Wow! There is a definite difference in those shapes. Even though I love the sound of that square Dred the sound of the sloped has a more ever array of the the strings E to E and it booms volume. The Bedell is quickly becoming one of the guitars I would like to own. Great comparison guys. Keep on smiling.
I own a D35 and a J45. I find the Bedel's is a less exaggerated comparison of my guitars. The square shoulder had a stiffer sound which performs better for straight flatpicking. The slopped should those everything else a bit better but is a little bit flubbier for flatpicking. To me a slopped shoulder is more versatile, but when you are going hard at it the square shoulder will be king.
Thanks for this comparison. I always wondered what the difference was. Even though I primarily flat pick, I found myself leaning towards the slope shoulder. To my ear the tone has a mellower, less in your face, quality.
Great video. I have to go with the slope shoulder on this 1.there was a clear difference to my ear.I had to subscribe,I can't be missing these kind of video's.
Great demo and description of slope vs square shoulder. I discovered Bedell back in 2016, while searching for new "adi" top guitars. The specs with the Adirondack top (no pick guard) and their finely tuned x-bracing, was very intriguing. I acquired a Coffee House OM first. Over the first two years of playing, that guitar kept opening up with all kinds of harmonics and headroom. I found the dread at a shop, The Fret Mill, in Roanoke, Virginia. (great little shop) They also had a two new Bahia(s) in stock. Took me about five minutes to choose the Bahia!
They are both beautiful guitars and they both sound as great as they look. The difference is there, but I think which one I would prefer would depend on the day of the week! However, because I already have 2 square-shoulder Martins, maybe it's time for a round shoulder!!!
Great video. Like both but this square dread .... whouah ! Responsive and not to much overtone. Nice voice. Congratulations (from France) to the manufacturer and to both of you for the presentation.
John I like your guitar playing a lot. I’m a lefty and collector of fine guitars. Own 18 custom lefty’s most unplayed: Taylor, Martin, Furch, Santa Cruz, Collings, Boucher and Bourgeois are my main pursuits.. always looking for high end lefty’s..
I have an Alvarez ARDA 1965 Anniversary Model Slope Shoulder Dreadnought that I love and it is comfortable to play as it is a 12 fret. Bedell makes some amazing guitars.
There's a difference, it's hard to notice with John's beautiful playing. Had to rewind a couple times. With my limited ear, I thought the square shoulder had a bit more something, not sure what to call it though. But, either guitar is a dream.
These instruments are absolutely stunning to look at and listen to. As a personal matter of taste I love the look of a slope shoulder dreadnaught. Taylor tried to convince us that the Grand Pacific SS dreadnaught was intended to bring back the “vintage” “traditional” sound from the golden past. I wanted one…until I played it.
I love those guitars, but for me, I choose the square shoulder. Bedell and Breedlove guitars are becoming some of the go to, top considerations, if you are buying a new guitar. If you want a more modern guitar, like a Taylor, I think the Breedlove's are a better value and just as good, if not better. And now with Bedell making these dreds, they have something for everyone!
There’s definitely a tonal difference. They both sound great. I normally would go for the square shoulder, but in this situation it would be a harder decision lol
slope shoulder feels more energetic and forward...good for solo work but the square sits back with less attack in the mids which would fit better for singer-songwriters who want their vocals out in front.
Every time my mind screams "what guitar is that?" my research finds a square shouldered Gibson, but the love of my life is a Takamine slope shouldered dread. yet i confess she is neglected because of an ongoing obsession with an Orangewood Oliver jr., bought as a campfire guitar but I cannot resist its ease of playing.
I'm a singer and a roots music musician. I love my D-28 style guitars for flat-picking and Travis picking. However, I love the look of a slope shoulder with that burst. I have been eyeing the slope coffee house dread for some time. It sounds great too. I'd enjoy playing either of those. For the price of a new Collings, you could own both Bedell models. 🙂
Difference, yes. Not as much as between a Gibson and Martin. Try a D-28 12-fret. Which do I like? Depends on what I'm singing. The square shoulder with 12-fret would be preferable. That OM would be my preference.
I love bluegrass and was once fortunate to own a most beautiful D-35 long before all these other brands came out. They are beautiful and most wonderful guitars but, but, not everybody is in the market for a dreadnought. You even allude to worn out shoulders in the video. I can't play a D anymore and have notched back to a 000 and a CS mini but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in drooling over and even buying another smaller body guitar which you never seem to demonstrate. It's like that you have abandoned an awfully big share of the market. Why do you assume everyone is looking for a high end dred. My 000-17 cost more than some dreads so it can't be just about money. Why don't you demonstrate smaller bodies for weaker shoulders? Still enjoy you picking. The End. That's all she wrote folks.
We definitely demo smaller body guitars whenever we get them in! For example we recently took a look at a Bedell Parlor: ruclips.net/video/hIa6-aFT6-E/видео.html
At the end of it all..... Sound variables and tone quality dynamics for all walks of life!! individual esthetics will have you buy both if you can, or pick one or the other! lol...True story.
Unverifiable. The upper bout is an acoustically dead zone, and if there is a tonal difference it will surely be of construction or wood. Stop complicating things.
No, not true that it's unverifiable, listen to the comparison section above, (5:07 to 7:16), if you use your ears, the verification is there. You say if there is a tonal difference it will surely be of construction or wood. Well, Bingo! We are talking about construction here, specifically the shape of the sound cavity of the guitar. The slope shoulder has a more compressed sound, which could be better in a recording studio, whereas the increased projection of the square shoulder would favor a live setting. Of course wood types make a difference, that's not even the subject here, though. The upper bout is not "dead", it may be less important than the lower, but the difference in shape on the sound is discernible to me in the examples above.
Wow! There is a definite difference in those shapes. Even though I love the sound of that square Dred the sound of the sloped has a more ever array of the the strings E to E and it booms volume. The Bedell is quickly becoming one of the guitars I would like to own. Great comparison guys. Keep on smiling.
I own a D35 and a J45. I find the Bedel's is a less exaggerated comparison of my guitars. The square shoulder had a stiffer sound which performs better for straight flatpicking. The slopped should those everything else a bit better but is a little bit flubbier for flatpicking. To me a slopped shoulder is more versatile, but when you are going hard at it the square shoulder will be king.
Thanks for this comparison. I always wondered what the difference was. Even though I primarily flat pick, I found myself leaning towards the slope shoulder. To my ear the tone has a mellower, less in your face, quality.
Great video. I have to go with the slope shoulder on this 1.there was a clear difference to my ear.I had to subscribe,I can't be missing these kind of video's.
Visually I like the Slope Shoulder best; tonally though it's pretty hard to beat a D-18 or D-28.
In this comparison the slope shoulder definitely sounds better. Has more of an alive tone. Was more than subtle lol
Great demo and description of slope vs square shoulder. I discovered Bedell back in 2016, while searching for new "adi" top guitars.
The specs with the Adirondack top (no pick guard) and their finely tuned x-bracing, was very intriguing.
I acquired a Coffee House OM first. Over the first two years of playing, that guitar kept opening up with all kinds of harmonics and headroom.
I found the dread at a shop, The Fret Mill, in Roanoke, Virginia. (great little shop) They also had a two new Bahia(s) in stock. Took me about five minutes to choose the Bahia!
That’s awesome! Bedell really is doing some special things!
When we were kids, if we let our shoulders slope, Dad or Mom would say, "Stand up straight - don't slouch!" :0/
They are both beautiful guitars and they both sound as great as they look. The difference is there, but I think which one I would prefer would depend on the day of the week! However, because I already have 2 square-shoulder Martins, maybe it's time for a round shoulder!!!
Great video. Like both but this square dread .... whouah ! Responsive and not to much overtone. Nice voice. Congratulations (from France) to the manufacturer and to both of you for the presentation.
John I like your guitar playing a lot. I’m a lefty and collector of fine guitars. Own 18 custom lefty’s most unplayed: Taylor, Martin, Furch, Santa Cruz, Collings, Boucher and Bourgeois are my main pursuits.. always looking for high end lefty’s..
Give us a call or email, we’d be happy to help you source custom lefty guitars!
I have an Alvarez ARDA 1965 Anniversary Model Slope Shoulder Dreadnought that I love and it is comfortable to play as it is a 12 fret. Bedell makes some amazing guitars.
I like the slope shoulder best because of the tonal ranges.
There's a difference, it's hard to notice with John's beautiful playing. Had to rewind a couple times. With my limited ear, I thought the square shoulder had a bit more something, not sure what to call it though. But, either guitar is a dream.
These instruments are absolutely stunning to look at and listen to. As a personal matter of taste I love the look of a slope shoulder dreadnaught. Taylor tried to convince us that the Grand Pacific SS dreadnaught was intended to bring back the “vintage” “traditional” sound from the golden past. I wanted one…until I played it.
I love those guitars, but for me, I choose the square shoulder. Bedell and Breedlove guitars are becoming some of the go to, top considerations, if you are buying a new guitar. If you want a more modern guitar, like a Taylor, I think the Breedlove's are a better value and just as good, if not better. And now with Bedell making these dreds, they have something for everyone!
I have both a square and slope shoulder dread. The square shoulder is easier to hold in your lap! :)
There’s definitely a tonal difference. They both sound great. I normally would go for the square shoulder, but in this situation it would be a harder decision lol
69th subscriber LIKE; 583 desktop view: 4:15 - "You had me at 'cyclone action'..."
Look and tone. It was the slope shoulder for me.
slope shoulder feels more energetic and forward...good for solo work but the square sits back with less attack in the mids which would fit better for singer-songwriters who want their vocals out in front.
Thanks for doing this video, I learned something today.
Thanks for watching!
Mics & mixing are awesome!!!!
Thank you!
Every time my mind screams "what guitar is that?" my research finds a square shouldered Gibson, but the love of my life is a Takamine slope shouldered dread. yet i confess she is neglected because of an ongoing obsession with an Orangewood Oliver jr., bought as a campfire guitar but I cannot resist its ease of playing.
Absolutely loving that slope!
Would love to try a bedell some time. Just my personal tastes but if love a pick guard on these, they look naked to me
I'm a singer and a roots music musician. I love my D-28 style guitars for flat-picking and Travis picking. However, I love the look of a slope shoulder with that burst. I have been eyeing the slope coffee house dread for some time. It sounds great too. I'd enjoy playing either of those. For the price of a new Collings, you could own both Bedell models. 🙂
Difference, yes. Not as much as between a Gibson and Martin. Try a D-28 12-fret. Which do I like? Depends on what I'm singing. The square shoulder with 12-fret would be preferable. That OM would be my preference.
Norman Blake sound with the 12 fret.
Yep Thank you.
As a vocalist, the Slope is preference..
Differences are subtle and in the end all in the fingers of the payer. But one thing is clear, Bedell can‘t do sunburst.
Nice sounding guitars. Tricky to detect the difference.
I love bluegrass and was once fortunate to own a most beautiful D-35 long before all these other brands came out. They are beautiful and most wonderful guitars but, but, not everybody is in the market for a dreadnought. You even allude to worn out shoulders in the video. I can't play a D anymore and have notched back to a 000 and a CS mini but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in drooling over and even buying another smaller body guitar which you never seem to demonstrate. It's like that you have abandoned an awfully big share of the market. Why do you assume everyone is looking for a high end dred. My 000-17 cost more than some dreads so it can't be just about money. Why don't you demonstrate smaller bodies for weaker shoulders? Still enjoy you picking. The End. That's all she wrote folks.
We definitely demo smaller body guitars whenever we get them in! For example we recently took a look at a Bedell Parlor: ruclips.net/video/hIa6-aFT6-E/видео.html
Do those 2 models have the same scale length?
Yes they do!
At the end of it all..... Sound variables and tone quality dynamics for all walks of life!! individual esthetics will have you buy both if you can, or pick one or the other! lol...True story.
Is the scale identical for both guitars? 🤔🎧
Good question, they are identical
Absolute Beauty
Slope for me
I like it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❗️❤️🕊
Slope shoulder guitars look and sound better...unless you're a flat picker.
Unverifiable.
The upper bout is an acoustically dead zone, and if there is a tonal difference it will surely be of construction or wood.
Stop complicating things.
No, not true that it's unverifiable, listen to the comparison section above, (5:07 to 7:16), if you use your ears, the verification is there. You say if there is a tonal difference it will surely be of construction or wood. Well, Bingo! We are talking about construction here, specifically the shape of the sound cavity of the guitar. The slope shoulder has a more compressed sound, which could be better in a recording studio, whereas the increased projection of the square shoulder would favor a live setting. Of course wood types make a difference, that's not even the subject here, though. The upper bout is not "dead", it may be less important than the lower, but the difference in shape on the sound is discernible to me in the examples above.