POLL: Can you really hear a difference?

[runamuck]

Much larger tonal differences than heard in the recordings can be had with different kinds of strings.
The world is full of myth.

[JohnM]

Originally Posted by JoeCharter

Interesting how our judgement is based on past experiences.

When I think of cedar tops, I think of Olsons -- and they certainly have this "trebley" quality rather than "mushy".

I think #1 and #4 are the most "trebley" guitars.

I typically associate "mushy" with rosewood and spruce -- but then the Bourgeois would contradict this perception.

It is sooooo complicated... LOL

Which is a little telling for me actually. Not so much woods wise, because as we know the builder makes a bigger difference. In your other recordings I really liked the sound of your Olson. And of course I worked with Dana Bourgeois for a while. So I'm not surprised I gravitated towards those two as my favorites. I just vastly prefer very balanced tones. I didn't particualrly like the #3 clip, and #2 just sounded a little odd to me. Not bad, just different to what I would want to hear/build.

[cedarkoa599]

It's probably #1 that guitar sounds like the tree to me which is a cedar top. #4 I think is the kraut
#2 is the Martin #3 Dana B

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by cedarkoa599

It's probably #1 that guitar sounds like the tree to me which is a cedar top. #4 I think is the kraut
#2 is the Martin #3 Dana B

He's already posted the answers....



Originally Posted by JoeCharter
Guitar #1: Bourgeois SJ (Madagascar rosewood + Alpine spruce)
Guitar #2: Kraut OM (Brazilian rosewood + Alpine spruce)
Guitar #3: Martin OM-21 Special (East Indian rosewood + Sitka spruce)
Guitar #4: Olson SJ (Mahogany + Cedar)

[robj144]

You have great taste in guitars and really play extremely well. My question is how do you not have a Goodall in your stable? I think you would love a Goodall and you could definitely make them sing.

[mikealpine]

Originally Posted by JoeCharter

#1 is the hi-fi guitar of the bunch so that gives you a good indication of your personal preference.

The Bourgeois was my favourite guitar for a long while -- but then I got the Kraut, which has a bigger voice that is better suited for solo guitar (IMHO).

Thanks for participating!

I've got a commission underway and asked the builder, based on our discussions, if could pick out which sample I liked best. Hoping he comes back with #1 as his choice. It will make me feel like we're on the same page as far as target tone. If he doesn't, then at least I have something to steer him toward.

[dennisczech]

Hey I'm one of the few that voted for no. 4. However, that's only because it sounded to my ears most like the recordings Mau has made of his Olson, and I knew the Olson was cedar. Apart from that, I wouldn't have had the faintest clue. I still think the nicest sounding for recording is the OM-21 Special, which is probably by far the cheapest. Dennis

[CET]

Beautiful playing, Joe. They all sound nice.

My preferences, in order, are #1, #3/#4 (tied) and #2. It's interesting to me that the Brazilian one was my least favorite.

[Fichtezc]

Wow, 4 immediately stuck out to me. Perhaps because all of my acoustics are cedar (Seagull, Taylor, Cordoba) or perhaps because that's really what I prefer. I voted for 4 and saw that no one else had and hung my head in shame that I could be SO wrong. Then I read through the comments....

Interesting how so many people think it's the second, I skipped that one after about 3 seconds because it sounded nothing like cedar or hog to my ear.

[Bruce Sexauer]

I would be very surprised if it is not guitar number 3 that is cedar. Guitar #4 is my least favorite.

Whoops, I read that the answers are posted, now I have to go looking!

[Fichtezc]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I would be very surprised if it is not guitar number 3 that is cedar. Guitar #4 is my least favorite.

Whoops, I read that the answers are posted, now I have to go looking!

Originally Posted by JoeCharter
Guitar #1: Bourgeois SJ (Madagascar rosewood + Alpine spruce)
Guitar #2: Kraut OM (Brazilian rosewood + Alpine spruce)
Guitar #3: Martin OM-21 Special (East Indian rosewood + Sitka spruce)
Guitar #4: Olson SJ (Mahogany + Cedar)

[JonBarclay]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I would be very surprised if it is not guitar number 3 that is cedar. Guitar #4 is my least favorite.

Whoops, I read that the answers are posted, now I have to go looking!

Oh phew, I'm in excellent company! (Sorry Bruce )

Number 3 did seem to me to be the odd one out. Oh well, back to the drawing board...

Jon

PS: although being able to distinguish the boutique / sole luthier guitars from the Martin makes me feel better... even if that wasn't what I was listening for

[Matt Mustapick]

My shot-in-the-dark guess was 1, and I had absolutely no confidence in it. I do not think I would have done any better if I was in the same room with these guitars, or even playing them myself (without looking of course). This thread is potentially highly instructive.

[Simon Fay]

I had no definitive opinion -- although, I thought it was #3.

I personally, greatly preferred #1 to all the other guitars for "Fields of Gold" (I didn't listen to the second song). I liked #3 the least as it seemed the "muddiest" to me -- which is why I thought it was Cedar as my Redwood/Cedar topped guitars tend to have less clarity and much more warmth than my Spruce guitars.

I think the take home point here is that the builder is significantly more important than the woods used. That said, I also think it is obvious to those of us with experience in playing different wood combinations from one builder/manufacturer that the woods do make a noticeable difference.

Great Thread, Joe!!!

[Bruce Sexauer]

I too thought #3 the odd one out tonally, and #4 too weak to be cedar, which despite its peculiarities is almost always loud. #1 and #2 both sounded very good to me, and I am happy to hear that they should do so.