Just a bunch of hacks

[Pick guard]

All of the bellyaching that goes on here in the forum about how much a guitar costs really comes into focus when watching tonight's 60 minute segment on Cremona, the birthplace of the violin. Watching the young talents that play such beautiful music on these instruments has convinced me that we're all a bunch of hacks playing our fretted instruments.

Now before you get up in arms about "Who are you calling a hack?" and start listing all of the talented guitar players, it is said partially in jest. But crying in your beer about how no guitar should cost over XXX dollars is really comical when looking at the price of a fine instrument like a violin. Not even close.

Watching Anastasiya Petryshak from the Ukraine so effortlessly play a Stradivarius once again shines a spotlight on true talent and dedication to music.

It's a good segment about a timeless instrument.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stradiva...ce-60-minutes/

[fazool]

Watching it now and it looks really fascinating. Streaming video keeps stuttering for me so I may have to come back and finish it later.

[Pick guard]

Originally Posted by fazool

Watching it now and it looks really fascinating. Streaming video keeps stuttering for me so I may have to come back and finish it later.

Same here. Tried to watch it again and am thinking CBS's servers might be buckling under the load at the moment.

[Gasworker]

Amazing. She was extremely talented. Played her heart out all the while security officers kept a close watch. I was surprised when she struck the strings with the bow on the Stradivarius.

[Wardo]

Originally Posted by Pick guard

But crying in your beer about how no guitar should cost over XXX dollars is really comical when looking at the price of a fine instrument like a violin. Not even close.

Good guitars are relatively cheap IMO. I see my 2012 D18 as a very good deal and I recently picked up a new Custom Shop HD35 with a 1&3/4 neck, butter beans, pyramid bridge, sitka top and adi bracing for the same street price as a stock HD35. I can't complain about any of that.

Oh, yeah! All you need is a kid or two playing violin to appreciate the economy of even the best guitars. Don't even ask about the cost of violin strings!

[Green Craig]

Buuuuuut, there have been more than a few blind studies have shown that a Strad doesn't sound different than a well-made, mid-grade modern violin.

[Pick guard]

Originally Posted by Green Craig

Buuuuuut, there have been more than a few blind studies have shown that a Strad doesn't sound different than a well-made, mid-grade modern violin.

Don't question it for a second. Why I'll bet there is some study, some statistic that "proves" an Olson doesn't sound different than an Esteban. That's what the marketing departments are paid to do, create doubt, i.e. "It's just as good as..."

[Rondoraymundo]

http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/technology/...ones-1.2601191

[Captain Jim]

I just got off the phone with my contacts in China... ramping up for the new violin-styled guitar, called a Strad-o-caster! We're gonna make a fortune!



When they spoke about all the violin shops there, I pictured a bunch of kids playing "Stairway to Heaven"...

[Pick guard]

Originally Posted by Captain Jim

When they spoke about all the violin shops there, I pictured a bunch of kids playing "Stairway to Heaven"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM1V...s&spfreload=10

[Green Craig]

Originally Posted by Pick guard

Don't question it for a second. Why I'll bet there is some study, some statistic that "proves" an Olson doesn't sound different than an Esteban. That's what the marketing departments are paid to do, create doubt, i.e. "It's just as good as..."

So, instead, we're supposed to rely on some non-quantifiable, intangible "mojo," or the idea that some things just are better than others?

[Captain Jim]

Pretty, but I was talking about a Saturday afternoon at VIOLIN Center!

[Fatstrat]

After decades of pining after Martin and other what were once considered "high end" guitars and then finally getting them. I was struck by the revelation that I could enjoy playing cheaper guitars nearly if not just as much. The tone & volume is obviously not as good. But a well set up cheapo can sound & play pretty darned good. I won't give up my Martin. But the icing is kind of off the cake for me. If something happened to it, I likely wouldn't spend the $ to replace it. I'd just get a decent cheapo.

[Pick guard]

Originally Posted by Green Craig

So, instead, we're supposed to rely on some non-quantifiable, intangible "mojo," or the idea that some things just are better than others?

Not sure why you're going down this path, wasn't my initial comment about the 60 Minutes segment.

But to answer your question, I would suggest as in all things, consider the source.

Since I don't play the violin, not sure why I'm being dragged into an argument. Did I enter the wrong door?