Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Full Version)

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avimuno -> Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Nov. 18 2011 10:32:48)

Hola amigos!

I was wondering if any builder here has ever built a 7 string flamenco (whether blanca or negra)... I have been listening to a lot of Brazilian music lately and I really like what guys like Yamandu Costa do with the extra string. From that, I cannot help but wonder what a 7 string flamenco guitar would be like... hence me asking if anyone here has built or owns such a guitar. Any feedback would be very appreciated.

Gracias.


Avi




Stephen Eden -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Nov. 18 2011 10:51:03)

Thought I'd take the chance to advertise Mr Faulk

http://www.stephenfaulk.com/guitars/seven-string/

There is your answer




KMMI77 -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Nov. 18 2011 10:52:35)

have you checked out this one,





avimuno -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Nov. 18 2011 15:40:50)

Thanks!




ralexander -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Nov. 18 2011 16:24:36)

Very cool how Jason handles that guitar considering how little experience he has with 7 stringers. Some majorly impressive work by Stephen, as well. There are a couple more clips on his site here:

http://www.stephenfaulk.com/guitars/seven-string/

I'd like to hear a standard 6 string flamenco with this same wood combo.




Shawn Brock -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Nov. 18 2011 16:54:03)

Stephen Faulk is a great builder, and the fact that such an "Spanish sound" can be captured in a 7 string is a testament to his greatness. I'm not a 7 string player myself, but have messed with them for years. It seems that mostly they come out sounding kind of "classical", but MR. Faulk nails it down. Great job!

The looming question is, who hasn't Jason McGuire owned a guitar by? It must be a short list, cause that cat is always playing some great axes. Perhaps we need to start a thread on the guitars owned by Jason. Talk about some good guitar porn...




avimuno -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Nov. 19 2011 17:40:06)

I was checking Stephen's guitars... they seem to be really nice instruments!! One day maybe... :-P




turnermoran -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 1 2011 5:30:59)

The 7 string guitar in the video w/ Jason is actually mine. After owning and playing it as my main guitar for about 3 years, I'm starting to feel like the musical possibilites in flamenco are outweighed by the challenges of playing flamenco on a 7 string.

Fact is though, I'm not really a flamenco player. I play Brazilian music - a lot of choro in particular, which is more or less where Yamandu is coming from. But I do practice a lot of flamenco - especially technique.
Here are some specific issues I've found, and I'd bet that when Jason says in the video that he doesn't think a 7 string would work well in flamenco, these might be some of the reasons:

1) rasgueado where you plant your RH thumb on the basses. If you play an E chord, and leave it on the 6th string normally, do you do place it on the 7th string, or keep it on the 6th and let the 7th string press down from above? If you place it on the 7th, it makes hitting the trebles a new experience, as you're 10 - 11mm further away than you'd normally be. If you put it on the 6th, it can feel weird.
2) rumba strumming; you have be be careful of the extra string, which you must now either incorporate into the chord or mute. And based on how you tune the 7th string, it may or may not to work to incorporate, so you frequently have to mute regardless.
3) picado; similar situation to the rasgueado. If you plan a RH thumb on the 6th string (as I do) do you plant on the 7th now? Which again, places you 10-11mm further away from where you'd normally be.
4) the norm for string spacing is to reduce the distance from string to string, so that the final result isn't super wide. And obviously, there are plusses and minus to tighter spacing. For me, tremolo on the 2nd and 3rd string is made more difficult with tighter spacing.
5) Alzapua: if it's hard with 6 strings it sure ain't easier with 7!

These are just a few issues. But if I were a better player, I'd probably be able to make better use of the 7th string in flamenco. I'm thinking that it's best for someone who focuses on the solo/concert repertoire. For example, being able to play a G chord in 7th position, and accessing the high D note on the 1st string/10th fret while being able to include the low G bass note (now available to you on the 7th string) offers cool possibilities.
But accompaniment is trickier I think.

As far as Stephen's instruments, I think he has achieved one thing in particular that is often missing: singing trebles. Many Brazilian made 7 strings have disappointing trebles. Or the basses sound a little sterile. Steven's guitar sounds very open; big trebles, big basses. Very loud. I like it a lot. And it does sound quite flamenco. He made one for a friend of mine that played my guitar and liked it. He ordered a 7 string with cedar/indian. Mine is spruce/black acacia. They sound quite different. His is more classical, but still open and loud sounding.
If the 12 - 19+ month wait works for you, I'd recommend Stephen's 7 strings.

Kenny Hill made me a 7 string based on a Rodriguez design. It was a little mushy sounding I thought. Nice basses. But the trebles bottomed out.
I've also owned 7 strings by Lineu Bravo, Rogerio Dos Santos, Montalvo and Giannini.

I would be curious if other luthiers here would ever build a 7. Anders? Andy?




Stephen Eden -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 1 2011 10:02:03)

I think It would be fairly straight forward building a flamenco sounding 7 string. If you can make a normal 6 string sound muy flamenco then why not 7 strings! The classical sounding guitars were probably ust built to sound classical.

I would build a 7 string but it would have to be ordered. I've built a 10 string and an 11 string to great success(both classical) I don't see why a 7 string would raise any issues.




avimuno -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 1 2011 13:56:51)

quote:

The 7 string guitar in the video w/ Jason is actually mine. After owning and playing it as my main guitar for about 3 years, I'm starting to feel like the musical possibilites in flamenco are outweighed by the challenges of playing flamenco on a 7 string.

Fact is though, I'm not really a flamenco player. I play Brazilian music - a lot of choro in particular, which is more or less where Yamandu is coming from. But I do practice a lot of flamenco - especially technique.
Here are some specific issues I've found, and I'd bet that when Jason says in the video that he doesn't think a 7 string would work well in flamenco, these might be some of the reasons:

1) rasgueado where you plant your RH thumb on the basses. If you play an E chord, and leave it on the 6th string normally, do you do place it on the 7th string, or keep it on the 6th and let the 7th string press down from above? If you place it on the 7th, it makes hitting the trebles a new experience, as you're 10 - 11mm further away than you'd normally be. If you put it on the 6th, it can feel weird.
2) rumba strumming; you have be be careful of the extra string, which you must now either incorporate into the chord or mute. And based on how you tune the 7th string, it may or may not to work to incorporate, so you frequently have to mute regardless.
3) picado; similar situation to the rasgueado. If you plan a RH thumb on the 6th string (as I do) do you plant on the 7th now? Which again, places you 10-11mm further away from where you'd normally be.
4) the norm for string spacing is to reduce the distance from string to string, so that the final result isn't super wide. And obviously, there are plusses and minus to tighter spacing. For me, tremolo on the 2nd and 3rd string is made more difficult with tighter spacing.
5) Alzapua: if it's hard with 6 strings it sure ain't easier with 7!

These are just a few issues. But if I were a better player, I'd probably be able to make better use of the 7th string in flamenco. I'm thinking that it's best for someone who focuses on the solo/concert repertoire. For example, being able to play a G chord in 7th position, and accessing the high D note on the 1st string/10th fret while being able to include the low G bass note (now available to you on the 7th string) offers cool possibilities.
But accompaniment is trickier I think.

As far as Stephen's instruments, I think he has achieved one thing in particular that is often missing: singing trebles. Many Brazilian made 7 strings have disappointing trebles. Or the basses sound a little sterile. Steven's guitar sounds very open; big trebles, big basses. Very loud. I like it a lot. And it does sound quite flamenco. He made one for a friend of mine that played my guitar and liked it. He ordered a 7 string with cedar/indian. Mine is spruce/black acacia. They sound quite different. His is more classical, but still open and loud sounding.
If the 12 - 19+ month wait works for you, I'd recommend Stephen's 7 strings.

Kenny Hill made me a 7 string based on a Rodriguez design. It was a little mushy sounding I thought. Nice basses. But the trebles bottomed out.
I've also owned 7 strings by Lineu Bravo, Rogerio Dos Santos, Montalvo and Giannini.

I would be curious if other luthiers here would ever build a 7. Anders? Andy?



Thanks a lot for taking the time to write your impressions... I am also getting more and more into Brazilian music in general, and Choro in particular.
I am very seriously considering getting a 7 string to experiment with... I have gotten in touch with a couple of Brazilian makers, but so far Stephen is the guy who has really impressed me... I think that it's down to the singing trebles as you say.




estebanana -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 1 2011 18:04:23)

Yes I have put some thought into making the 7 string guitars both classical and flamenco sounding, but there is another option: Berkeley Musical Instrument Exchange has their Montalvo Brand and George is offering a 7 string model. They are less than half the price of my custom guitars, but they are very nice. If someone is on a budget you can get into Brazilian music and still get a reasonable priced guitar. I think Brian Moran has gotten one or two of these for his students.

That said I'm happy to work with you to make a seven string, I really like making them and I have a couple on the books right now to build. I'm also dying to build an eight or ten string guitar.

You can also hear two or three seven string sound samples on my website.

Brian, Did you get my note? You need to get a big Christmas stocking because I'm going to slip a growly negra down your chimney in a few days. Christmas is coming early for you....

I really want to hear some one play Bach on the flamenco seven string.




turnermoran -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 1 2011 22:36:54)

I did own a Montalvo guitar from Paracho (imported by Berkeley Music Exchange), and have seen others.
They are good guitars. They don't have the sensitivity that a hand built guitar does, but they're a good place to start.
However, it was around $2k when I bought mine. Now they have better tuners (Gilberts) and list at $2700. Personally, I don't think the sound quality of the guitar warrants $375 tuners. And that's got to be part of the price increase.

Anyway, my feeling is that the best entry point is a crappy $300-400 Giannini guitar. Take some sand paper to the neck and reshallac it and it'll be more playable. Spend a couple months playing it, and if you want to commit to the 7 string lifestyle spend the money to get a great guitar. If for no other reason, it's inherently more difficult to play the 7 string, so small problems with a guitar are amplified. Thus it can be difficult to commit to a $3k (or more) guitar, but it pays big dividends, as dealing with a lesser guitar can really sap one's efforts. That's just my opinion..

Stephen - got your message. I was busy shopping for an oversize Christmas stocking.

Bach? So would love to. I have yet to create a classical transcription for 7 string guitar.




avimuno -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 2 2011 9:06:22)

quote:

Anyway, my feeling is that the best entry point is a crappy $300-400 Giannini guitar. Take some sand paper to the neck and reshallac it and it'll be more playable. Spend a couple months playing it, and if you want to commit to the 7 string lifestyle spend the money to get a great guitar. If for no other reason, it's inherently more difficult to play the 7 string, so small problems with a guitar are amplified. Thus it can be difficult to commit to a $3k (or more) guitar, but it pays big dividends, as dealing with a lesser guitar can really sap one's efforts. That's just my opinion..


I think that you are right indeed! Thanks for the tip!




turnermoran -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 2 2011 16:19:37)

Avi - if you like Yamandu, you may like Alessandro Penezzi:


For a while Yamandu had free downloadable sheet music for some of his compositions on his website. I haven't checked in a while, but you might want to start there if you're looking for some of his music.

I remember a couple years ago, you could get sheet music for Chamame. Great composition.
I think it was in standard notation; no TABS.




avimuno -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 2 2011 18:18:56)

Nice! Thanks amigo!

I actually checked two 7 strings today... one by Burguet which was ok and the other one from Pappalardo (a French maker) which was actually pretty good... apparently Yamandu owns a Pappalardo. Both were higher end guitars though and at this price, I might as well order something from a luthier who can built a guitar to my exact specifications.

I spent a good 2 hours in the shop trying these two guitars. At first it was really weird... it's funny how the addition of one string makes a world of difference... both my hands were completely lost. But after a while I started having fun with the 7th string... the harmonic possibilities are really interesting, and the sound is just really big.

I went to visit a guy who deals almost exclusively with Bernal afterward... according to him Bernal can build a 7 string which is kind of an hybrid between a flamenco and a classical... He's going to call Bernal to confirm and get back to me... he quoted me USD 1,100 for such a guitar which I think is very reasonable... but let's wait and see.




turnermoran -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 3 2011 7:35:44)

Avi - wow: $1100 US for quality 7 string is very fair. Let us know what you find out! [:)]




avimuno -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 3 2011 9:21:30)

quote:

Avi - wow: $1100 US for quality 7 string is very fair. Let us know what you find out!


It's the entry level Bernal... so not exactly a concert guitar, but it's actually a very decent guitar for the money and it will make a great first 7 strings I think... fingers crossed... I'll keep you posted on the development!




FredSanford -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 3 2011 23:35:06)

McGuire really only plays the 2 Glenn Canin guitars. A cedar/spruce double top blanca and a Spruce top/Brazilian Rosewood negra. He is waiting patiently for the right Stephen Faulk. He also has a 1973 Gerundino, a 1963 Conde, a 1968 Contreras and a really cool Eduardo Ferrer from the 1980's (has no date). He has owned in the past many Montalvo Guitars (something like 8) as well as a Lester Devoe negra and a 1961 Ramirez. He learned to play on a Hirade H8, then another guitar he bought from his classical teacher Enric Madriguera, a 1967 Luis Maravilla that he later traded for a blanca that Pedro Perez built on his porch in Madrid while working for Ramirez. He has also owned a few other guitars by Glenn Canin one of which he gave to his former teacher Pedro Cortes. In the late 1990's he played a Benito Huipe that was very lightly built and fell apart one day. He still misses that guitar despite it being one of the ugliest guitars ever made.




Pgh_flamenco -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 4 2011 0:53:25)

quote:

McGuire really only plays the 2 Glenn Canin guitars. A cedar/spruce double top blanca and a Spruce top/Brazilian Rosewood negra. He is waiting patiently for the right Stephen Faulk. He also has a 1973 Gerundino, a 1963 Conde, a 1968 Contreras and a really cool Eduardo Ferrer from the 1980's (has no date). He has owned in the past many Montalvo Guitars (something like 8) as well as a Lester Devoe negra and a 1961 Ramirez. He learned to play on a Hirade H8, then another guitar he bought from his classical teacher Enric Madriguera, a 1967 Luis Maravilla that he later traded for a blanca that Pedro Perez built on his porch in Madrid while working for Ramirez. He has also owned a few other guitars by Glenn Canin one of which he gave to his former teacher Pedro Cortes. In the late 1990's he played a Benito Huipe that was very lightly built and fell apart one day. He still misses that guitar despite it being one of the ugliest guitars ever made.


Hmmm...It's interesting you know so much about all of the guitars some else has owned. I doubt that if a person had shared that much information about the guitars they've owned that I--or anyone else for that matter--would remember it. Unless, of course, YOU ARE JASON...




Andy Culpepper -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 4 2011 0:58:54)

quote:

McGuire really only plays the 2 Glenn Canin guitars. A cedar/spruce double top blanca and a Spruce top/Brazilian Rosewood negra. He is waiting patiently for the right Stephen Faulk. He also has a 1973 Gerundino, a 1963 Conde, a 1968 Contreras and a really cool Eduardo Ferrer from the 1980's (has no date). He has owned in the past many Montalvo Guitars (something like 8) as well as a Lester Devoe negra and a 1961 Ramirez. He learned to play on a Hirade H8, then another guitar he bought from his classical teacher Enric Madriguera, a 1967 Luis Maravilla that he later traded for a blanca that Pedro Perez built on his porch in Madrid while working for Ramirez. He has also owned a few other guitars by Glenn Canin one of which he gave to his former teacher Pedro Cortes. In the late 1990's he played a Benito Huipe that was very lightly built and fell apart one day. He still misses that guitar despite it being one of the ugliest guitars ever made.


It's good to finally get a press release from the McGuire campaign regarding this issue. [:D]




Pgh_flamenco -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 4 2011 1:14:07)

quote:

McGuire really only plays the 2 Glenn Canin guitars. A cedar/spruce double top blanca and a Spruce top/Brazilian Rosewood negra. He is waiting patiently for the right Stephen Faulk. He also has a 1973 Gerundino, a 1963 Conde, a 1968 Contreras and a really cool Eduardo Ferrer from the 1980's (has no date). He has owned in the past many Montalvo Guitars (something like 8) as well as a Lester Devoe negra and a 1961 Ramirez. He learned to play on a Hirade H8, then another guitar he bought from his classical teacher Enric Madriguera, a 1967 Luis Maravilla that he later traded for a blanca that Pedro Perez built on his porch in Madrid while working for Ramirez. He has also owned a few other guitars by Glenn Canin one of which he gave to his former teacher Pedro Cortes. In the late 1990's he played a Benito Huipe that was very lightly built and fell apart one day. He still misses that guitar despite it being one of the ugliest guitars ever made.


Since you know so much about Jason I have a few questions for you. Did Jason get enough sleep last night? What did Jason have for lunch yesterday? What color are Jason's socks? TIA




HemeolaMan -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 4 2011 2:29:32)

Fred isn't Jason. I've been to the bay several times. I met Fred and Jason and Stephen. Fred is, however geographically close to Jason making it very easy for him to ask.




FredSanford -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 4 2011 11:09:02)

quote:

Since you know so much about Jason I have a few questions for you. Did Jason get enough sleep last night? What did Jason have for lunch yesterday? What color are Jason's socks? TIA


No Chuscales is staying at his house this week while they do shows together. Not much sleeping going on. I think they might have recorded some things together for Jason's new CD. Jason is doing a gluten free diet because he found out his daughter is allergic to gluten so the whole family has stopped eating wheat. Black socks.




Don Dionisio -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 4 2011 15:39:18)

Fred come clean and let people know who you are...
or I will.




estebanana -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 4 2011 19:58:51)

Fred is not Jason, Fred is the guy who lives behind Jason's house in the man cave. They talk over the back fence all the time. Fred plays a bit too so he knows about flamenco. I think Fred studies with Jason off and on.

Fred is kind of crazy, Jason and I drank a beer on Jason's back porch one day and watched Fred over the fence break a piano apart with a sledge hammer. Fred is a nice guy however, just kind of a busy body.




Pgh_flamenco -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 5 2011 0:44:38)

quote:

Jason is doing a gluten free diet because he found out his daughter is allergic to gluten so the whole family has stopped eating wheat.


There is some confusion about the definition of gluten. It comes from grass seeds like wheat, barley, oats and rye. How did you find out your daughter was allergic to gluten?




turnermoran -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 5 2011 6:12:42)

It was an international success. A ForoFlamenco favorite.
It was polarizing.
It was thought provoking.
It was outlawed.
It was...
FAKEMENCO™

And now!...
From the makers of Fakemenco™ comes....

FAKESON McGRUBER™

..uh..
I mean..
FRED SANFORD™!

Is he real?
Is he a virtuoso guitarist?..
or a black 70's junkyard proprietor?
a cave dwelling, piano smashing eccentric?
a genius hacker and identity theif, rooting through the trash of one Jason McGuire™, collecting morsels of information a part of a diabolical plot to slowly leak such dastardly details of his life as...
BLACK SOCKS!
UNDATED FERRER GUITARS!
and most sinister of all..
GLUTEN FREE!

Only time will tell dear readers. Stay tuned!




FredSanford -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 5 2011 14:56:48)

quote:

Fred come clean and let people know who you are...
or I will.


Kenny Parker




HemeolaMan -> RE: Has anyone here built a 7 string flamenco? (Dec. 7 2011 3:55:57)

There's no confusion about the definition of gluten.




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