Is You Favorite Guitar To Play the Favorite For Your Listners?

[CharlieBman]

My "favorite" guitar depends on what song I'm playing. Each typically has a sonic texture that fits a given song better than others. As to what listeners think or feel about what guitar I'm playing has never been my concern.

[markcrawford]

Collings CJ35

[tommieboy]

Is You Favorite Guitar To Play the Favorite For Your Listners?

My Listeners? Truthfully, I could care less what my dogs and cats think of my favorite guitar.

Tommy

[mr. beaumont]

I have never once had a comment on a gig that one guitar sounded better than another.

Possibly because I try to gig with only one guitar as much as humanly possible But more likely because people don't care.

At home, my wife prefers my nylon string guitars. But probably because I play them quieter

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I have never once had a comment on a gig that one guitar sounded better than another.

Possibly because I try to gig with only one guitar as much as humanly possible But more likely because people don't care.

At home, my wife prefers my nylon string guitars. But probably because I play them quieter

I have had a couple of gig comments (from other guitarists) that they like my acoustic archtop - probably because it sounds very different to a flatop. My wife liked my D-18 - she thought it sounded sweet. I struggled to play it in "my" style - it was just too much guitar for me in many respects. She doesn't like me playing the archtop (except at gigs, where she admits it works well).

I sort of know that I could find another "sweet" guitar that would work for us both - and probably for under $500. In fact, I could switch my Art & Lutherie Legacy from monel mediums to PB lights and change my pick, and she would think it was a new "sweet" guitar!

[JayBee1404]

I’ve had compliments from audience-members numerous times about how good all of my acoustic guitars sound, but I’ve never been told that any of them is preferred to the others. Neither do I have a ‘favourite’ - each has its purpose which it fulfills perfectly for me, and all are equal in my affections.

[donlyn]

Is You Favorite Guitar To Play the Favorite For Your Listners?

A few random thoughts on this.

Most playing-out situations do not lend themselves to a lot of one-on-one personal interaction with audiences, and when it does happen, it is usually about the performance, not the guitars.

Used to be that most 'Open Mic' situations were just that. There's a lot plug into the house soundboard situations now, and requires a guitar with pick-ups installed.
(At least half of my guitars don't have pick-ups, and I don't like to plug in anyway. That's for electric guitars; all acoustic guitars tend to sound the same to me when plugged in.)

On the other side of the coin, do pay attention to what people at small gatherings have to say, as they will often share opinions about your instruments that you might not ordinarily get. This includes informal jams/mini-concerts, and also friends and family gatherings.

I have taken to often bringing a guitar now to such gatherings, and always bring a guitar when requested. My last acquisition is the all-solid-spruce/rosewood Guild F-1512 large Jumbo 12 string guitar, with no on-board-electronics. Everyone seems to love the sound of this guitar, and I have gotten a lot of comments to that effect. (Plus a few on my performance; I'm getting jealous. )

My point is that while people may notice a lot, the chances of communicating can be few and far between. Informal gatherings can be great sources of feedback, as everyone is in a casual setting.

I fingerpick all my guitars using my nails as picks. And the only guitar I would plug in now would be my last remaining electric, a cherry sunburst Les Paul standard. Truth is, I haven't plugged-in in years.

Be well and always play your best (you never know who is listening),

Don
.

[Mandobart]

My experience has been if you want the audience to comment/interact about your instrument, you bring something they haven’t heard or seen before.

My 10 string custom mandola, 10 string custom mandocello or 10 string Hardanger viola all do this. They’re visually striking, different and not guitars. The audience doesn’t know what to expect. So they listen a little more attentively (at first at least). This also leaves me free to play whatever songs I want, which I do. Then I’ll play something still obscure but familiar and that pulls them in further.

It’s commonly stated that people want the familiar - “play something we know!” But to most audiences all acoustic guitars are the same. Usually only the other musicians or audiophiles will comment about the nuances of tone they hear (while playing your mic’ed or pickup equipped guitar through a sound system…)

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

My experience has been if you want the audience to comment/interact about your instrument, you bring something they haven’t heard or seen before.

For me the squareneck resonator does the trick. Bonus points for the Hipshot bridge that flips between open D and G.

[Bluenose]

Originally Posted by tommieboy

Is You Favorite Guitar To Play the Favorite For Your Listners?

My Listeners? Truthfully, I could care less what my dogs and cats think of my favorite guitar.

Tommy

I think my cat would prefer I didn't play the resonator but that's the price she pays for food, shelter and catnip.

[LAPlayer]

Originally Posted by jseth

In over 60 years of playing, I have not once thought about what others might think about how my guitar sounds to them......

Originally Posted by Osage

I honestly have no idea.

Originally Posted by ljguitar

.....I never gave people a choice, nor asked questions......

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I have never once had a comment on a gig that one guitar sounded better than another. .......)

Ditto, ditto, ditto.... ditto. No like button so I'll quote them.

[Silurian]

My listeners are usually the cats. I don't think they're particularly bothered about differences in guitar tone.

[musicman1951]

Originally Posted by gurroz

I have 4 guitars that are distinctly different and complement one another. My favorite one to play is my Yamaha FS5. If I pick up that guitar in the morning, I will play it all day! With that said, when I'm playing for friends or family they prefer my Yamaha LS16 rosewood. All of them think it sounds the best. To my ears sitting behind the guitar I prefer the FS5 which is mahogany. As a footnote, they are both strung with Elixer Nanoweb 12's. So now when people come over, I reach for the LS16.

It's an interesting question. Your audience is quite a bit different than a typical "gig audience" in that they've heard both instruments and are actually listening. My ear prefers rosewood over hog 99% of the time, so the results don't surprise me, but I'm sure there are other ears that feel the exact opposite.

[The Bard Rocks]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

My experience has been if you want the audience to comment/interact about your instrument, you bring something they haven’t heard or seen before.

My 10 string custom mandola, 10 string custom mandocello or 10 string Hardanger viola all do this. They’re visually striking, different and not guitars. The audience doesn’t know what to expect. So they listen a little more attentively (at first at least). This also leaves me free to play whatever songs I want, which I do. Then I’ll play something still obscure but familiar and that pulls them in further.

It’s commonly stated that people want the familiar - “play something we know!” But to most audiences all acoustic guitars are the same. Usually only the other musicians or audiophiles will comment about the nuances of tone they hear (while playing your mic’ed or pickup equipped guitar through a sound system…)

You are absolutely right.

[gurroz]

Originally Posted by musicman1951

It's an interesting question. Your audience is quite a bit different than a typical "gig audience" in that they've heard both instruments and are actually listening. My ear prefers rosewood over hog 99% of the time, so the results don't surprise me, but I'm sure there are other ears that feel the exact opposite.

I don't gig! My audience is friends who come over for dinner and ask me to play a few songs. They question why I have more than one guitar. I play the different guitars so they can hopefully hear the difference in tone.