaps Taiwan) like most other low-end guitars. I think if you pay a bit more you might get a reasonably good Westfield, but if you've got more to spend, I'd recommend going for a better maker.

Westfield is not known for Flamenco guitars. At all. I would be curious as to whether it actually was a Flamenco guitar you saw and not just a Classical. Its often hard to tell them apart, although Golpeadores (tapping plates) are usually the giveaway. Many shop owners I visited a while back didn't even stock Flamenco guitars, as they are a bit of a "minority interest". But you'll find some sellers will try and sell you classicals as Flamencos. Not sure if its deceit, or just plain ignorance.

But if it doesn't look Flamenco, and doesn't sound Flamenco, then chances are that it isn't.


Ofcourse, it could be though.


James



JBASHORUN -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 11:00:51)

quote:

Hmmm...Paco or Gerardo wouldn't really look quite the same with a pink guitar....


Thats true. But I am also interested to know if things like attractive rosettes and bindings make a difference. Or even the aesthetic value of the wood used (eg. grain and pattern, etc).


James



Romanza -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 11:09:22)

quote:

I would be curious as to whether it actually was a Flamenco guitar you saw and not just a Classical.

To be honest I did not check with the seller, but it did have a golpeador which is why I assumed it was a flamenco. However maybe it was just a design feature?? I will see if I can find a pic on the web.



Romanza -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 11:20:57)

quote:


But if it doesn't look Flamenco, and doesn't sound Flamenco, then chances are that it isn't.

When I said it didnt sound flamenco - I was referring to the name 'Westfield' not the actual sound of the guitar. I don't think I'd be able to tell from the sound.

I think it was this one here - see the piece that looks like a Goldpeador (although it's described on this website as a 'Jumbo acoustic' - I don't remember it being very large though..)
http://www.windjammermusic.co.uk/images/Westfield/WestfieldB200LG.gif
(it was also cheaper than that one, I think it was £60)

See this one also from the Westfield website:
http://www.pandrhoward.co.uk/search_details.asp?ID=020070



JBASHORUN -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 11:37:39)

quote:

I think it was this one here - see the piece that looks like a Goldpeador (although it's described on this website as a 'Jumbo acoustic' - I don't remember it being very large though..)
http://www.windjammermusic.co.uk/images/Westfield/WestfieldB200LG.gif
(it was also cheaper than that one, I think it was £60)


LOL! Romanza... are you sure it was that one? You know that the one in the picture is a STEEL STRINGED guitar?!!! I certainly don't think that one's a Flamenco guitar. The thing you refer to as a golpeadore (the tear-shaped thing, right?)... thats actually just a scratchplate/pickguard to protect the surface of the guitar from plectrum marks (you use plectrums with steel strings). I guess its a variant of the golpeadore, but not quite the same thing... Flamenco golpeadores are usually a rectangular shape.

But you might've just make a mistake, and posted a picture of the wrong guitar.

Even still, if you saw a guitar that had a similar shaped scratch plate but had nylon strings, I would guess that its a classical just because Westfield don't usually make Flamencos. Although classicals don't usually have scratchplates, but hey, what does it matter on a £60 guitar.


At the end of the day, £60 isn't a lot to spend on a guitar, so go for it if you really like the way it looks. Even better if it plays well. but I wouldn't go expecting it to sound "muy Flamenco", and no, I don't think Westfield is that well respected a luthier in Flamenco circles.

But hey, I think if you like the way it looks and sounds, I always say to buy it and forget about the name... only snobs buy things just for the name.


Oh, the Flamenco tone... I'd say its a "brighter" more trebly sound than a classical. Although its often hard to tell the difference with a cheap Flamenco guitar.


Thanks,


James



XXX -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 11:41:31)

LOL Romanza!

Pink guitar hm? I recently sold my classical guitar. It had no polish and the wood looked from its brightness between a blanca and negra and it had no black sides. One guy who was interested in buying it said it wouldnt be a dark guitar and that he was surprised about it.
He went without touching the guitar[:D]



Romanza -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 11:53:18)

I think I might need to get my eyes tested!

The one I saw had the same tear shaped 'golpdeador' so I guess you are probably right and it was just a scratchguard. (But it definitely did not have steel strings!!!)

I wouldn't say I would buy something just for the name but I think over time the name Westfield would somehow not put me in the right 'frame of mind' when picking up my guitar! - I'd prefer something more Spanish-y!

I'm going to go and do some guitar revision now..[:)]



JBASHORUN -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 12:02:53)

quote:

I wouldn't say I would buy something just for the name but I think over time the name Westfield would somehow not put me in the right 'frame of mind' when picking up my guitar! - I'd prefer something more Spanish-y!


Lots of aficionados say this sort of thing actually. I'm not sure whether there's some sub-conscious effect that a real spanish guitar has. I can't answer that because my guitar is a Yamaha Flamenco... I think I'd prefer a real Spanish one if I'm being completely honest. But at the end of the day, if a guitar comes out of Taiwan that sounds as good as (or even better than) a Conde, I wouldn't let its name put me off.


James



Ricardo -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 14:31:22)

I hate ugly guitars. I don't like dark colors either, I prefer bright or light color stain. But I guess the overall look does not matter so much, as long is inside the sound hole on the label it reads:
HERMANOS CONDE, Sobrinos de Esteso[;)]



sorin popovici -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 15:13:25)

I use to like the negras,then the orange type(sorry ,dont know the type of the wood ..never touched one) then the blanca.
No, I dont know ....I guess it depends on how I'm feeling today.



Miguel de Maria -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 15:21:55)

I have a friend who trashed his Juan Huipe. It was a good guitar, loud and bright blanca, but he played so hard, there wasn't much left. He had repaired cracks in the soundboard who knows many times. He used a huge X of duct tape across the top to hold it together. The neck had no finish left on it. It was held together by a few huge metal screws.



Ryan002 -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 16:33:16)

Whoah, Miguel, your buddy has the sort of guitar that screams "I am hardcore! I pwnerz u at music"! [:D]

Aesthetics wise I care more about appearances for electrics than for acoustics. To me one of the fun things about an electric is that you can more liberally apply paint across the body, something that would probably not be good for an acoustic soundboard. Many local art students from the La Salle college here (who are into guitar usually) do excellent custom paint jobs for a good price, and I used to really indulge in that when I had my electric. Apart from that I am deeply fascinated by any guitar that is transparent. If I have the money I am quite liable to buy one just because it is see-through, even if it's plastic, has no tone, and is expensive. Friends jump in to save me just on time usually.



Patrick -> RE: GUITARS & AESTHETICS... MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE? (Feb. 1 2006 17:56:30)

quote:

But I guess the overall look does not matter so much, as long is inside the sound hole on the label it reads:
HERMANOS CONDE, Sobrinos de Esteso


Or "Lester DeVoe"



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