Ruokangas Guitars Video Diary Episode 16 - The ToneFest!

[ginsuvideos]

It's funny to me seeing all the comments here or on The Gear Page about how the Unicorn compares to "the other two" guitars in this video.

Folks... there are more than three guitars here.

It's like expert wine judges saying one wine is different from two others, but actually they were given more than three to taste and somehow never noticed.

[Commodorian]

I think the 59 sounds less edgy and more woody/open than the other two guitars. I have to say that the re-issue sounds more like the burst than the Unicorn does. The Unicorn has more bite and edginess about it which I like too, that's probably more to do with the pickups than anything else.

[timothycoyle]

I think they all sound great,all with minor differences. But if you pay attention to the solo starting at about 4:52 you can tell that the Unicorn seems to have much longer(In my opinion better) sustain than either of the other two. Especially at the end of the solo the re issue and the 59 the note seems to die off a bit and the Unicorn seems like it could keep going for a while longer. Great playing and great job on the wonderfull guitar!

[ginsuvideos]

Okay, the Unicorn is the standout guitar here. It's not scooped at all -- it's balanced.

In the jazz riff the Unicorn's bassline is clearer. Marko's Unicorn riffs exhibit both more punch and more clarity. The extra low-end growl at 5:58 is nice - I'd smile too. Dig the added resonance at 6:13.

Throw in the improvements in playability and ergonomics, and I'd rather play the Unicorn than any of the others (note: there are FOUR guitars here, not three -- two CSs, the burst, and the Unicorn).

[lexist7]

The unicorn has a more scooped tone. The CS and 59 sound similar with the CS having more upper mids and the 59 hitting the right amount of lower mids to make it sound clear and fat. Each has its own special application. I can hear what Joe Bonamassa has said about the Gibson CS being close to the original 59s.

[TheJammer1227]

My ears tell me the Unicorn has a bit wider dynamic range because I can hear the individual notes in a chord more clearly. I also hear slightly more sustain in the Unicorn. At the same time, if I didn't know any better I'd swear every lick was being played on a Les Paul. When I consider how clumsy I am sometimes, the Unicorn's sturdier neck construction makes it the hands-down winner for me.

[jangel214]

hmmm....the sound between the unicorn and the les paul is almost the same...ALMOST....but that unicorn is good...no bad comments about it...sounds good to me....

[j3emt]

I loved all three guitars in the test. It must feel good to know that you build guitars that sound as nice as an old Les Paul.

[rockster07]

That's pretty incredible. I'm surprised it matched the '59 burst as much as it did. beautiful work.

[eladtall]

amazing , your gutar sound just perfect , i think that if this video is not a"fair comperison" it is not for the unicorn and the re isseu 59

the real 59 is very old and the woods sound more acustic , the real PAF's gives the real 59 alot to the chereturistic , i belive that some o us f dont know what a PAF can do to any guitar , even an epiphon

so it is interesting to hear the unicorn with the real PAF's

thanks for this movie, i lernd alot from it

the guitar is perfect

[gyselboy]

sounds great very very similar to the 59 which totally took me by surprise and if any thing it is just a tiny bit less muddier sounding.Superb craftsmanship by the way. I love all of the thought that you put in to that guitar.I would love to see maybe a gold top version without the arctic birch top it really amazed me how well the thick blank of Spanish cedar rang out when tapped it would be nice to hear how that sounds alone. You sir are a true craftsman I could only dream of having such talent

[dickjonesify]

balls to the wall!! that sounds fantastic. much better than the re-issue. excellent videos, thank you.

[bulldrumm]

unicorn seems to have a bit more pronounced low mids, but a nicer mellower harmonic range. but, my speakers aren't exactly great ....

i would love to try it out, however, and see how it plays!!

[MrPintGlass]

Your guitar definitely does sound so much more like the classic les paul! It has, so much more low end than the reissue, without losing that les paul bite! well done sir ! Only wish I could afford your guitars :P saving up starts today !

[vChipGivesThemSight]

Unicorni kuullostaa paksuimmalta, tuhdeimmalta. Alkuperäinen '59 taas paljon ohuemmalta, enemmän trebleä. Tosin Unicornissa taitaa olla vähän eri menoset mikit, kuin Gibsoneissa. Joku HiFi-Pertti nyt varmaankin lyttää mielipiteeni. Hienon kitaran olette luonneet, 10 pistettä ja papukaijamerkki!

[ruokangasguitars]

@caulinrocker Sorry no dealers in Florida. You can see all my dealers on our website, go to the company page and there they are - very few of them unfortunately since we have a long wait list as things are, can't take on more dealers really. I assure you though, if you decide to order a guitar, you won't be disappointed. :-)

[2BLogical]

If the Unicorn had original PAFs installed for this test it would have been a better demonstration as to how close it is regarding all the other build factors. To my ears, the original '59's tone is more mellow and singing. These guitars are never harsh, even into a bright amp. There are boutique pickups on the market, some that were even wound on the original Gibson machines, that would probably bring the Unicorn even closer to the original. I very much like the look of the guitar. Impressive!

[ruokangasguitars]

@caulinrocker And I would add that my point for the comparison was to shake down "conservative defences" a bit, if you might say so. I mean, the Unicorn guitar has after all Spanish Cedar body and neck, and the top is Arctic Birch. So theoretically speaking it shouldn't sound like a Les Paul. But it does, even more so than reissue Gibson Les Pauls, in my own (biased) opinion. And that's quite amazing, I think. :-)

[ruokangasguitars]

@caulinrocker Thanks for your feedback. The fact is that it's impossible to do 100 percent objective comparison, cause vintage 1959 Les Paul is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and one can't change the original pickups to it, and at the same time vintage 1959 Les Paul pickups aren't available for Unicorn. We did change same strings to all guitars. -Juha Ruokangas

[2020shredfest1980]

Lovely..loved the video..The Unicorn and the '59 sound amazing..Sounds like the Hausell's are a touch hotter than the stock '59's though.

[AlexanderLibak]

the Ruokangas sounds more Attractive to mee!!

Great!!

Rock on!! :)

[junnul11n1]

En ollut yksi tuhannesta joka pystyisi erottamaan kitarat toisistaan, mutta.... kyllä soundissa eroja oli. Olisi mukava kuulla soittajien mielipiteitä soitettavuudesta ja tuntemuksista. Jazz osiossa Unicorn kuullosti ilmaisukykyiseltä. Unicorn ja Reissue oli mielestäni lähinnä toisiaan. Burstin ääni oli ihmeen tunkkainen

[skydog46]

I like the Reissue '59 best, then the Unicorn, then the burst, then the '58 reissue. Man, something didn't sound right with the burst...it was muddier than any burst I've ever heard.

[bloodyfrets]

I dont want to sound like a smartass but I bet that 1 out of a 1000 would be able to say what is what, only with sound and not knowing which guitar is played every time. They have different sounds but they are VERY close. So who really cares! Ruokangas kicks fuckin ass. You have 10000$ (at least) for a true 59 gibson... be my guest!!

[mrbluestrings]

@bloodyfrets Add some more 0's to that price,a 59' Burst is out of sight...

[bitzmil]

in order of my liking.. #1 orig 59, #2 reissue and #3 Unicorn

[kerranz]

I don't know what others are hearing but the Unicorn is way more complex-sounding. The body depth and locking bridge parts and better tuners and the Haussels add up, and why shouldn't they, there's fifty years of advancements there.

I mean they're all good guitars but I preferred the Ruokangas, it had a more pinao-like fullness and shimmer, the overtones are great. Bravo!

[bitzmil]

and that's 50 years of dry wood for the original '59...

[Kozmonot91]

Ok, so truth be told, I love Juha and I have played the Unicorn, Killer guitar but....The LP has a way more woodsy, thick, juicy tone and just bleeds when the players dig into the notes. The Unicorn just does not...it sounds thin and less dimensional and way less subtle. Get rid of those pickups!!

[Artist334]

Unicorn on tosiaan vähän kirkkaampi

sointinen mutta huippu soitin silti

[JStoole]

The unicorn sounds slighlty brighter. I'm lovin it

[goodyear2602]

According to my speakers, the original '59 is the most homogenous one in tone, but the Unicorn domes right after it, which is phenomenal for a guitar recently built. Probably the Spanish Cedar? I'm excited for a comparison when your guitar is 50 years old. ;)

Simply amazing, your guitars!!!

[kayomarlin]

He's mentioned on his website that Spanish cedar is the most similar wood today to the Honduras mahogany of the 50s. Apparently the mahogany of today is quite a bit different than that of the 50s.

[megarobapboom]

nice top carving !

[Stratboy999]

Your guitar more than stands its ground among this kind of company. Hearty congratulations. It's on my 'wish list'.

[HarvesterBob]

your guitars are awesome!