The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

View Poll Results: Does technology produce better instruments then vintage?
Yes 73 65.18%
No 39 34.82%
Voters: 112. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 11-06-2012, 09:56 PM
Von Beerhofen Von Beerhofen is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: At home with my guitars
Posts: 2,980
Default Technology vs Vintage

With current digital measuring technologies of instruments, response, frequency behaviour and tonal quality, do you think that these new technologies have a distinct advantage over the vintage build instruments?
I.E., do you believe these new technologies produce superior instruments when build by respected luthiers or companies?

Ludwig
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-06-2012, 11:11 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chugiak, Alaska
Posts: 31,164
Default

Yes. I think when the instruments being built today get sixty or seventy years worth of aging on them, they'll blow the pre-WWII guitars that everyone reveres right out of the water.


Wade Hampton Miller
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-07-2012, 01:36 AM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 7,908
Default

Better, not necessarily.

More consistent - certainly
More affordable - most definitely.
__________________
Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01
Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking
Breedlove American Series C20/SR
Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA
Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212

https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-07-2012, 05:14 AM
Brant0086 Brant0086 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,109
Default

I think yes, but as a general rule only. Guitars are still made from organic materials and solid wood guitars are still going to have some variances even within the same exact model.

Bryant
__________________
1994 Martin D-16H
Silvertone SD-50CE
Greg Bennett D-8CE
1991 Takamine EF350MC
Fender T-Bucket 400CE
$19 Silvertone Bobby Labonte SNBLA
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-07-2012, 05:34 AM
Ed422 Ed422 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Baltimore, Md
Posts: 3,116
Default

I have to say I think it does.

Consistency and economy (as in economical use of raw materials) is improved and the overall quality of instruments produced is up even from the guitars available when I was a kid.

Ed
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-07-2012, 06:00 AM
ukejon ukejon is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 6,603
Default

The poll is a bit confusing because your thread title is general in nature and can be read as somewhat different from the question you actually then posit. It seems that you are not asking whether technological advances--including drills, planers, CNC machines, routers, thickness sanders, electric spray guns, and the like--have resulted in better instruments. Rather, you are asking whether new measuring technologies allow makers to get a better handle on the tonal attributes of the material they choose and, ultimately, the instruments they build.

To that, I would say no, at least if we are talking about high level luthiers. While more information about the characteristics of the wood, the effects of various bracing techniques, the tonal merits of certain finishes and the like can be more accurately measured with new gizmos, a great maker carries a staggering amount of knowledge in their hands and in their heads. They don't need or even necessarily use such devices or the resulting quantitative data to make killer guitars.
__________________
My YouTube Page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ukejon



2014 Pono N30 DC EIR/Spruce crossover
2009 Pono koa parlor (NAMM prototype)
2018 Maton EBG808TEC
2014 Hatcher Greta 13 fret cutaway in EIR/cedar
2017 Hatcher Josie fan fret mahogany
1973 Sigma GCR7 (OM model) rosewood and spruce
2014 Rainsong OM1000N2
....and about 5 really nice tenor ukuleles at any given moment

Last edited by ukejon; 11-07-2012 at 07:43 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-07-2012, 03:17 PM
sachi sachi is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North Seattle
Posts: 3,189
Default

I'm with Wade on this one. Guitars these days are very good instruments, and with some years on 'em I fully expect them to surpass the older ones in sound and playability.
__________________
Sachi

Kolaya Carmen, Trek parlor (by Harv L), Martin 000-28EC, Taylor GC-5 and 355.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-07-2012, 03:22 PM
lkblock lkblock is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 648
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AZLiberty View Post
Better, not necessarily.

More consistent - certainly
More affordable - most definitely.
I agree with this.

Ask a violinist with a Stradavarius if a violin produced with new technology is better than the one they have.

Luthiers of today and of yesteryear all have/had fantastic abilities and knowledge. I do not see the technology as being a deciding factor of if a new or old guitar is better.
__________________
2012 Martin OM-21
2001 Takamine GS330S
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-07-2012, 03:38 PM
ZekeM ZekeM is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cross Plains, TN
Posts: 1,207
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
Yes. I think when the instruments being built today get sixty or seventy years worth of aging on them, they'll blow the pre-WWII guitars that everyone reveres right out of the water.


Wade Hampton Miller
Hit the nail right on the head there. I'm with Wade
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-07-2012, 03:46 PM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 43,428
Default

I think technology helps build better guitars. Of course, like mentioned above, you have new wood vs old wood for tone.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-07-2012, 07:33 PM
Von Beerhofen Von Beerhofen is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: At home with my guitars
Posts: 2,980
Default

@ Ukejon,

let me clarify it a bit more to take away confusion about the poll. The question refers to any new technology which can be used to produce better instruments. Measuring sound is just the one which directly entered my mind and obviously very usefull in determining wether a different construction does have the required effect. Measurements alone are not very telling in what needs to be changed in a construction except perhaps to experienced luthiers.

Ludwig
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11-07-2012, 07:35 PM
527 527 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 81
Default

Counterpoint - they had technology in 1935! It was called experience and knowledge with wood working and the tools and machines that had been refined for that purpose.

Some technology we have now is for the benefit of the manufacturer and to save money and save time - not always to build a better guitar.

Would you rather have a modern finish made perfect by technology or a hand rubbed varnish finish like a Loar F-5 mandolin?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-07-2012, 07:48 PM
sweiss's Avatar
sweiss sweiss is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 2,238
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 527 View Post
...Would you rather have a modern finish made perfect by technology or a hand rubbed varnish finish like a Loar F-5 mandolin?...
I'll take the perfect one made by technology. It will look just as good and be a ton less expensive. A lot of that "done by hand" stuff isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-07-2012, 07:57 PM
RichM752 RichM752 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mt Shasta CA
Posts: 801
Default

I agree with Wade. But I still purchased a '46 LG2 earlier in the day.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11-07-2012, 08:59 PM
ukejon ukejon is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 6,603
Default

Thanks for the clarification, Ludwig. Great thread.

Quote:
A lot of that "done by hand" stuff isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Conversely, one might also argue that a lot of that "perfection of modern technology" stuff isn't all its cracked up to be. There are so many great luthiers today who still employ time-honored methods of making, which allow them to be more in touch with the instrument both literally and figuratively. I'll favor their incredible craft knowledge and their direct contact with the materials over the machines.
__________________
My YouTube Page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ukejon



2014 Pono N30 DC EIR/Spruce crossover
2009 Pono koa parlor (NAMM prototype)
2018 Maton EBG808TEC
2014 Hatcher Greta 13 fret cutaway in EIR/cedar
2017 Hatcher Josie fan fret mahogany
1973 Sigma GCR7 (OM model) rosewood and spruce
2014 Rainsong OM1000N2
....and about 5 really nice tenor ukuleles at any given moment
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=