lomas
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Post by lomas on Feb 24, 2015 20:08:38 GMT
I am hoping to have a look at a couple of Brook guitars on Friday a Taw and a Torridge. Does anyone on here play one or has any experience with them, everything I have read about them is very positive, but it would be nice to have the opinion of someone who owns one. Thanks in advance.
Lomas (A man in search of the perfect acoustic)
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Feb 24, 2015 20:14:00 GMT
Quite a few Brook owners and players here, Lomas. I'm sure you'll get some good opinions shortly
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Feb 24, 2015 20:53:28 GMT
Lomas (A man in search of the perfect acoustic) A never ending serve, lomas, thank goodness . Quite a few Brookies on here - I'm sure they'll all chip in eventually. I don't own one, but I've never heard a poor one...
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Feb 24, 2015 20:54:34 GMT
I don't own one, but played Paul's (Scorpiodog's) Lyn at HB5 last September. A stunning guitar, definitely worth the money. Wonderful sound, perfectly built, easy to play.
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Post by marcus on Feb 25, 2015 1:48:35 GMT
I own a Brook Torridge Sitka/Walnut. It is a beautifully made guitar with a (what I think of as a) clear, sweet tone. Works well for standard and altered tunings and plays very easily with a lovely neck profile and good action. The Brook tone is quite different to what I hear with some American brands but I'm not that good at describing tone... it is simply a "good different" to my ears.
The fellows at Brook are wonderful too.
Enjoy your auditioning on Friday. All the best, marcus
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Post by vikingblues on Feb 25, 2015 7:35:45 GMT
There's a good few Brook owners on the forum, and a good few multiple Brook owners, which is a sign of a good make.
I played a few Brooks at Celtic Chords in Stonehaven. All but one sounded very musical and one would have been purchased if they hadn't had that Lowden S in stock. All the Brooks seemed very well built.
There was one I just seemed to have trouble with - I couldn't get it sounding properly in tune, which made an evaluation a bit difficult - it was too big for me though and I didn't work too long on trying to get it sounding right, so the fault could well have been mine.
If I could ever afford another good guitar Brook would be high on the list of makes to try.
Mark
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Post by vikingblues on Feb 25, 2015 7:36:33 GMT
There's a good few Brook owners on the forum, and a good few multiple Brook owners, which is a sign of a good make. I played a few Brooks at Celtic Chords in Stonehaven. All but one sounded very musical and one would have been purchased if they hadn't had that Lowden S in stock. All the Brooks seemed very well built. There was one I just seemed to have trouble with - I couldn't get it sounding properly in tune, which made an evaluation a bit difficult - it was too big for me though and I didn't work too long on trying to get it sounding right, so the fault could well have been mine. I have a feeling I played it just after the Brook I really liked and i was keen to get back to try it again. If I could ever afford another good guitar Brook would be high on the list of makes to try. Good luck with your search .... patience will reward you in the end - my search for the "perfect" acoustic took months - but it really was worth the effort. Mark
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Post by andyhowell on Feb 25, 2015 7:56:31 GMT
Brook are excellent guitars at a very competitive price, for the quality. The do have a distinct quality which is not always to my taste but that's fine. Distinct, well built and a fine range of sizes and woods.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 25, 2015 9:06:44 GMT
Where are Phil Taylor and @robbiej when we need them.....? Keith
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2015 15:04:29 GMT
Where are Phil Taylor and @robbiej when we need them.....? Keith I'm here !!! Sorry, been biding my time whilst others answer, but I'll jump in. Needless to say I rate them very highly indeed- superb finishing, and wonderful sound. They are building some absolutely stunning guitars at the moment. I play the larger bodied types such as Tavys and Tamars, but recently had the absolute pleasure to play a number of very fine Torridges down at the workshop, some of them destined for retailers. The mahogany backed one was lovely, but my favourite was a bubinga backed torridge, unfortunately not for sale, which is just as well as it might well have come home with me. I like them because they have a lovely woody chime to them, sound well balanced, are amazing value for money, and the guys who make them are simply wonderful artists What more do you want to know? Happy searching, Robbie
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Post by scorpiodog on Feb 25, 2015 15:50:47 GMT
I don't own one, but played Paul's (Scorpiodog's) Lyn at HB5 last September. A stunning guitar, definitely worth the money. Wonderful sound, perfectly built, easy to play. People are very kind about my guitar. I really have no knowledge about what makes a guitar good or bad but I do love mine. It has rosewood back and sides and I find it delightful. It has what I would describe as a shimmering tone and is very easy to play. Moreover I can confirm that the Guys at Brook are fantastic. They are welcoming and very patient and their workshop has to be in one of the most idyllic places I have ever been to.
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Post by vikingblues on Feb 25, 2015 17:29:09 GMT
Sorry about the senior moment this morning - don't know how I ended up with two posts instead of just a single edited one. I forgot to say that the Brook that really was stunningly good for me was a Brook Clyst. A small parlour size guitar but very impressive sound, and it was just so incredibly easy to play - easiest guitar to play I've ever tried. I regret deeply not having robbed a bank so I could have taken that one away with me too. European Spruce and Maple back and sides - a combination I'd not tried before and one that in this case worked so very well indeed. Why are guitars so damn addictive!! Mark
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Feb 25, 2015 20:51:53 GMT
if they hadn't had that Lowden S in stock. All the Brooks seemed very well built. I had a similar experience in Exeter. The Brooks I tried were good but the Lowden was outstanding. Another thing: as well as what I regarded as the superior sound of the Lowden, I also really loved the shape. I accept that this is probably ridiculous, but to me it's all about the whole package. For the same reason I would now never buy a dreadnought (although I bought one in 1980). I don't care how good they sound, to my eyes their contours are just not aesthetically pleasing. Anyway, all this is just my personal preferences/hang-ups! I suspect you'll know it when you find the right one.
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lomas
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Post by lomas on Feb 25, 2015 22:47:28 GMT
Thanks for all the comments it is good that they are all very positive. I am going to Intersound (I think thats the name of the shop) on Friday they are in Gloucestershire. As I said they have two Brooks a Torridge and a Taw, they also have a second hand Lowden/Avalon I believe it's a Legacy model which were built in Ireland. When I was on the phone to them the guy I was speaking to was looking for the Lowden and shouted to the other guy in the shop asking him were it had gone, he said he had taken it home because he liked it so much but he would reluctantly bring it in on Friday. That is either a very good sales pitch or it may be a very nice guitar, any way I am really enjoying the search, thanks again to everyone who took the trouble to post.
Best Wishes Lomas
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Feb 25, 2015 23:18:10 GMT
Sorry for the late response - I'm down in Cornwall taking a break from, well taking a break from not being at home I suppose Like RobbieJ I am also Brook enthusiast and really like everything about them - sound, shapes, playability, finish and aesthetic. Really inspiring guitars IMO. I have a rosewood Torridge (with me now in Fowey) and mahogamy Custom Lyn which I am picking up from the workshop on Friday on the way home (free 12 month from new checkup) and love them both equally. I also have played Lowdens which are great but I generally prefer the sound, aesthetic and neck profile of the Brook. Give them a good play and compare them like for like as I'm sure you will - compare prices as well!! Cheers Phil
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