ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 20, 2016 10:46:50 GMT
Paul's wonderful Wimborne guitar day provided the perfect opportunity for the handover from Dorset to Somerset. Here comes Paul ( scorpiodog) with Samhradh right now, with Martin ( slidingwolf) looking on, unaware of the drama about to unfold, Bernd ( Akquarius)manages to get his ear in shot whilst demonstrating his extendable equipment - Once Samhradh was out of the case, Paul suddenly seemed reluctant to proceed with the handover and so it was necessary to test the strength of Dave's ( davewhite) neck joint construction - Mel ( mel) looks on with professional interest wondering what or who will snap first - Francis ( francis)and Mel, both guitar makers themselves, are lost in admiration for the tortional strength Dave builds into his necks. Must be the carbon fibre rods they mutter sagely. Charles ( tonywoods) is still waking up this morning. Meanwhile, I finally gain the upper hand - Mine, all mine!!! However, as a result of too much other non-guitar related stuff going on, Samhradh still languishes in the Hiscox awaiting some new strings, hopefully thisafto - I wonder what to try...
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 20, 2016 15:16:12 GMT
Samhradh has now emerged from the case! Yay! Beautiful looking top and back/sides, set off to perfection by the purflings and bindings - all very elegant and nicely chosen! It's a slightly smaller guitar than I'd imagined, but certainly does not have a small sound. I'm not the biggest fan of cutaways, esp pointy ones, but the shape looks "right", and wthe whole thing is beautifully executed and finished. I'll no doubt say more towards the end of Samhradh's visit, and take more pics, but it is a very fine looking guitar. Whilst at Paul's, Bernd had commented on some slight "fizziness" from the unwound strings especially over the lower part of the neck, though I didn't investigate further at that stage. Today, I listened and looked more carefully and found that there was no relief at all on that side of the neck - a very slight tweak of the truss rod to add minimal relief did the trick on the fretted notes. There was still a slightly different "fizz" on the open e, of a sitary nature - a very careful couple of passes with a razor saw on the nut slot slope, leaving the string departure point untouched, sorted that nicely. V minor settling still going on I reckon and all plays beautifully now. I removed the tired D'Adds and put on some 13-55 PB Newtone Heritage low tension jobbies and gave them some thrashy strummage to play them in. The relief is still fine and playing is buzz free. Samhradh also looks very lovely wearing new strings - Looking forward to getting to know Samhradh properly, making some recordings and hopefully playing plugged in too, courtesy of the K&K already fitted. Promise I won't take it anywhere dangerous, Dave! Keith
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jun 20, 2016 15:50:09 GMT
Keith, My guitars love visiting you with all the fuss and attention they get "Samhradh" was made to be a gigging guitar so gig away
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 20, 2016 15:55:35 GMT
Keith, My guitars love visiting you with all the fuss and attention they get "Samhradh" was made to be a gigging guitar so gig away Thank you, kind sir! Samhradh should get some plugged in action next Saturday and Sunday. Keith
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jun 20, 2016 16:07:56 GMT
You won't like the upper bout strap pin though
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 22, 2016 14:01:08 GMT
You won't like the upper bout strap pin though Indeed not - the position is an abomination! Results in a not very good angle of dangle! And the guitar hangs strangely too.... Keith
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 22, 2016 14:13:26 GMT
Time for some Samhradh songs! These are, it must be said, pretty rough and ready recordings. Simultaneous guitar/vocal jobs, so guitar/voice balance is less than perfect in some places, but as the guitar usually wins, that's OK! There are also some bum notes and incorrect words here and there, but as I'd decided to just sit down and record the songs one after the other these are all first takes - I'd had enough red light stress by the time I'd got through these four so left them warts and all. Usual Zoom H2 as USB mic into Cakewalk. I separated the 4 songs, topped and tailed them, left the eq alone, but added a very tiny bit of room reverb to each track. Everything in Heaven comes apart - Leo introduced me to this excellent Martyn Joseph song. Capo 2. Lose Myself in You - a song by Paul Metsers from an LP I bought way back. The Ferryman - written by Ralph McTell, of course! Capo 2. Nothing at All - WORDS MAY OFFEND SOME PEOPLE - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!! I'll need to think of some strummage, plus some proper choons to record next, and use some higher capo positions, where Dave's guitars usually excel. And I suppose I'll have to do something in the Devil's Tuning at some stage... Keith
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Jun 22, 2016 15:31:54 GMT
Just lovely Keith, both the guitar and your delivery of these songs. Everything in Heaven - I'm going to learn this one. Did you intentionally substitute the word prostitute for destitute? A perfect double hammer off and hammer on at the end, always risky after 4½ minutes Lose Myself - I haven't heard this one for donkey's years, although I have the vinyl somewhere! I remember seeing this guy at the Sing-Out pre-history. Nice memories recalled. Nothing At All - you're a very naughty boy (who wrote this version?)
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Post by davewhite on Jun 22, 2016 16:53:33 GMT
Keith, There's nothing better for an instrument maker than hearing their creations doing what they are made to do - make music. Loved listening to those - especially "Everything in Heaven Comes Apart" which I remember Leo playing at Halifax. Looking forward to more music
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Post by brianr2 on Jun 22, 2016 17:56:24 GMT
Great stuff. Really enjoyed all three songs, even in the missionary position ( in both senses for the last tune)!
Brian
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Post by leoroberts on Jun 22, 2016 18:36:19 GMT
Cracking choice of material, ocarolan. Samradh sounds really well balanced across all the strings and, as is the way with davewhite's instruments, pleasantly loud (although I accept this might have something to do with the recording, too). I spent most of my teenage years/early twenties trying to work out how to do the F# riff on 'Ferryman'. Gave up eventually. You'll have to show me at Halifax. 'Everything In Heaven' is such a fantastic song. Before I die I want to be able to play it without having a crib sheet in front of me. I think it was the 3rd song I ever played at Halifax... been pretty much downhill for me since then I, too, noticed the prostitute/destitute exchange. I'm going to assume it was deliberate rather than Freudian... I've not heard 'Lose Myself' (nor of Paul Metser, for that matter) before. I really like that - and showed that Samradh allows for great separation even when played hard and quick. 'Nothing At All' was just a joy. Excellent. But if we're going to have to put 'parental advisory' on songs; I'm goosed!
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Post by missclarktree on Jun 22, 2016 20:05:15 GMT
Samhradh sounds absolutely lovely. Your playing and singing were great, Keith. You seemed to be really enjoying singing to this guitar, and I got quite carried away listening PS 'Nothing At All' is the perfect deterrent to improper entanglements. All young ladies should be made to listen.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 22, 2016 23:08:20 GMT
Hmmm, seems like my morning was well spent. The guitar is the star, but thank you Andy, Dave, Brian, Leo and Alison for your generous comments. Andy P - when I first started singing Everything in Heaven, shortly after hearing Leo sing it, I realised after a while that I had unintentionlly made the destitute into a prostitute - I quite liked it, and so kept it in, even though my cheat sheet still says destitute. It's frustrating how often the last notes go wrong on an otherwise acceptable take - fortunately this time they didn't! Paul Metsers certainly wrote some good songs. Glad this one brought back good memories Andy! The words for Nothing at all were by Amateur Transplants - a duo of medics with a repertoire of unsuitable songs - you can find them on Youtube. I changed the words a bit here and there, but can't remember where, other than "your stomach's as firm as the average quicksand" was a product of my fevered brain. Younger daughter Rosie introduced me to ATs music - I dread to think what else she listens to! davewhite - your instruments always make lovely music - always a pleasure to have them around! There certainly will be more music, though possibly not till next week, unless I can get someone to video a bit of our Saturday gig - or even Sunday's morning service.... brianr2 - thanks for not saying that you couldn't stand the fourth song! leoroberts - remind me at Halifax about the Ferryman riff! No chance of me playing Everything in Heaven without a cheat sheet - the words are gloriously random. I'm indebted to you for making this song known to me - it seems to have a surprisingly wide appeal. I think I changed the final lines a little for a specific purpose one Sunday, and have kept them that way ever since. Paul Metsers (a mate of Chris Stern) is still singing from time to time I think- you can find some recentish vids on Youtube I'm sure. missclarktree - you're right - I did really enjoy singing with Samradh. I hope you managed to find your way back from wherever it was you were carried! Keith
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Post by Andy P on Jun 23, 2016 7:25:01 GMT
That guitar does sound gorgeous. Shame west Cornwall is rather remote from the road trip circuit. If we get our move up north soon I might see if I can get my name on the list before her tour finishes :-)
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 27, 2016 22:32:50 GMT
I promised you some strummage, so here's a couple of songs with multitracked Samhradh, a mandolin and some voices. Simple recordings as ever, flat eq, no effects. Peaceful Easy FeelingOne Samhradh playing with key of D chords; one with capo 7 playing with chords in G. Mandolin. Voice/harmony. When will I be lovedOne Samradh on each side playing the same thing; mandolin; voice/harmony Next I'd better do some proper solo guitar choons with twiddly bits..... Oh yes, and I will report back on Sat/Sun gigs soon. Keith
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