Vestex 18 and the real deal 18

[deacon Mark]

I hope this is helpful if not at least interesting. I have made 2 separate videos of my 18-inch Vestex NY made in 2000 I believe. The other video is the 1949 New Yorker it is 18 1/4 inch if you want precision. I used a Blue Ball Mic and all acoustic with it sitting under my right knee maybe 20 inches away. This is not a sophisticated recording I am not into that, so you get what you get. I don't spend money on recording equipment to make finished projects.

Both guitars have round wound nickel strings 12-52. and the same action height almost exactly. I played Body and Soul and please forgive the clams and hesitations at times. I had cataract surgery 13 days ago on left eye and it sees wonderful at a distance but looking down at the neck I had an eye fart and should have had on readers. The right eye next week. I don't know if this helps anything or is a mistake but here, we go. I played straight up rhythm at end to give another prospective. I am about 6'1 so that give another look at size.

[Spook410]

Cool. Thanks for doing that.

[Stringswinger]

The Vestax sounds great acoustically for a pressed top guitar. It is a much drier sound then the DA. You gave good advice in the thread where you suggested to the cat looking for an affordable guitar that is in DA territory, that he should buy the Vestax for sale here on the forum.

And you backed up your advice solidly with these videos.

[wintermoon]

I'm assuming the Vestax is a pressed top?
Otherwise this is a very fair comparison as everything else is equal imo as opposed to using an L-5.
I can never really tell from videos, the Vestax sounds brighter but certainly holds its own. Good work Mark!

[deacon Mark]

I'm assuming the Vestax is a pressed top?
Otherwise this is a very fair comparison as everything else is equal imo as opposed to using an L-5.
I can never really tell from videos, the Vestax sounds brighter but certainly holds its own. Good work Mark!

Winter indeed, this guitar does hold its own and I am completely taken by the sound. It does have a press top but I tell playing the guitar it is flexible and responsive in some sense like a carved top. I think because it is not too thick at all just in looking. I have owned the guitar all these years so it does get played and to me quite a warm sound.

Now in the video I can tell the differences are not so great that you just go....oh yes the real D'a wins. That has probably much to do with the recording, but it does say something about playing a guitar not in the same league. Now I will add that in person and just my thoughts playing right in the room, the real D'a has much more warm and lingering sound. It has more sustain and deeper bass end. Likewise on the top above the 12th it simply responds much better. Finally, as it true I think of good D'angelico guitars and where real deal blows it up in the rhythm and power. You cannot over play this guitar is keeps sound even playing hard, no breakup of sound.

Finally, I have them set up for mostly room playing and electric sound not so much punch and volume. Put a set of 13-56 bronze strings on it and raise the action a hair and you will rattle windows. The Vestex cannot push like that but let me tell you it sounds and plays better than some acoustic L5's and like.

[customxke]

Thanks for doing that Mark. I’m surprised how good the Vestax sounds. Impressive. Nice playing too!

[vinnyv1k]

Mark - the real deal sure is gorgeous ! Would love to see more pics of it. You are a blessed man Sir.

I had cataract surgery on both eyes 3 weeks ago. They got the stigmatism wrong on my left eye and have to have that one redone . Best of luck with yours buddy.

That Vestax is a winner too.

[deacon Mark]

Mark - the real deal sure is gorgeous ! Would love to see more pics of it. You are a blessed man Sir.

I had cataract surgery on both eyes 3 weeks ago. They got the stigmatism wrong on my left eye and have to have that one redone . Best of luck with yours buddy.

That Vestax is a winner too.

I went from a horseshoe tear and retinal detachment in that eye 8 months ago. Had surgery and gas bubble. Healed fine could again see clear about 20/25. The cataract they starts to grow exponentially faster. By January it was 20/200 legally blind. Now I can see again 20/25 and no need of glasses. My right eye is not nearly as bad but cataract has it at 20/70. Going Monday they are correcting with hopefully just touch of under correction, so I don't loose all up close vision. With readers I am find and blessed is the deacon. I am the nightmare for this with my huge myopia, LASIK 24 years ago, and retinal detachment although the right eye has no had retinal detachment. Ok that has zero to do with the thread but let me tell you I am so BLESSED just to see. Look at nice guitars too.

[vinnyv1k]

You are also a good man Mark. God bless you.

[GuyBoden]

Both sound good, many thanks for going to the trouble of recording these.

[Gitterbug]

For a few years, I had a Vestax NYL-2, made in 2006, which I liked a lot. A looker, for sure. Tonally, it did not offer much, if anything, over my -99 MIK Epi Emperor Regent. Not needing two 17", floating PU archtops, I traded the NYL-2 for a 2014 ES-175 1959 VOS reissue, which is simply great. I'm sure the D'A would have opened up with time, just like the Epi has done. Maybe I've been blessed with a solid-top sample, which are known to exist. As a rule, however, luck isn't my middle name.