b'constantly looking for any such comparisons,I findit, or to tune the back and front, or the body to it fascinating and extremely useful. certain notes. Some claim to use scientific design. The way a guitar works is governed by simpleThere are a huge variety of neck joints, with physics, but that doesnt mean its easy toextreme opinions about each one.Some makers understand or to apply anything you learnt atare convinced they have discovered a principle school, and certainly I dont believe any maker haswhich makes a huge difference, and many have yet produced a credible theory of everythinga prejudice for or against particular woods, or there are too many unrelated variables to be ablefinishes, or even glue.to turn theory into practice. Many conclusions haveAll of that is interesting, but it cant all be true. been reached, but the end result of course, is judgedPut to the test, maybe ten percent makes sense, but by a human audience, not by numbers on paperwhich ten percent?or traces on an oscilloscope, so no matter what theI think I am well qualified to judge, and if Im mathematics say, the only real question is - whathonest, I would say that once we get past the basics will it sound like to the human ear? of string length, body size, wood selection, and a Approaches to design and build vary enormously.fair amount of basic engineering, everything else is I know some makers who make their soundboardsa theory of not very much.thinner at the edges, but others who make themThen we have another problem - peoples deliberately thicker. One or two build guitars withperceptions and observations vary.A guitar thick sides, others insist on thin sides.Some likedescribed as bright by one player might be wide grain soundboards, some narrow, some dontmellow to another. Strange but true.Words such care. Some focus on keeping the stiffness of theas Clarity, Complexity, and Separation are used soundboard constant from one guitar to another,freely, but there is no way of agreeing or explaining but others simply take account of whatever thewhat they mean. stiffness happens to be.A new fashion is to assess the deflection of the soundboard under a certainI have been involved in a university investigation load. Some makers claim to assess wood by tappinginto such things, and even nowI couldnt begin to Fylde in Exotic places: Bobby Whitlocks pianoFylde in Exotic places:Michael Proudfoot makes films aboutFylde in Exotic places:The North and South Jaguar, the Ford Mustang. Martin Scorcese, Wedgwood, the SiberianGreat Fire of UllapoolFylde Mandolin goes mad at SouthTiger, etc. He took hisAriel with him toWell, it was actually more of a smoulder Pole and attempts to escape withoutMemphis, and placedit on a piano thatthan a fire, but there was smoke, and the suitable clothing. Rescued just in timeonce belonged to Bobby Whitlock. volunteer brigade hadnt had a decent by Abominable snowman, given shot ofWhen I sit down at my kitchen table, theshout in ages, so they turned out in whisky and kept in close contact with aFylde Ariel guitar on a stand in the cornerforce.We all evacuated the building, but warm hairy human body for 24 hours.responds with a little open chord. Its as ifI sneaked back in to rescue a few guitars, Has nightmare of Emperor Penguinsits reminding me that its there. But whatonly to find the firemen doing a Shadows performing River Dance. Wakes up inits really saying is I am so responsive, Iimpression.plastic house on legs. Starts planninghave been so well crafted that you dontSo - ladies and gentlemen, put your next escape.even have to touch me, Im respondinghands together for Hank The Hose About thirty years ago, one of myto your footsteps, the vibrations theyMarvin, Jet Wash Harris, Bruce guitars was taken on a British Nuclearmake as you walk across the floor. Squelchy Welsh and Brian Gordon Submarine, under the North Pole. IveBennett, otherwise known as wet wet, probably broken the official secrets act bywet wet.telling you that.95'