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Post by forestdweller on Feb 25, 2024 14:02:13 GMT
As I am researching a possible new purchase when I take phased retirement this summer (reducing my hours at work and stepping down as a head of department), I am sorely tempted by a new Brook build. This got me thinking about Brooks that I have played in the past that I still remember playing to this day- they have kind of haunted me.
The one guitar that I remember playing to this day with not only my own jaw thoroughly dropped, but also that of my mate Leon (who I think is still a member of this forum but hasn't posted in years) who was down there to commission his own build, was an all maple Tavy. It was simply sublime, not only in looks, but had the most astonishing bass response of any guitar I have played up to that point or since, and I realise its probably the sound I've been chasing ever since. It was, as I said, all maple- neck as well as back and sides, with a most beautiful ebony (ie black) trim that made that maple pop. Recently I asked for a recording of a Boucher that Fret Collective have in stock, that was Adirondack and maple, and there was almost that same sound (but considerably more money- ie well above what I want to pay).
Anyway, is there a guitar you've played over the years that has similarly haunted you?
Robbie
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Post by earwighoney on Feb 25, 2024 14:28:19 GMT
As I am researching a possible new purchase when I take phased retirement this summer (reducing my hours at work and stepping down as a head of department), I am sorely tempted by a new Brook build. This got me thinking about Brooks that I have played in the past that I still remember playing to this day- they have kind of haunted me. The one guitar that I remember playing to this day with not only my own jaw thoroughly dropped, but also that of my mate Leon (who I think is still a member of this forum but hasn't posted in years) who was down there to commission his own build, was an all maple Tavy. It was simply sublime, not only in looks, but had the most astonishing bass response of any guitar I have played up to that point or since, and I realise its probably the sound I've been chasing ever since. It was, as I said, all maple- neck as well as back and sides, with a most beautiful ebony (ie black) trim that made that maple pop. Recently I asked for a recording of a Boucher that Fret Collective have in stock, that was Adirondack and maple, and there was almost that same sound (but considerably more money- ie well above what I want to pay). Anyway, is there a guitar you've played over the years that has similarly haunted you? Robbie
If you could, I think you should get a Brook! I remember that trip to try a few guitars with you, I'm not sure what it is but Brooks seems to suit your way of playing perfectly. Even though we tried a lot of different guitars, it was always the Brooks that sounded best in your hands.
I played an all Maple baritone Tavy in Ivors many years ago, it was just beautiful. It was in Open D (down a few semitones, I can't remember the exact tuning it was it in) and I was lost in my own headspace for the time I played it in. I went back to Ivors a week or so later and Mak said the guitar was bought by one of the guys from REM!
All the best for your phased retirement my friend, hope it works out for you.
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Post by forestdweller on Feb 25, 2024 15:13:19 GMT
As I am researching a possible new purchase when I take phased retirement this summer (reducing my hours at work and stepping down as a head of department), I am sorely tempted by a new Brook build. This got me thinking about Brooks that I have played in the past that I still remember playing to this day- they have kind of haunted me. The one guitar that I remember playing to this day with not only my own jaw thoroughly dropped, but also that of my mate Leon (who I think is still a member of this forum but hasn't posted in years) who was down there to commission his own build, was an all maple Tavy. It was simply sublime, not only in looks, but had the most astonishing bass response of any guitar I have played up to that point or since, and I realise its probably the sound I've been chasing ever since. It was, as I said, all maple- neck as well as back and sides, with a most beautiful ebony (ie black) trim that made that maple pop. Recently I asked for a recording of a Boucher that Fret Collective have in stock, that was Adirondack and maple, and there was almost that same sound (but considerably more money- ie well above what I want to pay). Anyway, is there a guitar you've played over the years that has similarly haunted you? Robbie
If you could, I think you should get a Brook! I remember that trip to try a few guitars with you, I'm not sure what it is but Brooks seems to suit your way of playing perfectly. Even though we tried a lot of different guitars, it was always the Brooks that sounded best in your hands.
I played an all Maple baritone Tavy in Ivors many years ago, it was just beautiful. It was in Open D (down a few semitones, I can't remember the exact tuning it was it in) and I was lost in my own headspace for the time I played it in. I went back to Ivors a week or so later and Mak said the guitar was bought by one of the guys from REM!
All the best for your phased retirement my friend, hope it works out for you.
Thanks earwighoney, I know what you mean. Most Brook's I have owned have had a tune in their somewhere. Even the Lamorna I am borrowing had a composition that I teased out. There is just something about them in the way you can just get lost listening to the way notes coalesce. I was going to include my second Brook that has haunted me in my original post, and guess what, that was also a Brook baritone I played it at the Bristol guitar show, and was a standard Baritone with rosewood back and sides. Robbie
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Post by earwighoney on Feb 25, 2024 17:04:32 GMT
Thanks earwighoney, I know what you mean. Most Brook's I have owned have had a tune in their somewhere. Even the Lamorna I am borrowing had a composition that I teased out. There is just something about them in the way you can just get lost listening to the way notes coalesce. I was going to include my second Brook that has haunted me in my original post, and guess what, that was also a Brook baritone I played it at the Bristol guitar show, and was a standard Baritone with rosewood back and sides. Robbie I wouldn't say it's just the guitar, but you as a player have great synergy with Brook guitars.
If you do order another Brook, what body size would you for?
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Post by forestdweller on Feb 25, 2024 19:45:59 GMT
Thanks earwighoney, I know what you mean. Most Brook's I have owned have had a tune in their somewhere. Even the Lamorna I am borrowing had a composition that I teased out. There is just something about them in the way you can just get lost listening to the way notes coalesce. I was going to include my second Brook that has haunted me in my original post, and guess what, that was also a Brook baritone I played it at the Bristol guitar show, and was a standard Baritone with rosewood back and sides. Robbie I wouldn't say it's just the guitar, but you as a player have great synergy with Brook guitars.
If you do order another Brook, what body size would you for?
Its early days, and I will probably change my mind several times, even when I have the money. One possible build is more or less the maple Tavy I mentioned above. I like the size of a Tavy, as it handles the CGCGCD tuning I use quite a lot. I am intrigued by the idea of maple. I've liked every maple guitar I've played, but there was just something about that Brook Tavy, even after all these years (must have been over 10 years ago that I played it). Failing that, I like the Lamorna I am borrowing very much, so I would get a Lamorna in exactly the same spec as the bass that I sorely miss, except an Adirondack top (the bass was Engleman). So that would be Adi top, bubinga back and sides, walnut neck, fine red line trim for the binding and purfling, some sort of celtic inspired inlay, and Gotoh SXB510V tuners (basically copies of Waverlies but better quality). As you can see, I've been thinking a lot about it !!
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Post by earwighoney on Feb 25, 2024 21:39:38 GMT
Its early days, and I will probably change my mind several times, even when I have the money. One possible build is more or less the maple Tavy I mentioned above. I like the size of a Tavy, as it handles the CGCGCD tuning I use quite a lot. I am intrigued by the idea of maple. I've liked every maple guitar I've played, but there was just something about that Brook Tavy, even after all these years (must have been over 10 years ago that I played it). Failing that, I like the Lamorna I am borrowing very much, so I would get a Lamorna in exactly the same spec as the bass that I sorely miss, except an Adirondack top (the bass was Engleman). So that would be Adi top, bubinga back and sides, walnut neck, fine red line trim for the binding and purfling, some sort of celtic inspired inlay, and Gotoh SXB510V tuners (basically copies of Waverlies but better quality). As you can see, I've been thinking a lot about it !!
That's a great set of specs, I think it would work well.
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Post by bellyshere on Feb 26, 2024 17:16:13 GMT
Had a go on a Sobell once. It was incredible and I’ll never own one. )0:
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 26, 2024 18:44:21 GMT
Vox Phantom? Spectrecaster? Gretsch Wight Falcon? Ghould D35? Sorry.
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Post by borborygmus on Feb 26, 2024 19:20:33 GMT
The one guitar that I remember playing to this day with not only my own jaw thoroughly dropped, but also that of my mate Leon (who I think is still a member of this forum but hasn't posted in years) who was down there to commission his own build, was an all maple Tavy. It was simply sublime, not only in looks, but had the most astonishing bass response of any guitar I have played up to that point or since, and I realise its probably the sound I've been chasing ever since. It was, as I said, all maple- neck as well as back and sides, with a most beautiful ebony (ie black) trim that made that maple pop. Check out Brook's latest news for the 2013 maple Tavy!
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Post by forestdweller on Feb 26, 2024 19:22:56 GMT
The one guitar that I remember playing to this day with not only my own jaw thoroughly dropped, but also that of my mate Leon (who I think is still a member of this forum but hasn't posted in years) who was down there to commission his own build, was an all maple Tavy. It was simply sublime, not only in looks, but had the most astonishing bass response of any guitar I have played up to that point or since, and I realise its probably the sound I've been chasing ever since. It was, as I said, all maple- neck as well as back and sides, with a most beautiful ebony (ie black) trim that made that maple pop. Check out Brook's latest news for the 2013 maple Tavy! Yeh, I couldn't believe it when I saw the Brook newsletter this afternoon- I'm pretty sure that is the very same Tavy. Not only that, but there is a picture of my 12 fret, long scale, cutaway Tavy (bubinga back and sides) sitting in Beth Gibbons' studio and about to be heard on the album that has taken her 22 years to make !! Robbie Edit: surely that must be a sign that I definitely need a new Brook!
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Post by K Tresp on Feb 26, 2024 20:41:23 GMT
Yeh, I couldn't believe it when I saw the Brook newsletter this afternoon- I'm pretty sure that is the very same Tavy. Not only that, but there is a picture of my 12 fret, long scale, cutaway Tavy (bubinga back and sides) sitting in Beth Gibbons' studio and about to be heard on the album that has taken her 22 years to make !! Robbie Edit: surely that must be a sign that I definitely need a new Brook! It’s definitely a sign. the 12 string looks interesting: how about a matching 6/12 pair?
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Post by borborygmus on Feb 26, 2024 21:17:43 GMT
Yeh, I couldn't believe it when I saw the Brook newsletter this afternoon- I'm pretty sure that is the very same Tavy. Not only that, but there is a picture of my 12 fret, long scale, cutaway Tavy (bubinga back and sides) sitting in Beth Gibbons' studio and about to be heard on the album that has taken her 22 years to make !! Robbie Edit: surely that must be a sign that I definitely need a new Brook! Or you can find out who that Michael guy is, and mug him.
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Feb 27, 2024 12:48:59 GMT
Many years ago at the Romanillos course in Siguenza, there was the Torres FE07 which Torres had built as his personal guitar this was then passed on to the young Tarrega and on which he composed and played all of his great pieces, which I love so much. We were able to just pick it up and play it in the evening, much like being at HB*. It was stunning, to be able to play Tarrega on his own guitar! It's in a private collection, but I'd have to sell the house to be able to buy it as it was at the time insured for the equivalent of £500k. But Heh, I built my own one which I liked just as much and which is now in the possession of David Hutton of this forum.
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Post by forestdweller on Feb 27, 2024 16:22:47 GMT
Many years ago at the Romanillos course in Siguenza, there was the Torres FE07 which Torres had built as his personal guitar this was then passed on to the young Tarrega and on which he composed and played all of his great pieces, which I love so much. We were able to just pick it up and play it in the evening, much like being at HB*. It was stunning, to be able to play Tarrega on his own guitar! It's in a private collection, but I'd have to sell the house to be able to buy it as it was at the time insured for the equivalent of £500k. But Heh, I built my own one which I liked just as much and which is now in the possession of David Hutton of this forum. Wow, I would be too scared to even pick it up!
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minorkey
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Post by minorkey on Mar 3, 2024 15:53:12 GMT
Perhaps the Taygus classical that I bought from a second hand shop, fixed up, then gave to my brother! So wish I'd kept it!
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