Letter #1:

From: Brice

Received: June 13, 2007

Subject: Journey through 10-strings review.

Warning, this is one of THOSE emails.

I read your review Perfecto De Castro's new cd and was discouraged to find no byline information. I've never liked this practice but perhaps there is a reason for it. My main concern with who wrote it, was that I felt this person was not familiar with why the 10-string guitar was developed and what solutions were in mind with its development. The main benefit in the extra strings has nothing to do playing extra notes, though occasionally the music may take advantage of this. He/she seems to have some misinformed notions. Even some quick wiki work would have I think helped their understanding.

Also, reversing the photo to make him appear left-handed is disconcerting.

Thanks,

Brice

EDITOR'S NOTE: Several other sharp-eyed readers noticed the same thing, Brice! Rest assured, we have fixed the image and would like to remind everyone that Perfecto de Castro has never played left-handed!

Letter #2:

From: Mr. X (a pseudonym)

Received: June 13, 2007

Subject: 10-string guitar review

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from a letter sent to us "off the record"; Later on, we will post a rebuttal to this rebuttal, so stay tuned!

It is no surprise to find 10-string guitarists, like [GUITARISTS' NAMES DELETED] using incorrect stringing and tuning systems when one considers the disinformation about Yepes and his guitar begun by the Anglophone media - people like [GUITARIST'S NAME DELETED], for example - under the influence of Segovia, who clearly felt threatened by Yepes, his superior technique, instrument and scholarship.