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发表于 2006-3-8 04:32:38
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找到一篇比较Ramirez, Contreras, Córdoba的文章
Ramirez, Contreras, Córdoba
Old-world craftsmanship, world-class tone.
Before it ever yakked, wept, screamed, or cut heads, the guitar sang. By the middle of the last century, this humble folk instrument had been refined enough to play serious music. With slight improvements, the same instrument is still played by scores of classical masters. Segovia, Bream, Williams, Parkening, Romero, and thousands of others have established the Spanish classical guitar as an immensely expressive and flexible chordal and contrapuntal instrument, worthy of transcribed works from the likes of J.S. Bach, Beethoven, and Strauss.
But the purity of tone and gentle voice of the classical guitar has never been entirely absent from the rest of the musical universe. Aside from recognized soft-string luminaries like Earl Klugh, Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin (in some incarnations), and the Gypsy Kings, generations of pop giants have dared to touch nylon. Elvis, Willie Nelson, Clapton, Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, George Harrison, Paul Simon, and Sting - to mention just a few - have all featured the flavor of Spanish guitar on their recordings.
Though it is the ancestral stock of all flattops, solid-bodies, resonators, twelve-strings, and even pedal steels, the Spanish classical guitar is a zebra of a different stripe in more ways than one. The wider, flat fretboard; lower string tension; and greater string diameter make the classical guitar a friendlier platform for extremely complex arrangements involving both hands. And though it may seem a slower neck at first, once you play it for a while you'll find it's easier to keep clean definition even on fast runs - provided you can get your right hand up to speed (a pick is always a possibility, if unorthodox).
The lower string tension means the top of a classical guitar can get by with lighter bracing, thus allowing much greater responsiveness to nuances of tone. The lower-tension, thicker strings also provide fuller mid- to low-range response.
Spanish artisans
The guitars I played for this article are all made in Spain - traditional home of the guitar. Aside from the addition of a few power tools, they are made almost just as they were 150 years ago. Almost all of the crafting is done by hand in small shops where the system of apprenticeship is still practiced. Total output of the Ramirez or Contreras shops can be counted in the hundreds - rather than thousands - per year. Such details as a wood binding (versus plastic) can take many hours of hand labor. The difference between these guitars and their mass-produced counterparts is immediately apparent when you play them.
The legendary Ramirez
Since 1882 the Ramirez family has been creating top-flight classical guitars for such greats as the "father of classical guitar" Andres Segovia, his world-renowned student Christopher Parkening, and equally lauded master Julian Bream. After ten seconds with the R1, it was clear what keeps Ramirez at the top. In a word, it is tone - big, full, resonant, splendiferous TONE. I could feel, see, and hear the integrity in every joint, from the sonorous solid cedar top to the maple purfling on gorgeous mahogany sides to the easy-playing Spanish cedar neck with ebony fingerboard.
The R2 was even more astounding. The timbre of its solid Canadian red cedar soundboard reminded me of a piano or a concert harp. The projection and warmth of the tone cast a spell I couldn't break until my hand was aching and I was pushing the limits of my classical repertoire. The Indian rosewood back and sides fairly glowed, and the attention to detail was truly impressive. The closer I looked, the better it got.
Contreras, consummate craftsmanship
An apprentice of José Ramirez III, Manuel Contreras is an internationally acclaimed luthier known for innovation. But the C5 I played showed that he first mastered traditional building methods and taught them to his son, who now runs the shop. The wood choice, bracing, and finishing techniques on the solid cedar top come together to produce a magical tone that is both seductive and robust, with a great deal of responsiveness to differing attacks. It features solid Indian rosewood back and sides, a Spanish cedar neck, and a masterfully crafted ebony fretboard. The gold-plated European tuning machines add an extra measure of brilliance to an already resplendent instrument.
Córdoba, affordable excellence
The 20 Solid Top and 40R Córdoba guitars I played evinced Spanish workmanship and attention to detail with all the essential elements of a true classical guitar for phenomenally low prices. The solid cedar soundboard on the 20 produced a great tone that complemented the fluid playability of the mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard. The 40 had a lot of beautiful high-end features like a solid cedar top, maple purfling on rosewood sides and back, and gold-plated tuners. It actually held its own with the pricier guitars I played.
I have to admit I'm not a classical purist, but the Córdoba that really impressed me was the FCWE Gypsy Kings Acoustic/Electric Cutaway. It has lower flamenco-style action that really babied my fingers and a solid German spruce top for great acoustic tone. It sounds great plugged in, too, thanks to Fishman Pro-Blend electronics that give you incredible sonic control.
Whether you're a career classical player or a crossover from the realm of steel, let Musician's Friend provide you with a quality Ramirez, Contreras, or Córdoba Spanish Classical Guitar for a great price.
Features & Specs
José Ramirez R1 José Ramirez R2
Solid cedar soundboard
Solid mahogany back and sides
Spanish cedar neck
Ebony fingerboard
Fusteros tuning machines
Solid red cedar soundboard
Laminated Indian rosewood back and sides
Spanish cedar neck
Ebony fingerboard
Fusteros tuning machines
Córdoba 20 Solid Top Córdoba 40R
Solid cedar soundboard
Laminated mahogany back and sides
Mahogany neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Nickel plated tuning machines
Solid cedar soundboard
Laminated rosewood back and sides
Mahogany neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Gold-plated tuning machines |
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发表于 2006-3-7 08:25:32
发表于 2006-3-8 01:10:36