Four Acoustics

AlbertC · March 2020

I recorded the same short bit of fingerpicking on 4 different acoustics -

http://files.fawmers.org/FAWM_2020/oddbod/Acoustics.mp3

Nothing particularly scientific about this, it's very much down to personal taste but I'm just kind of interested in the opinions of anyone who cares to have a listen - it's only about 1.40

Which (for whatever reason) do you prefer or think sounds the nicest/best, what floats your boat, etc...

brucegill · March 2020

Nice playing! Think I prefer the first one, but not listened on decent speakers yet. Seemed more balanced. Will check it out tomorrow again

Andy79 · March 2020

I prefer 1 or 2. 3 and 4 seemed more brash in the midrange. All same strings? Bronze?

Nogoodboyo · March 2020

Number 1

AlbertC · March 2020

Andy79 said:

I prefer 1 or 2. 3 and 4 seemed more brash in the midrange. All same strings? Bronze?

Yes all bronze strings - but not necessarily the same make/gauge

Clashman · March 2020

1 sounded best to me lots of note clarity 2 and 3 sounded muffled with uneven tonal range possibly laminate wood to blame, 4 sounded tonally very good across the range imho of course.

brojangles · March 2020

3 and 4 seemed clearer to me, 1 and 2 warmer and a bit more muffled. 3 and 4 seemed more mix-ready, somehow (less bass?). I couldn't really decide which one I preferred without knowing what kind of song or arrangement it was (imaginarily) going to fit into. Although I'm sure I'd have strong and definite views on which acoustic I thought sounded best if I sat down and played them myself.

AlbertC · March 2020

brojangles said:

I couldn't really decide which one I preferred without knowing what kind of song or arrangement it was (imaginarily) going to fit into.

Probably just for a sort of guy-with-guitar, solo finger picking with solo vocal aspect

Kilgore · March 2020

Number 1 for me. When do we get to find out what they are?

AlbertC · March 2020

Kilgore said:

Number 1 for me. When do we get to find out what they are?

Not too long, hopefully a few more will chip in and then I'll reveal but I'll leave it blind for now so there's no preference bias

Andy79 · March 2020

I think 3 or 4 is a Lowden....

sev112 · March 2020

4 1 2 3, but nothing wrong with any
i though 3 sounded like it was on thicker gauge strings, it just felt like when I fingerpick with 13s on, ie a bit “tighter” and less sustain

nice picking

interested in the results

Jalapeno · March 2020

There has to be a four candles gag in here but I'm afraid I can't find it !

ArchtopDave · March 2020

I didn't find any of them super exciting, or unpleasant. Number 3 was the most individual sounding one.

AlbertC · March 2020

Andy79 said:

I think 3 or 4 is a Lowden....

all I'll say is there is a Lowden in there

AlbertC · March 2020

ArchtopDave said:

I didn't find any of them super exciting, or unpleasant.

Well that could be down to my technique/ability or recording method

ArchtopDave · March 2020

AlbertC said:

ArchtopDave said:

I didn't find any of them super exciting, or unpleasant.

Well that could be down to my technique/ability or recording method

I was in no way commenting on your playing. Might be something to do with the recording. None of the guitars sounded unpleasant. I like acoustics with a full ranging sound if that makes sense, so I'm looking for something that has good bass, good mids, and a bit of zing at the treble end. I know this is asking quite a lot, but it can sometimes be found.

VimFuego · March 2020

well, I liked them all, if I had to pick one I'd say no 2.

AlbertC · March 2020

ArchtopDave said:

AlbertC said:

ArchtopDave said:

I didn't find any of them super exciting, or unpleasant.

Well that could be down to my technique/ability or recording method

I was in no way commenting on your playing. Might be something to do with the recording. None of the guitars sounded unpleasant. I like acoustics with a full ranging sound if that makes sense, so I'm looking for something that has good bass, good mids, and a bit of zing at the treble end. I know this is asking quite a lot, but it can sometimes be found.

No offense taken

I just meant that these weren't meticulous recordings and apart from a touch of reverb there's no other fx/eq/compression/etc or other production

brucegill · March 2020

just listened again and really have no idea what one I prefer lol. all very different. at a push, 1 and 3. but have nothing agains 2 or 4.

come on, put us out of our misery.

pjf · March 2020

Found this a lot harder than I thought I would!

I have no idea but would guess

1 - Martin
2 - mahogany something
3 - Lowden
4 - ????

AlbertC · March 2020

Okay here ‘s what they are -

1 – Lowden 032C

2 – DJW (Luthier) Parlour (cedar top, bubinga back & sides)

3 – Tanglewood TW1000

4 – Taylor GS Mini

What was the point of this? Not really sure - maybe just to get some outside opinions about how they sound. I was perhaps hoping it might sway or help me decide which I might sell. It appears the Lowden came out best though it’s oddly the one I least enjoy playing. The DJW is fabulous to play though it never sounds as good when I record it as it does when I’m playing it. The Tanglewood and Taylor are just very decent solid guitars.

ICBM · March 2020

1 has a muffled top-end and the low note attack is far too boomy and overpowers the other picking. Didn't like this at all.

2 is obviously a small guitar, but has a nice chimey openness about it that I like even though small guitars aren't really my thing.

3 is slightly scooped in the mids but otherwise sounds quite balanced - closest to the definitive picked dreadnought sound. My favourite.

4 has a slightly odd nasal 'whangy' frequency in the upper mids that I don't like.

No particular surprises to see what they are - I had a Lowden O10 once and didn't like it either! Beautifully made but didn't work for me soundwise. I made a stupid mistake not to sell it first when I should have...

If you don't enjoy playing the Lowden then I would sell it, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Never talk yourself into thinking you "should" prefer the "better" guitar , when you actually don't. It's too personal for that.

rustneversleeps · March 2020

No particular surprises to see what they are - I had a Lowden O10 once and didn't like it either! Beautifully made but didn't work for me soundwise. I made a stupid mistake not to sell it first when I should have...

If you don't enjoy playing the Lowden then I would sell it, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Never talk yourself into thinking you "should" prefer the "better" guitar , when you actually don't. It's too personal for that.

Been there couldn’nt Agree more.

zepp76 · March 2020

ICBM said:

1 has a muffled top-end and the low note attack is far too boomy and overpowers the other picking. Didn't like this at all.

2 is obviously a small guitar, but has a nice chimey openness about it that I like even though small guitars aren't really my thing.

3 is slightly scooped in the mids but otherwise sounds quite balanced - closest to the definitive picked dreadnought sound. My favourite.

4 has a slightly odd nasal 'whangy' frequency in the upper mids that I don't like.

No particular surprises to see what they are - I had a Lowden O10 once and didn't like it either! Beautifully made but didn't work for me soundwise. I made a stupid mistake not to sell it first when I should have...

If you don't enjoy playing the Lowden then I would sell it, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Never talk yourself into thinking you "should" prefer the "better" guitar , when you actually don't. It's too personal for that.

I’m so glad you found No.3 to be your favourite, I have been championing the Tanglewood brand since getting my dreadnought (x15 ns) a year or so ago. They make superb guitars but they just seem to be criminally underrated. At the £650 price mark I found nothing to better it, just a fantastic guitar with a great spec too.

Jetfire · March 2020

I am no means an acoustic expert but 3 and 4 made me think it had a resonator feel to it? No idea why (and I was listening via my phone) but I preferred 1 and 2. How were these recorded? I'm making the assumption is was via a mic?

Must be said, I really enjoyed the playing too, good work sir.

malcolmkindness · March 2020

I have played some very mediocre Lowdens in my time and this sounds like one of them. I agree with most of the others the Tanglewood is best.

Jetfire · March 2020

Actually, listening to it on proper speakers, 3 and 4 sounds very good compared to the others

AlbertC · March 2020

Jetfire said:

How were these recorded? I'm making the assumption is was via a mic?

Yes, with a pair of pencil condenser mics

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Four Acoustics

Comments