Thanks so much for working on this one for me Ted. For the people asking questions about the guitar and price. I paid $450 USD and am very happy with it at that price. This particular guitar sounded very unique among them all. It was fantastic and fun to visit his shop and he was very happy and proud to show how they do their work. It's not a high end concert instrument, but it plays very nice (much nicer now that Ted worked his magic on it). Most of the instruments in this shop were for the local market for sure and he's having to compete against cheap $100 Chinese guitars, so I understand the need for the cheap tuners, etc and it was not a surprise. This instrument sounds beautiful in the room and with a mic in front of it. The decorations are a little over the top, but there were others with even more bling if you can imagine! This was about the sound and the story/memory for me and I think it hits the mark all around ;)
@jebronlames5997 Жыл бұрын
It looks awesome to me and it sounds awesome and its definitely a cool story. For 450 bucks made completely by hand thats amazing!
@syntaxlost9239 Жыл бұрын
It amuses me that most of the value of the guitar is now in the tuners. That said, it's certainly punching above its price.
@ElenaChuckYT Жыл бұрын
It’s a beautiful guitar and I love it’s sound! It’s definitely a wonderful souvenir! Plus now upgraded by Ted :) enjoy!
@corporalrich Жыл бұрын
Beautiful guitar. I hope you play it till the top falls off. Very nice!
@hyperluminalreality1 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the pics and story. Really very interesting. You got to pick too. Now it is much better thanks to Ted.
@briananders2068 Жыл бұрын
So cool! As a side note, from 50 yrs ago. In my 20's, I spent a few yrs with the 5 sons of medical missionaries that grew up in Ecuador. Living in the jungle with the Ahuca (headhunter) indians. The wood of choice for the Indian's bows was Black Palm. That fingerboard was identical to the bow Danny Fuller, 3rd son, gave me way back then. I always coveted the shrunken head he had dangling from the mirror in his VW bus. He'd watched it being shrunken 😮 the Palm was elastic but really hard!
@josephbrewer70269 ай бұрын
I’m not one who likes a lot of ornamentation, but for some reason I find this guitar to be gorgeous. Thank you for BBC the tour of the shop in Equador. Fascinating.
@danielmargolis3210 Жыл бұрын
Bill Cumpiano works down the road from me. A great guy. I’ve been to his shop many times over the years.
@NinerFourWhiskey Жыл бұрын
It is a really pretty and very human-made instrument. Glad you put your finesse on it.
@Joe___R Жыл бұрын
The fretboard is definitely made out of black palm. It isn't a bad looking wood, but it is rather brittle and very prone to splitting. With the drastic humidity change that guitar has gone through, I am not surprised that it cracked.
@andrewstpierre4837 Жыл бұрын
yup. recognized it immediately. cool!
@sleepymarauder4178 Жыл бұрын
Even though not 100% perfect, this guitar has music in it. The slight imperfections make it way more interesting to be honest. Such a cool guitar
@kevisp77 Жыл бұрын
Exactly!! Just the simple "story" kept us entertained for 20 minutes!! My guitars have plenty of imperfections, and they all have their own story adding to the memories. So much today is expected to be perfect, and if it's not, it'll be replaced. Nobody appreciates the sentimentality of hand built, hand played, passed down from generation to generation anymore.
@Chronically0nline Жыл бұрын
Those tuners were the cherry on top of this beautiful guitar. Well done!!
@seanj3667 Жыл бұрын
Such a beautiful instrument!
@TheNormalDoor Жыл бұрын
I actually Love the design of this guitar. It looks bold, but not to the degree of being obnoxious. And the colors work so well together. For me, I absolutely adore this design. (Of course I'm Colombian-Cuban 50/50, but grew up in America) Anyway, I honestly dream of getting such a beautiful guitar like this one day.
@TheRamsberg Жыл бұрын
I agree, it's awesome and gorgeous! The efficiency of their work is, from the standpoint of someone who makes things, extraordinarily impressive. They're effectively cutting out steps by using exacting hand/eye processes. Just, incredible!
@podfuk Жыл бұрын
It looks 10x better than any abalone decorated Martin
@humboldtpicker Жыл бұрын
You should see the inside!
@fenderman6519 Жыл бұрын
Yeah, right! It's different that's all.@@podfuk
@cameronwhite9959 Жыл бұрын
Of course, probably the most influential guitar maker who couldn’t play the instrument is Leo Fender… Great video as usual, Ted :-)
@tomhrio Жыл бұрын
weird how did the strat shape ended up being so comfortable
@bittersweet5161 Жыл бұрын
@@tomhrio it being comfortable to hold might not be that hard to think up, anyone can hold a guitar. But this comment by @cameronwhite9959 definitely makes me think of the Volume pot location that's standard on Strats and how it makes palm muting the treble strings while strumming very difficult, my only real gripe with the style after buying one as my first electric recently! though it's gotten me interested in doing modifications, so that's a plus :)
@michaelnewell9662 Жыл бұрын
@@bittersweet5161 the flip side of the strat volume knob position is that it can make volume swells easier - a poor man's volume pedal
@ForeverDownByLaw Жыл бұрын
@@tomhrio I recommend the book Fender: the Sound Heard around the World for a comprehensive history of the strat and other Fender products. The strat was field tested extensively re: it's design.
@bittersweet5161 Жыл бұрын
@@michaelnewell9662 Good point, hadn't considered that as an option! Not something I'm used to thinking about having started on accoustic. Will admit I often practice without it even plugged in, though i've been moving away from that more.
@kennogawa6638 Жыл бұрын
One of the more fascinating repair videos. The guitar looks and sounds bright.
@jadeowenhamblyn4405 Жыл бұрын
I like the way that thing RINGS.
@doesntmatter46 Жыл бұрын
I bought a nylon string guitar in Massaya, Nicaragua about a decade ago. Made entirely with local wood, it’s got a Mahogany top, and some truly stunning Cocobolo back, sides, fretboard, & bridge. I’d love to visit Paracho in Mexico, and these other guitar making towns throughout Latin America. It’s like visiting a distant cousin in a foreign country.
@snazz2 Жыл бұрын
The imperfections stand out a lot, but it just adds to that handmade look.
@SquirrelDarling1 Жыл бұрын
Just a shame it’s got that long scratch in it.
@snazz2 Жыл бұрын
@@SquirrelDarling1 I think he said a dog did it.... Well, canine
@roytofilovski9530 Жыл бұрын
@@SquirrelDarling1 That's a Canadian scratch from a Canadian dog.
@ross9581 Жыл бұрын
@@roytofilovski9530 You mean from Trudeau???
@LindaLooUK Жыл бұрын
Such a lovely truly hand crafted instrument. What it lacks in precision it makes up for with bucket loads of charm. I would love and cherish it if it were mine. 🥰
@TomSramekJr Жыл бұрын
Thanks for taking us on a tour, Ted and Owner. Looks like great work done quickly, and now refined. ❤
@kilosierraalpha Жыл бұрын
WOW! What a beautiful guitar. Loved the ornamentation on it. It's amazing how they build it with such minimal tools. Over here, people I talk to are put off from building instruments because they think they need tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools. Thank you for the vid and thanks to the customer for sharing pics with us!
@beenaplumber8379 Жыл бұрын
Lemme see... a bench top band saw, spoke shave, hand plane, block plane, chisel, fret saw, mallet, bench top drill press (with bits and sanding drum), lots and lots of clamps, router, fret wire nips, files, radius block... I think that's all I bought for my hobby - plus standard shop stuff I already had, like screwdrivers, a soldering iron, and a vise. My cost was
@randolphpatterson5061 Жыл бұрын
The icing on the cake is its beautiful voice.
@MW-pk6fu Жыл бұрын
You should make a podcast about the history of guitar making. I enjoy those anecdotes so much!
@ElenaChuckYT Жыл бұрын
Agree, Teds storytelling, wit and richness of words would make a great podcast or another KZfaq playlist.
@f1s2hg3 Жыл бұрын
WOW THAT GUITAR SOUNDED AMAZING TED!!!! Great show great job 👏 well done 👍
@jaythornhill Жыл бұрын
Now, there's an instrument with genuine soul. Very nice video.
@brucematthews64177 ай бұрын
Some might say that the decoration is over the top. But I think it's amazingly cool. It speaks volumes about the maker and the musical society of the region. And was it bad of me that when you showed the crack in the fingerboard that my first thought was "mini bow tie inlays" as a suitable fix that would fit right in with the flamboyant look?
@robertnewell5057 Жыл бұрын
Wow. Extraordinary video of a totally different approach to construction - but that tone. Superb.
@visualartsbyjr2464 Жыл бұрын
That is a stunning instrument. I personally love the “handmade” qualities as it makes the guitar unique.
@swbusby Жыл бұрын
Glad you put those nice German tuners on it. Nice glimpse of traditional Ecuadoran Guitar making.
@GarySchiltz Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this. I've lived here in Ecuador for 15 years, a couple of hours outside Quito, which is in the north of Ecuador. I believe there are some good luthiers in the country, but I haven't had a chance to visit them yet. As I am now retired, I plan to visit a lot of them. As the luthiers here are not very well known outside the country, there hasn't been a lot written about the state of the craft here.
@2ASSHOLESINAJEEP Жыл бұрын
Finishing touches at the bench make that instrument gorgeous!
@1973retrorabbit9 ай бұрын
That's a gorgeous guitar. I love the way the blue abalone, especially pops.
@randybecker7339 Жыл бұрын
Being a player who has never attempted building a guitar (the world is far better off for me never attempting such a thing) I'm always amazed at Ted's skill in repair and building guitars. Add to that the construction techniques of this fine instrument and its wonderful voice and I'm truly in awe! Mr Guertin you are a very fortunate man and I hope this guitar brings you as much joy to play as it seems to have to those of us who simply watched it being made even better by Ted's magic. This will become an heirloom instrument if you're not careful!
@JohnCarey1963Jag Жыл бұрын
I am always amazed at how much history and background you provide on these obscure instruments. Great work
@beenaplumber8379 Жыл бұрын
I almost bought a guitarrón while on vacation in Mexico some 25 years ago, and I've regretted my decision since. It was dirt cheap and it sounded nice!
@NKBobcat Жыл бұрын
Love the concept. My cousin lived next door to Robert Benedetto, builder of archtop guitars costing 20k and up. He is a master. This man builds simple guitars with the same passion for pennies in comparison. I respect both the same. I started building cigar box guitars 12 years ago and worked up to electric solid bodies and acoustic models. It takes passion.
@georgefrench1907 Жыл бұрын
Outstanding episode. Thank you.
@edwardpetersen4309 Жыл бұрын
I have a few instruments built in Bolivia, a Cuatro Venezolano (4 string small guitar) made in the Spanish style and two ukuleles made in the style of charangos where the neck, back and sides are carved from a single, solid piece of timber. The tops are made with spruce or pine from salvaged orange crates. They are not the the most refined instruments in the world, yet they are among the loudest and richest sounding acoustic instruments i have ever heard. These guys know what they are doing. Perhaps it gets into the DNA.
@xa9590 Жыл бұрын
Most beautiful guitar I’ve ever seen
@SirSneakerPimp Жыл бұрын
I’ve never been to Ecuador but, if I do go, I’ll visit that shop! Those were beautiful instruments.
@leemarsh3569 Жыл бұрын
Been enjoying catching up on your videos. I enjoy your insights into dealing with difficult customers
@dougmaccormack94855 ай бұрын
Cool! I was a student of William Cumpiano back in 1979!!
@andrewmize823 Жыл бұрын
I like that you called the ornamentation exhuberant rather than ostentatious. Your word choice denotes consideration for the craftsman and respect for the time, effort, and skill it took to accomplish.
@codywitten1714 Жыл бұрын
@twoodfrd I was in that very shop last year, their skill is amazing and they couldn't be nicer people! They told me they make most of their own chisels and plane irons as well. The fretboard is a type of black palm called chonta, the indigenous people in the area used it to make weapons, its incredibly dense.
@studiogerk Жыл бұрын
Yep it is Chonta, I couldn't remember the proper name until I read it here. They are indeed super nice there!
@victorparis7189 Жыл бұрын
You can watch anyone fix a guitar but what other channel gives you in depth history on every repair? That's why I watch..and I'm a drummer! Keep it up sir!
@ghostface_grilla1155 Жыл бұрын
Awesome episode! Thanks for sharing the pics
@garynordell1 Жыл бұрын
Cool video, thanks for sharing the photos of the little shop very interesting.
@OGSontar Жыл бұрын
Gorgeous, simply gorgeous! As were the other instruments we saw in the shop photos. I hope that art and skill never depart.
@getenlightened Жыл бұрын
Great episode! And good on you for putting those nice tuners on that guitar.
@tompass82 Жыл бұрын
Your videos complete my Sunday. Thanks.
@alexmarshall3815 Жыл бұрын
Fascinating insights and lovely work, thanks
@terryjohinke8065 Жыл бұрын
Always learn something from you Ted. The Fir wood this time, Thanks.
@jeromestevenfaigin6059 Жыл бұрын
Once I study with a Luthier to learn about archtops building techniques, he mentioned going to meet up there about that same village. I never went there it took me 10 years to do this. Mostly how to use a bandsaw and restoring a Sears redial arm saw. It was the first powered equipment I was using it and building an A frame cabin in Mammoth Mountain. Ufie Nelson taught me and we were like brothers. So I really started ready doing the work was in 2019 and I made one this year, Ms. Teatar Duncan. Cheers!
@f1s2hg3 Жыл бұрын
Beautiful example of handmade quality and the BEST IN CLASS! I love the decorations!
@harlanbarnhart4656 Жыл бұрын
It would be interesting to see exactly how they put them together like that. I can't imagine putting the sides on last.
@IwoIwanov Жыл бұрын
Rubner (Ltd.) makes fantastic parts. Located in Markneukirchen, Germany. A rich history since 1864.
@desolatemetro Жыл бұрын
Really cool. The extended bridge I could take or leave but I REALLY like the rest!
@family-accountemail9111 Жыл бұрын
I think the builder will get some unexpected enquires from your gang! I'd buy one if i was passing thru.
@nicolasanatol Жыл бұрын
such a sweet bass tone
@studiogerk Жыл бұрын
That's one of the things that drew me to this particular one. It was a lot different in the lower end than most of the ones in his shop, and I played the majority of them before I chose that one!
@corporalrich Жыл бұрын
Absolutely amazing. Beautiful guitar, absolutely beautiful repairs/mods. Excellent work. Great history too.
@corybray7763 Жыл бұрын
That headstock stencil is immaculate.
@nobodynoone2500 Жыл бұрын
Interesting construction! I've come across quite a few similar examples clearly made to be accurate "guiter shaped objects" with little or no thought put to playing the damn thing. Wall hangers for sure. Neat this one cleaned up so easily!
@stuartcatt4520 Жыл бұрын
Absolutely fascinating video thank you
@MrBtcruiser Жыл бұрын
As others have stated - that is one lovely guitar. The imperfections are just singing to me a wonderful tune of the hand made character of the instrument. The fretboard on the other hand - not such a lovely song... Thanks for taking the time to share about this instrument and it's heritage.
@Intrinsic.Recording Жыл бұрын
Rubners! I have them on three of my mandos. Love em. Nice video, and cool gtr. Thanks!
@poeboyjackson Жыл бұрын
DUDE. Love it! Great video.
@bcook6960 Жыл бұрын
What an amazing story and insight. Thanks for sharing!!
@ronaldclark1178 Жыл бұрын
Very amazing sound for nylon strings and the response sounds like a very expensive guitar. Thanks for sharing!!
@stainless641 Жыл бұрын
Really like this guitar.
@nixielee Жыл бұрын
Wow, what a beautiful guitar
@kbjerke Жыл бұрын
Sweet! Nice conservation, Ted!
@markbernier8434 Жыл бұрын
A great find. The shop pictures are fascinating.
@mrz80 Жыл бұрын
That has to be the most ornamented classical guitar I've ever seen. Some really impressive inlay work!
@albertlorenzo655 Жыл бұрын
Just a wonder to see it brought to Speed. New tuners were Magic touch. Any minor inlaid imperfections. Are a perfect charm. Proving human craftsmanship. Every guitar must pass many hands and eyes. Check and dubble check. Only by being played Can it reach true immorality. Lastly only time and season with loving care can bring it to legend. Such as the one we see hear. Thank you for the journey
@myopicautisticmetal9035 Жыл бұрын
Beautiful purflings and rosette!
@lumberlikwidator8863 Жыл бұрын
Really sweet guitar. Nice work on the fingerboard, frets and saddle. I make my own solid bodies and do all my own repair work. I’m computer illiterate (I just recently learned how to take pictures with my phone), so I don’t make my own videos, but right now my project is taking the neck off a dirt cheap Dean solid body and grafting it onto an imported Dean Soltero I got used and cheap about ten years ago. The guitar has a headstock break that is pretty bad, and I could fix it, but the neck has a deep V carve that is murder on my aging, arthritic hands. The new neck is maple instead of the original mahogany one, and I’m converting it from a bolt-on to a set-in style. It’s the most ambitious mod I’ve tried yet, but I’m retired so I’m in no rush to finish the job. It will be interesting to hear if the maple neck has a big effect on the tone of the guitar. I’ll just keep that to myself, since I don’t want to get embroiled in the whole tonewood controversy for solidbodies. Great channel, and one of my favorites!
@moparbryan Жыл бұрын
That is a beautiful instrument! Thanks for sharing
@jblassio Жыл бұрын
It’s gorgeous. Makes the trip to Ecuador almost worth it.
@f1s2hg3 Жыл бұрын
WOW THOSE GERMAN TUNER MACHINES ARE IMPRESSIVE! I like!!!
@jonlavigne3270 Жыл бұрын
This makes me want to go to Ecuador. (iPhone autocorrect just tried to correct “Ecuador” to “Europe”. I’d love to go there too, but not the same)
@Chris-uo2vs Жыл бұрын
THE TUNING. KEYS YOU PUT ON. REALLY. IMPROVED. THAT GUITARS APPEARANCE.
@J.C... Жыл бұрын
Wow! Those pictures are GREAT! 😮👌
@ClarenceCochran-ne7du5 ай бұрын
Actually pretty amazing build quality considering it's all hand tools and NO Forms (that's just flat out mind boggling). I spent almost as mu ch time building my octave mandolin/bouzouki forms as I did on the instruments getting them set up and clamp surfaces routed in place.
@adobedoug2564 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for playing them for us Ted!
@richardwheatley8757 Жыл бұрын
Really enjoy rustic local instruments.
@shamsam4 Жыл бұрын
Sounds brilliant!
@nascargas Жыл бұрын
This was a great video. The craftsmenship is stunning. Sure....a lot of pieces that shows a bit of hurrying... I want to mention the sound. I bluetooth through my cars audio. So...not the tin sound from my phone speaker. It is veryresonant. Nice deep tone with quite a bit of sustain. I am very impressed with what I heard!
@violao206 Жыл бұрын
Being of Andean (Bolivian) decent, 1st gen in the US, this was an exciting video to watch. Ted really presents a lot of inside baseball so very well. One thing that struck me a little odd was that builders mainly do not play guitar. I would counter that statement with what I know of South American culture, and this is a broad brush that should be taken with a grain of Bolivian Uyuni Salt Lake salt. In South American, most everyone plays a little bit of guitar--not virtuoso level, but very rudimentarily. South American nations are very musically inclined and at youth parties, everyone passes around the guitar for someone to play a song, according to my father. But this decidedly anecdotal testimony is born out when I inquire with the local Brasilian Jazz mafia here in Seattle. It is just a thing in down there. Even here in te US, I am shocked when a luthier has any significant guitar chops, but my sample size of about 16 repair cats is rather small.
@darrell3368 Жыл бұрын
A awesome looking guitar thanks for sharing God bless
@JonDeth Жыл бұрын
You have helped motivate me. *My goal is by the end of this month I will be able to finish ohhh about 2 dozen guitars from my collection about twice that lol.* I will finally setup my shop for it. In there is a few *very* important acoustics, including my 1st guitar. I filed the bridge, nuts and gorilla cranked the trem until I could solo on it like an electric anywhere on the neck. *$100 for a vintage Cort Acoustic from sis's BF at the time. He first gave me a mint condition Hagstrom acoustic/electric that my sister eventually became so jealous of, she bullied me into giving it back!* The joke was on herself though since learning on the Hagstrom with ultra stiff strings had trapped me at about a half dozen chords.
@giovanni5063 Жыл бұрын
Thank you. Another excellent trip down guitar lane.
@rnemchev Жыл бұрын
She sounds great!
@PaisleyPatchouli Жыл бұрын
Very rich overtones; sounds like a responsive instrument. It can be hit and miss with these ethnic-folk type export instruments, but it sounds like this one is a winner. I hope the owner understands that it will probably need constant attention to humidity, especially in your Canadian winters when the heaters are on full blast... It would be a shame to have it come apart due to splitting and cracking, as I've seen with other similar imported instruments from South America and also the Middle East.
@studiogerk Жыл бұрын
I'm building a humidity controlled display cabinet for it and some of my other acoustic guitars ...
@flacoral Жыл бұрын
When I first saw the sound hole inlays I thought it had an overall Inca vibe. Very beautiful guitar in spite of the possibility of it being hastily built. Thanks for sharing something that most of us would never have known. Sounds great too.
@act.13.41 Жыл бұрын
I look at that and I am speechless.
@timothy4664 Жыл бұрын
Those photos are wild!
@phillipbingham487 Жыл бұрын
nice bright tone.. wouldn't mind owning it
@ElenaChuckYT Жыл бұрын
What’s the cost of that guitar? Just curious :) sounds lovely and I’m sure it will bring the owner lots of amazing memories every time he plays it.
@ElenaChuckYT Жыл бұрын
Yeah I assume it’s a lot of work! Especially that they are using old school methods. Thanks 🙏
@roytofilovski9530 Жыл бұрын
@B WJ I kind of doubt that the Ecuadorian guys selling to tourists on day trips are asking 2-3K.
@fenderbass0 Жыл бұрын
@B WJ No way a guitar that expensive would have "$11 Chinese tuners" that are barely functioning.
@SuperDrumwolf Жыл бұрын
about $100.00 US
@MordantMagic Жыл бұрын
I wouldn't be surprised if the cost for the work shown being done here was above the cost for the brand new guitar. Imperialism and the underdevelopment and poverty it causes can be shocking to people who have only lived in the first world.
@ctcards2636 Жыл бұрын
Domestic flair ! Sorry when ya said that in the video around the 5:20 mark it cracked me up. Thanks as always for the videos :-)
@PlayerSalt Жыл бұрын
gorgeous , sometimes the little imperfections in hand crafted good slightly irk me but they definitely made a really nice looking product and unbelievable to do it with so little and im sure they are not charging an arm and a leg, always a pleasure to see there are real artisans out there still
@vitbrabec9773 Жыл бұрын
I love your channel, and I greatly appreciate the work and effort you put into its creation! Thank you for that! Does anyone know if there is a channel that similarly focuses on building/repairing guitar pedalboards and electronics?
@bmandrakeeee8378 Жыл бұрын
I love his benches. they yell "I've been working every week day for the past 100 years". you see a lot of them here in Brazil as well, you cant even tell what kind of wood they are made of. Night and day to a youtuber with a scandinavian bench that does 2 ugly boxes a year and uses sacrifice boards so he does not mark his bench
@kc.88 Жыл бұрын
Interesting that they glued the top and back first. Wonder how they do the inside kerfing, or if there's any at all. 🤔