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Post by slasher on Jun 1, 2015 13:30:59 GMT
Hi jackorion. Strong, strong post there. I understand the situation to an extent. In my record collection I have one LP that I can no longer play as although it is a fine record it takes me back to dark times. On the bright side (into which you seem to be emerging) you can ask yourself the question "Shall I play my Martin or my Fylde?". I think many on here would love to be in that enviable position, self included!
p.s. Wasn't "Jack Orion" a fiddle player?
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Post by creamburmese on Jun 1, 2015 14:08:00 GMT
Ben
I seem to have other thoughts about this. I think there is often a honeymoon period with a new guitar, and then reality sets in .. I'm wondering if the problem with Fylde is not so much all the personal and technical issues that occurred (though they could be contributing) but the fact that you now prefer a different sound - it's quite telling that you pick the Fylde up, and after a few minutes feel motivated to put it away and get out the Martin. I have a lovely guitar (that doesn't have any negative associations) that this invariably happens with. I get it out periodically with the intention of noodling on it, and invariably end up switching to the guitar that causes me to play until my nylon-adjusted fingertips scream for mercy...
Bottom line is it's only a guitar. If it's a guitar that inspires you to play more/compose/gig/play in alternate tunings, it has a place. If it sits in its case, then unless you are a collector, sell it and get another guitar that you can't stop playing!
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Post by jackorion on Jun 1, 2015 17:13:12 GMT
Thanks for the kind words and support folks!
Had a day off today and got a chance to play my Fylde, my Martin and the little 0018v altogether in a 'shootout' situation - playing the same thing over and over and just swapping them round.
Playing them all in more objectively-focussed way, I started to notice things I liked about the Fylde - the neck is very comfortable for fingerstyle for example, it has a good low end without being too boomy, the mids are pronounced but not honky. I also noticed that the neck on the 0018v wasn't as comfortable as my Martin (even though, technically, it's supposed to be the same), and that the 0018v was a cracking sounding little guitar, but seemed a little too small, like it was putting my shoulder in a funny position.
I went home with my Fylde and my Martin. I'm not saying I'm out of the woods, but I think posting here and getting people's opinions has helped me work through some of the issues with the guitar.
When I got home I decided that I'd try to sort out the issues I've been having with the pickup - mainly that the low end is super hyped, and that the volume is much, much louder than my Anthem equipped Martin. So, after much faffing involving taking the endpin jack out twice to adjust the tiny trim pots that control the bass and treble on the DTAR pickup, I managed to get sound that was more balanced and without the big 'ooomph' that you think sounds 'fat' but really just dominates everything too much!
I then sat down and went back and forth between the two guitars, finding a volume setting and a mic balance that matched - surprise, surprise I end up liking the plugged in sound of the Fylde a little more than the Martin, for fingerpicking at least!
I think I might be turning a corner now - I don't think the Fylde will return to being my 'go-to' guitar for some time, but I could appreciate it's quirks today, and got it sounding much better plugged in, which means I can start 'choosing' which guitar to take to an open mic now, rather than instantly grabbing the Martin as I know it'll sound better.
I started a new composition/song the other day, and I've decided that I'll try to finish it on the Fylde, and try to make it a guitar that's part of my current life as well as my past life - take it to gigs/open mic/friends houses, keep it out on a stand, learn new songs on it, etc etc.
If, after the summer, I still find myself leaving it in the case and always using the Martin, then it might be time to move it on but, for the time being at least, I'm going to keep it.
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Post by jackorion on Jun 3, 2015 21:05:39 GMT
well two days later and I'm kind of back where I started...
Had the Fylde out a lot and been playing it, but it feels 'forced', my Martin just feels like I'm at home... Can't explain what's wrong with the Fylde really, very odd.
Think I'm going to stash it away somewhere (a friends, or my parents) and just 'forget' I own it for a couple of months and go back to it then.
I was wondering about speaking to Roger at Fylde and seeing if he'd take it in as a deposit on an Oberon...
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Post by earwighoney on Jun 3, 2015 21:16:24 GMT
I was wondering about speaking to Roger at Fylde and seeing if he'd take it in as a deposit on an Oberon... That's the kind of thinking my friend. A Oberon would do you good. Reading a few things about your current Fylde, I think you might be more at home with a Spruce soundboard, maybe a custom slightly longer scale as well?
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 3, 2015 22:08:13 GMT
Great new avatar Ben. Oberon? Excellent guitar - I love the slightly quirky shape, and it's so comfortable to play sitting down - the large shoulders make a nice rest to lean against! I'm sure Roger would be willing to negotiate... Keith
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Post by jackorion on Jun 12, 2015 6:43:22 GMT
Well it's been a week or so since this post and I'm still playing the Martin...
I've been making a point of taking the Fylde out and having it on a stand when I'm at home and playing on it when I can, but it still doesn't feel right.
I took it to an open mic last night and, although it went fine, I just felt as if I was restricted in what I could play - in the end I only had time for one song. If I'd had my Martin I could have chosen from anything in my repertoire but, faced with choosing a song to play on the Fylde, I just went with Angie as I knew I'd be able to play it straight off without thinking about it.
So I think I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to sell the Fylde - it's been coming up a year now since I first started having issues with it and it's been my 'other guitar' for at least seven months. I know that a just over year ago I was raving about it but a lot has changed in that year and, even though I may have considered selling my Martin when it wasn't being used, I don't think I had the gut feeling I have now that it was never going to win back my affection.
It still seems like a big decision to actually put the guitar on sale, but I'm starting to feel like there would be a sense of relief when it was gone...
Obviously the money would go into a new guitar fund - but i don't think I'd rush into buying anything, perhaps I'd hold out for a vintage Martin...
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Jun 12, 2015 16:29:14 GMT
Sounds like a good plan, I'd probably do the same if I were in your shoes.
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Post by chris501 on Jun 12, 2015 20:58:05 GMT
I'll give you 50 quid for it.......
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Post by jackorion on Jun 14, 2015 1:29:29 GMT
I'll give you 50 quid for it....... Okay, but I'll have to charge £1750 for shipping The Fylde is out of the house at the moment - stashed it with a friend for safe keeping and to see how I feel about not having it around, but I'm almost decided about moving it on now - already I feel somehow 'relieved' to not have the burden of it around. By burden I mean I felt like I 'should' be playing it and using it rather than wanting to, and there were times where I'd sit down to play on my Martin, but I'd almost force myself to play the Fylde for a few minutes first... Thinking about putting it on consignment with a shop but will probably list it here first - if anyone is interested drop me a pm, I'd like it to go to a good home and I know the folks here can offer that!
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Post by jackorion on Jun 15, 2015 8:41:08 GMT
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Post by jackorion on Jul 13, 2015 6:41:33 GMT
Right so there's been a couple of developments since this thread now so I thought I'd update you all. Firstly gavdav very generously offered to lend me his Oberon for a few weeks to see if I might be interested in one myself. I can't believe the generosity involved in doing this and, even though I know him a little bit through work outside of the forum, for him to just offer up a guitar to a fellow forumite to help them out a little is amazing so big kudos to him. Gav also had a chat with me regarding my Fylde and the circumstances through which he re-purchased his Oberon a few years back, and told me to keep the Alex as I would regret selling it. The second thing that happened is I bought a secondhand GAD Guild and had a LR Baggs Anthem installed - it's the F130 so it's OM size, all solid, mahogany back and sides and spruce top. Because I could have the Anthem pickup installed it's given me a backup for the alternate tunings I use live, and also satisfied some GAS without me having to fork out on an expensive guitar and/or move something on. The third thing that happened is I was speaking to somebody about a Lowden they had bought and suggested DADGAD to them which they hadn't tried - they came back to me saying that it had completely changed their playing and that the guitar sounded so good in that tuning. I ended up playing the guitar which had some elixirs on it and I thought to myself 'these strings feel good, and the tuning is lovely' so i went home and restrung my Alex with some Elixirs and tuned to DADGAD... And I loved it! I think buying the Guild took the pressure off the Fylde to do something for me that it couldn't really do (ie be a backup for my Martin live) and allowed me to accept it for what it is and just enjoy it's strengths. I've been playing all three guitars equally the last week or so and just enjoying their different personalities - I took the Fylde out to a open mic last week and really enjoyed playing it and didn't feel limited like I had before (although I didn't enjoy the plugged in sound so the pickup is going to have to change!). I'm not saying that I won't buy another guitar ever, but I won't be selling the Fylde anytime soon now - funny, I bought a guitar in order to not sell one!
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 13, 2015 9:02:17 GMT
....... - funny, I bought a guitar in order to not sell one! Shows true dedication - someone has to do it - well done! Enjoy the Guild, and enjoy getting to know the Devilishly tuned Alex. Actually this also shows the excellent spirit within this Forum - there have been quite a numner of extraordinarily generous and trusting gestures made, some publicly, many not, and it's great to hear of another - nice one Gav. Keith
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Post by earwighoney on Jul 13, 2015 11:09:14 GMT
The second thing that happened is I bought a secondhand GAD Guild and had a LR Baggs Anthem installed - it's the F130 so it's OM size, all solid, mahogany back and sides and spruce top. Because I could have the Anthem pickup installed it's given me a backup for the alternate tunings I use live, and also satisfied some GAS without me having to fork out on an expensive guitar and/or move something on. Good work Ben. You needed more guitars, not less. The GAD Guilds are great guitars actually, I've played the F130 quite a few times and although it might not be a Martin OM-18V it is still a very good guitar nonetheless and would provide a Spruce/Mahogany alternative to the OM-28V for live usage.
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Post by mandovark on Jul 13, 2015 12:40:27 GMT
funny, I bought a guitar in order to not sell one! *Applauds* You are an example to us all, sir.
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