Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 24, 2015 7:31:52 GMT
Sight reading, what's the big deal? I got through this entire thread, no problem.
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 21, 2015 16:22:54 GMT
In my experience it's necessary to try a lot of Gibsons (whether new or used) before you find one that a) is set up properly, and b) sounds half decent from the off. A number of guitar shop people have told me that they're the most inconsistent of the major American manufacturers, and I can believe it. Trying before buying, and factoring in the cost of a good set up, is pretty much essential in my view. Like I said...
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 19, 2015 23:12:39 GMT
I'm playing here at 4 o'clock today at the Commercial for Acoustic Eclectic. Probably not the brightest move to stab myself in the left index finger with a screwdriver yesterday! Still, the show must go on and all that! I was in there from 1pm till 1.50pmish to watch Risky Business who were excellent despite the noise from the other rooms - not a great venue. I guess you were in the room upstairs? Phil That's right Phil. I've played worse, but there were a fair number of people who had clearly come out for a drink and a natter rather than to listen to music. Gratifyingly, a particularly noisy group on one table in the upstairs room were shushed quite forcibly by other members of the audience during my set. Always nice when that happens!
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 19, 2015 17:35:57 GMT
Well I survived...I did feel it necessary to warn the front row that, if the superglue-like substance holding my finger together suddenly gave way, they might be in for a bit of a Quentin Tarantino moment, but thankfully it did the job!
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 19, 2015 12:38:16 GMT
I'm playing here at 4 o'clock today at the Commercial for Acoustic Eclectic. Probably not the brightest move to stab myself in the left index finger with a screwdriver yesterday! Still, the show must go on and all that!
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 15, 2015 15:15:26 GMT
Bravo!
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 15, 2015 13:38:17 GMT
I must say, as it's gone on I've found this programme quite entertaining, and certainly better than the usual "talent" show nonsense that infects the main channels. On the other hand, if the presenter doesn't stop describing the mentors and/or venues as "iconic" I may revise my opinion...
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 15, 2015 13:31:57 GMT
That said, there is nothing to compare with the sound of a really good mahogany top shouldered jumbo like a J45 or Southern Jumbo. Not sure why, when I typed "slope", my spell checker decided to change it to "top"...
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 15, 2015 12:02:55 GMT
I suppose I should also declare that one of mine is potentially for sale, not because I wouldn't love to keep it but because I have two that are quite similar and I need to be a bit more ruthless about rationalising the collection. PM me if you want details.
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 15, 2015 12:00:01 GMT
Hi tonywoodsI've heard it put like this: Taylors are the Lexus of guitar brands, Martin are the Mercedes, and Gibson are the Alfa Romeos...in other words, full of character but often deeply flawed! In my experience it's necessary to try a lot of Gibsons (whether new or used) before you find one that a) is set up properly, and b) sounds half decent from the off. A number of guitar shop people have told me that they're the most inconsistent of the major American manufacturers, and I can believe it. Trying before buying, and factoring in the cost of a good set up, is pretty much essential in my view. That said, there is nothing to compare with the sound of a really good mahogany top shouldered jumbo like a J45 or Southern Jumbo. That dry, thumpy bass is incredibly characterful and I've never heard it from any other make. It doesn't suit all styles of music of course, but not many guitars do. And if you like sunburst - and I do - they look fabulous too. So for me it's a case of caveat emptor. I can't imagine a Gibson ever being my main, let alone only guitar, but I'm sure glad I've got one. Well two actually... oh no, hang on...three...
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jul 13, 2015 22:34:49 GMT
There's this place - www.newkingsroadguitars.co.uk/guitarshop/Acoustic.html- but it doesn't appear to be particularly well stocked, and some of the prices are a bit eye watering. Ivor Mairants always has a decent selection, but Denmark Street seems mainly to cater for foreign tourists nowadays. To be honest I don't think any of the London shops is a patch on Frailers...only a couple of hours from Euston!
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jun 23, 2015 23:11:56 GMT
Forgot to mention I have an Ariel as well...no, it's under control, really...
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jun 23, 2015 22:39:54 GMT
Hi Ben
My experience has been slightly different to yours. I have an Orsino (cedar/mahogany) which sounds very crisp and woody, and records beautifully. But when I took it to Roger for him to do a minor tweak on it, I played a Ken Nicol Signature (same body size but cedar/rosewood) he happened to have at the workshop, and it had so much focus and power it made the Orsino sound a bit wimpy in comparison.
I also have one of Roger's six (or it could be seven, or even eight - he didn't seem entirely sure himself!) 30th Anniversary models. This is a short scale, Alexander body in Engelmann spruce/rosewood. Last week I listened to both guitars played by a friend, and to my ears the Anniversary had a slightly more "American" sound than most Fyldes. It was definitely darker, punchier and perhaps a bit more versatile than the Orsino (which sounded lovely on gentler, folky stuff). Funnily enough I don't make those kind of distinctions when playing them myself...I just think "this sounds nice"!
The Anniversary has a 44mm (I think) nut, which I've come to find a little narrow, so although I've made very little effort to market it (apart from a brief spell on Guitarmart last year) it's loosely for sale - ie at some point I'll get round to advertising it properly with a serious view to letting it go. It's a pity the nut isn't 45mm or it could be just right for you...on the other hand, in that case I doubt I'd be selling it!
As a side note, I've been in Lancaster today doing the first two sessions of the Fylde project, as others have outlined in previous threads. All six guitars in the experiment have sitka tops and, whilst I'll reserve judgement until I've completed all the tests, I didn't find any of them excited me quite like that KN Signature.
Cheers
Richard
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jun 22, 2015 11:58:02 GMT
I've got myself a new portable / pocket recorder in the Zoom H4n. I got a Yamaha Pocketrak PR7 early last year but I've found it a bit fiddly to operate Good job you've gone for a simpler option then...
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Jun 21, 2015 0:15:49 GMT
I saw PB quite a few years ago, when he did a lot of vocalising (not necessarily singing) along with the guitar. It was just superb.
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