Archtop Acoustic Guitar with a Flat back! BLIND GUITARS B51-A
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 бер 2024
- I have spent a beautiful couple of days with a very special instrument - The B51-A model by Virgile Pilon of Blind Guitars in France. Just look at that!
Archtop guitars with flat backs are pretty rare but they have been a massive influence on a lot of acoustic luthiers such as the legendary Stefan Sobell. This guitar features quilted movingui on the back and sides and a European spruce top with a very D'Aquisto macassar ebony scratchplate. Tasty!
Here it is in action - I hope you enjoy it! If so then please drop me a super thanks!
One of the most beautiful sounding guitars i've heard. It makes me wonder if the REAL tonal difference between archtop and flattop is the SOUNDHOLES. This round sound hole sounds so much better and resonant to me
That was beautiful Michael.
Glad you enjoyed it Jay - thanks for watching!
Best of both worlds, I have an Elferink with the reverse flat top/carved back and sounds very similar..immediate projection with plenty of depth to it. It looks really nice and fantastic playing as always!
Absolutely right! Oh and congrats on the Elferink - I like what Frans does!
@@MichaelWatts thank you
Beautiful guitar, especially full bodied. Beauty from simplicity.
I like the guitar, a lot. The kind of guitar where you only need one.
Absolutely!
I can listen and watch your fingers dance on the fretboard for hours! Thank you for sharing your talent and knowledge of beautiful guitars and the people behind them!
Thank you so much for watching!
Nice. In 1931, Martin made C-1 and C-2 models, which are 000 14 fret size and shape with carved tops and flat backs, like this guitar. They were originally made with round sound holes and changed to f-holes the next year. I love this Pilon guitar's quilted movingul! Thanks for sharing.
They did indeed - and these guitars directly influenced Stefan Sobell too. Maybe they were just ahead of their time? Thanks for watching Scott!
Really interesting and beautiful sounding as well, love how "Between Streets" sounds on this instrument
Thank you very much for listening!
That is one gorgeous instrument and of course sounds great in your hands.
Thank you very much Phil!
Gorgeous tone. Tasty playing. Getting my morning started right.
Glad to hear it!
Awesome guitar! beautiful playing!
Thank you for listening Colin!
That was a lovely guitar both build and sound. Movingui is an African wood and sits between mahogany rosewood in terms of Janka hardness if anyone is interested. I only have a smattering of knowledge as those really figured sets turned up a while back in one of the Spanish wood wholesalers so I had to ask as had never seen it before. I think Virgile has done that wood proud looks beautiful.
Thanks for the info Jez! Glad you enjoyed it!
I absolutely love it!
Thanks for watching Randy! Glad you enjoyed it!
This one *really* comes through nicely…
Thank you dude! Yes I really like it!
Years ago, I never much fancied the sound of acoustic archtops. I always thought they were tonally inferior to regular flat top acoustics. That was my shortcoming, though. By not comparing them to flat tops, I'm starting to appreciate their unique aural palette. Some of them are quite unique and beautiful. The above guitar is a particularly beautiful example that has been beautifully played. 😉
Thank you for listening Marek! I know what you mean. I didn’t get archtops until relatively recently and now I’m hooked!
Wonderful presentation of a beautiful guitar! Thanks Michael!
Thank you for watching Bernd!
incredibly warm and rich sounding guitar
Glad you approve Lee! Thanks for watching!
That's what's what! Nice playing too Michael.
Thank you Jeff!
Sounds amazing
Glad you enjoyed it Harry!
I mean Larry
What an incredibly rich, but balanced sounding guitar! And it’s gorgeous!
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!
@@MichaelWatts I always enjoy your postings!
Ayan, Eyan, Nigerian Satinwood, African Satinwood, Yellow Satinwood, Bonsamdua and others.
Thank you Jeff!
Beautiful guitar with a Beautiful tones, all credit to the player tho.
What the strings brand and gauges please?
Thanks for watching! It was strung with Newtones. Not my favourite but hey.
That's a really interesting instrument and something I've wondered about for a long time. I note that you keep well away from playing standard archtop material. What strings are you using? It somehow sounds as if it's a lighter instrument, with lighter strings, than would be customary on a conventional jazz acoustic archtop.
Thanks for watching Ian. Yeah… I’ll play my own material on anything I get me hands on and this guitar certainly responded well. It’s strung with Newtones but they didn’t feel particularly light. So much is in the touch of course.
Oh this is a whole lotta me.
It’s quite cheeky isn’t it? I really had fun with it
Wonderful sounding and beautiful instrument, it's so rare to see an archtop with a round sound hole. Beautiful playing as well. Pretty sure if someone could string up a toilet seat with a neck you'd make that sing too. Please don't go there.
As much as I love a challenge… thank you for listening!
How does it compare to the Parker?
Well it’s a very different thing… but it shares a lot of the air and overtone content. Thanks for watching Ian!
That is absolutely lovely, what a gorgeous voice, sonic or what?!
Thanks Michael.
@@angelbreath6539 Mercy! 😃
@@angelbreath6539 thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
How much was it and where can I buy it?
Prices start at around €6,500 and you can reach Virgile through his website
Ears no bleed. Do not want.
Ha ha ha
Your channel is dangerous for my wallet man
I can accept no responsibility!