Three Somogyi guitars compared

[John Link]

Dream Guitars has three Somogyi instruments for sale and did a video with Al Petteway playing "The South Wind" across all three for comparison. The video includes an overlay of Ervin commenting on how he has removed more and more wood from his guitars as the years have gone by. The first two are Modified Dreads (1980 EIR and 1999 BRW), the third a large OM (2009 BRW, 15.75" lower bout). I presume each recording was done with the same equipment and EQ, so there is reason to believe the differences, which are not great but perceptible, are real. By 1980 Somogyi had apparently achieved a consistent sound which is probably the take away from the video, which is well produced. (Hi Def, 720 progressive.)

On my sound system, with my ears, the earliest one (EIR) comes out with the most dominating bass - not a sin as far as I am concerned, but others may differ. (They may not even hear it my way!) Somogyi makes incredible looking and sounding guitars, of that I have no doubt. Prices for the two BRZ are in the neighborhood of $25K, with $15K for the EIR instrument, according to info at DG.

[John Link]

For what it is worth, the 1999 BRW MD satisfies me most. It has all the bass of the 1980 MD, plus the mids and highs of the 2009 BRW OM. I would be overjoyed to make a guitar that sounds as good as any of them, of course.

[ken cierp]

Now that's pretty cool test -- they definitely have distinctive voices ---- but, and please no stone throwing, and don't send out the guitar police its only my opinion. In a blind test I would give the D very bad marks (for an instrument in this category/price range) since to my ear the balance is off, way too much bass (especially for this tune) and here we go -- I think it has a muddy sound quality.

[Dave Bagwill]

A good demonstration John, thanks.

[Paul C]

That was pretty cool to see. Thanx

[John Link]

Well Ken, I think we are hearing the same here. My typical objection to a Martin dread (knowing that they are the damn good guitars they are) is that it does not have enough bass and is too bright, "twangy". Somogyis have a bass that faintly reminds me of a relaxed, contented frog. It colors the mids with its overtones too, taking out the twang. What you may be hearing as "muddy" I hear as "sustain" - but of course, when a note sustains it begins to interact (interfer?) with what comes after it. I like the interaction as one decays and the next attacks. Interesting what pleases one ear offends another.

I have a DVD of Ervin thumping a top after he finished voicing it. Relaxed, contented frog describes the way it sounds to me quite well. He refused to show the finished braces when a member of the audience requested he turn it over, even though he had shown a couple of tops that were not through the removal process just prior.

[Kevin in California]

I enjoyed the sound of the first one the most...to my ears it was most balanced.