douglas
Strummer
Three chords and the truth.
Posts: 47
My main instrument is: ... the next one.
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Post by douglas on Sept 29, 2021 6:32:40 GMT
My current interest (today...!) is a nylon-strung acoustic. Having come from years of classical and mainly flamenco guitars I like how they can sound. But I picked up my flamenco a few days ago and found the wide flat fingerboard a bit odd, now that I am playing steel-string much more. Anyway, had a look around and came across Dowina Ceres 'hybrid', around £1000. There's a video review on YT, and Richard's Guitars seem to speak highly of them. Don't see many around, there's a Ceres steel-string on Reverb at £700 but the only dealer with stock seems to be Richards, a long way from me. Anyway, if anyone has hands-on experience of Dowina guitars (any of them) I'd appreciate opinions.
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Post by michaelm on Sept 29, 2021 9:16:05 GMT
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Post by stevie2sticks on Sept 29, 2021 9:31:58 GMT
Hi, thought I’d share my experience of Richards Guitars. I was going to make a purchase of a Dowina bottom end of range from Richards during CoVID lockdown. I live Isle of Man so visiting guitar shops is rare for me. Spoke with a member of Richards staff on the phone for some time, and he told me that in his view top end Dowina guitars were well sought after & good guitars, but the Eastman PCH was better value bottom end. Following his advice I bought the Eastman, as I wanted a general practice guitar. Richards Guitars set up my guitar exactly as I wanted and delivered spot on with zero problems. The experience was that good I intend to make my next guitar purchase from Richards but top end (subject to approval from wife). I would speak to the staff at Richards. Best wishes Steve Isle of Man
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Post by malcolm on Sept 29, 2021 9:41:12 GMT
I don't own one but they are excellent value for money, Moloney Music in Galway usually has a few in stock. Steve Cooney, quite a famous Australian/Irish guitarist plays one, so there is a good recommendation for you.
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douglas
Strummer
Three chords and the truth.
Posts: 47
My main instrument is: ... the next one.
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Post by douglas on Sept 29, 2021 12:35:49 GMT
Thanks for the quick responses. Indeed Maks is easy for me, I may call and see what they have, or can get. Actually just looked - a Master series, used £1350... padauk back and sides, unusual I think. Reviews of Dowina are a little thin but overall impression online is very positive. I think I'll need to see the actual one as I saw an online review showing the rosewood back with a strip of the lighter wood down the centre - that's the sapwood and I wouldn't want that for acoustic reasons. That used one in Maks is obviously a smarter buy and has a case - the new Ceres doesn't so that covers a few quid of price difference. The danger is Maks is a sweetie shop, and I'm trying to watch the calories!!
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Post by malcolm on Sept 29, 2021 18:54:51 GMT
Have you checked out Steve Cooney? He has a YouTube video where he demonstrates a Dowina hybrid guitar and he plays and records with one. I'm not sure of the exact model but he is a very serious musician and would not promote something if he was not entirely happy with it.
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douglas
Strummer
Three chords and the truth.
Posts: 47
My main instrument is: ... the next one.
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Post by douglas on Sept 29, 2021 19:30:18 GMT
Hi Malcolm - yes, that was the video that impressed most, I like the fact he talks a lot about the instrument from a player perspective, not about tuners, rosettes and stuff. Seems genuinely enthused. I do love the sound of nylon-strung fingerstyle, as a complete compliment / contrast to steel-strung. I'll either buy one or get over this quickly... been here before !
Here's the Steve Cooney link for anyone interested:
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Post by malcolm on Sept 30, 2021 9:16:57 GMT
Hi Douglas, some years ago like you, I decided a hybrid nylon string would be a good idea and I bought a Taylor model from America. It was fine amplified but very dull acoustically, had they been available at the time the Dowina guitar would have been a much better choice for less money. I also tried a Lowden S25J for a while and it was better but really not worth the money in my opinion. Then I convinced myself that a proper classical was the answer, so I bought a hand made one by Les Backshall. It's a lovely guitar but I hardly ever play it, happier with the steel string all along.
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douglas
Strummer
Three chords and the truth.
Posts: 47
My main instrument is: ... the next one.
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Post by douglas on Sept 30, 2021 11:07:48 GMT
Pretty much in the same place - playing the steel-strings mainly then the jump to my flamenco is awkward - a full 54mm nut width! But it is very good, bright, alive, percussive, sweet... all down to player input. I've spoken with Richards - first off I discover it's pronounced 'Dovena'. (must remember to ask them how to pronounce Furch next - whatever it is, it is NOT like church) And it's made to order, 4 months. The upside is some customising: so no board markers at all (side dots only), spruce top (cedar is an option but I want bite), rosewood b&s, I see the top woods and rosewood first (pics get sent) as I made a fuss about acoustic properties over pretty grain figuring - if I need to I'd pay extra for straight tight woods. And full-black ebony board, bridge and head facing.. Another interesting thing - it's grand auditorium size which I like anyway and will help volume + lower frequencies. I can see this happening - very impressed wioth Richards: knowledge, help and their obviously close association with the maker. OK... here we go !!
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Post by malcolm on Sept 30, 2021 12:16:16 GMT
Sounds like you have made a good plan. FYI I believe Furch is pronounced Furk.
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,320
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Post by colins on Sept 30, 2021 14:27:50 GMT
I have considerable experience in building nylon string guitars and if you want to preserve the guitar's brightness, I would strongly recommend that you not have an ebony bridge, but have rosewood instead. 90%+ of classical guitars use a rosewood bridge for a reason, nylon guitars are low energy systems and ebony is the worst wood for transmitting the energy into the top.
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douglas
Strummer
Three chords and the truth.
Posts: 47
My main instrument is: ... the next one.
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Post by douglas on Oct 1, 2021 11:25:21 GMT
I have considerable experience in building nylon string guitars and if you want to preserve the guitar's brightness, I would strongly recommend that you not have an ebony bridge, but have rosewood instead. 90%+ of classical guitars use a rosewood bridge for a reason, nylon guitars are low energy systems and ebony is the worst wood for transmitting the energy into the top. Thank you- i'll bear that in mind. I notice the flamenco is rosewood. It's not officially a custom build and I don't want it to become one, but I shall enquire.
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douglas
Strummer
Three chords and the truth.
Posts: 47
My main instrument is: ... the next one.
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Post by douglas on Oct 1, 2021 11:30:22 GMT
Sounds like you have made a good plan. FYI I believe Furch is pronounced Furk. Aha! I'll need to take a bit of care with that then. But I like to say names correctly, shows a bit of care and respect... my flamenco is an Esteve pronounced Estef-ee like SantaFe, can't find an e acute accent on keyboard. I'll be quiet now.
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douglas
Strummer
Three chords and the truth.
Posts: 47
My main instrument is: ... the next one.
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Post by douglas on Oct 13, 2021 9:43:38 GMT
Progress report for those interested. First I would like to say that Dowina are really worth a close look, they are definitely making some really impressive guitars which are frankly underpriced, and that won't last. Second thing to note: Richard's in Stratford-upon-Avon has the Dowina market sewn up in the UK. If you want one there is really no point speaking to anyone else... except maybe Erika at Dowina. After a flurry of emails and even a call from Richard, I ran into a brick wall of silence from them - all I wanted was a full spec or build sheet, and one small deletion (no fret markers). So I mailed Dowina. Wow - Erika there is super-efficient and a delight to deal with. The guitar will be built to order, to my spec. A build sheet came a day later, I made 2 really small changes and I've asked them to select tonewood pieces (spruce/rosewood). I'll be sent pics for approval prior to build and I'll get build pics along the way. So the purchase goes through Richard's, but I have direct dialogue with the builder. Suits me. Lead time around 3 - 4 months. It's a 'Ceres' (based on anyway) nylon hybrid, single cut grand auditorium (slightly smaller than most GAs). It'll sit alongside my Furch OM - Czech that!
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