I left my guitar on the dashboard

Subject: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: RangerSteve
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 06:31 PM

I tried to make a blue clickie, but it wouldn't work. Anyway, check out www.burrellguitars.com. The featured guitar is on the first page, for details, click "Store", then "modern" and "Acoustic". I guess this comes under the category of "I did it because I can".

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 06:38 PM

maybe your links don't work 'cause you call 'em something as childish as "blue clikies"

Direct URL

http://www.burrellguitars.com/modac.html

The guitar seems kinda silly and overpriced to me....

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: GUEST,Mack/Misophist
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:12 PM

Not being a player, I can't comment on the shape. As a person who's done a little woodworking, it looks like a remarkable job.BTW, the site doesn't like the Opera browser at all. Had to use Galeon.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:19 PM

something as childish as "blue clikies" which you couldn't even spell correctly, Clinton.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:25 PM

Hard to tell exactly, but he doesn't seem to build flattops...or flat anything. They look cool though and I think the prices quoted are pretty reasonable considering the obvious high quality craftsmanship he applied to his...innovative designs. I don't think he's doing things differently just for the hell of it.

One thing that baffles me is his "vintage" guitars look just like his "modern" ones: weird.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:29 PM

Listen, there are some cow pastures down at the other end of our road with these mushrooms growin' in the cow patties. Eat three or four of those jewels and your $175.00 Yamaha will look just as weird, warped and twisted as one of those $2,000.00 Burrell thingies.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: GUEST,HiHo_Silver
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:46 PM

When is a guitar or instrument resembeling a guitar no longer a guitar. It would seem that companies such as martin etc. have explored most or all of the design possibilites in making guitars and therefore an instrument such as these may no longer fit the qualifications of a guitar although they supposedly play like guitars.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 08:13 PM

maybe your links don't work 'cause you call 'em something as childish as "blue clikies"

Blue clickies is a standard term on the Mudcat, and has been since well before Clinton hove in view.

I even wrote a song about it soon after I found the Mudcat - THE BLUE CLICKY THING It was my way of saying "thanks".

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 09:12 PM

See "blue clicky", right under the Reply to Thread box.
Blue Clicky is the preferred and correct term ~~ around here.

Love, Johnny

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Dave Swan
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 09:46 PM

Am I corrrect in remembering that it was Rick Fielding who named it the blue clicky?

D

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 10:48 PM

Yes!

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 11:29 PM

Clinton didn't mean any harm. He's just tryin' to keep his reputation as an asshole intact.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: michaelr
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 12:54 AM

I would say to Guest HiHo Silver that Martin et al certainly have not yet "explored most or all of the design possibilites in making guitars". While Martin continues to test alternative materials, their body and bracing designs remain firmly stuck in the 19th century.

Other builders, driven by players' concerns about repetitive injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and player's elbow, have been much more innovative regarding ergonomical body design. I believe it was Grit Laskin who first put a bevel in the upper bout of a guitar (where the picking arm rests), and other builders have been incorporating asymmetrical body shapes (such as making the upper bout shallower than the lower).

The Burrell guitar, judging from the photos, seems to be a logical, if a bit weird-looking, progress from this trend. I haven't searched the website for the builder's design philosophy, but I suspect that he has a good ergonomical reason for the 8-degree neck twist, as well.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 05:21 AM

It might be very interesting to hear and play one of these: some obviously good ideas in there. I cannot see which direction the 8 degree twist of the neck is, but I suspect it is away from the player, the reason being to reduce the angle of the left wrist when playing, so helping avoid problems with left wrist tendons. It has the disadvantage (if I am right) that it becomes harder to see what your fingers are doing.

It reminds me a bit (albiet this is more extreme) of the rather interesting guitar Julie Ellison plays, which I would like to see up close some time.

But the proof of the pudding is in the eating: has anyone heard or played one of these acoustics? What do they sound like?

I had some spare time the other day in London after a meeting finished early and had a good prowl around, and the nicest sound by a street that I found was a Gibson J50, so perhaps I prefer a more old fashioned sound.

But when oh when is someone going to produce the ultimate folk guitar, with a bowl back the other way round from Ovations and so on, to accommodate the folk singer's beer gut and avoid the frequent impression (as exemplified and commented on by Geoff Higginbotham) of two tortoises (turtles in the USA) back to back?

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 07:45 AM

I have a feeling that Richard's suggested reverse bowl back would be likely to sound a bit naff. Still, it's be interesting to have someone experiment with it.

Maybe a cushion strapped to the front of the payer could be another way of achieving the same kind of fit, but adapted automatically to any player.

Those Burrells look rather is if they were designed by Salvador Dali.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Willie-O
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 08:54 AM

Whatever they might be, those are definitely guitars, Hi-Ho.

For other interesting shapes, google Allan Beardsell who makes weird lookin great sounding things.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: GUEST,Larry Meyer
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 09:06 AM

Sorry to break into this thread, but I see Clinton Hammer is psoting here and wanted to call his attention to our shared interes in solving the chords to Keelaghan's Jenny Brice. If you read this Clinton,thanks for your suggestion about open G and try to have a look at my post about Jenny Brice.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 09:19 AM

I guess this comes under the category of "I did it because I can". RangerSteve, do you mean you are Burrell who made it?

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: GUEST,HiHo_Silver
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 09:30 AM

My original comment was not meant to be offensive in any way , either to the builder or anyone else concerned. It was meant only to stimulate discussion. I guess I am too old to accept change and innotiative designs readily. I have seen and played a good number of stringed instruments over the years with supposedly innovitative designs: fiddles with flat tops, varying shapes; guitars with cutaways and bowl backs etc. Personally have never found anything to suit my taste as well as the tried and tested old designs. I do now play an arch top cutaway guitar but still feel that it lacks a bit from the coventional designs. Use it however for the electronic capabilities. I am also somewhat turned off by some of the brand names today. Sound more like diseases than musical instruments.

all the best to all. enjoy the differing opinions. Jim

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 09:42 AM

It may be that Burrell designed his strange guitar for ergonomic reasons, but if so he ought to say so in the sales write-up.

Somebody mentioned the upper bout of a guitar, which affects the right arm. I find that my guitars dig into my forearm, irritating it after a while. To deal with this, I drape a nice plump hotpad over the sharp edge. This, is, of course, a girl way of dealing with the problem. A guy re-designs the guitar.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 12:12 PM

"Blue clickies is a standard term on the Mudcat"

You make my point for me... thank you...

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: AKS
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 05:49 AM

Some designing required still, sez I; the strings and the neck seem pretty straight to me!

AKS

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 06:31 AM

And you confirm mine, Clinton.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 07:57 AM

A design for-its-own-sake, that does not even claim to address some hitherto existing problem is useless. Pretty perhaps, but useless. What problem is the twisted body trying to fix?

Nahh, not worth it.
Unless you like difference for difference's sake.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Barbara
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 01:50 PM

I would guess, without having played the Burrells, that he is trying to solve some of the ergonomic problems that happen to your
wrists on a regular guitar. I would think that torqueing the body that way would take some of the acute bend out of the right side -- wrist and hand. It doesn't mention that in the text, though.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: open mike
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 03:36 PM

the abbreviated form is BLICKY.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Steve-o
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 03:46 PM

Clinton's mighty sURLy. Being a computer dweeb can make you that way.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 03:58 PM

dweeb?    kinda... I've been on the net since before there was a 'net'... Better to know your 'tool' than to work in ignorance....

This place is all fine and dandy 'making up' it's own language "Blickies" and "doored" and such like, but it's also the first place to cry 'foul' when kids use words like "homies" or such like...

And they cry the loudest when that's brought to their attention...

Pot... meet kettle... kettle... meet pot...

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Amos
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 04:03 PM

Jerk....asshole. Asshole...jerk. Pleased ta meetcher, I'm sure!! :>)))

A

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Mooh
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 08:25 AM

The acoustic guitar market is rather conservative. I used to participate in the acoustic guitar magazine forum before it got so repetitive and juvenile (and still lurk once in a while) and am constantly amazed at the "old" bias held by young players. There are a lot of new developments, many of them not so visible, but most of the popular designs seem to be the tried and true. I'm not convinced that most folks use their ears to choose.

My next instrument will have a side port, among other weirdnesses.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Willie-O
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 08:47 AM

Is it a Beardsell, Mooh?

Here's another vantage point: an interior view.

A dealer of "obscenely expensive guitars":
http://fineguitarconsultants.com/inside.htm

Craftsmanship or indulgence? Either way, it won't offend purists, I guess, unless they have a flashlight and a mirror on a stick. Personally I wouldn't want the inside of my guitar top painted any more than I would the outside.

I could sure go for a contoured armrest though. And one on the lower side where it meets my thigh as well.

W-O

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Mooh
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 10:02 AM

Mr. Willie-O, Sir...Thanks for that link, like wow!

Beardsell? No, though I've played a few and spoken to him a couple of times, once when he attended a guitar summit in our fair burg. Brian Taheny's mandolin was killer but I think he dealt it for an old Gibson A or something...at least I don't think he still has it. Beardsell's stuff is wonderful and I really do wish I'd bought a nylon strung guitar of his when I had a chance. Alas, no. However...

I commissioned a new guitar-bouzouki from a new young builder who has taken guitar lessons from me for a few years. We're sorta taking a chance on each other, mutual support and all that stuff. His first guitars are very nice and he's very open to design oddities. The instrument will be walnut (back & sides), cedar (top), ebony (board and bridge), purpleheart & maple (bindings and rossette). Dimensions have been worked out, and I believe he's to start it in April.

Odd stuff? Well, if a guitar-bouzouki isn't too unusual, and the woods not too off market, it'll have a single side port, smaller front soundhole (like a classical), 25" scale length, fretboard inlay to reflect an ongoing theme among my instruments, and other one-off cosmetic stuff like binding colours and such.

Sorry, no blickie, but see www.house-guitars.com for his website id you're curious.

So many instruments, so little time!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: I left my guitar on the dashboard
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 03:06 PM

Painting the INSIDE of a guitar?? What a collosal WOMBAT!