Best guitar..... EVER!

[edwardcav]

Well, just curious I guess guys.

This one is directed to everyone:

What is the most beautiful sounding guitar you have ever played? Describe it!!!

Thought it might be fun! What did you play on it?? what does it sound like/ remind you of? Was it pretty :) tell me tell me tell me

Thanks!

[steve v]

Best ever? Given people's wildly subjective response to music, the answers to this question are going to range all over the place. I can't even tell you which of the guitars I currently own is the most beautiful sounding I've ever played, because each of them has its own strengths.

1989 Miguel Rodriguez, cedar/brazilian: a dark sound with wonderful projection, beautiful singing, sweet trebles, punchy basses, harmonic overtones yet with a sound that can almost be described as hollow, or as if I'm playing with slight reverb, with excellent clarity for a cedar-top guitar (and there's my "problem" with it, as I wish it had just a touch more clarity). My wife has told me she will kill me if I ever sell this guitar, as it's her favorite sound, without a contest. In terms of looks, it has a simplistic beauty to it; it's a clean look that kind of grows on you. The BR rosewood is quarter-sawn, so most of the grain is very straight and not visually exciting to look at, and the visual contrast between the top and the sides and back is not that strong.

1988 Manuel Contreras, cedar/brazilian "double top": rich, rich, rich harmonic overtones, with wonderful, wonderful voicings and exceptional sweetness;a more intimate sound than the Rodgriguez, with nowhere near the punch in the basses that the Rodriguez has, yet it's the guitar that I responded to the most before the injuries that led to me not playing from 1991 until just a few months ago. Visually, a stunning guitar, with beatiful, dark creamy brazilian rosewood, an extremely tightly-grained top with lots of cross grain, elaborate purling and the Contreras signature headstock, which I think is elaborate. Just a gorgeous instrument to look at.

1995 Hermann Hauser III, spruce/African hardwood (bubinga): absolutely phenomenal clarity and balance, projection that will just knock you over, bell-like trebles and a haunting bass. Excellent tonal color range, although not quite as expansive as either of the previous two guitars, and much sweeter than I expected, although certainly not as sweet again as either of those two. I've been playing around with it for about a month, off and on, and I just bought it yesterday, so I still need some time to live with it. Visually, it's a simple look, with clean lines, a distinctive rosette that I really love, and impeccable, incredible craftsmanship. The African hardwood is a rich reddish brownOne really unique thing about it is that the rollers on the Reischl machine heads appear to be made of wood, and that's the first concert classical of the 25 or so I've owned over the years where I've run across that.

2003 Ignacio Rozas, spruce/Indian Rosewood: way too new to tell what it will end up like, but it has incredible sweetness and juice in the trebles; to me, it sounds like an older cedar Ramirez, yet with clarity. Rich, rich overtones. If it develops---and that 3 or so year development period with spruce tops can be challenging to live through, wondering what the guitar will eventually become---this guitar could be a monster.

I also own a 1988 Manuel Contreras, spruce/brazilian "double top" that I'm going to have to sell as a result of having bought the Rozas and the Hauser, but I've already rambled on enough about all of these guitars, so I'll stop.

[jens]

The most beautiful guitar I have ever played and which I have owned now for some time is made by the not well known German luthier Otto Rauch. It has a spruce top with extensive cross grain, really spectacular Indian rosewood back and sides with red, greenish brown and orange stripes in the grain (actually looks virtually more like Brazilian than like Indian, but it's definitely the Indian species), purflings of flamed maple and on the head Rodgers tuners are mounted. The guitar is built in the tradition of Hauser and Romanillos yet it is even louder than a double-top instrument from Matthias Dammann, to which I had the opportunity to compare it. It posesses very dark and firm basses paired with brilliant trebles and the overall sound of this guitar is very clear, direct and "compact". The character of sound is rather neutral, but there are wonderfully subtle possibilities of modulation, not only from sweet to harsh, but with many shades between these two extremes. Separation of voices is excellent so the guitar is very appropriate for polyphonic music.

[nikpearson]

The most beautiful classical guitar I've played is my 1962 Ramirez 1A. Brazillian Rosewood & Spruce which has aged to a deep orange hue. I've relatively little experience of classical guitars in general but this one really is a beauty. Deep resonant bass, great string separation, and the sweetest treble in high positions. The back & sides are glorious with swirly grain & dark veins throughout.

The best guitar I've played full stop would have to be a limited edition Lowden O series steel string. I know a lot more about steel string guitars and this one was simply spectacular. Unfortunately at £8000 a little out of my price range.

[ehoude]

Best guitar I have ever played? My 1974 Ramirez 1a -- deep, rich, clear basses, sweet, absolutely clear trebles, and the most beautiful Brazilian rosewood back and sides you could ever ask for! The second best is my 1982 Ramirez 1A 10-string -- incredible power, rich, dark basses, excellent overall clarity (especially for a 10-string!) , amazing sustain and bright, singing trebles. You haven't heard Bach until you've heard it on this guitar!

I've been playing since 1965, and have yet to find an equal to either guitar, Fleta, Hauser, and Hernandez y Aguado included....of course, this is just my own experience...

[edwardcav]

I'd have to say that the best guitar that I have ever played is a Simon Marty Cedar. I think it was 1993. Simon Marty is an Aussie luthier. The guitar was like nothing I've heard before, the potential to produce tearjerkers - but more of a punchy and consistent tone - a consistent but easily vaired tone. Loud, but not overly loud.

A beautiful guitar. I have not played many guitars, though. I've played a Ramirez 1a, 1990 Smallman cedar, Richard Howell Fleta copy, amongst others.

[et041053]

hey steve, what model of Ignacio Rozas do u own..? just curious.

[steve v]

et041053.

It's his signed concert model; I know that he calls his signed concert model with brazilian rosewood back and sides the "especial," but I honestly don't know if the signed instruments with indian rosewood back and sides have a special name.