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Post by RosieTGC on Jul 19, 2024 8:47:29 GMT
Hi everyone! It's been quite since I've posted here, I hope you're all doing very well! I wanted to let you know about a new initiative that Karl and I have just launched today called The Artists' Guitar Program. You may want to apply or know someone who might be interested! One of the main reasons I ventured into guitar building is the joy of seeing my instruments in the hands of talented musicians. However, boutique guitars, crafted in small quantities with meticulous care, are inherently more expensive than factory-made counterparts (as I'm sure you are all more than familiar with!). This means that both the availability and the affordability of these guitars are limited, reducing the number of people who can enjoy them, which is a much smaller number than I’d like. For this reason, Karl and I have been exploring ways to make our guitars more accessible. During a recent visit from Michael Watts, we were discussing some of our ideas with him, and he suggested a brilliant solution: building a guitar specifically for artists, which we would loan out for free! We loved the concept and have since built the guitar and developed The Artists’ Guitar Program. This initiative will allow two artists each year to use a specially built guitar for six months each. Through The Artists' Guitar Program, we aim to support and inspire musicians by providing them with access to a high-quality instrument that they might not otherwise be able to afford. We believe that by placing these guitars in the hands of talented musicians, we can help nurture their creativity and contribute to their musical journey. To apply, musicians simply need to complete an application form on our website, submit a video of their performance, and share their personal story and goals. Selected artists will not only receive the guitar for six months but will also have the opportunity to collaborate with us on promotional activities, sharing their journey and experiences with a broader audience. We’d love to reach as many people as possible, so please forward this post to anyone you think may be interested! Your support in spreading the word will help us ensure that more musicians get the chance to experience the joy of playing a boutique-made guitar. I'd love to know what you think about this too so please leave a comment/reply below  If you haven't watched it already, here’s a video showcasing the guitar and the launch: |
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Jul 19, 2024 9:47:38 GMT
What a great idea, Rosie, one which, I'm sure, will be taken up by both new and established musicians. My initial thoughts meander around how will you choose (ability, style of music?)? What will you expect of them (recording, touring?)? And, finally, are YOU going to insure the instrument or will they be responsible for that?  |
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Post by fred7 on Jul 19, 2024 9:48:06 GMT
What a brilliant chance for someone. Good luck with the project, hope it proves to be a huge success.
Wish I was a working musician.
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 19, 2024 10:25:28 GMT
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Post by RosieTGC on Jul 19, 2024 12:04:38 GMT
What a great idea, Rosie, one which, I'm sure, will be taken up by both new and established musicians. My initial thoughts meander around how will you choose (ability, style of music?)? What will you expect of them (recording, touring?)? And, finally, are YOU going to insure the instrument or will they be responsible for that? Hi Leo, Thanks for the encouraging response! You ask very important questions and we've got the full T&C's on our website here: www.turnstoneguitar.co.uk/agp-termsBut just to cover it a bit here too - the instrument will be insured under us and the applicant must be UK based. We just need proof of their identity for that (and of course a request that the instrument is respected, but we do expect the odd ding and scratch along the way and that's ok - it's a working tool after all). We will be interested to know in the application form what the artist will hope to do with the instrument as that will be very important to us when choosing someone. The more information and links the better. There is no specific expectation (although we did ponder threatening that they must produce an official charting number one album and accompanying world tour within the timeframe, but we thought that perhaps a touch pushy  ) but of course we want the guitar to be actively used throughout the tenure, whatever format they tell us about when they apply. We will hope to do collaborative promotional activities with them as well, to help boost both of our profiles, so they need to be open to that too. We're open to seeing whoever may apply as there may be an artist out there with a story we haven't yet considered. I hope that helps answer those questions! If any more arise that you think we haven't thought of do let us know. |
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Post by leoroberts on Jul 19, 2024 12:26:22 GMT
See? That's the thing with you retired lot - you have time to read the terms and conditions whilst we who are still working for the man don't do the necessary research and just ask the stupid questions for which 2 minutes following a link would've provided answers. I'd hang my head in shame and embarrassment, but I daren't take the risk that the sun glints off my pate, temporarily blinding a passing HGV driver who ploughs into a crowd of schoolkids waiting at the bus stop as they celebrate their last day at school and the imminent joy of 6 weeks terrorising the neighbourhood with their electric scooters. So, in many ways, I'm in the right and not just lazy. Plus, of course, I don't think the RosieTGC scheme is for me in any way, shape or form. Nonetheless, thank you, ocarolan (and RosieTGC) for your illuminating (and eliminating!) replies I look forward to following the journey the guitar makes over the coming months and years and am absolutely sure that joining this forum is somewhere in the small print, right? Though, as stated, I'm not going to read it... |
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Post by RosieTGC on Jul 19, 2024 13:01:20 GMT
Commented again by accident, can't seem to delete it so here we are  |
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Post by borborygmus on Jul 19, 2024 15:56:23 GMT
It's a fabulous initiative RosieTGC and Karl. It will be fascinating to hear from the talented musicians that you can help bring to the fore with this. There is so much capability out there, looking for better instruments - to help them play better and sound better. My thought would be to focus on younger people, but I am sure your selection criteria is appropriate. The idea of patronage like this is common in the classical music field, and has been for centuries - especially for string players, such as violinists and cellists. Historically, fine instruments were only owned by the wealthy elite. There are organisations like The Stradivari Society which facilitate this today. Maybe we should have The Turnstone Society for steel string guitars! I look forward to one day listening to a collected recording of all these fortunate players, with a tune from each one on this instrument. Peter |
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Post by fred7 on Jul 20, 2024 9:38:48 GMT
Going slightly off kilter for a moment here but some say a guitar is a living thing and has ‘soul’.
This isn’t just a great opportunity for the lucky recipients, it’s also a wonderful chance for the guitar. If you were to be a guitar then this is surely the one to be. Most guitars end up with one owner and as such have to bear a lifetime playing the same old thing over and over again.
That owner might be a strummer, a fingerpicker, a beginner or a seasoned pro.
Or they might be one of those evil sadistic owners that just buy it as a piece of furniture to sit in the corner of the room because the owner thinks it makes him look cool – and it never gets played.
This lucky guitar will spend its life playing every style at every level and will probably open up like no other guitar. It will be the envy of all other guitars.
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Jul 20, 2024 18:49:08 GMT
Most guitars end up with one owner and as such have to bear a lifetime playing the same old thing over and over again. And THIS is the reason I come to the HB weekends - to give my guitars the chance to be played by proper guitarists who go beyond the cowboy chords. It’s the reason we all come, isn’t it? (Along with the fun, the music, the craic, the alcohol and because my wife chases me out the house cos she “wants one weekend to myself”) 😀 |
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Post by jonnymosco on Jul 20, 2024 19:23:14 GMT
I have just played the guitar, beautiful! A fantastic idea.
Jonny
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Post by Akquarius on Jul 21, 2024 7:48:43 GMT
Excellent idea! Sounds a bit like davewhite 's Guitar Road Trip from a couple of years ago, only on a different level and for a bigger audience. |
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Post by newdave on Jul 21, 2024 8:15:48 GMT
I used to think that all guitars beyond a certain point were equal. I even said so in a thread on here. I was so wrong.  This is a very generous offer Rosie and I wish you good luck with it. The artist who gets the opportunity to spend time with one of your guitars will be very fortunate. I hope it brings your guitars to wider attention and you benefit from it also. |
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Post by jonnymosco on Jul 21, 2024 8:44:50 GMT
Excellent idea! Sounds a bit like davewhite 's Guitar Road Trip from a couple of years ago, only on a different level and for a bigger audience. I played Rosie's guitar at Ian Brown's guitar 'do'... what did he have on his music stand? The Traveller TAB book davewhite and markt created with a great intro on the project by Dave, I showed it to Rosie. Jonny |
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Post by RosieTGC on Jul 22, 2024 9:00:19 GMT
It's a fabulous initiative RosieTGC and Karl. It will be fascinating to hear from the talented musicians that you can help bring to the fore with this. There is so much capability out there, looking for better instruments - to help them play better and sound better. My thought would be to focus on younger people, but I am sure your selection criteria is appropriate. The idea of patronage like this is common in the classical music field, and has been for centuries - especially for string players, such as violinists and cellists. Historically, fine instruments were only owned by the wealthy elite. There are organisations like The Stradivari Society which facilitate this today. Maybe we should have The Turnstone Society for steel string guitars! I look forward to one day listening to a collected recording of all these fortunate players, with a tune from each one on this instrument. Peter Thanks Peter! Yes someone else was talking to me about that at Ian's weekend just gone too (Stradarvari Society) and that's wonderful to hear. I'm going to check out the site to learn more about how they run it, as I'm sure we will learn lots along the way with this. Aw yes some kind of collective output from this down the line would be an absolutely wonderful thing! Let's do it! |
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- I expect you could be inundated with potential applicants! All the best to you and Karl with this venture.
) but of course we want the guitar to be actively used throughout the tenure, whatever format they tell us about when they apply. We will hope to do collaborative promotional activities with them as well, to help boost both of our profiles, so they need to be open to that too. 
Jo whoever he is.
