#31
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veeeery interesting........
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Nick Current: Matsuda M1 Cutaway, Braz/Ital (2009) Previous: Collings 0002H, IR/Sit (2012) Collings 0002EC, IR/Ger (2000) Taylor 324ce L10, Koa/Koa (2005) |
#32
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+1 for Ralph Bown. I have a Brazilian OM that steveh sold me. It's fantastic. My very good friend Terry Oliver has a 000 that made for him by Ralph which is sublime, to which I'm sure steveh will testify to.
Cheers, Ian |
#33
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I'd give +1 for Frustration at the lack of Ralph Bown info on the web so thanks for posting this picture.
Love the beaten/worn look of the Turnstone guitar as well. I presume the OP has checked out Fylde and Brook Guitars
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Custom Brook Lyn Lowden F23 Martin 000X1AE Fender 'Nashville' Telecaster Gordon Smith GS1.5 |
#34
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I would just add to the recommendations for Tom Sands and Rory Dowling (Taran); I own wonderful instruments by both of them - both small bodied. Rosie of Turnstone Guitars is in the middle of a build for me, one of her 'E' models of all-English timber.
The other names mentioned in the thread are all great builders, of course. It is interesting that so many hide their light under a bushel. The UK is blessed with many good artisanal builders. If you have the time, go and visit some. They will probably appreciate the company. I have purchased guitars in the USA and carried them home (never any customs problems), bought USA made guitars from UK dealers (and you should pay a visit to The North American Guitar in London - you will get some good insight on what's available) and direct from UK luthiers. All great experiences and commercially viable, but at the end of the day, it's the pleasure you get from the instrument that counts the most.
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Northamptonshire, UK Guitars by: Tom Sands, Michael Bashkin, Turnstone Guitars, Taran Guitars, Jeff Bamburg, Marchwood, Fylde, C F Martin, Patrick James Eggle, John Kinnaird, Yairi, Yamaha, National, Gretsch, Fender, Recording King, Camps |
#35
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Don't worry - I have that badge and tee-shirt also!
Cheers, Steve |
#36
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Hi Nick,
Sticking to UK luthiers, there are many so I can only comment on what I've personally played. Ralph Bown is truly world-class - you won't find a better traditional-style guitar anywhere. I know Ralph and can put you in touch if you'd like to pursue that. There's an utterly astonishing 12-fret Sobell out there (owned by a Forum member who'll probably chip in here) so Stefan would be worth consideration. I'm also a great admirer of Taran guitars and Tom Sands - I own the very first Sands Model L (his take on the Modified Dreadnought) but I notice from your earlier post that you were after something more 'traditional' and I'd consider both Rory and Tom to be in the 'modern' school of guitar building. Definitely check out Turnstone Guitars (Rosie Heydenrych) too - superb instruments in a very different, unique style. You should also consider Brook Guitars and Atkin Guitars - the UK's small factory equivalents to Collings/Bourgeois. Back to American guitars for a moment though. It would be worth the short trek down to Brighton to try out a couple of 12-fret 000s that Trevor has in stock at the Acoustic Music Company. He has a Fischer and Kwasnycia that may be of interest. I don't see anything in at the North American Guitar that fits the 12 fret 000 criteria, but it would be worth contacting them if you haven't already. Hope some of that's helpful. Cheers, David
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#37
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Quote:
I am the fortunate owner of the said Sobell 12 fret Model 0 which I bought from steveh. It's a bit of a one off instrument as I haven't seen any other 12 fret Sobells. Great guitar (November 2003) made from very old growth Brazilian, European spruce top and 100 year old Cuban mahogany for the neck. Light as a feather and incredibly responsive. On another note, I host an annual guitar event down here near Southampton which some on this forum attend. It's a fabulous opportunity to meet with like minded people as well as get up and personal with some completely amazing instruments. Last year we had some builders too : Ralph Bown, Rosie and Karl from Turnstone Guitars and Rory Dowling from Taran guitars as well as Tom Sands. Previous years have seen Jason Kostal and Ted Astrand here. This event is always held on the third Saturday in July, so this year it will be Saturday July 20th. Anyone wishing to come along who hasn't been before should PM me. Cheers and all the very best with sourcing a great guitar... Ian |
#38
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Quote:
Which brings me to "traditional OM" vs. some of the other makers mentioned in this thread. Ralph's guitars in the traditional mould are very different to Tom Sand's (who's building an East Coast modern, uber responsive fingerstyle instrument) and Rory Dowling, whose guitars are very much from the Sobell stable (i.e. very unique; separation, clarity, impossible to overdrive). Indeed, I'd put a Sands and a Taran pretty much diametrically opposite to one another. A major factor for the OP will be to settle on what type of sound he's after. Given he has a Matsuda (which will be closest to the Sands I'd guess) I'd predict a Bown would be a great compliment. Choices choices. We are indeed very fortunate to have such a great array of builders in such a small country. Cheers, Steve |
#39
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Quote:
The array of top-flight guitars grows each year and is mind-blowing. ...and the company's not bad either! Cheers, Steve |
#40
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what's about these two
hi folks,
it's astonishing to me that the luthiers, I made my best experience with aren't listed. Although I have some british guitars I can't claim to be a specialist but first there is Adrian Lucas from England, a wonderful luthier with impressinmg instruments both design and voice http://www.lucasguitars.co.uk/models...ng/index.shtml and second there is Balazs Prohaszka from Ireland with breathtaking sound and design. https://www.prohaszkaguitars.com/ Unfortunately -to me the best one in UK, perhaps in Europe-, David Anthony Reid doesn't build guitars furthermore because of problems with wooddust, but if you will be able to play one: really do it. http://www.darluthier.com/ all the best guitarchie |
#41
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Adrian (Lucas) is without doubt a fine builder, though not a builder of traditional style 000's... David Anthony Reid no longer builds, so really not applicable to this thread...
Cheers, Ian |
#42
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Me too! looks beautiful !
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#43
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As it happens, this is probably my favorite Bown (although I need to revisit Terry Olivers which I've only played for a short time). Alas, it's not mine but belongs to a good friend and MONSTER player. This has Amazon back and sides.
He was very kind to leave it with me for a few weeks while he was at work and I played a John Renborn arrangement (Owen Roe O'Neil) on it one day: Although just an Apogee Mic into an iPad, I think you can hear that it's a traditional "Martin" type tone but one that is far more responsive, with more harmonic content than the usual fare. I think so anyway. Cheers, Steve |
#44
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Nobody has mentioned Brook Guitars...they look like the have a nice selection...and probably in your price range compared to the others mentioned...
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Jeff Mark Hatcher Pina Parlor Torrified Maple/Cedar Stephen Kinnaird 00 B&W Ebony/Engelmann Spruce Simon Fay African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood Wolfgang Jellinghaus Torres Modelo 43S Maple/Spruce K Yairi CYTM Maple/Cedar |
#45
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You cnanot go wrong with commissioning a Bown from the OM that I have previously owned - the warmest guitar that I have ever had.
Another choice is to buy a used OOO - and I notice that there is a used Circa OOO for sale in The North American Guitar currently. John Slobod makes a class A1 guitar by any reckoning. Fingerstyle virtuoso Stuart Ryan was using a Circa until relatively recently, or he may still be using it.
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