Esteban mystery

[cglover]

I was searching the net for videos and guess who I ran across :arrow: None other than the living legend (in his own mind) "Esteban" :!:

This is about the most complete bio I've read about Esteban so far.

http://www.estebanreviews.com/bio.html


Okay, so his real name is Stephen Paul. I'll entertain the idea that he met Segovia and was given the name "Esteban". I don't speak spanish, but is this some kind of spin off from the name "Stephen"?

Maybe Segovia gave a nickname to Christopher Parkening as well?

Christopher ---> 'Christoban' ----> 'Christ' ----> 'Jesus' :shock: :roll:


Another curious thought.........what the hell did Esteban do during the 10 years he couldn't play guitar? Maybe he worked at Guitar Center in the acoustic room. :twisted:


Ahhh.........so many unanswered questions.

The man. The mystery. The legend.

"Esteban" :!: :!: :?: :!: :wink:

[cglover]

And here he is after a hard day of working at Guitar Center. Mood altering substances anyone?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5194017683021199462&q=Stephen+Paul

[G string]

I've seen his latest infomercial on HSN for his American Legacy guitars and he said himself "... I was considered one of the top 10 guitarists in the world before my accident."

[G string]

And here he is after a hard day of working at Guitar Center. Mood altering substances anyone?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5194017683021199462&q=Stephen+Paul

WTF?

[sausgirl]

Hey all,
I heard he lasted with Maestro just a few months....
Jan :shock:

[cglover]

WTF?

:lol: .....I guess you haven't read the "Mood altering substances" thread yet. :shock:

http://forum.guitarsalon.com/viewtopic.php?t=3952


Here's another detail bio that states where he was discovered. I wonder if the Hyatt let him wear his hat? Note that he worked in a lobby BAR
, very convenient for beer drinking after work :!:
http://www.doney.net/aroundaz/celebrity/esteban.htm


:lol: ........some of these guitar reviews made me burst out in tears. :!:
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Esteban/Burswood%20Acoustic/10/1

[classicalguitar83]

What I find funny is that there are SEVERAL guitarist out there that claim they are "students of Segovia" even though they've only been in a few master classes with him or had a couple of private lessons....please, that doesn't make you a student of anyone. Unless you've studied with him privately for a few years, like Virginia Luque (12yrs and was invited to study privately by Segovia himself), then you can't claim that.

[iberianwolf]

Judging from what I've read, Esteban's "association" with Segovia was more akin to stalking than anything else.

[G string]

Review on Esteban's American Legacy guitar

Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 07/23/2006 at 02:51pm by tyrone

Features: 10
it has 6 strings, 6 knob things and a hole... actaully you get more than one hole... great vlue

Sound: 10
I work mostly in atonal music, and ths guitar is perfect. It is not only that it fantastic at not staygin in tune, but it has magic in how it shifts flat and sharp by me just playing an open E then a G on the e string, and when I play an open "E" string again... there it is a magical F sharp

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10
The splints cause some bleeding that really adds some aesthetice to the plywood fretboard.

Reliability/Durability: 10
It still kind if looks like a guitar... Amazing

Customer Support: 10
I called and the great E-man answered the phone himself and explaind how to superglue the fret.

Overall Rating: 10
I haven't picked up my pink Savon Drugs 4" scale length since getting this beauty.

[G string]

More bullshit!

"Unable to pronounce "Stephen," Segovia called him the Spanish equivalent which eventually became his stage name."

Yeah, Spaniards are unable to pronounce "Stephan", it's quite a tongue twister.

[G string]

WTF?

:lol: .....I guess you haven't read the "Mood altering substances" thread yet. :shock:

http://forum.guitarsalon.com/viewtopic.php?t=3952

No, I was wondering if that was him. :lol:

[oc chuck]

For years, I have bought his records and cd's.
I have listened closely.


I have bought his music, both transcriptions
and original compositions.

I have acquired books about him to know
his life, his amazing technique and his
unique interpretations.

YES!!! I, too am a STUDENT OF SEGOVIA!!!!!

[PedroO]

As a former disciple of Segovia, I must confess that the old man was an expert in giving nicknames to his pupils. He is the one who gave me the "Guerito Pampero". When he learned I was from Argentina, but working in Mexico, he called me Guerito Pampero, which means Little Blond Boy from the Argentinan Planes. Everytime we met, he called me that. I grew tired of his name calling and quit his classes, not after learning a great stuff from him. 8)

[Ted]

WELL!!! I'll have you know that I studied with Segovia. Don't believe me? Go ask him. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Zorro strikes again!

[ggus]

check out this quote that I found on reviews.harmony-central.com

"Allan Holdsworth, guitar legend and president of ?Real Guitar Legends For Truth? released a statement on Monday calling for the immediate cessation of all applications of the appellation ?Guitar legend? to the television character known as ?Esteban?. According to the statement, ?Esteban is a fictional character created by L.A. session guitarist Dan Fernaueu for the express purpose of marketing a cheap, poorly constructed guitar-like instrument on the Home Shopping Channel.?"

[Section_10]

I was about to say, Esteban is the type of guy that would be named Steven but call himself Esteban to act more Spanish-like. As it turned out he's just another Steve.
Sincerely,
Miguel.

[PedroO]

Review on Esteban's American Legacy guitar

Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 07/23/2006 at 02:51pm by tyrone

Features: 10
it has 6 strings, 6 knob things and a hole... actaully you get more than one hole... great vlue

Sound: 10
I work mostly in atonal music, and ths guitar is perfect. It is not only that it fantastic at not staygin in tune, but it has magic in how it shifts flat and sharp by me just playing an open E then a G on the e string, and when I play an open "E" string again... there it is a magical F sharp

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10
The splints cause some bleeding that really adds some aesthetice to the plywood fretboard.

Reliability/Durability: 10
It still kind if looks like a guitar... Amazing

Customer Support: 10
I called and the great E-man answered the phone himself and explaind how to superglue the fret.

Overall Rating: 10
I haven't picked up my pink Savon Drugs 4" scale length since getting this beauty.


THIS IS JUST TOO FUNNY!!

[ggus]

yeah and whats even funnier is that he actually stalked Segovia for a while to get his attention.

[racer_x]

I had a teacher who claimed he was a pupil of Segovia too. Name dropping is so dorked. I felt like asking him how he ended up teaching at some crappy university making min. wage, seeing that he was taught by the master himself. I would not brag about being a pupil of Segovia unless you have done something significant with your playing.
Atleast Esteban is on TV making tons of money, unlike so many others still playing guitar all alone in their basements. Nothing wrong with getting a laugh out of him. However, he is laughing all the way to the bank while most players cant even land a decent paying gig. Who is the joke really on?
:?: :idea:

Happy Halloween!! :evil:

[Todd]

I had a teacher who claimed he was a pupil of Segovia too. Name dropping is so dorked. I felt like asking him how he ended up teaching at some crappy university making min. wage, seeing that he was taught by the master himself. I would not brag about being a pupil of Segovia unless you have done something significant with your playing.
Atleast Esteban is on TV making tons of money, unlike so many others still playing guitar all alone in their basements. Nothing wrong with getting a laugh out of him. However, he is laughing all the way to the bank while most players cant even land a decent paying gig. Who is the joke really on?
:?: :idea:

Happy Halloween!! :evil:

I'd much rather have the respect of fellow musicians.

I dont care about money.

I'll take being able to play well, and having a working brain,
and a concience, over being a rich idiot who cant play ****, any day
of the week.

So from my perspective, the joke is on Esteban. :)

[brian richardson]

i feel bad for esteban's hat!!

[Faya]

ya know........... i got a hat like that...................... :shock: :shock: :arrow: :idea:

[brian richardson]

yeah but, his never leaves his head!!! WTF

[Faya]

i'm afraid if i put mine on it'll be possesed by his hats ever reaching vibes and mine won't come off either!!!

[ggus]

I need to get a hat like his, maybe then I can play the way I want to.

[brian richardson]

faya,
and then you'll be selling
crappy guitars on t.v.??? i'll drive a stake through
yer heart before that happens!!! :lol: :lol:

ggus, say it ain't so!! not 3 estabainians!!!

[ggus]

well.....I dont know about any stake. LOL But I think I would look good in a zorro out fit too. hahaha Oh and I cannot forget the sun glasses, thats the tip of the spear there.

[Faya]

nope!!!...............i'm gonna sell even crappier guitars!!!!!......... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Ohhhhh...............how the hat tempts me as it stares me down with it's black cold heart............. :| :shock:

[ggus]

hey Faya,

I just translated your signature, what do you mean by " I am "?

[brian richardson]

she never said nothin', there was nothin'
she wrote, she gone, with the man,
in the long black coat.
b. dylan

make 'em out of sheet metal so they are
lightning friendly.

ggus-them shades will put ya top of the class.
just not estebans creepy fingernails please. my dog had
nicer nails

[Faya]

hey Faya,

I just translated your signature, what do you mean by " I am "?

Well....................it's about time........... :lol: :lol: :lol:

as in "i exsist and nothing more".............or "it doesn't matter what people think of me, cuz "I AM" not going away".................OR!!!! ...............as Popeye says........."I ams What I ams."...............which is my favorite one and the one that explains it in it's truest sense. :wink:

[ggus]

LOL :P

[Faya]

Sheet Metal it is.................... :lol: :!:

[Faya]

LOL :P

:lol: :lol: :lol: .................by the way ggus..........NICE PEGHEAD BLANCA!!!!! 8)

[ggus]

If you like that one you'll love this one....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/gguadamuz/DSC00497.jpg

now this is a real peg head :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/gguadamuz/DSC00504.jpg

[Sandra]

I had a teacher who claimed he was a pupil of Segovia too.
Technically, couldn't anyone who's ever intently listened to a Segovia recording say "I studied under Segovia"? :D

Yeah, Esteban's laughing all the way to the bank. I wouldn't say he's a bad player, nor would I says he's a great player. Heck, I'd probably be happy if I could play as well as he does. :)

But he has probably single-handedly done more to discourage and dash the aspirations of potential classical guitarists than anyone in history just by hawking those gawdawful pieces of crap he endorses on tv.

I'm sure glad I got introduced to CG on tv by Frederick Noad's educational series than by Estaban's infomercials.

[ggus]

Hey thats how I started also, by frederick Noad's books and videos. I still have his Solos Guitar Playing Book 1. I still use it today for references. He was a great man and is being missed dearly.

[Faya]

If you like that one you'll love this one....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/gguadamuz/DSC00497.jpg

now this is a real peg head :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/gguadamuz/DSC00504.jpg


:lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

[Steve Lin]

Did someone call my name?

[Dinosaur SR]

Ok,I take it this is the "Bash Esteban" thread.
At first I wondered why he is so hated and here
is what I have come up with after reading several
posts here.
(a) Yeah,he was a student of A.S. for awhile after
virtually stalking the Maestro for years and now
he seeks to profit off that association
(b) He is palming off a cheap acoustic steel string
guitar as one that is suitable for the pursuit of
flamenco and/or classical music
(c) He has essentially been nothing but a cheap barroom
"lounge lizzard" muscian and May have had a drinking
problem?
(d) He has had a great deal of financial success doing a thru
c so that makes him a candidate for scorn and ridicule.
Does that about sum it all up?
Looks like he is indeed laughing all the way to the bank
as someone mentioned earlier.I don't hate him but I
don't have a great deal of respect for him either-just wish
I had the command of the instrument that he displays.
Cheers,
Dino SR

[guitaro]

I’ve never seen his show, except for the clips on TV. But he seems to be a marvelous entertainer, he has a great band, people seem to love him, he has packed houses wherever he plays, his name and image are recognizable world wide, he gets to make his living by playing the guitar, and he probably makes tons more money than ALL of you combined ever will. That is a great success story. And to me, it sounds like you all are jealous!

RC

[Faya]

ohhhhh.................come on now!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: ...................not "ALL" of us are bashing Esteban.

but if a good joke can be made at the expence of his hat or those cheap guitars ..............so be it!................that's the stuff that happends when you are in the public eye.

some of us never said a thing about his playing or him as a person. and i know i surely didn't!!!!!....................in fact i enjoy a lot of his music. i just don't agree with the whole selling cheapO guitar thing being pawned off as some great thing....................as to the infamous "HAT" ..........i really do have one!!.............. :lol: :lol: :lol:

By the way, i personally do not judge success by the amount of money one has or makes....................to me Honor, Open Mindedness, Loyalty to ones Family & Friends, Being a Person of your word, and Just plain Bushido are far more important in my mind. :arrow: :idea:

[cglover]

The guitars he sells are definately cheap, but what about the one he plays? Does anyone have a guess at what kind of guitar he plays?

[ggus]

yeah, he is laughing all the was to the bank. Also you left out that he dresses like Zorro, and he calls himself Esteban.

[racer_x]

I played one of his older guitars at a pawn shop a while back. It was not a steel string however, it was a nylon string with a solid top. Not too bad really.
I have played several worse sounding plywood topped Alvarez and Yamaha classicals costing much more.

He does mention that he plays a Martin for steel string. I don't know what his higher end classical guitars are.

[Pepe Vergara]

A friend of mine brought a steel string guitar he purchased at the HSN (blue color) for me to lower the action. I really could not do it. I would have had to shave the bridge or do somethin like that. It was a bit hard, but the sound was ok. On another matter, I saw Esteban in Scottdale (AZ) last year on the street (he was not wearing the zorro sombrero). My Scottdale friends pointed him to me. Esteban is workshiped in Scottdale. They were telling me that he started playing in a local hotel lobby for coins in a jar. He has gone a long way. I saw him sell 10,000 guitars once in less than four hours.

[iberianwolf]

When Esteban was hawking his nylon string GLOs on HSN, he would compare them favorably to the Contreras he was playing though I'm sure that he has and has had numerous other guitars.
James Greenberg, owner of Zavaleta's in Tucson, has said that Stevie Boy has bought guitars from him over the years.

[cglover]

I've been having a great time reading some of the REAL reviews on Esteban guitars from the harmony website :D The first paragraph talking about the features had me chuckling at work for 5 minutes. :lol:


Product: Esteban Burswood Acoustic
Price Paid: US $214
Submitted 03/11/2006 at 08:58pm by Steve
Email: hortens2000<at>yahoo dot com

Features : 1
Features? Some beautifull rain forest somewhere in indonesia was cleared (in part) to make this piece of crap. This was not the good wood either, I think it was made out of roots and leaves (the small percentage of it that is actually wood). The neck is bent, the frets have sharp burs and stick out. I once dropped a dinner fork in a garbage disposal and it looked better than these frets. The finish rubs off on my hands whenever I play it; It looks alot like that orange tan in a bottle, and appears as if was applied with a bat. It also has a peutrid oder emminating from it. It smells like a skunk humped an onion in it. What a rip off, what a piece of crap. F#&* YOU ESTABAN!!!!

Sound : 1
How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)?
What amps and effects are you using it with?
Is it noisy? On what settings?
Rich/Full sound? Bright sound?
What kind of sounds can the guitar make? How much variety?
Likes and dislikes?
You can play it with a pick, a file, or my favorite, a hammer. It makes absolutely no difference in the sound. The only place I can see playing it that would make it bearable is on the runway of a busy airport.(at least then I would not be able to hear it)If you were to shoved a bobcat in a rusty old piano, it would sound just like this guitar.

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
How well was the guitar set-up at the factory? (How was the action?)
How well were the pickups adjusted?
Properly bookmatched top? Properly routed bridge?
Did the guitar contain any flaws? (misaligned bracing, poorly filed fretwire, finish flaws, poor quality wood, rusted or oxidized hardware, loose tuning pegs, poorly cut nut, poorly fit saddle, noisy pickup selector, loose controls, etc...)
If I took an axe to a pine log, blinfolded, and tried to carve a guitar, it would have a better fit than this thing. And if when i was done, I pissed on it, it would have a better finish. Who ever made this thing must have been having a seizure that day.

Reliability/Durability : 1
Will this guitar withstand live playing?
Does the hardware seem like it will last?
Is the finish good enough to last, or does it seem thin and easy to wear off with lots of playing?
Are the strap buttons solid?
Can you depend on it?
Would you use it on a gig without a backup?
The only thing I can depend on is the garbage man picking it up on thursday, and I can only hope he takes it. I fully expect to see it thursday afternoon next to the garbage can with a note taped to it(I am sorry, but due to the sheer volume, we are no longer able to take Estaban guitars)

Customer Support : 1
Ever try and get it repaired? Was it under warranty
How long is the warranty
If you've dealt with the company, how helpful/friendly were they?
Upon calling HSN I found out it had an unconditional warranty, under no condition is anything on the guitar warrantied. When I asked to speak to customer service, I was directed to a call center in India. When I began to complain, the man told me I was lucky to own a guitar. I told him he's lucky he's on the other side of the world, because; if he was'nt, I would kill him.

Overall Rating : 1
How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own?
Is there something you wish you had asked before buying this guitar?
If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?
What do you love about it? What do you hate? What is your favorite feature?
Did you compare it to other guitars? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?
Anything you wish it had?
Anything else you'd like to share?
It sould have come with a lighter, so you can burn it immediatly after opening the box. It should also have come with some hand cleaner, to get the finish off your skin after playing it. The only other thing it should have come with is a rebate check for the entire purchase price. I have no other guitars to compare it to, But if I were to leve a nice classical out in the rain and sun for a few years, it would still sound better than this albtross.

[classicalguitar83]

I've been having a great time reading some of the REAL reviews on Esteban guitars from the harmony website :D The first paragraph talking about the features had me chuckling at work for 5 minutes. :lol:


Product: Esteban Burswood Acoustic
Price Paid: US $214
Submitted 03/11/2006 at 08:58pm by Steve
Email: hortens2000<at>yahoo dot com

Features : 1
Features? Some beautifull rain forest somewhere in indonesia was cleared (in part) to make this piece of crap. This was not the good wood either, I think it was made out of roots and leaves (the small percentage of it that is actually wood). The neck is bent, the frets have sharp burs and stick out. I once dropped a dinner fork in a garbage disposal and it looked better than these frets. The finish rubs off on my hands whenever I play it; It looks alot like that orange tan in a bottle, and appears as if was applied with a bat. It also has a peutrid oder emminating from it. It smells like a skunk humped an onion in it. What a rip off, what a piece of crap. F#&* YOU ESTABAN!!!!

Sound : 1
How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)?
What amps and effects are you using it with?
Is it noisy? On what settings?
Rich/Full sound? Bright sound?
What kind of sounds can the guitar make? How much variety?
Likes and dislikes?
You can play it with a pick, a file, or my favorite, a hammer. It makes absolutely no difference in the sound. The only place I can see playing it that would make it bearable is on the runway of a busy airport.(at least then I would not be able to hear it)If you were to shoved a bobcat in a rusty old piano, it would sound just like this guitar.

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
How well was the guitar set-up at the factory? (How was the action?)
How well were the pickups adjusted?
Properly bookmatched top? Properly routed bridge?
Did the guitar contain any flaws? (misaligned bracing, poorly filed fretwire, finish flaws, poor quality wood, rusted or oxidized hardware, loose tuning pegs, poorly cut nut, poorly fit saddle, noisy pickup selector, loose controls, etc...)
If I took an axe to a pine log, blinfolded, and tried to carve a guitar, it would have a better fit than this thing. And if when i was done, I p****d on it, it would have a better finish. Who ever made this thing must have been having a seizure that day.

Reliability/Durability : 1
Will this guitar withstand live playing?
Does the hardware seem like it will last?
Is the finish good enough to last, or does it seem thin and easy to wear off with lots of playing?
Are the strap buttons solid?
Can you depend on it?
Would you use it on a gig without a backup?
The only thing I can depend on is the garbage man picking it up on thursday, and I can only hope he takes it. I fully expect to see it thursday afternoon next to the garbage can with a note taped to it(I am sorry, but due to the sheer volume, we are no longer able to take Estaban guitars)

Customer Support : 1
Ever try and get it repaired? Was it under warranty
How long is the warranty
If you've dealt with the company, how helpful/friendly were they?
Upon calling HSN I found out it had an unconditional warranty, under no condition is anything on the guitar warrantied. When I asked to speak to customer service, I was directed to a call center in India. When I began to complain, the man told me I was lucky to own a guitar. I told him he's lucky he's on the other side of the world, because; if he was'nt, I would kill him.

Overall Rating : 1
How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own?
Is there something you wish you had asked before buying this guitar?
If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?
What do you love about it? What do you hate? What is your favorite feature?
Did you compare it to other guitars? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?
Anything you wish it had?
Anything else you'd like to share?
It sould have come with a lighter, so you can burn it immediatly after opening the box. It should also have come with some hand cleaner, to get the finish off your skin after playing it. The only other thing it should have come with is a rebate check for the entire purchase price. I have no other guitars to compare it to, But if I were to leve a nice classical out in the rain and sun for a few years, it would still sound better than this albtross.


That's great. Funny stuff, probably true.

[keith]

3 years ago esteban came up in this forum. harmony central had a plethora of reviews--most were hilarious. i think we as forum members could come up with a great list of ways to use an esteban guitar ---a canoe paddle, a planter...those sort of things.

[Faya]

with a lttle fixin' it could make a great toilet seat.................. :lol:

[ggus]

or a peace pipe.

[cglover]

Or, with the sharp frets it might make a great cheese grater :!:

[GSI Fan]

What a hoot! I can’t remember the last time I laughed that hard.

Cglover, that was about the funniest thing I’ve ever read. What makes it so funny is that last night mother-nature called and after taking care of business I couldn’t immediately fall back to sleep. So,,,I turned on the tube and flipped stations. Guess Who???? Yep… Well, it was the first time I had the opportunity to see the douche bag hawking his wears. To listen to him you would have thought he was selling a Hauser for 200 bucks!!! Then I read this review you posted and ma-nature struck again…too bad I didn’t make it to the bowl in time. :oops: :lol:

[keith]

thanksgiving is coming soon so why not try getting your own turkey this year. take off 5 strings and use the remaning string and the "guitar" as a bow, get an arrow and go turkey hunting. or you can use the guitar to club them critters. if you need to blend into the woods i am sure that rubbing the guitar over one's face will result in the paint smearing off--that mahoney colored paint should do the trick.

[cglover]

But he seems to be a marvelous entertainer, he has a great band, people seem to love him, he has packed houses wherever he plays, his name and image are recognizable world wide, he gets to make his living by playing the guitar, and he probably makes tons more money than ALL of you combined ever will. That is a great success story. And to me, it sounds like you all are jealous!

RC Please allow me to fix your post:
But he seems to be a mediocre entertainer, he has a wedding singer band, clueless people seem to love him, he has packed houses because he plays in the food court of local malls, his name and image are recognizable world wide as a guy living off a bogus endorsement of the great master guitarist Andreas Segovia, he gets to make his living by selling cheap plywood guitars, and he probably makes tons more money than GUITARO ever will. That is a tragic story of a man who sold his soul to QVC to make a quick buck. And to me, it sounds like GUITARO is clueless!

Okay, that was fun.......god I love Fridays!

[PedroO]

..... That is a tragic story of a man who sold his soul to QVC to make a quick buck. ......god I love Fridays!

I have a soul for sale, where do I sell it? Do you think I could sell it? Or do I need some talent to do it? Maybe El Zorro does have some talent, more than what you think he has!!!

BTW, I do not think his story is tragic at all!! It is a very entertaining story. He's got the money!!!! We don't!!!

[cglover]

Hey PedroO,

I don't think it's tragic that he's making money and providing for his family, you have to do whatever it takes to survive I suppose. However, I think it's tragic that he cannot be taken seriously by other artists because of the path that he has chosen. Sure, he's making money, but his reputation among his peers is less than satisfactory and must weigh heavily on his soul. I sure as hell would feel guilty for tricking people into believing they are getting a quality guitar if I knew that were not the case. Some people are just good liars and feel no remorse.

[ggus]

watch out! or he might cut you!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/gguadamuz/es.jpg

[racer_x]

>>Please allow me to fix your post:
But he seems to be a mediocre entertainer, he has a wedding singer band, clueless people seem to love him, he has packed houses because he plays in the food court of local malls, his name and image are recognizable world wide as a guy living off a bogus endorsement of the great master guitarist Andreas Segovia, he gets to make his living by selling cheap plywood guitars, and he probably makes tons more money than GUITARO ever will. That is a tragic story of a man who sold his soul to QVC to make a quick buck. And to me, it sounds like GUITARO is clueless! <<

How many losers do you love that so many others hate? I'm sure plenty.
Just because you respect them does not mean everyone else does. Your post screams out jealousy. :roll:
BTW, how many people here have played weddings? Several from what I have read over the years. Does that put them in the same clueless loser pot as Esteban? From your post I would say yes.

Face it, Esteban is a success story that you cannot handle. lol

The hat is funny, but not as bad as all those turtleneck wearing classical guitar players out there. :wink:

Ahh

[cglover]

Nope, no jealousy here. Just having a bit of fun on Friday. :) But seriously, if someone has the nerve to call me jealous then I can retort by calling them clueless. No harm, no foul. 8)

[ggus]

but look on the bright side at least you get an amp, strings and books, a case and a poster of cords!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/gguadamuz/estabanblackandwood.jpg

[ggus]

hey guys
I got this from wikipedia...

"Esteban's guitars sold through QVC and HSN have been criticized as difficult to play due to the high action and poor intonation. These problems can be reduced, however, by sanding down the saddle. In extreme cases, owners have reported that the fretboard has become completely separated from the neck or some other defect rendering the guitar unplayable. Some HSN customers have found customer service to be lacking, finding it difficult to return the guitar. The newer Esteban American Legacy Guitar featured in TV infomercials has received a mix of positive and negative reviews."

"If one of his many devoted fans walked into the Sound Lab today, they probably wouldn't recognize him. Seeing him in street clothes is a bit like catching KISS' Gene Simmons without his platform boots and makeup.Onstage, Esteban is the personification of the dark, mysterious Latin lover. He dresses in all-black Zorro ensembles, with a bolero hat and impenetrable shades. Whenever he tilts his head down in deep concentration, it's easy to imagine that he's younger than his 52 years. His right hand sports long, acrylic fingernails that dance across his guitar strings with dramatic tremolo flourishes. In the minds of his fans, he's Rudolf Valentino and Antonio Banderas rolled into one, and wrapped in Ricardo Montalban's rich Corinthian leather."

Antonio banderas!! Ricardo Montalban!! Corinthian Leather!!?

[John_c]

So apparently (according the wiki article), he DOUBLE MAJORED at college while managing to teach 150 students a week?!!!! Proof that even the Great Esteban doesn't ever need to sleep!!!! :lol:

[PedroO]

I may be wrong, but Stevan may be posting here with another name. THe fact that you would not be able to recongnize him with street clothes tells us a lot. He knows he is cheating thousand of people. I am really jelous of the sob!!

[thedrizzle]

you're damn right corinthian leather. the great Esteban will teach us all how to play the guitar, those of you who deny his teachings will fall by the wayside of mediocrity ALL HAIL THE GREAT MASTER ESTEBAN. who else will teach us to wearcool hats and to keep rockin' with our amps and pimp ass black guitars. how else will we know what chords to play if we don't own Esteban's chord chart. To deny Esteban is to deny Greatness. You can all laugh but when the time time comes I will be sitting at the right hand of Esteban and you will be mourning your fate as me and Esteban serenade the angels with our flamencoclassicalrockcountry music. HAhahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

[oc chuck]

thedrizzle,

Time to adjust your meds.

[ggus]

Maybe Esteban should wear a cape and hood like this happy fellow..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/gguadamuz/200px-Palpatine_Ep6_DVD_6.jpg

[Steve Lin]

Now if you were really good with Photoshop...

[ggus]

yeah i know, maybe some one else can do it.

[Gatopaz]

Hi there every one I just wanted to put my two cents in the coversation and make a clarification especially for those who don't speak spanish, in fareness to this fellow called Esteban. Stephen in spanish means Esteban, it's that simple. An old spanish Gentleman will usually let u know what ur name would be in the spanish language, that's a common practice. We Americans sometimes complicate simple matters looking deep into nothing. :idea:

Cheap guitars are for those who are economically challenged, and there is a place in the market place for those too. God bless the man he must be doing something right. Hope u guys turn Green. :D

[keith]

Gatopaz: inexpensive is not the same as cheap! viz., yamaha and cordoba, to name a few companies, make inexpensive guitars which, from what i have read, are good for the price paid. if you have problems with them you will probably get good customer service. esteban guitars from all that i have read are cheap--as in built in a shoddy manner using shoddy materials with less than good service.

marketing is yet another aspect that folks chide him: take the amp with "overdrive" or whatever he calls it. selling something like that opens him up to ridicule: he has to expect that folks will equate that with those old 286 computers with the turbo button.

as to esteban's "story" and "get-up". if esteban wants to say he studied under segovia then the burden of proof is on him and if he fails to meet that burden then he needs to expect to chided. as to the zorro outfit: well i guess everyone/every band needs a gimick--remember kiss?

[Sandra]

Gatopaz: inexpensive is not the same as cheap!
I agree with you there. The classical I bought out of the Sears catalog 40 years ago for ~$25 was (and still is) quite playable, even if no one would ever mistake it for a high quality instrument.

From everything I've read about Esteban guitars, they sound like pure, unplayable garbage. The fact that he hawks these guitars as as being great/affordable instruments bothers me to no end. Has he ever played one of them? Makes me wonder if he sold his soul to the devil and has no conscience.

[thedrizzle]

I've had a few beginner students buy these things and they definetly need some work before they are playable. The biggest problems that I've seen is the action, way too high for a beginner. I don't know what the long term problems are. People definetly don't like to hear that they need to have these things worked on after being told by the infomercial that these guitars are so amazing.

[PedroO]

thedrizzle:
I like your avatar, my favorite Bundy!!

[cglover]

People definetly don't like to hear that they need to have these things worked on after being told by the infomercial that these guitars are so amazing.

I agree. People don't like being lied too. Maybe it wasn't Estebans deliberate intent to deceive the public, but actions do speak louder than words, and his actions are very shady indeed. A cheap guitar can hinder the progress of the beginner and possibly drive them away from an instrument that would otherwise be very musically rewarding.

Even with the Zorro outfit and claims to studing with Segovia, I would stand behind Estaban 100% if he endorsed a quality guitar that would shine a positive light on our craft.

[Travis_Warner]

Gatopaz: inexpensive is not the same as cheap!
I agree with you there. The classical I bought out of the Sears catalog 40 years ago for ~$25 was (and still is) quite playable, even if no one would ever mistake it for a high quality instrument.


Hey Sandra...was it a silvertone classical guitar? If so, a few years ago I bought a silvertone CG off of ebay for like 35 bucks with shipping!, and i love it. It's perfect for carrying to parties and just jammin on. Is it as good as my Pro-R? No even close to being close to being comparible (if that makes any sense) But it is still a fun CG to play, and it really doesn't sound all that bad either!

[thedrizzle]

the ironic thing about this thread is that when someone mentions Segovia, Williams, Bream, Romeros etc. the responses fizzle out at a few pages but mention Esteban and eight pages. I'm washing my hands of this man, this is the last time I post anything concerning Esteban!

[Sandra]

Hey Sandra...was it a silvertone classical guitar?
Yes, it was! Or should I say "is" because I still have it.

It has a laminated top, crappy woods, but still plays just fine. It's a nice beater, or something I'm not afraid to lend to someone. The sound isn't the greatest (not that loud) but it seems to have good intonation and decent action, which is more than I can say for what I've read about most of Esteban's guitars. ;)

[Great Googly Moogly]

the ironic thing about this thread is that when someone mentions Segovia, Williams, Bream, Romeros etc. the responses fizzle out at a few pages but mention Esteban and eight pages. I'm washing my hands of this man, this is the last time I post anything concerning Esteban!If you wanna see 20 pages, post about Leo Brouwer.

[brian richardson]

is that hat sewn to his head??

[PedroO]

I sense here some envy toward a great artist. The only reason I can see are: 1) the man studied with Segovia for four years, and receiving private lessons. This is something that nobody had done; 2) The incredible presence and good looks this artist has and his ability to play the guitar even with his left hand still semiparalized; 3) The incredible marketing abilities to sell guitars. 8)

[stringstudent]

So, I've read with glee this entire thread about "Esteban" - the review of his guitars is hilarious. But I have to confess I had never heard of him or seen his commercials (don't watch much TV). Seems like a charlatan hawking junk. It made me want to ask this...

What I'm curious about is what I percieve to be a similarly overblown character. Flipping through the channels 6 - 9 months ago and I came upon a "Spanish/Classical guitar" concert about to start. I don't remember what channel it aired on. I stayed tuned with anticipation.

What aired next was sort of a combination of circque du soleil, guitar music, and a Vegas show. This guy, (I think he went by one name too) played "classical/flamenco" while standing, dancing around with scantily clad dancers, with a band that included a weird, white-haired violin player who (also) pranced around with the dancers. This guy seemed like the Fabio of guitarists - long hair, dark good looks, 5 o'clock shadow, the works.

The music sounded okay, but I can' believe he was playing while jumping around like. His fingering looked like he knew what he was doing (except when he ran scales all the way up the fretboard, up to and including the soundhole), but for the life of me, I couldn't see any strings moving when he played.

Shots of the audience showed a bunch of seniors mesmerized by his "playing".

The whole thing kind of disgusted me.

Anyone know who/what I'm talking about? For some reason, the whole Esteban thing made me think about it. Don't want to offend anyone if this guy is really a "great artist" who studied with Segovia too...

[Sandra]

Anyone know who/what I'm talking about?
I know who you're talking about and spent half an hour trying to find it here but without a name, couldn't. So I went to amazon and searched on flamenco DVDs and found him... it's Benise.

http://forum.guitarsalon.com/viewtopic.php?p=34083&highlight=benise#34083

http://benise.com/

[racer_x]

I seen that Benise concert you just talked about. That's the guy ripping people off if you ask me. In his BIO they talk about him selling out 2000 seat stadiums. I didn't think something so small as 2000 seats could even be called a stadium, a theater maybe. I never heard of him before I seen the channel 11 freebie concert. I would rather watch Esteban play House of the Rising Sun over and over before I watch another minute of Benise and friends. Reminded me of watching Sesame Street. Got to love the cover of his DVD though. What a manly man he is. lol :lol:

:shock:

[PedroO]

I believe he is lip singing (however you say that when someone is pretending to play). HOwever, his guitar seems to be a Cordoba. Which says a lot about the gutiar. The sound is pretty good. I guess people like him and call the best flamenco player in the history of the US. Of course, he is a blondie American kid with long hair. We elect people to public office because of the same thing. Don't we deserve what we have?

[PedroO]

Eliot Fiosk is another player that has gotten a lot of mileage out of knowing Segovia. I think he met him once and got a picture taken. That was enough to make a marketing plan for his whole life. I cannot believe why Esteban can not do the same if he spent four years with the master Segovia in Spain. 8)

[classicalguitar83]

I sense here some envy toward a great artist. The only reason I can see are: 1) the man studied with Segovia for four years, and receiving private lessons. This is something that nobody had done

That's not true. Virginia Luque studied privately with Segovia for 12 years and was asked by Segovia to study with him. And with that said,, she has never used that as some sort of marketing ploy.

[PedroO]

... Virginia Luque studied privately with Segovia for 12 years and was asked by Segovia to study with him. And with that said,, she has never used that as some sort of marketing ploy.

If I were Segovia, I would have not only asked her to study with me privately, but to marry me! :D

[Great Googly Moogly]

The Drizzle,

Great avatar! Classic.

[ggus]

I have seen that Benise dvd and to me it does not look like he is playing. I mean the guy is walking and trotting around and playing perfect chords and scales!!! To me he is also ripping people off.

[Section_10]

The word i would like to use for Benise would be inappropriate so i have restrained from using it. Thank you.

[stringstudent]

I'm with you guys! I think Benise's pretend-playing-dance-circus is a joke. It's one big music video.

For me, it was upsetting in it's misrepresenting of what it really takes to play well. I don't know, maybe it gets more people into guitar music, but I think it's cheap and sensational. If you are going to do a dance show, call it a dance show, but don't pretend it's a guitar concert.

[GSI Fan]

Stringstudent,

Funny story…

I vividly recall the afternoon that Segovia made that quote you have as your signature. Esteban and I were privately discussing various technique concerns we’d noticed in Andy – Andre preferred it when we called him Andy.

Well, that afternoon Stevie brought up this idea he had to make concert worthy guitars that everyone could afford and Andy and I laughed hysterically at the idea. Andy, amidst his whooping laughter, looked at Stevie and offered that famous quote. What’s missing from the history books, and your quote, is the rest of the quote; “So, when you start cranking out this new idea of yours, Stevie-boy, why not toss in a dog with the deal?”

As you can probably imagine, Esteban (Stevie) got all huffy and walked away pouting. He blurted out something to the effect; “I’ll show you…” and he was never to be seen by Andy and I again. Boy, did he show us, didn’t he? So, yes, there is truth to the rumor Andy and Stevie knew one another. And yes, considerable thought has gone into the product Stevie offers. What upsets me about the whole thing is Stevie actually, in an odd way, stole the idea from Andy. As it turns out he’s selling dogs masquerading as guitars!!!!

[ggus]

What are you talking about!?

[Great Googly Moogly]

LOL

ggus,

GSI Fan is making use of some very dry humor here. LOL

[PedroO]

... Esteban and I were privately discussing various technique concerns we’d noticed in Andy – Andre preferred it when we called him Andy. ...

Liar...... I was then and there!!! In those days, the took me everywhere. I tuned the guitars for him prior to every concert. Andresito hated to be called Andy. I remember Fiosk was sucking up to him the only time he gave him an audience at the NY Hilton and since he did not speak Spanish, he call Andresito, Andy. I think that is the reason Fiosk has that ugly face. Andresito puched him on his face. Andresito told me (verbatum): " Oye guerito pampero, que se creen estos gringos, que no me quieren respetar?" He wanted everyone to call him Don Andres. Me and his wife were the only ones allowed to call him Andresito. The same thing happened with Oskar (Ghiglia). He did call him Don Andress, but Oskar never learned Spanish properly, he had that Italian accent, what Andresito hated. In any case, I did see Esteban visiting us in Spain few times. :D

[ggus]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/gguadamuz/23010.gif