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Post by vikingblues on May 24, 2015 8:27:57 GMT
You've built a lovely looking guitar. Now comes the fun part; playing it all day and every day. I bet the more you play it, the more the guitar will open out. You'll also develop subtle nuances in technique to get the best sound out of it. Enjoy your truly unique guitar. I listened to the sound clips. On the single string scale runs, you can hear the other strings vibrating in sympathy, so the top is definitely moving. I suggest recording again in 3 months and comparing with what you've posted today. I'll second all of that. I can certainly hear life and resonance in the guitar sounds.  There's also a case to be made for finding which styles of music or of playing are best suited to the guitar. Taking as an extreme example I know my Vintage Viator Paul Brett acoustic won't manage to do the same quality job for, say, celtic tinged slow tempo fingerstyle as my Lowden S32 .... but if it's blues I need the Viator is by far and away the better option. Some guitars respond better with a bit more digging in to the playing style, others respond best to a lighter touch. Also might be worth trying out different tunings (if you do them) as some guitars do seem to work particularly well in particular tunings. Plus if you find you have reservations about a lack of the higher frequencies it might be worth changing to a set of strings which accentuate that side of things better. Or indeed a change of gauge or tension of strings can also have dramatic effects on the way a guitar sounds and responds. So many variables!  I think you're very entitled to congratulate yourself warmly on what you've achieved Rob.  Mark |
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135 
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on May 24, 2015 18:53:33 GMT
A lot of food for thought there, Mark. I'd thought of trying different weight strings - it's got Newtone PB 12-52 on it at the moment - but I decided to go for the "different players" option first. I'm hoping to get one or two other guitarists to try it out over the next week or two - it's certainly a good way to meet people to turn up on their doorsteps with a guitar and "I understand you play guitar...."! Different tunings could also make a difference. As you say, so many variables.
Luckily, I'm very very happy with it and I'm sure it'll sort itself out one way or another. It's certainly encouraged me to start playing guitar a bit more than I normally do; "Sore fingers" is very appropriate. Thanks very much for your encouraging words.
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 14, 2015 10:21:25 GMT
I've come upon a slight problem with this guitar and I blame ocarolan.
With a view to improving my guitar playing, I have been trying to learn to play Hymne a l'Amour from his Youtube collection - lovely music, lovely arrangement, lovely playing. However, at one point I have both the third and the sixth strings fretted at the seventh fret and I pluck the third string (and open D). This causes a buzz which I finally tracked down to the sixth string between the nut and the seventh fret sympathetically resonating the D on the third string/fourth string and buzzing against, presumably, the fifth fret. It's not going to be a problem very often (!) but I need to fix it so anyone any thoughts or do I just polish down the offending fret (if I can find it)? Also, does this often happen or have a got a very sympathetic guitar?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 14, 2015 11:15:51 GMT
 Well, at least it shows that your guitar is very good at vibrating, which is a good thing. I've fortunately never suffered from back buzz either of the plucked string or sympathetically induced. Does pressing your fingers down harder help? Would a teeny tiny bit more, or even less neck relief help? A little fettling of the offending fret might work if you're sure which one is the problem, or it might just transfer it somewhere else...? Bottom line is I don't really know! Maybe davewhite could be more helpful....? Thanks for your kind comments on the vid though! Keith (Since making that vid I now usually play the B major chord with an F# in the bass rather than B, so there's a G-F#-E bassline going through the G, B and Em progression. Minor point, but it does sound nicer!) Keith
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 14, 2015 11:28:12 GMT
That's the problem isn't it? Does it need more or less neck relief either to clear the frets or be pressed against them slightly so that the string can't vibrate? Bottom line is, I don't really know, either! Thanks for the suggestions anyway and you are now absolved from any blame.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jul 14, 2015 12:16:15 GMT
Sounds like slight backbow in the neck or a slightly high fret somewhere 1-7. Try backing the truss rod off a little first and then check the frets for any high ones.
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 14, 2015 13:07:23 GMT
Problem solved! A quarter turn of extra relief and the buzz has gone. Where are the experts when you need them? Right here! Thanks davewhite. Much appreciated.
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 25, 2015 18:36:51 GMT
An old friend visited from Bath. He usually plays a Fylde Alchemist but had a little mess around on this guitar and here's a bit of his messing around. He's not going to swap it for the Fylde because it lacks the bite he likes in the bass - but was very complimentary.
https%3A//soundcloud.com/rthef/andy-cut-1
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Jo whoever he is.
