Charlie Christian Pick-up
I've always loved the sound of these pickups on records - especially ones by Kenny Burrell, Tal Farlow, Rene Thomas and others. C.C. Pickups in the UK started reproducing them so a stocked up on a few just in case...
In The Works...
Ergo Guitar Concept - Back Pains?
A taller than average guitar player approached me recently about building an ergonomic instrument to help reduce his back-pain while playing. The requirement was that the guitar would balance on his leg while sitting and that the guitar would be in the correct playing position while his back was straight. So the guitar would need to be more vertical than horizontal. This meant that the tradional waist on the guitar would not be a suitable point to rest on the knee. This first prototype was developed with an adjustable knee support. A strat type neck was later added just to check out playability.
The idea is that the prospective customer borrows the adjustable prototype guitar for a while to find the perfect setting. The instrument is then built using this as a template. Essentially, the ergo guitar can be made to measure for ultimate playing comfort. Also it doesn't get too far away from the tradional guitar look.
I've always loved the sound of these pickups on records - especially ones by Kenny Burrell, Tal Farlow, Rene Thomas and others. C.C. Pickups in the UK started reproducing them so a stocked up on a few just in case...
In The Works...
Ergo Guitar Concept - Back Pains?
A taller than average guitar player approached me recently about building an ergonomic instrument to help reduce his back-pain while playing. The requirement was that the guitar would balance on his leg while sitting and that the guitar would be in the correct playing position while his back was straight. So the guitar would need to be more vertical than horizontal. This meant that the tradional waist on the guitar would not be a suitable point to rest on the knee. This first prototype was developed with an adjustable knee support. A strat type neck was later added just to check out playability.
The idea is that the prospective customer borrows the adjustable prototype guitar for a while to find the perfect setting. The instrument is then built using this as a template. Essentially, the ergo guitar can be made to measure for ultimate playing comfort. Also it doesn't get too far away from the tradional guitar look.
News
July 2011
I am now an Authorised Service Centre for Taylor Guitars in Europe. This means I am qualified to carry out warantee work on Taylors under their recently introduced 12-year warantee. This is an excellent guitar warantee as it applies to older instruments as well. Contact your Local Taylor dealer for details or to schedule a repair.
Dec 2010
Here's a preview of the new bluegrass mandolin I designed. It's based on traditional Gibson dimensions. The cutaway still needs refinement. I plan to make a round-hole and f-hole version sometime in 2011...
Sat 23rd October 2010
'Meet the maker' workshop. Cork Jazz Festival 2010
11am Stack Theatre, Cork
music and guitar demos...
http://www.guinnessjazzfestival.com/index.php?pageID=165
NEW 15" model completed - check out the guitars
Reclaimed stuff
I'm a big fan of using reclaimed stuff. I recently got a load of Teak planks the 1960's. The local Univercity was throwing it out when they were updaing their labs. I've been using it for tool making and it works very like mahogany and finishes well too. Here's a tool I made with it:
Often, I am on the prowl for old Brazilian Mahogany which is excellent for guitar necks - light-weight, rigid and easy to carve. So I was delighted to find this old bar top (65 years old). It has sufficient dimensions for use as a carved archtop back (commissions... anyone want a piece of Irish History embedded in their guitar...?). I traded a harp maker some old growth spruce soundboards for this piece.
I am now an Authorised Service Centre for Taylor Guitars in Europe. This means I am qualified to carry out warantee work on Taylors under their recently introduced 12-year warantee. This is an excellent guitar warantee as it applies to older instruments as well. Contact your Local Taylor dealer for details or to schedule a repair.
Dec 2010
Here's a preview of the new bluegrass mandolin I designed. It's based on traditional Gibson dimensions. The cutaway still needs refinement. I plan to make a round-hole and f-hole version sometime in 2011...
Sat 23rd October 2010
'Meet the maker' workshop. Cork Jazz Festival 2010
11am Stack Theatre, Cork
music and guitar demos...
http://www.guinnessjazzfestival.com/index.php?pageID=165
NEW 15" model completed - check out the guitars
Reclaimed stuff
I'm a big fan of using reclaimed stuff. I recently got a load of Teak planks the 1960's. The local Univercity was throwing it out when they were updaing their labs. I've been using it for tool making and it works very like mahogany and finishes well too. Here's a tool I made with it:
Often, I am on the prowl for old Brazilian Mahogany which is excellent for guitar necks - light-weight, rigid and easy to carve. So I was delighted to find this old bar top (65 years old). It has sufficient dimensions for use as a carved archtop back (commissions... anyone want a piece of Irish History embedded in their guitar...?). I traded a harp maker some old growth spruce soundboards for this piece.
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