Professional Grade Instruments. What Does That Actually mean?

[JohnRoss]

A guitar puts you in a certain frame of mind, musically, I think everyone would agree that you feel more comfortable playing such and such a style with an appropriate guitar. And to a certain degree, your respect for your instrument is a reflection of your respect for the music - imagine finding yourself holding a Selmer, you'd be thinking Hot Club straight away - imagine if it were one that had been owned by Django! I'd be totally awed, myself.

And if, to take another example, a good classical guitar or blues guitar predisposes you to playing classical music or the blues, a very good (and proportionately expensive) guitar should make it easier for you to play even better classical music or blues. It doesn't follow, of course, a really good classical guitar tends to be more difficult to play than a mediocre one, but its possibilities are much greater. How much value for money there is in such a purchase will depend on each individual player.

[fumblefingers]

A guitar puts you in a certain frame of mind, musically, I think everyone would agree that you feel more comfortable playing such and such a style with an appropriate guitar. And to a certain degree, your respect for your instrument is a reflection of your respect for the music - imagine finding yourself holding a Selmer, you'd be thinking Hot Club straight away - imagine if it were one that had been owned by Django! I'd be totally awed, myself.

And if, to take another example, a good classical guitar or blues guitar predisposes you to playing classical music or the blues, a very good (and proportionately expensive) guitar should make it easier for you to play even better classical music or blues. It doesn't follow, of course, a really good classical guitar tends to be more difficult to play than a mediocre one, but its possibilities are much greater. How much value for money there is in such a purchase will depend on each individual player.

interesting John, I've never heard that. what makes a great classical more difficult to play? the fact that it may reveal your weakneses relative to a dull sounding one, or something else?

stumped on this one. gracias.

[JohnRoss]

what makes a great classical more difficult to play?

Really good concert classicals are made for that, for concerts, not for practising on for hours at a time. They're noticeably heavier than studio guitars, and tend to feel very stiff, because of a high action, etc. (I suppose, I'm not particularly expert on this, never having owned one) so they require more strength (to make things worse, if you've forked out x thousand euros or dollars or whatever, you'll probably want to get the maximum tone out of it, which means using the heaviest strings possible). I should clarify that I'm talking about Spanish classical guitars, I understand others are not so beefy. But when people talk about e.g., José Ramirez guitars being particularly 'macho' (and they do), that's the sort of thing they are referring to: Ramirezs have a huge sound, but they are exhausting to play.

[fumblefingers]

hmm. yes, i'm not fond of high action at all.

i own a recently made Spanish concert classical guitar that is feather light, quite resonant, and has low action. i use the Savarez 500AJ high tension strings on it. i love it.

hopefully the recent trends in bracing systems and double-tops satisfy the need for volume (at least somewhat, there's only so much you can do in a large room without using a mic and PA system)

i am very partial to Spanish guitars like those offered by Bernabe and Romanillos, and am scheming to get a Bernabe as my next investment. I'm not aware of what, if anything, Liam does to increase the volume of his instruments, but Paulino doubles the sides on his top models.

David Russell sounds incredible on his Dammass double-top (German). It has a much, much deeper sound than traditional guitars. I believe that Williams now plays a Smallman & Sons double top (Australian). I still prefer the beautiful Spanish guitars. Can't help it.


New Dammann at Classic Guitars International for fine classical and flamenco guitars, Chris Kamen

Classic Guitars International for fine classical and flamenco guitars, Chris Kamen

Romanillos at Classic Guitars International for fine classical and flamenco guitars, Chris Kamen

Romanillos at Classic Guitars International for fine classical and flamenco guitars, Chris Kamen

Classic Guitars International for fine classical and flamenco guitars, Chris Kamen

http://www.classicguitar.com/c-07Bernabe4.html

[whatswisdom]

If a given guitar sounds and plays the way you want it and is within you budget, then it's the guitar to get no matter the name on the headstock or the "gradation" given by the ad writers.

+1. A prime example if it's archtops you're looking for:

Flowers Guitars