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Post by paganskins on Jan 14, 2014 13:51:15 GMT
Does the following top contouring on my new moon cittern look OK ie deliberate or do I have a problem? I've also sent the pics to Moon for their thoughts. From the end of the brace visible in the third pic to the neck block the top appears to be unsupported except at the edges. The fretboard doesn't have a hump or drop away into the body from the neck joint to the end of the fingerboard extension – in fact it's flat from the 7th fret to the 24th with just slight relief. Thanks
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Jan 14, 2014 14:30:21 GMT
I'll be interested to hear what Jimmy says .... I confess that it doesn't look right to me, Tom ... but I'm no luthier!
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Post by clydeslide on Jan 14, 2014 14:39:30 GMT
New to you or new out the workshop? I've never even looked at a Cittern so I'm hesitant to say anything. Jimmy is a good guy so should get back to you pretty quickly.
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Post by paganskins on Jan 14, 2014 14:49:59 GMT
New to you or new out the workshop? I've never even looked at a Cittern so I'm hesitant to say anything. Jimmy is a good guy so should get back to you pretty quickly. New to me, 2nd hand. Weirdly everything else angles wise looks right, not sure if you can see in the pics but the block of wood beneath the extension is wedge shaped (4mm at the neck joint 9mm at the sound hole) and given that the fretboard is flat seems to be designed to push that section of the top down.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jan 14, 2014 15:58:36 GMT
Understand your concern, Tom. I'm sure you'll get a reply from Jimmy soon. Even though it's a used instrument, (presumably you didn't notice the causes for your concerns before buying it?) maybe it might have been kinder to Jimmy to await his reply before posting...? Keith
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Post by paganskins on Jan 14, 2014 20:04:11 GMT
Understand your concern, Tom. I'm sure you'll get a reply from Jimmy soon. Even though it's a used instrument, (presumably you didn't notice the causes for your concerns before buying it?) maybe it might have been kinder to Jimmy to await his reply before posting...? Keith The joys of buying online I suppose, it wasn't obvious in the pics I saw. I don't think it's a manufacturing fault rather misadventure, didn't mean disrespect or harm to Moon's reputation. They have got back to me in the meantime, they say: Not ideal but not too bad, does mean I've paid over the odds for it though. From what I can tell at the moment* it is a good instrument and could be really good with some setup work. *I can't monkey with yet in case it gets returned, currently it's tuned to open D i.e. sebastapol without the low D with higher action and more relief than necessary and I suspect not ideal string gauges for the tuning.
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Post by clydeslide on Jan 14, 2014 21:27:19 GMT
Are you going to send it back? If it sounds good then maybe you can get some of the money back and keep it? I've not played their Citterns (or any Cittern...) but their mandolins have a very good reputation and there guitars and brilliant (although I just might be a bit biased there...)
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Post by earwighoney on Jan 14, 2014 22:20:04 GMT
Just of curiosity did you buy the cittern as it was or did the problems arise after you bought it? I've had problems with instruments being too dry and they've been reasonably easy to sort out. For a instrument that's been over humidified I'm not entirely sure what to do. I came across the link below which could be of some use www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/10_SymptomsofaWetGuitar.pdf
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Post by paganskins on Jan 15, 2014 8:21:47 GMT
Are you going to send it back? If it sounds good then maybe you can get some of the money back and keep it? I've not played their Citterns (or any Cittern...) but their mandolins have a very good reputation and there guitars and brilliant (although I just might be a bit biased there...) I've asked to return it, I tend to get through instruments fairly quickly and wouldn't want the difficulty of moving one that's compromised. I did consider a partial refund don't think I'd get the amount knocked off I'd want. Just of curiosity did you buy the cittern as it was or did the problems arise after you bought it? I've had problems with instruments being too dry and they've been reasonably easy to sort out. For a instrument that's been over humidified I'm not entirely sure what to do. I came across the link below which could be of some use www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/10_SymptomsofaWetGuitar.pdfIt's an existing problem, if I'm being charitable the seller could have believed it was deliberate contouring but you'd have to be fairly naive to think it should look like that. It seems to be pretty much a cosmetic issue but the price I paid would be right for something in 8.5 or 9 out of 10 used condition. I do like it though and it's the type of thing I want – large bodied octave mandolin with a longer scale and big sound for accompaniment but short enough scale for playing tunes. It wouldn't be a massive stretch just go for a new one from Moon or something from Paul Hathway, or hold out something good second hand.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2014 8:31:29 GMT
There's a 2nd hand Fylde cittern in The-Music-Room at the moment- any good? Going for about £1200, which seems quite steep but you may be able to knock them down a bit.
There is also the Andy Tobin octave mandolin that I am looking after at the moment. I know that if I don't end up buying it (which I can't really- cannot afford it) the owner would be moving it on anyway. Its a nice instrument, scale length the same as most citterns (about 584 if my memory serves me) and a headway pickup and carlton case included. Some scratches and minor dings but other very good condition. Let me know if interested,
Robbie
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jan 15, 2014 8:42:28 GMT
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Post by paganskins on Jan 15, 2014 9:13:54 GMT
There's a 2nd hand Fylde cittern in The-Music-Room at the moment- any good? Going for about £1200, which seems quite steep but you may be able to knock them down a bit. There is also the Andy Tobin octave mandolin that I am looking after at the moment. I know that if I don't end up buying it (which I can't really- cannot afford it) the owner would be moving it on anyway. Its a nice instrument, scale length the same as most citterns (about 584 if my memory serves me) and a headway pickup and carlton case included. Some scratches and minor dings but other very good condition. Let me know if interested, Robbie Yes spotted the fylde in the musicroom, I just missed out on one going on ebay recently though in hindsight the scale might be a bit long for what I'm after at 24 3/4 inches. They have a Mark Mawby OM that looks nice but quite small in the body. The Andy Tobin OM does sound interesting, and expensive ... ? Buy yes please PM some details if you have the time. Ah yes a matching pair would be nice, a big version of the mandolin I have is the type of thing I'm after. Can you give me an idea of cost so I can add it to the list?
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Post by paganskins on Jan 15, 2014 9:18:31 GMT
Can you give me an idea of cost so I can add it to the list? Don't worry, just spotted the price on your main mandolin/om page
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Post by ocarolan on Jan 15, 2014 9:20:50 GMT
...................... I've asked to return it.............. Good! I do like it though and it's the type of thing I want – large bodied octave mandolin with a longer scale and big sound for accompaniment but short enough scale for playing tunes.................. Ceol Binn Mor, as in above post, was made for me by davewhite specifically because I wanted a bigger version of his mandolin - I asked for something short enough to make tune stretches easy, (could cope with my zouk at capo 4 and up, but not the full scale) but still resonant enough for some full accompaniment playing. Works v well. You aren't that far away from Somerset - you'd be welcome to have a go on it if you ever venture across the bridge! Keith
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Post by paganskins on Jan 15, 2014 9:43:26 GMT
I do like it though and it's the type of thing I want – large bodied octave mandolin with a longer scale and big sound for accompaniment but short enough scale for playing tunes.................. Ceol Binn Mor, as in above post, was made for me by davewhite specifically because I wanted a bigger version of his mandolin - I asked for something short enough to make tune stretches easy, (could cope with my zouk at capo 4 and up, but not the full scale) but still resonant enough for some full accompaniment playing. Works v well. You aren't that far away from Somerset - you'd be welcome to have a go on it if you ever venture across the bridge! Keith That's very kind, thank you. Yes also being a convert to Dave's guitarist friendly mandolin type things I'm sure I'd enjoy it, quite a big spend for an occasional instrument so something to think on ...
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