Thanks for the kind words, y'all. Pretty high praise, I feel, considering the company and all.
Wade, this guitar sounds quite a bit different from my first. The first one has been strung up for a couple months now, and has opened up nicely. But this one is also opening up very fast.
Last night I did a comparison between the two. My first (build #8) was noticeably louder. This one (#9), however, was more resonant in the bass.
8 has a 650mm scale, a "Kermodie" spruce top, and Pau Ferro back/sides. It also has a bracing pattern of my own design.
9 has the scale and woods I mention above, plus I used a Contreras bracing pattern, Contreras top contour, and I more-or-less followed the Contreras plans when it came to side depth. So, it is a bigger guitar all the way around. And it sounds like it.
Just a few minutes ago, I decided to A-B numbers 8 and 9 again, and the difference is surprising. 9 has opened up a lot and is now almost as loud as 8, but is developing this powerful Spanish character -- one that I associate with the Ramirez 1a 10-string I owned for many years. Incidentally, the current owner of my old Ramirez is my client for 9, and he will be bringing the Ramirez with him to compare the two when he picks up the new guitar. That should happen tomorrow. Comparing all three guitars will be very interesting.
Colin, when I first strung it up the balance was a bit off. Some strings were louder than others -- especially the A and (oddly enough) the G. It quickly began to settle in, though, and now I'd have to say that the balance has improved greatly. Despite the depth of the box (4" at the heel and 4.2" at the tail), the basses are clear and not at all muddy. I attribute the clarity to the 660mm string length.
Best,
Michael
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)...that's beautiful work Michael...I hate that all that nylon gave it's life to a single guitar!! One doesn't see the wild Nylon herds roaming the way one used to...all the luthiers have thinned them out with their hunting...anyway, how are the strings tuned? Are the standard 6 tuned EADGBE?
