Let's do a Tone Spectrum!

[Scotso]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Yikes! When do the guys in white coats come for me?

Called and on way. Crazy talk.

[bil40272]

No love for Gibson?????

[wguitar]

This is both fun and informative! Great thread ! ZMF posted that Collings has more "piano" than Taylor. I would add Northwood to the mix as having a "piano"-like sound (have never played a Collings so can't speak to them). FWIW, it might be insightful to add this question to the mix - "which 2 guitar brands are most similar to you"?

Cheers!

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Without getting into various body-styles but going by general perceptions of the brands:

Vintage
Martin
Huss & Dalton
Gibson
Santa Cruz
Bourgeois

Vintage/Modern Blend
Larrivee
Collings
Guild
Yamaha

Modern
Taylor
Ovation
Emerald
RainSong

I'd put Emerald and Rainsong in another category, with the composite guitars. And Ovation. . . it's in its own category, since their sound is genuinely unique.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by bil40272

No love for Gibson?????

Gibson is the school where Old School studied.

[Rev Roy]

Originally Posted by bil40272

No love for Gibson?????

See posts #6 & #10. They both have Gibson in their lists.

[rstaight]

Where would Takamine fall on this list? Haven't heard or played some of these brands to have a true sense of where they fall.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by rstaight

Where would Takamine fall on this list? Haven't heard or played some of these brands to have a true sense of where they fall.

It's rather difficult to describe guitars and their makers without specifying what model(s) we're highlighting as most makers have models that can fall somewhere in the vintage to the modern range. I think many players link a brand name with either vintage or modern but just about all makers have models that could fall more into one area of the tonal spectrum than another.

I would classify my new Takamine EF360S-TT as Vintage/Modern. It's a powerful Sitka/Rosewood dreadnought with a nice balance across the spectrum with it seems unlimited headroom. It has clarity and brightness of tone that is very transparent and open.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Guitarplayer_PR

I'd put Emerald and Rainsong in another category, with the composite guitars. And Ovation. . . it's in its own category, since their sound is genuinely unique.

I pretty much agree with you. Then, again, we're starting to expand and parse on the OP and that's where we can end up displeasing some players as I have done in another comment in the thread. To show what I mean I'd expand the categories or range to say that Ovation was the Original Modern Guitar, and Taylor and other "modern guitars" rank in the Neo-Modern Guitar range. See what I mean?

[rstaight]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

It's rather difficult to describe guitars and their makers without specifying what model(s) we're highlighting as most makers have models that can fall somewhere in the vintage to the modern range. I think many players link a brand name with either vintage or modern but just about all makers have models that could fall more into one area of the tonal spectrum than another.

I would classify my new Takamine EF360S-TT as Vintage/Modern. It's a powerful Sitka/Rosewood dreadnought with a nice balance across the spectrum with it seems unlimited headroom. It has clarity and brightness of tone that is very transparent and open.

I have GD93 and a GJ72CE-12 string. But have been looking at GJ72CE-6 string to match the 12 string.

[holly9000]

Some great input so far! Of course there are no right or wrong opinions, but it's nice to get an idea of what 'Vintage' and 'Modern' mean to different people!

[holly9000]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

I pretty much agree with you. Then, again, we're starting to expand and parse on the OP and that's where we can end up displeasing some players as I have done in another comment in the thread. To show what I mean I'd expand the categories or range to say that Ovation was the Original Modern Guitar, and Taylor and other "modern guitars" rank in the Neo-Modern Guitar range. See what I mean?

I never thought of Ovations that way but now that you point it out I believe I would agree with that statement. Thanks for that insight!

[Lillis]

While not high end like most of the guitars mentioned i’ve Been playing my Seagull mini jumbo this morning. Cedar over lam. Cherry with nickel bronze strings. I would place it just off the center line towards vintage.

As far as my USA Breedlove Sitka over rosewood goes I would put that just on the other side of center towards modern.

[M19]

Sorry, but a linear scale for something as complex as tonality is nonsense.