2007 Castillo (Spruce / Indian Rosewood) vs. 1968 Contreras (Spruce / Cypress)

In comparison, the '68 Contreras has a much flatter, more unidimensional sound. I noticed this especially when playing up past the 12th fret, where my castillo belts out the note and a shimmering cascade of overtones...the contreras merely balks. My Castillo is also capable of a fierce growling bass and a punchy treble that seemed to be somewhat lacking in the contreras. My castillo is also easier to play, the strings feel more taught in the right hand regardless of tension making picado much easier and rajeo much crisper.

Though comparably set up, the Castillo plays easier on the left hand owing ultimately to the construction of the neck. The guitar feels more alive, as a single unit rather than the contreras which feels highly resonant but in need of... something difficult to articulate in writing.

To make a fair comparison, the guitars were strung with sets of D'addario composites, which I am fond of. Both were played in for a half hour with heavy rajeo to warm up the tops in a room at 74 degrees and 50-60% humidity. The castillo took less time to open up and has a greater dynamic range as well as a more subtle and varied voice. It can produce a wide array of tones that all have a unique voice. The Contreras is overall a more mellow guitar, though it also has a varied pallette and an excellent dynamic range. It is, after all, a flamenca.

Both gutiars are excellent. The Castillo far outperforms the Contreras though, in both concert classical sound and flamenco, playability and nuance. Additionally, the Castillo is about 4 thousand USD cheaper and is actually much more tidy inside, with far more careful glue cleanup and attention to detail.

Thouugh the contreras guitar is a big name instrument with a label that is known world wide, I have to say that the Castillo is far more deserving of the status "world class professional instrument" and I think Salvador knows his quality and stands by it.

I would not and do not hesitate to name Salvador any time anyone asks who to buy a guitar from. I have had many inquiries about mine. In fact professor Fareed Haque of Northern Illinois University was so impressed by my guitar, that he played it numerous times during and after my audition, and asked for Salvador's phone number! Furthermore he liked it far better than one of Richard Brune's guitars that another student was playing.

If you know anything about Mr. Haque, you know that the word particular is not an understatement.

I stand by my endorsement 100% and will continue to buy Salvador Castillo's wonderous guitars!

Kevin ODonnell

July 27, 2008