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Post by vikingblues on Oct 4, 2021 19:23:31 GMT
A value for money one preferably. Comfortable, and maybe with something like a shorter scale. For when my finger joints get worse.
So I trotted along to Ronnie's in Haddington to see if anything they had would ft the bill. 25 minute round trip instead of a 90 minute one to Edinburgh with it's associated parking issues and costs. Ronnie was very helpful and friendly and I was greeted warmly by a lovely 4 legged creature of the canine variety too - who curled up on a chair while I sat and played on the other. Very relaxing atmosphere. Tried some Tanglewoods and also some Rathbones. I'd seen the latter on his webpage, but had never tried one or really heard of them. Part of the Barnes and Mullins stable and as the headstock shows, they've been around a while.
Went home to think about it with the intention of going back next day to do a final shoot out between two of the guitars. But as I thought the right choice was obvious.
Ended up going back and getting the Rathbone No 1. Shorter scale instrument and nice clear sound and very easy to play. I'll post more detail shortly. Suddenly run out of time.
Here's some pics - if the links i did work out!
Mark
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Post by Wild Violet on Oct 4, 2021 20:00:27 GMT
That looks really nice!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Oct 4, 2021 21:24:30 GMT
Not heard of those before, Mark, but they do look very tasty. Will look forward to hearing how yours sounds! Congrats - have fun!
Keith
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Post by vikingblues on Oct 4, 2021 21:25:29 GMT
Ronnie's sort of concentrate on lower price range guitars - makes sense to leave the big price big name stuff to Edinburgh shops. The Rathbone No. 1 came in at under £400 including a decent gig-bag. Looks wise it sells itself to me on the quality of the appearance of wood grains and the simple soundhole and headstock decoration. It doesn't feel lightweight, nor heavy with too dense woods - just feels quite sturdy. It's basically a baby size version of a Concert size. Bout widths similar to a parlour but with a relatively slimmer waist. The soundhole is not the smaller one usually found on parlours but a larger 100mm. Also 14 frets to the body and the cutaway differentiate it from a parlour. Doesn't have that sometimes heard boxy parlour sound - much fuller sound and quite mids-rich. Scale length is 23" / 590mm. Solid Cedar top and Rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck. Bone nut and saddle. Nice combo of warmth from the cedar and clarity / sparkle from the Rosewood - well, works that way when I play it. Pretty balanced sound across the bass / mid / top. Much as I would have liked to search out a high quality little guitar my wits and my pension are sadly inadequate enough to rule that out. Funny - it leaves me with a range of 5 acoustics that are all over the place on specifications! Upper bouts ranging 245mm to 282mm. Lower bouts 350mm to 405mm. Waists 200mm to 225mm. Body depth 100mm to 118mm. Nut width 42mm to 46mm. Scale length 595mm to 650mm. 2 x 12 frets and 3 x 14 frets. To think that I used to go looking for guitars within certain size specifications! No knowing what might feel comfortable or sound right. I've been enjoying playing it. It is easy on the fingers and the lack of stretching will likely be of gradually more and more benefit as times goes by. The 3 cedar top guitars I have all have their own individual sound. A lot to do with different shapes and sizes and this one having rosewood back and sides rather than mahogany. I'll pop into the Duck with her at some point. Mark
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delb0y
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Post by delb0y on Oct 4, 2021 23:30:24 GMT
Looks great. Can't wait to hear it!
As an aside, I played the stepson's 1990s MIJ Strat over the weekend (won for a tenner on a web giveaway site!) My goodness it was so easy to play compared to mine. Not sure why, but I'm guessing a flatter profile neck, or maybe a different (less sticky) laquer on the neck. But I was pulling off single note runs and bends that I'd never dream of doing on mine. That said, it wasn't so comfy for chords, which these days is more important to me. Anyway, the scales fell from my eyes as to how much more playable some guitars are compared to others!
Perhaps I need to get out and play a few more...
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Post by grayn on Oct 5, 2021 6:54:21 GMT
Congrats on a very nice looking guitar. I particularly like the headstock. My Yamaha CSF TA has a nice 23.63″-scale and the lesser tension and shorter stretches, make it a doddle to play.
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Post by malcolm on Oct 5, 2021 8:59:36 GMT
That looks like a very nice guitar for £400!
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Post by vikingblues on Oct 7, 2021 18:09:03 GMT
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