Hi folks,
A valid way to evaluate a new guitar is to compare it to one of the best sounding classics. Eventually this brings us in a new dilemma. The great mystery we are dealing with is: how did the comp guitar sound when it was new or just broken in?
How do acoustic guitars change their sound over centuries? How much effect does the constant change in temperature and humidity have, what happens to the wood cell structure over time, how much influence had the playing on the guitar and how much have repair people tempered with the instrument. Is there a way to properly answer these question since there is no audible recorded proof from a century ago? We have written statements. But even those are a matter to subjectivity - and the way of hearing has dramatically changed, too.
Still, it would be of the utmost importance for a maker today, to know what will happen to the tonal properties of his instruments over time. Many luthiers try to "build-in" the sound of the old classics in their guitars. Some get close. Which brings up another question: How will these new guitars sound, when they are a century old? Do they improve even more?
And that raises the final question! Did the makers back then compare to anything "vintage" or did they just try to go the next evolutionary step?
This is the topic of the third José Romanillos Custom Guitar Video installment.
And I would love to read your thoughts on this topic!
http://www.customguitarvideo.com/2009/10/07/jose-romanillos-03/
Enjoy!
Holger