Mark Simon Guitars

[growler]

Hi Everybody
Check out this guys new guitars .......

marksimonguitars.com/whatsnewpage.htm

Quite interesting solid brass body , built in magnetic pickup, nice cutaway shape, not sure about headstock . Watch the video of Arlen Roth playing the guitar , lovely version of 'Bridge over troubled water '

What do you think of the reso ....... could not find a price ?

regards Growler

[mirrormist]

Hi Growler

Sort of reminds me of a corned beef can...i like it's originality...would wonder how strong the seams are though and how they might stand up to the odd knock...I prefer the overall look of the terraplane but maybe i'd like it even more without the cutaway.

super looking guitar all the same...thanks for posting

Regards

Anthony

[Michael Messer]

Hi Growler, thanks for posting the link to Mark Simon Guitars. Mark does have an excellent reputation and I am sure these instruments are beautifully built. However, I have no knowledge of Mark's experience with resophonic guitars, so I reserve judgement until hopefully one day I actually get one in my hands. As far as I know, Mark is well known for his beautiful archtop guitars. I believe he used to work as a repairer at Mandolin Brothers and then became the in-house guitar tech for the Scott Chinnery collection. I think Martin Taylor & Steve Howe have instruments made by him, so he definitely knows his archtops.

Everybody in the guitar-building world is influenced by the classic instruments and shapes, but I do think there is a possibility that MS has visited the Fine Resophonic website. His Terraplane & 44 Special are very close to the Fine Resophonic's Mecano range of guitars. Also, his graphics are quite similar....

(Mark Simon LInks Logo)


(Fine Resophonic fun picture circulated to friends in the early days of their company)


(MM with Fine Reso Mecano 2001)

The Arlen Roth version of Bridge Over Troubled Water is lovely, he is a great player. I am not sure about the plugged in Terraplane. I would like to hear a better sound sample.

If anyone has played or seen a Terraplane ....we'd love to hear from you.

Shine On,
Michael.

[robn]

I love the look of it

Not sure about the sound on the video clip - would like to hear it unplugged

But I will certainly be working on that slide version of Bridge Over Troubled Water for my seafront set ;D (I think that the seagulls will approve!)

Robn

[mirrormist]

Hello Michael.

..i like the fr coverplate design on the guitar you are pictured playing...not sure about the rest of the visuals though
...that said the tri plate is to die for...absolutely gorgeous...

[Michael Messer]

The Mecano Tricone is a beautiful piece indeed. The 'Ivy leaf' engraving by Pierre Avocat is absolutely stunning and the guitar as a player's instrument is fantastic.

I am intrigued with Mark Simon's new-look (fiddle-edge?) Dobros. It is hard to tell from the photo if they are actually rolled into a fiddle-edge or it just looks that way. I like his designs, I am still of the opinion that a few trips to www.fineresophonic.com helped him along the way, and I am not sure about his plan to copyright protect his design ideas. Although I do understand why he wants to. Until I hear a better sound sample of the pure acoustic tone of the guitar, I cannot comment. As I said in an earlier post; the Arlen Roth film does not do the guitar any justice at all, it just sounds like an electro-acoustic plugged into a guitar amp.

Shine On,
Michael.

[growler]

Hi Michael

I think its good that this guitar is generating a lot of interest, its a nice looking reso, about the fiddle edges on his website there is some factory shots of a guy making them maybe you can find your answer there . A lot of people a waiting to form an opinion of the reso until they have heard a decent clip of it being played ( amplified and not ), They have heavily criticised the Arlon Roth video for its poor quality , although one chap has heard it being played live and really rates it saying its got a much warmer tone ( whatever that means ) than a National.

Finally, for me at least, just looking at it I can imagine its sounds fantastic , also Michael its good that a luthier designs a new ( hand made ) guitar for the reso market ...... keeps the interest in these guitars going and gives you another buying option ............... have'nt seen anything about its price yet , maybe Mark Simon is holding back on this one .

Regards Growler

[Michael Messer]

Hi Growler,

I agree, it is always a positive sign when a new product appears and generates interest. Please don't think I am being negative, I have seen many newcomers on the block and will reserve judgement until I have seen one.

I have looked at the pics on the website and have not found the answer to my question. Never mind....I am sure all will be revealed soon.

Regarding its tone; the guy who heard it and said it sounded 'warmer than a National' - well it would sound different because it is a Dobro-style guitar with a spider-bridge. It will also be quieter than a new National Reso-Phonic guitar. However, if it is a good metal-bodied fiddle-edge Dobro-style guitar, it should have a warm sweet tone that is a kind of cross between a 1920s Tricone & a wood-bodied Dobro.

Shine On,
Michael.

[Michael Messer]

I have written an email to Mark Simon, asking if he will visit our forum and tell us more about his guitars.

Shine On,
Michael.

[growler]

Just to update a little on this guitar,...... S Landreth has a video on the Mark Simon website of him playing the guitar, interesting guitar style though. I'm not sure if people will still show interest in this guitar when rumours of the price I've heard start at $ 10.000 .............. I've put in an order for 2

[Michael Messer]

Yes that is correct - apparently they are 10,000 USD. I wrote an email to Mark over a month ago, asking him about his resophonic machines, but he never replied.

Shine On,
Michael

[Alan]

Perhaps you should have said you were interested in buying a couple.

I might be stating the obvious here, but I think that the coverplate is supposed to resemble that of the Hudson Terraplane

In fact if you look about you can get those hub caps for about $40

The one with the revolver bullets is a bit macho.

[Michael Messer]

I think it was probably my comments about Fine Resophonic Guitars. They are very similar.

Shine On,
Michael

[Alan]

Someone had to mention it