Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: GUEST,Durty Linen
Date: 30 May 11 - 09:03 PM

Although I've known one or two tasty melodeon players in my time, they are indeed few and far. Jon's problem is far more likely to be the wish of his partner in crime to musically bury him. I play (among many other instruments) a Northworthy octave mandola and despite Pete's worst efforts on his 12 string, I have no poblem in cutting through.

Ultimately, however, if sheer volume were the criterion, I'd buy a tuba.

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: van lingle
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 05:01 AM

I don't think a bigger bodied, longish scale instrument is necessarily the way to go, as Hamish suggests. When I play fingerstyle melodies and accompaniments along with the concertina on my larger instruments (a Froggy Bottom F, Bourgeois D and a Lowden F[cedar top]) I tend to get to get drowned out, although these instruments sound great behind it when strummed. I've been going down in size using an OM and now the Collings OO. The smaller body instruments just seem to cut through better in this situation.
Of course, I'm working with a concertina and have no experience with a melodeon so I'm not sure how the two compare. It might be a good idea to take the melodeonist along to play with when trying out instruments, if possible. Good luck. vl

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: Hamish
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 04:09 AM

...and then again, perhaps over at newsgroup rmmga (rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic) there are loads of authorities. Try rmmga for starters.

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: Hamish
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 04:03 AM

English Jon said: "I heard a guy with a Lowden 0-10 with a cedar top and that was a very loud instrument." and that's fair enough. I'd only commented that cedar tops don't always have the same sort of edge to them: crispness or clarity. Nothing to do with volume as such. Some people would call it warmth: it's whatever your ears prefer to hear. As to volume there's a lot more to that than what the top of the guitar's made of. But if you're "a quietish fingerstyle player", then as I understand it (and I'm no authority on the subject!) you probably need to go for a bigger bodied, long(-ish) scale instrument.

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: van lingle
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 08:03 AM

I just acquired a Collings 002E (12 fret, Engleman spruce/Indian rosewood) a couple of weeks ago with the idea of using it to play fingerstyle with my English concertina playing friend and it fits the bill perfectly. It has plenty of volume, sustain and a focused sound but still with a certain amount of richness that complements the box beautifully.
Collings are built in Austin,Tx. and I don't know if you all have access to them over there but you might want to check them out.vl

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 07:09 PM

Vintage guitars are very good value for money.

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 03:44 PM

Now that's interesting. I heard a guy with a Lowden 0-10 with a cedar top and that was a very loud instrument.

Vis a vis this particular Northworthy though, I just been to the shop and they've sold it, so it's all a bit academic. Many thanks for all contributions though, as I'm getting to learn all sorts of things and it all helps on the eternal search for "the perfect guitar"!

Cheers,
Jon

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: Dave4Guild
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 02:20 PM

As a sort of addition to the discussion, I do find myself playing with melodeon players quite often - in fact I will be playing over the weekend with Bill McKinnon in Wallingford, (where the Bunkfest was) at his 50th!!
I play an Avalon Legacy L10 which is Mahogany B/S and cedar top, but it is a Jumbo and cuts through rather well but I do use a thumbpick and use 12-56 gauge strings (Elixir).
To be honest I'd always go for a large bodied guitar for that sort of job and at least a jumbo, because of the deep waist, sits down on the knee very well and is very comfy to hold and play and I'm only 5'5"!!
Dave Bennett

http://www.myspace.com/davenbrenda

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 08:26 AM

Thank you Hamish!

Subject: RE: Northworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: Hamish
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 08:13 AM

I have a Carsington: which is similar to the Alport, but slightly larger. It's got a myrtle body with a spruce top. It's wonderful and always draws favourable comments: both for its looks and especially for the sound which is balanced and well articulated...

...but I don't think it's a session guitar. And I think a cedar topped Alport would struggle against a melodeon. The combination of the smallish body and a cedar top - which don't always give the most cutting sound - speaks against.

Probably; for what it's worth; and in my humble and often less-than-perfect opinion.

--
Hamish
www.myspace.com/hamishcurrie

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 06:13 AM

you're absolutely right, Dave!

Having looked at the site, I think I'm looking at an Alport.

(although I've just bought a knackered 1955 0-18 - so this may end up being little more than a pipe dream)

I've played this guitar in a shop and it seems lovely - however the issue of volume is rather subjective - Guitars never sound the same in a shop full of other guitars as they do when you get them home. I need one that will cut through a loud melodeon and I'm loathe to shell out that much cash without gathering as much info as possible.

Cheers,
J

Subject: RE: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: Dave4Guild
Date: 14 Sep 06 - 04:51 PM

Do you mean "Northworthy" guitars. They are pricey but very very good.
http://www.northworthy.com/home.html

Subject: Noteworthy Guitars? Opinions?
From: English Jon
Date: 14 Sep 06 - 04:26 PM

Am vaguely weighing up buying one of these - Anyone got one? What do you reckon? The one I'm looking at is Small bodied, cedar topped and about 15 years old - thats all I know about it.

What are they like for volume? I'm likely to want to play it with a melodeonist so I need something that cuts through. (and I'm a quietish fingerstyle player)

Any opinions greatly appreciated,
Cheers,
Jon