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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Just for fun, I thought I’d share my little acoustic guitar test recording round up. I love comparing instruments for use in my songwriting and recording, and there’s no better way than to test ‘em all in a controlled setting.
Represented here are 6 acoustic guitars; one nylon and the rest steel. Recorded in stereo with 2 x Shure KSM32 condenser mics, no effects or EQ at all.
Listen to the clips here
Fingerstyle
00:00 Adamas 1587
01:17 Cordoba C5-CE
Flatpicked
01:53 Ovation 1769 Custom Legend
02:48 Martin HD-28P
03:44 Ovation 6778LX Standard Elite
04:41 Adamas 1587 (two clips)
06:11 Ovation 1769 Custom Legend
06:44 Ovation 6778LX Standard Elite
07:16 Guild JF65 (two clips)
08:24 Adamas 1587
Interested to hear people's impressions. |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | roger,
your martin and the 1587 appeal most to me. the warmth and clarity of both are outstanding.
thanks for this comparison! |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | I`ve come home late, so, I will have to wait until tomorrow to hear it over the PA...
Vic
...can hardly wait.. :) |
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Hard to believe there are no other comments...? Opinions on tone of one vs. another? Oh well, here are my thoughts.
The CL is deep and bright, but lacks midrange complexity. It's great for rhythm. The Adamas must be stroked, for it can get too midrangy. However, it's the most dynamic and sensitive. The Elite is midrangy but smooth, with much less bass.
The Martin is the best traditional acoustic tone. The Guild is smooth and deep with a more muted top end.
Different tools for different musical tasks! |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Roger, I tried to play the samples, but this computer won't cooperate...I'll try again later.. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I somehow missed this thread earlier.
I will listen tonight on the Focal Twins. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | My Mixer has "packed-up",..will need to find a solution, before I can make (sensible) comments..
Vic
..I hate this kind of situation.. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I agree with most of your comments but to me the 1587 sounded the best when strummed aggressively (at the 5:41 mark).
The Guild sounded muted and mushy when strumming but better when combined with the fingerpicking/higher chords.
The clarity and evenness of the Martin was heavenly. A recognizable and traditional acoustic sound.
I also liked the sound of the 1769 but it was definitely a little lite in the bass after hearing the 1587. I thought the LX was a bit midrangy and thin.
Definitely the Martin and the 1587 were the stars of this clip. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I agree with Stephen on the Martin clip. I do however think the CL was the next best in the bunch. To me, you still can't beat the warmth of a wood top guitar. I was surprised that I didn't care for the LX. |
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | It's interesting to hear the comments (thanks), and I've been continuing my experiments since making these first recordings. It helps to learn how these different instruments sound when recorded.
The Martin just "is" a great acoustic guitar, period. A light touch sets it off, with overtones and woody tone galore. I agree on the Guild jumbo - it's really nice fingerpicked, but mushy when strummed. Odd how it doesn't sound that way to the player. That's a phenomenon with lots of guitars - different sound to the player's ear.
The Custom Legend is a great strummer, with lots of power and bass, although it lacks the subtlety of the Martin or the Adamas. The LX is actually the most fun to play plugged in, with a smooth tone, but the midsize bowl makes it a little weak acoustically in terms of dynamic range. It does, however, resonate very well.
I am torn on the Adamas. To me it is not a great strummer; it's too raspy. Plus my damn pick too easily scrapes the rough "pickguard" area (snot blob?). It's much better fingerstyle or with single note lines. Or maybe strummed softly, just not aggressively. A very unique guitar that I don't think could be my only acoustic, but that has a special voice.
I've got another comparison clip I'm working on that I can post separately (have to convert it to MP3). I hope some people enjoy these things (I do; I wish there were more clips posted by folks on the forum). |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Nice job! The Ovations and the Guild I did not care for at all. The Guild seemed very "bland/flat". Maybe just bad strings. Of the Ovations, to my ears the CL is far better than the elite but they both sound life-less. Good punch, and I know that's the Ovation trait, but to me they have no warmth. The 1587 has a nice bottom end and very good definition. Hard not to be in love with that one. But I miss the woody sound. To my ears, by a very significant margin the HD28 is easily the cream of the crop. Dave |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hey Roger,
Since you took the effort to make this test, I`ve dedicated this sunday for the review, and thought it to be appropriate ( bearing in mind that the music has a jazz-foundation ), to use PA-speakers, that would do justice to it, these are "Big-Voiced" (vintage) Club-speakers, coupled to a PEAVEY M-2600 stereo power-amp.,..
..these are not the most "critical" nor "neutral" sounding, yet, are precise enough to give an accurate rendition of the event,... picture the following,... I`m in a club, about 20-25 Ft. from stage, there`s a new guitarist in town, and he`s playing six different guitars ;..
..assuming that strings, microphones,set-up etc. are equal to all instruments,..(exept the CORDOBA ofcourse)..
HD 28 ;... tendency to drown the bass, a bit "mute" in the treble, (I`ve heard so much about it, maybe I just expect too much), but, nevertheless, a little disappointing.
J 65 ;..a little "muffled", again, tendency to drown bass, a bit "weak".
Elite ;..a little "stark" or "bare" if you will, but with good definition, perhaps it`s TOP needs some more years to, "get there".
LEGEND ;.. warm (a bit muddled) bass, articulate mids (a little held back), "ringing - singing" highs, a perfect companion for vocals, giving a solid foundation.
CORDOBA ;..the Big Surprise..!!.. warm, well defined, a Great Nylon string, Bravo !!
ADAMAS ;..yes, Strong, Warm, Well-Balanced, Articulate, maintains Definition through out the Spectrum.
Were this to be a Contest, the ADAMAS would be the Overall Winner..!!
( this coming from someone who....never mind ), and it is now, that I understand, why the ADAMAS crowd like it so much, it`s a GOOD one..
This evaluation was done from 3 pm to now ( 3 am ),interrupted by dinner, and the use of substantial amounts of Coffee, an ancient IBM lap-top, the above mentioned PA, without the use of equalization nor effects.
Thank You for the opportunity Roger.
Vic
...and the Guitarist is Welcome any time.. :) |
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Vic,
YOU ROCK. :cool:
What a cool way to spend a Sunday! I would have loved to have heard these clips, and any other music, through your massive speakers... along with the coffee and other good accompaniments.
You know I posted a "Round II" this morning, right? :D
I played my Adamas all day today. Outside in the back yard; inside in the living room; plugged in through my jazz rig (AI Clarus). It is just great! I swear it has the soul of an archtop.
I agree on most of your comments. The CL is a great strummer but would not be my choice for leads. I may end up selling it down the road. The Martin really does kick ass; I wonder why it didn't sound so good on your system... the Cordoba costs $350 USD but is a very, very nice cedar topped guitar.
Thanks again for your time and energy man! |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Roger,
I forgot to mention a few things, like, none of the guitars were "driven hard", when bass tends to get "drowned" allready on lower levels, it means that "sound-compression" tends to set in early,...
The ADAMAS and the Elite, (basing on experience of my own 1537), Both, when "driven hard", just play Louder ..!!..whereas the others, "fall over their own tones" , due to sound-compression..
The Dynamic Range of the ADAMAS and Elite type is HUGE..!!..meaning, a rather Loooong stretch between "piano" to "FORTISSIMO", the others have a dynamic range the size of a rubber band..
I assumed that the same type of strings were used ( D`s..12 - 54 perhaps ), I have used Thomastik Spectrum 13 - 57 on my Elite 1537 before, they caused a Huge, Dry, Woody, and Classical tone, recently re-strung with CFM MSP 4200 ( 13 - 56 ), making it sound more like a "dread" RETAINING that Enormous "piano - " FORTISSIMO" range, a Loud & Clear "ringing" tone.
..the CORDOBA is the Surprise, in that, the bass is Loud, yet, has good definition, ( 350 bucks ?..shows ya`, does n`t have to cost a fortune )
.. I wonder about the absence of Mr.O`s comments, having the knowledge and experience, owning a recording studio, he might be in a better position to shed light on this..
..at any rate, the OVATION axes are wonderful stage guitars.. :)
Vic
Thanks for your kind comment Roger, did not know, but, will check out the "sequel" of "Recording"...in Vista-Vision..no doubt ;) |
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Recording Round-Up Test... clip
