One of the places I enjoyed visiting while in Cebu was Alegre Guitar Factory.
Maybe it’s because the closest talent I have in music is the ability to press the play button on my sound system.
Table of Contents
A Short Musical Background
Alegre Guitar Logo
It’s no secret that Filipinos are perhaps the most musical people in Asia. Most anybody, except yours truly and the company I keep, can carry a tune and even play various instruments with great skill.
Most people attribute the Filipinos’ musical inclination to the Catholic Church, which has been here since the Spanish landed way back in the 1500s. And though the Spanish are no longer here, the Church remains and so does the Filipinos’ love for music.
One of the things Cebu has been known for are its guitars. I actually expected it to wane in the shadow of globalization, but the reputation of Cebu in churning out excellent guitars has even improved over the years.
The Alegre Guitar Factory is one of several places in Cebu where you can get quality guitars.
The Staff
Guitars
When we first arrived, the staff wasn’t exactly enthusiastic to take us around. Perhaps it was because it was right after lunch and was time for siesta, or a nap.
But after warming up for a few minutes, our factory guide brought us around.
As he gave us a tour, he mentioned that he had come from different guitar companies in the past. He also mentioned that the one skill that all employees need to have is the ability to play the guitar.
And when he pulled several guitars from the wall to demonstrate the differences to us, it becomes very obvious why this skill is important. Talking about how the instruments sound is one thing, but letting people hear the difference for themselves is another thing altogether.
To Hear is to Believe
Not being very musically inclined myself, I can’t tell a good instrument from a bad one. Sure, I can tell a really bad singer from an ordinary one, but I always believed that I’m tone deaf when it comes to instruments.
Guitars
But after listening to the different guitars, I was utterly amazed to actually hear the difference between a PhP 5,000 model against a PhP 75,000 one. It was as if I was given a new sense.
Now I will most likely still be unable tell a Stradivarius from an ordinary violin, but it is interesting to understand why people opt to pay more for an instrument.
When I asked our guide what makes the sound different, he responded by saying that the materials and design are what make one better than the other. Everything from the wood to the string used helps to make the sound deeper and fuller. Even the design, while it may look superficial and simple, had quite an impact.
A Purchase
The guitar my wife and I fell in love with cost PhP 75,000 because of the rich sound that emanated from it when our guide plucked its strings. It was so different that I was tempted to get it on a one-year deferred payment option. But after thinking about it, I realized that it would just gather dust; better to hear it in the hands of a master than ending up in a display case.
Guitar Player
After the tour, we just couldn’t go home empty handed. And since my niece may break the mold by being able to sing, we got her a pink Ukulele
We decided on a small one with nylon strings for PhP 75. The metal string ones are supposed to produce better sound, but if they snap, my niece may get hurt in the process.
The nice thing was when we handed it to her when we arrived, she’s been playing with it ever since. Though the sound isn’t something to cut a record on, it may be the start of something big.
Final Thoughts
Even before visiting Cebu, I knew that things such as the wood and design affects the sound an instrument makes. But it was only after visiting the Alegre Guitar Factory that I came to appreciate how big that difference was.
Guitars
Even to my untrained ear, the variation between a high end guitar and the budget ones was like night and day, making me feel like I developed an entirely new sense.
If you’re tone deaf like me, take heart as you might just need the right instrument to bring out some latent ability. And if you are looking for a place to test your hearing, try dropping by Alegre Guitar Factory in Cebu.
Tuning Area
Who knows, once you realize that you can actually tell the difference, you might find something to take home with you.
The nice thing is that you should be able to find something that fits you requirements, whether it is budget, sound, or color. Yes, you can even find a pink guitar to go with your pink collection at home.
Till the next time, keep your camera batteries fully charged and your memory free because you may need them for the next place you visit!
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