I’m not a fan of modern carbon-fibre classical guitars, which shout loudly but not sweetly. I am a fan of small-scale guitars, strung in gut, with a beautiful intimate sound. I call this the Romantic Guitar, but find it suitable for a wide range of music, from 16th-century lute and vihuela repertoire, through to Brazilian and some contemporary music. Here are a few videos and sound files you might enjoy.
The guitars are both of 600mm string length (modern concert guitars are usually 650mm or 660mm), strung with Aquila Gut and Silk strings, and played without nails on the right hand, just the flesh of the fingers. It’s a quiet and intimate world, an antidote to the deadening cacophony of 21st-century life…
Go to my Reginald Smith Brindle Guitar Cosmos Page for mp3 files of his music played on the same guitar.
