David Morse
rpjazzguitar
article on David Morse's archtop construction techniques.
I was wondering if anybody on here has played one and how it sounded?
Tim McNamara
<9b1cdbb4-efd6-4138...@p20g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
rpjazzguitar <rpjazz...@gmail.com> wrote:
He seems to make violins these days:
http://www.davidmorseviolins.com/index.php
--
That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, Bingo.
rpjazzguitar
> In article
> <9b1cdbb4-efd6-4138-96a8-60385fe95...@p20g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
>
> rpjazzguitar <rpjazzgui...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I just happened to be re-reading an old GP mag which had a detailed
> > article on David Morse's archtop construction techniques.
>
> > I was wondering if anybody on here has played one and how it sounded?
>
> He seems to make violins these days:
>
> http://www.davidmorseviolins.com/index.php
>
> --
> That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, Bingo.
I saw that too. The GP article described a whole bunch of innovative
techniques of construction .. so I wondered about his guitars.
efty
I just spent an afternoon playing one. It's quite an interesting
experience. The guitar is a non cutaway but the neck joins the body
at the 16th fret.. so it has access to the higher notes, like a
cutaway.
The guitar is highly resonant, and expressive... in a word, musical.
Action is fast. The guitar reminds me of a small cello, modified to
be a guitar (which is what it appears to be). Violin construction all
the way.
It has what appears to be a spirit varnish finish, the same varnish
tint as his violins, and the bindings are the same as his cellos.
The f holes are classical cello style. It has a very thin top which
makes it
very delicate. This one seems to have held up well over the years.
They were made in the early eighties... I know Earl Klugh and John
Abercrombie each had one. They have a good reputation and since they
haven't been offered for 25 years or so, they are valuable. My
friend seems to think they are worth $25,000 but who really knows as
none are for sale!
Ron Clegg
Tim McNamara
<ac20908a-760d-4f25...@m20g2000prc.googlegroups.com>,
efty <lefto...@gmail.com> wrote:
I remember reading that article and being struck by the aesthetics of
Morse's instruments; indeed that was the article that made me think I
eventually wanted an archtop. Acoustically archtops are often not all
that musical- they bark and lack a lot of the lower overtones that make
flattops sound rich. Makes sense, they were initially designed to be
able to project the chords out over a big band like a banjo did, so they
emphasize some of the same frequencies. Later archtops are designed
differently with a different acoustic signature in mind, or are intended
primarily for use with a pickup.
--
Gotta make it somehow on the dreams you still believe.
Roberteckert
I own a Morse Archtop made in 1981. It is called the "Excelsior". I
commissioned David to build it in 81 and the next guitar that he made
was for John Abercrombie who was impressed with my guitar but did not
care for his. John lived in New York City and left it next to a steam
radiator in his loft. John's guitar fell apart after being exposed to
the humidity of a steam radiator. I remember asking Ralph Towner
( john's good friend) what he thought of the newer Morse and he said
that it was apiece of crap. Ralph was wrong. David Morse is a genius
and his instruments will be historical. I have had the guitar now
for 30 years and play everyday. I will sell the guitar to an
interested player but it would be very expensive to buy. The reason I
will consider selling the "Excelsior" is that the neck is nearly a
classical width and I now own a fine Trenier Excel that sounds as good
and is easier for me to play.
Robert Eckert