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Post by Mike Floorstand on Feb 20, 2018 22:48:50 GMT
That's a good point - it would be interesting to hear some bluegrass splayed on both instruments too, unfortunately it's not a genre in which I have any repertoire.
Just to note though the Gibson was not invented for bluegrass, that genre came much later. I think these carved top Gibsons may have been originally intended for mandolin orchestras playing classical or music hall tunes?
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Feb 20, 2018 19:59:34 GMT
Well, maybe not "versus", but hopefully an interesting comparison: The Gibson is an A3 carved top made in 1921, which I bought from Trevor TAMCO about a year ago. The De Faoite is a flat top, cedar and mahogany, made by our very own davewhite. The comparison is a bit difficult since there are so many different variables between the two instruments (flattop/carved top, woods, strings - the De Faoite has much lighter strings, body size, scale length - the De Faoite is much longer scale) but it was all recorded with the same setup and plectrum (BlueChip Jazz LG35 pick) so hopefully it's instructive at some level. I think you can hear at least some of the characteristics of each instrument - the strong fundamental of the Gibson, the warmer and more complex tones of De Faoite. One thing that doesn't seem to stand out on this recording is I find the De Faoite a bit louder in practice - I tend to take it to sessions for that reason, it's harder to hear the Gibson when you're sat next to a couple of fiddles and other instruments. Be interested to hear what others think?
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Feb 14, 2018 19:49:37 GMT
Lovely photos.
I met someone recently with a guitar that did actually tune itself. Some device he'd retrofitted to the headstock on his Martin Junior dread, keeps it tuned automatically and you can press a button to dial in the alternate or open tunings of your choice.
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Feb 6, 2018 23:38:38 GMT
This thread got me having a wee look at banjo stuff online. I hadn't realised that there were so many types of banjo out there. It all looks very confusing even to try to work out the type of banjo that's best (cue jokes about broken ones!), let alone finding a good quality one. Mark My summary would be: Guitar Banjo, Mandolin Banjo, Ukulele Banjo - basically banjo versions of the eponymous instrument, get one of these if you already play that instrument and just want a different sound. Plectrum Banjo - mostly trad jazz chord playing Tenor Banjo - mostly trad Irish melody playing, but jazz chording is possible. Uses fifths tuning like mandolin and fiddle family so easy to transition from there. 5-string Banjo - quite versatile (bluegrass 3-finger "Scruggs" style, old-timey clawhammer/frailing styles, minstrel styles), the tunings are supposedly designed to make playing tunes as easy as possible but the styles are generally quite unlike any other instrument. You might find some antique 6- or 7-string banjos too, about which I know nothing. Did I miss any?
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Feb 6, 2018 23:17:57 GMT
I think the first time I saw the Fall was at Sheffield Leadmill in the mid-80s, part of the tour to promote the Wonderful & Frightening World Of The Fall album. At this time (I assume at least partly thanks to Brix) they were simultaneously becoming both weirder and more commercial. I don't recall many details now but remember thinking for quite a long time it was one of the best gigs I'd ever been too. Unfortunately as I was by this time wearing long trousers I didn't get either of my legs signed.
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 27, 2018 23:00:24 GMT
This particular chapter of the Road Trip ended today with the instrument safely returned to High Wycombe. Here she is on the train: https://instagram.com/p/BeeB0XbFIZy I was hoping to do another recording or two and take a few more photos but sadly time ran out Concluding thoughts: Sound - fabulous, esp. trebles Aesthetics - liked the headstock design (incl. very smart tuners), very pretty fretboard wood (and really liked the offset markers), body woods are nicely contrasting (and the top perhaps starting to honey already?). Lovely. Playability - definitely invites you to pick her up. The parlour size is probably my favourite although it can be a bit difficult to decide how to hold them - have the same issue with my Brook Creedy. Cross-legged seemed to work OK but might militate against very long sessions. No strap buttons yet, so certain positions ruled out (incl. standing up). "Fit and finish" - No issues for me. Note for those who may be new to Dave's instruments, they are matt-finished so if you look hard enough you'll probably find some toolmark or other "imperfection", which other builders and particularly factories mask with heavy gloss finishes. I like the fact that matt finish highlights the beauty of the wood in a different way, and if it does happen to expose any imperfections they just remind you that the instrument was made by hand. An honour to be the first participant in another De Faoite roadtrip - thanks Dave!
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 25, 2018 23:09:45 GMT
Thanks for the kind words folks - modesty prevents me from saying anything other than "the guitar's the star" We were away for the weekend so I've been a bit quiet on the recording front, but managed to get one more tune recorded tonight, another one I'm still learning so there are a few rough edges again. Recorded with my Zoom H4n like the others, plugged straight into the USB port so no effects, and using the webcam on my laptop recording into Movie Maker. Hopefully it shows on the recording but for me this arrangement highlights the balance across the strings but particularly rather fabulous sound of the trebles up the neck.
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 25, 2018 19:33:43 GMT
Appreciate this may be a minority interest on an acoustic guitar forum. He was responsible for at least a few misspent hours of my youth.
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 16, 2018 22:53:39 GMT
Here's my second recording on An Fea Caol, the jazz standard Bluesette:
Really enjoying my time with An Fea Caol so far! A very pick-up-and-playable guitar.
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 16, 2018 8:54:49 GMT
Thanks leoroberts,I'm actually finding AFC surprisingly, and very pleasantly, "unbrash" for a new instrument - the trebles in particular are very clean and harp-like. If you can hear rough edges it's probably my recording setup and playing. Glad you found it wistful Keith, I clearly achieved my goal of emoting the sorrowful feeling of not being quite sure where the next note is on a tune I've only just learned! Look forward to hearing your version?
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 16, 2018 0:11:14 GMT
The first leg of the latest De Faoite Road trip involved An Fea Caol travelling by bike, train, and bike again, from deepest Buckinghamshire to North London. I'm a fairweather cyclist but was surprised how comfortable the journey was - the Gewa guitar case straps worked well on the Gator case (I think they would not work on a Hiscox case, they need something with a waist...), and quite possibly quicker than by car. On getting home I was struck by the similarity between An Fea Caol and my Brook Creedy - proper "parlour" body sizes: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd_VTaZF2y2 And so I thought I'd start with a recording of a tune I'm currently working on, played on both instruments for comparison. An Fea Caol is tuned 3 semitones higher than standard, so the Brook is (after a bit of fiddling) capo'd at the third fret to make the recordings in the same key (C Minor):
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 14, 2018 10:30:31 GMT
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 5, 2018 21:27:52 GMT
Just catching up on this thread - sounds like a good choice to me!
Does it look like (from the nut slots) the Hathway was made for octave strings or is that just what the last person put on it?
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Dec 21, 2017 20:10:26 GMT
Well that sounds pretty amazing Dave!
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Dec 20, 2017 19:25:17 GMT
If you understand what causes it, I suspect that new grandchildren is not entirely unforeseeable
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