Guitar

print version of Sustain

I just received the print version of the 1st issue of new luthiery magazine Sustain that had the good idea to publish an interview of yours truly as-a-guitar-maker - you can order it or download it for free on the website of the Fellowship of European Luthiers (you can see it here together with my customized Kawai Aquarius I mention in the article). It's not only because they appreciate my work, but I must say it's a fine magazine made by instrument lovers for instrument lovers - it's not burdened by advertisement and doesn't deal with trends and fashions but goes to the point...

There are articles that I found really interesting about various subjects - from something really technical and concrete about how to precisely route a guitar neck pocket - I was looking for that info and will apply it very soon -, to something almost esoteric but fascinating on analyzing the geometrics behind a Stradivarius violin design, via the report of an attempt to scientifically test and compare the qualities of famous old violins and newer ones - that has universal outcomes.

I found some elements that I already appreciated in Leo Lospenatto's book 'Electric Guitar & Bass Design' (Leo is behind Sustain), a deep knowledge of traditional luthiery applied to contemporary design and technology (there's much he can tell about the geometrics of a Les Paul) and a refreshingly skeptical eye on guitar making mythology - his book confirmed a few things I suspected just from logic, that the tone wood has probably less influence on a guitar sound than the cables you will use to plug it in an amp, or that a bolt neck provides more sustain than a set one, though human ear cannot tell the difference (it has been scientifically tested and measured and will probably keep being denied by those who prefer legends to facts).

Well, both the magazine and the book bring new and precious information, and this is not common, when most of what I read about guitar making is just the same things again and again, and a lot is questionable, when it's not just advertisement for major companies...

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Guitar