Tone

[Marty]

I have a Yamaha G225 classical guitar that my wife bought me 25 years ago. I took a few lessons, but mostly taught myself how to play. I decided to get a steel string once I got 'serious about playing', etc. I did get a Martin about 3 yesrs ago but, I kept going back to that classical because of the beautiful tone. It is a $100 (1975) guitar, all plywood I think, but the tone is excellent. I though boy if this inexpensive guitar sounds so good what about a high quality classical. I recently purchased a Contreras C5 which is great, but believe it or not that Yamaha has very similar tone. The C5 is fuller and louder, but I still can not part with my cheaper asian guitar.
Why, is the tone so good?? I know it goes against the theory.

[Jonny Hotnuts]

There are a few reasons that can have influences on why your Yama sounds nice.

I have always felt that Yamaha makes one if not the best values in classical guitars in the 3 to 5 hundred USD range. Their workmanship, sound and playabliliy is as good or better than many guitars in the 700+ range. And this is not the first time I have heard someone else mention that they liked their Yama better than a newer, more expensive stick. And the age of the guitar can also improve the tone.

But also note that many people do not fully relize what and why a guitar is more expensive. Many factors can raise the cost of a guitar but not improve its tone. Rare woods, workmanship, finish, rairiy, electronics and luither name can all influence the cost of a guitar without making its tone any better. And is one reason a more expensive guitar does not always sound better that a less expensive model. So a 1000$ guitar can will sound as good as one that is 5000 (subjective), but as a rule the 5000$ stick is going to be made better have better resale and impress more of the ladies.

One of the most important things to look for in an acustic is how loud it plays and its blance betwixt its low, mid and high tones. The fact that you said that it is louder and sounds fuller likely means that you just need to give your contreras c5 more time. And while the C5 is not an ultra high end guitar it is infact better than your Yama. You have stroaked the yama for years, I would recomend putting the Yama in a case and play the C5 for a few months. Then take the Yama back out and play it again. Very likely you will be asking yourself "how did I ever think they sounded alike" :wink:

-JH

[Rex]

I agree with the above post. When you play one instrument for so many years you tend to think of it's tone as being "correct". Put in some time on the new guitar and your opinion will probably change. The other thing going on here is that quite often student grade classical guitars do sound pretty good. This is not the case with steel string acoustics. I don't know why, maybe it's the heavier bracing they need, but you need to spend close to a grand if not more for a decent steel string guitar while you can find a really decent sounding classical for under $500. Of course a $500 classical is not professional quility and you can spend thousands on a fine instrument. We are just lucky that way. In my post about picks one fellow suggested I might want to get a "beach guitar" to take on camping trips and such. Actually I have one of those... it cost $200 used with a gig bag and sounds really nice but lacks volume when compared to a finer instrument. I think the volume problem is due mostly to the thick finish they spray onto factory guitars.

[Marty]

Thanks for the advise! I will indeed spend my time on the C5. I am definitely favoring the classical sound. I think my steel string will also go into stroage as well. Someday I do hope to purchase a concert quality instrument, but first I need to get alot better at playing to convience my lady! Any recommendations for future concert classicals? I would be looking for overall quality and tone not so much name recognition.

[Jonny Hotnuts]

As a rule name recognition is a very important thing to look for.
From your post it seems like you hang on to your guitars for a long time so this may not apply, but name recognition now means in the future it will also have name recognition and this equals higher resale.

Another thing to consider is why does a name have name recognition to start off with. Usually it is because of years of making guitars that have consistantly good tone, workmanship, customer support and a host of other things that build a hard earned reputation (i.e. "name recognition").

The MSRP of your C5 is around 1500 to 2K. And while that is a good chunk of change I would not recomend upgrading unless you are going to get something vastly better, and usually vastly better means more expensive.
I can not in good faith say there is any guitar better than your C5 untill you get in the 5K+ class (I am sure someone will say I am full of it!).

More important is what are you willing to spend.
I see used guitars on GSI and music stores that are high end peaces that have may be a bit scrached up but are 100% structurally sound. THis is a way you can get a guitar with name recognition, tone and playablilty without spending a fortune. And in the future you decide you want something else it should maintain most (if not all or increased in value) as a trade or sale for a new guitar.

Now I am screwing around with 17+ guitars, just got a '81 1a and think it has one of the finest tones I have ever heard in a classical.
And only set me back 4500.
Already have an offer of 5500.
Not a chance in hell!

:twisted:


-JH

[edwardcav]

Although it sounds a bit weird, I have to agree with Johnny Hotnuts.

I can not in good faith say there is any guitar better than your C5 untill you get in the 5K+ class (I am sure someone will say I am full of it!).

This is true, to a certain extent, unless you get an awesome deal. I have played guitars in and around the $3000US price range, and as awesome as some sound, they just dont (oh and it hurts me to say so) play like instruments that should cost that much.

It's a shame, but thats the way classicals are. You get what you pay for, when you pay more than $5000 - usually.