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Post by Cams on Apr 13, 2016 21:07:52 GMT
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Apr 14, 2016 7:56:51 GMT
Too busy playing just now to write much, but just checking in while it's still new guitar day. The smile says it all! Is there only me who cant see the photo Phil
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Apr 14, 2016 8:04:14 GMT
I can't see it either Phil, nor can I fix the link. Cams - sorry, no photo visible therefore you don't have a new guitar! Keith
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Post by Cams on Apr 14, 2016 8:22:40 GMT
Sorry folks. I shared from Dropbox and it was working for me. I've moved it to Flickr.
I had a great first night with the guitar. It's stellar!
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Apr 14, 2016 8:31:34 GMT
Ahh can see it now - looks great I'm would interested in knowing about the materials when you have a minute Cams - the fingerboard looks unusual Phil
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Post by Cams on Apr 14, 2016 8:42:38 GMT
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Apr 14, 2016 9:07:34 GMT
Yup, that's a smile alright!
Congrats, and enjoy!
Keith
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Apr 14, 2016 9:29:35 GMT
That's a real cracker, Cams!
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Post by geddarby on Apr 14, 2016 10:46:28 GMT
You lucky boy. Adrian's guitars have a lovely sound and are beautifully crafted. I like the selection of woods that he has used too. Sound clip please. Ged
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Post by Cams on Apr 14, 2016 12:06:07 GMT
I knew Adrian from a few RMMGA gatherings, but back when I started attending these things, it took a lot to bring me out of my shell so that I was comfortable playing in front of others, so I was always shy to try the instruments that were there. Silly, I know, but there it is.
My last gathering before this year's was 2007 and I've done a whole lot of playing and performing since then! This year I felt much more comfortable and I pretty much had a guitar in my hand for the whole weekend. It was a real treat to get to try Adrian's guitars, the bunch of Brooks that Simon brought, Tony Thompson's, Malcolm Griffiths' and all the other wonderful instruments that were there. Guitar heaven, so to speak.
My guitar preference has been honed over the years and I'd put myself down as a traditionalist, so rosewood, mahogany or maple, spruce, no bling; instruments that are set up for rhythm and flatpicking with good volume. I'd never really gone for the pointy Venetian cutaways, and didn't think that contemporary instruments would really float my boat, you know? — Sound ports, Manzer wedges, bevels, alternative woods, all that modern stuff. So I guess you could say that when I picked up Arian's Pavilion 12 Sweep, I had some preconceived notions of the guitar. It was nice to be surprised! And, all of a sudden, the pointy cutaway and sweeping curves became delightful and alluring.
Over the weekend I kept going back to that guitar, trying different styles and different tunings and I felt a real bond begin to form. Uh oh. Danger, Will Robinson! And so began the inner monologue of justification which kinda went as follows:
This guitar is so different from anything that I have or have had; I don't have a dedicated fingerstyle guitar; I'm saving for another Walker and just about have enough in the Walker fund and might as well put the money into a guitar; I've just sold two guitars; Life's too short for regrets (yeah, that one!);
So I got home from the gathering and had that conversation with the good lady. She's one of the greats and has always supported my guitar thing; I reciprocate with her horse thing!
So, a quick email off to Adrian and the guitar was reserved! I had a couple of weeks to wait while funds were clearing and Adrian installed a pickup for me. It arrived yesterday at work and I had to spend the whole day waiting to get home because it's the school holidays and my wife is home with the kids instead of helping me at the Post Office. Grrr. But it worked out well as it was one of the rare nights that I have at home!
It took about half an hour for the guitar to warm up, but once it did, there was that tone that drew me in and wouldn't let go. I had a good three hours of playing it and it was inspiring new things from me. One tune that sits rather well on it is O'Carolan's Draught/Delight (same tune, two names). I play it with a flatpick and the guitar seems to like that Irish melody. I'll see if I can manage a recording of it soon for all y'all.
The guitar is setup with 12s for fingerstyle and I think that's why it's coaxing new things out of me. It's so easy to play and really responsive, and it has plenty of headroom for that heavy gauge Red Bear pick. The sound port really makes a difference, with an unadvertised advantage being the smell of the inside of the guitar - that woody smell mingled with the notes makes my heart swell.
I'm really looking forward to getting to know this guitar. I'm not sure whether I'll take it out for gigs yet. Possibly for ceilidh band.
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Post by andyhowell on Apr 15, 2016 6:59:54 GMT
Great stuff Cams. A lovely guitar though that 12 fret is a bit too compressed fo me. Last time I was at Adrian's he showed me a 13 fret Pavillion that he is making which was interesting. Adrian is on a real role at the moment!
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Apr 15, 2016 8:43:12 GMT
Lovely guitar Cams . I understand a bit what andyhowell means since I have a 12 fret and sometimes I too get that 'compressed' feeling so I don't think I could just have only 12 fret guitars. Having said that your 12 fret looks as though there is more space around the 12 fret due to the sweep design. Is that the case or is it just the photo? Phil
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Post by andyhowell on Apr 15, 2016 9:00:28 GMT
IT does have more access space, as much as most 14s. The positioning of the neck just feels odd to me! But it is a great guitar.
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Post by Cams on Apr 15, 2016 9:56:14 GMT
Access is fine and I think that the position of the bridge is a big factor in the tone. Adrian had a regular Pavilion Sweep at RMMGA too – the bog oak one – and it didn't float my boat anything like the 12 Sweep. Even though it's a 12-fret, it's not short scale, but it kinda feels short scale. Is that what you meant by odd andyhowell?
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Post by scorpiodog on Apr 15, 2016 10:08:50 GMT
IT does have more access space, as much as most 14s. The positioning of the neck just feels odd to me! But it is a great guitar. While I can see what you mean, Andy, it looks to me like the 12th fret position is taken to where the limit of the upper bout would be if that lovely ogive curve wasn't there. I think it's gorgeous, and you certainly seem to be enjoying yourself with it, Cams. You lucky chap.
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