Guitarist's Forum

[peluche (Chris)]

Maj, any word on the delivery date I'm looking forward to your review
Chris

[MAJ]

Hi peluche,

Well, they gave me a probable date of next Thursday when I spoke to them on the phone but as I am at a seminar all that day it will hopefully be Friday.

So in about 168 hours I should at the very least tell you that it *looks* absolutely gorgeous!!!

MAJ

[Leighton]

MAJ,

Have you ever thought of playing the Elizabeth Cotten way ?

Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten played a right handed guitar left handed, without changing the strings around. Amazing.

I remember seeing a snippet of her on the Martin Carthy TV prog afew months ago. Playing the song she was most famous for writting - Freight Train

I'm sure if you do an Image search on Google for Elizabeth Cotten you will see what I mean.

[peluche (Chris)]

Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten played a right handed guitar left handed, without changing the strings around. Amazing.

Leighton, am I correct in thinking, that, not only did she turn the guitar 'upside down' but she left the strings as they were ??
Played Bass strings at the bottom
If so ... I'm well impressed 
chris

[MAJ]

Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten played a right handed guitar left handed, without changing the strings around. Amazing.

Leighton, am I correct in thinking, that, not only did she turn the guitar 'upside down' but she left the strings as they were ??
Played Bass strings at the bottom
If so ... I'm well impressed 
chris

I thought that's what Leighton said....

When I was much younger and I first started to play, yes I did try, but it was hopeless.  When I had to learn classical guitar for my music A level I restrung my classical guitar.  My teacher was left-handed but he had taught himself to play right-handed.  Again - forget it.  No chance.  When I was talking to Rory McGrath recently I mentioned that I noted he is left-handed but he too plays guitar right-handed.  All I can say is I am glad they make lefties.  About the only thing I do the normal way round is use a knife and fork - everything else is cack-handed!

MAJ
Left and Proud

[peluche (Chris)]

MAJ - I've just 'googled' around after Leighton's post and I'm ASTOUNDED !!

For starters, try : http://www.elizabeths-song.com/

What an amazing lady

[MAJ]

Aw go on then.....

After googling : Good grief - she released her first album the year I was born! (a good year then).

I found this pic which clearly shows her playing upside down and back to front.  What a woman!

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[Ian R]

I saw her on that Martin Carthy programme too, and couldn't believe it either! I've seen another guitarist play like this - Ed Deane. If you're a player yourself it's unnerving to see people play like that!

[Leighton]

I'm trying to get hold of a video of her playing "Babe It Ain't No Lie", I have an audio file of her, but I just wonder how she plays it.

Glad it was of interest. 

[Pugwash]

Looks a very nice guitar. Doesn't Chris Leslie play an Ozark bazooka.

Paul

Only just read this! Chris plays Fylde bouzukis. His performing mando is Ozark though!

Make sure your string set is comfy Maj i.e. not buzzin anywhere and not so high the birds roost on it at night...

Good luck

Puggs 

[MAJ]

Hi Puggs/all,

Chris does indeed play an Ozark Mando......found this pic of both on the Ozark website.

Yes, my next deliberation is going to be strings.  Any suggestions as to the best gauge and make that I should be going for.  All info and advice will be most gratefully received.

Thanks.

MAJ



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[Pugwash]

I use Martin Lights .012 - 054 but there are loads of others.

Why don't you ask Maart.......

Puggs 

[MAJ]

Good thought Puggs.  I notice from his website that he uses D'Addario....

Thanks.

MAJ

[Gibson]

On the question of strings, see my previous post about the Newtone A6 Masterclass set  They are a set of mixed gauge strings 011 - 052, but if they're good enough for the man, they're good enough for us mere mortals.  I've always found them very easy to tune, they stay in tune remarkably well, and they retain their tone a long time.  You can find contact details on the website.
 
 

[Al]

I'm trying to get hold of a video of her playing "Babe It Ain't No Lie", I have an audio file of her, but I just wonder how she plays it.

Glad it was of interest.

Don't think I have a video of her doing this but if anyone IM's me with their address I can furnish them with a DVD of her playing 

Its amazing to watch her, you are so used to seeing someone alternate the bass with their thumb whereas, of course, she is doing it with her fingers and playing the melody almost exclusively with her thumb - looks more like someone playing the harp than guitar. 

[Al]

On the question of strings, see my previous post about the Newtone A6 Masterclass set  They are a set of mixed gauge strings 011 - 052, but if they're good enough for the man, they're good enough for us mere mortals.  I've always found them very easy to tune, they stay in tune remarkably well, and they retain their tone a long time.  You can find contact details on the website.
 
 

My own experience of Newtone strings is that indeed they sound marvellous when brand new but that they tend to go dead rather quickly despite the claims to the contrary, all that stuff about round cores not retaining dirt under the windings etc. Of course, Ralphy changes his strings for just about every show and no doubt regularly changes them when not performing as well but for those on a tighter budget I like the Martin SP range, they last for ages - but everything has a downside, I find the unwound strings a bit sharp sounding. But at least they are a nice golden colour

BTW, I get my Newtone strings from www.stringsdirect.co.uk where they  are quite well discounted ( I think ! ) and others from www.stringbusters.co.uk who are astonishingly quick with their delivery.

[Al]

Further to my post a little earlier offering a DVD of Cotten playing, I found this....maybe worth treating yourself cos it features her playing every tune tabbed including "Freight Train" and the one Leighton was asking about 

http://guitarworkshopuk.com/gw/12078.htm

[david stevenson]

BTW, I get my Newtone strings from www.stringsdirect.co.uk where they  are quite well discounted ( I think ! ) and others from www.stringbusters.co.uk who are astonishingly quick with their delivery.

I agree on the quality of service from both of these sites.

I buy D'Addario ESP11 or 16, six sets at a time to get the discount, the extended play sets which stay bright longer than any others I've tried.  I play and gig regularly and get 3 or 4 gigs out of them, so the additional cost is repaid easily, plus less hassle if you're constantly changing strings, I use 12 to 52 on my Takamine EAN16CX and 13 to 54 on my Ovation which I keep in open C and which benefits from the additional depth.  I found the Elixir extended play strings very disappointing by comparison.  I also use Kyser string cleaner every time I play and find that it genuinely makes a difference, both in playability and tone.  For my Yamaha APX4 12-string, let's be honest, I avoid restringing it unless I need it for a gig or recording! So I use D'Addario ordinary sets for it.

I'll try some Newtones for a consumer test and report back!

David

[Keith]

Thanks for the advice Al and David.

My strings have been corroding in the cupboard for ages, so I've just bought some D'Addario from Stringbusters, and when I get them maybe I'll start playing again rather than spending my time on this b***** computer 

[Martin K]

Hi Al,

I must admit that I've stayed with extra light Martin Strings. When Ralph used to bring Miss Gibson out to play in the early days, he certainly used them as well.

I only had an old acoustic fender (still got two!) ,but with the Martin strings it made it sound pretty close to Ralph's sound which was what I was aiming for.

Regards Martin K