In my hands....

The L-E, being maple, is a tad more aggressive on the "high end" and the bass is less pronounced than the BB, a mahogany guitar.

The Black Beard (my ears & hands) lends itself to a "rounder/warmer" voice due to that tone wood and baffled interior design.

I'm just another set of hands/ears & preferences.

My observations are for the "stock" guitars. There are custom versions out there, lending themselves to a host of variations, of course.

hp

Good topic. Let's check out a couple of videos. 

Demo of a mahogany BlackBeard by Mike Witcher from around 12 years ago. This was made at the home of a Bay Area dobro playing friend named Jon.  

And also shot at Jon's home, here is a quilted maple Model E (years before the "Legacy" moniker was added to the title).

Mike also did some demos for Paul Beard around eight years ago. Here is a flamed maple E. 

Also from the Beard demo sessions, here is again a mahogany BlackBeard. 

A BlackBeard has been Mike's main guitar for a number of years now. I have been able to test drive it for a bit  on a few occasions - very nice guitar - but I still miss his Clinesmith koa. He says it needs work, but I think it might still be resting quietly in its case and the work has yet to be done.

Listening on a computer or phone? There's really no way to hear an instrument's nuance on these speakers.

I have good quality Shure headphones. 

But then the guitars are being recorded in two different buildings with different microphones. 

It of course goes without saying that it's not the same as sitting across from Mike in person hearing him play the different guitars.

Yes.. and how would YOU describe the differences? 

That is the question, yes?

h

To me the Blackbeard features bold flavors of blackcurrant, and notes of cedar, tobacco, and sometimes green bell pepper.

Whereas the Model E is generally full-bodied with a robust and structured deep intensity with a beautiful dark color and bold flavors of violets, plums, cherries, orange peel, earth, licorice, cedar and smoke.

..or was that vice-versa..?

It's not that the vids aren't appreciated but, much more interested in (hopefully 1st hand) impressions.

h

quote:

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Originally posted by Lounge Primate

To me the Blackbeard features bold flavors of blackcurrant, and notes of cedar, tobacco, and sometimes green bell pepper.

 

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LOL!  Begs the age old question, how does one describe sound? The challenge is also that your hands/attack is most certainly different than mine, hence my qualifier above.

1st hand experiences trump everything else.

I understand the challenges though. That's why I always encourage a conversation with the builder in the decision making process.

h

I've played multiple examples of both models over the years but I'm not going to attempt to give impressions right now - I'll have plenty of time soon. I thought it would be good to at least get some videos up in the thread to help it along. I'm reasonably sure we have members here who never even seen a BlackBeard or E Model in person.

Wish me luck - my wife is driving me to the hospital in Santa Rosa for 6:30 AM arrival in the morning for total replacement surgery of my left knee.  Not my first rodeo - had the right knee done going on four years ago, and I have the same surgeon, who is considered one of the top tier dudes in the Bay Area. But I'll be "on the bench" for awhile doped up on Oxy and Tylenol, and then there's the physical therapy which begins a week from tomorrow.

Brooks aka Lounge, you bring back memories of when I sold wine here in Sonoma County for several years. The flavor descriptions are easier to relate to than trying to describe the sound of guitars, or the old "writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

Good luck with the surgery Mark. Speedy recovery.

Thanks Bill!

Yes indeed, blessed be the joint surgeons that keep us going. heal up smooth and quick Markin. And treat yourself to a great cab sav when it’s done.