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Post by newdave on Mar 14, 2023 21:29:35 GMT
I don't mean that I'm playing particularly well. I'm just blundering through the same old stuff I always play like I'm wearing mittens like I always do, but for some reason the tone and the sustain and the volume are all coming out just right - extra good in fact.
Is it the atmospheric pressure? I've not changed the strings. I've not even tuned it - just picked it up off the stand (tuned it last year anyway). Is it that I'm sober? I dunno.
But today it just sounds righteous.
Does anyone else get that?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 14, 2023 22:13:49 GMT
Certainly do, Dave. I'm sure that sometimes humidity changes can give rise to that kind of effect. The more moisture there is in the top the less responsive it will be, and it can sound dull and lacklustre. A fall in RH can sometimes then improve the sound as the top dries out. I have had a couple of guitars over the years that seems particularly prone to that kind of thing.
Or it could simply be your own mood, less earwax, where you are playing, the direction you are facing etc etc! Enjoy it while it lasts!
keith
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Post by Derick on Mar 14, 2023 22:43:31 GMT
I don't mean that I'm playing particularly well. I'm just blundering through the same old stuff I always play like I'm wearing mittens like I always do, but for some reason the tone and the sustain and the volume are all coming out just right - extra good in fact. Is it the atmospheric pressure? I've not changed the strings. I've not even tuned it - just picked it up off the stand (tuned it last year anyway). Is it that I'm sober? I dunno. But today it just sounds righteous. Does anyone else get that? Hi newdave. The quick answer is yes, then the next day I get all excited, and can't wait to play me guitar, only to find it's back to sounding not so good again, but it's nice while it lasts. Something else similar, to start with I'm not the best guitar player in the universe, and I do play my guitar everyday in a fashion, but on the very rare occasion when playing and noodling on the guitar, and not really concentrating on anything, I am brought back to my senses by me hearing my guitar playing some very good , sounding piece of music, but as soon as I try to realise what I'm doing, I loose it, and go back to my normal playing.
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Post by dreadnought28 on Mar 16, 2023 6:50:55 GMT
If it’s not sounding great I just pick up another one…….or a banjo
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Post by shez on Mar 16, 2023 10:11:06 GMT
If it’s not sounding great I just pick up another one…….or a banjo It must be nice to be so effluent .... Back to the question, only when my mate plays it....
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colins
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Post by colins on Mar 16, 2023 12:29:45 GMT
Keith is spot on, the main effect on a guitar top, (the bit that really matters) is the RH. Hand guitar builders and, one would hope, the factory builders aim to keep their wood store and building environment at about 47% RH. This is the level that owners should also aim to store their guitars. A relatively slow rise or fall is not too serious, but a fast change can cause the top to sink or belly according to the direction of change. Keeping the guitar in a quality hard case will give it a micro environment which changes in RH at a much slower rate than keeping it on a stand or wall hanger. So I have always recommended storing in cases when not being played if the room has no RH controls. Remember, the guitar body is constructed of 2.5 - 3mm thick wood that is only sealed on one surface, luckily it does have braces which should hold the top and bottom dish shapes in place during slow RH changes, but only to a degree. Stability is your friend.
Colin
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Post by martinrowe on Mar 16, 2023 13:44:59 GMT
Agree with all of the above. I'd also include state of mind and technique. For a time I noticed that I always played better on a Sunday night than on a 'work' night, when the day's work had taken it's toll on my psyche. I think it was something to do with having a relaxed state of mind (on a Sunday) that led to the correct application of technique, or, to view it from the opposite direction: too much stress and therefore tension affected my ability to play fluently. That's my twopence worth.
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Post by newdave on Mar 16, 2023 17:36:11 GMT
Agree with all of the above. I'd also include state of mind and technique. For a time I noticed that I always played better on a Sunday night than on a 'work' night, when the day's work had taken it's toll on my psyche. I think it was something to do with having a relaxed state of mind (on a Sunday) that led to the correct application of technique, or, to view it from the opposite direction: too much stress and therefore tension affected my ability to play fluently. That's my twopence worth. I've certainly been in a good mood recently but this thing is just singing. I'll have to get some of the others out and see how they sound. I've got everything in cases at the moment apart from one.
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Post by newdave on Mar 16, 2023 19:36:48 GMT
Dug out another guitar and that sounds exceptional at the moment too. I mean really, really special.
I usually put a couple of pots of water on the radiators in rooms where I keep guitars during the winter - just to stop the central heating from drying everything out. All the water evaporated a while ago and I neglected to fill them up. I wonder if that's why they sound so good.
No idea. I'm just going to enjoy it while it lasts. Heating's going off soon (maybe even tomorrow) so I'm not going to top them up again.
I still want another guitar though! What is wrong with me?
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Mar 16, 2023 20:22:55 GMT
Yes my Brooks vary slightly with humidity but I personally think my own hearing is the biggest culprit which can vary day to day and also throughout the day at times. Bit of worry but that's getting old I suppose...... Phil
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juliant
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Post by juliant on Mar 16, 2023 21:50:40 GMT
I don't mean that I'm playing particularly well. I'm just blundering through the same old stuff I always play like I'm wearing mittens like I always do, but for some reason the tone and the sustain and the volume are all coming out just right - extra good in fact. Is it the atmospheric pressure? I've not changed the strings. I've not even tuned it - just picked it up off the stand (tuned it last year anyway). Is it that I'm sober? I dunno. But today it just sounds righteous. Does anyone else get that? Can't say I do... but then, it's probably a combination of the bad playing and bad hearing that more than offsets any possible improvements in the guitar sound!
"I once told my wife that I wanted to play the the guitar really badly. She told me today that it looks like I've achieved my ambition."
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Post by jonnymosco on Mar 17, 2023 9:04:18 GMT
Keith is spot on, the main effect on a guitar top, (the bit that really matters) is the RH. Colin Totally agree - but if RH means right hand! (Well, that's what I read it to mean, it is the tone producer after all.) Jonny
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Post by vikingblues on Mar 19, 2023 20:19:31 GMT
Yes. Any particular guitar seems to have its on days and off days and I've never been able to fathom why. Or indeed whether it's just me, the precise state of my finger nails, &/or my ears and general mental state. I'm pretty sure I'll never know - but it's a good idea to enjoy those good days when they happen! Mark
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Post by Matt Milton on Mar 21, 2023 16:14:41 GMT
Yes. Maybe has something to do with the strings being played in just right. Or even where the guitar happens to be in the room?!
I don't think it's just the guitar, I think on some days by a pure fluke we are just in the zone physically and mentally, as players and listeners.
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Post by papadon on Mar 26, 2023 21:11:49 GMT
I'm a believer. Here in Las Vegas dry can be both a blessing and a curse. In this environment of course I humidify to beat the band but I've also found that doing that subdues the tone to some degree so on occasion I let her dry out for a day or two and things improve quite a bit.
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