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Guitar critique
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=30303		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Guitar critique
Here are some pics of something you don't see everyday.
These were guitars entered into the Steve Devries guitar critique masterclass at RRCC this past weekend.
Author:  Robbie_McD [ Sun Dec 12, 2010 8:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Wow! Some wild rosettes going on there....
Author:  Chris aka Sniggly [ Sun Dec 12, 2010 8:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Robbie - Is there a video (really good quality) of this class? I would pay money to see it.

Finding a professional player that will give you a real critique of your work is FREAKIN IMPOSSIBLE!!!! They all wanna be so nice and say how nice it is....drives me nuts.
Author:  Tom West [ Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Looks like Steve is not a blue grasser....!!!
Tom
Author:  alan stassforth [ Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
So, what's the deal?
Are they all yours?
Somebody should try playing bluegrass on a classical.
I'm sure it's already been done.
Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
The problem is that everyone is so stinkin' polite when you ask them to play your guitar and tell you what they think. So, I asked Steve Devries to come to Colorado and take the gloves off and really let us know what he thought of our guitars. What exactly does a professional musician want in a handmade guitar anyway? Well, we found out and for some it wasn't pretty. For others he wanted to take their guitars home!!

There were 30 guitars entered by students. Some were first time guitars, others had built just a few and still others had built many.
I have professional quality video and audio of the entire class. Who knows, it might be available as a dvd someday but I have too much going on right now to take on another project. I am saving it for a rainy day...or year! laughing6-hehe
Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
westca wrote:
Looks like Steve is not a blue grasser....!!!
Tom


Actually Steve is one of the most versatile guitarists I have ever met. He is well rehearsed and comfortable playing many styles and genres, inlcuding bluegrass.
Author:  CharlieT [ Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Robbie O'Brien wrote:
I have professional quality video and audio of the entire class. Who knows, it might be available as a dvd someday but I have too much going on right now to take on another project. I am saving it for a rainy day...or year!


I'll second Chris' sentiment...I would love to see video of the event! I would also be interested in participating if you ever do this again. :mrgreen:
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Hey Robbie,

I had a great time there and it was a superb experience to have someone come out as a connoisseur of hand crafted guitars and be brutally honest from that perspective. Extremely and beneficially informative, well worth the time spent, and Steve is really a great guy (as I'm sure the Kinniard brothers can attest to), as well as a superb guitarist. Wish I could have stayed for the entire concert Saturday night but I had to get my uncle back home. :D I appreciate your thoughtfulness of arranging this session. This kind of meeting benefits the go-getters. I'm a go-getter BTW. [:Y:]
Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
I agree BIll. Glad you enjoyed it.
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
What is "RRCC"?

And can someone's ears stay sharp while testing 30 guitars?
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
RRCC = Red Rocks Community College

Don't know about the ear thing - some are better than others, same as memory!
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Howard Klepper wrote:
What is "RRCC"?

And can someone's ears stay sharp while testing 30 guitars?


Howdy Howard,

RRCC = "Red Rocks Community College" (specifically the Lutherie school). The test was not primarily regarding tonality though that was a small part. It was primarily as far as I understand, about fit and finish, along with playability. Other things as well but that was the jest of it. Robbie can add more if he needs. :D
Author:  LuthierSupplier [ Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Howard,
That guitar that he is holding in the 2nd picture from the top is mine. I was one of the lucky few that he wanted to take home.

This is the way it worked...he arrived Thursday night, and started evaluating guitars at 10am on Friday. Every guitar was given a number, and he made notes on every guitar throughout the day. That night during the critique, he didn't really play the guitar, but rather talked about things he liked and things he disliked about the guitar. But first, he opened the critique by explaining all the items that he looks for in a guitar. I was surprised to find he checks the neck first(preferring a 1.75" neck), then moving to fit and finish, then sound. If any of these 3 are not satisfactory, it was on to the next.

I learned so much just listening to him talk about what he liked in a guitar. It wasn't just him telling all the things he liked in a guitar, but also about what professional musicians are looking for. We covered design, shape, sound ports, neck widths, action, etc. Super informative, and suggest other luthier groups do the same if they can find a really good musician that is good at critiquing.

By the way, Steve performed on 2 Charis guitars, one cedar/coco and one sitka/rosewood. Both were incredible sounding and looking!
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Congratulations, Tracy! Is that a new one?

Mike
Author:  Tom West [ Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Robbie: Not steve, there are no dreadnoughts to be seen....!!
Tom
Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
westca wrote:
Robbie: Not steve, there are no dreadnoughts to be seen....!!
Tom


Actually there was one buried in there somewhere.
Author:  Tom West [ Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Robbie: Right you are.Pic # 12,first on left in back row.It's in a couple of other pics also. Real nice looking batch of guitars and a lot of work. Congrats.
Tom
Author:  Corky Long [ Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
CharlieT wrote:
Robbie O'Brien wrote:
I have professional quality video and audio of the entire class. Who knows, it might be available as a dvd someday but I have too much going on right now to take on another project. I am saving it for a rainy day...or year!


I'll second Chris' sentiment...I would love to see video of the event! I would also be interested in participating if you ever do this again. :mrgreen:


Hear here!!! I'd love to see this - participating would be even better.

I participated in a similar process at an ASIA event - critiques of "first guitars"... I got so much out of that - especially because the reviewers were quite candid, and not afraid to point out where my guitar really needed work. That experience was extremely valuable.

Waddy, I think you were in that session, too...
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Tue Dec 14, 2010 2:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Yes I was. It was a good experience, but the judges weren't into classical guitars much.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar critique
Yeah. I got much better critique from Paul Huemiller at Dream Guitars. He did some serious criticizing! That's why I went thought. I learned a lot.
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