About a year ago the folks at Guitar Salon asked me to record the Flamenco guitars for their website.  I had been editing a CD of waltzes that GSI produced, recorded by Marc Teicholz, so it occurred to us that we might as well do recordings of full pieces with each guitar.  Over the past few months I got to take home some really interesting guitars, spend some time with them and do studio recordings of them here at Universal Exports, my studio in L.A.  You can also find most of these recordings, along with more info about the guitars, at the GSI website (www.GuitarSalon.com).  

I'll be adding guitars to this page as I record them.  Upcoming guitars include a Conde Koa/Spruce, a Ramirez 1A blanca, a Plazuelo blanca, a Manuel Diaz, an Aaron Green or two, and an early 60's Conde.

Rather than attempt to do a sterile comparison of the guitars, I simply tried to record the guitars in a way that gives a good idea of the character and sound of each guitar.  So while signal chain has been the same (AKG C28b microphone with a ck28 capsule, Millenia HV3 pre, UA 2192 converter direct to Pro Tools), I allowed myself to play with mic placement and some other variables in order to get what I consider a representative recording.  

All guitars were strung with LaBella 2001 Series strings (www.LaBella.com), which is what I always use on my guitars. 

Click the play button to listen to the recorded guitar.

1949 Ramirez Blanca This is a 1949 Ramirez Blanca.  I’m playing a Tango with  singer Fernando De Malaga and Patric Oliver (of PoPercussion) on cajón.  I was a  little surprised that a guitar from 1949 didn’t feel in any way fragile.  It just felt like a guitar.  I used LaBella 2001 Classical medium tension strings.

1953 Esteso blanca re-edition This is a 2007 Conde Hermanos re-edition of a 1953 Esteso blanca.  I’m playing a Soleá Por Buleria with singer Fernando De Malaga and Patric Oliver on Cajon.  I used LaBella 2001 Classical medium tension strings.

2006 Conde Esteso This is a 2006 Conde Hermanos “Esteso” model (not to be  confused with their 1953 re-esition) blanca.  I’m playing the Taranta  from my CD ‘Vueltas’.  I used LaBella 2001 Classial medium hard  tension strings.

2007 Kenny Hill "Reyes" This is my 2007 Kenny Hill ‘Reyes’ model blanca.  I’m  playing my Buleria with Patric Oliver on cajón.  I used LaBella 2001  Clasical medium hard tension strings.  I had a really hard time giving this guitar back, so I kept it.

John Ray This is a 2008 John Ray blanca.  I’m playing my  Sevillanas.  I used LaBella 2001 Classical medium hard tension strings. One of my students ended up buying this guitar.

Perez This is a 2008 Teodoro Perez blanca.  I’m playing my Alegrias   with Gerardo Morales on cajón. I used LaBella 2001 medium tension  strings.