Quick question about golpeador

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Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

Quick question about golpeador

Iam going to install one of those alhambra golpeadores but they appear to be one entire piece with a cut where the rosette is.

Am I supposed to apply it as one piece or should I cut the part that goes under the strings? Any advantages/disadvantages in doing either way?

Thanks

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 17:16:33

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Sr. Martins)

I doubt it makes any noticeable difference soundwise. Someone once suggested a one piece doesn't allow the whole top to move with humidity changes, making it more crack prone and stressed just outside the golpeador; I'm not convinced.
I do a two piece, simply because I don't see the point in putting any extra plastic where it's not necessary.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 17:57:20

Morante

Posts: 2181
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Sr. Martins)

If you ever let a gitano play your guitar, you will learn why you need protection under the strings

. Many juerga players rest a heavy thumb when playing and often have a very strong apoyado alzapùa and thumb stroke.

I remember playing my first Spanish guitar in a campsite, when one came to show me how to get a real flamenco sound: after one falseta, he left a score of nailmarks between the strings.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 18:20:02

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1891
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Sr. Martins)

on that note, i also have a quick golpeador question:

has anyone tried putting another layer on the existing one?
my golpeador is about to be cut through to the top and i'm thinking of putting another layer on the effected area...do you think it'd adversely effect the tone of the guitar/the golpes or my playing due to the extra millimeter's height on there? i wouldn't think so but maybe someone has experience...removing the whole thing and putting on a new one is currently not an option...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 19:05:50

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Hmm... that makes sense.. low action + heavy thumb + big-ish fingernail = scratched middle area.

Well, I guess I'll just glue the whole thing as it is. It will be like a "last polyurethane layer"

@hendrix You'll get lower action

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 19:17:20

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

quote:

do you think it'd adversely effect the tone of the guitar/the golpes or my playing due to the extra millimeter's height on there?

Thats not the problem. The golpe plate should be firmly fixed to the top so there is no gap between the wood of the top and the golpe plate. If you paste a piece over, there will probably be a gap or an air bubble. This does not protect the guitar top and if you are doing golpes over that area, the golpe plate will strike the wood and you will edventually split the top.

Please tell me this isnt your PDL signed guitar

Why is removing and replacing the plate not an option?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 21:05:57

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1891
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Pimientito)

Well the situation is not out of hand yet, so in this case the golpe plate would be striking the other golpe plate...Unfortunately there aren't any luthiers nearby whom I would trust with this job and I don't dare to do it myself...
and yes, it's the guitar signed by Paco...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 21:27:47

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

quote:

my golpeador is about to be cut through to the top

can you post a photo of this? You gotta be careful my friend. If a bubble appears under the plate, you will damage the top. Putting a new golpe plate on a guitar isnt so hard but taking the old one off and refinishing the top is a professional job.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 21:30:23

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1891
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Pimientito)

yeah, here it is...
as you can see, it's not as bad as it could/will be, but the surface is far from even and often i find my nail catching it while playing, and it makes a different kind of sound as the normal golpe would do...
i could surely use the guitar for at least another year before damaging the top, but i'd rather prevent it from damaging further...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 21:39:18

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

Ok...at least the golpe plate isnt lifting from the top. Thats always bad news because it then fails to protect from damage the top. If the top of the golpe plate is scuffed (how hard are your nails to do that?) then maybe there is a way to get it smooth again without making the guitar look like it belonged to Willie Nelson. You cant sand it down and i think using varnish will just make the top look horrible. Now i see what you mean by sticking another piece of golpe plate over the first one.

To me it seems like a good idea and as the golpe plate is thin its not going to affect your playing. I would move this post to the luthier section and see what they say though.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 21:49:29

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1891
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Pimientito)

Thanks Pim, i hope someone who deals with similar issues more often will find time to respond.
My nails are pretty hard, but also flexible, they're just about perfect fortunately, although I managed to break the ring fingernail during the first piece at a concert recently...I had to glue it while there were a hundred people watching me

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 21:54:07

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

Im glad you got 100 people at your concert!!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 22:04:07

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Hmm... the alhambra golpeador is 20x20, that is huge!

Whats the best way to cut it? X-acto? Scissors?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 23:24:18

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Hey mate..
I got my tap plate changed last year and the luthier that did it mentioned several ways he has done it before.
Remove, repolish the bottom and replace.
Polish the current plate and when it's nice and smooth, stick a new one onto it.

He mentioned french polish would normally come with the old tap plates so that's why he has to touch up to make the area flat and smooth again before fixing new plates.

I think it'll be easier with non french polish guitars. The finish won't come up with the tap plates as much.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 23:55:32

Morante

Posts: 2181
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to HolyEvil)

If you use something which will not dissolve the polish, such as turps substitute, with much care and a soft brush, you can remove a golpeador without damaging the finish.

Cut the new golpeador to size, mark its place at the bridge with a non permanente pen, leave 1mm distance from the bridge (for possible varnish build up) and start to peel slowly the backing while pressioning with a "rubber", a piece of wood wrapped in cotton, for example. Unprotected wood will mark the top. Work slowly, ensuring that the rubber expels all the air bubbles.

Not difficult, but needs a lot of care.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 15:55:38

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Another procedure for removing the golpeador is to use a hair dryer to warm the surface and soften the adhesive. It takes a LOT of very slow work and patience.

When installing a new golpeador, Michael Thames told me that he uses a mixture of white glue and water as an adhesive. This supposedly makes the golpeador easier to remove and replace. I haven't had an opportunity to try this technique.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 16:21:05

Coroy

Posts: 31
Joined: Mar. 8 2012
From: Germany

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Morante)

quote:

on that note, i also have a quick golpeador question:

has anyone tried putting another layer on the existing one?
my golpeador is about to be cut through to the top and i'm thinking of putting another layer on the effected area...do you think it'd adversely effect the tone of the guitar/the golpes or my playing due to the extra millimeter's height on there? i wouldn't think so but maybe someone has experience...removing the whole thing and putting on a new one is currently not an option...

@ xirdneH_imiJ : Yes, I put a display-protection foil for an IPad on top of one Golpeador to protect the Golpeador from scratches and so far it seems to work.
I havea also put such a foil on top of a cheap training blanca where the foil is the Golpeador for it. It works now for over a year without any damage.
There may be a few blisters under the foil but it does the job. Good thing is that you can draw it off easily because it just sticks by static charge and it is very cheap.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 16:21:40

Morante

Posts: 2181
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to GuitarVlog)

A hair dryer or a hot iron would certainly work, but they might also unglue a top brace, so pies de plomo!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 18:35:48

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1891
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Coroy)

that sounds like a great idea, thanks!
and i only need an iphone sized cover too...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 21:54:37

Coroy

Posts: 31
Joined: Mar. 8 2012
From: Germany

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

I found them on ebay for about 2 € a piece.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 22:40:28

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Quick question about golpeador (in reply to Sr. Martins)

I bought one at Worten for 99cent to use as a golpeador... it worked but didnt look so great.

If you must use that, cut the 90º corners. They bump easily.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 22:50:03