oh thank goodness you’re back!!! been counting the days waiting for your videos!!! nearly cried when i saw the notif!!!! so glad you’re doing well!!!! keep up with the good work👍👍💗💃
I 100% agree with this also, I have a Furch which is brilliant and top has wonderful resonance. I also admire Dana Bourgeois who is an absolute connoisseur of tone woods and builds superb guitars, but I also love Martin's like D28's, OM28's, D42's which are still the benchmark to my ears. It could well be that Martin's have long ago been through this process and are able to closely replicate a consistent sound because of their access to a supply of Sitka Spruce which is consistent in grain and density and are therefore able to repeat their formula.
Top brand names don't always mean that you will get a top or should that be tap? tuned acoustic. Sometimes in life you don't get what you pay for. When it comes to acoustic guitars, i have been told that the more you pay the better it will sound, but how much do you have to pay just for the name on the headstock?
Here is a myth for you: A guitar can be tap tuned and still sound mediocre. Happened with my Dowina Ceres GACE SE which I bought in good faith online from Richard. It had a ballpoint "D" written inside the top, a Dowina tradition alledgedly indicating the one who created the top. Eventually I lost 900 euro on it when I traded it for an Eastman E20D TC after trying a range of Eastmans dreadnoughts, which sounded better the more expensive they got. In that shop were also a couple of Dowina Dreadnoughts, for which I initially came. Boring guitars. Lesson: Dont buy expensive acoustic guitars online. .
@@hammerstrumm This makes sad reading, Richard claims that he plays every guitar that they sell, so how come this bad sample even left the shop? I would have contacted them and asked to return it and they either exchanged it or gave a full refund. I have also learned the expensive way that price and brand name mean very little when it comes to bad guitars. I had to reject a Fender Masterbuilt Custom Shop Strat that they wanted four figures for, it was a mess. The only way is to play and inspect before you buy.
@@Barbarapape The guitar came with the wrong strings, (012 instead of the requested 011) there was no manual for the wrongly installed Fishman Matrix Infinity pick up, and the guitar was twice as heavy as my Lowden 012 wich is almost twice as large, and sounded dead. There was 2cm space between the recommended Hiscox case and the guitar body, though over the phone I was told it fitted "snugly". It was just after Brexit and sending the guitar back was next to impossible. When I protested, initially about the wronly installed pick up, I was told (paraphrasing) not to whine, they knew better than Fishman, and that I should be happy to have a hand built guitar at such a great price. Eventually, the Fishman manual was sent to me. I totally fell for R´s youtube campaign, his friendly and supposedly "honest" demeanor there, even though I should have known better: someone who demo´s guitar sound with a smartphone as the only recording device relies entirely on his good looks and smooth salespitch. He deletes (shadowbans) my comments on his youtube videos, even though I speak totally the truth, which he can not handle. (As you can see, I found a way around that, for as long as it lasts) I have copy pastes of the chat discussion I had with Richard. He even asked me to delete a negative comment I posted on Trustpilot. At the time, I was even inclined to do so, intimidated by his relentlessly blaming me. I showed the guitar to a 50 year experienced acoustic guitarshop owner and will never forget his disappointed look after striking the first chord.
@@hammerstrumm This sounds like Richard does not practice what he preaches. So much for setting it up to your spec with the wrong gauge of strings. Having had a similar experience with Andertons who sent me a damaged used guitar that was supposed to be brand new in a sealed box, i can understand how you feel. It will be interesting to see if Richard replies to you or just deletes our comments!
@@Barbarapape For the moment, these comments are still under the radar.If I´d posted it as a "first" comment it would probably appear on his or a workers email and be deleted immediately. I guess Richard is honest as long as the going is good, and maybe the Brexit situation made him think it was a convenient way to get rid of that problematic guitar. I got it a few days before Brexit went active. I dont know how it is now, but even only a year ago, a guitar sent from Europe to UK could take months to arrive in the UK, a shopowner told me. R has a map on his website showing how many handbuilt guitars he sold in the Uk only the past 2 years. ALOT. Big business pretending to be small. After brexit he was off YT for 2 years or so. Selling to Europe would come with all sorts of customs problems. Sorry to hear about your negative experience with Andertons. I would not buy there anyway, but we learn as we go along...
What do you think of Breedlove's "Sound Optimization"? It uses software for frequency analysis of individual tops to take the human ear (and the variability from different ears) out of the process, but are then hand tuned.
I've often wondered about this since hearing about tap tuning several years back. No doubt there's some merit to it, but- I've owned a 58 D-28 for many years and have played and compared it side by side with other dreadnought guitars that were made using a tap tuning technique. Granted a 58 D-28 has acquired years of playing and aging on it, but after a few comparisons with tap tuned guitars built in a similar style to Martin dreadnoughts, I'm not hearing the dollar difference.
Great stuff Richard! Although guitars are not the be-all and end-all of my life, they ARE important to my psychological (but not financial...) well-being. So well-being-done!
Hi Richard, maybe you could do a video on a cheap Furch (without tap tone voicing). Against a Furch red series with the voicing technology used. Anything jaw dropping arrived lately Best wishes Dean
All Furch guitars get the tops tuned. The upper series, red and rainbow get both top and bottom tuned... And these are not tapped - it is a proprietary tuning process.
@@danherrick5785 it's not a car mate, It's a lot of sales blagging . Voicing technology. Wtf. It's sanded by a cnc machine to exact specs. I own 4 red series furch guitars but this tap tuning voicing technology is nonsense.
@@deanmcbride8747 The tree, the ear, the wind. Sure it's a sales issue. Furch is just trying their best to make the process as consistent as possible. For what reason? - to send the best possible instrument to the customer. Is it rocket science? - no - but at least there is a company that goes the extra distance to help get good stuff to the player... 4 red's - your spoiled rotten - good for you!!! I just have a cedar blue.. Also have a Larrivee and Taylor I also love. I too am spoiled... We are lucky we live in a world where GREAT guitars are available!
The mainstream manufacorers are missing a marketing opportunity. Employee picks it up from the production line, taps it, despite the result puts it back into production. They can now sell us "Tap tuned" guitars with a $500 mark up.
Just because they don’t tap tune doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it or that every non tap tuned guitar will sound worse than a tap tuned guitar. It’s a point of principal and point of reference that I’m giving - to inform you - not judge you. Hope that make sense!
Faith are definitely the bridging gap between the mainstream and my main top recommendations. Bare in mind also that LAG and Cort are also wonderful guitars and don’t tap time their guitars - again due to price point which you wouldn’t expect a tap tuned top. Dowina and Auden however? From £800 for a Dowina and you get a tap tuned instrument made by hand. I have no doubt (in my mind) that the more paid I would imagine more time is surely spent on the process ? However in principal every model is tap tuned
Tap tuning is only as good as the person doing it ... and his ear.. because honestly, and most of all knowing what it needs to sound like at that stage in the build .. Because once its connected all the way around 3 distinct things are going to happen , the outer edges of the soundboard isn't going to flood around, vibrating . The tone and pitch will raise up considerably.. And now you have accoustic pressure inside the chamber. Which vary from design. (Waist depth/sharpness, body bevel angle, density, and type of the wood used on back and sides , and most of all overall body size .. You can only do so much of guessing what's going to affect what .. Which is why most luthiers, once they find a couple of proven designs , they tend to stick with those because little shops don't have the resources to experiment with R&D .. So what they do instead is focus on what they can do to maximize the couple of designs they produce .. and if they get a commissioned guitar they will try to use that knowledge to make it fit the buyer's style of picking and their preferences, and if they want an exotic wood , they'll try to calculate what standard type of woods are closer to what that exotic wood will match to.. (another place where the human ear comes into play ... Folks, there's just no computer analysis that's going to replace that ... and the act of placing media on a top and vibrating it with a tone is prettymuch pointless in my book ... because that pattern isn't even going to resemble the pattern its going to have once it's boxed in ...The only way to make that applicable is if you voice it after it's built . Wss which can actually be done ... but not by shaving.. it takes a combination of camera, small drum sander and the ability to see what's going on in your head ..and LOTS of coordination. 😂
I don't think it makes any difference. Bunch of wood Tappers. Martin Guitars are the best money can buy, as long as you Buy Second Hand. A blind test needs doing between a cheap (non scalloped v scalloped bracing ). Furch's voicing technology. Just a fancy name for a sanding machine. Furch guitars are the best CNC machined guitars I've had the pleasure of trying so far. 🎸
Furch are also still low volume compared to martin and Taylor. My years of selling a martins was incredibly depressing. Highly variable new and I’d suggest buying used only increases the risk with what is not a consistent product. That is just my experience and as always lovely to hear from you !
@@RichardsGuitarshop. Furch are a little too sparkly I've found, selling my collection of them. I like Martin's tone and Taylor much better. I only really buy next to new, unless it was owned by a collector and never used. Then I'll buy an older guitar. There's some fantastic guitar's on the used market, especially while we're having a Hike up on prices and the cost of living. People are selling their prized guitars Cheap. I've never seen a bad review because of build quality on UA-cam regarding Martin guitars Your only saying Martin are rubbish because you don't stock them. That's unfair. That's in my opinion. Best wishes Dean Just bought a used Taylor 914ce L7 Brazilian Rosewood from a collector. OMG it's insanely good, in every way possible
@@deanmcbride8747 Hi Dean. I think youve proven my point. Who have you seen actually reviewing these guitars? People selling them? Here is rare honest insight ua-cam.com/video/9JR2K-Kvwdc/v-deo.html - Please watch it. Suggesting I say anything negative about anything "because I dont stock them" is not only unfair but it undermines my entire ethos in life - you are basically calling me a liar. Not a great way to maintain good relations! I say THE TRUTH. 100% every word. If you dont want to hear it then that is totally your prerogative. I have been selling guitars for 27 years so at least give me credit to believe my experiences as honest and true - If they are a surprise to you - fine - but dont tell me I am lying. Sounds like you feel a little sensitive about the fact youve paid a lot of money for a mass-produced guitar but I accept when I tell the truth - it hurts sometimes. I am sure your guitar is lovely - and I am happy for you. It doesnt mean you have to come on here and undermine my totally honest and sincere advice. You cancelled your order for the Dowina Ebony? I presume maybe you got bored of waiting for a hand made guitar. Wow - now thats an incredible guitar - and made by people who love the instrument through the process. Its horses for courses. Taylor guitars in my experience were always extremely sterile - Like a posh Yamaha - Thats basically what they are - made in the same ways etc. Taylors AND Yamahas are very well made instruments no question.
oh thank goodness you’re back!!! been counting the days waiting for your videos!!! nearly cried when i saw the notif!!!! so glad you’re doing well!!!! keep up with the good work👍👍💗💃
I love the vids!! I saw you in person yesterday and nearly had a heart attack!!!!
I 100% agree with this also, I have a Furch which is brilliant and top has wonderful resonance. I also admire Dana Bourgeois who is an absolute connoisseur of tone woods and builds superb guitars, but I also love Martin's like D28's, OM28's, D42's which are still the benchmark to my ears.
It could well be that Martin's have long ago been through this process and are able to closely replicate a consistent sound because of their access to a supply of Sitka Spruce which is consistent in grain and density and are therefore able to repeat their formula.
Top brand names don't always mean that you will get a top or should that be tap? tuned acoustic.
Sometimes in life you don't get what you pay for.
When it comes to acoustic guitars, i have been told that the more you pay the better it will sound,
but how much do you have to pay just for the name on the headstock?
Here is a myth for you:
A guitar can be tap tuned and still sound mediocre. Happened with my Dowina Ceres GACE SE which I bought in good faith online from Richard. It had a ballpoint "D" written inside the top, a Dowina tradition alledgedly indicating the one who created the top.
Eventually I lost 900 euro on it when I traded it for an Eastman E20D TC after trying a range of Eastmans dreadnoughts, which sounded better the more expensive they got. In that shop were also a couple of Dowina Dreadnoughts, for which I initially came. Boring guitars.
Lesson: Dont buy expensive acoustic guitars online. .
@@hammerstrumm This makes sad reading, Richard claims that he plays every guitar that they sell, so how come this bad sample even left the shop?
I would have contacted them and asked to return it and they either exchanged it or gave a full refund.
I have also learned the expensive way that price and brand name mean very little when it comes to bad guitars.
I had to reject a Fender Masterbuilt Custom Shop Strat that they wanted four figures for, it was a mess.
The only way is to play and inspect before you buy.
@@Barbarapape The guitar came with the wrong strings, (012 instead of the requested 011) there was no manual for the wrongly installed Fishman Matrix Infinity pick up, and the guitar was twice as heavy as my Lowden 012 wich is almost twice as large, and sounded dead.
There was 2cm space between the recommended Hiscox case and the guitar body, though over the phone I was told it fitted "snugly".
It was just after Brexit and sending the guitar back was next to impossible.
When I protested, initially about the wronly installed pick up, I was told (paraphrasing) not to whine, they knew better than Fishman, and that I should be happy to have a hand built guitar at such a great price.
Eventually, the Fishman manual was sent to me.
I totally fell for R´s youtube campaign, his friendly and supposedly "honest" demeanor there, even though I should have known better: someone who demo´s guitar sound with a smartphone as the only recording device relies entirely on his good looks and smooth salespitch. He deletes (shadowbans) my comments on his youtube videos, even though I speak totally the truth, which he can not handle. (As you can see, I found a way around that, for as long as it lasts)
I have copy pastes of the chat discussion I had with Richard.
He even asked me to delete a negative comment I posted on Trustpilot.
At the time, I was even inclined to do so, intimidated by his relentlessly blaming me.
I showed the guitar to a 50 year experienced acoustic guitarshop owner and will never forget his disappointed look after striking the first chord.
@@hammerstrumm This sounds like Richard does not practice what he preaches.
So much for setting it up to your spec with the wrong gauge of strings.
Having had a similar experience with Andertons who sent me a damaged used guitar that was supposed to be brand new in a sealed box, i can understand how you feel.
It will be interesting to see if Richard replies to you or just deletes our comments!
@@Barbarapape For the moment, these comments are still under the radar.If I´d posted it as a "first" comment it would probably appear on his or a workers email and be deleted immediately.
I guess Richard is honest as long as the going is good, and maybe the Brexit situation made him think it was a convenient way to get rid of that problematic guitar. I got it a few days before Brexit went active.
I dont know how it is now, but even only a year ago, a guitar sent from Europe to UK could take months to arrive in the UK, a shopowner told me.
R has a map on his website showing how many handbuilt guitars he sold in the Uk only the past 2 years. ALOT. Big business pretending to be small. After brexit he was off YT for 2 years or so. Selling to Europe would come with all sorts of customs problems.
Sorry to hear about your negative experience with Andertons. I would not buy there anyway, but we learn as we go along...
What do you think of Breedlove's "Sound Optimization"? It uses software for frequency analysis of individual tops to take the human ear (and the variability from different ears) out of the process, but are then hand tuned.
I've often wondered about this since hearing about tap tuning several years back. No doubt there's some merit to it, but- I've owned a 58 D-28 for many years and have played and compared it side by side with other dreadnought guitars that were made using a tap tuning technique. Granted a 58 D-28 has acquired years of playing and aging on it, but after a few comparisons with tap tuned guitars built in a similar style to Martin dreadnoughts, I'm not hearing the dollar difference.
Great stuff Richard! Although guitars are not the be-all and end-all of my life, they ARE important to my psychological (but not financial...) well-being. So well-being-done!
Hi Richard, maybe you could do a video on a cheap Furch (without tap tone voicing).
Against a Furch red series with the voicing technology used.
Anything jaw dropping arrived lately
Best wishes Dean
All Furch guitars get the tops tuned. The upper series, red and rainbow get both top and bottom tuned... And these are not tapped - it is a proprietary tuning process.
@@danherrick5785 it's not a car mate,
It's a lot of sales blagging . Voicing technology. Wtf. It's sanded by a cnc machine to exact specs. I own 4 red series furch guitars but this tap tuning voicing technology is nonsense.
@@deanmcbride8747 The tree, the ear, the wind. Sure it's a sales issue. Furch is just trying their best to make the process as consistent as possible. For what reason? - to send the best possible instrument to the customer. Is it rocket science? - no - but at least there is a company that goes the extra distance to help get good stuff to the player... 4 red's - your spoiled rotten - good for you!!! I just have a cedar blue.. Also have a Larrivee and Taylor I also love. I too am spoiled... We are lucky we live in a world where GREAT guitars are available!
The mainstream manufacorers are missing a marketing opportunity. Employee picks it up from the production line, taps it, despite the result puts it back into production. They can now sell us "Tap tuned" guitars with a $500 mark up.
So why does my Martin HD-28 sound superb, not just to me ! ?
Just because they don’t tap tune doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it or that every non tap tuned guitar will sound worse than a tap tuned guitar. It’s a point of principal and point of reference that I’m giving - to inform you - not judge you. Hope that make sense!
The noticeable absentee that you sell. Faith.
Do they tap tune?
I highly doubt it - in fact there’s little to no chance they do but I can investigate this to check for sure
Faith are definitely the bridging gap between the mainstream and my main top recommendations. Bare in mind also that LAG and Cort are also wonderful guitars and don’t tap time their guitars - again due to price point which you wouldn’t expect a tap tuned top. Dowina and Auden however? From
£800 for a Dowina and you get a tap tuned instrument made by hand. I have no doubt (in my mind) that the more paid I would imagine more time is surely spent on the process ? However in principal every model is tap tuned
Tap tuning is only as good as the person doing it ... and his ear.. because honestly, and most of all knowing what it needs to sound like at that stage in the build ..
Because once its connected all the way around 3 distinct things are going to happen , the outer edges of the soundboard isn't going to flood around, vibrating .
The tone and pitch will raise up considerably..
And now you have accoustic pressure inside the chamber. Which vary from design. (Waist depth/sharpness, body bevel angle, density, and type of the wood used on back and sides , and most of all overall body size ..
You can only do so much of guessing what's going to affect what .. Which is why most luthiers, once they find a couple of proven designs , they tend to stick with those because little shops don't have the resources to experiment with R&D ..
So what they do instead is focus on what they can do to maximize the couple of designs they produce .. and if they get a commissioned guitar they will try to use that knowledge to make it fit the buyer's style of picking and their preferences, and if they want an exotic wood , they'll try to calculate what standard type of woods are closer to what that exotic wood will match to.. (another place where the human ear comes into play ...
Folks, there's just no computer analysis that's going to replace that ... and the act of placing media on a top and vibrating it with a tone is prettymuch pointless in my book ... because that pattern isn't even going to resemble the pattern its going to have once it's boxed in ...The only way to make that applicable is if you voice it after it's built . Wss which can actually be done ... but not by shaving.. it takes a combination of camera, small drum sander and the ability to see what's going on in your head ..and LOTS of coordination. 😂
They don’t “tap tune” their tops and you can tell. Most of them don’t sound great and some sound thin and weak.
I don't think it makes any difference.
Bunch of wood Tappers.
Martin Guitars are the best money can buy, as long as you Buy Second Hand.
A blind test needs doing between a cheap (non scalloped v scalloped bracing ).
Furch's voicing technology. Just a fancy name for a sanding machine.
Furch guitars are the best CNC machined guitars I've had the pleasure of trying so far. 🎸
Furch are also still low volume compared to martin and Taylor. My years of selling a martins was incredibly depressing. Highly variable new and I’d suggest buying used only increases the risk with what is not a consistent product. That is just my experience and as always lovely to hear from you !
@@RichardsGuitarshop.
Furch are a little too sparkly I've found, selling my collection of them. I like Martin's tone and Taylor much better. I only really buy next to new, unless it was owned by a collector and never used. Then I'll buy an older guitar.
There's some fantastic guitar's on the used market, especially while we're having a Hike up on prices and the cost of living. People are selling their prized guitars Cheap.
I've never seen a bad review because of build quality on UA-cam regarding Martin guitars
Your only saying Martin are rubbish because you don't stock them. That's unfair. That's in my opinion.
Best wishes Dean
Just bought a used Taylor 914ce L7 Brazilian Rosewood from a collector. OMG it's insanely good, in every way possible
@@deanmcbride8747 Hi Dean. I think youve proven my point. Who have you seen actually reviewing these guitars? People selling them? Here is rare honest insight ua-cam.com/video/9JR2K-Kvwdc/v-deo.html - Please watch it. Suggesting I say anything negative about anything "because I dont stock them" is not only unfair but it undermines my entire ethos in life - you are basically calling me a liar. Not a great way to maintain good relations! I say THE TRUTH. 100% every word. If you dont want to hear it then that is totally your prerogative. I have been selling guitars for 27 years so at least give me credit to believe my experiences as honest and true - If they are a surprise to you - fine - but dont tell me I am lying. Sounds like you feel a little sensitive about the fact youve paid a lot of money for a mass-produced guitar but I accept when I tell the truth - it hurts sometimes. I am sure your guitar is lovely - and I am happy for you. It doesnt mean you have to come on here and undermine my totally honest and sincere advice. You cancelled your order for the Dowina Ebony? I presume maybe you got bored of waiting for a hand made guitar. Wow - now thats an incredible guitar - and made by people who love the instrument through the process. Its horses for courses. Taylor guitars in my experience were always extremely sterile - Like a posh Yamaha - Thats basically what they are - made in the same ways etc. Taylors AND Yamahas are very well made instruments no question.