UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?

Subject: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: PennyBlack
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 08:49 AM

Just wondering if any Mudcatters got across to the Orton Guitar Show on Sat 1st Oct 2005?

With the other folky events at Ribblehead and Ingleton (that was fun - hi to everyone in the beer tent!), thought some might have ventured a bit further north to see it.

Those who did go, what was your opinion?

Our comments can be found here with a few photo's - worth looking at for the Fylde Fan-Fretted 8 string.

PB

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: GUEST,Cumbrian
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 01:58 PM

I was around in the morning, but left around lunchtime ( having just got back from a gig in Motherwell in the early hours, the drive down from Carlisle in the morning left me slightly bleary eyed ).

I had agreed to let Roger at Fylde have my custom Fylde ( I love it !) to put on the stand .

It was disappointing in terms of turn out, and certainly needed a stronger push in terms of promotion ( I only heard about it having been at Penrith guitar show in August ).

The idea of an acoustic only guitar show is certainly a good one. The general cacophony of some shows being a waste of time as far as trying to either guide people through, or assess the specific qualities of a nice acoustic instrument while the next wannabe rock god is piling distortion upon distortion over their blur of squeals and prerehearsed blitzkrieg of notes right on the next stand !

It was nice to catch up with few people and meet some new ones. It was also nice to swap gossip and check out a few instruments on the way ( I always enjoy catching up with Roger at Fylde and checking out what they have around, it is always a pleasure ).

i

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: GUEST,Cumbrian
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 02:05 PM

Sorry,

To add the the previous post, I meant to ask if you saw tried anything on show that you particularly liked ? It was nice to try one or two less common guitars

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: PennyBlack
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 07:22 PM

Hi "Cumbrian" - must agree some of the shows tend to be over the top with electric cacophony, but there's usually a corner to try out the acoustics, especially at Manchester.

As a bit of a guitar hoarder (111 at the last count)I was pleased to see a few new "faces" and had fun with the Sagitarius(sic) guitars (and found that the stall holder was from up the road in Fleetwood) I'm sure one will be added to the collection, once I see what else they have to offer (being my birth sign as well might have influenced me).

Certainly the two I played were well made, and excellent value for the money asked!

Roger's stall (Fylde) as usual had a nice display (which was yours?), but having seen him at Fylde Folk Festival it was the 8 string that really stood out.

Had a look at a couple of Martins, but nothing took me by surprise, most of the rest was pretty standard, except for the "dobros" which although not my style of playing, impressed me on design, originality and quality, very little else inspired me.

With a larger venue and kept to acoustic instruments, it could progress to being a good show, but as it was I would find it hard to recommend to friends for a good day out.

PB

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 07:27 PM

acoustic avalon at Leicester racecourse takes some beating

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: PennyBlack
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 07:44 PM

when's that Al?

Will email you re song etc ASAP - no excuse but been somewhat busy of late - good news, hands are getting better with new treatment - not bleeding so much and no plasters at the moment, still painful but at least they're moving faster :-)

Pete

PB

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: GUEST,Cumbrian
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 11:58 AM

Pete, the 8 string Fylde was quite something. I have watched this in various stages of development and was very interested to see the end result. It speaks volumes about Roger and the team to be able to take on a commission like that and come up with something so amazing.
Roger asked me to see what I thought from a playing point of view, it was certainly a strange ride at first, especially getting used to the fan frets. I could see real potential in modal tunings given time to get used to the radically mind shift involved in playing it.
My Fylde was the Custom Anniversary with a European spruce top/ brazilian back and sides and a nicely figured mahogany neck , I've had it since seeing it at a festival I was playing in the summer and falling in love with it ( I already had a 30th Anniversary custom ). Roger was pointing out the amount of fret wear I have managed to put into it already !

While still on Fylde, I tried the second hand Alexander on the stand, it played beautifully and had tone to die for ( also had a Baggs p/up system fitted ) . It looked like a very good buy for someone.

Elsewhere, Vince the guy who set up the show ( who I met for the first titme on Saturday ) had that nice small bodied 12 fretter there ( Martin pre 1930 000 size ), that was a sweet little player for fingerstyle.

The Ralph Bown OM was interesting, but it hasd been routed for a very wide saddle at some point.

I would like to see this type of event run in conjunction with a mini festival ( nice area for it ) which would create a better day out and give it some atmosphere.

Gary

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 12:54 PM

http://www.acousticavalon.co.uk/main.htm



see you there pete - you MUST to get this one, you can kip on our sofa if you want

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: PennyBlack
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 01:21 PM

Gary - I agree maybe Ingleton Folk Festival? that would have saved us a few miles traveling and they could have had it in a Marquee next to the beer tent :-)

My lad (Simon) has fancied a fan-fretted guitar for some time, since the John Mayer tour when John introduced him to the concept.

Have a few Fylde guitars in the collection, including a custom slim line (a la "Glen Campbell")and a sweet Ariel. Playing a nice martin D15s today (have D15) what a finger pickers treat that is! and LOUD.

cheers

Pete

PB

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: GUEST,Cumbrian
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 07:04 PM

Pete,

I suspect that there was some link in the chosen venue to the music shop that is, somewhat unusually for such a small village, just along the road.

By the way, I notice on another thread you were asking about czech builders, I hear that Avalon ( the ex Lowden guys ) were moving the gold series out of Northern Ireland to be manufactured in the czech republic ( not sure whether this has actually happened ). As I understood it, they were to be built in the same factory that Furch come out of. From this it looks like we may see a number of brands being manufactured to spec. from one shop floor ,a similar situation to that exisiting in Japan for many years.

Those 15 series Martins are great value, the 000-15S 12 fret, slot head is a very nice guitar for country blues picking.

Gary

Subject: RE: UK - Orton Guitar Show - Did You Go?
From: PennyBlack
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 08:15 PM

Gary, yes I was very impressed with the Sagitarius Czech guitars, nicely put together and good value for money, not up to Fylde or the D15 range but filling a nice slot in the electro-acoustic area.

Our bass player picked up an avalon a few months ago, he loves it! Have to have a look at the label next time I have a hold of it and check out the country of origin.

Yes I presumed the location was to fit in with MM's local, I was surprised the shop was closed though when we passed, he always has a great range of instruments in store.

I'll have to sell something first to make way for the D15s - it was just too good in DADGAD to let slip away - and with 111 guitars in the collection at the moments, it's taking GAS to the extreme :-) especially for someone who spends most of his time playing and electric Banjo!

Pete

PB