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I hesitate to post this, particularly after listening to it. I do not profess to be a solo player, and this is the first solo piece I have worked on in over 10 years. I'm mostly used to a lot of one line stuff and playing with a group. The microphone is, in my opinion, intimidating. I do not know why. Anyway, I finally got a version I thought I could live with. I did take out one place where I played part totally wrong, and said, c**p aloud, and replayed from there. I cut that section out. I tried a number of other times to get a better version, but they all seemed to get worse. I could have done a lot more editing, but then it wouldn't be me. You get what you get. It probably does not show the guitar off very well, but here it is. If I can get with one of my, player, friends, I'll try to get a better one. I think I ruined the high E, yesterday, when I was fiddling with a high fret. I stretched it too much, I think, and it no longer intonates as well as it did the last time I checked. Oh well, here you go:

Lagrima

Thanks for listening.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Waddy,

We've not met yet as I am fairly new to the forum and though I am only in the planning stages of my first build, I am a player and have been playing for 25 years. I am totally blown away. The guitar sounds incredibly balanced. The lows are full but not overpowering, the highs ring nicely, and the notes in the middle are just right. You have got to be proud Thanks so much for posting this clip. It really gives me further inspiration on my first build.

All the Best,
Dan

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Dan

Waddy, you should be very proud. I'm not a fan of nylon strings, but really like the way yours sounds. I found your playing to be very relaxing.

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Aoibeann

Thank you both for your comments. I'm very happy with the sound of the guitar. It is really better than the recording. My flubbing of notes kills the sound a bit. I did record it dead flat, no EQ, and did not edit it for sound at all. I recorded it on my laptop using an inexpensive MXL 63MBP mic. I think I got the little kit for about $69 or $79 (on sale) from Musicians Friend a few months ago.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Laugh if you want. We both were impressed with the sound of your guitar and the fact you could still play with a ten year hiatus. This is one of the few classical guitars I hear that didn't have a plastic undertone. Granted, I don't hang out at concert halls, but still. You have a lot to be proud of Waddy.

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Aoibeann

Sorry, Lillian, that was rude. I was laughing at the "relaxing" part, because when I listen I hear pauses, and flubbed notes. It makes me nervous, and would never pass muster in the ensemble.

I do appreciate both of your complements. Thank you.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Congratulations Waddy ,
It sounds as though the trebles are there as well as the bass.
So when do you start your next?

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

That is great Waddy! You should be very proud of this first guitar. Sounds great to to my ears. And you were even playing sick...I'm impressed!

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Thanks guys.

Jim, I have already started necks for my next two. I'm doing a EIR and German Spruce with a Mahogany V joint Neck, and a Bubinga and Lutz Spruce with a Spanish Cedar Scarf Jointed neck. I did the V joint last weekend. It ended up being a tweak job, but I got it glued together.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

beautiful Waddy......BEAUTIFUL!

I have looked forward to this day ever since you started with this build and I am well pleased with what I hear tonight.

You really have something to be proud of!

Thank you my friend!

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Reguards,

Ken H

Saaaaweeeet! That is a nice sounding classical buddy! I know the feeling of being intimidated my the mic.... I have posted a few youtube videos of some worship and Christian songs I like and it took me 20 times or so to get a song right even if I typically play it flawlessly. Something nerve-racking about a mic or camera staring at you... Kudos to you for playing such a beautiful arrangement! You probably hear the "flubs" more than anyone else. I only noticed a couple small breaks in the beat but overall that was excellent and the guitar sounds awesome!

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Excellent!!!

Your 1st guitar sounds great Waddy - crisp highs, clear bass, balanced tone and just nice sounding overall! Your playing is waaaaay better than mine, so I am not worthy to pass comment on that aspect.

You should be very proud indeed - that's one heck of an accomplishment - your very first classical guitar sounds GREAT!!
I'm looking forward to reading about your next builds now.....

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Waddy,

That sounds great - 10 years of cobwebs will soon blow away as you will want to play that guitar so much. It's hard to do, but the best trick with the microphone is just to switch it on and ignore it. Get into the zone as you do when you play without a microphone. If you make a fluff just stop and then start playing again. Eventually you'll get a take. Don't "think" about what you are about to play - that's when I usually fluff and it's nearly always on the last bar

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Waddy that sounds superb, you should be very proud of yourself, lovely. Corums?

Dave's right about the microphone, just ignore that it's there and play your guitar. The best advice I can give is to cut the piece into small sections and repeat play each piece until your happy with that section. You only have a small piece to worry about at a time. When happy with each section then start building the piece together until it flows. Remember that in soloing, especially Tarrega, the time signature is less important that the flow and feel of the piece, you don't have others playing along with you, (anywhay if you're the soloist they have to follow you!). Now I never practice without the microphone on, then when it comes to recording for real, it seems no different. OK when you've got three engineers behind the glass it's a little more intimidating, but getting used to playing and then listening back to the recording is the best way to progress a piece.

Again well done on a well considered and executed build.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

What a sweet & rich sounding guitar. Sublime.

Waddy, I hope you are proud of this. And thank you for sharing the build journey with us.

Waddy bro you have a SWF there - your new guitar sounds "sweet, warm, and full" and more importantly GREAT!

It has been a real pleasure for me to watch over the past year or so as you built your guitar and now to hear it. Great job - your should be very, very proud.

So when are you going to clean your shop.......

Hesh, don't go messing with the man's mojo. Wonderful things come out of his shop.

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Aoibeann

Lillian when I suggest that someone clean their shop it is a term of endearment.....

Hello Waddy,

I have been sitting here in the OLF bullrushes watching the progression of your first build through your frequent posts with great admiration. The pictorial documentation of your process and experiences has been a great inspiration to those of us readying to step out and start building. Based on what I hear, you have to be thrilled with your accomplishment! Great sounding guitar ... congratulations!

Rick

Geez, you guys are all too kind! I really appreciate your comments. I am very proud of the guitar. I do not think I could have tweaked it much to improve it. I was afraid I would ruin what I had. Beginners!

Dave and Colin, thanks for the tips on practicing. I think practicing in front of the mic is one of the best tips I have heard. Once you get used to having one a few inches from your hand the intimidation must be much less. I know the feel of the booth, too, Colin. Ugh. When we did our CD's, it would take dozens of takes to get a decent one for something we'd been playing for years. "Give Hambone a Microphone and...." in my case, caves in! By the way, Colin, yes, the strings are Corums. I really like the basses on this guitar. I was not thrilled with the basses of the Goldins, but I may put them back on again now that the set-up is better and more settled. I did like the Goldin trebles.

I will say that as far a projection goes, this guitar does a pretty good job (particularly when you consider the size) . My wife told me, yesterday, that even with me in the den with the door closed, and she at the other end of the house(not a big house) in a room with the door closed, it sounds like I'm in the room with her when I practice.

Thanks again for your kind comments.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Your guitar sounds very nice Waddy.You should be real proud of your accomplishment.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

UNBELIEVABLE........... Way to go Waddy. I was impressed. All that beautiful music. Isn't it amazing how all that beautiful music can come out of a chunk of wood that you formed into a musical instrument?
Start a YouTube account and put some vids of yourself playing your sweet guitar! That would be cool to see you play that song.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Not till I get better looking!

Thanks.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Way to go Waddy. We're proud of your accomplishments, the guitar and the recording.

Congratulations 2U.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Nice Job Waddy!! I'm really impressed!!

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com