Kevin Richards No 36 (Full Version)

Foro Flamenco: http://www.foroflamenco.com/
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krichards -> Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 27 2014 14:30:30)

Here's a video of my latest work, No 36, a spruce/cypress blanca.
Its For Sale, and I'll be posting full details with pictures in the Classified section soon.
My playing is not the best but it gives some idea of the sound.




El Kiko -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 27 2014 14:44:30)

Did you have you have you web cam tied to your foot or something?



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 27 2014 15:07:07)

Not sure what you're getting at?

But it's a great idea. I'll try it next time, I need all the help I can get!



Sr. Martins -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 27 2014 16:34:03)

That's not a very flattering video (audio) for a flamenco guitar. Lots of bass and low end rumble.

I just saw it in your other thread (I assume this is the same one) and was about to send you a p.m. about this. I assume this is also what kiko meant.



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 27 2014 16:58:37)

quote:

That's not a very flattering video (audio) for a flamenco guitar. Lots of bass and low end rumble.


Well sound quality online is not reliable is it?
But I can tell you that the guitar has gorgeous trebles , powerful bass, and a very raspy raunchy mid-range. Its only failing is, for me, a bit too much sustain in the bass.



Sr. Martins -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 27 2014 17:19:07)

quote:

Well sound quality online is not reliable is it?


Of course it isn't but many people can only rely on it and when they can only compare things by what they hear online... guess who wins.

Iam only sugesting that you take care of that boominess in your audio. It might not be heard on laptop speakers but I can assure you that a lack of bass from your audio would make things sound prettier and closer to reality (I really doubt that your guitar is making all that booming).

Try recording in another room and don't stomp with your feet. If you must, put a pillow under your foot.



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 27 2014 18:03:34)

Many thanks for your advice here. It sound fine at my end (through my laptop) and its hard to play flamenco without moving your feet, but I take your point. Wooden floor probably doesn't help either.

Is it bad enough to warrant removing it?

The video I mean, not the floor!



estebanana -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 2:45:05)

That is good bit of SPB for testing a guitar.

I like your playing and your video is fine too. It would be great if we all had a recording studio. But guitar players need to realize we are not recording engineers, we make guitars. And expensive recording equipment and wood shops DO NOT mix well. So as a luthier if you want to have a space to record, you have set up a separate space....we all don't have the time and place for it.

There are still cameras now in the $700.00 to $1000.00 price range that have extremely fine audio, I'm aware of these cameras, they also shoot high quality video. If any of you guys want to buy one for me or Kevin I'm sure it would be welcome! And when I come across a spare $700.00 to $1000.00 bucks I'll get one. I've been researching a camera for my own documentation.

I make scraggly videos after I make a guitar, but then I send the guitar to a guy with a studio to get a good recording. It's been pointed out to me numerous times the recording equipment is have is not good, but the critics have never offered to help record a killer recording.

Kevin, one thing, and I'm not an expert here, but a bit more space between the 3 and 7 somewhere and a big thumb drag through the chord on 3 once in a while and it will be really good. The marking is really good and the detail is good too, I appreciate that. But a bit stiff and the space after beat three and before you pick up the 7 leading to the remate is where you can pull off a bit of funkyness. Like if you feel the 3 really emphatically and just play a fat Bflat chord and let it ring a bit longer before catching up around beat 6ish and it swings. Also you can sneaking some space after beat 6 if you keep the tight markgin up to 6.

I think playing with more space tends to show the guitars sound more. It lets it ring and it gets you as the player more out of the way. But I like it all. I like to use SPB as a guitar test palo. I also think if you slow it down a tiny bit the soleo por medio feeling would be good. It seems like the tempo is a slow SPB or slightly up solea por medio. Both great palos for testing a guitar. Also I like to hang on the A chord and show that chord. Then play in contrast the cadence from D minor to C to Bflat to A. You get a clear read on the basic chords.

Bravo for showing your guitar in the "shark tank".



estebanana -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 2:57:09)

I like this way of feeling the space after 3. He plays the chord at 3 and then lets it ring and hits the hard golpe on six to nail the compas, then you can come back in anywhere between 7 and 10...lots of space to play with. This way you can have a hand full of 7-8-9-10 riffs and just plug them in on the spot as you feel like it. So if you have a long sequence of planned out falsetas and you want to play longer after you show them all, you can play compas and then vary the 7-8-9-10 riff you play to get to your remate. Then back to your long falsetas.

Hitting the bet 3 chord and then backing off and whacking the golpe on 6 is good. It's good for a singer because you are staying out of the way, but also good for showing the golpe sound on your guitar and to show how it rings and how the decay sounds. The golpe sound sells guitars if it sounds like a good proper 'doom' and it's good to show it off and learn to make a big golpe sound that expands in the space and texture of the notes. If you can play by hitting a big 'doom' on 12 and 6 and keep it rolling by showing those golpes more over the rest of the marking the texture, your playing will change. Right now it is too monochromatic it needs more variation in intensity between soft and hard textures.

I hope you don't mind be saying that. I have found that working to show the range of the envelope of sound of the guitar gives the customer a better listen to the guitar. You have to explore more textures in tone and golpe sound to show them the guitars potential. Most of this does not come across in videos, but when you sit with a customer and they are across from you it's important to show them how the guitar sounds out front and the textural envelope is really important. So space in the compas really gets at the textural possibilities. Singers eat that up too. It gives them space to sing.

I think one way to sort it out is to listen to how he makes the golpe stand out against and with the palmas. And how he pulls it out as a separate texture that drives the compas in a way the palmas do, but different. I can imagine players like Pedro Bacan Moraito selecting guitars they like based a lot on how the golpe sounds. Speaking of which, my two favorite players.




Anders Eliasson -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 7:59:44)

quote:

I like your playing and your video is fine too. It would be great if we all had a recording studio. But guitar players need to realize we are not recording engineers, we make guitars. And expensive recording equipment and wood shops DO NOT mix well. So as a luthier if you want to have a space to record, you have set up a separate space....we all don't have the time and place for it.


AGREE AGREE.......
The reactions on this thread makes me wonder if I should post more on this forum or at least if I should stop making videos of myself playing anything.

Honestly, give the guy a break. You are totally butchering him from the first reply. If you have any shame left in yourself, delete you over-negative posts and apologize. Give the man a chance to present his work.

Besides, most of the socalled "old masters" could hardly strum a guitar or play an E major chord. If they had posted videos of themself here on foro flamenco, they would never have sold any guitars and never have become what they are today.



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 8:10:37)

quote:

I like your playing and your video is fine too. It would be great if we all had a recording studio. But guitar players need to realize we are not recording engineers, we make guitars. And expensive recording equipment and wood shops DO NOT mix well. So as a luthier if you want to have a space to record, you have set up a separate space....we all don't have the time and place for it.


Well thanks for saying that. You've hit the nail on the head.
On the other hand my recording setup is laughable if I'm honest. I sit my laptop on a folding wooden music stand on a coffee table and get the angle right for the webcam. I then have a usb mike which balances on a footstool on the same table, on a wooden floor. Heath Robinson would have been proud of me.
I'll have to do better.



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 8:15:56)

quote:

I like this way of feeling the space after 3. He plays the chord at 3 and then lets it ring and hits the hard golpe on six to nail the compas, then you can come back in anywhere between 7 and 10...lots of space to play with. This way you can have a hand full of 7-8-9-10 riffs and just plug them in on the spot as you feel like it. So if you have a long sequence of planned out falsetas and you want to play longer after you show them all, you can play compas and then vary the 7-8-9-10 riff you play to get to your remate. Then back to your long falsetas.


Many thanks for taking an interest in my playing. I wasn't expecting this. To give good constructive feedback is difficult and a real skill. I very much appreciate it and will work on the things you have pointed out. I don't practise as much as I would like, partly because I spend a lot of time in the workshop.



Escribano -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 9:27:33)

Hi Kevin, I agree with the builders here who do not have the time, equipment, space or the extra skills to record top quality videos of their guitars. Having tried to build a guitar and experience of filming, I appreciate the skill that goes into both, but I would rarely expect them both at the same time.

It is hard enough to build a decent flamenco guitar without worrying about the critique of one's video skills amongst friends here.

Your video sounds fine to me on a MacBook and nothing strikes me as a showstopper if I was in the market for a new guitar and you have also posted some stills in Classified.

quote:

It's been pointed out to me numerous times the recording equipment is have is not good, but the critics have never offered to help record a killer recording.


If it helps, I will post some of my recent experiments with a decent "low budget" DSLR camera, sound and lighting setup.

Meanwhile, as this is posted in lutherie, Kevin's guitar sounds fine and looks great. I wish him every success in selling it and let's all be a little more positive about our members' accomplishments.

Simon



Anders Eliasson -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 10:09:28)

I have just finished 2 guitars and i was going to post pictures and videos of them here in the luthiers section and also in the clasifieds section.
BUT, I´m not sure I want to after meeting this thread this morning. Maybe I will later on but right now, this one made my day for a while.
IMHO, the Lutherie section needs changes. This should not be allowed. I´m really trying to get some ideas, but I´m blocked.



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 10:18:24)

quote:

If it helps, I will post some of my recent experiments with a decent "low budget" DSLR camera, sound and lighting setup.


Actually that would be very helpful.
My wife's old SLR is broken and is going to cost a lot to repair so this might be the time for us to invest in something digital.
And advice about lighting would be great. I'm no photographer but even I can tell that lighting is critical to produce good images.



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 10:20:53)

Anders
Don't worry. Just post your video.
I've always enjoyed them and the quality is perfectly acceptable.



Anders Eliasson -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 12:50:06)

Kevin, thanks, but no way. I just lost interest.
I dont feel like feeding the popcorn eating vultures right now. They are already to fat (burbs)



Sr. Martins -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 13:06:15)

This thread just went from a simple advice (change room, dont stomp with your feet) to pure.. I dont know what to call it.

Lots of drama and contradiction here.



Cervantes -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 16:20:04)

Kevin,

Very nice guitar, I like the figure in the cypress on the back.
I'm no expert but I think it sounds pretty good and you have it priced very reasonably.
Your playing is good but the guitar might sound more impressive if you recorded it being played by a pro.
If I was in the market I would be more inclined to buy it if I could hear its full potential.
How long have been building guitars? (I am thinking of giving it a try this year).

Joel



Escribano -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 16:30:28)

quote:

Actually that would be very helpful.
My wife's old SLR is broken and is going to cost a lot to repair so this might be the time for us to invest in something digital.
And advice about lighting would be great. I'm no photographer but even I can tell that lighting is critical to produce good images.


I had a go at something today for you, Kevin. Perhaps it will help. See here



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 17:22:12)

quote:

This thread just went from a simple advice (change room, dont stomp with your feet) to pure.. I dont know what to call it.


I certainly didn't expect all this when I posted.
Its been interesting.



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 17:27:59)

Hi Cervantes
I built my first one in 1979 so I'm averaging about one per year.
But I manage 3 or 4 a year now, almost all flamencos. In the past I've built 3 steel strung acoustics and about 10 classicals as well as a violin.

If you decide to make a guitar be prepared. Its addictive and you'll end up spending a lot of money on tools, workshop, materials etc
Good luck with it.



pink -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 28 2014 21:56:49)

Just fantastic work again Kevin.
Love your guitars and I am very proud of my Kevin Richards number 32.... am looking forward to returning to UK and playing it again.... February oh yes!!
Just to add.....I think the outstanding work that is shared by all the luthiers who contribute here on the foro is a real joy. I for one ,really look forward to the photo and sound clips uploaded when another masterpiece is unveiled. Helps keep the addiction fresh....eyes wide open,mouth a gasp, uncontrolled dribbling..... fukkin fantastic. You can almost smell the wood,the sweat ,feel the dust on perspiring skin. Then that moment of anticipation when this thing of beauty is first strung up.....what that must feel like?! Then someone wants to buy what you've created....a piece of you,all those moments combined in an ending which is just the beginning.
I think that's awesome.
Respect.

Best

pink



Cervantes -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 29 2014 3:50:55)

quote:

ORIGINAL: krichards

Hi Cervantes
I built my first one in 1979 so I'm averaging about one per year.
But I manage 3 or 4 a year now, almost all flamencos. In the past I've built 3 steel strung acoustics and about 10 classicals as well as a violin.

If you decide to make a guitar be prepared. Its addictive and you'll end up spending a lot of money on tools, workshop, materials etc
Good luck with it.



Kevin,

Its good to hear that, its encouraging and makes me think it is possible.
I have been acquiring tools and skills, mostly for making furniture.
I realize there will be some special tools I will need for guitar building.
Keep up the great work.



krichards -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 29 2014 8:34:00)

Thanks Giles
Wonderfully positive, as always



Anders Eliasson -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 29 2014 10:49:49)

quote:

This thread just went from a simple advice (change room, dont stomp with your feet) to pure.. I dont know what to call it.

Lots of drama and contradiction here.


Yeah, I know. You guys just dont get it and that has been obvious for a long time now.
You have no idea what it means to build guitars and especially try surviving by selling them.
So posting here and just getting cheap negative response from post 1 is the last thing we want. I´m totally fed up with it and I hope that things will change very soon here.



Haithamflamenco -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 29 2014 11:20:22)

all the best kevin,

I wish I knew you when I was in Uk from 2001 to 2007 [>:][>:]

sure i will ur number one customer.

A master piece is your work

BTW I hate negative posts especially from a person, who have no idea about building guitars,

oleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee kevin oleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee



Sr. Martins -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 29 2014 12:59:49)

You guys must be on drugs (cheap ones).

Who wrote something negative about this guitar?

Sometimes I think there's people here who don't even read, they assume things and immediately start spitting their usual mantra. That's the thing that should really change around here.



Haithamflamenco -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 30 2014 8:23:30)

Ole,

Hope there is no negtaivity ,

Love u all amigos, ur the best, I love this foro since 2007,

all the best to all of you gitanos,

ole[;)]



Gary1960 -> RE: Kevin Richards No 36 (Dec. 30 2014 14:31:34)

Just viewed your facebook page Kevin, your guitars ooze quality, fascinated by the fretting jig you use. I have all the wood to make a cypress backed, spruce soundboard flamenco but little time. Its been maturing since 2009 so should be about right [:)]



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