Ribbecke Compliant Rim (1st demo)

[Mark Kleinhaut]

It’s my pleasure to introduce a new player to the field. I just received this new instrument from luthier Tom Ribbecke, which he calls the Compliant Rim 15” Time Machine. There’s a ton of info about this on Tom’s FB page, but the main thing is that he’s devised a way to build the top with grain oriented woods that allow the top to move more freely, like the way a speaker cone has a soft material for its perimeter to free up the stiffer materials of the main driver to move. I’m very pleased with whatever it’s doing and look forward to ongoing exploration of her voice.

[tpandela]

Thank you Mark.

[skykomishone]

I wish that I had some of your technique! The guitar is interesting and sounds great!

[Max405]

Mark, seriously. That was some of the finest playing I’ve ever heard.
If that doesn’t sell these guitars, nothing will.
I’ve always wanted a Ribbecke and I’ve always wanted to play just like that.
Man, it must be good to be you.
Beautiful stuff. And once I figure it out, I will be stealing some of your editing tricks, particularly from 2:56 on. Incredible.
You got it all going at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
Joe D

[jorgemg1984]

Mark, that sounds great. Which amp are you using? Thanks!

[Gitterbug]

Incredibly beautiful!

[Mark Kleinhaut]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the privilege I enjoy to own this luthiery masterpiece. Thank you for letting me share the sounds and sites here.

[Cunamara]

Is that smaller than the Halfling? It looks like 15" or 16", the Halfling looks bigger in your other videos.

[Mark Kleinhaut]

Is that smaller than the Halfling? It looks like 15" or 16", the Halfling looks bigger in your other videos.

you're correct -it’s 15”. The Halfling is 17”. Takes a little getting used to

[ccroft]

Seems to me it's not taking a lot of getting used to. I really enjoyed your playing. There's some different flavour here.

Is it also shallower? I wonder what the acoustic differences might be in the room between this and the larger ones. Very interesting wood work and a lovely instrument.

Thanks for supporting a builder who wants to try something different. Is this the first or has he done a few?

[Mark Kleinhaut]

Seems to me it's not taking a lot of getting used to. I really enjoyed your playing. There's some different flavour here.

Is it also shallower? I wonder what the acoustic differences might be in the room between this and the larger ones. Very interesting wood work and a lovely instrument.

Thanks for supporting a builder who wants to try something different. Is this the first or has he done a few?

maybe a couple dozen total and at least half of those are bass guitars. It’s a little shallower but not thin and the acoustic voice is a little subdued compared to my 17” Halfling, though that one has had a decade and a half of breaking in.

[pingu]

yes the new guitar
makes a very clean true sound

that was very lovely
was it based on a standard Mark ?

[Mark Kleinhaut]

yes the new guitar
makes a very clean true sound

that was very lovely
was it based on a standard Mark ?

This was just freeform improv. Thanks !

[Jabberwocky]

I am not crazy about the two-tone look but, man, does she sound angelic! You elicit great tones from her. It reminds me of Ken Parker's Archtop in tonality. Sounds like a great classical guitar-she is about the size of a large classical guitar. I bet JS Bach sounds great on her.

We need to hear more from this guitar in your capable hands, Mark.

And congratulations are in order.

[Mark Kleinhaut]

I am not crazy about the two-tone look but, man, does she sound angelic! You elicit great tones from her. It reminds me of Ken Parker's Archtop in tonality. Sounds like a great classical guitar-she is about the size of a large classical guitar. I bet JS Bach sounds great on her.

We need to hear more from this guitar in your capable hands, Mark.

And congratulations are in order.

thanks Jeff! I kinda like the two tone effect as it’s a result of two different wood species joined to make the top. Looking closely you can see each of the perimeter pieces took the stains slightly differently too, so it’s a bit multi-culti. If it were a cosmetic trick I’d probably hate it, but since it reflects the very essence of this instrument’s construction I dig it. Anyway, you can bet more videos are coming soon

[RJVB]

the acoustic voice is a little subdued compared to my 17” Halfling.

Any chance of hearing that voice, because that's where the design should have the biggest impact?!

(I never heard of a 15" classical guitar intended for standard tuning!)

[0zoro]

This was just freeform improv. Thanks !

Your playing is etherical. The filming makes you and your new instrument look and feel like one, and sound like one, how is it possible you are not used to it?!

[Mark Kleinhaut]

Mark, that sounds great. Which amp are you using? Thanks!

I record using a roland microcube bass RX low volume into a very close stereo microphone.

[Mark Kleinhaut]

Your playing is etherical. The filming makes you and your new instrument look and feel like one, and sound like one, how is it possible you are not used to it?!

. I’ve only had it a few days now but playing it as much as my old fingers can manage

[Mark Kleinhaut]

Any chance of hearing that voice, because that's where the design should have the biggest impact?!

(I never heard of a 15" classical guitar intended for standard tuning!)

Here’s the 17 Halfling from last week.

[Oscar67]

That’s one helluva guitar. You sound like you, but there’s *more* you. Like it’s a conduit. Did you feel like it made you play better or am I imagining it? For an archtop it sounds incredibly angelic, detailed and 3D. And what it conjured out of you is special IMHO.

[Mark Kleinhaut]

That’s one helluva guitar. You sound like you, but there’s *more* you. Like it’s a conduit. Did you feel like it made you play better or am I imagining it? For an archtop it sounds incredibly angelic, detailed and 3D. And what it conjured out of you is special IMHO.

Thanks, it’s an inspiring to play this guitar so maybe it is firing up the juices a bit more than usual.