When I buy meat the butcher can show me where the animals lived. Mass producers can't tell where the animal lived.1 I bake my own bread and I like it much better than sliced loaves. I have a Rob Armstrong guitar. It belonged to Gordon giltrap and I love it. I much prefer small producers and will forever. I SOLD most of my gibsons. I rarely play my Martin I love my b and g. I wo I ld love a Gordon Smith and a guy called Dennis Yau makes amazing looking I struments. So keep presenting your views I'm fine with it.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome - Fankooo! :)

@davidfurnival176

2 жыл бұрын

Well done Richard, great video and I'm loving my Furch and Gordon Smith guitars I bought from you

@michael1

8 ай бұрын

If we didn't mass produce food then millions of people would die. Simple as. You can eat foie gras from a deli and laugh or lament the people waddling out of Tescos, Greggs or McDonalds, but the fancy pants deli couldn't feed or cope with the demand if everyone went to eat there. No one is going to die if they don't own a guitar but there's no point or purpose to making 3 guitars a day if the world needs 700 a day and no point marketing or advertising how great your guitars are if you can't make them. Your brand simple isn't needed at all - but if you exist, great - but rest assured if you didn't those 1200 or so people playing your guitars would just play another brand. Now, you might say, what if you just had lots of small producers then they could sate demand between them - but it's inefficient - it's why you can't buy a guitar from Richard because you have a 14-day wait or longer - and he can't hire staff to reduce that because he won't sell the service he's providing because he thinks everyone would go and buy a guitar from somewhere else. He sees his tech as worth nothing. You can wax lyrically about being patient and getting a better guitar - but if you do wait and then get your guitar and there's a mistake been made - maybe that's only 5% of guitars - but those customers are going to say "It's great but this small thing was wrong and not what we said" - but the store has no tech because he spends every hour of every day just trying to cope with the demand for new sales - and you quickly realise as a potential customer that you'd be as well going to someone who sells 700 guitars a day and finding a tech to pay to do the setup. If the setup is worth £65 then pay it - and then if he's human and puts the wrong string gauge he can probably cope with fixing that small error and checking the setup again. Small producers have to value their product and, if they don't, well they'll go out of business or end up so inefficient that even if you want to buy a guitar from them that the risk is too big, the wait is too long. I'd be better off spending £2k on a Japanese built Ibanez than trying to be convinced that a £700 Cort + free setup is the same thing. You see that? The business owner has to value his tech especially as a small producer. He has to say "This is worth £65 and costs £65" and then it's a viable business model. Meantime, of course, you'll undoubtedly sell guitars and keep your tech working but the vast majority of us are going to have to shop somewhere else...because you can't sate the demand for your own service - and mostly because you don't value it as worth anything. You give it away so we can't buy it if we wanted to. If end up spending more elsewhere for the same thing, whatever.

Sad to hear the videos were taken down Keep doing what you do Richard, that's what we love you for

"Nil carborundum illegitimi" Richard. Your videos are personal, truthful and informative. And may I say, you gave me the same high level of customer service as if I was buying a hand made product even though I bought a LAG at your lowest price point. So, thank you for all you do.

Hi Richard I feel that your perspectives are valid and I enjoyed this video. Any brand that truly believes in their products will offer longer than a 1 year warranty. Especially if people are paying upwards of 2-3k for their guitars. However I did notice in your video you said that Taylor is making around 700 guitars a day and Dowina are only making 3 a day. Would it be fair to say that this is partly because Taylor are a much larger manufacturer and have more staff, resources and facilities to produce this volume, rather than them compromising quality due to quantity? It would be interesting to hear your views on this.

I love your channel because you are sincere and honest in your opinions. Keep up the great work and forget about those that hate. I can't believe they can shut down a video!! This is crazy because you are just expressing an opinion.....something that most of us enjoy.

Keep doing as you do Richard. I had a Taylor acoustic and felt very proud of it just because it was a Taylor. After a few months I finally realised it wasn't any better than the Yamaha I traded in. I bought a Cort gold series from you Richard and it is far better in every respect than the many acoustics I've had previously. Plus your team set it up beautifully to my requirements. Never had that previously either. Richard, you do a great job and it is so good to hear you talk so passionately about guitars that nobody else may consider buying just because it doesn't say "Martin" or"Taylor" or"Gibson" on the headstock. Keep it up bud.

I’ve order a guitar last year from a local builder, I selected all woods, finishing and even the neck size and radius. All solid wood for a fraction of the price of a Taylor or Martin. The guitar is amazing better than I expect. Paired with a LRBaggs pickup it’s killer.

Bought a week ago a Eastman PCH1 GACE CLA. Tried 5 different brands in my price range. It was in the end a battle between Sigma and Eastman. Eastman won, loved the warm tone more than that of the Sigma. Also the thin lacquer makes the feel and playability of the guitar great. Luckely the store had this one in store. Eastman doesn't produce that many guitars in a day either.

It sucks that one of your videos was taken down. Folks should be more mindful that content creation is part of your business which costs you time and money. I personally think we're in the best time for guitar players and guiter making. From hand made to mass produced, it doesn't matter, It's down to the each player and what they're looking for. I've owned Furch, Taylor, martin and Gibson acoustics. Each brand has its own feel, sound and value. Let's all just be happy that as guitar players, we have so many great options.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree - nicely said

That why you and people like Chris and Matt from Driftwood are so important for the consumer!

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

That’s a real compliment thank you. I find their channel a breath of fresh air. I feel we share a similar ethos in life for sure and love their channel

@bmac5085

8 ай бұрын

I watch driftwood as well. It definitely opens your eyes about quality especially when they cut the guitar in two and you can see the work that goes on inside.

Some of the best sounding (not quality in binding etc) has been Martin guitars. Many of them are really gret. But as you say, their quality control and willingness to hear their customer feedback on problems is really bad. Glad you are addressing this problem !

Richard! I watched one of your videos and proceeded to let go of £1000! Ever since, my Dovina is truly the best and most inspiring guitar I have bought over the past 50 years! So much so that I will be coming back to you for another one. The lesson here is that you said, I listened and trusted. Despite my musical past, you were right. So the lesson here is don't bend or change to opinion, stay straight and move forward with the gift and conviction you have in finding these beautiful instruments. Long journey but you will win. What's to doubt?

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Marty! Thats amazing!! Stan, Erika and all at Dowina will be so proud to hear your comments and I know I certainly am! Really kind words - really appreciated.

I like a man with firm opinions whether I agree with them all or not. My goodness it’s guitars your talking about! Can’t believe you got censored and your video taken down for your opinion. I’ve owned 2 Fender Teles both were perfectly good, I’ve owned a Taylor Big Baby and a Taylor 114e I had good experiences of both and loved them at the time I owned them. However as I have grown older and seen, bought, played, sold other guitars I can definitely see that you get more bang for your buck in a lot of other brands other than your Fenders, Taylor’s, Martins etc. There is some great stuff coming out of the Far East that in terms of appointments etc and bang for your buck the brand names just can’t compete with. For instance I’ve owned two Faith’s a Naked Saturn and a Faith Nexus Venus in Cognac both were exceptional guitars also I love my Sire R3 Grand Auditorium it was only £250 second hand but it’s amazing bang for your buck at the budget acoustic guitar end of the market. Next on my personal list would be a Sire Strat you’d be paying double or triple for one of those if it had a Fender headstock imho and there are many guitars like that today.

Thks Richard, I just bought another Auden : A Maple Jumbo . I live 10 minutes from Taylors main factory in El Cajon . Can we say “Group Think”.

Erika at Dowina was really helpful to me when we were designing my custom acoustic guitar.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

She is one of the most special people who I have never met :) She is crazy - inspiring - energetic - a dream maker. I am blessed to have her around to keep me sane.

Now i know why i was unable to find your last two video's. You did mention that they might upset a few buyers. As i have mentioned i am not a fan of acoustic guitars but i share your passion for finding the best guitar that you can afford. A few years ago i was in a postion to have a custom made Strat to my specifications, and made the big mistake of going through a dealer to order a Fender masterbuilt strat. After a very long wait, i received a phone call from Fender to confiirm my spec. 18 months later it arrived, but the dealer seemed concerned when he asked me to go in and inspect it. I soon found out why, not only was most of the spec wrong, it had multiple scuffs all over the body and a ding in the headstock, so i rejected it. Still wanting my custom guitar i did some reasearch and found a company called 42nd Street here in the UK, they were superb to work with, and when the guitar arrived 9 months later it was everything i had wanted for less than Fender were charging me. Mass market guitars have their place if you can accept that they are made for a worldwide market and vary a lot in quality from one sample to another. If you are lucky enough to have the funds to order a luthier made guitar, find a good luthier and go for it. You have not caused me any offence Richard, i found your last two video's very entertaining, sadly it seems someone was not ammused. Please keep these video's coming, you are a rare breed in this industry, you are open and honest and passionate about the guitars that you sell.

Great video Richard, I always appreciate your honesty and sincerity!! You are one of the people that really helped me learn about Furch and I am forever grateful for that! I was a big fan of Taylor for a long time (and still have a Big Baby Taylor which I love and will never part with) and had my heart set on a higher end Taylor until I learned about Furch. I purchased the Yellow Master's Choice Gc-CR a few months ago, it is the best decision I could have made!! So having folks like you get the message out about these other builders is doing all of us a great service! I'm sure many people are in my position where we can only afford to buy one really exceptional guitar . Where we spend that once-in-a-lifetime budget is really important. Having the information to help enable one to purchase the best possible guitar for that money is a great service you are providing!

Keep telling the truth of what you feel about different products as it's good to hear an honest opinion as big brands are not always the best they just put their name on any piece of crap and it will sell for 10 times the value and they know it.

Hi Richard, Really appreciate your insight in to everything and it is refreshing to hear your honesty and belief being displayed. Of course opinions are subjective but to listen to your enthusiasm it would be churlish to criticise and dismiss your experiences and equally valid viewpoint. I am fortunate (or not) to have a range of acoustic guitars, a good Martin, a not so good Martin, a couple of good Taylors, a good Sigma....but also a poor Furch guitar, which in my opinion should never have passed any form of quality control at build or by the distributer....but that's another story. As I say, always refreshing to listen to you and when I get back to the UK sometime, if I get the chance I must pop in and check out some of your more individual brands. Something I will look forward to.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Hia. Sorry to hear about the Furch - that really is sad. :( I really appreciate the feedback and insights. Would be lovely to say hi so do pop in when you are around.

Thanks for your comments. I understand about mass production and boutique guitars. Bob Taylor is a nice guy...you'd like him. Taylor has a whole approach about their woods from the ebony they harvest/replant, the Koa they are growing, the "urban ash" they use, and the maple they are planning with (select) seedlings with good guitar characteristics and more. They know where the wood comes from. Acoustic Gibsons have had the most varied tone/playing in my experience. My Taylor, Martin, Iris and others are warranted for life, or at least my life. My children and grandchildren play. There is a difference between the guitar a week or month production and hundreds a day, and most can hear the differences and feel them when playing. Thanks.

Highly admire your outlook Richard. In life You can never please everyone….all you can do it be honest and speak your own options. 👍🏻

Richard, you're truthful and spot on with your insights! I must say I always seem to agree with your analogies. Especially for Taylor's cookie cutter tone and the V Class bracing gimmick. Sometimes the last resort for the truth is for the advertisers to call the messenger a hater. Keep on keeping on Richard!

Richard, never stop being the honest gentleman you are. I really enjoy listening to your quite informative and honest reviews - both your thoughts and comparing actual sounds of the guitars. Thank you.

I always enjoy and learn from your viewpoints. 🎶

Richard I hope you have a great week. You sell something that you care about, you have years of experience and knowledge and it creates an honest voice for you videos. I appreciate it. You do what you do well!

I never ever thought you “hated” on any brand. You are unbelievably enthusiastic about the guitars you promote, and I will definitely be paying you a visit later this year.

Good point well made. From a Taylor fan. In manufacturing it’s also about profitability per head. And sustainable business practices. So, it’s all relative. Interestingly, Taylor are now employee owned. We all get brand blind. And, in the case of guitars, most of us were influenced by well known guitarists, who played a certain brand or style of guitar. Personally, I’d love a guitar from Carmine Street Guitars (NYC). Their custom guitar maker Rick Kelly and his young apprentice Cindy Hulej, build handcrafted guitars out of reclaimed wood from old hotels, bars, churches and other local buildings. I think as a retailer, you get to see the other side of the coin. Dealing directly with these brands. So, your views are very important. More so to me than say Anderson’s and all those others. You don’t tend to put the ‘marketing spin’ on it. It’s all about choice. 🍻 😉🎸🙏🏻

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris - always lovely to hear from you.

Love my Stonebridge and Dowina guitars. Would never buy the big mass market guitars unless it was really special at an equally special price.

Richard, never apologize for speaking the truth.

You have every right to make videos and comparisons like these as you're vastly experienced and know exactly what you are talking about. People who get offended have made the choice to be offended, it's as simple as that. It's really a clear case of freedom of speech being attacked and removed which should not be tolerated or allowed to continue! You don't owe ANYONE any apologies, keep making these videos as they're priceless and open our eyes to the truths of production etc and gives us more information to make fully informed decisions before parting with our hard earned money. Keep up the great work Ricard 👍

Great content, as always Richard. Now owning three of those Dowinas, I hear that difference. I have always tried to get a brand that wasn't marketed to get a better value for money. Please keep speaking the truth about this and other brands that you love! If it wasn't for your channel, I never would have owned any of them. The tap tuning on the tops makes them sing!

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Craig!

Very well said. I have played a few Taylor guitars and they are way too bright. I could care less for them. It is the same with Martin. I have played some and didn't necessarily have a wow factor. I got a Furch blue a few years back, then came the wow factor. A lot don't know about them, but a lot do. It is amazing the amount of time and care put in to one and it shows. It is easily one of the best acoustics I ever had. It seems like they only make like a small batch a day. I wouldn't part with it for any Taylor or Martin.

I've always wanted to either get a Taylor or Martin Guitar. You sir changed my mind about saving up for those brands. I have my eyes set on a Dowina.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Hi. For balance - please do watch every video by every presenter of every brand. My views are my own and are genuine of course and its important to try guitars in person - do your full research and should you wish to pursue a Dowina I promise you the most wonderful experience!

The most important thing is that you are happy/love your Guitar. Many factors; price, look, history, feel, sound, bragging rights, etc. No right or wrong answer. Sounds like people over think. I have a cheap fender - really easy to play, a Taylor with great sound and a Gordon Smith on order from Richard. They all have their place.

Thank you Richard. Because of you and another KZreadr named Silly Mustache, I am the happy owner of two wonderful Eastmans!

I have a 1 year old Taylor acoustic and I love it. That said, I don't feel loyal to them and if I had way more time in my buying process I might of ended up with a different guitar. I hope I get to play many good instruments over my lifetime! Also I do notice that the used market is a whole different animal given the usually more reasonable prices and how I mostly see guitars from the big brands given the sheer number of guitars they've built and sold.

Fair comments about mass production. That said I have 3 Taylors and I’m more than happy with them. I think there are more good than bad guitars around these days and mass production has surely at lease levelled out the overall production standards. I’ve also had 3 Fender strats, one good, one average and one poor. I’d like to try a Dowina and may well visit someday to take a look.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Hi. I think your comments too are very fair. I couldnt agree more than Taylor guitars for example are incredibly consistent, high quality guitars.

Love the moonspruce story... i'll be checking out those guitars for sure

Absolutely disgusted to know what happened, firstly I believe that you are doing an excellent job of educating us amateur guitar players, secondly you have every right to express your opinion whether or not others agree with that or even if you are wrong...it is just your viewpoint and nothing more...keep doing the wonderful job you are doing, you have a lot of support from the rest of rational people like us!!!!

Totally agree. Though i have to say when i tried out a Dovina i was a little disappointed compared with the Fursch at the same price point. The quality of build was obvious but the sound of the fursch was soo much better ( in my opinion).

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Malcolm. Furch guitars no doubt have a very impressive acoustic tone - They have been a massive personal favorite for many years. Dowina bring an entirely new dimension to acoustic guitars in as much as Furch provide you a very specific and fairy limited range of customisations relative to Dowina and their custom builds start at £2500 - instead of £1000 for a Dowina. I have always said Furch guitars ARE tone machines - not that this would mean I am saying Dowina are not beautiful tonally too - but they are lighter sounding so if you are doing an A/B test and you are looking for the "biggest" sound lets say - the Furch may well be the one you go toward - but then again Auden too are immense when it comes to volume and full tone - So all 3 of these brands are put to the test when someone comes in. The right guitar will depend on what the customer deems important to them personally. Thank you so much for your feedback - its really appreciated and important that people can see its not all one way traffic for Dowina!! That is what is so special about acoustic guitars - we all love them for different reasons

I have played guitar for 25 years purchased a Taylor L7 in 2004 my first proper guitar, and since then I've purchased 5 other guitars Santa Cruz, martin, Taylor and a Chinese copy of martin/Clapton acoustic and finally a Harley benton cla 00015m 2018 model which is my cheapest guitar, mass produced in China. now my other guitars range between €3.500 - €7.500 each ! and my Harley benton cost €168 euro including deleavery ! and is by far my main player definitely and my favorate guitar of all time, and i look after it like it's worth same as the rest . a very well made ! very good copy of a Martin 00015m . That's not saying u can spend 168 euro and get one half as good as mine, as with all builders and all wood they are very different with many variables. think it's a bit of luck with all brands .

I own a Yamaha LL16L and im very happy with it.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Nice guitars yes

I have recently started playing a Walden guitar I have had but not used for several years. It's fantastic (but low cost !).

where can I watch the original video? Free speech is important, it gives contrast in perspective, not to mention it is healthy.

if the fan boys cannot cope with the fact that their guitars are mass produced and simply are not as good as they would like to think they are ,tough,they should get a grip and stop extolling the virtues of a production line guitar,what ever it may ge

@Mr.Wrong1

2 жыл бұрын

It strikes me as really odd when someone mentions a product that is just as good or sometimes even better than the product someone else adores, then often that other person gets miffed. Why? Why does that other person take offence? Their own beloved product is not being put down here and it does nothing to take away their own appreciation, enjoyment and love for it. Yet somehow their need to instantly attack the credibility and quality of your mentioned product must be discussed in response. Badge or name snobbery baffles me, always has. Of course be proud of the things you buy and love. However, keep in mind other folk preferring something else is not anything that should ever cause anyone any offence.

Hi Richard As long as you start the description in my opinion or state a my opinion disclaimer at the beginning I expect there would be much less chance the videos taken down.

As a Taylor owner I feel bad that someone - whoever it may have been - would have that kind of problem with your words. Different people like different things, and there's room for lots of opinion. Yes, I own a few Taylors. And a couple of Martins. And a Giannini, a Kepma and a Larrivee and if things go well I may have more some day. Facts are facts, opinion is opinion, and there's lots of room for variation. We all have our own opinions of what is good and what is not. I buy what pleases me, but other people may think I'm tasteless. They're welcome to their opinion, as I'm entitled to mine. Thank you for what you do - please continue! No hate here.

I've tried lots of Taylors at various prices but never bought one. My Faith, Simon and Patrick and B&G Step Sister (standard) seem way better to me. I know they all make plenty of guitars but these all sound and play great imo.

Beats me why anyone would take such a pragmatic constructive critique on the pros and cons of bespoke over mass production so personally., nor why people identify with and get so anal over branding for that matter. For the record I think you have a very valid points that highlighted all the nuances very respectfully. Martin being a bit of a mute point

I have to keep very quiet when I go to open mics and the like and folk are there with their beloved Taylors & Martins and I’m there with my Dowina Acero Master Build Jumbo (bought from Richard) - until they go ‘wow, what’s that?!’ Any discussion then follows the points Richard makes - it’s not a ‘knocking job’ against them, just a compare & contrast. Same occasionally happens with my Eastmans I should say.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Sometimes I think its a lovely feeling being the one in the room who has been brave enough to be "different". Some people just can't do it - peer pressure is a crazy thing. Some people just cant buy anything but a brand because of the power marketing has. To go with something like a Dowina you have to lieterally dispense with everything you have been told and what all your friends are saying etc and totally believe in your own eyes, ears and hands - For most people - myself included - who feel quite insecure about themselves thats a tough job. Once you are condident enough to believe in yourself - and are aware that there are other options out there to try - then the fun can begin. Someone could well end up with a Martin or a Taylor - of course they could!!! BUT at least they had the opportunity to experience the other options - which most people dont get the chance to do.

I've owned four Taylor acoustics and three of them ranged from awful to bland - the one that didn't was a second hand 90's 514ce, handcrafted by Bob which was very good. I wouldn't touch a Taylor now they're so mass-produced. I tried out some Martin guitars in a large chain UK retailer a few years ago and there wasn't one I thought was good. Eventually I bought a superb hand-built Avalon guitar from Northern Ireland, which came with a LIFETIME guarantee. The Avalon luthiers made Lowden's between 1989 and 2003 - the era that gave Lowden their reputation. Lowden's aren't as good nowadays as they were back then.

@johnjones-uc3ni

9 ай бұрын

Yairi also made guitars for Lowden for about 5 years. From 1980 to 1985.

My first nice guitar is a taylor, it's my most used guitar to this day, iv dropped it bumped it dented it, but it's still my happy little guitar,

For me , ( living right here in San Diego) Taylor , other than Martin , were the god of acoustics , but I learned over time that isn’t”t true . Taylors and Martins are fine guitars but for the “Price Points” they don’t hold up to some of these smaller makers.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Lovely to hear from ytou Mark and thank you.

I liked the message of the videos, but I will admit they came across to me as a little bit like a conspiracy-style (especially the first)… something that didn’t really mesh with your more earnest discussions (like this video!). Shame that they’ve been taken down though.

@EnglishVeteran

2 жыл бұрын

Conspiracy Fact.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Well the beauty of doing animation is. Can cut straight to the chase and say things directly in a short space of time. When you say conspiracy? They were meant to be thought provoking and impactful. They were meant to make you take a step back and think about the world around you. I love doing that myself. Hope they achieved their goal 😊. Thanks for the feedback and really appreciate your support - and nothing wrong with a little conspiracy ? 😊. Just watching the amber heard and Johnny Depp Trial !!! Now there’s conspiracy - poor man 😊- I’m watching pirates of the Caribbean tonight in support of Johnny !!

I think there is a lot of smoke and mirrors with guitar building, three of the worlds greatest ever acoustic guitar players all play factory models , Richard Thompson tommy Emmanuel Pierre bensusan to name a few, I always remember going to the now closed acoustic music boutique in Brighton, when I looked at a second hand lowden they had in stock which was same model as one I owned I mentioned what a great guitar they were and the proprietor said that they considered them nothing special! As I walked out the shop I thought to myself well bensusan plays one and Richard Thompson why would they bother with average guitars with their money/ talent??? Come to think of it what world famous guitar player plays a solo makers guitar?

I own and PLAY all of the food groups, every maker produces both sonic winners and losers, Taylor, Martin, Gibson, et al. To the benefit of the player, we are living in the Golden Age of wonderful CNC production, which results in killer axes at all of the price points. But if you can't play worth a damn, it's just a wall decoration.

I totally concur with your opinion on this.

@hammerstrumm

2 жыл бұрын

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. .

I had owned a Taylor guitar about 15 years ago or less and it was well made. So I recently tried to purchase another and went looking... played at least 10 to 12 different ones from $1,300 to $2,000. They all played- honestly not very good at all- especially for that much money. I just bought a Eastman ac308ce ltd sb for $980. with a hard shell case included. And right out of the box brand new it played and sounded excellent- all handmade quality.

These platforms and larger corporations must never succeed in stopping us expressing our own opinions by 'bullying' users to comply with their own, generally speaking, profit or greed based narrative. An opinion is never 'misinformation'! It only becomes misinformation if you state as a fact, something that is undeniably not true. If we lose freedom of speech, we lose everything.

Great video, Richard.

Tap tuning is a bit controversial in the guitar world, I am surprised that the videos were taken down though.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

In my opinion there's actually nothing controversial about what they do. What they do is completely accepted by guitar builders (I believe?) as an essential process and to witness it is extraordinary. Did you watch the video I linked to showing the guys at Borgeois guitars doing it? Amazing! What makes it remotely controversial are the companies and the "system" that needs higher volume - they dont want it being considered important or relevant, as it undermines the mass production concept. People do get very sensitive hence why I thought I would try and put some context behind my comments.

@JamesMears76

2 жыл бұрын

@@RichardsGuitarshop I'm not disagreeing with you, yes I watched the videos you linked, I think for the 'big' manufacturers it's a step that takes too much time as they will be machine cutting all of the bracing to the same dimensions, therefore time and additional cost.

Stop apologising for your opinions because they are just that. I’m not an oficianado of a lot of the whole tap tuning thing, I do tap the soundboard on my guitars but only to see if there is anything wrong with the gluing etc. I use lots of different bracing patterns and there are minor differences in the sound each guitar produces but an A braced guitar and an X braced guitar don’t have such a world of difference, In my opinion.

Richard, Richard, RIchard.. - first off, I also love the "process cheese goes through"!!! Other than than important issue, just don't mention those big brands by name! Why would you even feel the need to? They are all essentially the same. It's 500-700/day vs, 3,5,7 or whatever.....just invite folks to compare the value, FOR THE SAME MONEY, of these little brands you promote, which are awesome, to "THE BIG BRAND OF THEIR CHOICE!" Just show the Dowinas, etc of the world, and leave it at that....why even go there?? You are making life way too hard by namedropping big brand names.....don't give 'em the pleasure!

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate your feedback. The reason for mentioning the most popular brands on the planet is to demonstrate my point which does so far more impactfully than playing safe for the sake of upsetting people.

Taylor used to make outstanding guitars. Back when Bob Taylor was building them himself. His name on the guitar meant something. But now mass production has taken that fine tuning our and a sterile, bland instrument is the result. Now Bob Taylor's biggest contribution is to the preservation of trees. And providing ebony to other guitar makers. Which is great. But the company's guitars haven't progressed. But that is expected when you mass produce anything. I'm glad I started watching Richard's videos. There are many other small build guitars that put Taylor to shame. And they cost much less!

Are Furch having big problems getting guitars made or shipped? Is it Covid, or Brexit, or a combination of both? I've noticed there are fewer of their guitars on sale and a lot of dealers (if they're still dealers) have none, or everything's "pre-order". A couple of years ago (before Covid) I went to a certain big guitar shop down here because they were selling a standard Martin (00-28 I think) for £2K. Tried one ... it was dead, and *really* quiet. Was looking forward to buying a high-end guitar for a relatively low price, but didn't buy anything. Years ago (mid 90s) I tried out a secondhand 000-18 in a London shop, and really loved the warm sound, and it really felt like high quality and I immediately knew why professional musicians played them. I was only a student then and had nothing like the money it cost.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

We have 20 delivered every month 😊 but thankfully demand still generally outstrips demand as we’ve been promoting them so many years

So- censorship is now affecting a professional's observation and experience within an artistic industry. Nothing right about it. Love your pov and the experience you share.

Any brand can produce a lemon, but the sheer volume of guitars made by the aforementioned big guys means you (the customer) are statistically far more likely to come across one. Small shops with decent tech support are the answer. And paying a bit more for setup.

Richard ..Don't worry about the Brand Snobs . They are too far brainwashed by the Big Hitters in the Guitar World. I honestly respect your opinions on YOUR EXPERIENCE in the guitar world.Keep it up and Chill.

Planting a few trees is not gonna save the planet - it's a good gesture of course. But it's the decrease of Co2 that is going to help. About Martin I didn't know about the one year warranty in Uk. Honestly I think it was from the 80's till 10/15 years ago that we all said "try a martin before you buy it" because the quality is unstable. Martin really stabilized the quality control recently even on their mexicans guitars and even with covid. I have nothing against Taylor they're very good guitars with a very modern sound... but it's not for me. I have had my Furch for seven years now and still very happy with it ! ✌🏻

fanboys and fan girls are sometimes over the top in their slavish worship of their favourite products. it sometimes interferes with their reasoning.

sometimes truth hurts !

You don’t get a fair wrap but as you are passionate about the guitars you sell it can come across as hate I guess. But straight away you’ve spoke about Taylor producing 700 a day as apposed to 3. If people love Taylor and Gibson and have played them for years. Don’t try and change their minds. You just to need to get people in your shop. The guitar will sell themselves 😊👍🏼

I shopped and researched for 6 months found US made all solid wood for half the price of a Taylor builders edition and much nicer sound as well as better wood grades not going to say what I got don't want a debate but lots of better choices out there be open minded

The problem with the Internet Richard Ole Boy is that people like you think your opinion matters....

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for contributing to the conversation. It’s very much appreciated and helps give balance from another perspective.

Just keep focusing on you’re guitars, that’s what people are on about. Your now talking about martins one years warranty!! That’s bashing. Lol. Stop it. 😂

There is a lot of people who shouldnt be using internet, it is Simple, if someone dont like a content, just move on ignore what you dont like in your life ... Tese people o asked for shut down They are frustrated peaple, those people have suicidal tendences... They are insane people, people without fkexibility to understand The there ia free opinion, freedom os speech...

Moon spruce story is likely just a story. Part of imparting value is to create a story. The most famous is diamonds. Now diamonds are one of the most common stones on earth besides granite or marble, or sand. So the story goes with indicating love. So that is the sale story that is just nonsense. Now if they cut it during a full moon due to gravity more sap would be pulled up into the wood which to my knowledge is not desirable as aging on the top has to do with the sap breaking down over time. Now if they said they cut the moon spruce in the winter months just before spring that would make sense to me as the sap isn't running yet. So sometimes you have to be an informed consumer. Taylor makes good guitar as best as you can and make lots of them. Each top isn't taped they so sampling for lots verses an individual made guitar each top is tapped and adjusted for tone. Martin ruin their own warranty by being generous with repairs to generate good will and people started to take advantage of them. After market repairs are expensive. So hence the one year warranty. Taylor made their guitars heavy to avoid warranty repairs and then realized they needed to lighten up the builts to be competitive. In the end it belongs to the beholder. Believe it or not everybody's ability to hear differences in tone can vary quite a bit. So some people's hear what their can hear not necessary what is really the tone and their eyes see what appeals to them and then their pockets decide what they can afford, between those three areas determines in the what the person buys. I think whatever you buy makes you happy than that is the guitar to go with no matter what its intonation is or looks. There is no wrong in showing and explaining guitars that can be better choices for those that are attracted to them. If you have hearing problems a guitar that has been built fine tune may not be necessary and not more fun than a lesser built guitar. Music is suppose to be fun. So listen to your hears and eyes that send you the joy. Enjoy your life. Richards always has your interest at heart. Turn the channel if that doesn't work for you.

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Hey SiggyMe - I totally love the story and the background to the Swiss Moon Spruce. I think I pretty much said in the video its just a wonderful human aspect of the guitar and I dont necessarily know whether it helps - but then again - yesterday I had pins in my face helping my sinuses and I feel much better today :) Its a lovely story - thats basically it,

Was probably my comment on it. Their marketing team has a dedicated team of cyber warriors who look for anything that paints the company in a negative light, regardless how honest and they flag it…. Horrible company that produces a mediocre, overpriced product line.

@hammerstrumm

2 жыл бұрын

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. The guitar came with the wrong strings, 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 deader than a Russian mass grave. It was just after Brexit and sending the guitar back was next to impossible. 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. .

I didn’t see the video, but I’m not surprised. People are incredibly tribal these days. It doesn’t surprise me at all.

Maybe don’t talk about other guitar brands. Your doing it again !! Lol

I will tell you what I hate about Taylors. The ES2 system sucks.

@IndigoJo

2 жыл бұрын

Plus they don't do a pickup-less guitar as standard in most ranges, so you can't buy one without and then fit something else, like a Sunrise.

Taylor are plain and Martin are boring... but lots of people love them or so I'm told ;) I would have one if offered for free or 75% discounted :)

Taylor is cheese, that‘s what I got so far.

♥

700 people a day want to buy a Taylor guitar… that’s a nice endorsement! Will all 700 sound as good as the best Martin… No. Will all 700 be perfectly playable and 100% consistent in build quality? Absolutely yes!

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Hi JED. Cort guitars - the largest manufacturer of guitars in the World produce over 2700 guitars a day - but not because people want to buy a Cort but because they want to buy an Ibanez or Fender or Schecter - the list goes on. It’s just another interesting paradox of the guitar industry about what people are told - what people understand - because it suits the industry to tell people what works commercially. If you asked someone to compare a Cort to an Ibanez no doubt most would say “obviously the Ibanez is better than a cheap copy” or words to that effect. As I said in my video Taylor was my biggest brand in the old days and the big big selling point for me on a selfish level you could say was the incredible consistency! Well… until they introduced the expression system which was the beginning of the end for me - but that’s another story! 😊. Thanks for your feedback

@jed1166

2 жыл бұрын

@@RichardsGuitarshop got it! And, to me, that is another reason to like the Taylor company. Instead of sending orders to a contract manufacturer for their lower priced guitars, they own their own factory in Mexico, (as does Martin). I appreciate that they keep the manufacturing process theirs, and not merely a “rebadging” process. BTW, my #1 go to is a USA built RainSong. My #2 is a Mexican Taylor 150e 12 string. It honestly didn’t sound any better than a Chinese made Guild that was $300 less. But, after living in China for 13 years, I don’t want to contribute even one RMB to the current leadership. It was worth the extra $300 to know my purchase wouldn’t benefit the “Party” even in a small way. I have visited the Eastman factory in Beijing, and love their guitars. But, I won’t buy one, for the same reason I didn’t buy the Guild 12 string. Hate to make musical decisions based on politics, but my time there made me aware if things I cannot ignore. Keep strummin!

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

@@jed1166 Trust me - I know EXACTLY how you feel RE China and Eastman is one of our biggest brands which I love so much. My answer to that (I suppose when questioning it also) is that these people who build the guitars - they are incredibly highly skilled people. The Eastman workers are a family and their work is their life - their identity - something they can be truly proud of and it feeds their families and I am sure they consider themselves very lucky. I feel terribly sad that just because they were born into a brutal World of conflict that they should suffer also? They cannot help where they were born - or who the leaders are. I hate to say it - but in my lifetime the most aggressive country I have witnessed - who gives Putin his excuses for his War mongering ways - is America. They have invaded more countries than any other I know during my lifetime. So do we boycott USA made products? Politics for me personally - highlights everything that is awful about the human race - corruption - power - land grabs . The World is run by a tiny minority - but the vast majority want peace and just want to live their lives happily. Sorry.... waffling!!!!!!!! Thanks again :)

@jed1166

2 жыл бұрын

@@RichardsGuitarshop yes, when I visited the factory, and saw and talked with these wonderful craftsmen, it saddened me to know I wouldn’t buy one of their dreadnoughts… I guess we have to make our choices based on some sort of belief system…. Just retired, so think I will stick to golf and the guitar!

I've heard it all now, the 'woke' mob getting offended cos they don't like a guitar review ha ha

Both Taylor and Martin are run by hardcore lgbtqetc+ guys who are very well known for promoting and sponsoring it’s agenda. So they have all the “right contacts” specially in silicon valley. If you know what I mean!

Luckily not a Martin fan !

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Yehhhaaa!!! I possibly kept a subscriber! Sorry for presuming you have subscribed :)

@garyshepherd9226

2 жыл бұрын

@@RichardsGuitarshop yes a subscriber!

I DARE you speak your mind! You just can't do that these days! Its just not cool, ya know what I mean???!!!! HA!

Attacking your competitors is never a great marketing plan, it never ends well

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Is that a random comment or are you pointing it at anyone?

@karlstevens7062

2 жыл бұрын

Yes it's pointed at you

@johnnieboi

2 жыл бұрын

Karl, Richard is not "attacking" anyone ..he is voicing his opinion on what he has experienced as a guitar retailer and passing that information onto us ...I found your last 2 comments quite "bullyish" in their nature with no real thought or point behind the comment...you have no dialogue, that brings me to the conclusion that your just a troll and suggest that people regard your comments as insignificant as the point you tried so aggressively to make...

@RichardsGuitarshop

2 жыл бұрын

Did you watch the past 2 videos and this one in full? Could you just point out exactly where in this video or the others where I am "attacking" anyone? If fact the whole point of the video was to try and calm that extreme mentality with a hope that I can live my truth and express it openly and honestly without someone throwing these kinds of comments around. The guys at Driftwood have received the exact same remarks for doing videos cutting open Martin guitars and showing the world what I have been saying for years. Credit to them for being honest - open and transparent - much to the disgust of a certain population - but should they stop being honest because some people want to call it "attacking / slagging off / mud slinging" etc. My suggestion is if you find me offensive then you know I am not the right dealer to buy from. You know not to watch my videos and you know not to be concerned any more about my views.

@allanfstone

2 жыл бұрын

I think it ironic that the only “attack” here is in the post condemning attacks. I fully agree with the statement in the abstract but not the application. Disagreement is never popular with those who are disagreed with and internet anonymity allows those who feel threatened to lash out indiscriminately. It’s a shame but it’s the downside of the mass communication media that the internet age has enabled.