#1
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Which one of these is the higher-end guitar? (BLIND TEST)
NOTE: The Guitars are revealed on post #48
I just made a blind test video hoping to get some feedback from the community about which guitar most people here find having a more desirable sound. I'm not a professional but I played a few random passages (Should have asked someone who knows how to play, I know...) on two nylon string guitars (both have brand new EJ45 strings on them) and recorded myself with a pair of Line Audio CM3 microphones going into H4n, in a well treated room. I did no processing to the files other than normalize everything to -3 db. People keep talking about diminishing returns when it comes to guitars, saying lots of cheap guitars can compete with expensive ones easily in a blind test. Well, I didn't find too many such tests and decided to create my own. Please, tell me about your preference, A or B, and if you care, comment about what kind of quality/price range these guitars you think belong to... Maybe mention the materials you think they're made of (maple, spruce, solid-top, all-solid, laminated, etc.). Take a guess about whatever sounds familiar to you. Should be fun! I will identify the guitars really soon - once we have enough votes to make this worthwhile. https://youtu.be/ET4fthCG5-Y Last edited by S_Spruce; 03-18-2016 at 07:48 AM. |
#2
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I'm not an audio guy, so I have to ask what is meant by normalizing to -3db.
Does that raise both guitars to the same sound level, or does that normalize the dead air, so the volume of the guitars is what we would hear relatively if we were in the same room comparing them? Guitar B sounds kind of amped up to me, and I don't know if that is a characteristic of the guitar, or it was raised to be the same volume as guitar A. thanks, Mike |
#3
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There are more factors than just price in comparing classical guitars. Some guitars sound like crap with certain strings. For example, anything less than high tension on mine is horrible....muddy and muted.
Generally, A sounds warmer but less articulate than B. But again...strings. I put Pro Artes on my Ramirez once, and it made it sound like a $500 guitar. I've done fairly blind tests on classical guitars, sitting in a music shop, playing guitar after guitar with a friend, not looking at any labels or price tags. Let's just say there is a difference that is more noticeable playing than listening.
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2010 Larrivee LSV-11e 2002 Jose Ramirez 4e 1998 Seagull S6+folk, Mi-Si LR Baggs acoustic trio 1986 Charvel Model 3A electric 2001 Fender Jazz standard bass 1935 A-00 Gibson mandolin 1815 JG Hamm violin Kelii soprano ukulele |
#4
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Hi, I like the sound and clearness on guitar B. A to my ears has less volume and sustain,
sounds muted. My two cents worth. Definitely guitar B. Regards Norman2
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Esteve 7SR |
#5
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I would choose B
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Classical 2013 Alhambra 9P cedar 1976 Alvarez/Yairi CY140 2005 Alvarez AC60SC 2005 Alvarez MC90C **************** Steel 2002 Martin OMC18VLJ signature 2003 Mauel McCloud Custom |
#6
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A sounds more pleasing to me. B has more mid range and treble than I care for. I will not guess which is more expensive because I have found that price is a poor predictor of sound. I have played some pretty expensive classical guitars that I didn't like as much as my Yamaha GC-3D.
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Warren My website: http://draudio56.wix.com/warren-bendler "It's hard...calming the Beatle inside of me." |
#7
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They sound very different.
A has less definition but more bass B has less bass but has much more clarity and note separation. It also performs better on the trebles. Which is the higher end guitar? ... I'd say B.
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Christian Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar) Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia I play: Acoustic blues & folk Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos |
#8
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Each had its strengths, but I liked B better overall. Won't guess on which is pricier since it isn't necessarily what equals "better".
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#9
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That means raising the volume of both recordings so that -3db is the absolute highest peak the sound can ever reach. This insures that we get a relatively equal volume on the tracks.
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#10
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Quote:
Your GC-3D, by the way, is wonderful instrument and isn't cheap either. At or above that price level, it's all about colors and preferences, I think. |
#11
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B sounds more boxy and has more midrange. A sounds more mid-scooped and is a bit more mellow overall.
OP, were you playing with a plectrum, or fingers flesh only, or fingers with nails? |
#12
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Quote:
Any guess at what is the higher-end guitar? |
#13
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I couldn't say which is more expensive. But I do hear differences in their sound as noted above.
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#14
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A.
Though I'd bet that neither are "high-end" instruments. That is, neither has the tonal characteristics that I would describe as "high-end", regardless of price. Price isn't the only indicator of tonal "quality", however "quality" is defined by the individual listener. |
#15
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Quote:
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