Voicing the Guitar

Save the money and by the books...

Overall I found this a disapointing view. Do not buy if you are interested in learning HOW to voice a guitar. He won't tell you. All he does is refer you to his books ($265!!)or classes (or in lieu of that to "just send [him] money"). He won't even show the bracing patterns he uses on his example tops (you have to take his class for that). And he doesn't discuss the process he uses for voicing. In that way this is just an 80 minute self-advertisement.

He does teach some basic principles about brace stiffness, the importance of the back and gives an example of what he considers to be a well voiced top. But there is not much here that you can take into the shop with you.

I purchased this DVD to preview the lecture and will definitely be purchasing the two book set! Mr. Somogyi's knowledge and ability to convey such in plain terms must be valuable to any luthier...especially to a relative novice like myself. I sure look forward to reading those books. Thank you, StewMac and Thank you, Ervin Somogyi!

I am a budding luthier and very interested in the voicing of guitars etc!
Ervin is an amazingly talented Luthier both with his hands and also presentation skills and I eagerly awaited this DVD as I live across the pond and cannot attend his workshops.
Ervin starts off with really interesting facts and figures concerning the guitar structure and the way that the various styles work. I was eagerly waiting to find out how he uses all this information in his own guitars,but this never comes!
Ervin tells the audience that they will have to attend his workshops or buy his books to find out how he interprets this information into his guitar building. I found this very frustrating as did some of the audience during question time!
If Ervin was planning on selling this DVD to people like me who are interested in not only his amazing talent but voicing also he could have given a little bit away!
I will now have to spend £145 on his books which I should have done in the first place and given this DVD a miss.

This DVD is a real treat. I ordered it alongside Mr. Somogyi's two-volume book set, and have watched it several times over to absorb all I can from it.

Mr. Somogyi is an expert and possesses a unique talent for explaining complicated concepts in a way that is easily understood. He reminded me much of a skilled physics or mathematics teacher lecturing in a way that distills abstract concepts into an easily attainable set of principles for use by his students.

This DVD covers concepts in voicing a guitar soundbox in the best way to make a more live and responsive instrument, it is a must-have for an aspiring luthier like myself.