Aristides Guitars: Post Honeymoon Thoughts

[@TobyKBTY]

Came for the review but stayed for the shirt.

[@thomasbyrne7372]

I heard these guitars sound great even unplugged but haven't been able to find a video of someone playing unplugged. Until now. Sounds great.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Hey Thomas, I just got a RAW model Aristides and will do a quick video for KZbin with it and show it off unplugged and will do the same with my regular 060. Thanks for commenting!

[@Unchainedmaple888]

I love the idea and concept behind Aristides guitars and what they're doing, but I just can't get along with the looks of their guitars. The body and headstock just doesn't do it for me. That being said, if I have the extra dough, I'd definitely order one.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Reasonable, my dude. I fell in absolute love with them and ever since it's been a dream come true :-)

[@Slamthulhu]

If they had a more super-stratty body shape option and the option to reverse the headstock I would buy one so fast

[@ChrisTarpleyAsylumOfCerberus]

I want one B A D L Y

[@FrankThaThird]

I’ll be getting my first 060 sometime this or next week after knowing of them for about 2/3 years, second hand though, but if I really enjoy it enough, I’m gonna be selling or trading my Blackwater Dii to either get another 060 or 070, I travel for work and when I’m not, I live in Texas and changes in temperature and humidity on a day to day basis here can affect a normal wood guitar. Good video, explaining why you prefer them without sounding like a car salesman imo, also you’re looking pretty snazzy here Paul.

[@kai_bittner]

I have the same desk 😂 I found it at a salvation army near me. That's so weird.

[@swordmas_]

What is the colour finish on that 8string? It looks so good!

[@martinr7728]

Who's your favorite musician then? :D Ihsahn?

[@markinflexion194]

Well said, Paul! Couldn't agree with you more - haven't picked up my other guitars and they definitely are the future!

[@emilianotimo]

Thank you so much Ozz my 060 is due in April and this video just goes to show me that i've just made not only a great decision but a great investment I've only heard good things about Aristides but I was nervous that It was going to be to much guitar for me! My current guitar is a base line schecter SGR so you can see that I went from the very cheap to the very top of the range custom instrument and this video just put my worries to rest

[@PaulOuzounov]

Oooh that's so wonderful! Congratulations on the guitar dude :-)

[@rumbachumba330]

I like them can't justify dropping that kind of money on one though, What pickups are those in your 8? Edit: Nevermind you mentioned it later on.

[@PaulOuzounov]

It's a long video.. I know these feels hehe :-)

[@ERIKNORDLING]

Love you’re new approach to your videos man! KZbin needs more dudes like you. Always feel motivated when I watch your stuff.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Thank you my friend, please feel free to click the bell button to get notifications when I put up a video. I'm trying to get onto this road to 10k by the end of the year and everything helps. Much love!

[@ERIKNORDLING]

Paul Ozz no worries bro. Been subscribed to you for years now.

[@alexdraxer638]

I hate that my current guitar was gotten for me back when i was younger, and lacked any sense of responsibility for the guitar. Ive messed that thing up so much and i hate that i never took care of it. Now its missing a nob, the switch got broken into the guitar, the bottom screw for the strap got busted off, and the gold on the pickups and the bridge is fading XD.

[@Badonkadonker]

If you ever read this comment, then PLEASE OH PLEASE show the guitar with clean tones. I get the feeling that it was made for all sorts of heavy, screaming music and no like jazz/blues/funk at all. Thanks a lot in advance if you do and oh well... have a nice day if you don't. Cheers!

[@PaulOuzounov]

Peter Y Of course! I just got a new 070 literally today, I will do extensive tests because it's pickups are more meant for cleans than the Lundgrens!

[@TheBladeSephara]

I liked your work before you had a beard. Now I love it. This is truly your ultimate form. Keep it up friend!

[@lightyagami8377]

Well the question Is, how much are there cheesiest models?

[@GreenMeanie101]

My parker fly deluxe is still like new they don't disintegrate lol.

[@PaulOuzounov]

My old Classic was awesome too!! I had one that didn't have the problematic fret glue! Kind of miss that guitar but didn't really need it anymore.

[@alexdraxer638]

Im honestly planning on investing money in getting one of these guitars once i get a job. Im going to be putting roughly half of my paycheck into savings everytime i get payed until i have enough to buy one.

[@nataliagonzalez1698]

Alex Draxer How much do you got now?

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

So I could be wrong but get the feeling you really, really like the guitar hehe. It definitely looks cool plus I like that there are manufacturers out there moving away from wood and towards composites. Given the CITES issues with rosewood musicians are going to have to start thinking more about the impact instruments have on the environment (though I think in the case of rosewood the government went a bit too far). Good vid though to be totally honest it's a teensy bit long/overly gushy (and I tend to be the kind of person who gushes a lot). I skipped maybe the last six or seven minutes.

[@ollimoore]

The issue with CITES in the guitar community is really the way the rosewood situation has been blown out of all proportion. The planet isn't about to run out of the stuff for a start - for some types (most notably Brazilian) there's obviously a genuine and pressing need to stop cutting the trees down, and indeed logging of Brazilian rosewood has been illegal since 1991. However not all types that were added recently are endangered in the slightest. There are even plantations. It's a long term preventative move because the Chinese furniture industry (so I'm told) will basically use any type (since they decimated their own forests) until there isn't any left. Bubinga is also on the list now, not endangered and not a rosewood, but because it looks and behaves mostly like one the demand would have risen stratospherically when rosewood became more difficult to obtain. Wood grows guys, we can use the stuff, the issue starts when we use too much at once and that's what CITES is trying to avoid this time. Restrict trade on one wood and demand will raise elsewhere until it too becomes an endangered species. Put most if not all similar types on at once (whether endangered or not at this point in time) and hopefully avoid that. Since this move has been made, unless you live in a country with rosewood of its own, there is literally no ethical reason for the consumer to avoid rosewood. Either it came into the country prior to the new regulations or was brought in subject to them. Either way that tree is long dead. You can't save it. What makes more environmental sense, using an already felled rosewood plank or cutting down a living ebony tree?

[@speedriff]

If you ever play an Aristides you will understand the enthusiasm. They are just an amazing instrument.

[@marday]

Enjoyed you Video with a coffee this morning and thinking of my 070 in my guitar room. you're right with everything you've said the sound and what the guitar gives you back is incredible. Aristides heil! 😄🙌🏻

[@PaulOuzounov]

Happy to be of service my dude :-) Do you have any questions or want to see any other guitar related vids?

[@MajorDook1]

Now if they could just make them look good.

[@johnbach2380]

Man... you gotta get Pascal to do a finish based on that shirt.

[@PaulOuzounov]

I'd do it but it'd cost another 1500euro probably hahahaha

[@johnbach2380]

@@PaulOuzounov worth every penny!!!

[@ChernobogStudio]

The new 060 looks so god damn good :D

[@devbrozz]

Oh my lordy it's so good 😭

[@edloomingly7204]

Hey Paul I’m also a fellow Canadian and monster fan of all things ihsahn! I’m drooling over my own Aristides but I’m wondering how you found the shipping process? Did you get extra fees by cbsa or was the quoted price all you had to pay? I’m currently saving all my nickels and hope to have a down payment soon

[@Boomheyyou]

I LOVE MY 080s I would agree with him it does feel like a six string

[@thisguy2973]

I know as an engineer myself that one mass equals less trouble (and confirms Leo fender’s theory on single masses creating better tone), but if the neck on this ever warped or broke, what do you do? Other questions: How will the neck react to truss adjustments? I don’t have confidence from that perspective. Wooden necks are significantly safer with truss adjustments. The myths or snapping truss rods are just that: myths. But on an aristides, what if you that composite material breaks at the anchor point? Anyone remember the Ibanez lucite guitars? Yea…me neither The only reason why we don’t hear cases of that happening is because the sample size is so small, but I’m willing to bet they’ll be somewhat of a memory by the time they become of age.

[@PaulOuzounov]

The necks on my Aristides guitars haven't warped in my experience. Like at all at all. It's incredible. I went on tour with the 080S and didn't experience any kind of instability whatsoever. The only thing I had to do was change strings. Wooden necks move, period. Aristides truly has created a wonderful material that took over a decade of research time and has been proven to kick ass time and time and time again. Wooden guitars are a thing of the past in my eyes, now, and whenever I pick up a wooden guitar it feels much lesser than one of these. I can't go back.

[@kevinhill1528]

what is th 010 neck like? I play Ibanez Jems would i be comfortable withe an 010? looking at buying one now, thank you for making the time to answer.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Hey Kevin, I'd say it's a comfortable C shape and definitely thicker than Jems. Very comfortable, however, and I've never ever felt slow on my O1O.

[@TheMytherian]

What’s the neck profile like on the various models? That’s always the one thing that I need to know before taking the plunge and buying a new instrument I’ve never played.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Something along the lines of a soft C with the shoulders tapered to be a little skinnier. It's a VERY comfortable shape. I hope that you get an opportunity to play one!

[@DeeJaysWord]

How do you feel about Aristides and the new Hughes and kettner black spirit 200. The amp of the future and the guitar of the future would be a super cool combo in my opinion.

[@PaulOuzounov]

I need to know more about this amp! 🤔👌

[@raipramana843]

U make me want to cheat my current gf 😅

[@ScrewNickk]

You said you tried all the high end guitars, what about mayones? 🤔

[@PaulOuzounov]

I gave them many tries over many NAMMs and many through friends' guitars and I simply do not gel with them. I tried an artists custom shop one that was valued at a very high price and it felt very hollow and lifeless. I was incredibly disappointed. But I know a ton of people swear by them. This must be some kind of situation where they just don't fit me nor I with them!

[@metalRock518]

did you order it with standard 12'' to 16'' radius or a 20'' flat radius? Which one would you prefer?

[@PaulOuzounov]

I believe they are all compound radius fretboards so these are all compound radiused AS FAR AS I KNOW. And that's what I prefer and have selected. :)

[@markbornais2589]

Would love to try one of the 060s someday.

[@joshuawerner3074]

I’m gonna half to get me one of these

[@oh033]

I just want them to produce the molds for the left handed guitars. I want an 080s in southpaw so badly haha.

[@PaulOuzounov]

060L is a thing soon I think?!

[@pascaladesina]

When i first discovered these guitars, I was like, “I found the Tesla of guitars”. but Koenigsegg makes SO MUCH MORE sense.

[@PaulOuzounov]

AHAHAHAH Hell yeah!!! Love your enthusiasm, man!

[@pascaladesina]

@@PaulOuzounov it was a great video! got my sub 👍🏿

[@patientmental875]

For $3,500 it better be the best

[@PaulOuzounov]

Hahaha yeah man!

[@shanewalton8888]

As a music teacher, would you recommend the Aristides to a guy like me who has been playing for only 8 months?

[@PaulOuzounov]

I'd recommend it, sure, I would also say however that it's a professional level instrument and that you'd be totally spoiled! ;-) Hehehe. No but for real, I love these guitars and wish I had found them even earlier but it is what it is!

[@shanewalton8888]

Paul Ozz Thanks for the reply, bro. By the way, since you know a lot about these guitars, is it hard to switch out the tremolo bridge? I was considering putting in a Vega trem at one point, because I’m still wary of FLoyds.

[@flyingmanforfun]

I feel like these are abit pricey, is arium really as expensive as high quality wood? and i kinda feel more work is needed on the guitar if woods are used, sanding etc..

[@PaulOuzounov]

A ton of work is required on these guitars as well. The process is quite complicated, especially when we are talking finishes. It might be pricey, I do agree, however I would not invest in a wooden guitar of the same price. The trade off would be a neck that could be compromised, fretboards that could crack ... there are a lot of negative variables to traditional guitars that I never have to worry about. Peace of mind is valuable to me.

[@KieraShredsTooMuch]

In addition to what Paul said too, raw material price isn’t really where the major expense happens with high-end instruments in general, wood or not, it’s the labor that goes into it. Unless you’re getting some kind of ultra-rare museum-grade timber, high quality wood only makes up a small fraction of the cost of the instrument. Relatively common AAAAA figured maple or the like isn’t really that costly on the supply side. Some companies might upcharge the living hell out of said wood for profit’s sake, but you can check out wood suppliers and find that the wholesale prices are quite low by comparison. Beyond all that, it’s also worth noting that the more fancy and figured (and expensive) a wood cut is, the less stable it usually is due to the much more irregular grain and structure, for raw functionality and stability with a traditional wooden instrument plainer cuts are almost always more solid.

[@demondrive147]

Cool guitars! That 8-string reminds me elegant yet extremely powerfull Mercedes Benz SLR Mclaren black

[@heyimdalton1]

Have you had any issue with the finish rubbing off at all? For some reason it looks like it’d wear off like a soft-touch laptop.

[@PaulOuzounov]

My 060 has a very different finish from my other two guitars. The most that happens is usual wear and tear: around the pickups there is pick swirling. This is inevitable on every guitar. The glossy 8 string I have has the most, but even then it's not that bad. I've got worse on my ESP. The satin necks on all of the guitars do seem to gloss out a little, but not but much. They all feel very fresh and new to me after all this time and after all of this abuse. It definitely does not just rub off - you have to have extraordinarily acidic sweat and to be playing the guitar for HOURS a DAY to get it to even begin to look different.

[@heyimdalton1]

Paul Ozz thanks so much for the reply! An Aristides has been my dream guitar for a while now. Glad to know there’s no caveats :)

[@PaulOuzounov]

You got it man :)

[@ProbyWaN1337]

id love one. but they are soooo expensive.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Worth every dollar I've saved not buying wooden guitars that warp and freak out due to temperature differences! The savings on set up costs alone is nuts! And if you don't pay to get your guitars set up, you at least save a lot of time :-)

[@StoneyPunk19]

What is that awesome finish on the 8-string?

[@PaulOuzounov]

Purple / Red Chameleon Gloss!

[@pauloalexandre-dd4nl]

But this brand is hollow chamber . If you see how they built it. Of course it will resonate a loud tone without amp like an acoustic guitar. Point is, does it create feedback like hollow guitars does. And how about the truss rod. Does it have one. This is the info that people want to know . The looks with the hole carved is not for my taste. I like the shape of the 7 or 8 strings .

[@PaulOuzounov]

It is NOT A HOLLOW BODY. It is made out of arium and it is a one piece solid construction of carbon fiber and glass particles. It does not create feedback like a hollow body, it resonates the way it does because of the way the arium is constructed. You already have seen the video, what makes you think it's actually a hollow body? It does have a truss rod :-) Not that it really ever needs adjusting.

[@pauloalexandre-dd4nl]

@@PaulOuzounov because I saw the way they build the guitar. And in the back side there is a plate. Once you remove that place you can see it's hollow inside . So why is my point wrong ?

[@PaulOuzounov]

@@pauloalexandre-dd4nl Because it's not hollow. It's still a solid constructed piece. The backplate reveals the control cavity.

[@pauloalexandre-dd4nl]

@@PaulOuzounov hello mate, from what i saw in their factory video, the back plate area is so open wide that you can see the pickup from there and the hollow empty space that is closed to the pickup works the same as a hollow body, if I build a guitar and the back plate have loads of space inside and I can see the backside of the pickup, that make it work as a hollow even when is not hollow as other guitars, am i wrong ?

[@pauloalexandre-dd4nl]

@@PaulOuzounov the only reason i am asking, is because maybe i want to get one

[@dannyrosario3003]

I'd love to own an Aristides 060, and that shirt.

[@PaulOuzounov]

The shirt is from asos! But the Aristides... it was a custom :-)

[@dannyrosario3003]

@@PaulOuzounov Im dying haha! I didn't think i'd get a response. You got good taste my dude!

[@red240red2]

How does richlite feel?

[@PaulOuzounov]

Semi-glossy and very resilient. Never ever seen a richlite board get dented.

[@red240red2]

@@PaulOuzounov sounds perfect. Want to order a custom bad!

[@PaulOuzounov]

Dude if you have a chance to try one, do it. I never say to not try before you buy. But I absolutely endorse the shit out of these guitars and I have 5 for a reason.

[@hibernative]

I want to hear it through a Fender Princeton, Blues Jr or AC30. Like, through a quality tube combo.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Will make that happen at some point :-)

[@n3ur0tic881]

You review the guitars and can't pronounce the name =\

[@PaulOuzounov]

You spent time out of your day to try to make someone you'll never meet feel bad. And you failed. 🤷‍♂️

[@kunkyk8125]

I’ve personally heard it pronounced 4 different ways.

[@Joescanzillo]

Have you played a mayones Duvell?? I can’t find anyone who’s played both. I can’t decide between the two

[@ERIKNORDLING]

joe scanzillo I’ve owned both. Personally, Aristides all the way for me. I felt like with the mayones I was fighting it when I played but couldn’t figure out why. With the Aristides I could play riffs and leads that I struggled with before for months. Hope this helps a bit with your choice!

[@Joescanzillo]

The Nordling interesting. Thanks man!

[@PaulOuzounov]

Sadly I have, and they were NAMM models. Now, NAMM models usually mean there are some issues, but I tried I think one of the very first Duvells, and it was atrocious. Since, however, the guitars customers receive tend to be much much better. But again, I am biased for sure, and this was an experience from the introduction of the Duvell before it was in the hands of many people. I obviously would highly suggest an Aristides for a myriad of tonal reasons, but I AM BIASED :-)

[@Joescanzillo]

Thanks for the response! I’ve been leaning towards Aristides, Just not sure about the fretboard radius. I like my boards flat

[@KieraShredsTooMuch]

Former Duvell owner here too :) mine was absolutely wonderful, albeit I never got along great with the body shape from a comfort standpoint, but it still absolutely paled in comparison to Aristides once I tried them. I happily sold my Duvell in favor of getting more Aristides myself.

[@cwsrad]

How does one afford to buy a $3k USD guitar? Do you work on Wall Street? Silicon Valley?

[@Kabz8]

cwsrad closer to $4,000 usd after options and customs fees.

[@PaulOuzounov]

I am an artist with Aristides guitars and I also am a musician for a living, these are the tools of the trade. :-)

[@HillaryHitler]

How stable is the neck part of this one piece design? I am seriously wanting a 060 and I'd be pulling the trigger w/o ever touching one to try out first.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Honestly I had my 080S and an 070SR on tour and they both went through crazy temperature changes and their necks didn't move AT ALL. We are talking from humid to dry, dry to humid, cold to warm. 30 days of rampaging across North America and I changed strings ONCE!

[@armortier]

Those are amazing guitars, I have a 010 and I love every aspect of that guitar. Unfortunnaly, Aristides Customer Service is the worst Ive ever seem.

[@PaulOuzounov]

Hey man, I'm not sure who you must have been dealing with in regards to customer service, but Aristides' customer service is arguably one of the best in the industry. Now unless you bought your 010 5 years ago or something - I don't know who you were dealing with back then - I can't speak to that. But I know that if someone orders a guitar they get practically red carpet treatment in regards to their build now!

[@mrmisterman999]

their finishes are amazing? lol guess you've never seen prs private stock

[@PaulOuzounov]

Their finishes are great too!! Too bad their guitars are about as resonant as rubber bands :(

[@PaulOuzounov]

@@mrmisterman999 I'm not dick riding anyone man. I am an artist with Aristides, they make the best guitars in the world in my opinion, and PRS guitars largely do sound like rubber bands because despite their glorious finishes they tonally are so hit or miss that at approx. $10KUSD for one of their top of the line guitars? Frankly they should sound better. Unless you are just collecting pretty finishes and not playing the guitar, which is fine too! This company's composite material is unlike any other ones, and if you have the opportunity to try one I implore you to do so. I've played PLENTY of PRS guitars and have heard only nightmare tour stories regarding their tuning instability - whereas I have never heard of an Aristides breaking down from every level of touring artist. Personal experience and opinion, please don't take offense to it, there's no need for that.