Members NDSP Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 Which is more important to you when choosing a guitar for purchase. A) How it sounds to you as you sit playing it yourself. or B) How it sounds to you as you listen to it being played by someone else. Often the 2 can differ. What you hear while playing and what you want to sound like may indeed result in 2 different guitars. So what is more important to you?
Members LDF Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 Damn, you asked a question I can't answer.
Members knockwood Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 Interesting question. For me, it's definitely A for a few reasons. -I very seldom perform, so it's primarily my ear I worry about pleasing. -I figure since most of the sound is actually projecting away from me when I'm playing (I don't know whether that's actually true or not, but would seem to be), if it sounds good from my relatively muffled perspective behind the instrument it'll probably sound better from out front. This has been confirmed to my ear by slapdash recordings on hideously cheap equipment... Maybe what I'm saying is that while I prefer the sound overall from out front, facing the guitar, I put more consideration into how it sounds to me from behind it. -I actually only have those two reasons, but when I started this it felt like I had more.
Members Herb Hunter Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 I think it is more important to consider how the guitar sounds when you are playing it. A given guitar will sound different with different players because each player's technique affects the tone. I picked up a well-known brand of guitar in a shop to try it out and it was a big disappointment. As soon as I put it back, another shopper picked it up and played it and it sounded a bit better. He used a flat pick and I didn't and never will. You should buy the guitar that sounds best in your hands, one that complements the way you play. The better it sounds to you, the more inspired you will be, the better you will play. Chances are the audience will most appreciate the one that sounds best to you as well.
Members nylon rock Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 Definitely A. If someone is very good at playing guitar, they can make any guitar sound good. So B just means that who ever listens to the guitar being played will blame the player and not the guitar if it doesn't sound good.
Members JasmineTea Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 Well, in judging tone only, if you don't trust your own ears a second opinion is a good thing. But after you figure out what kind of sound you prefer, you won't need a second opinion.
Members kwakatak Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 I'm inclined to choose option A because I just play for my own enjoyment. As I (hopefully) improve with my playing I may at some point want to share it with others. At that point I would be more mindful of option B, but playability would still be a motivating factor in either case.
Members Chirpy_72 Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 a balance between the two choices. I do play in front of people a lot, so I do want my guitar to be heard well by other instrumentalists and audience members as well as sounding good to my ears. I've had guitars that projected well, but didn't sound as good to the player ... ( a Guild ) and got rid of it. I've had a guitar that sounded great to the player, but didn't project well at all ( Tacoma C1C Chief ) ... got rid of that too.
Members Freeman Keller Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 A and B I wouldn't have a guitar that didn't sound good to me. My wife says they all sound good to her. Except the metal reso which she says "turn that damn thing down". But then she hates Roll 'n Tumble on any guitar.
Members rockfan Posted September 21, 2005 Members Posted September 21, 2005 A. But, B if they tell me something is wrong with the guitar.
Members lalatingstrings Posted September 23, 2005 Members Posted September 23, 2005 i like to take a little tape recorder and see how it sounds recorded.because i love recording.even if the quality isnt as good as it would be in my home studio it just gives me an idea.ive never had anyone else play one for me though ,cause i agree we each have our own styles.i can play beautiful on my yairi guitars but i have not been able to play a sucessful note on a martin cause most of them have spruce tops and they dont compliment my style very well.i am more of a cedar person.i also love koa tops.so it is probably best to only worry about how you sound playing it.just my opinion.....
Members Kap'n Posted September 23, 2005 Members Posted September 23, 2005 When I buy an acoustic, I bring my lead singer, and she sings, and I play. I also have the store guy (I only shop for serious acoustics at a handful of places) play something while she sings. It's a pretty laborious process, but a lot of fun, if there isn't a crowd of people.
Members guitarcapo Posted September 23, 2005 Members Posted September 23, 2005 If it can't do both well it sucks and it should be firewood.
Members JasmineTea Posted September 23, 2005 Members Posted September 23, 2005 Originally posted by guitarcapo If it can't do both well it sucks and it should be firewood. I always bring a large full lengh mirror when I shop for guitars.
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