As a guitar lover, I’m stoked to dive into “In The Room with Mateus Asato and Matteo Mancuso” by Rick Beato, posted on YouTube on February 3, 2024. This 47-minute gem is less a gear review and more a heartfelt conversation with two of the most exciting guitarists out there, Mateus Asato and Matteo Mancuso.
Right off the bat, this video feels like a privilege to watch. Rick Beato, a producer and YouTube legend, sits down with Mateus (the Brazilian neo-soul shredder) and Matteo (the Sicilian fingerstyle virtuoso), and it’s like eavesdropping on three guitar nerds who live for music. The vibe is casual, almost like they’re just hanging out in a studio, but the depth of their talk—about technique, influences, and the modern music world—had me glued to the screen. As someone who’s spent countless hours chasing tone and dissecting players like John Mayer and Jeff Beck, this felt like a masterclass in what it means to be a guitarist today.
The video kicks off with Rick introducing them as his favorite up-and-coming players, and you can feel his genuine excitement. Mateus, with his signature Suhr and soulful phrasing, and Matteo, with his pick-less, classical-meets-fusion wizardry, are such different beasts, yet they complement each other perfectly. As a guitar lover, I was thrilled to see them riff off each other’s ideas, like when they geek out over Guthrie Govan’s genius or laugh about their shared name (both variations of “Matthew”). It’s the kind of banter that makes you feel like you’re in the room, nodding along.
What hit me hardest was their discussion about technique and authenticity. Matteo’s fingerstyle approach is mind-blowing—his right hand moves like a flamenco player’s, but he’s shredding electric guitar with this insane precision. When Rick hands him a pick and he tries it out, it’s both hilarious and humbling. He admits it’s his “weak point,” and watching him fumble (still sounding better than most) made me appreciate his dedication to his unique style. As someone who’s struggled with hybrid picking, I felt seen when Matteo talked about how some of his lines are impossible with a pick. His demo of a lightning-fast run left me rewinding to figure out how the hell he does it—spoiler: it’s years of practice and some serious nail maintenance.
Mateus, on the other hand, brings this emotional, vocal-like quality to his playing that I’m a sucker for. He talks about building solos with simplicity, using pentatonic scales but making them sing, which resonated with me as a player who loves bluesy, melodic stuff. His fingerstyle (no nails, unlike Matteo) and hybrid picking give his lines this fluid, almost conversational feel. When he plays a quick lick, it’s like he’s telling a story, and I was itching to grab my guitar and try mimicking his phrasing. His humility—talking about how he’s still learning and drawing from heroes like Eddie Van Halen—made me respect him even more.
The video’s playing clips are pure gold. Matteo’s fusion-y, almost bebop-like runs are jaw-dropping, especially when he layers chords with these intricate melodic lines. Mateus counters with soulful, neo-soul vibes that make you want to dim the lights and noodle for hours. As a tone chaser, I was a bit bummed there wasn’t more focus on their gear (Matteo’s using a Yamaha Revstar, Mateus his Suhr), but the emphasis on technique and musicality over gear porn felt refreshing. It’s a reminder that it’s the player, not just the rig, that makes the magic.
They also dive into the role of social media, which hit home for me as someone who’s scrolled Instagram for guitar inspo. Mateus opens up about burning out from content creation during the pandemic, which made his playing feel like a job. As a guitarist who’s tried posting clips online, I felt that in my bones—there’s this pressure to keep up, but it can suck the joy out of music. Matteo, meanwhile, seems more chill about the online world, maybe because his viral moments (like that Jeff Beck tribute) speak for themselves. Their honesty about navigating fame as young players was raw and inspiring.
One highlight was their nod to influences like Guthrie Govan and Steve Vai. As a Govan fanboy, I loved hearing Matteo call him “the god” for his ability to blend every style seamlessly. It made me want to revisit Govan’s Erotic Cakes for the millionth time. They also touch on the producer-artist dynamic, which gave me a new appreciation for how players like Mateus, who’s toured with Bruno Mars, balance creativity with serving the song.
If I had one gripe, it’s that the video could’ve included more extended playing. The snippets we get are awesome, but as a guitar lover, I was craving a full-on jam session to see how these two bounce off each other. Also, the sound mix in some demo clips felt a tad thin—maybe the studio mics didn’t capture the full warmth of their tones—but it didn’t detract from the experience.
Overall, this video is a love letter to guitar playing. It’s not about flashy solos or gear flexing; it’s about passion, hard work, and staying true to your voice. Watching Mateus and Matteo share their journeys made me want to plug in, practice, and maybe rethink my own approach to the instrument. It’s the kind of content that reminds you why you fell in love with guitar in the first place.
Final Vibe: 9.5/10. A must-watch for any guitarist who geeks out over technique, tone, and the soul of playing. Left me inspired to woodshed and maybe try some of Matteo’s fingerstyle runs (good luck to me).