In Need of an 'Ethereal' Sounding Acoustic Guitar...
Transient Music
Hi everyone!
Im a bit new to all this group malarky as well as acoustic
guitars.....but I want to ask for some advice on the latter:
....I am the proud owner of a rather tasty Ibanez 'S' Series electric
guitar which includes piezo pickups built in to the bridge so it can
be used like an electro-acoustic through a second output to an amp
or pa. I have been using this to good effect on a recent project of
mine but now want to buy and acoustic as its just not the same in a
live setting! I really some need advice on a good one for our sound!
The music is melancholic and thoughtful and kinda folky sometimes. I
want to go for an ethereal sound....check out our myspace page for a
listen; maybe you will see what I mean!
So, please let me know your opinions!....also please bare in mind i
dont wanna spend over £500, I hope thats possible!
cheers, jay
Guncho
Step #1 Get a shovel
Step #2 Go to a graveyard. (Preferably when it's dark)
Step #3 Dig up coffins til you find one with an acoustic guitar in it.
Can't get anymore "ethereal" than that
Give me a fucking break.
Chris
Transient Music
one with way too much testosterone in it.....and far too much time on
it's hands....break given...
Jay
Guncho
Well come one man. You asked what was the most "Ethereal" sounding
guitar was. That's enough to make anyone sick.
Chris
Derek
Not sure what Guncho is reacting to. Your request seems to me more
about effects than a particular guitar. Adding chorus, reverb, or
other time delay type effects will probably get you what you want.
Can you think of a tune or band that has the type of sound you are
after?
Derek
Your girl has a very good voice. Keep up the good work.
Nil
alt.guitar.beginner:
> Well done Chris, you seem about as useful as a chocolate teapot...and
> one with way too much testosterone in it.....and far too much time on
> it's hands....break given...
He was rude about it, but he was right. Acoustic guitars don't come in
"ethereal" varieties. If you want your acoustic guitar to sound
"ethereal", you have to play it that way, maybe aided by certain
electronic effects and recording or amplification techniques.
Consider reverb, delay, and flanger effects units.
David Kilpatrick
Ok, you are in the UK. The most 'ethereal' guitars are good handmades
with a light touch. Those include, top of the tree, Alan Marshall's
Northworthy guitars from Derbyshire. They have to be the most sparkling,
airy guitars I've ever played. Brook Guitars from Devon can also be that
way in the smaller body sizes. Jimmy Moon's OM size guitar (Moon, of
course) from Glasgow would probably qualify, and so would the Fylde
Ariel, Fylde Guitars' small-medium body which is very well named.
However, all of these would be more likely to cost you £1000+ unless you
can hunt down a good secondhand one where the owner doesn't really know
the price.
For factory guitars, the non-Irish made Avalon silver series qualify.
They have, generically, a light and airy sound in contrast to the warm
woody quality of Lowdens (their distant ancestor). £500 will get you a
nice medium-sized body or dreadnought; avoid the smallest bodies, or
large jumbos, as the sound goes boxy/warm respectively. Dreadnoughts can
be surprisingly airy in sound. Another contender would be a basic model
of Taylor, the 'Big Baby'. This has a very light open sound. A spruce,
not cedar, topped Seagull/Norman/Art&Lutherie/Simon&Patrick - all the
same factory - with cherry or birch body will also fit the bill.
Finally, the Landstrom 'Sharkfin' plectrum is a fantastic way to get
ethereal or airy, 12-string like sound from an acoustic - easy enough to
find, I think. The genuine Swedish item is much better than similar
cheapie serrated edge fake Sharkfins though. Any ultra-thin pick can help.
David
M.Butzin
"David Kilpatrick" <icon...@btconnect.com> wrote in message
news:FKydnW6lH4w...@bt.com...
And a set of extra light strings, "light and airy" is what you get when you
have a hole in your jeans, Specially if you live in Chicago. (PT)
Bottoms up
MB
Transient Music
thanks!....maybe these others find metaphors hard to deal with but you
got what I meant..I'll have a search for your ideas and let you know
what happens!
cheers jay
Transient Music
come out of your cave and read davids post...thats what i was
after....not random grunting...
Mogens V.
No sickness or nausia here. I just don't know what's meant by ethereal -
I only know it as a network sniffer tool :)
No need to bark at the OP. Either leave it be, or ask what he means.
--
Kind regards,
Mogens V.
David Martel
Probably any acoustic with a pickup and a pre amp. Put on a set of Silk
n Steel strings. Run through an effects processor using some chorus, some
compression, and a lot of echo,cho,ho,o.
Dave M.
Transient Music
got aww hehe
Mogens V.
> Transient Music wrote:
>
>> Hi everyone!
>>
>> Im a bit new to all this group malarky as well as acoustic
>> guitars.....but I want to ask for some advice on the latter:
>>
>> ....I am the proud owner of a rather tasty Ibanez 'S' Series electric
>> guitar which includes piezo pickups built in to the bridge so it can
>> be used like an electro-acoustic through a second output to an amp
>> or pa. I have been using this to good effect on a recent project of
>> mine but now want to buy and acoustic as its just not the same in a
>> live setting! I really some need advice on a good one for our sound!
>> The music is melancholic and thoughtful and kinda folky sometimes. I
>> want to go for an ethereal sound....check out our myspace page for a
>> listen; maybe you will see what I mean!
>>
>> http://www.myspace.com/lunarj
>>
>> So, please let me know your opinions!....also please bare in mind i
>>
>>
>
> Ok, you are in the UK. The most 'ethereal' guitars are good handmades
> with a light touch. Those include, top of the tree, Alan Marshall's
> Northworthy guitars from Derbyshire. They have to be the most sparkling,
> airy guitars I've ever played. Brook Guitars from Devon can also be that
> way in the smaller body sizes. Jimmy Moon's OM size guitar (Moon, of
> course) from Glasgow would probably qualify, and so would the Fylde
> Ariel, Fylde Guitars' small-medium body which is very well named.
>
> the price.
>
> For factory guitars, the non-Irish made Avalon silver series qualify.
> They have, generically, a light and airy sound in contrast to the warm
> large jumbos, as the sound goes boxy/warm respectively. Dreadnoughts can
> be surprisingly airy in sound. Another contender would be a basic model
> of Taylor, the 'Big Baby'. This has a very light open sound. A spruce,
> not cedar, topped Seagull/Norman/Art&Lutherie/Simon&Patrick - all the
> same factory - with cherry or birch body will also fit the bill.
>
> Finally, the Landstrom 'Sharkfin' plectrum is a fantastic way to get
> ethereal or airy, 12-string like sound from an acoustic - easy enough to
> find, I think. The genuine Swedish item is much better than similar
> cheapie serrated edge fake Sharkfins though. Any ultra-thin pick can help.
>
> David
That's very useful to know about those kind of tones. I take it that's
the kind of tone I've been hearing in English/Irish/Scottish/Celtic
folklore music, right?
Guncho
> hehe thanks....i'll give him a break...was just the first reply i ever
> got aww hehe
Welcome to alt.guitar!
;)
Chris
Transient Music
couple of models that may suit me...
David Kilpatrick
>
>
> That's very useful to know about those kind of tones. I take it that's
> the kind of tone I've been hearing in English/Irish/Scottish/Celtic
> folklore music, right?
>
A lot of DADGAD, CGCGCE and similar '2nd' and open tunings, when lightly
strummed, have exactly the sound you probably mean because there are
many octaves/unisons which are maybe just a little bit out of tune/phase.
And English/Irish/Scottish has been dominated by alternative tunings,
even for chord playing, for years.
At the moment there is a preference for grand concert/OM or OOO sized
acoustics - not the large dreadnought (western, like Martin D18) or big
jumbo (like the Gibson Hummingbird as used by Elvis in his later years).
The trend towards smaller guitars doesn't mean less volume, but it
maybe reduced the emphasis on the old alternating-bass thumbpicking,
Travis picking, double-thumbing and similar country and
western/bluegrass style techniques.
Also, these 'light and airy' guitars are actually much lighter
physically - sounds too obvious. I've got some guitars which weigh 1.6
kilos only, compared to traditional steel strings which often weigh 2
kilos and more. It encourages a lighter touch. If you hug the guitar too
close, or put your arm down on the top, you hear the sound get killed -
so the natural thing is to keep the body in open air, get your hand and
your arm off the top, let the sound resonant freely. I've had
traditional steel strings like my Martin D18 where it made no
difference, you could wrap yourself round the guitar and it still
sounded just the same.
I've got a whole set of instrumental recordings on my Soundclick front
page, on a load of different guitars, mostly (but not all) just mic no
pickup or FX used. Where anything like that is done, the Lyric/Story
page always give the details - the guitar, the tuning, the method for
recording, even the strings. I love the differences between acoustic
guitars, and I'll probably never stop buying them and selling them, just
to enjoy the new sounds.
David Kilpatrick
> As anyone heard of Luna Guitars....? I've heard that there may be a
> couple of models that may suit me...
>
>
I took a look and what you are getting is essentially a massproduced
standard instrument with elaborate decoration. The three-band EQ and
piezo is almost certainly a Belcat/Artec/FSE type - crystal piezo strip
- because they don't mention it being Fishman, LR Baggs, or any other
well know pickup brand. I sell plenty of instruments with this type of
Chinese or Korean pickup, but 'ethereal' does not apply - they are high
output, very incisive and hard, with a strong 'quack' and presence. I
like them for mandolin, bouzouki and also for nylon strings and softly
strung bass but not much for guitar. I've just ripped one out of a Lamaq
guitar which I am keeping, and put a Fishman Sonicore pickup element in
its place, to get better string balance and tone (the preamp stays, they
are fine, it's just the Belcat-type piezo elements which are harsh).
I'd say these guitars have a Ł100 premium for the decoration, which also
means they can use badly matched woods. I get instruments made in
Romania (not regular guitars) and unlike JHS/Ozark/Montana who get the
same types made, I insist all mine are unstained. Only natural woods,
with every bit of the grain and figure visible. That way, they can't
sell me mismatched or poorly grained woods - I get the best, because
they know the wood will be seen. Also, they like making them. Most
people who work with wood like to see it.
So - I would never buy one of these acoustics except as a novelty stage
guitar, and I'd probably need to be a girlie first, to have a full
painting of the Lady of Shallott on my guitar front. Loreena McKennitt's
version of that poem/song is amazing but I don't think a bloke could
really pull it off :-)
There are some very good similarly sized and specified guitars with far
superior pickup systems (I suspect) from Tanglewood, Crafter, and other
popular Far-Eastern factory sources.
I've been buying nothing but Lamaqs for my own 'herd' since December.
Average price Ł110 per instrument, superb - I've got a solid
rosewood/cedar concert size GAL5190 (Ł99 with Fishman installed!), an
ultra-slim all maple SJ57C, a tricone resonator, a solid cedar small
jumbo GAL5990 with Fishman (passed on to my son), and a Brazilian/cedar
flamenco classical. There's an all-maple mini slimline SJ57CN on its way
with nylon strings and a slim jazz profile classical neck - another well
spent Ł110 including shipping and gig bag. Marc Lamaq is amazing. Based
in Durham, gets the stuff made in China, mainly solid woods, designs
them himself, and sells direct on eBay as iGuitars. They are
ultra-light, use split saddles, and absolutely sing in a way which the
average overbuilt, overlaquered, overdecorated Chinese laminated body
import simply doesn't - and at a third of the old retail price right
now, though that must change, he's been selling off experimental
prototypes, seconds, surplus stock, old designs and preparing for a new
2007 range.
David
Grinner
"Transient Music" <jdh...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:1173815106.8...@c51g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
Hi everyone!
cheers, jay
I don't think there are any ethereal acoustic guitars just ethereal acoustic
guitar players like David Gilmour, Neil Young, Steven Stills and Randy
California.
Keith Adams
to say this. You've really got something good going with your music. The
lyrics are fantastic. I dont know how you go about doing your writing but
your hooks ( which is the chorus ) doesnt match the power and beauty of your
verses. It gives the songs an unbalanced feeling. If you pay attention to
things you see and hear in your everyday life then you'll find hook lines
all around you. Try to get your hook line then write the song around it.
They'll write themselves once you do. You can be abstract in your writing.
It sounds like you're writing from personal experience ( and thats the best
way) and you're doing a good job of telling a story. Your hook
(chorus )doesnt necessarrily have to go along with the verses in continuing
that story though.Also the sound you have going is good and matches up real
well with your lyrics ,playing and the lovely voice. Think about dynamics a
little though. You need to build tension in a song and then release it. I'm
not trying to tell you how to ply your trade. Its just that I feel you could
go far with music should you want to. Think about some of the things I've
mentioned perhaps?
"Transient Music" <jdh...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:1173815106.8...@c51g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
Hi everyone!
dont wanna spend over Ł500, I hope thats possible!
cheers, jay
Transient Music
What you said is very interesting...I had a look on Ebay and there are
only a couple of guitars on there..the prices are quite
astounding..but it seems stock is a bit low...does he just sell on
ebay...?
Jay
Cliff
Hey, remember where you are! alt guitar's next door ;-)
Cliff
>
> ;)
>
> Chris
Guncho
wrote:
>
> - Show quoted text -
This is alt.guitar.
Chris
SteveG
> Any guitar will work for you man. After going to your my space site I'd like
> to say this. You've really got something good going with your music. The
> lyrics are fantastic. I dont know how you go about doing your writing but
> your hooks ( which is the chorus ) doesnt match the power and beauty of your
> verses. It gives the songs an unbalanced feeling. If you pay attention to
> things you see and hear in your everyday life then you'll find hook lines
> all around you. Try to get your hook line then write the song around it.
> They'll write themselves once you do. You can be abstract in your writing.
> It sounds like you're writing from personal experience ( and thats the best
> way) and you're doing a good job of telling a story. Your hook
> (chorus )doesnt necessarrily have to go along with the verses in continuing
> that story though.Also the sound you have going is good and matches up real
> well with your lyrics ,playing and the lovely voice. Think about dynamics a
> little though. You need to build tension in a song and then release it. I'm
> not trying to tell you how to ply your trade. Its just that I feel you could
> go far with music should you want to. Think about some of the things I've
> mentioned perhaps?
>
Nice music, but change your background man ... I don't know what it
looks like your end but on my laptop I could not read anything.
Dave Van
It was cross posted from the start
Transient Music
>
> - Show quoted text -
Yeah I know what you mean....the text used to be white but We added a
banner and it went black and now we cant get the white back! Any
ideas....? Maybe i'll start a white text thread haha...no,
seruiously....
Sean
Welcome to cross-posting.