Pernambuco Birthday dream

[Greywolf]

My 68th birthday is rapidly approaching and I'd been searching for a new acoustic to play at open mic nights. I'm fortunate to have a large collection as well as being a luthier for decades, as this is likely my last one I really wanted something special .

This sweetheart popped up and I just could not resist. As I play violin and viola as well I"m familiar with Pernambuco bows, they are the paradigm. Occasionally I'll see a guitar neck using it .. then I saw this . Made for Bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs it has an all Pernambuco neck/fretboard/ back and sides with a Adirondack top and an 18v PRS pickup and a clear guard. Made by Steve Fischer while he worked for PRS , he now has his own company, he uses a interesting combination of X and Fan bracing

[Greywolf]

the tag

[Greywolf]

A clip of Al Pettiway playing it

[RJVB]

So how does she work for you, or do you actually manage to keep the wrapping on until your b'day?

PS: For me snakewood is the "paradigm" wood for the kinds of bow I used so I was quite pleased to discover that the buttons on my Cabaret are made of that wood (after deciding against buying Enrique Medina's snakewood Dome).

PPS: supposing you flatpick, do you think about up and down picking the same way as up and down bowing?

[Greywolf]

She'll arrive tommorow . Acoustically I play mostly fingerstyle . My teacher and dear friend has always impressed on me that the bow is your breath , I approach guitar the same way . Carlos Santana said back in my college days " if you want to be a better guitar player , listen to the horn players" even when picking .. the guitar is your voice

snakewood is rather cool , don't see to much of it due to cost

[RJVB]

My teacher and dear friend has always impressed on me that the bow is your breath , I approach guitar the same way .

Most of mine did too, and the last one (for the space of a number of summer school/masterclasses) had us work on vocal parts so intensively that even the voice students came to listen in

I'm not a picker at all, but when I do pick one up I have this feeling that (almost) understand it better than fingerstyle...

[Doctor Jeff]

As I said in the other thread, lovely guitar. A work of art, really. Simple yet elegant.

[Greywolf]

After a few days of playing I can easily say it's the best acoustic I've played . Deep , full and sparkly , very touch sensitive and LOUD. I can play along with a cd without plugging in , that's a first with an acoustic. Plugged in it's just a bit more delicious.

In Open G it is just spectacular , not surprising since Tony McManus and Martin Simpson were in on the design along with Cody Kilby and Ricky

[RJVB]

So then, when do we get to hear her?

[Greywolf]

the clip of Al Pettiway playing is of My guitar...

[RJVB]

Yeah, but that one only counted when you didn't have her yet

[Greywolf]

My skills compared to Al's .. .I'll spare you that experience ~