This is a place for flamenco guitar makers to introduce themselves and for forum members to comment on experiences with various guitar makers and their guitars.

Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby Stephen Rees » 01 Mar 2011, 00:15

A quick 'Hello' to introduce myself .... I'm Stephen Rees; I'm a maker of Spanish guitars from my workshop near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England.

I learned of this forum from Tomás Jimenez and his wife María when they visited me in my workshop last week.
We spent a couple of enjoyable hours talking guitars ..... Tomás kindly played a blanca I had just finished making and I had a chance to have a look at a couple of his guitars that he had brought along; a Gerundino and a Requeña.

Please feel free to get in touch if you would like to know more about what I do .....

All the best,
Steve
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Stephen Rees
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby Ram » 01 Mar 2011, 04:49

Stephen:
Welcome to the foro.
I do not know Tomas personally, but I enjoy his contributions and admire his talent.
People like Tomas, and others, knowlege help us, the neophites, learn about the Art of Flamenco.
I hope that you will also contribute your knowlege for the benefit of the Old School Flamenco Foro community.
Bienvenido!
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby Victor » 01 Mar 2011, 21:45

Welcome Stephen .
I hope you will post some of your work in the Taller section for us all to see :D
All the best .
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby TomasJimenez » 01 Mar 2011, 23:16

Hola Steve
Fabulous to see you here.
Your guitar is very flamenco and so easy to play.
I would recommend anyone to try one of yours while of course also respecting the other wonderful guitarreros that are known here to us all.
Saludos
Tomás
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby Stephen Rees » 02 Mar 2011, 09:38

Thanks Ram, Victor and Tomás for the warm welcome !

Victor ..... If you are interested in seeing a few 'snaps' of my work please have a look here http://www.flickr.com/photos/reesguitars/

Cheers!
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby Bob » 02 Mar 2011, 18:01

I see in the photos that one of your guitars under construction has a Tornavoz to lower the resonant frequency of the sound box. Is that a contrabass, classical or flamenco guitar? Was that an experiment or do you often make guitars like that? What is your opinion of the differences with and without a Tornavoz?

-Bob
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby SamC » 02 Mar 2011, 19:20

Steven, I noticed you use a tornavoz. Is this just on classicals or flamencos as well? I have heard classical guitars with a brass tornavoz and they sounded nice. Would be interested in hearing sound clips of your guitars especially if you have a flamenco using the tornavoz.

You come to our little Bodega with Tomas recommendation so we know you are not a tourist. Welcome and looking forward to hearing some of your work.
Sam
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby Stephen Rees » 05 Mar 2011, 18:27

The photos are of a classical guitar with an experimental tornavoz. I think most makers go through their "tornavoz phase" as curiosity leads them to build a guitar with some form of tornavoz. Mostly these are pierced metal of some sort, though I opted to try out quite a deep wooden version with mixed results. The box dropped from F# down to E and the basses were superb with good projection, however the trebles seemed distant and a little hollow sounding. If I try another I will use a much shorter version or maybe try a pierced version of the deeper one. These decisions need to be made before the back goes on the guitar as the tornavoz can not be fitted/removed through the soundhole, although a Swiss guitarmaker friend of mine did make a removable wooden version which had interlocking sections and was bayonet mounted, much like a Nikon lens mount ..... such precision !!
Not sure I would fit one on a flamenco guitar, but it might be interesting .... never say never !
I don't have any sound/video clips of my guitars so far, though I am trying to get something organised soon(ish) and will keep you posted .....

Cheers!
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby Stephen Rees » 10 Apr 2012, 08:59

I had another workshop visit from Tomás Jimenez recently and shot this little video-clip whilst trying out my Zoom Q3 ..... I thought forum members here may be interested.
http://youtu.be/FO8nVKljDVk
Posted with Tomás's kind permission.
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Re: Stephen Rees - UK Guitar Maker

Postby SamC » 10 Apr 2012, 10:47

That is a great sounding guitar and beautiful playing by Tomas.
Sam
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