Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: C5cittern
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 07:45 AM

I engineered that session mentioned at the top of the thread - Henry Ayrton's show is now sadly closed. The guitar sound at the desk was identical for both instruments though Martin seemed more at ease with his old lady!

All the best,

Brian

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 08:00 PM

One very important thing to say that I forgot. If you find one in a store and the Store owner has put the strings into standard tuning they may be doing the instrument a diservice! These are set up with heavyer strings . i dont know if they are as heavey as Martin C uses but heavey enough to want to think about a lot of extra tention on the neck ..! All the best to all here, Guy

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 04:44 PM

In 2001 I took part in the easter trdition course at buth (UK) where MArtin was leading 4 days of guitar workshops. He spent a long time discussing tunings etc and (from my rather scribbled notes) he used a CGCDGA tuning "90% of the time" which he said "came from appalachian dulcimer music." He also sid that "normal tuning is better for chords"
I'm not sure if this will shed any light, but needless to say it was an inspiring 4 days and has changed my guitar playing style.
If anyone is interested FolkSouthWest are organising the same event at Easter 2004 (with Martin Carthy tutoring on guitar).

GLYN OWEN

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 11:08 PM

Funny because of the voice of this guitar I have fallen on two new tunings. !! One is close to Spanish or G tuning DGDGBD but if you drop the second string to A (on the way to DADGAD) you get DGDGAD witch plays like double c banjo tuning but over one string (everything starting on the second string that would be on the first ) ! It works for a great G tuning with a different sound .
         Also I found if you set up the Guitar in vestabule or D tuning DADF#AD and then bring the First and sixth string up to E you can play as in Double Dropped D but again one string over ! (everything starting on the second string that would be on the first ) You are now playing in A . Have fun with this open tuning friends ! By the way I saw the show of Eliza playing a four string guitar,. Witch tuning did she use any ideas out there ? All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 07:27 PM

He tells a story about the Fylde, and when I heard it it was not in standard tuning but a big D or G based one.

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 01:16 PM

I've seen him with a Fylde Oberon (just like Nic Jones old one) in standard tuning, primarily for a strummy bit in Blue Murders set. Theres older photos of him with it as well, so I'm guessing its a spare thats been dug out for various purposes over the years.

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Wesley S
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 12:21 PM

The Martin website has complete info on all of the appointments of this model.

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: mooman
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 12:11 PM

I have been told Martin also sometimes plays a Terry Docherty (Northumberland) guitar though I have never heard him with it myself.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Miken
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 09:09 PM

A joy to hear you describe it,Guy!

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 06:37 PM

I just had to add to this thread that Last week I went to see mudcatter CharlesK of Berkley and we met up at the fith String . Well in the middle of trying out thier Santa Crews guitars I said . These are great but Im waiting for the 0OO18 Martin is making to Martin Carthy's specks and he said " Oh this one ?" And handed me the guitar. So i said " We'll see if its that good for a new guitar HA ". Anyway Charles drove me to the airport (again) since I had a new guitar to carry.
          It is an amazing instroment ! It dose have a zero fret and the scalopping sounds like they set the struts differently. It is a very well balenced guitar. Its voice is even from bass to treble . It is very different from my 1949 018 . Not just louder but fuller. It realy is a perfect guitar for open tunings.
          I would not have it if it wasnt for CharlesK. Thanks so much. He drove me out to the airport and I have no idea how long it took him to get home but it was late.To late !!!! THis was way above and beond the call of duty and I thank him to the inside of my heart .
            Also thanks to Martin for giving The Martin Co the lead to make this great guitar. There are 84 in total out there . Go try one if you can find it !! For joy. For joy !!
          All the best to all here. Guy Wolff

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Sibelius
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 12:18 PM

I thought Martin had been using CGCDGA for the last few years? His old 000-18 has a zero fret, which I understand is regarded as sacriligeous both by luthiers and owners of Martin guitars. Perhaps that's one of the 'modifications' on the new guitar.

Incidentally, could Eliza's announcement that His Lordship plays frailing banjo explain the large number of banjos that have been landing in skips round here for the last day or two? I think we should be told.

(Yeah, cheap banjo jibe, ignore it!)

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 09:56 PM

Sorry I must have hit something..AHHHH I was saying I loved his drumming on the Husbandman peice on the Silly Sister's cd(1 or 2) It realy sounded like he was having fun.. MORE SOOON.

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 09:52 PM

Eliza , I liked the story about the Doc Boggs tune.Thanks for sharing it.I hope he got to hear my faverite claw-hammer man back in the 60's. Clarence tom Ashley who came out the the New port folk festival withan unknown Doc Watson . Martin must have played drum as a kid and I bet his frailing is wonderful since his guitar playing is so percusive.I loved his drumming on that .He has been a great influence to so many of us for so long .. YAy. All the best , GUY


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Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 09:46 PM

Last I heard (from Alastair Hulett, who uses the same tuning ) Martin was using a DADEAB tuning. Perhaps Eliza could inform us if this is still his tuning of choice ?

Murray

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Willie-O
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 08:45 PM

Please let there be a lottery with this as the prize and let me win it.

Just one thing--I wonder what modifications would be useful to Mr Carthy. He tunes his guitar way down, like a semi-open C tuning usually, as I understand. That's hard to keep in tune on a regular box, and not rattling. Wonder if they designed for that?

Willie-OOO

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From:
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 05:13 PM

Tell you sometime about Martin's juggling trick with tha old Martin - scary!

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:34 AM

What an absolute treat. Martin have occasionally manufactured "signature" models over the years, and especially recently. Usually, a Pop star's signature just adds a thousand dollars to the purchase price, and most of the instruments seem to wind up with collectors. Nice to see an alternative musician be honoured thus.

Mr. Carthy has been extremely loyal in his use of that old triple 0, so let's hope they at least GAVE him one of the signature models.

Rick

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:21 AM

Well not that he would be able to admit to Breezy!

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 06:53 AM

Breezy - does the blue smoke come out of the 'ole in the back of the car - or you ?

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: GUEST,Eliza Carthy
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 06:05 PM

He played me it down the phone the other day, it sounded fantastic (it's an old-style 000-18 with a few modifications). I wondered years ago if he was being hypocritical, but then, he has never been the total English-basher that I have, he's always done all sorts of other stuff as well. He's a demon frailing banjo player as it happens, get him drunk enough! Taught me Blind Fiddler, big Dock Boggs fan.

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: breezy
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 01:46 PM

Shame he doesnt play an English Guitar, does this make him hypocritical?
BTW I've 1 Martin, but I usually use a Chris Cross or a Brook.
I drive a nissan with 270,000 miles on the clock and rust on the wings and blue smoke out the 'ole in the back.The Peugeot's awaiting help but the ford's back in business.

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Mr Red
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 01:16 PM

I heard it was to be a limited edition.
there's a limit on the time it takes to tune-up. **BG**
nice stories Martin - though, the wait is always worth it.

Subject: RE: Review: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: Mark Ross
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 05:08 PM

When I saw Martin in NY in the spring he was playing what looked to be a OOO-18.

Mark Ross

Subject: Martin Carthy's new Martin
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 03:22 PM

On Henry Ayrtons real music programme, his guest was Martin Carthy, who played a new guitar made for him by Martin. Martin thought it sounded great for a brand new instruiment and on the radio in truth it sounded fantastic Martin thought it would be a limited edition, doe's anybody out there know anythin more?. Dave