| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| PaokanoMike |
Posted - 05/02/2010 : 6:37:05 PM
I bought a Taylor big baby around a year ago, I want a really nice Hawaiian style Koa or the like what do you like as far as sound and beauty? Also what do you play and like ?
I know this is subjective but what do you look for sound wise?
THANK YOU FOR SCHOOLING ME.
Mahalo plenty,
Michael+ |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Allen M Cary |
Posted - 05/21/2010 : 08:18:06 AM
Hey Maggie,
If I can figure out how to post them, I will definitely put up some photos when the guitar is done. Thanks for asking.
Aloha
Allen |
| Fingerpickin |
Posted - 05/20/2010 : 8:20:26 PM
Hey fellow Slackers.
Gotta chime in on dis one.
I have to agree with Fran--the overall quality that Martin puts out, particularly in the past 15 years or so, just can't be beat. Having said that, the guitar that speaks to you, no matter what the brand is the one for you.
I always ask myself a few questions when playing or listening to a guitar...Is the bass prominent and complex sounding? (overtones=good) or is the bass dull and monotonic? Is the overall sound balanced, meaning you can clearly discern bass, midrange and treble? Is the treble "twangy" or "tinkly?" (a sure sign of an inferior instrument.)
One error I see commonly these days is players mistaking playabilty for tone quality. That is, players pick the guitar that is easy to fret and play rather than the one that sounds superb. Playability is adjustable by changing your setup. Tonal quality can only be influenced slightly (bone saddle, bone bridge pins, etc.) My suggestion is to find a guitar that sounds great, then take it to a luthier (my fav is Ty Sharoma on Oahu) for a custom setup.
A few more minor points: 1) One of the best sounding guitars I've ever heard is the guitar that Danny Carvalho's dad made for him. You just never know. 2) The ability of the guy playing the instrument is more important than the quality of the guitar. Ozzie can make a fender acoustic sound great. 3) Guitars are really a matter of personal taste. However, certain types of guitars are suited for one form of playing or another--dreadnoughts do well for strumming, whereas OM type styles are more suited for fingerpicking styles like slack. However, I play a dreadnought for slack and it sounds good to my ear.
Just a few random thoughts. I suggest you play a lot of guitars and find one that speaks to you. Make sure you play some Martins, though!
-Lance
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| thumbstruck |
Posted - 05/18/2010 : 07:31:16 AM
My dad used to say that if you can make a cheap instrument sound good, you deserve a better one. |
| maggie |
Posted - 05/17/2010 : 6:07:43 PM
Hey Allen... You going to post some photos of the new parlor when pau? Hope so... I can't wait to see it. |
| maggie |
Posted - 05/17/2010 : 11:47:10 AM
Thanks Mark. Thought I'd remedy the hard-to-see rosette thing. So here's a gigantic close-up of the parlor's rosette... It probably help if I actually owned a camera, learned how to use it, and then learned how to shrink the pictures so you wouldn't be blasted with such giant images. 
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| Allen M Cary |
Posted - 05/17/2010 : 09:17:37 AM
Aloha Maggie,
I just read an amusing comment that a Brit's definition of a gentleman is someone who can play the bagpipes, but doesn't...
I'm glad no one has to feel that way about slack key.
Beautiful guitars! I'm currently building a walnut and redwood parlor. The finish is on, awaiting buff out. I'm hoping it will look half as good. Tap tones are very promising at this point.
Aloha,
Allen |
| Mark |
Posted - 05/17/2010 : 08:26:43 AM
Oh, they sound every bit as good as they look, trust me.
One thing: it is hard to make out in the pix, but the rosette on the parlor guitar is actually cut through the top. It is quite extraordinary.
And don't let Maggie's shyness fool you--she plays great. |
| maggie |
Posted - 05/16/2010 : 9:13:38 PM
Thanks. Mark's guitars are amazing - they got the whole mojo thing going and Mark is a fantastic teacher. Me? I'm very much a novice, and the guitars and I are busy getting to know each other. But it's so true... listening to everyone play ki ho'alu inspires me to keep on playing, even if it's just one measure at a time. I love each day of practice, because it feels like the music is teaching me, the guitars are teaching me, and one day... if I'm lucky, I might be able to play some really nahenahe mele. In the meantime, I'm just one happy student - and my neighbors? They're really happy I decided not learn the bagpipes. Yet! |
| noeau |
Posted - 05/16/2010 : 7:32:13 PM
Hu ka nani. I played Mark's one one time so I know how yours must sound. Beautiful. |
| maggie |
Posted - 05/16/2010 : 12:16:56 PM
Sorry about the biggie-sized pics... I have no idea how to shrink them to a more manageable size. (and, they were taken with my phone). The cutaway is the 2010 Studio from Jerry Nolte (EMI) and the Parlor is a 1992 EMI, which I ound on eBay while I was waiting for Jerry to finish the Studio... both are koa and cedar.
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| RWD |
Posted - 05/13/2010 : 07:54:18 AM
We all want to be better than we are right now but often forget from where we came...until someone reminds us with a nice comment.
Thanks for the nice comment Wanda. |
| Volcano |
Posted - 05/13/2010 : 04:05:22 AM
Give 'em enough "mojo" and you never know. Woooooooooo . . .
Fran, will do! |
| wcerto |
Posted - 05/13/2010 : 01:21:20 AM
Bob - I do not believe there would ever be a day where your evil twin guitar would be playing. |
| RWD |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 6:19:52 PM
The problem with good guitars is that they need a good guitar player to make them sound that way. It is easy to make a good guitar sound like "crap" as you say. They are very responsive and will expose all of your flaws. Execution becomes a big deal. I have a very good 38 yr old classical guitar for instance that can be either an angel or it's evil twin depending on how well I am playing that day.
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| Fran Guidry |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 3:26:40 PM
Larry, please give us a shout if you get to the SF Bay Area, and we'll do the same next time we're in Hilo.
Fran |
