lomas
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Post by lomas on Feb 27, 2015 18:51:20 GMT
As I mentioned in my previous post, I was going to Intersound in Dursley today to have a look at a couple of Brooks guitars. My wife and I were met by Denver (great name for a musician) taken into a small back room, so nice and quiet, given coffee, I was then presented with a succesion of very nice guitars to try. First was a Brooks Taw, spruce top and rosewood back and sides, which had a lovely mellow sound and was finished to a very high standard. I then tried about 7 or 8 different makes and models Furch, Freshman, Tanglewood masterworks, Denver then bought in a second hand Irish built Avalon with a cut away and Fishman pickup, factory fitted. This old lady had seen some action probably between 6--10 years old, front sound board was quite marked and scuffed. Now I should say at this stage, my wife tends to read a good book while I am noodling away, she is so used to my playing and normally is very patient and does not say much, I strummed a C chord on the Avalon she looked straight up and said that is wonderful, that has to be the nicest guitar I have ever heard. So there I am surrounded by all these shiney new guitars and she loves the one that looks like the front has been attacked by sandpaper (slight exaggeration) the more I played it the more I liked it, in fact I loved it. Then it just got worse or better depends how you look at it, Denver walks in with a Brooks Torridge, top american spruce, back and sides english cherry wood now this guitar just looks fantastic, well it does to me, try that he says, another C chord, Oh No! how is this tiny thing producing that amount of sound. So there I am with just the Brooks and the Avalon left, both sound completly different and both sound and feel great, one looks as worn out as me, the other looks as wonderful and shiney as my grandson, both are the nicest guitars I have ever played, which one do I buy. The Avalon is obviously alot cheaper than the Brooks because of it's age and condition, but the Brooks is not that expensive for a beautiful handbuilt guitar. So I sit there trying to make up my mind when this small voice says to me, why don't you have them both, pardon I say, she says, why don't you have them both you have been looking for ages you obviously love them both and you will regret it if you leave one here. I am not embarresed to say publicly, I do love my wife, I would have never have bought both without her I am a very lucky fella. So I have now got my Brooks and my Avalon (which is so I am told, virtually the Lowden I was after) all I have got to do know is find somewhere to put them which is a nice problem to have.
Best Wishes Lomas
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Post by earwighoney on Feb 27, 2015 18:57:30 GMT
As I mentioned in my previous post, I was going to Intersound in Dursley today to have a look at a couple of Brooks guitars. My wife and I were met by Denver (great name for a musician) taken into a small back room, so nice and quiet, given coffee, I was then presented with a succesion of very nice guitars to try. First was a Brooks Taw, spruce top and rosewood back and sides, which had a lovely mellow sound and was finished to a very high standard. I then tried about 7 or 8 different makes and models Furch, Freshman, Tanglewood masterworks, Denver then bought in a second hand Irish built Avalon with a cut away and Fishman pickup, factory fitted. This old lady had seen some action probably between 6--10 years old, front sound board was quite marked and scuffed. Now I should say at this stage, my wife tends to read a good book while I am noodling away, she is so used to my playing and normally is very patient and does not say much, I strummed a C chord on the Avalon she looked straight up and said that is wonderful, that has to be the nicest guitar I have ever heard. So there I am surrounded by all these shiney new guitars and she loves the one that looks like the front has been attacked by sandpaper (slight exaggeration) the more I played it the more I liked it, in fact I loved it. Then it just got worse or better depends how you look at it, Denver walks in with a Brooks Torridge, top american spruce, back and sides english cherry wood now this guitar just looks fantastic, well it does to me, try that he says, another C chord, Oh No! how is this tiny thing producing that amount of sound. So there I am with just the Brooks and the Avalon left, both sound completly different and both sound and feel great, one looks as worn out as me, the other looks as wonderful and shiney as my grandson, both are the nicest guitars I have ever played, which one do I buy. The Avalon is obviously alot cheaper than the Brooks because of it's age and condition, but the Brooks is not that expensive for a beautiful handbuilt guitar. So I sit there trying to make up my mind when this small voice says to me, why don't you have them both, pardon I say, she says, why don't you have them both you have been looking for ages you obviously love them both and you will regret it if you leave one here. I am not embarresed to say publicly, I do love my wife, I would have never have bought both without her I am a very lucky fella. So I have now got my Brooks and my Avalon (which is so I am told, virtually the Lowden I was after) all I have got to do know is find somewhere to put them which is a nice problem to have. Best Wishes Lomas Bravo, bravo. An Avalon and a Brook in one day? You my good Sir, are a great inspiration. In your 7th post, you have achieved a huge amount in this forum already. *** What are the woods of the Avalon? Post pictures when you can!
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Feb 27, 2015 18:59:00 GMT
Yes!!! This is how things should happen! Congrats, Lomas, on 1) your wife 2) your Avalon 3) your Brook 4) your decision You did it all right, at least from might point of view
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brianr2
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My main instrument is: Brook Lyn guitar
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Post by brianr2 on Feb 27, 2015 19:09:02 GMT
Congratulations lomas, what a wonderful outcome! Could your wife give tutorials to other spouses on why one instrument can never be enough and how debt is temporary but a great guitar is forever? Brian
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Feb 27, 2015 19:31:24 GMT
Very well played, lomas I congratulate you on your choice of spouse
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Feb 27, 2015 19:39:44 GMT
We are indeed lucky men I very well remember my wife's comment after I had finished my "wall of sound". After I had plastered a whole wall of our living room with five guitars she said: "okay, this wall won't hold another guitar, But I think I know where you can place your next one" Here's to our spouses!
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lomas
Sore Fingers
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Post by lomas on Feb 27, 2015 20:08:23 GMT
The woods on the Avalon are AAAA sitka spruce top, Rose wood back and sides and I think it is maple and mahogany binding. I will put some photo's up of both guitars when I have worked out how to do it. Thanks for all the nice comments.
Best wishes Lomas
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Post by pnut on Feb 27, 2015 20:18:46 GMT
Two guitars of that calibre in one day! ............ Respect! Can't see you getting out of the house much in the imminent future
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 27, 2015 23:15:03 GMT
Many, many congrats lomas - two great guitars in one day! What a wonderful woman your wife must be - congrats there too! Looks like a good weekend in prospect for you - have fun. Keith (..upload your pics to a hosting site eg Photobucket, where each pic will then have an IMG code - copy/paste this directly into your post as you write it. When you do post, the pic appears.)
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Feb 27, 2015 23:22:17 GMT
That sounds like a proper day out! But is it Brook or Brooks? I reckon it's singular Note to self: look up 'C chord' chord on Google and learn it...
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Feb 27, 2015 23:24:36 GMT
As I mentioned in my previous post, I was going to Intersound in Dursley today to have a look at a couple of Brooks guitars. My wife and I were met by Denver (great name for a musician) taken into a small back room, so nice and quiet, given coffee, I was then presented with a succesion of very nice guitars to try. First was a Brooks Taw, spruce top and rosewood back and sides, which had a lovely mellow sound and was finished to a very high standard. I then tried about 7 or 8 different makes and models Furch, Freshman, Tanglewood masterworks, Denver then bought in a second hand Irish built Avalon with a cut away and Fishman pickup, factory fitted. This old lady had seen some action probably between 6--10 years old, front sound board was quite marked and scuffed. Now I should say at this stage, my wife tends to read a good book while I am noodling away, she is so used to my playing and normally is very patient and does not say much, I strummed a C chord on the Avalon she looked straight up and said that is wonderful, that has to be the nicest guitar I have ever heard. So there I am surrounded by all these shiney new guitars and she loves the one that looks like the front has been attacked by sandpaper (slight exaggeration) the more I played it the more I liked it, in fact I loved it. Then it just got worse or better depends how you look at it, Denver walks in with a Brooks Torridge, top american spruce, back and sides english cherry wood now this guitar just looks fantastic, well it does to me, try that he says, another C chord, Oh No! how is this tiny thing producing that amount of sound. So there I am with just the Brooks and the Avalon left, both sound completly different and both sound and feel great, one looks as worn out as me, the other looks as wonderful and shiney as my grandson, both are the nicest guitars I have ever played, which one do I buy. The Avalon is obviously alot cheaper than the Brooks because of it's age and condition, but the Brooks is not that expensive for a beautiful handbuilt guitar. So I sit there trying to make up my mind when this small voice says to me, why don't you have them both, pardon I say, she says, why don't you have them both you have been looking for ages you obviously love them both and you will regret it if you leave one here. I am not embarresed to say publicly, I do love my wife, I would have never have bought both without her I am a very lucky fella. So I have now got my Brooks and my Avalon (which is so I am told, virtually the Lowden I was after) all I have got to do know is find somewhere to put them which is a nice problem to have. Best Wishes Lomas As I said I love Brook guitars so I am really pleased to read that you bought a Brook Torridge and not forgetting the Avalon bought as second guitar Well done!!! Phil
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Post by grayn on Feb 28, 2015 6:39:53 GMT
Congrats on a great day, a great wife and 2 great guitars. Looking forward to your pics.
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Post by jonnymosco on Feb 28, 2015 9:25:02 GMT
What a great day for you - looking forward to seeing photos.
Your wife can take comfort in: "One wife, many guitars - one guitar, many wives!".
I see Intersound isn't far from me, looks a great shop, I'll have to visit.
Jonny
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Post by vikingblues on Feb 28, 2015 10:34:40 GMT
Absolutely magnificent Lomas! It's difficult to know which is best - your taste in guitars or a wife. It's great to have that level of support, and those of us lucky enough to have that should never take it for granted. So much of your story, apart from the end result, is such a repeat of my experience at Stonehaven last year it's spooky. Only for your Avalon read my Lowden - the "looked straight up and said that is wonderful" from the better half is replicated. I have found it's very wise to take notice of my better half's comments where guitar sound is concerned. Then the experience of then finding a Brook that is also wonderful is replicated too (for your Torridge read Clyst for me). I do regret in my case that I couldn't get both as the Brook was the easiest guitar to play I'd ever tried - they were both brand new so that bumped the price up so much it would have meant selling kidneys or somesuch. I must admit to a touch of green eyed envy at your story! But I am really happy for you that you had this great experience. WOWEE! Enjoy! Mark
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stringdriventhing
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Post by stringdriventhing on Feb 28, 2015 10:57:49 GMT
Have played a couple of Brooks and one old Avalon. Really great guitars! Have fun with both of them lomas Oh, and your missus sounds like a very cool lady!
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