Review of Thomann.de Baroque Guitar

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Comment by Rob MacKillop on February 1, 2011 at 7:48

You have to back up your claim, Val. You might be right, but can you tell me the working conditions in the making of this guitar? I'll be honest, most of my modern guitars, ukuleles and banjos were made in asian countries, almost all the instruments of my students are from asian countries, the guitar shops in Edinburgh have mostly instruments from these countries, even if the company is American. We are just not used to it happening in the lute/baroque guitar world. If there is exploitation in the making of this guitar, we need facts.

 

I hope to make another video when the new strings are on it.

Comment by Valéry Sauvage on February 1, 2011 at 6:13

There is also an ethical problem to buy products from countries were workers are under exploitation. I try to avoid chinese and some asian products. (Yes I know Zoom are also made in China, but we don't have choice for a local product.)

Comment by Rob MacKillop on January 31, 2011 at 21:50

There is another issue to consider, in the terms of 'authenticity'. Not everyone who played baroque guitar in the 17th- and 18th-centuries could afford a Sellas or a Voboam. Tens of thousands of guitars were made then, and at all price points. Sure, everyone wanted a Sellas, but for some it was only a dream.

Comment by Scot Tremblay on January 31, 2011 at 20:53

I agree with you Alexander, Rob's review is excellent and very informative ( he's such a charming fellow, how could it not be?) but if that is what a Baroque guitar sounded like I think I'd consider a pass on getting one. But that comes from one that has spent a whole life playing/building guitars and playing lute so I most likely judge harshly. For someone new to plucked instruments I agree it may be a good option...with new strings.

 

It's hard, though, for the beginner to justify the cost of an instrument from a qualified luthier. Even the "student" models that some luthiers offer are three and four times or more the cost of this one. The student needs an instrument with the quality that instills in them the desire to play but on the other hand does not cost beyond their meager means.

 

We as players and builders of period instruments want others, especially the young, to be interested in our passion and to carry it on. It seems we need to find a way to ease them into our world and maybe Rob has found an instrument that may.

 

As a builder I cannot match the price of these instruments coming from "far off places" and continue to put bread on my table but as a repair person who sees them fairly often in an attempt to make them playable I'm at a loss...What to do???

 

Thank gawd I'd heard really good ones, like yours in the hands of Rob and others, before I decided to add one to my collection of instruments otherwise I may not have gone down the path to distruction...er...I mean "distraction" with the baroque guitar.

 

 

Comment by Rob MacKillop on January 31, 2011 at 20:08

Yes, the sound is poor, but I'm hoping that good-quality strings would make some difference. The construction appears to be OK, and the woods are reasonable quality, so maybe it could make an acceptable sound. I can assure you that the student who bought it could not afford a new one, or even a second-hand professional instrument, for at least the next three or four years. If we can get a decent sound out of it, it will give him a taste of what the repertoire is and the techniques involved.

 

I teach guitars of all types, and most beginners come to me with a cheap Asian instrument. The sound is often poor, but it gets them started. I'm not going to say to them, 'Save up your money and come back in three years when you can afford a Martin/Gibson/whatever'.

 

If there is another maker here who could make a baroque guitar for £360 (including case and shipping), please send me one for review. I've met many people over the years who have expressed an interest but have been put off by the price. I'm not talking about people who want to really get into Early Music, but those who maybe play acoustic guitar and have been exposed to the baroque guitar for the first time through me or someone else and fancy giving it a try.

 

And I don't think luthiers charge too much. Considering the hours of work and talent put in to making a professional-level baroque guitar, most of them are underpriced. But the fact remains that they are too expensive for beginners, those for whol £350 is a LOT of money.

Comment by Alexander Batov on January 31, 2011 at 19:43

Rob, your review is brilliant, just spot on. But the sound ... Oh dear, it's awful, certainly nothing to do with the baroque guitar whatsoever! I think the table top would sound better with strings attached to it. I can quite understand that the low price is attractive but wouldn't it be just better to burn the money rather than spend on such instrument. Whether it's aimed at the beginner or not, the sound quality is mostly important in the process of playing the baroque guitar. I wonder who stands behind all this and encourages such a reckless waste of precious wood resources (ebony, spruce etc)?! It's just beyond me ...
PS: I like your jumper ;)

Comment by Rob MacKillop on January 31, 2011 at 14:35

A student bought this guitar on spec, so I'd thought I'd give a quick review. I've long been looking for a cheap student starter-baroque guitar, and here it is. It's not a Batov, by any means, but for the price it will help lute players and classical guitarists to at least try it out. Current price is E429 or £364 including case, and free shipping within the EU. http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_baroque_guitar.htm 

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