ocarolan
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CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 24, 2013 23:09:02 GMT
Hope you enjoyed the interview with Richard - form an orderly queue to ask him anything arising from it.  Keith |
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davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
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Post by davewhite on Jul 25, 2013 7:26:46 GMT
Great interview Richard and thanks Keith for doing it. Congratsulations Richard on the nuptials. Lovely instruments to - I'll have to visit Usk.
One question for Richard and one comment.
Question: Do you think that there is going to be a long line of future young British makers coming through the Londonn Metropolitan University route?
Comment: British top wood is a tricky one. Douglas Fir is grown in Scotland (as is some European spruce) but I suspect there aren't many big trees but you could carefully select and make a multi-piece top, or cheat slightly and re-cycle old doors like Adrian Lucas does. You can though go the hardwood route - English walnut makes a great guitar top wood and you could experiment with Yew which technically is a conifer. I've also got some pieces of Elm that I'm tempted to try making a small guitar or acoustic lap-slide with. As you found with oak you could be pleasantly surprised.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 25, 2013 8:02:52 GMT
Excellent interview and photos! |
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leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,270
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jul 25, 2013 8:06:40 GMT
Great Interview ... thanks to Keith for asking and Richard for answering!
A question: Richard you seem to build exclusively guitars (although different styles). Some luthiers diversify into offering bouzoukis, mandolins, ukuleles, etc. Is this something that interests you? Or are guitars enough?
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Post by earwighoney on Jul 25, 2013 11:07:59 GMT
There's one UK tree which I think could possibly be used as a soundboard (and back and sides) and that's the Leyland Cypress which is a very common tree in the UK (a common garden tree, there's a few on my road at least) It's a hybrid between Alaska Yellow Cedar (not a cedar but a cypress) and Monterey Cypress (which is used as a Spanish Cypress replacement, my flamenco guitar has it). Alaska Yellow Cedar is used for soundboards from time to time and I'd be surprised that due to it's 'parents' which are used for guitars it couldn't be used. Leyland Cypresses probably grow big enough for quartersawn sets. I reckon it might be similar to Port Orford cedar or Alaska Yellow as a soundboard. |
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richm
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by richm on Jul 25, 2013 21:23:23 GMT
Hi Everyone,
I'd like to say a big thank you to Keith for inviting me to do this interview and being so patient whilst I wrote it, lost it on my computer and re wrote it...
Dave, you are most welcome down this way anytime! The number of new guitar makers coming out of London met is a tricky question; out of a class of 25ish only me and Pete Beer, making stunning classical guitars have taken up guitar making as a livelyhood. As you know there is a fair amount of stubbournness and bloody mindedness involved and when you add the tuition fees that the youth of today have to cough up, it'll be difficult... Having said that I will be eternally grateful to the tutors at London met for inspiring me and encouraging me.
I've handled a few boards of Douglas fir, some were stiff some were like soggy cardboard but I've never had the courage to try it out in anger. Elm is an interesting idea, I have a few boards of very well quarter sawn elm drying that I was going to use for chair seats but perhaps I'll give it a try once it dries out.
Leo, I would love to diversify. At the moment guitars keep me more than busy enough. Having said that, I have built a few ukes and am due to start a mandola in a month or so. I would be much more keen to build mandolins, bouzoukis etc if I could play more than 3 chords on them! I struggle enough playing the guitar!
Earwig, the only experience of Leylandi is of it in hedges and trying to cut them down. The ones that grow round here are knotty an 'orrible, that grow too fast, but the same is true of spruces and turn out quite well on the slopes of the Alps
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