Andy P
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My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Oct 21, 2015 16:01:24 GMT
I went to the 50th Anniversary bash of the Crewe Sing Out Folk Club on Saturday. This is where I cut my musical teeth, first performed in public and made a lot of friends, many of whom it was great to see again. ocarolan was also fairly regular there back in the late 60's. There were some 75 of us there on Saturday all told. It started at 4.00pm with an informal session, then we spent a couple of hours devouring an enormous buffet, then we had a sort of Singers' Night, with everybody doing a song or tune or two, old groups reformed for the evening, and we finally wound up at midnight. Exhausting but enormous fun. Anyway, what I want to tell you about is Hector Gilchrist's guitar, the only one he has had over the last 27 years. It stood out from a crowd of Martins and other assorted odds and sods, being balanced, clear, with a good carry and very sweet-toned. Hector, who is a fine Scottish singer now based in Surrey, was keen to tell me about it. It's a short scale jobbie and was built by Nigel Thornbury, one of his Silverton models which he made and kept for himself. The walnut body was made from a piece of wood out of Farnham museum and the inlay on back and headstock is cherry, from his parents' garden. He made two from this wood supply. The other has a cutaway and does not seem to have the same sound quality. He had not intended to sell it but needed the cash to develop with a friend a new type of electric bass with special pick ups and rubber strings! The top is spruce. Nigel would have made several before this one, at least 12 to 15. Hector has come across at least four in his local area. Bob Walton has one but it is not short scale. I had a play on it and it felt and sounded very similar to my Lowden S25. I'd be interested to hear if any of you have come across these guitars. I would certainly recommend you give one a try if you get a chance. Sorry about the poor quality of the photos. I'm not sure whether it was Hector or me who was leaning over - this was after eight hours of partying so it's a bit hazy Nigel Thornbury eventually decided that retailing strings and cheaper instruments was more profitable! He runs Highly Strung
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Oct 21, 2015 17:10:56 GMT
Andy P - Highly Strung is a great firm to do business with, Nigel Thornbory is really helpful - I have bought various bits and pieces from him and his single strings, ball and loop ended come in very handy from time to time. I knew he had made guitars but have never come across one - would love to have seen/played Hector's. In fact would love to have been at the reunion sounds like it was a great time Andy. Was also great to see you and Helen (and your Lowden!) again on your way back from it - thanks for calling in. Must meet up again soon. Keith
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Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"8e2be1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 060607
Mini-Profile Text Color: 0b0b0c
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Post by Andy P on Oct 21, 2015 17:16:47 GMT
Andy P - Highly Strung is a great firm to do business with, Nigel Thornbory is really helpful - I have bought various bits and pieces from him and his single strings, ball and loop ended come in very handy from time to time. I knew he had made guitars but have never come across one - would love to have seen/played Hector's. In fact would love to have been at the reunion sounds like it was a great time Andy. Was also great to see you and Helen (and your Lowden!) again on your way back from it - thanks for calling in. Must meet up again soon. Keith Keith, I think your daughter's wedding celebrations probably just about qualify as a valid excuse not to have made the reunion Great to see you two too, and your guitars (love the new Olivia), etc - and the SHED
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Post by fretter on Oct 21, 2015 22:01:59 GMT
pm on the way Breedlover
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Post by fretter on Oct 21, 2015 22:24:03 GMT
I tried to send a pm but don't think it was successful. On the other hand you may have got two! PM me if you didn't receive it - I have a Thornbory.
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Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"8e2be1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 060607
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Post by Andy P on Oct 22, 2015 14:10:22 GMT
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Post by fretter on Oct 22, 2015 16:27:42 GMT
And replied to
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Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"8e2be1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 060607
Mini-Profile Text Color: 0b0b0c
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Post by Andy P on Oct 22, 2015 17:37:57 GMT
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 24,640
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Oct 22, 2015 20:01:03 GMT
Can I have a PM, too? Please, please...
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Post by fretter on Oct 22, 2015 22:03:17 GMT
Sent
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Post by dreadnought28 on Oct 30, 2015 2:43:51 GMT
I have two of Nigel's guitars, a Silverton and a Dreadnought. Both are available if anyone is interested.
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Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"8e2be1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 060607
Mini-Profile Text Color: 0b0b0c
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Post by Andy P on Oct 31, 2015 17:59:43 GMT
I have two of Nigel's guitars, a Silverton and a Dreadnought. Both are available if anyone is interested. Thanks but I'm all spent out
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Post by jimshepperd on May 7, 2017 12:53:07 GMT
Hi, I'm new to this forum lark so I've no idea if replying to a post from nearly two years ago is going to work. However, I was interested to see the posting on Thornbory guitars as I am the proud owner of two Silvertons! A long story so here I go:
Many years ago I decided I wanted a handmade parlour and went to see Nigel Thornbory to discuss having one made. However, whilst there he said he already had a guitar for sale...his delux Silverton that I had already read about in an article by Ian Anderson when he reviewed it in Folk Roots magazine! This guitar included all of the features that Nigel had at his disposal: Koa back and sides, spruce top, multi piece back and neck, a lot of abalone inlay work including a vine up the ebony finger board. It was his show piece. And as I had come from a classical guitar background the Silverton suited me fine as it is small (like a classical) with wider fingerboard, slotted headstock and 12th fret to body. I was sold and bought it instead of having my parlour made.
Many years later I walked into the Guitar Store in Southampton to see the distinctive back and headstock of my beloved Thornbory in the hands the salesman! "Someone's nicked it!" I thought...but as he turned it around I could see a much plainer top. It had been traded in for a Tanglewood, and when I asked how much I was told 'oh how about £250?'. Hardly able to contain myself I obviously bought it on the spot. Actually, the two guitars, built in 1989, have serial numbers that are only one number between them so I'm guessing they could have been made together.
I still didn't have my Parlour, so eventually asked the Southampton luthier Vince Hockey to build me one. Unfortunately, he was going through a phase of not making at the time and it didn't happen. So when I saw Angelina Grimshaw (of JC and Angelina Grimshaw from the Isle of Wight) playing a lovely parlour guitar I asked about the maker who turned out to be Mark Hickman also from the island. A long service award came in handy to part fund the build and finally I have my parlour which is exquisite.
Actually I also ended up with a Hockey instrument; a second hand 'Guzouki' which is a bouzouki built with a small guitar body. I think he only made 4 of these and I am very pleased to own one!
id love to add photos of all of these instruments but pics taken on my iPad appear to be too big to attach. Any idea how I can put them up??
SO...I'd love to hear from the original contributors to the Thornbory thread...and any other owners of these or other guitars made by British luthiers. Over to y'all... Jim
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 7, 2017 13:44:57 GMT
Great post, Jim. Uploading direct to the Forum is only suitable for very small files. Best way to show us your pics is to upload them to a hosting site (eg Photobucket). Each pic will them have an IMG link allocated to it. Copy and paste this into your post as you compose it. The pic will appear when you make the post public. There's a blow-by-blow account if you need more detail here - acousticsoundboard.co.uk/thread/5422/posting-photos-on-forumKeith
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Martin
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Post by Martin on May 7, 2017 13:57:18 GMT
Hi Jim, welcome and thanks for posting - great story
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