Comparison video of Kostal OM and two Modified Dreadnoughts

Michael Watts · #1 02-12-2014, 10:38 AM

Hi there!

It's good to be back, the past few of months have been hectic in a wonderful way as The North American Guitar has moved into beautiful new premises in the heart of London!

Now that the dust has settled I'm going to be able to post a lot more frequently and there is a lot that I'm looking forward to sharing with you.

First up is a video of three Kostal guitars that have featured in build threads on this forum over the years. An OM and two Modified Dreadnoughts! The video was taken at an informal gathering of AGF members in the UK where Jason's exceptional work has proved extremely popular.

If you haven't already then please do subscribe to our YouTube channel, we have an ever-growing wealth of original content with more to come in 2014.

This is not intended to be a "scientific" comparison between the instruments, rather a chance to hear them in a live space. Audio was taken with a matched pair of Gefell M300 small capsule condensers directly into Logic via an Apogee Duet 2. This is raw audio, no EQ, not drenched in reverb nor artificially enhanced in any way.

All camera work is actually by Jason Kostal himself so it's rock solid!

All the best

MW

ericcsong · #2 02-12-2014, 12:23 PM

beautiful playing Michael!

steveh · #3 02-12-2014, 01:49 PM

Those guitars seem strangely familiar.

So does the setting...

Cheers,
Steve

Julian Gaffney · #4 02-12-2014, 01:55 PM

Gorgeous guitars and wonderful playing! Thanks for sharing it with us

cogito · #5 02-12-2014, 02:13 PM

Thanks for posting this video. Each one of those is a phenomenal sounding instrument. Do you have any Kostals available or forthcoming soon at NAG? (Otherwise, it's starting to border on cruelty dangling such instruments before those of us who can't even get on Jason's 6 year wait list ).

CoolerKing · #6 02-12-2014, 02:13 PM

Thanks for sharing. I'm really interested in this alternate tuning. Is it dadgad?

Michael Watts · #7 02-12-2014, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericcsong

beautiful playing Michael!

Thanks Eric!

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh

Those guitars seem strangely familiar.

So does the setting...

Cheers,
Steve

Yes... funny that...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian Gaffney

Gorgeous guitars and wonderful playing! Thanks for sharing it with us

Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Michael Watts · #8 02-12-2014, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cogito

Thanks for posting this video. Each one of those is a phenomenal sounding instrument. Do you have any Kostals available or forthcoming soon at NAG? (Otherwise, it's starting to border on cruelty dangling such instruments before those of us who can't even get on Jason's 6 year wait list ).

I can certainly help there... PM me and let's talk!

Michael Watts · #9 02-12-2014, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

Thanks for sharing. I'm really interested in this alternate tuning. Is it dadgad?

Hi Matthew,

yes indeed, DADGAD is my "standard", has been for over 15 years now when I realised that I'd rather change my trousers in front of an audience than my tuning...

billgennaro · #10 02-12-2014, 03:09 PM

Wow! That was beautiful. All three were wonderful. I liked the low end of the ABW a little better than the other two (but not by much). It sunk right into my bones. Great playing too! Is that an original composition? I've never had the chance to audition one of Jason's guitars but I've heard quite a few well recorded samples and, I must say, they are stunning instruments. I've never heard anything sound any better! Thanks, Michael. Always a pleasure.

kirkham13 · #11 02-12-2014, 03:30 PM

They are all wonderful, I'm sure much better in person than on my iPad. The tree modified d sounds more played in and warm which I like. The om sounded very promising though..

Nemoman · #12 02-12-2014, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkham13

They are all wonderful, I'm sure much better in person than on my iPad. The tree modified d sounds more played in and warm which I like. The om sounded very promising though..

+1 to the above. The tree MD was my favorite, but I love the look and size of the OM, which was very impressive given its young age. Looking forward to hearing it again in the future to hear how it develops. Wonderful job, Michael--thanks for posting the video.....

mikealpine · #13 02-12-2014, 06:00 PM

Really lovely playing! The guitars all sound fantastic. I think if I were to choose one, it would be the Blackwood model. The bass made my chair vibrate, and the highs were a bit brighter to my ear. The Tree model was smoother all around, and very well balanced, and certainly a guitar I would love to play, but I like it when the outer range is a bit more prominent. Really, really nice!!

OddManOut · #14 02-12-2014, 09:07 PM

Beautiful playing and great sounding guitars. I left the following comment on YouTube:

"Nice sounding guitars and wonderful playing! What I hear: There is a subtle richness in the low end of the Mod D that I didn't detect in the OM. Obviously this could change as the OM matures. The first Mod D does sound a bit more compressed, the OM more open. The second Mod D has a more open tone and a bit more chime thought the mids and highs, less dark subtlety in the low end. Based on the video I like the second Mod D. Who knows which I would prefer in person. All of them sound very profound. Very nice, indeed!"

WhistlingFish · #15 02-13-2014, 12:10 AM

Debate the tonal merits of the various wood combinations all you like, but for me, the most noteworthy aspect of the YouTube video is Michael's sublime playing!