Members UKRobbieJ Posted November 1, 2003 Members Share Posted November 1, 2003 Yesterday I took a trip down to see the Brook workshop, located in a very rural, and beautiful part of the Devon countryside. Boy, if anyone drives down to see them give yourselof PLENTY of time to find the place- it really is in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, I went down to discuss the possibility of building me a guitar for dropped C tunings. I was looking at something like a long scale jumbo model. However, you will be very surpised to hear about the guitar I eventually plumped for. They had a Lyn there, which is a 12 fret 000 size model with a short scale. The tone of this little fella tuned to CGDGAD and CGDGCD was absolutely extrordinary. In fact there was a guy who had come over from Italy there looking for a Parlour guitar. He eventually bought the Lyn, so good was it. Anyway, I ordered my own very special model with a few tweaks that I'm hoping will make it a fingerpicking monster. Here are the specs : Should be ready in about 7 months time. I'm really excited (can you tell?) best wishes, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Japetus Posted November 1, 2003 Members Share Posted November 1, 2003 Hello Rob. Did you ask them to make it a baritone scale? 28 inches would be a great scale for drop C! Yes, even 25.5 scale length can handle it, but the baritone can do it so much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LittleBrother Posted November 1, 2003 Members Share Posted November 1, 2003 Man, we cant wait to see and maybe hear it. I hope you will be able to share when you get it. Man I just waited 6 months for a custom order and you have longer than that. It's hard to just not think about it though. I hope for the best. That's awesome ! I am plumped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John Fowler Posted November 1, 2003 Members Share Posted November 1, 2003 I've always loved the name of that guitar: The BrookLyn. Too bad you don't live in New Yawk; it would fit perfectly. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orsino Posted November 1, 2003 Members Share Posted November 1, 2003 Schweeeet! Congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Luv2Play Posted November 1, 2003 Members Share Posted November 1, 2003 UKRobbie....did you get a chance to see or play the Torridge 12 fret? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UKRobbieJ Posted November 1, 2003 Author Members Share Posted November 1, 2003 This is what I love about this place- people being just as enthusiastic about a new guitar as I am. Little Brother, of course I will post some pictures when it arrives. I'll even try and post an MP3. Luv2play- I did play some Torridges but I'm afraid they were all 14 fret models. In fact I played a couple of Tamars, a Clyst (12 fret) and (I think) a Creedy. All of them could have quite easily come home with me (except they belonged to other people!) but there was something real special about the Lyn. It looks so damm attractive for one thing. The Torridges though were very balanced and easy to play. I think a 12 fret one would have been awesome. japetus462- I did give a Baritone some serious thought, but then I thought it would be such a specialised instrument. However, none of my favourite drop C players (El McMeen, Steve Baughman, Al Petteway and Martin Simpson) play Baritones, although I believe Simpson's Sobell is 26" scale. I think as long as I get a fairly balanced set of strings I shouldn't have too many problems. At least in the future a "normal" instrument can be played in standard tuning, plus you get the playability. Actually thats one other thing that surprised me about the 12 fret- it didn't fell as if I was sacrificing any playability having 2 less frets to the body, even when playing the Star of County Down with a capo at fret 4. best wishes everybody, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cams Posted November 6, 2003 Members Share Posted November 6, 2003 Hey, glad I caught this thread! I've not been in here for a while due to forum overload and really ought to pop in more often. Congratulations on the Brook Robbie! I too am awaiting a custom order - a Bovey in cedar/Braz RW with a 46mm nut width, 14-frets and a thistle inlay. Only about two months to go... I'm also going to be over in the area next week and am really hoping to get a chance to visit while I'm there. You didn't see mine lying around near completion by any chance, did you? A poster on the AG forum (Hesson12) got a 12-fret Torridge for a steal on eBay and loves it to bits. I host some pictures for him if you're interested in a wee peek: http://www.puretranslation.com/personal/brooktorridge/ Cams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UKRobbieJ Posted November 6, 2003 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2003 Hi Cams, I was hoping you would catch this post as I knew you were awaiting a Brook. I had a good look round their workshop, but I saw soooo many guitars in various stages of production that I can't say I saw one with a thistle inlay. However they did have some Boveys that were completed on show- some of these smaller guitars were great instruments. I was particularly taken with a tiny little Kit that was just about to be dispatched to Australia (in fact, just to show you how much these guys take thier work seriously they were in the process of building a great big thick wooden transit box so that it would make the journey in one piece). Anyway, this kit was tuned up to G- kind of like a mandolin sound, or a Tacoma Pappoose. Cams, I don't know how one is supposed to wait patiently all those months for the guitar of one's dreams to be built- got any suggestions? Its only been a week and I can't stop thinking about it! Best wishes, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cams Posted November 6, 2003 Members Share Posted November 6, 2003 I hear you mate. The initial excitement of having visited the facility and making an order will fade down to a constant gas mark 3 for the first four months or so. Then you start wondering whether it will be finished ahead of schedule and you're up to gas mark 5. Then it just gets hotter. I'm hoping to have mine by Christmas although that would make it just short of the six-month period I was quoted. I know the wait will be worthwhile though. I've just sent a mail off to the boys to ask how things are coming along and to check whether a visit on Monday or Tuesday week will suit their calendar - I'm really hoping it will! Interesting that you mention the Kit guitar - it was finding one of those when searching for a parlour-sized guitar that ultimately led me to place my order for a Bovey. And I'm told the 14-fret Bovey should be able to handle standard tuning with medium-gauge strings, although I may tune it to a step for the sweetness. Just have to wait and see I guess. I've also asked if they can send me a couple of pictures of the build in progress, so if they do I'll post the pictures for you all. I wish you much patience my friend! Cams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cams Posted November 20, 2003 Members Share Posted November 20, 2003 Well, my visit to Brook went ahead as planned and it was a wonderful experience! Unfortunately the Lyn that you tried Robbie had gone so I didn't get to try it out, but I did try the 12-fret Clyst and the Taw which was a truly delightful guitar. I also tried a Spruce/EIR Teign (dreadnaught) at The Acoustic Music Co. in Brighton and have a real hankering for one of those! I may just find myself figuring out a way to fund a new Brook, and then it will be between the Taw and the Teign. I simply cannot believe how well crafted these guitars are. The tranquil setting of the workshop is quite conducive to the building of such wonderful instruments I would imagine, with its being surrounded by woods and fields. Wouldn't fancy being the courier though! I got to see my little Bovey: the body looks close to completion and should be about to enter the lacquering process. The Brazilian rosewood is delightful, and I got a glimpse of how the finished wood will look when Simon rubbed some white spirit over it to darken it down. I was advised to swap the Braz headstock veneer for ebony as I'm having some inlay done on the headstock and it would make any filling in the gaps more visible if it were Braz. So I then had to choose whether to stick with the Braz fretboard or switch to ebony: I opted for the former. We then went upstairs where there were a few finished models on a stand, including a pair of Boveys, a 12-fret and 14-fret (mine will be 14). The walnut on the 14-fret was absolutely gorgeous. As this was the first time I'd actually seen a Bovey, you can imagine how pleased I was to play it and discover that it's even better than I was expecting! Next stop was the lacquering room where I got to see some lacewood and red gum as well as some more traditional woods at various stages of finishing. We then had a peek into the drying room where Simon explained the bracing to me - they use scalloped bracing and have a heavier brace where the fretboard joins the body, as well as some extra bracing around the soundhole. It was interesting to see the contraption they use for bending the sides too; they use a hollow template over which go two sheets of aluminium. The sides go between the aluminium, which is then heated up using light bulbs! All in we spent over two hours there and it was a wonderful experience. Simon and Andy were incredibly generous of their time, and seemed to quite enjoy showing me round. I got to try a lot of Brook guitars both at the workshop and at my The Acoustic Music Co. in Brighton a couple of days previously, and I can say without any doubt that the waiting lists will continue to grow. Better get my next order in quick then, hadn't I?? I've put some pictures on my site for you to have a browse through: Brook Workshop Pictures Enjoy! Cams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orsino Posted November 21, 2003 Members Share Posted November 21, 2003 For God's sake Rob and Cams...have you no mercy? Geez, I'm sitting here just building a new guitar in my head....must.....resist....urge....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UKRobbieJ Posted November 22, 2003 Author Members Share Posted November 22, 2003 Cams, I'm glad your trip went well. Wow, a trip to TAMCO and Brook! These are my two favourite places on earth I think! They had a Teign when I went there- I think it was the one they were about to ship to TAMCO that you probably played. Unfortunately I didn't pick it up to try it, although it was certainly giving me the eye all day long. I just love Dreads, but I tried to resist playing this one in fear of me falling in love with yet another one (I already have a Taylor and a Bourgeois, both of which are dreads). I think a 12 fret model would be incredibly nice, especially if they could make it with a sloped body shape. The 12 fret Lyn that I tried was actually bought on the day I was there. A guy from Italy had flown over to try a parlour model, but he, like me, really fell in love with it. It was funny 'cos Simon showed this guy around the workshop while I was busy drooling over the Lyn. Then it was my turn to go on the tour and when I came back the Italian had already written a cheque out for it !! AGH! Still, it wasn't really set up the way I would have wanted it so I am glad that I got the chance to order a custom model. Did you try any others whilst at TAMCO? That is not just a shop, its a public service with the number of amazing instruments they stock. Best wishes, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cams Posted November 22, 2003 Members Share Posted November 22, 2003 Hi Rob, There are some pics of my visit to TAMCO on my site too - and you're right, what a fantastic shop. John is so very down to earth and is clearly passionate about acoustic guitars. I ALMOST ended up going back for the Teign, but like you, I'm quite glad I can go down the custom order route, which brings me to my question: I'm interested in a guitar for low-C tuning as well, and am curious about the scale length issue. You reckon a standard scale length guitar can handle it okay and you've gone for 640mm (which is, as you say, 25") so presumably the strings would really need to be mediums at the very least? I've just tuned my J-150 with light-gauge strings and it's way too floppy. I'll give the Lakewood a try in a minute as that has the JP slack keys you so kindly pointed out to me. So will your Lyn be set up any differently than a standard model to accommodate the lowered tuning? Did you consider going for a 650mm scale length such as is found on the standard Teign model? I could end up close on your heels with my Brook order! Cams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UKRobbieJ Posted November 22, 2003 Author Members Share Posted November 22, 2003 Hi Cams, I'm getting some special guage strings from Newtone- aparently he can make a light guage set that can have heavier cores so that they can be tuned down. I've ordered them via Sheehans and have told them exactly what I want to do - should get the strings in a couple of weeks, then I'm going to put them on one of my guitars to see what they're like. If they are OK I'm going to send some sets to Brook to set up my Lyn with them. When I tried the Lyn in CDGGAD tuning I was very surprised at the response I got. Yes the strings were a bit floppy, but I put that down to the light gauge elixirs they had and the short scale. In all other respects the response was remarkable. Hence my reason for going for a slightly longer scale. I did actually ask for 650mm but Andy suggested that 640mm would be OK- he's the expert, not me! However, I am going to make sure the action is a bit higher than their normal setups. I know a 12 fretter is not the usual route to go down for these low tunings, but then again I think Tony McManus and El McMeen both use normal small bodied guitars (doesn't Tony also use a 12 fret?) The issue of having 2 frets less to the body is irrelevant I think. Even with a capo on fret 4 playing McMeens Star of County Down I didn't miss those extra frets. You would have thought one of my dreads would have made a good C tuning guitar but neither of them sound any good that low, which is suprising, so I leave one in standard tuning and one in DADGAD. When I do tune slightly lower (using the JP slack keys) they aren't floppy at all- its just that the resonance is not there in the body of the guitars. They the low C just seems dead. I'm sure Brook will be able to make my Lyn be an incredible good low C guitar. best wishes, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cams Posted November 23, 2003 Members Share Posted November 23, 2003 Interesting Robbie. Let me know how those strings work out, and all being well I'll order a few sets too. If you could let me know what they cost per set, that would be great. I've been having some dialogue with El McMeen about the 12-fret issue and he says he'd miss the extra frets. I dunno though - I guess it's an individual thing, and I do believe that Brook's heelcaps are somewhat shallower than normal, allowing for a greater reach up the board - see the reviews on their site. And yes, Tony McManus' Kelday guitar (the one he plays in his Stefan Grossman videos) is a 12-fret, however the one he's currently gigging with is a 14-fret Melville. My Lakewood actually sounds really good in CGDGAD, but could do with trying these Newtone customs to see if it works any better. If it does, I could raise the action a bit and use that as my low C guitar. So many choices! I just figured, like you, that the wonderful resonance inherent in Brook guitars would be really good for Celtic fingerstyle. I'll have a talk with Simon and discuss it, although I know for a fact that he's personally not a fan of 12-frets. Cheers,Cams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UKRobbieJ Posted November 23, 2003 Author Members Share Posted November 23, 2003 Cams, I'm getting 4 sets of those Newtone strings. I think they will be about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orsino Posted November 23, 2003 Members Share Posted November 23, 2003 I played a 12 fret Martin Jimmy Buffett polywog at a local shop and was really impressed with the volume and tone. I've been considering a 12 fret myself, but I play several songs with chord forms above the 12th fret. I guess 12 fret guitars allow for more body air volume. I guess, all things considered, I prefer a Jumbo or mini Jumbo with 14 frets to give me the air volume AND playability above the 12th.My $.02. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LittleBrother Posted November 23, 2003 Members Share Posted November 23, 2003 Nice thread. I was just talking to someone the other day about some luthier documentaries and Brooks came up in the rounds of builders and who learned from who conversations. Man there's so many great ones and good to hear how they are doing and interacting with real players. Very cool thread. BUMP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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