The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #61  
Old 02-27-2018, 09:46 PM
gitarro gitarro is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,510
Default

Very nice clean work...
__________________
In the end it is about who you love above yourself and what you have stood for and lived for that make the difference...
Reply With Quote
  #62  
Old 02-28-2018, 06:52 AM
invguy921's Avatar
invguy921 invguy921 is offline
Lovin' nice guitars...
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: S. Central Missouri
Posts: 2,814
Default

Steve, that is a great looking guitar!
__________________
"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold."

Woody (aka: Mike)


FOR SALE: Kinnaird Brazilian!!
Reply With Quote
  #63  
Old 02-28-2018, 09:16 AM
steveh steveh is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,748
Default

Thanks +++ for all of the gracious comments Gentlemen.

As it happens a while back Tom and I arranged to hook up at his shop in Yorkshire so that I could have some input into the final neck shaping etc. Because of work, I need to get these trips arranged well in advance. In the interim, work on the guitar raced ahead and by the time I arrived in Ripon, my guitar was off being finished, so I never got to see it. Saw an MD for a mate of mine (Dave from Wolfram) coming together though - macassar ebony IIRC?

Still managed to have a great day chatting and gossiping about guitars though:



Cheers,
Steve
Reply With Quote
  #64  
Old 03-06-2018, 05:30 AM
steveh steveh is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,748
Default

At last, here are pics of the finished article that Tom has had done. I hope you'll agree its a fabulous looking instrument?











Reply With Quote
  #65  
Old 03-06-2018, 07:19 AM
cigarfan's Avatar
cigarfan cigarfan is offline
Music soothes the soul!
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Within the blast radius of Washington D.C.
Posts: 5,177
Default

Indeed, a beautiful instrument. Congrats to both of you!
__________________
Life is like a box of chocolates ....
Reply With Quote
  #66  
Old 03-06-2018, 10:24 AM
Nemoman Nemoman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N. California
Posts: 3,140
Default

That is a stunner--love everything about it!

Congrats and good cheer!
__________________
2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle)
2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW)
2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga)
2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco)
2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak)
2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk)
2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa)
Reply With Quote
  #67  
Old 03-06-2018, 11:51 AM
Deft Tungsman's Avatar
Deft Tungsman Deft Tungsman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 915
Default

Deeeeelicious !! Congratulations !!
__________________
____________________________________________
1922 Martin 0-28
1933 Martin 0-17
1974 Alvarez/Yairi CY120
2010 Baranik Parlor
2013 Circa OM-18
2014 Claxton OM Traditional
2014 Blackbird Rider
Reply With Quote
  #68  
Old 03-06-2018, 07:57 PM
Diamondave's Avatar
Diamondave Diamondave is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Venice CA
Posts: 2,576
Default

I AGREE, Ab Fab...
__________________
onedayatatime
Reply With Quote
  #69  
Old 03-06-2018, 08:41 PM
LouieAtienza LouieAtienza is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,617
Default

Steve that is a most excellent instrument! Best of luck with it... recordings soon I hope!!!

Lots of small but elegant details, like the bridge design which I think is amazing, as well as the headstock.
Reply With Quote
  #70  
Old 03-07-2018, 08:05 AM
mikealpine's Avatar
mikealpine mikealpine is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 6,107
Default

My first thought, after admiring the overall beauty of the instrument, is that it has a powerful look, like it would be loud and proud. If you can post sound samples, I'd love to hear this. It's a stunning instrument!
__________________
---------------------------------------

2013 Joel Stehr Dreadnought - Carpathian/Malaysian BW
2014 RainSong H-OM1000N2
2017 Rainsong BI-WS1000N2
2013 Chris Ensor Concert - Port Orford Cedar/Wenge
1980ish Takamine EF363 complete with irreplaceable memories
A bunch of electrics (too many!!)
Reply With Quote
  #71  
Old 03-08-2018, 05:10 AM
Portland Bill Portland Bill is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 416
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by steveh View Post
Thanks +++ for all of the gracious comments Gentlemen.

As it happens a while back Tom and I arranged to hook up at his shop in Yorkshire so that I could have some input into the final neck shaping etc. Because of work, I need to get these trips arranged well in advance. In the interim, work on the guitar raced ahead and by the time I arrived in Ripon, my guitar was off being finished, so I never got to see it. Saw an MD for a mate of mine (Dave from Wolfram) coming together though - macassar ebony IIRC?

Still managed to have a great day chatting and gossiping about guitars though:



Cheers,
Steve
Well you look happy with the deal
Reply With Quote
  #72  
Old 03-08-2018, 06:00 AM
Fngrstyl Fngrstyl is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Abingdon, Illinois
Posts: 6,201
Default

Stunning guitar! I still can't get over Toms work. My OM sounds like nothing I have ever heard from a guitar.. Congrats, Steve.
__________________
Chad Fengel
itunes

My YouTube

Facebook


"Only by becoming acquainted with your own self,
can you gain the composure to write original music"


Michael Hedges ♫
Reply With Quote
  #73  
Old 03-09-2018, 04:30 AM
steveh steveh is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,748
Default

OK – So I have the guitar here. As you can see from the pic below, Tom delivered it a little while back. We had meant to get it to me before Christmas (what a great present that would have been!) but like so many UK luthiers Tom farms out his finishing to the very competent and oft used David Wilson and the holiday period meant a bit of a delay before the guitar got back to Tom. Tom delivered it just before our Christmas tree came down, as evidenced by the pic below!



Another very nice touch was that I had been in discussion with Tom about the case. I’m not a fan of expensive cases or those that break your wrist every time you try to pick them up. I don’t play professionally etc. and would much rather my money went towards the guitar inside rather than on the case itself. I’m a big fan of plain old Hiscox and that’s what I wanted. Anyway, Tom delivered it in a Hoffee, stating that he just couldn’t bear the idea of it being in anything less good; what a surprise and what a great guy!

Anyway, one of the reasons I have had the guitar for a while before completing this thread is that I really didn’t want to get into a situation that I’ve seen happen here more than a few times: Lots of excitement about the upcoming guitar and then radio silence because the buyer is disappointed in some way. From personal experience, I know how very easy it is to invest far too much emotional energy in an upcoming build only for that to very quickly develop into completely unrealistic expectations.

Indeed, the opposite has been the case for me with this Sands. As noted earlier, I am playing 90% nylon these days and wasn’t really in the market for a new steel-string: I sold two Kostals that I loved to fund a nylon guitar and I’m not really obsessed by steel-string in the way that I was a couple of years ago. I’d played some of Toms guitars, thought they were great, and my pals were raving about them. So, I got on board but with a bit of an, “oh well, whatever…” attitude if I am honest. I know Tom thought it a little odd that I wasn’t as “all over” the build as most of his clients are over theirs.

Where am I heading with this? Well, I guess I am saying that I wasn’t expecting fireworks when the guitar was delivered. I’ve been there, seen that film, and got that badge. However, whether I was expecting it or not, there were plenty of pyrotechnics when I got the guitar in my hands. This guitar has blown me away completely. On the most basic level, it looks great: The padauk (an example of me avoiding the obvious and expensive candidates) looks fabulous under finish. Red? Bah! This is a glorious, rich, deep mahogany colour. It looks beautiful. What a surprise! And the size – it’s great. I loved my MD and it’s huge, expansive sound but it was a real big handful of a guitar, especially for a little guy like me. In contrast, this MMD is perfect. You definitely get more than a fair slice of that big, resonant bottom end, but without the arm ache. Sonically, this is closer to a full-fat MD than an OM.

…and so to the sound, and what a sound! This is everything I could have hoped it to be and far, far more. I had been attracted to Tom’s guitars because pretty much all of those I’ve encountered have displayed definitely sweeter trebles than the large majority of Somogyi inspired guitars I have played. Obviously, there’s a ton of variation between individual guitars, but I have played a lot of apprentice (and Somogyi) guitars and that’s my thoughts, noting that this is a relative observation. This guitar is complex, responsive, deep, and loaded with overtones. Whether the 12-fret bridge position has anything to do with it, I don’t know, but this guitar has that supple, mellifluous sound in spades.

I am SO HAPPY I commissioned this and it is bringing me back to steel-string rapidly. With that in mind I am getting some tunes under my fingertips and will definitely be posting some video when I am happy with my performance – that takes me a bit of time but I’ll get there and readers will get to hear the guitar. Seriously, I could not be happier – this is one of the very best guitars I’ve played and it’s mine! IMHO Tom has gotten into a build quality and sonic space that very few luthiers achieve. The fact that he's done it so quickly is no doubt due to the combination of Mr. Somogyi and a ton of innate talent. Well done Tom – you nailed it. This is a keeper and I don't often say that.

Cheers,
Steve
Reply With Quote
  #74  
Old 03-09-2018, 04:38 AM
steveh steveh is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,748
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikealpine View Post
My first thought, after admiring the overall beauty of the instrument, is that it has a powerful look, like it would be loud and proud. If you can post sound samples, I'd love to hear this. It's a stunning instrument!
Mike, see above: I will defiitely be posting video when I have some new tunes under my fingers. My nylon fetish (haha) has left me very rusty on the steel-string.

"Loud and proud"? I'm not so sure. When I think "loud and proud" the guitar that sits at the top of that pile is Stefan Sobell - huge projection, separation, and impossible to overdrive. This Sands is almost the polar opposite if that makes sense. It's warmer and less steely than a Sobell and is more responsive, with overtones that are easier to coax out. Less separation and it would be far easier to overdrive the Sands but that's because it's a super responsive fingerstyle instrument. I asked Tom to build me the apogee of the bedroom guitar, i.e. something for my personal pleasure, playing at home. I want a sound that envelops the player rather than projection. As it happens, I have a great Sobell here so can report back when I can entice a pal around to play while I listen.

Cheers,
Steve
Reply With Quote
  #75  
Old 03-09-2018, 04:44 AM
steveh steveh is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,748
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fngrstyl View Post
I still can't get over Toms work. My OM sounds like nothing I have ever heard from a guitar.
Yes Chad. Like I say above, I'm not sure how Tom got to where he is so quickly but it has to be the combination of Somogyi, innate talent, and the ability to soak information up like a sponge over the 3-years he was in Oakland.

Interestingly, my guitar does not have the typical Somogyi "magic sauce" bracing because the 12-fret bridge position makes that difficult. As I understand it from Tom, mine is more traditionallly braced yet still sounds like a Somogyi style guitar. Far more to the top voicing than just where the braces are placed.

Cheers,
Steve
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=