Guitar comparison in a blind test (Full Version)

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dartemo1 -> Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 14 2025 20:40:04)

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.



Fawkes -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 15 2025 0:25:02)

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.



estebanana -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 15 2025 3:51:07)

Delightfully brutal.



Ricardo -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 15 2025 12:08:38)

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.



estebanana -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 16 2025 1:48:57)

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



Arash -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 16 2025 10:58:08)

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 [:D]



Ricardo -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 16 2025 14:07:15)

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. [:D] This is way better than the Marshall Brune/Acker blind fold video where Marshall was too good at hearing/distinguishing the high end builds.



Fawkes -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 16 2025 15:46:47)

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.



dartemo1 -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 16 2025 16:30:41)

I consider him and Pepe Romero (with the known caveats) as good examples of cross-over flamenco-classical guitarrista.
Need to watch her other videos and finally get this C40!



Arash -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 16 2025 17:43:26)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

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.


I know his background and he is fantastic. But still I believe he kinda ignores and forgets his own flamenco background, his familly and being born into flamenco enviroment, his years as a child learning flamenco from a teacher before "switching" and going to conservatory etc. , while making that general statement in the video. His personal path is kinda rare among classical guitarists and can not be easily replicated. Basically the statement is true for him, for most without that background, It isnt imo



estebanana -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 17 2025 4:47:03)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

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. [:D] This is way better than the Marshall Brune/Acker blind fold video where Marshall was too good at hearing/distinguishing the high end builds.



Marshall had those guitars in his shop and probably had a leg up on how they sound.

In thought this was great because I can’t hide my revulsion to the A frame balsa lattice concept guitar. I’ve always thought that they sound terrible, and points out the weight problems.

I thought the Romanillos was downgraded too much, and perhaps it was a set up issue. The Damman sounded like warmed over dogsh¥t, really a horrible guitar. But it they have fixed the problems with double tops now so that they are less nasal and only 40% annoying instead of 80% annoying.

I had ‘Guitarrenfruede’



Echi -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 17 2025 7:24:24)

The Romanillos deserved much more appreciation: probably wrong strings/setup.



estebanana -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 17 2025 8:15:04)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Echi

The Romanillos deserved much more appreciation: probably wrong strings/setup.



The bass sounds fine, but some overzealous person put fluorocarbon strings on the g-b-e and they sound as he says artificial. Some big fat Augustine’s or any other fatty sounding nylon would help.



Ricardo -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 17 2025 14:08:46)

quote:

I thought the Romanillos was downgraded too much, and perhaps it was...


And...

quote:

The Romanillos deserved much more appreciation: probably wrong...


tsk tsk guys....confirmation bias based on the label. That is exactly what the video disproved. You guys can't help yourselves I know. I would have felt the same if she had handed him an orange Conde.[:D][:D][:D]



Richard Jernigan -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 17 2025 21:14:45)

A few years after I acquired my '73 Romanillos I set out to find the strings I liked best on it. I quickly eliminated all fluorocarbon trebles as too bright and penetrating. For a while I gravitated toward Savarez Cantigas, but eventually settled on D'Addario EJ-45s.

In the commemorative Romanillos video "Medio Siglo" Antigoni Goni and a couple of her students comment that Romanillos's guitars are excelllent, but "hard to play."

I really like my Abel Garcia spruce/Brazilian. I play it more than any other classical. Sometimes I think, "Is the Romanillos actually better?" I get it out and tune it up. "Not really," I think, until I have had a half hour to get used to the Romanillos. The right hand has to be really precise to get the best tone. Then I start thinking, "Yes, it's actually better."

If I play a fair amount longer, the right hand settles into a groove and gets less tentative. I begin to dig a little deeper. "Yeah, that's it!"

I think the carbon trebles threw Gallardo off, and he didn't have time enough to find the best right hand technique.

But I'm not sure I would have done any differently blindfolded.

RNJ



estebanana -> RE: Guitar comparison in a blind test (Sep. 17 2025 22:15:32)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

quote:

I thought the Romanillos was downgraded too much, and perhaps it was...


And...

quote:

The Romanillos deserved much more appreciation: probably wrong...


tsk tsk guys....confirmation bias based on the label. That is exactly what the video disproved. You guys can't help yourselves I know. I would have felt the same if she had handed him an orange Conde.[:D][:D][:D]


Tsk-Tsk right back at you, the JR should have had La Bella 2000’s 😂
Those strings were off.



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