LSV-11 Let's talk

[Danny]

It raises the Helmholtz resonating frequency of the guitar.

  and what is that?

[jeremy3220]

    and what is that?

It raises the pitch of the guitar.

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/Helmholtz.html

[Danny]

It raises the pitch of the guitar.

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/Helmholtz.html

  This isn't just your same old boring science stuff....

               "The purely Helmholtz resonance can be investigated by keeping the body volume constant. When measuring this, a common practice is to bury the guitar in sand  , to impede the swelling or 'breathing' of the body. However, guitars are not usually played in this situation.    So the Helmholtz calculation will give an overestimate of the frequency of resonance for a real, flexible body"
           
         I stopped reading at that point, funny stuff, though I'm sure it is being done by some one. Maybe the same kinda folks that put guitars in trees.         Danny

[jeremy3220]

  This isn't just your same old boring science stuff....

               "The purely Helmholtz resonance can be investigated by keeping the body volume constant. When measuring this, a common practice is to bury the guitar in sand  , to impede the swelling or 'breathing' of the body. However, guitars are not usually played in this situation.    So the Helmholtz calculation will give an overestimate of the frequency of resonance for a real, flexible body"
           
         I stopped reading at that point, funny stuff, though I'm sure it is being done by some one. Maybe the same kinda folks that put guitars in trees.         Danny

I haven't read the whole thing either. It just happens to offer an explanation of Helmholtz resonance. You can test this be making a cardboard ring and placing it over the soundhole as to make the soundhole smaller. The guitar will lower in pitch.

[omozom]

Kind of off the main topic but this discussion and article on Helmholtz made me think about this. The other day I was working on a particularly tough new pattern and chord transition. It was taking a lot of concentration to get my fingers to work right. I had to really slow down the pattern and was looking closely at my picking hand. Well I rested my chin on the guitar where the upper bout begins it's curve to the finger board and very close to the binding at the front edge. The resonance through my jaw and to my ears was incredible. I loved the tone.
I mean it makes perfect sense it just Tickled me that all. Just some of the crazy stuff that goes through my mind while I'm waiting for my next shot to be set up.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

[lw216316]

I mean it makes perfect sense it just Tickled me

Yea man, its all about GOOD VIBRATIONS 
We learned that back in the 60s 
here is what the Beach Boys said about it in 1967

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEGmd-3Gg-s

Recently scientists discovered that the earth ' hums ' with a low frequency vibration.
They don't know why. The speculation is it might be ocean currents or waves coming ashore.

Let's hear it for GOOD VIBS man 

- Larry the 60s guy

[Novalis]

Do you hate it , love it, don't even know what it is?

I've played one and loved it! If it didn't have electronics and/or the side shaved thin for later electronic installation, I would have bought it in a heartbeat. The sound didn't seem soft or low to my ears. The balance of highs, mids, and lows was perfect. Easily the best value in a small body guitar I've played.

[prof_stack]

It seems strange to have a pricy guitar like the LSV-11 and not be in love with it at first strum and then six months later when the strings are getting old.  The vibe of the guitar is still there.

My Martin D-18GE sounded wonderful out of the box and still does 6 months later, with the SAME strings that it came with (I'm lazy that way).  No waffling here.  The GE pushed THREE other acoustics out of the house (that almost paid for it). 

Seriously, don't force yourself to love the guitar.  The LSV-11 is a good guitar, but is it great enough for you?  I'd say if not then let someone else take over.

[Danny]

It seems strange to have a pricy guitar like the LSV-11 and not be in love with it at first strum and then six months later when the strings are getting old.  The vibe of the guitar is still there.

My Martin D-18GE sounded wonderful out of the box and still does 6 months later, with the SAME strings that it came with (I'm lazy that way).  No waffling here.  The GE pushed THREE other acoustics out of the house (that almost paid for it). 

Seriously, don't force yourself to love the guitar.  The LSV-11 is a good guitar, but is it great enough for you?  I'd say if not then let someone else take over.

Different strokes I guess. I'm changing strings on my OM-21 Martin right now, also cleaning it up and thinking about making a bone saddle. The reason I'm saying something about my Martin is that it wasn't love at 1st strum for me on this guitar either. Actually the stories have been similar. It grew on me and I finaly got it. There are 4 other guitars that I bought earlier this year that were "1st strum" purchases, 3 are gone now and one is going to be for sale soon.   The LSV-11 is not like any other guitar I have ever played. I liked it the 1st time I saw it, but I didn't care for the wide neck. Now other guitar necks don't feel quite right.   Can't totaly explain it.    Danny

[omozom]

O.K. I got home early today and decided to try some things I hadn't tried yet with the guitar.
This weekend I'm getting some strings to try out. But I don't have any yet and I couldn't wait for that so here is what I did.
First I put the guitar through my amp, Via a mic. I don't have a pick up currently for the LSV. Since my only complaint has been about volume or (I don't want to say dull) but maybe low key or mellow sound would be better; I really wanted to hear the guitar through the amp. With bare fingers, (remember my nails are gone) of course the volume was improved. But the guitar still sounded "mellow". I then put on some picks and the guitar just came to life. I first started with thumb, index and middle with Alaska picks. Great improvement!

The way I hold my picking hand the thumb pick does not meet the string flush. Since the Alaska's are trimable I may have just trimmed them a little off. I'm not getting a scratchy sound across the wound strings; it's more like a subtle click. The index and middle were fine. I should tell you that I don't use the metal picks. All are whatever plastic the company uses. I think they are delrin. So I decided to go to the F.K. Bumble Bee on the thumb. Subtle improvement.  At first I thought I had it. But after closely listening there was still a slight clicking sound on the bass notes. Then I tried the F.K. speed picks. At first I couldn't play very smoothly with them. So I tried to trim them down more that I had before. This helped and I was able to play a decent rolling pattern to make an assessment. While I like the way the speed pick feels the click sound slightly increased over the Alaska and the Bumble bee. Right now I'm thinking of staying with the Bumble bee on the thumb and the Alaska's on the other finger. Oh yeah this is about the LSV-11, I think I'm in the wrong thread!

Well just to stay on topic...
The LSV sounded incredible! I think once my nails grow back, my finger tip / nail  method will be just what I have been looking for . I love this guitar. The sound is there. You just have to figure out the best tech. to coax it out. I can't wait to go out and buy some strings. To see where that path leads us.

New LSV user... no regrets here!     

[Danny]

omozom, you started the picking thread after posting here, so it all blends together.

I haven't read the whole thing either. It just happens to offer an explanation of Helmholtz resonance. You can test this be making a cardboard ring and placing it over the soundhole as to make the soundhole smaller. The guitar will lower in pitch.

Jeremy, I appreciated the comments and link, it just made me laugh when I read about the burial and most guitars aren't played this way etc. It still seems funny to me.

   Here is a quote from the 12th fret on the LSV
" Did I mention that this thing was an absolute dream to play?  The short scale makes even close-voiced chords easy to grip!  There has obviously been some considerable thought given to the ergonomics of this particular model ... it just sits on your lap and falls into the perfect playing position! "  Then he said I LOVE THIS GUITAR Here is the link to the whole write up. It's good stuff. (I'm not a salesman) http://www.12fret.com/new/larrivee_LSV-11_fingerstyle_pg.html