alchemy acoustic labs

Archive for the ‘Post Optimization’ Category

Frank brings the freshly AO1-optimized Rodrigo Moreira Hauser replica classical guitar back to Porsche specialist John Raysich, at his repair shop (John Raysich Porsche Specialties) in Pittsburgh, PA.

This guitar has an interesting story. Moreira was commissioned to do some restoration work on Segovia’s 1931 Hauser I guitar. Having one, if not THE most prized classical guitars in the world in hand, Moreira decided to build a replica or two….

It’s February, which was pretty brutal this year in Pittsburgh, and John was busy at work, in coveralls, with beepers and phones ringing and mechanics asking him questions while he tried the guitar for the first time after being processed. So – as usual, we present a very candid, un-glamorous look at REAL customers’ REAL reactions when they get their instruments back.

We offered to do one guitar for one member of the online Collings Forum community free of charge. The recipient selection process took some time, but in the end we decided to go with one of the moderator’s guitars. Elambo is an audio engineer, studio musician and the furthest thing from an AAL cheerleader we could find. We wanted an objective opinion. We’re posting our results and opinions before Elambo does, in an effort to be as forthright as possible. Let the chips fall.

The Julius Borges OM-28 was one of our favorite guitars we’ve ever played or had in our labs. The build quality and playability is just phenomenal. It was already optimized for volume, versatility and projection by design when we received it.

Post AO1 process, it did not come up as dramatically in amplitude (volume) as some other guitars we’ve processed. It had more increase in sustain than volume. But where we felt that the process enhanced its sound the most was in the evening out of the notes, filling in the bottom end in the lows and low-mid ranges. It truly opened up the guitar in the way that age and playing (a lot) would do.

We’ll post updates to this guitar as the story continues to unfold. For now, here are some audio and video files chronicling the event.

Audio Files:

Elambo’s Borges (Before A01 Process  01)

Elambo’s Borges (After A01 Process  01)

Elambo’s Borges (Before A01 Process  02)

Elambo’s Borges (After A01 Process  02)

Legendary Austin session guitarist David Grissom (John Mellencamp, Dixie Chicks, Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy, Chris Isaak etc.) talked with us at the 2010 Winter NAMM show about having one of his guitars processed. In early March, Collings shipped us his D2H to get the AO1 treatment.

From the moment it arrived, we all liked the guitar very much, but according to David, it was his least favorite of his three Collings dreads. We heard the opportunity to help it reach its full potential and were eager to let the process do what we expected it would.

You can watch the video below (or on the Videos page) of Jim Relja and us examining the guitar before and after the process. The process added much more sustain and it really filled out the frequency range in the lows and low-mids.

One of our usual go-to reviewers, Jim was knocked out by both this guitar and by how it transformed after being processed.  “I’ve never heard sustain like this on a guitar. This is ridiculous…”

We sent the guitar back to Collings and waited for David to get back from the road to check it out. His immediate responses were good, but he waited a few weeks to give us his full review:

“The process has made a noticeable change in my guitar. It always sounded good, but was my least favorite of my 3 Collings Dreads. Now it seems louder and punchier, and doesn’t “cave in” at all when played really hard…..and holds it’s own with the other guitars which happen to be exceptional. Thank you again.”
David Grissom
Austin, TX
April 15, 2010

Audio files are HERE

When one of your biggest problems is that every time your business partner goes out he comes back with a new lovely guitar – well let’s just say there are worse problems to have.

We’re extremely lucky to have one of the best-stocked high-end acoustic guitar shops in the country, manned by one of the most knowledgeable, passionate guitar dealers in the business, right here about 5 miles up the river from our headquarters. We have no connection with Steve from Acoustic Music Works, (other than being regular customers) but I can tell you his hand-picked instrument selection is unsurpassed.

We see our share of off-the-charts high-end guitars through here and I have to say that Bourgeois makes some of the finest playing instruments available.  Frank chose this gorgeous Bourgeois Advanced Slope D Premium Madrose from Steve’s stock because of its stunning tone and beauty. This is a player’s guitar.

This video is another casual behind the scenes discussion with Jim Relja playing and reviewing the guitar directly after it had been AO1-processed. the guitar has since opened up even more in the 4 weeks since this video was shot. You’ll hear one of our returning customers, Pat, asking Jim questions about the process in this clip.

Some days I have the best job on the planet.

June 9, 2009 – Session/touring guitarist and master guitar tech Jim Relja examines and plays this Collings D2HG 4 weeks after it received our AO1 Process.

March 26, 2009 – Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter John Moran has had his Larrivee L-19 back post-AO1 optimization, for about 46 days and gives his impressions.

February 16, 2009 – Corey Congilio plays our first Tippin Crescendo for the first time, post-AO1 processing.

February 16, 2009 – Corey Congilio gets the Martin 00018 back and plays it for the first time, post-AO1-optimization.

We will be posting more videos in the next few weeks.