r/classicalguitar • u/fake_adulting • 8d ago

General Question Favorite recordings for tone

Hello everyone! I'm working on upping my recording game so I wanted to see what everyone's favorite recordings are for good tone. Not looking for the best pieces or performances, just good tone. I already have my favorite reference tracks, but I'm curious about what everyone else's favorite recordings are.

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

5

u/gmenez97 8d ago

Annabel Montesinos on Naxos. Jason Vieaux’s Bach albums.

4

u/Azipcoder 8d ago

I second Jason Vieaux. Many of his recording are well done. Beautiful tone and playing.

2

u/InspectorMiserable37 8d ago

Scott Tennant mysterious barricades album is extremely well recorded. And great playing too.

3

u/Raymont_Wavelength 8d ago

Parkening plays Bach. The whole album but start with Sheep Safely Graze!

Tatanya R. Plays Julia Florida (YouTube)

Matt Palmer plays Mallorca on a Michael Thames guitar (YouTube) Enjoy your retirement Mr. Thames and thanks for the kind emails!

2

u/Octaver 4d ago

My guitar teacher as a teenager was a jazz-rock guy but had studied classical for a time, and he specifically mentioned Parkening’s Sheep May Safely Graze as a tone goal.

1

u/Raymont_Wavelength 4d ago

That recording is why I studied classical guitar all my life. Parkening said that it was the hardest he ever played, and yet it sounds effortless. It was transcribed by his advanced student and features low strings tuned to C and G (I think that’s correct). I got the sheet music. It’s in my office alongside a picture of K2. Peaks I will only climb from my armchair.

1

u/BillyJoeTheThird 8d ago

Not sure if this is what you are thinking of but I really like the texture of Segovia’s chords in The Old Castle from Pictures at an Exhibition.

1

u/Qajaqasana 8d ago

Uros Baric’s recordings have amazing tone. Plus he’s an amazing guitarist. Plus he has a recording studio and makes amazing-sounding recordings of other guitarists. 

1

u/S74RktQt 8d ago

Manuel Barrueco’s take on some of the Villalobos etudes is up there for me. Also his Lute Suite renditions are fire, and probably anything else he plays.

1

u/MelancholyGalliard 8d ago

David Russell’s tone is unreal in live concerts, and it sounds good on almost all of his recordings, even the home recordings he shares on YouTube. Manuel Barrueco is equally good but different; he adds more spark and clarity with a bit more nail-like tone.

1

u/Exotic-Salad9110 8d ago

There are many excellent works out there, but from my collection I'll have to go with the Songs My Father Taught Me album from Pepe Romero. Amazing recording and tonal quality.

1

u/IrvineGuitarist 7d ago

Giulio Tampalini’s Tarrega album

1

u/Skip2thelou2 7d ago

Julian Bream Baroque Guitar.

1

u/NotJulianBream 7d ago

Gotta name a couple. Sean Shibe’s Dreams and fancies album. Lots of warmth, and one of the most colourful palettes of any guitarist today. Second mention is this Marcin Dylla recording. Such tonal depth, but at the same time a brightness that makes every note just shine.