Querey Guitars Aude junior

I invite you to visit www.myspace.com / ultimategear (http://www.myspace.com/ultimategear). This site, while talking to other guitars, and other types of guitar equipment, guitars deals at length with Arnaud.
I present the Aude Junior 22 boxes, manufactured by the French luthier Arnaud Querey (www.quereyguitars.com (http://www.quereyguitars.com)). I have the model on the picture above.

Its features are:
- Body and mahogany set neck Bolivia (real, not Sipo), ebony fingerboard of the Congo (I should point out that the color of the body as well as the handle is natural: the varnish is completely transparent, no color!) ,
- Grover (this is best)
- Fixed bridge Gotoh 510 chrome UB (not the original Badass mounted on the guitar, the bridge has proved inefficient and less aesthetic. The Gotoh is both aesthetic and very comfortable, changing strings is fast and its settings. See here: http://www.hosco.co.jp/HOSCO_ENGLISH/Pages/gotoh_catalog/bridgetp510series.html)
- The pickups are Seymour Duncan P90 (extraordinnaires microphones!)
- Initially, there is a volume and tone, and a mini toggle switch 3 positions, but I personally requested a change on this guitar so it suits me better, and I now have two volumes and a tone, and a toggle switch type 3 tomography Gibson, most prominent on the body, but it's up to me, you can have what you want)
- Schaller Strap-locks fitted as original equipment, including that of the dorsal horn mounted behind, so we do not see it (and it helps to have a drawing of the horn that is finer)
- I can not remember the size of the frets which are mounted on it, but it is a matter of taste, Arnaud you up the frets you want.

Each element of the instrument is in the best qualities, including wood, from which attests to the rigor with which Arnaud Querey works.
The quality of finish is remarkable and aesthetics is pushed as far as possible: the heel of the junction of the handle to the body is finished with a small piece of ebony, and the plate was originally a mahogany veneer ( and not a plastic plate very ugly). The change I made to the guitar have to resize Arnaud plate, which is now also in ebony! The small plaque that clogs the hole in the trus rod, at the head is made of a triple plating of mahogany and maple. A chamfer goes around the body and gives a lot of elegance. The special beauty of each of the guitars make Arnaud unique models, because everything is hand carved details and forms are made based on the spur of the moment.
Anything is possible with Arnaud Querey, and it is not a political slogan ...

I add a small additional note about the mahogany used by Arnaud. Here is one of the fundamental differences between its instruments and all standard guitars (I include here all the guitars that are found in common shops and small series including custom found in all manufacturers worthy of the name). As I said, it is a true mahogany, Bolivia in this case (the important thing is that it comes from South America). In truth, all the currents guitars (Gibson, Paul Reed Smith etc..) Presented as being made in mahogany, are made in the Sipo, that is to say an African wood which can easily learn that it is not advisable for the violin, but rather for the manufacture of small furniture quality, laminated paneling and ... For which it can be compared to mahogany is that it has veins that can look a bit like that of mahogany (one who does not know the difference will be leaving, but in fact, once that 'has been entered, it becomes obvious and is the reason why all the guitars made of wood have their Sipo dyed or painted a much darker brown than its actual color to try to copy what makes a véritble mahogany), and a density more or less comparable. But ultimately, the sound is not ... at least not as with real mahogany. But this is explained by the fact that mahogany is a rare wood and in addition very expensive, that's why you can not find that among luthiers whose methods of work and research aims for perfection .
But finally, between a PRS or Gibson Querey and at the same price or even less cheer, there is no photo ... it has far more value for money, and with an instrument in itself.

UTILIZATION

This guitar has not been an order from me. It was manufactured for quite some time before I buy it. I am glad that someone did not have far to take the opportunity before me, although many were those who desired ... So contrary to what you can get about customizing your guitar, this model has not been designed in close collaboration between Arnaud and me. But know that your guitar will anyway be a personalized.

The handle is lacquered (polyurethane varnish layers of nine I think, both on the neck and body, not a single patent which is found on all major productions guitars) and a curve rather round compared to instruments on which I had for many years used to play. However, I have not had any time to adapt his design to get used to the first time I played this guitar. Although thick, the patent is not one to stop you from moving your hand: it is curiously rather "slippery." I who used to play on Music Man, whose sleeves are virtually no patent, I have experienced no discomfort.

Access to the highest notes is very easy: the beginning of the heel (knowing that it does not look like a cubic block, but gradually grows to reach its total size at the junction, and not before), do If that starts at the 19th case.Peut be the most technical tricks are not as easily done with a round of two octaves, but still is unique compared to a Gibson.

The ebony fingerboard makes the handle very pleasant to play. This wood is known to be one of the most soft and slippery to the touch, and one that better absorbs the shocks caused by the normal left hand on the strings. If you play many hours a day as a professional, it is certain of a ebony fingerboard makes work more enjoyable and increases your endurance. I refer you to a very interesting comment in many ways, on this page: http://www.edromanguitars.com/wood/gaboon.htm.

The combination of a very straight neck, where there are reforts carbon, and an easel very simple to resolve, given the opportunity to obtain records of actions (there is not that why Vigier, far from it). This race is really excellent.

The table is flat if one fails the bevel that gives a certain relief around the perimeter of the body. So for those who want a very pronounced chamfer to avoid having the feel of a guitar on his shoulders, it is certain that critics will fly. However, just a little practice in getting the idea. I say this because I am in the category of those who like to enjoy that kind of detail. After a week spent playing it constantly, I finally said to Arnaud that this does not bother me at all. The position of the arm is changing a bit so we had more the impression of having a flat table.

Mahogany, ebony, it's heavy! But having a fixed tailpiece significantly reduces the thickness of the body relative to a floating tremolo. So anyway, even if we did not feel a cardboard guitar, it does not a Highlander Claymore. We do not back into pieces, even after two or three hours of gameplay addition (it will seem like an insignificant detail), I realized that the strap-locks were positioned so that the overall balance the guitar was not very common. A guitar that falls naturally into place fairly straight (parallel to the ground, so to speak). I was surprised the first time, but I think it forces the back to have more right (so as not to sag on gutiare, so we end up hunchback). This is a detail, which in the long run can count. That said, it is possible to place them slightly differently than the head back more.

This instrument measures surprisingly small: it is smaller than a John Petrucci Music Man, which is already not a monster.

Finally, the sound is coming now! It is dazzling, and we know why everyone is totally satisfied with the guitars Arnaud. But I will detail my argument in the next section.

Of course, top score ...

SOUNDS

Curiously, I consider that I have a guitar whose characteristics are almost contrary to what is generally sought to play Progressive metal: this guitar is definitely vintage, offers a rich grain and warm, full low mids, fat and a little dirty. However, I can assure you that with my P90 soapbar that make a racket of hell if we look a little too into the amp (ah ... the good old single coil ...), I gain a broadly equivalent to that obtained with a Music Man John Petrucci. But the comparison between these two guitars stops there, because otherwise a lot of things set them apart from each other.

So I'm not sure it suits the style I play, but it suits me and satisfy me absolutely. I finally understood what I loved to hear as sound and by what means to get it. In fact, it is no secret, mahogany, wood is fabulous, giving you a deep and powerful, very rich in harmonics.

In fact, the sound is soft, very round, plump, fat around the edges, so much so that some will find it lacks treble, because their sound seems a bit dull, especially in the neck pickup. Finally, just add a little maple syrup and you're done, but then we fall back on something similar to the Aude Standard. Arnaud Querey is a very intelligent, which produces models with slightly different orientations always each other.
However, the instrument is extremely well balanced, each note of an agreement is audible and legible. For me, the three bands of EQ boosted channel of my amp (ENGL Savage SE head (1)) are set at noon. This guitar forge your sound, even more than the amp, which ended up thinking it is secondary, once you begin to experience the rich sound it reproduces. All the sounds of the instrument is usable with as much interest in going round and clear sound deep to play blues or jazz, to the mean saturation, very catchy, to achieve the famous "high gain overdrive," always ... very exciting ... Also, having a separate volume for each microphone (which I asked for with the change I did make to the Aude) makes you have an even greater latitude to refine your sound and give it a very special color. I recommend this choice for the real guitar, while this is not necessary for many others. In addition, a dial tone does not seem necessary, the P90 reacting to a decline in volume in a relatively similar to that produced lower tone.

While I like and I am excited with the same intensity as soon as I played with this guitar, my playing has been altered to be more sensitive I think, and attentive to the effects of game that we don ' not get with guitar music whose axes are defined more radically. Clearly, you can consider any play, and you will always own this guitar, which is, in my opinion, one of the best achievement of Arnaud Querey (itself is also extremely proud) .

As usual, but you start to do there, I put the maximum ...

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar has finally found a buyer 29 November 2006 for their greatest happiness to both. I play every day, every day is as much surprised at the richness and subtlety of his tone. In the words of Nighthawk, who found that Aude was a curious form have certainly ended up saying that this was of little importance as it delivers the sound is beautiful.

There is nothing on this guitar I do not like, or even less than anything. It meets all my expectations and I believe, must be suitable for many guitarists who want to find in their instrument, something special, a temperament, sound, and above all his own. The Aude is my sixteenth Junior guitar, and without any hesitation, the best of all. Compared to other guitars Querey Arnaud, Aude, I mean, she is the model most sober, and also that I was most charmed the first time. But now that I have a Junior, I have a Standard, but it was more important for me to have a guitar like Junior before you as a Standard, whose sound is still very different ( in any case I do not say "better" or "worse"!). But I will soon have my Per Aude 7 string, so one thing at a time.

The Junior Aude costs 2700 euros in its original configuration (Bad Ass bridge, etc.).. The price does not change no doubt with the Gotoh bridge, but it can vary slightly (rather more than less, that is the declination of the series Aude to the original configuration as simple), if you have special requirements. Anyway, as I said, Arnaud can do whatever you like.

For my part, I find that the prices Arnaud practice are far from exorbitant, considering objectively the time spent designing a model of patience and listening afforded to its clients, the perfectionism the architect in search of quintessential sound (yes, yes, I assure you), all this is enough to justify its price. Many large series guitars (if not very large), which are made almost from beginning to end by machine, with minimal human intervention, and display of the claims which exceed by far the reality of their qualities, for their bills and their sound, and are offered at prices that are sometimes beyond comprehension.

In conclusion, I repeat what I said on a forum thread dedicated to AF Arnaud Querey:

"In fact, it is simply impossible to be disappointed with what has Querey Arnaud, for the simple reason that his guitars are not just part of the best guitars that may exist (other major maker of exceptional are at least as great), but it makes you the best guitar possible depending on your game and your expectations sound aesthetic and ergonomic. In listening and patience which they can not think experiencing terminal, it draws the most vague ideas unimaginable results at first.
In short, if you have love for the perfection of the material, love of work done with the utmost attention, and you can afford the luxury to offer such an instrument, Arnaud Querey is a man who knows give life to the dreams you have no idea of ​​the potential ... "

If you ever have any questions about this guitar or another model of Arnaud Querey, or if you want to try it because you seriously want you to make a guitar with him, do not hesitate to contact me.

I thank all who have contributed, by their testimony, their views on the model of Arnaud Querey to let me know this great luthier, especially Nighthawk, which by its commitment in its favor, for blogs that he has designed himself, made me want to take the plunge and contact Arnaud. And of course, I thank Arnaud Querey, who showed me what a truly exceptional instrument.