Luthier Stories Video - Catching up with Stefan Sobell

[Joel Teel]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

I think we can make that happen Joel....

What’s the admission price, Tom? I’m in 😉

[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by steveh

I fist became obsessed with Sobells around 16 years ago. The internet was in its infancy and there was little information regarding them barring a few revered quotes from Martin Simpson in the odd guitar mag. Indeed, part of the allure was the mystery that seemed to surround them, at least to a guy like me who was used to Lowdens and Fyldes etc.

I remember calling Stefan all those years back and asking how much one cost - 2K - twice as much as a Lowden at the time! In the end I cracked and got one (a Model 0) and that guitar was the instrument that changed me into someone very serious about playing guitar as a hobby. It was on a different planet to anything I'd laid hands on previously. It kick-started my GAS (gee, thanks for that - not!), and I ended up buying one from Martin S, a lovely scantling BRW Model 1 that he brought along to a workshop.

I would have killed (well, not literally...) to have seen a video like this back then. It's stuffed full of very valuable information straight from the horses mouth, and you get to hear the guitars played expertly as well, and well recorded. What's not to like?

And also, nothing wrong at all with people who think before they open their mouth...

Cheers,
Steve

You got a scantling back Steve? I did not know that! Stefan was building one of the first ones last time I visited and it looked gorgeous!

[steveh]

Originally Posted by Michael Watts

You got a scantling back Steve? I did not know that! Stefan was building one of the first ones last time I visited and it looked gorgeous!

You know me Michael - it's long gone! I sold it quite a few years ago as I moved towards a less direct sound.

Stefan has been building scantling guitars for years. It's very, very diffficult to tell that these are multi-piece BRW guitars, so good is the woodworking and matching; the BRW is very dark. Even the sides are doubled horizontally. The BRW is such high quality that Stefan felt obliged to make guitars from it, despite their small size.

I still have a video up of me playing mine, 9 years ago - audio sounds horrible these days!



That was the guitar Martin used on "Kind Letters".

People reading this who haven't played a Sobell really ought to try. It's very difficult to get across how unique the sound is. The most identifiable builder to my mind. Rory Dowling is very heavily influenced by Stefan and Nigel Forster, although Nigel's guitars have very much their own sound these days.

Cheers,
Steve

[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by steveh

People reading this who haven't played a Sobell really ought to try. It's very difficult to get across how unique the sound is. The most identifiable builder to my mind. Rory Dowling is very heavily influenced by Stefan and Nigel Forster, although Nigel's guitars have very much their own sound these days.

Cheers,
Steve

That is very true. There is nothing like Stefan's work. Both Rory and Nigel have their own beautiful thing going. In fact I was really taken with what Rory is pulling out of maple these days



All the best

MDW

[Step]

Love these videos Michael - perfect production and the mix of excellent luthiers, wonderful guitars and a fabulous player are a real treat.

Any scope for further Luthier Stories - Fylde, Lowden, Brook perhaps

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by Michael Watts

That is very true. There is nothing like Stefan's work. Both Rory and Nigel have their own beautiful thing going. In fact I was really taken with what Rory is pulling out of maple these days



All the best

MDW

My, that Taran sounds great. People really need to get past their Maple aversion as a tone wood, I own a maple Kinnaird OM that I believe is one of the best sounding guitars I own certainly, but among the best I have heard. I believe you own a Maple Kostal which is fantastic and now this Taran Maple among many others.



My belief is that Maple may be one of the very best tonewoods especially in a talented luthier's hands! Just my opinion.

maple.jpg

[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by Step

Love these videos Michael - perfect production and the mix of excellent luthiers, wonderful guitars and a fabulous player are a real treat.

Any scope for further Luthier Stories - Fylde, Lowden, Brook perhaps

Shhh... I may be planning something... it will be our secret for the time being...

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

My belief is that Maple may be one of the very best tonewoods especially in a talented luthier's hands! Just my opinion.

Attachment 12940

Absolutely Tom, I couldn't agree more! Not just your opinion, mine too.