Kate Rusby - What Guitar?

Subject: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: GUEST,DT
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 06:09 AM

Anyone know what make and type of guitar Kate Rusby uses on stage?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 07:35 AM

She normally plays a Peter Barton guitar. Photos and info can be seen at peterbartonguitars.co.uk (I give up with the blue clicky maker).

Pete

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 07:58 AM

Here's a link:

Peter Barton Guitars - gallery

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 08:35 AM

Thanks guys...looking at the price they must be exceptional quality -certainly sounds good. Looks Like he has a 12 month waiting list too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 10:24 AM

Twelve months is not unusual for a hand made guitar, there are some luthiers with an even longer waiting time and some who are very much more expensive. However, there are other less well known luthiers and makers to choose from with shorter waiting times and keener prices - find one before they are the next best thing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: black walnut
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 10:30 AM

Kewl!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 12:07 PM

You can get a great OM virtually off the shelf - a Martin OM35, which was introduced last year. The three piece back gives it the bass and balance the Martin 000/OM sized guitars have been crying out for. I got one last year and the list price (at Coda Music, Stevenage, UK) was UK£1,699 (I traded in a Santa Cruz 000 for it). Suppose it depends whether or not the additional cost/quality of a hand-made guitar is worth it - but we've all been there before.

Pete

PS. And what price a really expensive guitar at the mercy of the local "sound" man/system!! :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: s&r
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 05:12 PM

She used to play a big guild when she was about twelve

Stu

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: GUEST,Dave T
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 07:08 PM

Pete

I take it the OM Martins are reduced in size similar to the Pete Barton guitars?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: GUEST,Dave T
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 07:26 PM

Pete Standing can you name any of those less well known luthiers and makers? Are they UK based?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 06:03 AM

Dave

I've only researced UK luthiers and makers. If you want a very short lead time but still want something hand made, try Fylde
or Oakwood. Both companies concentrate on standard models but will do custom stuff and you will get an instrument probably in 3 months for less than 2000 UKP. If you want to go down the luthier route, use Alta Vista or Google and do a UK based search for luthier. You'll be surprised how many there are - but be warned - I wanted a guitar for my half century and commissioned someone more than a year ago who subsequently ran into difficulties. Subsequently, I found a maker in Lewes, near Brigton, called Nick Benjamin (I found some others but I don't have the information to hand - I'll post that tonight). His build time is about 6 to 9 months and a basic model will cost less than 2000 UKP. His higher end models will still only be about 2500 UKP. I've played a couple of his guitars. Both were very comfortable, one had a mellow sound and the other a gloriously bright and lively sound - it depends on the choice of wood and type of construction. He will spend time with you choosing what wood etc is right for "your sound" and advise on the type of body, profile of neck etc for "your style" and stick to the agreed price. I chose to go with him because after waiting a year, I did not want to spend a huge amount of time doing more research and visiting. So it is a lottery really. Either choose a very well known luthier and pay the price and wait and wait, throw caution to the wind and find someone who is less well known and therefore cheaper and quicker, go to a high quality maker such as Fylde or Oakwood, or just go to a guitar shop and buy a good brand. I tried some good brands and thought the expense was not justifiable. The increase in quality over what I already have was not a quantum leap. One thing is sure, some of the less well known luthiers will inevitable raise their prices and have longer lead times as they become noticed. I don't want to say Nick is better than anyone else, that would be absurd, and it might well turn out that the instrument I have ordered could be a turkey, but I doubt it. If you want one, he is starting a new batch soon, so you'll have to be quick off the mark.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 06:40 AM

Dave, this thread mentions some UK luthiers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 10:31 AM

what about Alister Atkin at www.atkinguitars.co.uk. Jim Moray plays a very tasty OM and a glitzy J-45 from him, and Nick Harper, Boo Hewardine, Eddi Reader, Turin Brakes and Graham Henderson all have stuff from him. Hes based in Canterbury and is a very nice chap!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 11:22 AM

Dave

The Martin OM are small bodied (same size as their 000's) but Peter Bartons' site doesn't give any dimensions so I don't know exactly how his OM compares. FYI the Martin 000/OM dimensions are:

Total length      39 13/16 inches
Body length       19 3/8
Body width (max) 15 3/16
Body depth (max)   4 1/8

The scale length of the 000 is 24.9 and for the OM, 25.4 inches (i.e. the 000 is sligthly easier to play, but less able to take low tunings.)

Pete

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: GUEST,Dave T
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 06:33 PM

Cheers guys..that's given me plenty to look at - many thanks to all

Subject: RE: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: GUEST,Dave R.
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 11:37 PM

I'd be willing to bet it's a Lowden, Clear pick-guard? corners lopped off peg head, slightly coved? Could also be a Taylor.

Subject: RE: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 03:22 AM

Dave R - if that's an answer to the first question, I'd be willing to bet you're wrong! Kate's guitar is a Peter Barton, not a Lowden.

Subject: RE: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 03:24 AM

That's to say, the guitar Kate uses for recording and live work is a Peter Barton. Who knows what other dusty relics lie in her cupboard-under-the-stairs! :0)

Subject: RE: Kate Rusby - What Guitar?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 05:16 AM

The sleeve notes of her first two albums clearly state she plays a guitar made by Peter Barton - his web site claims she has been using them for live and recording sessions since 1997.

If she has some dusty relics, they'd be worth a bit!