|
Post by lexluthier on Nov 18, 2015 22:15:27 GMT
Danny, it's a secret, hush man, they'll all want one!
Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Nov 16, 2015 1:08:59 GMT
HI! Does anyone out there know if this guitar has a traditional Dobro neck stick? And while I'm asking, if anyone has tried or owns one and has any opinions they would cared to share, I would appreciate hearing from them. Thanks. Chris.
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Nov 16, 2015 0:56:50 GMT
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Nov 1, 2015 22:37:48 GMT
Hi again. I've spent the last 30 odd years of my musical life as a bass player and being only an aspirant guitarist, making little progress with six strings in truth. I have many friends and clients who are pretty good guitarists and who have been more than interested in my resonator guitars and my apparent sudden 'ability' to play. The reason for this improvement with a guitar is twofold: 1. Totally inspired by resonators and the sound and no longer have to make myself practice, I have to make myself stop at times in fact! 2. (and the point I'm trying to make) A similar right hand technique and strength I had as a bass player has transferred itself over to reso' playing very nicely thank you very much!
To a man when visiting, intrigued guitarists ask to have a go on a resonator they are quickly intimidated at not getting 'that' sound and hand me the guitar back sharpish! Most of them are electric players and try to play the resophonic guitar in the same fashion, hardly touching the slide on the strings and only tickling the strings with their right hand. The look of confusion is consistent among them, especially when they hear their ham fisted guitar tech bloozing it up!
I think that the resophonic guitar has to be played in a very positive fashion and with a strong right hand, look at what they were designed to do in the first place. As they are loud guitars, one can tend to back off practicing full on as it can be annoying those around you, which is a mistake and a problem that needs a solution to move forward. I have to agree with Purpleorange, try a thumb pick, it does take some getting used to but helps no end with positive, strong playing. I think there's as much importance in the right hand technique of sliding as there is in the left.
I've only been doing the Reso thing for about 18 months and still have VERY much to learn, so if anyone disagrees with any of the above advice from one resonator beginner to another, please shout out!
Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Oct 28, 2015 21:03:31 GMT
Hiya! Fred Kelly freedom picks easily allow for the down strokes you're talking about and just about the whole reason I bought some myself. Their success however is a little hit or miss with many players not taking to them at all and those who do swearing by them. Personally I'm having difficulty with the size. Bought the largest but I have big-ish digits and they pinch the pad of my fingers and so I can't wear them for any decent length of time. Otherwise they would work well for me so I'm still trying to think of a fix. Strangely, I haven't tried the hot water method yet, does anyone out there know if it work on Delrin?
Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Oct 24, 2015 20:27:38 GMT
Hiya! Sorry I couldn't reply before and can't give this too much time. Certainly sounds like a high fret end and if you hadn't stated the fret was well seated I would have said that it sounds just like the fret end had popped up! I suggest you find out what a fret rocker is online and then find something around the house that you can substitute for one to properly diagnose your problem. I'm not going to explain here how to resolve the problem but here's what I do faced with a new problem/task, YouTube it! Don't just watch one or two videos on the subject, watch as many as you can bear to, there's a lot of variation of methodology out there and more than a few idiots! Crimson guitars do excellent tutorial videos and always a good place to start. Most Importantly, have patience and make sure you know what you're going to do before you start. Lack of patience, research and thought nearly always leads to regret, know what I mean? Hope it goes well, Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Oct 23, 2015 19:42:20 GMT
Hi! Is it the twelfth fret?
Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Oct 21, 2015 20:11:46 GMT
Hiya, The bottom strings have a lot more energy that comes with a longer amplitude. The less density and mass the slide has, the more energy in the form of vibration, it will absorb, thus robbing the string of volume. One of the reasons square neck resonators have such a high action is so the player can press a little harder to overcome this problem somewhat.(IMO)
So, higher action and dig in a bit more or get yourself a denser, heavier slide. Or a bit of both!
Myself, I started with glass, move to brass, then stainless steel lined with copper which I used for the longest time. Ultimately Un-contented with all of these, mainly because of the problem highlighted in this thread, I found Nickel Tungsten Carbide. Problem sorted, I now own a slide for life and NEVER think of using or wanting anything else. Phew, what a relief!
Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Oct 20, 2015 19:17:28 GMT
Hi! I for one absolutely loved the old forum skin, I think it looked classy and distinct from nearly all other forums which it now looks much the same as. I personally found it easier to read but I have a degree of dyslexia which it use to help.
If the majority now find the forum easier to read then it must be for the best. Ultimately I'm just delighted and gratful it exists at all.
Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Oct 18, 2015 21:37:01 GMT
Dearest Deuce, one day, when I've developed sufficient skill and technique and quite frankly grown a pair, I too hope to post a video of myself playing. One of the very few disappointing things for me about this otherwise excellent forum is that members don't post more videos of themselves playing, it's a pity and so I take my hat off to you Sir.
As virtually all music since the first person banged on a hollow log is plagiaristic and we all stand on the shoulders of giants, I can never stop myself thinking about what albums the artist I'm listening to might own. So, Deuce, for fun, ''..but seriously folks'', Joe Walsh. If you don't, you should!
Personally I trawl through YouTube almost every day to find people playing resonators and/or blues related music, either for the musical content or the demo of the instrument. It would be great to see more members showing their chops here and (if it's appropriate Michael?) instrument reviews. I personally think these things would help to reinforce the forum and increase its standing as a hub of the genre.
Chris
|
|
|
Why Y?
Oct 13, 2015 21:18:13 GMT
Post by lexluthier on Oct 13, 2015 21:18:13 GMT
Hi Pete. When I first got my hands on a Tricone and had the thing apart, I questioned every aspect of its design and set-up, just as an engineering exercise and to try and maximise the guitars performance, it's in my nature!
Your question is one I asked myself right off the bat, Why that way round? Its very unsymmetrical and making the set up as you have set out to do makes a lot more visual sense vis the cover plate and is very much more balanced pressure wise internally. I believe the original patent design, which is for a non specific stringed instrument, shows the cones that way round too. So why didn't the Do' bros do it?
I think it must have been their starting point but being as diligent as they appeared to have been, they experimented. In the end I'm guessing they settled on the design we all know because, as strange and unintuitive as it looks, it sounded better. I came to the conclusion it probably sounds better this way round simply because two cones on the bass side better handle the amplitude that the thicker strings load upon them and the 'unbalanced' cone lay out gives that slightly out of phase sound, which may have just sounded more pleasant to the ear than the equilateral, symmetrical layout.
I was going to re-design the tricone but after many months in 'deep thought mode' on the subject I said to myself, 'You know what, I think they pretty much got it right first time!' I do have a few tweaks which I think makes things better and make up for production line compromises. Otherwise I think the design is a thing of genius!
I do however take my hat off to you Sir for giving it a go and I for one hope you can show us the results. After all, talk is cheap!
Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Sept 28, 2015 21:23:28 GMT
I think Toom posted this article with the thought it would be of genuine interest to all on the forum, a couple of years ago I might well have thought the same. Now, like all the other folk adding to the thread, I realise it's pure marketing bollocks. Someone of a sensitive disposition might well take the vitriol, righteously aimed at the company in question, personally. It's difficult sometimes to get ones intent over when communicating in print especially when it comes to humour, I get it wrong often! I hope Toom gets the message and rejoins. Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Sept 26, 2015 19:09:46 GMT
I was going to mention the MM headstocks too, my Lightning's logo is printed so lightly it can hardly be seen from a few yards away. Probably an anomaly but it works for me. Even when printed a little darker I prefer the simplicity compared with many a gaudy logo out there. Nearly ordered a Busker Deco at one point and was going to ask for the badge to be applied to the back of the headstock. One of the features of my Blueridge parlour that I really love is that they chose to impress their logo on the rear of the headstock, a brave, non commercial move which IMO looks very classy and classic. 'Nuff said.
Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Sept 24, 2015 21:09:34 GMT
Now there's a coincidence, bought a couple of 1927 nickels to patch holes drilled in my tricone by the previous owner (I did some research and apparently that kind of butchery is still not illegal, strange world eh!?) Mickey, I've come to like headstocks with nothing on them, I have a couple now and prefer my eye being taken with the form of the instrument rather than a commercial logo. Just a thought...... Chris
|
|
|
Post by lexluthier on Sept 23, 2015 23:44:31 GMT
Thanks for the advice Pete, I will try that at some point in the future. I have my Lightning in open D so familiar with the tuning. I tend to want to find the tuning that I think suits the guitar best and stick with it. My tricone's in Spanish G and my parlour in standard. I also find it beneficial to associate a guitar with a tuning as it separates them in my mind and helps me keep 'in mode'. Being a somewhat slow learner I need every trick I can find to use. Another benefit to this separation is I find myself getting stale if I immerse myself in any one tuning for too long and need a break to resolve what I've learned or practiced, so I simply put the guitar down for a few days and play another. It keeps things fresh for me and with 4 guitars in 4 different tunings I've never played so much in my life and never get bored. Got my Shubb SP2 steel today, really enjoying square neck dobro in GBDGBD.
Chris
|
|