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Post by slasher on Apr 22, 2015 18:25:21 GMT
Hi earwighoney, yes the sapele guitar was rather good too.
Hello again Sam, welcome to this forum!
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Post by slasher on Apr 20, 2015 15:04:28 GMT
Hi Marcus, Sorry for thr delay in replying but I often don't use the computer at week-ends. Sam, the chap running the experiment gives verbal feedback at the end of the 2nd and 3rd parts. I did'nt do too well in the 2nd but my recognition performance improved in the 3rd test. I'm putting this down to being tired for the 2nd part! (Or perhaps I have a tin ear!). I was interested to find that although the Brazilian/spruce is talked of as the "Holy Grail" of guitar wood combinations it did not stand out for me. I wonder if it is thought of in this way more as a reflecton of the expenses of Brazilian rosewood and that it is rare. My preference was for the Mahogany/spruce guitar. However they were all fine guitars. They were all Fylde Falstaff shape which is quite large but curvier than an a standard dread. I would be happy and proud to own any of the guitars. Did I mention that you get paid £10 per hour for taking part, so 4.5 hours equals £45! Bargain! Especially as I could get to the Uni using my Old Gits Bus Pass.
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Post by slasher on Apr 17, 2015 12:21:42 GMT
I've not owned any Faiths, but I have played a few. They have always impressed. Your new instrument looks great. Enjoy!
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Post by slasher on Apr 16, 2015 14:49:56 GMT
Like vikingblues I usually stand to play, though I'm more of a wandering wastrel. I'm playing at a session this friday where there is a problem for seated players--- most of the chairs have arms.
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Post by slasher on Apr 16, 2015 14:40:34 GMT
Just completed the final session. This was similar to the first session in that you were handed each guitar in turn but differed in that this time it was not in low light so you were aware of which guitar was which. having played each guitar for a few minutes on onscreen questionaire was completed. All the guitars in the test were really very good, it was a matter of deciding which one was preferable. I still liked the mahogany guitar best. Finally you were asked to judge each guitar on the look of the woods used. The choice was from Indian Rosewood, Brazillian Rosewood, Sapele, Mahogany, Maple and Walnut. I preferred the look of the Walnut, though they all looked good! I least preferred both the sound and look of the Maple guitar. All in all it was quite a difficult set of tests especially difficult as I would be happy to own any of the guitars tested. I was deciding which was for me the best of the best. If you have reasonably easy access to Lancaster University I would recommend taking these tests. Get in touch with Sam and arrange times. If for no other reason than the opportunity to play £20,000+ worth of superb instruments.
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Post by slasher on Apr 15, 2015 14:16:50 GMT
There are four sessions. Today I have completed the third. It was the same as the second test. You are handed guitars "A" and "B" in semi darkness and you have a short time to play each. There is then a period of "white noise" through headphones after which you are given either "A" or "B" again and you have to say which of the two it is. I did rather better this time. For the previous test I had walked to the Uni from my home (about 6 miles) and so started the test already a little tired. Sam, the chap who is running the experiment places the guitars on your knee so that you cannot "weigh" each instrument and use use the difference in weight rather than sound to judge which is which. There is also quite a strong auto air freshener to stop you judging which guitar is which by smell.
Final session for me tomorrow.
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Post by slasher on Apr 14, 2015 17:09:18 GMT
Congrats to both parties of this deal. When 'sold' my first it was stolen in transit to the buyer. I would only do a face-to-face in future. As for "How many guitars" Mrs S. already thinks I have too many! But can you have too many? Perhaps, you can only play so much.
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Post by slasher on Apr 14, 2015 16:56:44 GMT
On Moday !3th the experiment was playing two guitars 'blind' and evaluating them. This was followed by a period wearing earphone listening to "white noise". After this I was handed one of the two guitars and asked to say which one of the pair just prevously played it was. I feel that this would have been reasonably straightforward without the "white noise" delay. With the delay it realy was quite difficult. Crikey! onward and upward to the next part on Wednesday 15th. Being on Old Git I'm finding it quite difficult to keep the concentration going.
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Post by slasher on Apr 13, 2015 10:11:05 GMT
The early part of the test is O.K. but I had difficulty keeping concentration going over quite a long time with so many instruments. It is that "Am I hearing what I am hearing?, or am I hearing what I want to hear?" thing. Another thing is that all the guitars are easy to play and are all total quality. Looking forward to this afternoons session...
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Post by slasher on Apr 11, 2015 14:44:33 GMT
Completed part one on Friday 10th April. In semi darkness I was handed guitars which I had to play for a few minutes each and then complete an on-screen questionaire. Then after a break I was passed the same guitars in a different order and had to complete similar questionaires. Interesting and thought provoking. The guitars were: Brazillian rosewood, Indian rosewood, Mahogany, Sapele, Maple and Walnut. On each guitar I first fingerpicked a series of chords then strummed them and followed by playing the introductions to a few tunes/songs, and finished with some flat pick work. Exactly the same on each to try to compare like with like. It must have been pretty boring for the researcher hearing the same stuff twelve times, though he did agree it was a good plan. Although I have always thought of myself as someone who prefers rosewood, the guitars I liked best 'blind tested' were the mahogany and the sapele models.
Booked for the next test on Monday 13th April. I believe it is comparing the guitars blind in three pairs.
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Post by slasher on Apr 9, 2015 14:39:01 GMT
I'm sure Travis Perkins starred at the Grand Ole Opry in the 50's. I bought all his records... honest.
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Post by slasher on Apr 8, 2015 16:37:30 GMT
Living near to Lancaster Uni I thought this an interesting opportunity. I have booked in for the first session this Friday. Should be interesting. My usual use guitars are rosewood/spruce and mahogany/spruce. It will be intersting to hear various combinations of woods and how I perceive them. I just hope that they are not expecting a really high standard of performance, 'cos they ain't getting one!
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Post by slasher on Mar 20, 2015 14:00:29 GMT
Martin Simpson at The Platform, Morecambe tonight Friday 20th March. Martin Simpson appearing at a venue I can walk too. Am I going-You Bet!
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Post by slasher on Mar 20, 2015 13:54:17 GMT
I have a vintage guitar, it had a stamped name inside when I bought it in Spain in 1966-- "Fenigno Diaz Diaz" this has almost faded away. It is a classical guitar by size and shape but has always had a tailpiece and been steel strung from new. I have an antique Ferrari. Unfortunately it is a Ferrari mandolin. "Ferrari Napoli" on the label. A neighbour gave it too me about 50 years ago. It was "one of them Italian banjos" and would I like it? It had belonged to her grandfather who bought it in the Edwardian era. It has a major split and is used as a decorative piece.
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Post by slasher on Mar 4, 2015 14:12:42 GMT
I too fist saw Martin Carthy in !967! I had started to go to local folk events but was a little put off by quite a number of local performers who seemed to be under the misapprehension that they were "Oirish". To hear Martin C's interpretations of English folk was ear and eye opening and set me on the road of my native folk song. I thoroughly admire his guitar style but largely play in standard tunings myself, not wanting to appear as a tribute act! I have spoken to him on a number of accasions. he is always approachable, friendly and of course knowledgeable. A great ambassador for our music.
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