GAS vs Reason & the SmoothTalker

Conrad

OK so last night I met this guitarist from an acoustic duet who is selling his SmoothTalker for a very good price....

I am looking for a flamenco capable sound (if that makes sense) which requires a lot of attack. It turns out this thing is FANTASTIC. The intonation is great, the craftsmanship is great, the attack kicks you in the bracket and the action is awesome but alot of the flamenco I am writing requires the body of th guitar to be where your strumming/picking hand is while playing and this is not the case with this guitar and the result i that I am UTTERLY conflicted today.

Should I pay Rx for a fantastic guitar that will throw my technique and recording plans or should I pay Rx (Yes, same price as this SmoothTalker) for a factory flamenco import I haven't touched but that provides the traditional build which means my percussion technique can stay? I had trouble sleeping!! This decision will affect the next 10 years of guitar activity for me at least...

singemonkey

Very tough.

I somehow feel that if you want the full range of sounds that come with a flamenco guitar, you should buy a flamenco guitar. Are there not luthiers here who could build you a custom guitar flamenco guitar for similar money? (depends a lot on what you're spending, I suppose)

Conrad

singemonkey wrote: Very tough.

I somehow feel that if you want the full range of sounds that come with a flamenco guitar, you should buy a flamenco guitar. Are there not luthiers here who could build you a custom guitar flamenco guitar for similar money? (depends a lot on what you're spending, I suppose)

Mervyn can build me a traditional one for R35k but it'll take me a long time to get that together.

BMU

It's hard to speak into another man's GAS dilemma, ignore if not suitable:

Don't know about flamenco an' stuff but just in general, changing your technique and your whole body of work around to fit the tool sounds counterintuitive somehow. I'd lean towards getting the right tool for the job at hand. Guitars are so seductive and alive, it seems sacrilegious to refer to them as mere tools, but that's all they are at the end of the day.

Conrad

Thanks guys. All that was helpful input. I reckon it's OK to not take the SmoothTalker now. Now I must just find a foactory flamenco guitar that sounds good and that I can afford.

Anyway. If anyone is interested in only paying R10k for a spotless nylon string Smoothtalker with a R4k L.R. Baggs IBeam pickup in.Just let me know and I'll give you the seller's details. He has more than one SmoothTalker and now has a Yamaha endorsement so never gets to play this one. It really seems untouched.

Keira-WitherKay

Conrad wrote: Thanks guys. All that was helpful input. I reckon it's OK to not take the SmoothTalker now. Now I must just find a foactory flamenco guitar that sounds good and that I can afford.

Anyway. If anyone is interested in only paying R10k for a spotless nylon string Smoothtalker with a R4k L.R. Baggs IBeam pickup in.Just let me know and I'll give you the seller's details. He has more than one SmoothTalker and now has a Yamaha endorsement so never gets to play this one. It really seems untouched.

as far as saying an i beam from LR baggs costs 4K is not true...... an ibeam active is available (i just bought one a few months ago and just about to pick up a 2nd for my other guitar tomorrow... the unit is R1150 after discount and R 400 labour to fit it .... so unless theres a R2500 preamp built into the guitar it shouldn't be that expensive ........but thats besides the point ........

as for your dialema ... Conrad it all depends on your budget ....... i see marshall music has some manuel rodriguos ( sorry bad spelling) in stock and have a flamenco model or two. they not too expensive ...... anything from 5K upwards ...to 20 odd K ... also aria make flamenco guitars which are all spanish built and sell for retail of 7K or thereabouts but again the discount makes em closer to 5 K or less and they very nice......... for the money .....

and i will second what someone said...if you wanna do flamenco get the right tool for the job .... cos end of the day you need to be convincing with your sound and image within the genre .........

good luck and let us know what you decide

peace and light
keira

MikeM

I think it's a double edged sword.

Can set you apart as an artist, however could make you seem gimicky/non authentic.

Personally I'd go for the right sized hammer for the job ?

Conrad

Keira WitherKay wrote:
Conrad wrote: Thanks guys. All that was helpful input. I reckon it's OK to not take the SmoothTalker now. Now I must just find a foactory flamenco guitar that sounds good and that I can afford.

Anyway. If anyone is interested in only paying R10k for a spotless nylon string Smoothtalker with a R4k L.R. Baggs IBeam pickup in.Just let me know and I'll give you the seller's details. He has more than one SmoothTalker and now has a Yamaha endorsement so never gets to play this one. It really seems untouched.
as far as saying an i beam from LR baggs costs 4K is not true...... an ibeam active is available (i just bought one a few months ago and just about to pick up a 2nd for my other guitar tomorrow... the unit is R1150 after discount and R 400 labour to fit it .... so unless theres a R2500 preamp built into the guitar it shouldn't be that expensive ........but thats besides the point ........

as for your dialema ... Conrad it all depends on your budget ....... i see marshall music has some manuel rodriguos ( sorry bad spelling) in stock and have a flamenco model or two. they not too expensive ...... anything from 5K upwards ...to 20 odd K ... also aria make flamenco guitars which are all spanish built and sell for retail of 7K or thereabouts but again the discount makes em closer to 5 K or less and they very nice......... for the money .....

and i will second what someone said...if you wanna do flamenco get the right tool for the job .... cos end of the day you need to be convincing with your sound and image within the genre .........

good luck and let us know what you decide

peace and light
keira

Thanks Keira. Yes I was also sceptical of the R4k for the IBeam. There is some LR Baggs Pre Amp in there but I was less interested in the electronics. Thank you so much for the tip on what Marshall music has. I'll make sure I get there on Saturday.

Bob-Dubery

Conrad wrote: Thanks guys. All that was helpful input. I reckon it's OK to not take the SmoothTalker now. Now I must just find a foactory flamenco guitar that sounds good and that I can afford.

Anyway. If anyone is interested in only paying R10k for a spotless nylon string Smoothtalker with a R4k L.R. Baggs IBeam pickup in.Just let me know and I'll give you the seller's details. He has more than one SmoothTalker and now has a Yamaha endorsement so never gets to play this one. It really seems untouched.

What's a new one cost right now?

R4k for an I-beam is a lot. Still the price of the guitar seems not bad. The I-beam is an intriguing choice for that guitar.

Keira-WitherKay

X-rated Bob wrote:
Conrad wrote:
What's a new one cost right now?

R4k for an I-beam is a lot. Still the price of the guitar seems not bad. The I-beam is an intriguing choice for that guitar.

actually Bob i know the band that conrad is refering to and they do a flamenco type thing....... great band....

and in all honesty the Ibeam is the only pickup that makes the top active without adding a mic.... which causes feedback for big stages........

and for flamenco it's pointless having a UST as it does not pick up the top and flamenco means percussion .... so if the audience can't hear your banging and scraping the top the pickup is useless....

so yeah thats why i chose i beam....... the whole guitar is active ..

truly closest thing to being mic'd ..... but as we know not quite as good for the tonal nuances.... but nothing else in a single pickup with no feedback problems offers this...... except i beam or a copy there of.......

so yeah i think for flamenco a mic is 1st choice but an ibeam is the only alternative ....and in no way an intruiging choice but an "only" choice to whats locally available...