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Post by jackorion on Apr 3, 2018 16:42:21 GMT
Hey folks, I’d like to introduce you all to a new website called Acoustic Review where it just so happens that I am their new Gear Reviewer! My video review has just gone live here - it’s a look at a new PRS SE guitar: This was my first ever review to camera, something that’s very different to anything I’ve done before, so it’s not perfect yet, but we have a great team and I think the videos are going to end up being really informative and well recorded with great sound so the only way is up! We have videos for lots of guitars lined up, including the new Taylor K14ce with the V-Class bracing, and guitars from Martin, Faith, Takamine, Collings and Lowden as well. The website has been setup by somebody who was involved in Acoustic Magazine way back in the beginning but who left to work on other projects but we’re hoping that Acoustic Review can build to be THE online resource for news, videos, interviews and, of course, reviews - obviously everyone who participates here on the forum is potentially a fan of ours so, with the mods permission, I’ll be sharing lots of content hopefully and I invite you all to look us up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Youtube, and of course at our website www.acousticreview.co.ukThis is a new and exciting time for me, and I’d really appreciate any comments on the video (good or bad, though be kind please!) and any discussion around things you would like to see included in the reviews in the future.
Hope you like the video! |
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Apr 3, 2018 17:14:54 GMT
well done Ben :-)
I played A PRS Angelus once and found it one of the best guitars I ever played. Sadly a bit above my budget.
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Post by jackorion on Apr 3, 2018 17:18:27 GMT
well done Ben :-) I played A PRS Angelus once and found it one of the best guitars I ever played. Sadly a bit above my budget. Cheers! I played Martin Simpson's actual PRS once but didn't really get a chance to hear it properly - it was a bit nerve wracking playing in front of him, plus the strings were HUGE! But I've played other PRS acoustics and liked some and not liked some others - I think the SE I reviewed though is a pretty good guitar on the whole though and something like 10% of the price of the Private Stock ones! |
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Post by ocarolan on Apr 3, 2018 21:44:20 GMT
Great to see this up and running, Ben. Excellent review, and esp good to hear some of your less than positive impressions. Thought you came over very well and am looking forward to more! I understand see why different camera angles were used, but found the closer one where you weren't looking directly to camera a bit disconcerting - liked the angle, but for me would have been better if you turned slightly and still looked to camera. Some great shots of the guitar and your fab shirt though!
Any chance of comparison reviews at some stage?
Will deffo keep my eye on the acousticreview site - looks really good. Thanks for posting.
Keith
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Post by jackorion on Apr 4, 2018 7:12:29 GMT
Great to see this up and running, Ben. Excellent review, and esp good to hear some of your less than positive impressions. Thought you came over very well and am looking forward to more! I understand see why different camera angles were used, but found the closer one where you weren't looking directly to camera a bit disconcerting - liked the angle, but for me would have been better if you turned slightly and still looked to camera. Some great shots of the guitar and your fab shirt though! Any chance of comparison reviews at some stage? Will deffo keep my eye on the acousticreview site - looks really good. Thanks for posting. Keith Thanks Keith - the other camera is running the whole time so I don't know when they will cut to it during the review so I don't know if I'd be able to turn to the camera - I guess it's mainly there to change things up a bit and to give the editor a chance of 'hiding' an edit point. But I will mention it to the video team next time... Just noticed that another review has also come online, this time of a Martin 00015m Streetmaster - I'd recorded a few more videos by this point so I think this is a more natural 'performance' (and it features another 'fab' shirt!): |
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Post by ocarolan on Apr 4, 2018 8:44:27 GMT
... an even fabber shirt IMHO!  K |
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Post by Phil Taylor on Apr 4, 2018 8:53:48 GMT
Great to see this up and running, Ben. Excellent review, and esp good to hear some of your less than positive impressions. Thought you came over very well and am looking forward to more! I understand see why different camera angles were used, but found the closer one where you weren't looking directly to camera a bit disconcerting - liked the angle, but for me would have been better if you turned slightly and still looked to camera. Some great shots of the guitar and your fab shirt though! Any chance of comparison reviews at some stage? Will deffo keep my eye on the acousticreview site - looks really good. Thanks for posting. Keith Thanks Keith - the other camera is running the whole time so I don't know when they will cut to it during the review so I don't know if I'd be able to turn to the camera - I guess it's mainly there to change things up a bit and to give the editor a chance of 'hiding' an edit point. But I will mention it to the video team next time... Just noticed that another review has also come online, this time of a Martin 00015m Streetmaster - I'd recorded a few more videos by this point so I think this is a more natural 'performance' (and it features another 'fab' shirt!): I enjoyed that a lot Ben and you seem relaxed in front of the camera. Regards the camera angle I wouldn't bother with second face shot because I don't think it adds anything. Keep it simple is my preference. Two things I usually want to know in a video review of a guitar is the scale length and nut width and unless I'm mistaken they weren't mentioned. I too will look out for more. Phil |
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Post by jackorion on Apr 4, 2018 9:48:36 GMT
Thanks Keith - the other camera is running the whole time so I don't know when they will cut to it during the review so I don't know if I'd be able to turn to the camera - I guess it's mainly there to change things up a bit and to give the editor a chance of 'hiding' an edit point. But I will mention it to the video team next time... Just noticed that another review has also come online, this time of a Martin 00015m Streetmaster - I'd recorded a few more videos by this point so I think this is a more natural 'performance' (and it features another 'fab' shirt!): I enjoyed that a lot Ben and you seem relaxed in front of the camera. Regards the camera angle I wouldn't bother with second face shot because I don't think it adds anything. Keep it simple is my preference. Two things I usually want to know in a video review of a guitar is the scale length and nut width and unless I'm mistaken they weren't mentioned. I too will look out for more. Phil Cheers Phil - I intended to mention scale length and nut width in both videos but it's hard to remember all the specs and deliver them in one hit to the camera! Also it's difficult to judge how much info to give so it doesn't end up being a list of specs... For the next batch of videos I intend to have a 'Spec Checklist' which should be the same for each guitar which will include: Top Material Back and Sides Material Neck Material (Fingerboard and bridge also) Scale Length, Nut Width, Bridge Spacing Electronics and included case or not Other interesting feature - new bracing pattern, satin finish, etc etc Price I think they're probably the key features that we look out for as players, more detailed specs can easily be found online for most guitars nowadays... What do you think? comprehensive enough without going over the top? |
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Post by Phil Taylor on Apr 4, 2018 10:23:31 GMT
That sounds great and I appreciate what you are doing is not easy. Have you seen the Peghead Nation reviews? They are quite good but you can at times see him reading the specs from crib sheets behind the camera  Some videos have the specs scrolling up so the reviewer can relax more and chat about the guitar generally like you which could work. Anyway what do I know  and in any case as you say further details are available elsewhere. Really looking forward more now Phil |
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Post by Riverman on Apr 4, 2018 11:10:36 GMT
This looks like being an interesting and useful website Ben, and like Keith I thought it was great that you brought out what you didn’t like about the guitars as well as what you did - most magazine reviewers nowadays seem terrified of saying anything remotely critical, for fear of upsetting advertisers. Nothing wrong with a bit of constructive criticism! I like the the fact that you talked a bit about neck profile, an important factor that’s often missed out of reviews. I agree with Phil about mentioning the nut width and scale length too. I found the cutting between the different shots of you talking unnecessarily distracting, especially on the second review when you were running through some of the specs and each feature you mentioned was accompanied by a change of shot. Far better to see the relevant bit of the guitar as you mention it, as in the first review. And it would seem logical to me if you had the guitar on your lap throughout...no disrespect, but I imagine most viewers will be more interested in looking at it, rather than you!  Probably a bit more natural for you too, when talking to camera. Look forward to seeing more!  |
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Post by andyhowell on Apr 5, 2018 8:58:39 GMT
I enjoyed that — again i like the balance of the review.
That pickup sounded horrible though!
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Post by robmc on Apr 5, 2018 21:04:18 GMT
These are good Ben, I watched the PRS review a few days ago and just watched the Martin one now, I could see that there was a more natural feel for the second review probably helped by the fact that I also much preferred the guitar too! but I thought both reviews were balanced and well judged and gave a good insight into how you could use the guitar, particularly the martin one. I can imagine it is difficult skill to master and considering these are your first recorded reviews I think you did really well and imagine you'll develop a very natural consistent 'performance'. I also look forward to seeing just how diverse your check shirt wardrobe is |
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Apr 6, 2018 7:50:05 GMT
Hi,
Just watched both reviews and thought they were very well done. I agree with previous comments that info on scale length, nut width is pretty important. Also possibly what the model price range is rather than just the top model; its a bit like car adverts in that the one you see on the demo is the one with all the gizmos whereas the one you buy hasn't even got tyres which are extra.
Again, mentioned by Riverman, I find the level of independence on these things is absolutely crucial. One of the main criticisms I would have of other magazine reviews is that too often you felt you were reading the manufacturer's marketing press release; to the extent that I stopped reading them. I specifically saw one 'review' which almost verbatim quoted what was on the maker's website which makes nonsense of the whole thing. I'm not sure how the commercial model for this works and am certainly not trying to pry into your business. Other than to say keep up the excellent quality of these reviews, the good and the bad as you see it, but try to reassure the viewer that it is totally independent otherwise it loses its value and therefore its purpose.
Good luck; have subscribed to your youtube channel.
FFJ
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Post by jackorion on Apr 6, 2018 17:27:17 GMT
I enjoyed that — again i like the balance of the review. That pickup sounded horrible though! Cheers - the pickup does have a typical 'included piezo' sound - I think you could make it passable through a PA but direct to the desk it wasn't that pleasant... |
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Post by jackorion on Apr 6, 2018 17:29:03 GMT
These are good Ben, I watched the PRS review a few days ago and just watched the Martin one now, I could see that there was a more natural feel for the second review probably helped by the fact that I also much preferred the guitar too! but I thought both reviews were balanced and well judged and gave a good insight into how you could use the guitar, particularly the martin one. I can imagine it is difficult skill to master and considering these are your first recorded reviews I think you did really well and imagine you'll develop a very natural consistent 'performance'. I also look forward to seeing just how diverse your check shirt wardrobe is Yep, definitely more relaxed by the time we got round to the Martin - I'm looking forward to developing my own presentation style as we carry on... I'm running out of checked shirts to wear now but my partner and kids joke that I only like clothes that look like things I already own so maybe it's time to buy a few more! |
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and in any case as you say further details are available elsewhere.
Probably a bit more natural for you too, when talking to camera. 
Jo whoever he is.
