Members gitmo Posted January 18, 2010 Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 I bought a new book tonight that included a brief history of the guitar. Some of you have probably seen these before but some may not have. The chronology takes the reader up to the 1990's. Lots of spruce tops back then as well as the use of rosewood(not soundboards) and 12 stringers. Notice the bridges:eek: A page from history: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hipster Posted January 18, 2010 Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 I wouldn't believe anything in that book. Everyone knows that Leo Fender invented the guitar in 1949. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted January 18, 2010 Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 I bought a new book tonight that included a brief history of the guitar. Some of you have probably seen these before but some may not have. The chronology takes the reader up to the 1990's. Lots of spruce tops back then as well as the use of rosewood(not soundboards) and 12 stringers. Notice the bridges:eek:A page from history: The guitars from that point in time (1600s) had 5 double-strung courses, usually tuned A-D-G-B-E, and each pair were almost always tuned in unison. The Low E was added later, and single-strung courses somewhat after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Furtive Posted January 18, 2010 Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 The guitars from that point in time (1600s) had 5 double-strung courses, usually tuned A-D-G-B-E, and each pair were almost always tuned in unison. The Low E was added later, and single-strung courses somewhat after that. Interesting.... on a recent trip to Mexico City, I bought a charango, made in Bolivia. Double courses tuned GCEAE, the middle E being an octave, the rest are in unison. The one I picked up is identical to this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitmo Posted January 18, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 Interesting.... on a recent trip to Mexico City, I bought a charango, made in Bolivia. Double courses tuned GCEAE, the middle E being an octave, the rest are in unison. The one I picked up is identical to this: Beautiful little instrument. They're serious about their necks. I like a lot of it's features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitmo Posted January 18, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 I wouldn't believe anything in that book. Everyone knows that Leo Fender invented the guitar in 1949. Sure it wasn't Les Paul in the 30's? Fender invented the Bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted January 18, 2010 Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 I love early music especially of the rennaisance and baroque periods and it is wonderful to hear these old string instruments being played. It is not common knowledge but as well as the the more famous violins, Stradivarius also made guitars. Here is a pic: There are two known survivors, one at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and one in the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota. Here is a link with some nice pics. http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/PluckedStrings/Guitars/Stradivari/StradGuitar.html More info on old guitars / history here: http://www.classicalguitarmidi.com/history/guitares_evolution.html http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.guyguitars.com/images/stradgtr1680.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.guyguitars.com/eng/handbook/BriefHistory.html&h=488&w=355&sz=35&tbnid=MlPfQmPhQRDO4M:&tbnh=130&tbnw=95&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstradivarius%2Bguitar&hl=en&usg=__O-aSKjFqJKbWAjNnuiEa3TxjoW8=&ei=n2xUS6vEKKj20wT4_oinBg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CA0Q9QEwAw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted January 18, 2010 Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 It's always weird how the bridge seems in the wrong place to make the best sound on those old guitars....and the small size. Most look like they'd have all the tone of a Martin backpacker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted January 18, 2010 Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 It's always weird how the bridge seems in the wrong place to make the best sound on those old guitars....and the small size. Most look like they'd have all the tone of a Martin backpacker. [YOUTUBE]BfVZRevRKv8[/YOUTUBE] PS. Note the way she picks the strings using her pinkie as prop and the "sideways" picking angle of her fingers - this was the common picking method used during the Baroque period (and, indeed, for quite some time later). Also dig the (movable) gut wrap-around frets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitmo Posted January 18, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 It is not common knowledge but as well as the the more famous violins, Stradivarius also made guitars. Here is a pic: There are two known survivors, one at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and one in the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota. Here is a link with some nice pics. http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/PluckedStrings/Guitars/Stradivari/StradGuitar.html More info on old guitars / history here: http://www.classicalguitarmidi.com/history/guitares_evolution.htmlhttp://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.guyguitars.com/images/stradgtr1680.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.guyguitars.com/eng/handbook/BriefHistory.html&h=488&w=355&sz=35&tbnid=MlPfQmPhQRDO4M:&tbnh=130&tbnw=95&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstradivarius%2Bguitar&hl=en&usg=__O-aSKjFqJKbWAjNnuiEa3TxjoW8=&ei=n2xUS6vEKKj20wT4_oinBg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CA0Q9QEwAw In the bottom row, rightmost is a Stradivari. I believe most, if not all, had friction fit tuning pegs like a violin. The Chitarra Battente is an AMAZING piece of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitmo Posted January 18, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 Most look like they'd have all the tone of a Martin backpacker. They probably did. Bet they didn't know much about bridge pins either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitmo Posted January 18, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2010 Also dig the (movable) gut wrap-around frets. As well as the frets on the soundboard. Sounhole rose's seemed quite a popular build feature too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted January 19, 2010 Members Share Posted January 19, 2010 And, should any of you peeps want such an axe... Four course renaissance guitar: http://www.earlymusicshop.com/images/catalogue/MORRG/FullSize/MORRG.jpg Five course baroque guitar: http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000561-morillo-baroque-guitar Never played one of either, but I'm told the quality is pretty high, considering such reasonable prices. This might be a cool instrument for tuning like a uke (or mandolin, w/ different strings): http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000582-morillo-latin-guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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