Question on pair of Salvador Castillo Guitars (Full Version)

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a_arnold -> Question on pair of Salvador Castillo Guitars (Feb. 18 2007 19:51:45)

I recently bought a Salvador Castillo flamenco blanca w/ pegs and was so impressed I comissioned a negra. You gys have been so helpful (and knowledgeable) that I want to ask for your opinion/prediction about what I should expect.

Both will have a European Spruce top.
the back of the blanca is spanish cypress. The negra will be brazilian rosewood
The string length is 650 on the blanca, and will be 660 on the negra. (I understand paco de Lucia plays 660mm on his negra).

Both will have pegs, and I believe will be structurally identical except for the string length (although I asked for some pretty fancy inlay on the negra -- I'll post pics.)

I'd be really interested in you predictions on what I should expect the difference in sou to be. I wanted to maximize the difference between the two guitars so I could take advantage of the tonal range between them. Anyone want to make a prediction?



TANúñez -> RE: Question on pair of Salvador Castillo Guitars (Feb. 18 2007 22:13:11)

I believe Paco's old Conde is a monster 667mm scale.

As for predictions, it's hard since I personally have never played one of his guitars. In general, you should be able to hear to difference in the basses. They will be a bit more "boomy". Maybe a bit more sustain and possibly a slightly warmer tone.



legrec -> RE: Question on pair of Salvador Castillo Guitars (Feb. 18 2007 22:35:29)

Tom said the essential. I might add the guitar will probably be heavier. And also, the longer scale + the Brazilian may add some volume compared to the cypress, but it's not "warranted" (depends a lot of the construction).
Overall, a "mellower" tone with more sustain.
Another difference is the reaction of the guitar related to the weather. Negra usually are deeply affected by the weather, and mostly by humidity. I think that my negra sounds way better after I put it for 10 minutes or so in the sun, like percussionists do also (but it can change the color of the finish...).

BTW, i'm intrigued that Salvador Castillo has Braz. rosewood. I was thinking, probably wrongly, that Mexican builders were using Palo escrito for negras...



a_arnold -> RE: Question on pair of Salvador Castillo Guitars (Feb. 18 2007 22:52:10)

Thanks, guys. Wow. PDL plays at 667mm? At some point that has to begin to feel like quite a stretch for the left hand. I never actually measured until I got the Castillo blanca (650) but my old Chica from Granada is 660. Maybe that's why the Castillo feels a little easier to play. Duh. The Castillo also has a wider fingerboard, which I find speeds up my picado.

So it sounds sorta like the negra might have a more classical sound. Which I would like, just for the contrast with the blanca, which will probably seem brighter by comparison.

So is it the more resinous, brittle (probably heavier) brazilian rosewood or the longer string length that accounts for most of the difference in the sound?

Yes, Castillo does offer brazilian rosewood. And palo escrito. The palo escrito is a lot cheaper (about $600, if I remember correctly) and heavier. I'm not sure if it would have made any difference to the sound. I think I could have bought the brazilian myself for less and sent it to him, but I hate to feel like a cheapskate -- it can't be easy for him to make a living on the Mexican economy.



legrec -> RE: Question on pair of Salvador Castillo Guitars (Feb. 18 2007 23:41:32)

quote:

I think I could have bought the brazilian myself for less and sent it to him, but I hate to feel like a cheapskate -- it can't be easy for him to make a living on the Mexican economy.


Very good thought...

And I guess there will be a difference with the Braz. The price is not only explained by it's "rarity"...

Tell us how the guitar is when you'll receive it!

Suerte y salud-



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