That is a very nice-sounding guitar.

-Bob

The following were recorded on first take, with no practice, no retakes, no editing, and no enhancement. Both played open (no cejilla) with is unusual for me because of the left hand little finger reaches. I was able to do them on this guitar because of ease of playing. There are several mistakes in my playing, but the purpose is to demonstrate the sound and response of this guitar, not my playing ability or lack thereof. This is the style of flamenco I play. The woods in this guitar and the bracing system were chosen to best facilitate the playing and sound of this style. I have a very heavy hand due to nerve damage and this guitar would be as loud and sound as good or better with half the force I apply automatically. No need for a sound port on a Tsiorba, at least not this one.

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Solea Tsiorba.mp3

Solea Tsiorba.mp3

Decided to change strings to LaBella 820 black trebles and D'Addario Pro Arte J45 basses all medium tension. I like the sound and looks much better. Here are a few clips. These Siguiriyas falsetas I hadn't played in a while and messed them up badly, but maybe gives you an idea of overall sound with this string combo.
Scales Tsiorba.mp3


OctavesTs.mp3


Sig Ts.mp3

I like the way Peter shaped the golpeador on your new Tsiorba. I should have golpeadores shaped like that on my guitars to avoid top damage. From damage patterns I have seen on other guitars, other players seem to have a similar need.

-Bob

Yes, the rasqueadoador is unique. The angle on the top took some getting use to, but now it has really grown on me. Peter designed this one of a kind rasqueadoador from studying wear on my Dominguez. The Dominguez has a larger plate than most, but still a little shy for my style and that of most Diego del Gastor aficionados.

It amazes me how Peter got the bass growl I wanted and the sweet trebles with such phenomenal response. Here is a tanquillo to compare to the Dominguez. La Pedro only one week past being finished, is really opening up more and the trebles starting to sing. I think the black 820 trebles helped.
Tanguillo Tsiorba.mp3

Tanguillo Dominguez.mp3

Sam, now that you have played a guitar with geared planetary tuners for a while would you want them on another new guitar or would you rather have traditional wooden pegs?

Castillo

Definitely without hesitation can say I would want them on another guitar. In fact I am thinking of converting my 1974 homemade negra to them. They took some getting use to, but much better than wooden direct pegs for me. Machine heads are a thing of the past for me.

I don't like machine heads, because pitch changes so gradually when they are rotated. It is easier for me to tune a guitar with wooden pegs, so long as they don't bind, but the pegs on my guitar do bind occasionally and I have been wondering about I trying geared planetary tuners when I am able to afford a new guitar. Do tuning changes occur as slowly with geared planetary tuners as with machine head tuners? If so, I probably wouldn't like them.

Castillo

Castillo wrote:I don't like machine heads, because pitch changes so gradually when they are rotated. It is easier for me to tune a guitar with wooden pegs, so long as they don't bind, but the pegs on my guitar do bind occasionally and I have been wondering about I trying geared planetary tuners when I am able to afford a new guitar. Do tuning changes occur as slowly with geared planetary tuners as with machine head tuners? If so, I probably wouldn't like them.

Castillo

No, it is faster and easier and has the peg feel just smoother. The thing is you have to push in like a peg and it may not be perfect but to raise or lower a fraction only requires a gentle touch with no pushing in. Only drastic changes require the pushing on the peg while tuning. I always liked my wooden pegs a bit sticky because I had developed a special shake from tuning pianos. The trick is to be able to have a quick shake as you push to stop the peg at the precise point. This was fine in my younger days when I tuned several stringed pegged instruments (pianos, violins, violas, cellos, basses, banjos, lutes, and guitars) several times a week, but now the flamenco guitar is all I tune and the mechanical pegs are the easiest way. Here is the neat thing Castillo, if you get a new guitar with mechanical pegs and cannot master them, then it is easy to replace them with wooden pegs. Simply pull them out and put in the wooden ones. With a new price of $150 for a set, you wouldn't get hurt much as I bet a used set would sell quickly for at least half price. I changed strings today and must say nothing is easier and quicker getting to pitch and to hold tune than the mechanical pegs.

Sam many congrats not only on the guitar but also your playing. I remember what seems many years ago now when we chatted in that other place and you were struggling to get back into shape. Well despite some doubters you did it

Sadly not been around of late and my baby has sat in the corner getting little attention. But I can see I have an enormous amount of catching up to do

Love the details on the guitar. Looks like a real flamenca. Enjoy

Un saludo Nigel