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  #46  
Old 11-05-2018, 11:13 AM
steveh steveh is offline
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So I found myself in TNAG this afternoon and played the Model L that you have just recorded for your new album.

Good grief! What a superlative instrument!

Really rich and responsive, not at all shrill - has that characteristic Sands' sweetness and bloom on the trebles.
...and the low end...
...and beautifully built. Crisp work indeed.

Only downside for me was that it is a BIG guitar. Even with the wedge, I found it a handful; a lovely handful, but a handful nonetheless.

Reminded me a lot of a Somogyi MD in wenge that I played at TAMCO many years ago. That guitar was astonishing and started a whole load of balls rolling for me.

Cheers,
Steve
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  #47  
Old 12-10-2018, 03:38 AM
Will McNicol Will McNicol is offline
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Hi Steve,

Isn't it just! And what a joy it was to get it in front of the mics. Sounding suitably enormous, which certainly helps when in a room with string quartet!

I'm not often a fan of larger-bodied guitars, but that one took the biscuit for me, and provided a unique tonal quality which I absolutely loved on this upcoming album.

W

Quote:
Originally Posted by steveh View Post
So I found myself in TNAG this afternoon and played the Model L that you have just recorded for your new album.

Good grief! What a superlative instrument!

Really rich and responsive, not at all shrill - has that characteristic Sands' sweetness and bloom on the trebles.
...and the low end...
...and beautifully built. Crisp work indeed.

Only downside for me was that it is a BIG guitar. Even with the wedge, I found it a handful; a lovely handful, but a handful nonetheless.

Reminded me a lot of a Somogyi MD in wenge that I played at TAMCO many years ago. That guitar was astonishing and started a whole load of balls rolling for me.

Cheers,
Steve
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  #48  
Old 12-11-2018, 06:28 AM
Will McNicol Will McNicol is offline
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Lots of new images ahoy!

So, my dear friend Tom has been hard at work. Very hard, actually, as this neck is Wenge...





Some numbers for you:
Nut width: 46.55mm (1-13/16")
Scale: 24.75"
String spacing at the saddle: 2-1/4"



I absolutely love the contrast between the Wenge and Black Limba.



I've actually named this guitar "Jupiter" as the grain of the Limba looks a lot like the swirling gas clouds on the planet... I also quite enjoy the irony as it's such a small guitar =)



And here we have it... looking very much ready for a coat of lacquer...



And some final numbers:
Lower bout: 14-3/8"
Upper bout: 10-1/4"
Body length: 18-3/4"
Depth: 4-1/4"





Safe to say my excitement has reached fever-pitch, and I simply can't wait to get my hands on it now. And the entire process from the initial spark of an idea, through to now has been such a joy. Tom's suggestions and constant communication made the whole process smooth-as-silk.

Over the past year-and-a-half, working so closely with Tom, he's become a dear and very close friend, and that is where the magic lies.

Now let me play the thing!
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  #49  
Old 12-11-2018, 08:09 AM
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Deft Tungsman Deft Tungsman is offline
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This is an exciting moment in the gestation process!! Coming together very nicely, indeed! Congratulations to you both and thanks for sharing!
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  #50  
Old 12-11-2018, 08:56 AM
Will McNicol Will McNicol is offline
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Thanks for the reply! Yes, very exciting indeed, and hope I may well even have it over in France in April =)

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This is an exciting moment in the gestation process!! Coming together very nicely, indeed! Congratulations to you both and thanks for sharing!
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  #51  
Old 12-11-2018, 02:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Will McNicol View Post
Thanks for the reply! Yes, very exciting indeed, and hope I may well even have it over in France in April =)


Fingers crossed, mon ami!!
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  #52  
Old 12-11-2018, 05:54 PM
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Looking very sharp for sure. I am excited to see it under finish and as a moderator and fan, I must demand a sound clip as well!!!!
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  #53  
Old 12-12-2018, 03:57 AM
Will McNicol Will McNicol is offline
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Thanks for the reply! And yes, don't you worry about that - I'll be exceptionally excited to get some microphones in front of it, and will for sure post a sound clip =)

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Looking very sharp for sure. I am excited to see it under finish and as a moderator and fan, I must demand a sound clip as well!!!!
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  #54  
Old 12-13-2018, 02:19 PM
steveh steveh is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Will McNicol View Post
Nut width: 46.55mm (1-13/16")
You have huge nuts Will...

That's Martin Simpson territory; he has huge nuts as well.

Cheers,
Steve
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  #55  
Old 12-13-2018, 07:20 PM
Marcus Wong Marcus Wong is offline
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Your guitar is turning out wonderfully Will! I wonder if you would get the chance to play my Model S as well? Would be awesome if you could take a comparison video of both
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  #56  
Old 12-16-2018, 05:53 AM
Will McNicol Will McNicol is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steveh View Post
You have huge nuts Will...

That's Martin Simpson territory; he has huge nuts as well.

Cheers,
Steve

Haha, that's a very astute observation, Steve! Nice to be amongst very fine huge-nut company!

=)
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  #57  
Old 12-16-2018, 05:54 AM
Will McNicol Will McNicol is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus Wong View Post
Your guitar is turning out wonderfully Will! I wonder if you would get the chance to play my Model S as well? Would be awesome if you could take a comparison video of both
Thanks so much, Marcus. To say I'm excited would be an understatement! Similarly, your S is looking sublime, and yes what a joy it would be to record a comparison video - excellent idea! We'll make it happen =)
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  #58  
Old 12-17-2018, 04:14 PM
nobo nobo is offline
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So stoked for you and Tom - this one's going to be a corker for sure!

And really lovely to hear you play a selection of Tom's guitars at TNAG for his launch night - and to catch up with you both (and others). That cedar-topped MD really is something!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Will McNicol View Post
Haha, that's a very astute observation, Steve! Nice to be amongst very fine huge-nut company!

=)
I'm gunna throw down the gauntlet here (he says, desperately aspiring to be the in the big boys' territory)... The nut on my Sands baritone is probably going to be c.50mm. Which is a step up from my Kostals (47mm) but down (!!) from the Wingert (which is nearly 52mm). String spacing probably 61-62mm.

I think Sir Mixalot wrote a song about this condition...
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McIlroy A25c custom Cedar/Kew black walnut
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Last edited by nobo; 12-17-2018 at 04:21 PM.
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  #59  
Old 01-06-2019, 03:00 PM
Will McNicol Will McNicol is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nobo View Post
So stoked for you and Tom - this one's going to be a corker for sure!

And really lovely to hear you play a selection of Tom's guitars at TNAG for his launch night - and to catch up with you both (and others). That cedar-topped MD really is something!



I'm gunna throw down the gauntlet here (he says, desperately aspiring to be the in the big boys' territory)... The nut on my Sands baritone is probably going to be c.50mm. Which is a step up from my Kostals (47mm) but down (!!) from the Wingert (which is nearly 52mm). String spacing probably 61-62mm.

I think Sir Mixalot wrote a song about this condition...
Thanks so much, Dan! Yes, lovely to see you at Tom's launch night - such a fun evening. A little fuzzy-headed the morning after I have to admit! Yes, that cedar MD really is a powerhouse. Looking forward to getting the tracks I recorded with the quartet out there on that one.

So looking forward to seeing yours come together as well. And as you say, it'll be quite the unique endeavour! And those nuts - goodness me!!(!)

=)

W
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  #60  
Old 01-12-2019, 02:45 AM
nobo nobo is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Will McNicol View Post
Thanks so much, Dan! Yes, lovely to see you at Tom's launch night - such a fun evening. A little fuzzy-headed the morning after I have to admit! Yes, that cedar MD really is a powerhouse. Looking forward to getting the tracks I recorded with the quartet out there on that one.

So looking forward to seeing yours come together as well. And as you say, it'll be quite the unique endeavour! And those nuts - goodness me!!(!)

=)

W
Yup - great fun and fuzzy heads!

So, so looking forward to your album with the quartet - and for our guitars to be finished. Looking forward to comparing notes.


And I did settle on a 50mm nut, 61.5mm string spacing at the saddle, 61.5mm neck width at the 12th. I like big nuts and I can not lie, uou other brothers can't deny...

I have a second on order from Tom and am really torn between a cedar topped L or M (probably over hog), or an S of some kind. Obviously the right answer is all 3!
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Bown OMX Lutz/Braz
Eastman AR405E & T486
Kostal MDC German/claro and OM Euro/Madrose
Larrivee L-05MT
Lowden O35cx cedar/EIR, New Lady, Baritone, O12 and O12-12
McIlroy A25c custom Cedar/Kew black walnut
Montgomery fan fret parlour Euro/ebony
Sands Baritone Swiss/Ovangkol (another due 2022)
Wingert Model E German/Braz
Yairi 1960s Soloists
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