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I recently received a Jesus Bellido's red cypress special. I am amazed how good it sounds and how sensitive it is. I have played and considered some of the top guitars (Ramirez, Conde, etc.), but Jesus' red cypress special has made a believer out of me.
Any of you looking for a great guitar for a reasonable price, contact Jesus. (If your Spanish isn't good, you can use Google translator.) I assure you that you will not be disappointed. You can either pay for the name and prestige or buy a real great sounding guitar from a great guy.
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to neil09)
Its pretty . I think its Taxodium distichumis. Also called swamp cypress. Its used in boat building as well. I dont think its a true cypress. Popular names are often confusing. Canadian cypress is also called yellow cedar and its not a cypress nor a cedar. Just like western red cedar is not a cedar. And so on. But if it swings, it works. Visually this red cypress would make and interesting combo with a cedar top as well.
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to Arash)
are ye do sal mishe daram nemitonam dorost begam chetore chon in tanha guitar rade motevaset hast ke dashtem va tanha ba estive moghayese kardam azash raziam har chand dige kam navazandegi mikonam ( kar va kar va .. ) seda ye balansi dare vali seda ye ziresh mitonest behtar bashe !!
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to neil09)
I played an early 70's Conde (Esteve) and I prefer Jesus'. Jesus' red cypress special is easier to play and more sensitive. By the way, thanks for uploading the pix. That's how it looks.
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to neil09)
quote:
Jesus' red cypress special is easier to play and more sensitive
Please can you upload some photos and audio/video? One of the good things about the foro is vicariously enjoying others' new guitars- it quiets my compulsion to buy another one. (I know I'm not the only G.A.S. sufferer here! You'll be doing a public service if you upload!)
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to neil09)
RE: Ruphus' question:
I don't know for sure. I think the guitar's scale was 670 mm (very unusual scale) with a typical Conde crescent headstock cut. It had a nice full-bodied sound.
My red cypress special (number 2) is different from the one in the picture: mine has a zero fret. I think that's what makes it so easy to play, especially without a capo, and very responsive. Since I don't have a good recording facility, if you want to get an idea, you can go to Zavaleta's and check out some of Jesus' guitars' (good sound quality) mp3 files from their mp3 archive.
Posts: 15242
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to neil09)
quote:
ORIGINAL: neil09
I played an early 70's Conde (Esteve) and I prefer Jesus'. Jesus' red cypress special is easier to play and more sensitive. By the way, thanks for uploading the pix. That's how it looks.
At this point...if I were a guitar bulider or trying to sell one I would simply say " this guitar sounds EXACLTY like a conde!!!" cuz saying some other guitar is 'better" somehow then those factory pro standards, well, raises an eyebrow at this point.
IN fact if I were building a guitar to sell I would go as far as to make all the asthetic demands of buyers....media luna cut....scratches and cigarrette burn marks, what ever the customer wants.
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to neil09)
Thanks Ricardo for your input. Although I doubt it very much, it is possible that the Conde I played was not a real Conde. But the guy was a trustworthy guy, a close friend of a guy I've known for a long time. I would have asked for a source verification (for an "old" guitar like that) before I "showed" him the money anyway. Regardless, I don't see how that's relevant. I don't care what a guitar is called, who made it and where it's made. For me, it comes down to sound and playability and whether or not I agree with its price. To me, it's that simple and it ought to be that simple.
If I insulted someone with a REAL Conde, I'm sorry. (It was not my intention to put a dent in anyone's ego.) But to be fair, please note that I didn't say that "Jesus' red cypress special sounds better than Conde" (i.e., in objective terms). I said I PREFER Jesus' red cypress special over the other guitars I've played and considered buying.
I first heard about Jesus Belliod when someone praised his guitars in this forum or another one like it. That was one of the factors in my consideration. I checked out a number of Spanish luthiers and distributors in Europe. I ended up contacting Jesus personally because his distributor had just sold his great-sounding blanca in when I contacted them.
Although your prudence is much appreciated (I really mean that amigo), I think it's important for us to share our comments so that others can take them into consideration in making their own decisions. On the flip side, if I had a bad experience with a particular luthier or distributor, I think you'd want to know, wouldn't you?
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
quote:
I think its Taxodium distichumis. Also called swamp cypress. Its used in boat building as well. I dont think its a true cypress.
Maybe, Anders - it's hard to know for sure. Jesus thinks it is a 'real' cypress. Some time ago I asked him about the red cypress and if it has a different sound from the white, he replied:
"en principio no hay más diferencia que la estética. Realmente son todas especies de la familia de los cupressus, y en el caso del rojo parece ser que es una hibridación que azarosamente ha dado este resultado..."
He also told me that it came from Aranjuez; I doubt that they have a swamp there, but I think they do have many varieties of trees including imported exotica, so who knows, maybe it is, as he says, a hybrid, or a mutation of some sort. Or something... (something like a swamp cypress, but not from a swamp ) Some of it has less pronounced grain, like in the second set of photos, and some of that has freckles which is pretty.
quote:
Popular names are often confusing. Canadian cypress is also called yellow cedar and its not a cypress nor a cedar. Just like western red cedar is not a cedar. And so on. But if it swings, it works.
Posts: 15242
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to neil09)
quote:
For me, it comes down to sound and playability and whether or not I agree with its price. To me, it's that simple and it ought to be that simple.
Yeah I know, it's just that some topics are so cyclical on the foro I couldn't help but to stir the pot on the conde issue once more. Resume normal programing!
RE: Jesus Belliod Red Cypress Special (in reply to neil09)
I think the nose knows, swamp cypress does not have the scent of Spanish cypress.
I have a good mind to buy a boatload of swamp cypress dirt cheap and cut it up into a million guitar sets. I'll start a top secret publicity campaign, first renaming it something catchy like "majestic red cypress" or "ruby red cypress" maybe "cypress del diablo rojo" probably got that one wrong as I don't speak Spanish but it won't matter in North America anyway lol. Next I'll leave comments on forums under different aliases like, majestic red cypress is to Spanish cypress what Brazillian is to Indian rosewood. Within a year whatever crap I wrote about its magical acoustic properties will show up on many luthiers websites word for word as if fact without themselves ever hearing or handling the wood in person. LMI and other big suppliers will jump on the bandwagon cutting into my action but of course I will have the few select remaining sets left from that one magical tree "Diablo Rojo". By the time the big boys cut me out of the picture I'll be swimming in fine tequila and fast women
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