Tech: The Corries - guitar type?

Subject: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: GUEST,Miranda
Date: 22 Oct 20 - 02:28 AM

I get that I put this under 'tech' but I really don't know what category it falls under... Anyways, I'm really wanting to purchase a guitar and want to know more about the instrument. Having said that I'd like to know if the Corries played with nylon or steel string guitars? Any type of guitar specifically? Thank you!

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 22 Oct 20 - 04:09 AM

They played nylon string guitars made by Roy; and steel strung mandolins etc.
The combolins had various types of strings.

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 22 Oct 20 - 08:23 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combolin

The combolins gave The Corries a unique sound. Similar in some ways to sitars with a Western sensibility. They didn't use them on all the songs in their rep but did on songs that benefitted by an ethereal or perhaps more romantic sound. The Lock Tay Boat Song comes to mind.

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Oct 20 - 11:12 AM

Or even the Loch Tay Boat Song...? ;-)

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: leeneia
Date: 22 Oct 20 - 12:01 PM

steel strings are louder and more penetrating
nylon strings are easier on your fingertips

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 22 Oct 20 - 12:12 PM

That's how I would spell Loch Tay in normal times. But sometimes my brain melts. Especially now when I am ripping along on a new course prednisone.

Thanks,

D

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 23 Oct 20 - 04:10 AM

The album "Strings and Things" was a vehicle to showcase the combolin, such as in
"The Garten Mother's Lullaby", and the cover shows them playing it.

Many non Scots people say "Lock", of course, because the sound "ch" defeats them.

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: leeneia
Date: 23 Oct 20 - 02:11 PM

Let's forget about the typo and help Miranda with the purchase of a guitar.
=========
Miranda, I am not a guitar expert, but I'm going to share what I've learned.

1. The first thing to do is to try the instrument. Find somebody who has one, and ask to play. You never know. Sometimes the first time you play it, you realize you hate the way it feels.

2. It is better to go to a music store and buy one you have tried than to order one online. Take along a friend who plays and can help you choose.

3. New guitars sometimes need adjusting.

4. If you are a small person, do not buy a great big guitar. Avoid a wide neck.

5. Price. It's been a long time since I bought a guitar, but I do not believe you have to spend thousands of dollars to get a good one.
Input on this from other people is welcome.

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 23 Oct 20 - 04:01 PM

If the sound of the guitars on Corries recordings appeals, then it's worth noting they strummed
the nylon strings with the back of their finger tips/nails. Also, the guitars were mic'd up,
there being no pickups on the instruments.
They tended to use the capo to keep the chord shapes appropriate to the sound.

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 24 Oct 20 - 10:03 AM

Johnmc is correct. If you look at Roy's fingers in some videos you can see pads glued to his finger nails. I recall reading he would glue bits of ping pong ball on as well. I think they employed a very classical style to their guitar playing. They certainly got an immense amount of sound of two instruments.

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: GUEST,Rev Bayes
Date: 24 Oct 20 - 01:23 PM

> They played nylon string guitars made by Roy

Are you sure about that? My understanding was the combolins were Roy's first and only foray into instrument making (thank goodness, some might say).

Early on they used Spanish flamenco guitars; I suspect likely because they could get them cheaper than steel-strings in the early days. Not sure offhand when they switched to classical guitars.

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 24 Oct 20 - 05:56 PM

There are photos of The Folk Trio using Levin Steel String Guitars as well as classical type guitars on Youtube. Everything I see of the duo has them on Nylon Strings almost exclusively when they played guitar. I assume the bandurria, banjo, and the bouzoukis they used were steel strings.

Don

Subject: RE: Tech: The Corries - guitar type?
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 24 Oct 20 - 06:23 PM

There is an article by Bill Smith in the Edinburgh Music Review (online) where, in the
course of describing his leaving, he says Roy's guitar building was progressing astonishingly.

Also, there was a small display in Forres at one time which included guitars he had made.