Sylvain Luc checks out the Ken Parker Acoustic Archtop / CordeFactum 2010, Belgium.

[crunkykong]

Guys, there's simply no way of truly judging the tonal quality of a guitar from a YOUTUBE recording.

[jazzerty25]

@crunkykong / Thats right. And the recording was an fortuitous case, for everybody! There are better recordings on the site o f" ken parker archtops "

[AlgebraicDnB]

What's he doing when he adjusts the back of the guitar around 1.42?

[jazzerty25]

@AlgebraicDnB / He is changing the action !

[thegreatgarry]

When I read his profile on wikipedia, I can't believe that HE IS NOT WIDELY RECOGNIZED .....

[596278]

This guy is an alien!!!!

[TheCompleteGuitarist]

I think everyones comments regarding the quality of the guitar are really valid. It's true to say that it doesn't always sound like it's worth a lot of money, BUT I think there is a lot of clarity and detail in single notes and crispness in chord playing. I have heard other players playing this guitar and to me very few have made it sound good. Sylvain makes it sound incredible. It's obvious that it's very suited to his technique.

[martinjp1958]

Not a great sounding guitar.... The player is sublime.

[Billythebassist]

Wow.... beautiful playing,... beautiful guitar.

[RootsinBrooklyn]

Why didn't they ask the other person who is playing in the background here the entire time, to be quiet while they were recording? It feels like being in a department store right between the electronics section and the men's dept, or something.

[guitarrista55]

@RootsinBrooklyn

Yeah that's right, and big a lack of respect, or a very stupid attitude

he's playing, and someone's playing classical guitar in the other room, that's ridiculous!

[LMA0NAISE]

I think Sylvain is the only person to make this guitar sound good. I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I've heard better sounding guitars that are about $1,000, as opposed to $30,000.

[jazzerty25]

@LMA0NAISE

You 'think' Sylvain Luc is the only person..... !

I know he's not. You can see/hear more examples on ken's website> info.

( kenparkerarchtops )

Enjoy

And I played it myself... And I could make it sound !!! No, actually it's the other way around. It makes you a better player, it raises you skills.

J

[RootsinBrooklyn]

@LMA0NAISE

I think I actually have to agree with you. It may be the awful distraction of the other guitarist in background off on his/her own planet; but this guitar does not sound so special to me. Could also be the recording equipment, but it does not exactly "sing".

It sounds rather brittle and biting, not sweet. But it sure is pretty looking; and Sylvain sure can play.

[Qpidon]

@LMA0NAISE just my 2 cent of course: it is simply impossible to judge the sound of a guitar recorder with a cheap camcorder. I think it is pointless. You might as well ask Stevie Wonder if he thinks Picasso's "La Garnica" is beautiful or not.... But the fact that Sylvain plays it in every way possible, and even later that evening used it for his concert, now that is an entire different criteria than the sound reproduced here. Also: I hope you have a decent headphones as well? ;-D

[Michael55443]

@LMA0NAISE Totally agree. This thing sounds terrible.

[HendrixcommaMartin]

@LMA0NAISE I totally agree. $30,000 is beyond ridiculous for ANY new guitar, let alone one that-- to my ears-- doesn't even sound that good. I'll cede that it sounds pretty great in this guys hands, though.

[88naka]

@HendrixcommaMartin As you say for a guitar , an instrument who is hugely dominate by companies and mass production. Go to any Orchestra and you will see people play instruments with value of 100 k +. Sadly in guitar world construction and perfection adds less value than nostalgic felling.

[johnsoncm65]

Sylvain is a great player but I don't think the guitar sounds remarkable. I know some people will get hot under the collar for me saying this, but I've built archtops that sound better than this Parker and anyone who doubts me should arrange to play mine any time they're in central Florida. I'll prove it.

Parker tries to reinvent the wheel...or the guitar. I personally don't find that his ideas are anything better...just different. Great for some people, but I never wanted a Parker.

[jazzerty25]

@johnsoncm65

Always interesting to compare things.

Can you give your website. Can we listen to your guitars online ?

Thanks

J

[vibratingstring]

Oh_my_gosh. That was beyond words cool. What Sylvain Luc does just opened my ears wider than ever before.

[rjc31415]

nice comment at the end of the video from parker: "if i could, i would just give you this guitar right now. i wish i could, it's not my guitar. i've never heard it sound like that..."

[jazzerty25]

@rjc31415 /

Indeed. Actually the guitar was already promised to someone else, so he couldn't give it to Sylvain!

J.W.

[OlegVoronin]

Sylvain must do a guitar school DVD

[idontbelieveok]

i cant really understand what they are saying, but is he immitating Bireli Lagrene at 2:00 and a bit further?

i just thinks his gesture is like him.

[TheCompleteGuitarist]

I am a huge fan of Parker guitars, especially these archtops, but seriously, this is the first time anyone has actually made one sound good. This guy should own one of these guitars, they were made for each other,.

[CrAzzyWak]

Probably the greatest guitarist alive...

[waylay00]

wonder what some of those runs would sound like on a les paul through a marshall

[KeithWhalen11]

One of the best musicians on the face of the planet.

[clemtrout]

Extraordinary...player and instrument. THANKS for posting!

[fransgreg]

He was afraid that we think he's a lazy player ... How could it be ! ;-) Thanks for posting this, and shame on the other player somewhere off the image ...

[ankoslitoflower]

@fransgreg i think he was saying that action adjustment is for lazy ppl. bc all you have to do is turn an allen wrench and in seconds your neck your action has been adjusted.