The Art of Tap Tuning:-Worth the $$?

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The Art of Tap Tuning:-Worth the $$?

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BlackHeart

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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:12 pm

Cocobolo

Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:46 pm
Posts: 149
Location: United States

The Art of Tap Tuning: How to Build Great Sound into Instruments

by Roger H. Siminoff

I did a test top that seemed to turn out "real good", (although it had a light varnish top coat, which may have influenced the tap tones???)

This top that I have now has perfectly glued braces, a real bridge plate, but its alot more quiet when I tap it. I would say its about done with the scalloping. Its where its gonna be I think.

Just looking at Stewi Mac magazine and saw this book/dvd. Is this a good beginners book for tap tuning? Ive read its very technical, and uses alot of advanced intruments for the acutal tuning? (Yes, I got John Mayes DVD, that was great. Helped alot on the first top!!) What about this one???

THanx

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Rod True

Post subject:

Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:59 pm

Contributing Member

Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:03 am
Posts: 6680
Location: Abbotsford, BC Canada

Anything you can read will never hurt but sometimes what you read from one builder might be different from another, so in that way sometimes to much reading is a bad thing.

Now, I would suspect that a book by Roger Siminoff on tap tuning certainly wouldn't steer your wrong.

Of course the best advise is to keep building, take as many notes as you can. record some of the tap tones in your tops, document, document, document. Once you hit 10-15 guitars you'll start to feel like you're able to start making the guitar how you want with repeatable sound.

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L. Presnall

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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 11:19 pm

Contributing Member

Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 3:14 am
Posts: 2590
Location: United States

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] I have this book and it was expelled from my bathroom fairly quickly.....

[/QUOTE]

I 'spose "expelled" and "bathroom" DO belong in the same sentence!

Hey Hesh!!

I'd vote "nay" on that book as well, in favor of John Mayes "Tops" and "Voicing" DVD's...you can hear the diffeerence before and after there...way more helpful than reading text regarding an aural tap tone!

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blindreality

Post subject:

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:11 am

Cocobolo

Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:40 am
Posts: 134
Location: United States

I agree with Hesh, it is useful, but mainly directed at mandolin builders. It is still pretty cool stuff. I've got a set of John Mayes DVDs coming that I am really looking forward to.

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JohnAbercrombie

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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:42 am

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:50 pm
Posts: 2711
Location: Victoria, BC
First name: John
Last Name: Abercrombie
Status: Amateur

I've got the Siminoff book, and it's certainly no 'magic bullet' - it stayed in my bathroom and never migrated to the shop, so I guess I kinda agree with Hesh's observations.

I agree with Rod True's advice to just record and build.
Most of the books and other materials I've seen (incl Left Brain Lutherie) tend to promise a lot more than they deliver. For the bragain of the century, just search the archives here and at the MIMF and print out everything that Alan Carruth has said on this topic!

If you-like most folks?- find the Mayes voicing DVDs useful, you will be one up on me.

Cheers
John

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JohnAbercrombie

Post subject:

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:42 am

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:50 pm
Posts: 2711
Location: Victoria, BC
First name: John
Last Name: Abercrombie
Status: Amateur

Edit: bargain of the century

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burbank

Post subject:

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:07 am

Koa

Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:40 am
Posts: 1900
Location: Spokane, Washington
First name: Pat
Last Name: Foster
State: Eastern WA
Focus: Build

[QUOTE=JohnAbercrombie] ... For the bragain of the century, just search the archives here and at the MIMF and print out everything that Alan Carruth has said on this topic!...[/QUOTE]

Hear, hear!

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luthier24

Post subject:

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:35 am

Mahogany

Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:40 am
Posts: 55
Location: Tampa, Florida

I have read Siminoff's "The Luthier's Handbook" several times and I have found it extremely valuable and informative. I also purchased "The Art of Tap Tuning" and found the majority of discussion material already covered in "The Luthier's Handbook". Only a small portion of the "The Art of Tap Tuning" involves meaningful instruction. Nonetheless, I built a frame and tapping hammer and purchased StroboSoft (I already own quality microphones and a compressor/sustainer). I did not have success tuning the top but I have only tried it once and it was a very thick top. I do plan to use the method on the next guitar.

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