RE: Ultralight Flamenco

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ernandez R

Posts: 766
Joined: Mar. 25 2019
From: Alaska USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Sounds vary nice.

I know it’s vary early but might be missing just a touch of that culpepper grawl, could just be you being carful and of course let’s give her a few hours or more before judging. And as usual, WTF do I know ;)

Would be nice to hear one of your other flamencas say during the same recording session?

Again, thanx for sharing and let’s see how she develops after shellac and playing in some.

Also the little bit of rasgueo you did sounded pretty good.

Ok, went back and listened to your #128 cypress flamenco video, hopping you used the same recording rig and settings, seems like La Pluma has a deeper bass or perhaps a different cherictor but I like it, you should listen to both recordings, I hear some magic in this new build that’s for sure.

Same strings on #128 and LP?

_____________________________

I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy,
doesn't have to be fast,
should have some meat on the bones,
can be raw or well done,
as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.

www.instagram.com/threeriversguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 23 2022 7:19:51

gerundino63

Posts: 1756
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Sounds OK to me Andy! It have to open up a bit, especially on the mid range.
The basses and high tones come out fast, and the guitar have a pleasant sound overall.
Good job!

Wonder how much it weights when it is finished

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 23 2022 8:37:21

etta

Posts: 347
Joined: Jan. 20 2010

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

I like it; strong presence, decent balance; good playing and demo as usual. Give us, please, another audition after finish, etc. What strings do you use? And thanks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 23 2022 16:26:53

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

It is actually not the same recording setup, this video was shot straight onto my antique iPhone 6s rather than with a better mic/audio track. I will definitely do a side-by-side comparison with a traditional blanca when it's finished, since I recently acquired a very good one of mine.

Also my next order is for a very light blanca, so I'll get to make a traditional one as well!

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2022 3:45:27

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to gerundino63)

Thanks! Before finish it's right around 1kg strung up. I use a little more than an ounce of shellac flakes to finish a guitar, but some of that gets sanded off...it'll be interesting to see how much weight the finish and golpeadores add but I'm estimating it will land around 1025 grams.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2022 3:47:39

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to etta)

Thanks! I certainly will. Strings are D'addario EJ45.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2022 3:48:48

mango

Posts: 158
Joined: Apr. 2 2019

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

I sounds very promising Andy! Great project!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2022 11:03:04

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

Thanks Jonas. It is a delight to pick up a really light guitar, puts a smile on your face.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2022 20:42:58

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1693
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

So here is me attempting to play the guitar while desperately avoiding tapping or scratching the top in any way, with 8 mm string height at the bridge.

Ole, Andy, sounds good.

_____________________________

Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 25 2022 15:43:28

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

Thanks Ethan. My chops are not where I want them to be right now but hopefully I can produce a decent recording when it's finished.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2022 3:41:42

JasonM

Posts: 2089
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Nice Andy! Thanks for sharing your experiment.

When you voice your backs to have 3 more semitones above the top or whatever, your talking about assembled body and not free plate right?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2022 15:29:53

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to JasonM)

Thanks Jason, yes guitar assembled and bindings on.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 4 2022 4:27:29

flamencoguitar

Posts: 5
Joined: Dec. 15 2022

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to davewphx)

Bend the sides first at 2mm then scrap down after to whatever

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 15 2022 3:12:51

Schieper

Posts: 208
Joined: Mar. 29 2017
From: The Netherlands

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

A stunning guitar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 15 2022 12:22:34

flamencoguitar

Posts: 5
Joined: Dec. 15 2022

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

Beautiful guitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 15 2022 15:56:57

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to flamencoguitar)

That sounds like a lot of work

. Didn't take long to tame them on the bending iron, I was just surprised at the amount of springback.

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 16 2022 4:25:17

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

Thanks for the kind words! Getting there...

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 16 2022 4:27:20

Echi

Posts: 1156
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

Andy, any news with your experiment?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2022 18:33:10

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Echi)

I think I will put strings on it tomorrow! Trying to be patient with the finish :). I'll make a couple of videos and I have some people that want to try it which should be fun.

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 22 2022 4:37:04

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

I managed to get some audio recorded today. I think I like this guitar! Here it is:

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 23 2022 4:44:08

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

Final weight of 1033 grams. On the heavier side when all was said and done but it still makes a normal guitar feel like it's made of lead.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 23 2022 4:47:50

Echi

Posts: 1156
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

Hi Andy, great work.
Out of curiosity: weight aside, could you attribute a clear difference in tone and/or loudness respect one of your standard guitars because of the composite top?
What would you do the same way and what would you do differently?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 23 2022 19:02:42

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Echi)

Well of course I foolishly decided to change more than one variable at a time, so I can't yet isolate the effect of the composite top. But I really like the way the instrument is working as a whole. The overall light weight really cuts the sustain and gives it a good flamenco character. That recording was made as soon as the strings had stretched enough to stay roughly in tune. I pulled it out again today and the sound is developing in a pretty stunning way. The trebles are addictive.

I think probably the coolest thing about this guitar is the dynamic range it's capable of with only a light touch. I am really not a very strong player, but listening to the recording I can almost convince myself that I sound a teeny weeny tiny bit like Jason McGuire. It's because I can pull dynamics and tone out of this guitar that only a really strong player like Jason can with a normal guitar. Overall it's just extremely easy to play, such that I can sound pretty decent on it despite not practicing nearly enough lately. Going back to a traditional guitar I also noticed how "noisy" it sounded, though I do still love the traditional tone. This guitar has a very clean and pure sound.

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 24 2022 2:07:17

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

So I made a little comparison video to one of my traditional guitars. Let me know what you think. I'm honestly not sure which one I prefer. La Pluma is probably a little more boxy sounding... Conde-ish perhaps?

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 27 2022 21:38:49

devilhand

Posts: 1674
Joined: Oct. 15 2019

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

La Pluma is probably a little more boxy sounding... Conde-ish perhaps?

Sounds maybe like La Leona (1856) of Antonio de Torres. La Leona weighs around 1200 gramm machine tuners included.

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Say No to Fuera de Compás!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 27 2022 22:16:48

JasonM

Posts: 2089
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Nice Andy. I do hear a difference here between the two and think I prefer your traditional guitar a little more. the trebles have a lil more of a sonority to them, less veiled from what I’m hearing (through my speakers) That said, be great to hear it in person.

Also whenever I hear a double vs solid top comparison, the solid top always comes out on top for me, even though projection might be better with the double

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 28 2022 15:38:56

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

Yeah they are different and I like them both, almost like a blanca and a negra. No denying the joy and feel of a super light guitar though.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 28 2022 16:17:13

ernandez R

Posts: 766
Joined: Mar. 25 2019
From: Alaska USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to ernandez R)

Ha! I wouldn’t throw ether of them out of bed for getting crumbs in the sheets ;)

I listened on a nice Yamaha shelf system with a subwoofer about six times all the way through the toggled back and forth to get a better idea about their differences.

The Pluma has a lot more body around the lower end but well matched by the trebles. It will be interesting to see how she develops as it is played in.

Listening on my iPhone 8 it was hard to discern a difference, of course they are both Culpepper guitars.

One thing I know from my own lightweight guitars that you can’t factor in on the internet is the feel of playing a lightweight guitar, the visceral experience is hard to describe. Literally everyone who has played my 1100-850gm guitars say the same thing, the looked up at me, You can really feel it… And to be clear I’m not in Andy’s class at all.

And to be more clear I’ve already told Andy I’m interested in purchasing this guitar.

_____________________________

I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy,
doesn't have to be fast,
should have some meat on the bones,
can be raw or well done,
as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.

www.instagram.com/threeriversguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 28 2022 17:11:47

Ricardo

Posts: 15142
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Both are nice, but I prefer the one with hard pulsation.

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 28 2022 18:43:06

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Ultralight Flamenco (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

Both are nice, but I prefer the one with hard pulsation.

Ha, well that would definitely be the traditional one. It actually got traded back to me for that very reason 3 years after it was made.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 29 2022 1:43:52