Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Full Version)

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TANúñez -> Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 3:15:22)

I've just put up an interesting interview with Almeria luthier Juan Miguel Gonzalez.

http://www.lafalseta.com/Juan_Miguel_Gonzalez_06Interview.html



Ricardo -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 3:42:01)

Hard to read because the pics are on top of the words![:D] I will try another browser though.

Ricardo



tmock -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 3:53:04)

Kudos to Errol for the intersesting interview. Thanks for posting these interviews, Tom. As someone who has yet to visit Spain, it's always great to read an interview with an interesting flamenco figure that was conducted by someone who knows their way around flamenco.

Are you planning to do an interview with Felix Manzanero any time soon? He's such a reknowned builder as well as quite the collecter. I bet he has lots of intersting stories to tell.

Travis.

PS, Ricardo, it must have been your browser. It showed up fine for me on Firefox.



Anders Eliasson -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 8:17:04)

Great Tom

A very nice and VERY honest interview.

I would like to point two things out, where I totally agree, and where a lot of guitarrists and collectors talking about the perfect guitar , who is best etc, could learn a lot. The perfect or best guitar does not exist and will never be build. It´s all something personal and Gonzales has understood this. The good guitarrists as well. They know and like the difference. Some of them have a favorite instrument that works well with their playing style and some like to play different guitars because it inspires them to play in different ways:


LF: Do you believe that there is a flamenco guitar with the “supreme” flamenco sound?

JMG: I think that that is very relative because everyone sees it in a different way. I hear flamenco with and Andalusian sound. I hear the sound of a flamenco guitar differently that people from other parts of Spain. I think that there is something that makes the Andalusian guitar different, it has a more Andalusian sound. I think there is something that distinguishes the Andalusian guitar. It’s quite difficult to explain.


LF: If you could classify the evolution of your guitar, 1 being the beginning and 10 being the perfect guitar, where do you find yourself in achieving your “perfect” guitar?

JMG: Wow! What a tough question. I think it’s impossible to answer but I can tell you that I’m definitely not at 10. I don’t see it this way. Maybe a guitarist could answer this question better. This is a process and an evolution that will last until the end.

Just one thing Tom, Its a bit annoying having to use the schroll bar all the time in order to read your webpage. Your resolution is to big. We are still many using 1024 x 768 or less.



TANúñez -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 12:35:59)

quote:

A very nice and VERY honest interview.

I would like to point two things out, where I totally agree, and where a lot of guitarrists and collectors talking about the perfect guitar , who is best etc, could learn a lot. The perfect or best guitar does not exist and will never be build. It´s all something personal and Gonzales has understood this. The good guitarrists as well. They know and like the difference. Some of them have a favorite instrument that works well with their playing style and some like to play different guitars because it inspires them to play in different ways:


Your absolutely right Anders and I will go to work on the resolution problem on my site. It never occured to me that most people are using 1024 x 768. Thanks for pointing that out.



TANúñez -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 12:37:31)

quote:

Kudos to Errol for the intersesting interview. Thanks for posting these interviews, Tom. As someone who has yet to visit Spain, it's always great to read an interview with an interesting flamenco figure that was conducted by someone who knows their way around flamenco.

Are you planning to do an interview with Felix Manzanero any time soon? He's such a reknowned builder as well as quite the collecter. I bet he has lots of intersting stories to tell.

Travis.

PS, Ricardo, it must have been your browser. It showed up fine for me on Firefox.



Glad you enjoyed it tmock. I want to get interviews with most makers I carry and even some I don't. Manzanero is surely one I want up soon.



Exitao -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 13:34:03)

Question for the people who've been to Spain:

The pronunciation for taller. What is the most common pronnunciation you hear in Spain?

ta-ye
ta-dje
tal-ye
tal-dje

I'm guessing that in the Americas it's pronounced ta-ye because ta-dje doesn't quite roll off the tongue.



Exitao -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 13:46:27)

OK, another language related question. This time for the translator, whom I assume is Errol.
This may sound like a stupid question, but it's the kind of thing that peaks my curiosity and would give me some insight into how he perceives guitars.

quote:

What I try not to do is to have a guitar that sounds like Reyes or Barba……. Rodriguez or Conde…..


There are no articles before the names of the guitar makes. Could you please give me the particular turn of phrase he would have used in Spanish?



Escribano -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 15:07:40)

quote:

There are no articles before the names of the guitar makes. Could you please give me the particular turn of phrase he would have used in Spanish?


Isn't he talking about the builders, not the make i.e. I don't want a guitar that sounds like Smith or Jones?



Escribano -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 15:13:05)

I pronounce it "ta-yeah" with a very short "a" but I don't know if that is correct [:(]



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 15:44:09)

Thanks for the article. It's interesting to me that he speaks about sound so much, but playability not at all. Myself, the physical act of playing and the ease is very important (maybe because I'm not that good). Perhaps better guitarists evolve past that point and the pursuit of the sound becomes everything.

Another thing, it is strange to hear him mention Miguel Angel Cortes as famous! I studied with him that one summer at the Fundacion Cristina Heeren, and he taught our class Panaderos and a tangos. He's a very smooth player.



flamencoguru -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 16:25:27)

I'm glad everyone is enjoying the interview. It's was a lot of fun talking to him. About playibility..... That is actually one of Juan Miguel's top objectives. His instruments are being recognized as "easy" to play.

quote:

but in the end it is the guitarist that will be walking on stage with the guitar and spending long hours practicing a preparing for his future.


quote:

He has to find himself comfortable and satisfied with the instrument.


When he says this he means that the guitar needs to be easy to play. He stresses this a lot when he talks about his guitars.

Un saludo, Errol



Exitao -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 17:05:56)

Well that's sort of what I want to know. Is he talking about the builders or the guitars? Is he attributing the sound to the instruments or the builders?



flamencoguru -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 17:53:13)

Hello,

When he says that he doesn't want to sound like Reyes, Conde, etc., he's just expressing that he want's his instruments to have their own unique sound.... not copying anyone esle. He's not depreciating anyone's work.

He admires many other guitar builders.

Un saludo, Errol



Jim Opfer -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 19:56:52)

quote:

About playibility..... That is actually one of Juan Miguel's top objectives. His instruments are being recognized as "easy" to play.


Tom - Thanks for posting the interview.
Errol - Great interview.

I'm sorry to put a damper on this but I feel it's important to comment as I can now see people rush off and buy his guitars.

I have one of JMG's guitars and it's probably the the guitar I play the least.
It is physically very heavy for a flamenco with a lot of weight centred around the heel joint.

The sound is crisp, focused and I guess very flamenco but it's trapped inside the body and unfortunately, volume is poor.

I feel that it would be important to try one of his instruments first. I read about him a few years ago and bought on spec and that was a mistake.



ykabban -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 20:25:57)

Cool interview.

I spoke with Eric Monrad at the GFA; he said the Gonzalez at Trilogy guitars(don't know if it is available) was unbelievable. One of the most powerful flamencos he had ever heard. He said he wanted to take it home.

I have yet to play one, but I've been thinking about checking him out the next time I'm in Spain.

Jim, perhaps ya got a dud. Every builder has duds, trust me on that one[;)].



Jim Opfer -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 21:15:23)

quote:

Jim, perhaps ya got a dud.


Definately a dud.
Thing is however, I was lead to believe I was buying one of his top end guitars and direct from the maker.
Anyway, these things happen.



JBASHORUN -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 21:52:44)

Jim,

If you dislike the JMG guitar so much, why not just sell it? You could stick it on Ebay with an accurate, yet somewhat truth-economical description, and I'm sure it would sell. Real Flamenco guitars go for big bucks on Ebay- even if they're not that good. Plus, the chances are that the "lucky" buyer will be none-the-wiser about whether its a dud or not, and just happy that he's got something to practice his "Rassgwaydoes" on (perhaps not so dissimilar to myself [;)]). I have no idea of the retail value for a JMG guitar, but things usually sell for half to two thirds of that value on Ebay (occasionally less or more). Don't get me wrong- I'm not advocating that you should be dishonest. But IMO as long as you don't actually LIE or make any false claims about the guitar, you could sell it as it is. Personally, if I disliked any of my guitars, I would have got rid of them very quickly- otherwise we're falling into the G.A.S. ("Guitar Acquisition Syndrome") trap.

It might be worth a shot, otherwise it'll only gather dust and take up space.

Either that, or you could hold a ceremonial burning as an offering to The God Of Guitars. Toast a few marshmallows, and watch as its spirit rises up to Guitar Heaven.

But if you DO decide to flog it on Ebay, just remember not to make any overstated claims about its sound.

Jb



flamencoguru -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 14 2006 22:13:09)

Hey Jim,

Thanks for your honesty. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I guess even great builders can have not so great work. I've played some Reyes, Condes and Gerundinos that were definitely not the best of the bunch. That's just life. It's just most unfortunate when you happen to get stuck with it. I have two of Juan Miguel's guitars and I've had a great experience with the both of them.

I totally agree with you not to jump in and buy a guitar just because of an interview. If you have the posibility to play a builder's guitar before you buy it, do so. I played a Juan Miguel before I bought my first one. I definitely did not go into it blind. That's what convinced me to get it.

I guess that's why we have so many different builders and guitarists with different preferences and tastes.

Un saludo, Errol



Jim Opfer -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 15 2006 21:32:41)

Hi JB,

No! I wouldn't do that on Ebay, but thanks for the thought.

I'll hold on to it a while and keep going back every now and again. See how she does. And thanks Errol. You're right, sometimes they are just not as good as they should be. You might remember we exchanged emails at the time because the guitar arrived with one of the machine buttons damaged and you offered to set up a three way call to help me, but I didn't take you up on it.

It's really no problem , she's a decent guitar, just not great. I just thought I should try to balance the thread a bit.

I'd pefer someone to try her and genuinely like the guitar before selling[sm=Smiley Guitar.gif]

Cheers.

Jim.



flamencoguru -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 16 2006 1:02:09)

Hey Jim,

I don't know if you ever got the button on that tuner fixed but the offer is still out there to help you out.

Remember the saying, "one man's junk is another man's treasure." What I'm trying to say is that someone else may find the guitar to be unbelievable. It's all what you perceive the instrument to be.

I've played some guitar's that I thought were extrordinary and others didn't see the magic and visa versa.

Un saludo, Errol



Jim Opfer -> RE: Interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Nov. 16 2006 10:37:11)

quote:

I don't know if you ever got the button on that tuner fixed but the offer is still out there to help you out.


Thanks Eroll, I had the machines replaced.



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