RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote

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jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

sooo...due to the outage my posts went down the drain :( take two:

i had a look at my baby a week ago and man she looks beautiful now. let's start off with something we haven't talked about yet: bindings and purflings! i wanted to have bindings that are lighter than the body itself, so he went with a slightly lighter cherry binding and black/white side purflings. the pretty curls on the sides made me call this guitar curly fries.

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 8 2017 23:38:17

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

here's the front. he went with half herringbone purflings for the top, which i wanted to be really thin, cause otherwise it might disturb the top's appearance. i believe since a guitar is made by inputs from two people, both need to be satisfied with the outcome. of course, merlin knows best how to mould the sound of the instrument (which btw sounds very promising, literally. the body produces a really loud and harmonic tone when the top is tapped...i'm afraid it's gonna be a beast) and put it all together to achieve an optimal geometry for playability, the only thing i can do is tell him what my desires and requirements are. but aesthetically speaking one can talk about and discuss a variety of possibilities. and i'm very glad to say that not only do merlin and i have similar tastes, but also we can work on this in a very constructive and fun way. guess that's really important: getting to know the maker as a person and getting the maker to know you as a person. i find this an important part of giving the guitar its soul.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 8 2017 23:50:14

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

and here's the back with no purflings, pure bindings. needless to say...i'm excited

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 8 2017 23:53:37

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

little heads up: still waiting for the final touches to be made, should be ready in a couple of weeks. these last weeks are pure torment

And I'm afraid that the case I ordered from Visesnut might be too small for my guitar as it has a lower bout of about 390mm (case has 380mm inner lower bout tho "bigger dimensions may be OK"). I really like the Visesnut case and if the classical model doesn't fit I might even go for the OOO model.

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 22 2017 10:28:58

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

I went over to Merlin Grote today and got my guitar, it has arrived safe and sound at its new home!!! It's STUNNING ! It has a really clear voice, lots of overtones and volume and an incredibly light touch, i'll have to readjust my left hand completely so i don't have to strain my fingers that much...playing my old guitar really has been a fight. also I need to learn how to get out all that it has to offer. however here it is.
if you'd like to see other pictures hit me up. i'll try and do a video/audio demo if you like to hear my miserable flamenco skills as well

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 28 2018 3:23:36

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

Congrats! Nothin like getting a new baby! The walnut looks killer, let’s see a pic of that with finish on it!

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\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 28 2018 4:26:42

rombsix

Posts: 7805
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

i'll try and do a video/audio demo if you like to hear my miserable flamenco skills as well

Vamos!

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 28 2018 12:53:19

mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

Vid please :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 28 2018 13:23:04

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

thank you so much lenny !

I don't really know what to do with my new baby, I feel like i'm starting from zero again. and here's the back for ya. the finish does some magic, like you said: KILLER !

I'm uploading an awkward video right now so you can have a little sound bite and hear my school englisch with German accent

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 28 2018 19:34:27

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

here's the video, enjoy my nervous playing and too much talking. I'll put the blame for my bad playing on the fact that I was a little nervous because I'm not used to talking into a camera and i've been playing it non-stop since yesterday night so my fingers are hurting

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 28 2018 20:01:36

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

Olé jalalkun!
Very nice.
Time to put some sweatmarks on it now

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 29 2018 9:32:54

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

That walnut is lookin sexy all finished!
Sounds great man she should bring you many years of happiness!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 29 2018 12:49:58

rombsix

Posts: 7805
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

here's the video, enjoy my nervous playing and too much talking. I'll put the blame for my bad playing on the fact that I was a little nervous because I'm not used to talking into a camera and i've been playing it non-stop since yesterday night so my fingers are hurting

Wow man - that sounds amazing, and you play really well. Why don't you upload more videos?! I need to see more of you, dude. Arabs on this forum gotta thrive too! LOL

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 29 2018 16:52:12

pundi64

Posts: 234
Joined: Jul. 29 2016
From: Thailand

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

Great looking guitar, like the look of the lighter color in the bindings, against the walnut.
Has a great lively sound, which will only get better with the guitar being played,
and after the wood finds it's path to settle in.
Great job Ole' muy Bravo.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 29 2018 17:14:47

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

Congratulations! Beautiful guitar, sounds great...

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 29 2018 20:43:39

NewPlayer

Posts: 141
Joined: Nov. 29 2012
From: San Francisco

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

I am really like the mids and the overall balance. Congrats on the new guitar!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 30 2018 3:49:46

SephardRick

Posts: 358
Joined: Apr. 11 2014

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

Jalal,

Great looking guitar! The percussion quality is really good. That luthier built you a top notch guitar.

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Rick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 30 2018 19:04:28

Dudnote

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 13 2007

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

Nice!! Congratulations for your new baby!! Hope we see her here often. She looks n sounds great!!

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tú ahora no me conoces.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 30 2018 19:47:06

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

thank you all so much for your words, your positive replies mean a lot to me and literally made my day!

I'll have to get used to her first and then I'll try and upload some stuff. saying that merlin did a great job is an understatement, this guitar is frickin awesome !! the guitar opened up a bit more the last days. the basses are boomy and the trebles are bloomy and only time can tell how it's gonna sound in my hands the next few years...i'm excited

we'll definitely see and hear her on the foro a lot more often.

P.S.: arabs are gonna take over this place soon

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 30 2018 22:27:30

edguerin

Posts: 1589
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

Congratulations! Great sound. Nice playing.
Which strings are you using?

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Ed

El aficionado solitario
Alemania

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2018 16:11:09

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

arabs are gonna take over this place soon

Over my dead pale freckled body
#mffga (make foroflamenco great again)

There's only one way to settle this. RASGWADO BATTLE!

PS: BTW, "the basses are boomy and the trebles are bloomy" I see what you did there Dr Seuss!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2018 16:43:22

rombsix

Posts: 7805
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to Piwin)

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2018 19:54:18

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

Over my dead pale freckled body

We gingers are gunna make a come back! We got Pepe Fernandez on our side!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2018 22:14:00

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to Leñador)

quote:

We got Pepe Fernandez on our side!

And if anyone resists, we've got Chuck Norris.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2018 22:46:43

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

And if anyone resists, we've got Chuck Norris.

And all the child bullies from every movie in the 80's!

Sorry Op, couldn't resist.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2018 22:52:47

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to edguerin)

Thanks Ed! These should be Luthier 20s, though it sounds like they're having a composite 1st string in this set from now on.

I've lowered the saddle inlay Piwin, now she sounds like a true dirty flamenca. I came prepared for the ultimate RASGWADEW BATTLE

and good thing you saw my little wordplay there

btw guys, lebanese and iraqi people are known for their crazy ass minds, so I doubt that ramzi would have any problems getting me some gunpowder and petrol...where chuck norris at

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 1 2018 11:08:53

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

where chuck norris at

Nobody finds Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris finds you.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 1 2018 11:42:25

rombsix

Posts: 7805
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: New Flamenco Guitar by Merlin Grote (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

btw guys, lebanese and iraqi people are known for their crazy ass minds, so I doubt that ramzi would have any problems getting me some gunpowder and petrol...where chuck norris at

Make peace not war.