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Post by bleatoid on Aug 12, 2018 21:51:58 GMT
I see Phil got a positive response to his post asking for guitar tech recommendations in the Sheffield area so I thought I'd give it a go.
I'm really struggling with a couple of guitars buzzing on the bass strings. A little truss rod tweak from me just seems to give me higher action with the same problem so I'd prefer to get a pro to sort the lovely little chaps out properly.
There are several crop up nearby on internet searches but I'd welcome any positive recommendations from the trusty souls on this forum.
Where am I? Roughly in the middle of a "circle" running through Banbury / Northampton / Leamington / Buckingham....or 30 miles SE of Birmingham in big handfuls.
Thanks in anticipation.
Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 11, 2018 22:58:01 GMT
... starting to drool a bit now. There's just something so damn sexy about the shape of a slope shouldered dread. Keith Seek help, Keith, my child, seek help. Something tells me that Leo might offer salvation. Salvation, that is, not salivation, that's something else entirely, as you're clearly aware.
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 10, 2018 18:01:38 GMT
I've been doing the huuuuuurrrrring-and-gentle-wipe-with-a-clean-old-white-tee-shirt routine for ages - doesn't work for my poisonous pustules - I still have a couple of haze patches built up on the top of my Martin. So for £5.99 I've ordered a pot of these. I shall post a comprehensive review on the reviews page, and if they're completely and utterly useless, I shall list the remnants for sale on the classifieds page. Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 6, 2018 11:41:19 GMT
Thanks Onechordtrick - looks like a mandolin for me following all the helpful comments and pointers here. And fear not - my mandolin playing when I get one will make you look a mando-star! Thanks again ocarolan - those videos are really useful - that western red cedar / mahogany mandolin is sweet isn't it - love the Bach cello suite piece. Any idea who that bearded medieval minstrel chappie is they've roped in to do the octave mandolin demo's? Bet he's wearing tights. I like you're downward trajectory story @robbiej - with it's happy ending of course - further confirmation of mandolin for me - at least as the starting point. I shall keep you all posted on what I look at and where I end up - and will doubtless seek further help along the way! Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 5, 2018 23:33:10 GMT
Ah - that's useful insight - I'll have a look at those links - thanks Keith.
I don't strum much, rather more likely to be picking out melody stuff or gently picked backing lines for songs - nothing to violent......
Thanks for the pointers!
(Obviously, the real answer is to have one of everything with strings, like Leo......)
Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 5, 2018 22:48:37 GMT
Ah - found it - thanks mandovark.
Now need to research octave mandolins - had a look at a couple of threads on Mandolin Cafe etc and there seems to be a sense that coming from guitar to the mandolin family octave mandolin might be less of a seismic shift...
Need to go and play some!
Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 5, 2018 22:23:52 GMT
I just had a look on Adrian's website mandovark, but couldn't see it. Sounds like the one you bought is similar to the Shippey Axe model that Robbie pointed out to me (which I have spent a lot of time looking at - and unfortunately, I think the prices just went up.....!).
Anyway - while not really understanding guitar physics at all, I could see the sense in a theory that suggested something like.....the string vibrations are "collected" and amplified by the top, and a flat top might be a more sensitive "pickup" for that purpose, but that the sound projection might be "shaped" somehow in a more distinctive, sweeter way by a carved back.
Most likely physics nonsense, and I'd welcome being shot down by any of our luthier community, but it sits comfortably in my head!
Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 4, 2018 22:54:32 GMT
I just marvel at these build threads from all of you luthiers - the quality of your craft is astonishing, the artefacts you produce, quite beautiful.
For those of you interested in such things, look out for my own forthcoming build thread "how I assembled my IKEA Billy bookcase and then re-assembled it with screws after it fell apart when I forgot to put the back panel thingy in".
Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 4, 2018 18:29:56 GMT
Ah, man that was just lovely!
The problem, for someone like me, with listening to wonderful playing like that, Michael, is that I'm disinclined, rather than encouraged, to pick up my own guitar for a little while - seems rather pointless!
I take heart though, from a theory I have, which is that the better one gets at something, the more self critical of one's own performance one becomes - like the pro golfer cursing himself for hitting a 5 iron 230 yards and only finishing 10 feet from the pin.
You see - you'd be far happier way down here at my level Michael....
Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 3, 2018 21:44:55 GMT
I think that anyone who has had a new guitar in the last year should be excluded from the draw. Joining them should be anyone whose given first name is not Brian. I'm Brian, and so is my wife.
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 2, 2018 11:32:39 GMT
There does seem something inherently plausible about an argument along the lines of: "assuming consistent stiffness, then as string mass and diameter increases, and tension decreases then it becomes less likely that that string's intonation will be as accurate as a lower mass / diameter string on the same neck. Increasing the scale length, and hence the tension, will increase the ease of achieving accurate intonation for that string, hence a fan fret, among its other differences, will improve intonation of the lower register strings". I'd buy that argument if someone stated it in a convincing manner. So I had a rummage about to see if I could find some proof (in terms I could understand) that would enable me to claim a piccolo guitar from davewhite as a prize for winning his challenge. But I couldn't. However - I did find this article helpful and interesting (with some pointers to more heavyweight expositions). Curved frets anyone? Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 1, 2018 15:31:27 GMT
Thanks Phil - not heard of a Brook Calder before....sounds like it might be his signature model?
That bubinga Torridge is lovely though.....
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 1, 2018 14:00:52 GMT
Well I would have to hang my head in shame and confess I'd not heard of Mr Tilston before - glad I have now - one of the benefits of the forum - broadening your exposure!
Not seen a guitar with an offset upper bout like that before - had to take me glasses off to check I wasn't seeing skew-wiff - anyone know what it is? Doesn't say on his website.
Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Aug 1, 2018 10:44:35 GMT
Thanks for posting that Andy - good explanation of fan frets for the novice like me who (previously) considered them a bit esoteric.
I'll have to have a try of one when next in a guitar store.
So -did you buy the Kraut.....?
Peter
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Post by bleatoid on Jul 31, 2018 23:26:49 GMT
I can empathise with Chris' point of view. Actually, his arguments have brought me off the fence and I'm firmly in the no music stands camp now.
There you are, I've said it....
I'm thinking of the likely reaction, in the juke joints of the delta in the early years of the previous century, or the coffee houses of New York in the late 50''s early '60's, or the clubs of North West England in the early 60's, or indeed any hotbed of popular musical revolution in the last, say, hundred and a bit years, to a new performer turning up with a music stand and assorted props and prompts to put on it.
It's not right .... like opera with surtitles.....it's just not right.
Peter
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