The thing I Iove most about these comparisons, is that I find I dont have 'preference for one'... more that i would want both! :-) The magic of such well-crafted instruments IS that they are all unique and offer something different. I know most of us have a 'sound in our head' we believe to the 'best' for our style of play, but I suspect many of us miss out because we remain quite conservative the it comes to wood choices? (Because we can't have both!) ;-)
I actually might prefer the Yew/Cherry! Different voices for sure, but the compressed clarity of the English wood combo is very nice. It sounds like how I would want the German Spruce / EIR to end up sounding on a record after the boom is cleaned up and it's compressed, playing what you play here at least
Straight away I prefer the guitar with the Yew top and Cherry back and sides. To my piano tuner's ears it sounds warmer, with great separation of notes - so very articulate. My only question is this: Which bank should I rob in order to buy one of these..?
I prefer the all English wood guitar better the sound quality is richer and mellower at the same time. The highs are cleaner and sound wonderful. Maybe after a few years the tone of the one with the spruce top will mellow out some but currently it has higher tinny sounding high notes that to me seem a bit harsh.
I found the English wood really bright, almost harsh sounding to my ear. The rosewood and spruce has a much more rounded sound with fuller bass. I would be really interested to hear how both mature over time. It may be that the English wood mellows over time into a deeper richer sounds but maintaining greater clarity. Can you ask the owners to post a comparative piece in 10 years time as part of the condition of sale! 😊
Rosie , I hope mine sounds as good as your English Yew & Cherry TM!! Though I found it a little "bright" it is lovely. I know mine is a TG, so I'm hoping it's a little less bright, is it the Yew that makes it brighter it is a little harder than Cedar I think. Love everything I see on RUclips of yours!!!! Martin
@@MartinBarker-r3b Hi Martin! I’m glad you like the videos. Yes, this English guitar is a mix of pretty bright sounding woods - yew, cherry and sycamore - so it definitely results in a brighter sounding instrument. Your Cedar/Bog Oak TG will have quite a different tone with the cedar (and yes it it quite a bit softer than yew) and oak and also being a bigger body a bit more rounded character. This TM was designed to be quite punchy and articulate.
@@newffee yes I have! In fact that’s what I did before I ever tried it as a soundboard. I have paired yew back and sides with an English cedar soundboard and also a couple of instruments with European spruce soundboards and they sounded really lovely!
@@TurnstoneGuitars That sounds awesome! I noticed you make primarily fingerstyle high end guitars but have you ever made Dreadnoughts like flat pickin style? I was thinking about going out in the forest to see if i could find a Yew windfall or some other alternative wood to harvest and try.
Nicely played, Rosie! For me, I liked the English one better, just lovely shimmer and clarity. I wonder if the other guitar might thrive with a more brooding, deeper sounding tune - or perhaps in a bigger body.
Hmm. A difficult comparison, even through good cans. The traditional was louder, and the confusion of volume, projection and tone is well known in psychoacoustics. I coiuldn't see any difference in mic placement or the way you were playing. No doubt in my mind that the English had a sweeter, less brash tone, but seemed, on this hearing, to be lacking treble. As I suggested, this could be entirely due to volume difference. Plus, they are both brand new. Don't suppose you'll be able to hold on to them for a year. I guess that so few yew top guitars are made that it's hard to predict how they will open out. I believe it is one of the hardest softwoods, so it might be a lot. In passing, yew is quite well known for being toxic in all parts. Is that a problem in making?
@@robertnewell5057 thanks for your thoughtful comment! I realised when doing this also just how much my playing can influence it too. Sometimes I hit my notes well, sometimes I don’t. Perhaps people take that into account but it can be hard to play something exactly the same. Mic placement was the same. I think they will both open out and yes Yew is quite a hard softwood. There is a toxic substance in Yew yes and I do have to be careful with it now (good extraction!) as I am a bit sensitised to it.
The English yew guitar sounds magical, super articulate with a slightly compressed warm tone. Absolutely brilliant!
The English Yew soundboard is amazing looking - both sound excellent.
I love the clarity of the yew top one, bright but not harsh in any way at all.
I think you've hit a great spot with the scale length ,I'm convinced this is a great sound balance with 12 to the body .
Yew wouldn’t believe how good that sounds.. wow . Actually that is surrealy just so much nicer! Clever clever you and your luthering.
Lovely composition. Lovely guitar. Those bass notes and midtones are made by an angel.
The thing I Iove most about these comparisons, is that I find I dont have 'preference for one'... more that i would want both! :-) The magic of such well-crafted instruments IS that they are all unique and offer something different. I know most of us have a 'sound in our head' we believe to the 'best' for our style of play, but I suspect many of us miss out because we remain quite conservative the it comes to wood choices? (Because we can't have both!) ;-)
Well done. Much prefer the rounder sound of the English woods (albeit that I largely play a Rainsong myself!)
Every guitar has its own voice, the spruce guitar for me would be my choice but it personal taste. Lovely guitars aesthetically and sonically. 🤩👍
I actually might prefer the Yew/Cherry! Different voices for sure, but the compressed clarity of the English wood combo is very nice. It sounds like how I would want the German Spruce / EIR to end up sounding on a record after the boom is cleaned up and it's compressed, playing what you play here at least
Straight away I prefer the guitar with the Yew top and Cherry back and sides. To my piano tuner's ears it sounds warmer, with great separation of notes - so very articulate. My only question is this:
Which bank should I rob in order to buy one of these..?
I prefer the all English wood guitar better the sound quality is richer and mellower at the same time. The highs are cleaner and sound wonderful. Maybe after a few years the tone of the one with the spruce top will mellow out some but currently it has higher tinny sounding high notes that to me seem a bit harsh.
I found the English wood really bright, almost harsh sounding to my ear. The rosewood and spruce has a much more rounded sound with fuller bass. I would be really interested to hear how both mature over time. It may be that the English wood mellows over time into a deeper richer sounds but maintaining greater clarity. Can you ask the owners to post a comparative piece in 10 years time as part of the condition of sale! 😊
Listening with headphones…
I preferred the traditional, richer and more three dimensional.
They both have their own characteristics for sure!
Rosie , I hope mine sounds as good as your English Yew & Cherry TM!! Though I found it a little "bright" it is lovely.
I know mine is a TG, so I'm hoping it's a little less bright, is it the Yew that makes it brighter it is a little harder than Cedar I think.
Love everything I see on RUclips of yours!!!!
Martin
@@MartinBarker-r3b Hi Martin! I’m glad you like the videos. Yes, this English guitar is a mix of pretty bright sounding woods - yew, cherry and sycamore - so it definitely results in a brighter sounding instrument. Your Cedar/Bog Oak TG will have quite a different tone with the cedar (and yes it it quite a bit softer than yew) and oak and also being a bigger body a bit more rounded character. This TM was designed to be quite punchy and articulate.
i want an all english one, very tempted to wack an order in
Oh please do! :)
Rosie nice sounding guitars! Well made. Great job. Have you ever tried Yew Back and sides? If so what would pair with it well?
@@newffee yes I have! In fact that’s what I did before I ever tried it as a soundboard. I have paired yew back and sides with an English cedar soundboard and also a couple of instruments with European spruce soundboards and they sounded really lovely!
@@TurnstoneGuitars That sounds awesome! I noticed you make primarily fingerstyle high end guitars but have you ever made Dreadnoughts like flat pickin style? I was thinking about going out in the forest to see if i could find a Yew windfall or some other alternative wood to harvest and try.
1:40 Spruce/rosewood/mahogany has more high end. Both are gorgeous.
Nicely played, Rosie! For me, I liked the English one better, just lovely shimmer and clarity. I wonder if the other guitar might thrive with a more brooding, deeper sounding tune - or perhaps in a bigger body.
Hmm. A difficult comparison, even through good cans. The traditional was louder, and the confusion of volume, projection and tone is well known in psychoacoustics. I coiuldn't see any difference in mic placement or the way you were playing. No doubt in my mind that the English had a sweeter, less brash tone, but seemed, on this hearing, to be lacking treble. As I suggested, this could be entirely due to volume difference. Plus, they are both brand new. Don't suppose you'll be able to hold on to them for a year. I guess that so few yew top guitars are made that it's hard to predict how they will open out. I believe it is one of the hardest softwoods, so it might be a lot. In passing, yew is quite well known for being toxic in all parts. Is that a problem in making?
@@robertnewell5057 thanks for your thoughtful comment! I realised when doing this also just how much my playing can influence it too. Sometimes I hit my notes well, sometimes I don’t. Perhaps people take that into account but it can be hard to play something exactly the same. Mic placement was the same. I think they will both open out and yes Yew is quite a hard softwood. There is a toxic substance in Yew yes and I do have to be careful with it now (good extraction!) as I am a bit sensitised to it.
No offence Rosie but you could build a great guitar out of elastic bands and sticky back plastic.
@@dr_lulz I might just take on that challenge 😎