history of guitar

[lw216316]

In the post about guitar shaped like figure 8,
ROCKSTAR_NOT provided a link to some guitar history.
I found some interesting illustrations there

http://www.classicalguitarmidi.com/history/guitares_evolution.html#Fig.1

- figure 1 creative sound hole design is nothing new !

- figure 2 has some serious bling

- figure 4 check out the very serious mustache on the bridge  (puts Gibson to shame)

- figure 6 - now that's a binding

- figure 7 - that's definitely an Ovation

- figures 9 and 10 show guitars made by Stadavarius
   - very interesting !  ...I only knew him as a violin maker...if his guitars sound as good as his violin -- WOW !

- Larry

[jeremy3220]

Here's some better pics of one of the Stradivarius guitars http://www.usd.edu/smm/PluckedStrings/Guitars/Stradivari/StradGuitar.html

[lw216316]

wow................

I can't help but wonder if he made it from the same wood he used for his violins.
I've read that is the secret to their sound.

Made to sing and yet silenced in a museum....I can't stand it.....

If I count correctly - 10 frets to body -  it looks playable....

- Larry

[Queequeg]

wow................

I can't help but wonder if he made it from the same wood he used for his violins.
I've read that is the secret to their sound.

Made to sing and yet silenced in a museum....I can't stand it.....

If I count correctly - 10 frets to body -  it looks playable....

- Larry

looks like he was using the same material. fiddleback/flame/tiger maple back and sides
and some people think it was the glue he used
and others are certain it was the finishes...

[jeremy3220]

looks like he was using the same material. fiddleback/flame/tiger maple back and sides
and some people think it was the glue he used
and others are certain it was the finishes...

yeh there are all kinds of ideas. While I don't know the likelyhood that he was the only one who had access to that wood or a certain type of glue or finish we do know one thing that was exclusive about his instruments... his self, the builder.

[lw216316]

Jeremy, you don't suppose the builder could have anything to do with it do you 

Since I'm from Tennessee, I'm going with the 'wood' theory, because a scientiest from my state
thinks so - here is the report

A more modern theory attributes tree growth during a time of unusually low solar activity during the Maunder Minimum "Little Ice Age" from ca. 1645 to 1750. During this period, temperatures throughout Europe were much cooler causing stunting and slower tree growth with unusually dense wood.[6] Further evidence for this "Little Ice Age theory" comes from a simple examination of the dense growth rings in the wood used in Stradivari's instruments.[7] Two researchers, Henri Grissino-Mayer, a University of Tennessee tree ring scientist and Lloyd Burckle, a Columbia University climatologist, published their conclusions supporting the theory on increased wood density in the journal Dendrochronologia.[8]

In 2008, Dutch researchers announced that they had discovered further evidence for wood density as the cause of the high quality of these instruments. After examining the violins with X-rays, the researchers found that these violins all have extremely consistent density, with relatively low variation in the apparent growth patterns of the trees which produced this wood.[9]

The change in climate caused trees to grow uniformly in both summer and winter, creating the renowned quality of the wood used in Stradivariuses. Through the years, various other causes had been hypothesized, including varnishes, boiling or other treatments.[10]

Yet another possible explanation is that the wood originated and was harvested from the forests of northern Croatia.[11] This maple wood is known for its extreme density due to the slow growth from harsh Croatian winters. Croatian wood was a commodity traded by Venetian merchants of this era and is still used for crafting musical instruments by local luthiers to this day

- Larry

[flatlander]

Made to sing and yet silenced in a museum....I can't stand it.....

Larry, Spice up these years and do something exicting. Free this bird. I'll look forward to seeing pics of you and a biscuit eating grin holding and playing guitar. Please include sound samples as well. Thanks in advance.

[lw216316]

Larry, Spice up these years and do something exicting. Free this bird. I'll look forward to seeing pics of you and a biscuit eating grin holding and playing guitar. Please include sound samples as well. Thanks in advance

I love biscuits     a big ol' Hardies' biscut with honey....hmmmmmmm

I'm planning to 'pick & grin & post' as soon as I get the equipment and learn how.
....currently, I'm technolocially challenged - my video cam is analog - I bought it used at
an Abraham Lincoln estate sale.

I've got a digital camera with a video mode - maybe I could capture something with that -
the quality would be pretty bad I guess.

Ben may be a tough act to follow - he did such a good job with his first post.

- Larry

[Randy_R]

this thread ultimately led me to contemporary classical guitarist Eliot Fisk. I'm impressed by his range and style.

http://www.eliotfisk.com

http://cdbaby.com/cd/eliotfisk

[lw216316]

Yes, Fish has a bunch of youtube videos -
I checked them out but I'm not really into classical pieces that much -

...although I do enjoy hearing classically trained guitarists play modern classics and traditional songs.
I found 2 guys in particular
Peo Kindgren

here he does the Beatles' - IN my Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M-cf5k7QG0&feature=channel_page

and this fellow from South America
here he is doing Scarborough Fair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M-cf5k7QG0&feature=channel_page

Perhaps you will enjoy these examples. 

- Larry