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Post by nkforster on Aug 12, 2014 6:27:24 GMT
A few weeks ago I asked about few friends and on the forums who their favourite "Celtic" players were. I’ve since asked some of these players their opinions about the instrument. The replies were great, and too much for just one article, but for now I’ve written a post for my blog entitled "What is a "Celtic" mandolin? Here is a link: www.nkforsterguitars.com/blog/celtic-mandolin/Thanks to all those who contributed, Nigel www.nkforsterguitars.com/instruments/mandolin/
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Post by pnut on Aug 12, 2014 6:49:51 GMT
I thought it was mandolin that wasn't designed to be played by Rangers supporters !
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Aug 12, 2014 7:43:51 GMT
Well I learned that apparently I'm a cheap and inferior maker of mandolins. I wear the badge with pride
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Post by leoroberts on Aug 12, 2014 8:10:27 GMT
I think Simon Mayor sums it up nicely " I choose instruments based on tone and playability" I've never played one of Nik's instruments (though I'd love to try one - wonder if he'd be interested in a rad trip? ) but I've played plenty of Dave's - and found them all to be eminently playable (due in no small part to the added room on the fretboard) with a great tone. The Simon Mayor quote completes with him saying that volume isn't that important.. that's also not been a problem I've ever noticed about a DeFaoite In short, I'm happy and proud to own DeFaiotes (though I don't have a mando)... and I would argue strongly against the 'cheap and inferior' tag; I just love 'em
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Post by nkforster on Aug 12, 2014 8:19:11 GMT
... and I would argue strongly against the 'cheap and inferior' tag; I just love 'em I think before everyone gets too upset it might be an idea to show the "cheap and inferior" quotes. Which are the lines from my article that are causing the upset? And yes, a road trip mandolin might well be in order by the end of the year. Nigel www.nkforsterguitars.com
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Post by mandovark on Aug 12, 2014 8:29:22 GMT
Well I learned that apparently I'm a cheap and inferior maker of mandolins. I wear the badge with pride I wouldn't worry too much, Dave. Other than Sobell, the other examples of top Celtic mandolin makers mentioned in the post are Fylde and Moon - both of whom, as far as I'm aware, make only flat or very slightly curved top mandolins. In my experience, the real issue of quality in mandolins is mass-production models that use tops pressed into a big curve to imitate the shape of carved-top mandolins - some of the far-eastern copies of the Gibson F5 are among the biggest culprits.
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Aug 12, 2014 8:31:00 GMT
Nigel, I doubt that anyone is getting too upset! And I can't speak for davewhite but suspect: "Cheap instruments tend to have flat, thin, curved, bent or canted soundboards of spruce or cedar. Superior work is carved from solid spruce or Western red cedar" might be involved somewhere! Along with: Cheaper mandolins often have a flat topand, ermm... carving a recurve takes time and skill, two qualities not available to every makerLoving the idea of a possible road trip mando
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Post by nkforster on Aug 12, 2014 8:53:45 GMT
Nigel, I doubt that anyone is getting too upset! And I can't speak for davewhite but suspect: "Cheap instruments tend to have flat, thin, curved, bent or canted soundboards of spruce or cedar. Superior work is carved from solid spruce or Western red cedar" might be involved somewhere! Along with: Cheaper mandolins often have a flat topand, ermm... carving a recurve takes time and skill, two qualities not available to every makerLoving the idea of a possible road trip mando Is there anything so controversial there? Seems fair enough to me. Hey ho. Nigel www.nkforsterguitars.com
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 12, 2014 9:12:00 GMT
Thanks for posting that Nigel - I enjoyed reading it. Lovely playing on a very fine sounding mandolin on the video clip of Ian Stephenson too. I'm one of those who has a problem with the "Celtic" tag when applied to music or instruments. I wouldn't put it as strongly as Dave Swarbrick, and I have to admit the term does have it's uses as a broad rough and ready indication of what the user might be talking about. Mandolin family instruments, being very much Johnny-come-lately arrivals on the scene, are far from traditional in Irish and Scottish traditional music, and it is a pity, though probably inevitable that a certain amount of pigeon-holing with regard to type/construction/sound is taking place. There is certainly a huge difference in sound between the typical "bluegrass" mandolin and what is coming to be regarded as a "Celtic mandolin" (sorry Mr Swarbrick - I don't like the term either, but as I said, although I dislike it too, it does have it's uses! Different sounds are useful in different situations, but it's a shame when it gets to the point that only a particular kind of sound is accepted as the "right" one. Player preference, skill and sensitivity have a huge part to play in how any particular instrument performs in a particular genre or setting. Maybe more so than the instrument itself....? Most of us are, to some extent at least, instrument geeks, and if we have an open mind, and know what we want from an instrument in terms of sound and playability in a given situation then the "right" instrument will not necessarily be of the type "expected" to be used in situation, but the one that we feel works best for us irrespective of construction, materials, style, maker etc. We are so fortunate that there is a variety of styles and sounds available from so many different makers, each of whom obviously builds in the way that works best for them to produce the sound they and/or their customer wants to hear. Some building methods are much more time consuming than others, resulting in a higher cost instrument. A cheaper (and I use the term without any perjorative connotations) method of construction may be just what is required in some circumstances depending on what is required of the final result. I've found that my flat top instruments (DeFaoite and Fylde) seem to work very well for me in my playing situations though I haven't had any lengthy experience of playing arch-top instruments. And yes, a Road Trip would be a great opportunity for some of us ordinary hobby players to expand our experience Nigel. Hope it will happen. However, I wouldn't by any means claim to know my onions when it comes to mandolins, so that's shallot from me for now. Keith
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 12, 2014 9:26:20 GMT
Actually, not quite shallot, here a link to Nigel's similar post on The Session, where some interesting points have already been made, and, knowing that Forum, there will be plenty more.... thesession.org/discussions/34494Keith
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Post by Martin on Aug 12, 2014 9:40:55 GMT
Thanks a lot for posting this, Nigel It's food for thought and certainly gives us an interesting discussion point. I play a Moon flat top and an Eastman carved arch top mandolin, and can confirm that they are indeed different sounding instruments, but each is suited for its intended purpose, so I can play traditional stuff on the Moon and the Eastman is just made for bluegrass with its growl and bark. I also had a Fylde for a while, and it was a lovely instrument too, and different again.
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Post by rodders on Aug 12, 2014 9:44:42 GMT
From a maker who makes a living off the back of working for Stefan Sobell for a few years, it's unsurprising he follows the same method to making instruments as his mentor. Tellingly though, I couldn't find anything on the Sobell website criticising any other styles of Mandolin?
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Post by nkforster on Aug 12, 2014 9:45:15 GMT
However, I wouldn't by any means claim to know my onions when it comes to mandolins, so that's shallot from me for now. Keith Oh, that's terrible Keith. Wish I'd thought of it. nigel www.nkforsterguitars.com
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Post by davewhite on Aug 12, 2014 11:54:00 GMT
Sounds like there's a gap in the market for "The Lady of Shallot" model . . . mmmm
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Post by alig on Aug 12, 2014 12:43:46 GMT
Excellent, Dave!
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