Hi, my name is Gonçalo and I'm from lisboa. I'm a musician and manouche jazz lover and I'm looking for a new guitar for me. At the moment I use a traditional gitane d-500 but I liked to get something better ... what do you guys tell me about the dell'arte oval hole dg-h2 ?! for the value of 700 euros someone advises me a guitar?! greetings!
Comments
I still believe the main contribution to the sound of any guitarist is in their own hands - literally - the way you play.
So, the way the left hand holds notes, or vibrato, (or even chokes them), the right hand picking technique, the attack and angle, and where in relation to the soundhole, as well as how you even hold the guitar.
The name on the headstock is secondary to all of the above.
So, yes, once past the beginner stage, the only way to find the right guitar for you is to get out and try to find and play as many as possible to judge for yourself.
This may not be so easy in Lisboa (a favourite city, I must get back for some more Alfama fado....) but there have been a couple of others on here in Portugal who may at least be able to let you try other guitars, and a trip to Paris where you would have the chance to try many in various shops might be a good investment.
Meanwhile ignore the inevitable recommendations that will be posted here, they will be for guitars that have worked for others which is why there will be as many opinions as players and you will be none the wiser, probably more confused.
I have many of these guitars. There is no "good" answer to your question. The quality and value from the Chinese guitars to custom made French guitars is good enough at every price level to be reasonably assured that you get something that will work until you can answer your question for yourself.
I know how risky ordering something you haven't tried feels, but sometimes it's the best, or the only thing you can do.
For instance, I ordered 3 Cigano's from Djangobooks for students many years ago. Those guitars all still play pretty well without much help. That's as good as one can expect as every guitar, regardless of price, will change a bit from changes in humidity.
I've only had one guitar that had a real problem in how it was built and it wasn't a inexpensive one either.
Also, don't under value your D-500. I really miss the extra frets the longer scale gives, but I found the neck on the D-500 has always been a favorite for me because of the width it has.
Your pretty safe however you go.
Some have exceeded expectations, some fell short, but over time I have found at least a couple that work for me. But there is no point me saying what I like best as it will not necessarily fit another's requirements and I would not want to take responsibility for advising somebody else where to spend their money.