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Bass strings buzz, treble strings snap. A bit of snap is required in the trebs for rasgueado mainly. No buzz is required for the basses. A little is acceptable but too much is annoying. Too much snap in the trebs also not good as the guitar "frets out" and sounds like a banjo. N. Ricardo had that sound often, I would say it is not desirable. Solo playing needs less buzz or snap, the solo rhythm playing requires more than less. Pretty simple. Early PDL recordings only have the buzz or snap when he plays very hard. Some live videos you can clearly see some of his guitars had too much buzz, others just right. And even the same guitar might be different...I think due to humidity changes or string tension, but perhaps he was messing with the saddle too.

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You have your ways of looking at things and others have theirs, just as I have mine. You use your words (and many of them). Others use other words, but I have a feeling we are talking about the same thing.

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ORIGINAL: Anders Eliasson

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Noone explaining on the difference between buzz and rasp, and on the measures taken by the builder to provide the latter?

When the action is low, the strings may rattle against the frets, especially on rasgueos. It gives a distinctive sound and I think this what most people mean by 'rasp' or 'rajo'.
But a buzz is an unpleasant sound, usually from one note or fret. It is usually caused by a single high fret. (although there can be many other causes)

That's my understanding anyway. Hope that helps.


That's not what rasp is - strings rattling against the frets is buzz. It's very hard to put into words what the sound of rasp is, but it's sort of like a bit of a growling sound from the belly of the guitar. It's the one single sound that distinguishes a flamenco guitar from a classical guitar, which never has rasp. A flamenco guitar can have rasp but not buzz, or can have both.

Ramon

I think I agree with Ramon. A good flamenco guitar has a capacity to slightly distort when you push it hard. And it doesnt come from the frets. It comes from the box. Its like when a good valve (hifi or guitar) amp slightly cut the high end of the tonal register. Thats rasp or rajo.
Its more present on lighter woods for backs and sides, so blancas rasp more than negras. And classica dont rasp or at least shouldnt do so.
This rasping does that especially long rasgueados become much more pleasant to listen to. The tones blend a lot better. Just like on a good valve amp compared to a transistor amp.
Fret buzz can be nice as well, if its controlable. Some like more than others and some strongly dislike it. But its not the same as rasp.
And..... what I just wrote is not something I just made up in my mind. I heard about that the first time some 12 - 13 years ago, when I was new here where I live.