b'explain it - talking about tone is like fishing aboutenticing thought, but such a shame it doesnt make Architecture Frank Zappa. sense. As soon as the strings are tuned up, there Every maker wants to make the best guitars inis close to two hundred pounds - the same as a the world, but there isnt a simple definition.Themedium sized human being, pulling and pushing best guitar is the one that a player gains the mostwithin the component parts. No matter what the satisfaction from. Its a simple statement, but itstresses were before the strings were on, everything covers everything.Im extremely happy that sochanges completely once it is tuned up, and many players feel that way about my guitars. continues to change as the guitar adjusts over time. As far as I can tell, the best guitars are being builtMaking just one component thinner, thicker, a by those who have being plying their craft for thedifferent shape or from a different wood will longest period of time, and have used that time tochange the stress in most of the other components. make huge numbers of tiny changes in responseThinning down the bracing in front of the bridge to listening and thinking. This slow accumulationallows it to compress a little more, increasing the of refinements produces the character of thetension in the bracing behind the bridge. Changing particular makers work.It might be possible tothe height of the bridge changes the torsion on the explain each individual decision and the generalsoundboard, which changes the stresses in every direction of thinking, but another maker wouldpart of the soundboard from one end to the other. make different decisions and the end result mightStress in a component is a fundamental part of the have a different character. It is the accumulationway it vibrates - there are certainly many factors in of marginal gains and its probably the differencedetermining the sound of a guitar, but distribution between science and art. of internal stress is right at the top of the list.If I were pushed to explain my way of thinkingIts good fun to make experiments. Ive made a about tone production, I would talk aboutguitar of Formica, another with two soundboards the distribution of stress within the woodenbut no back, and I have deliberately fitted a bridge components.Some makers like to say that a guitarwithout glue to see what would happen. On one should be built without stress, which is such anvery expensive day I took a brand new guitar and Fylde in Exotic places: Live Fylde in Exotic places:at St. Quentin Cittern in Bhutan Fylde in Exotic places: GinaNot Johnny Cash, but there is a connection. Robert Ayers made contact Leishman to ask about his Portuguese Mandola.Linde Nijland and Bert Ridderbos took a Cittern over land to Bhutan, travellingGina in Italy, playing her Mandola in theRobert Ayers spent his career as a through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India,Opera Orfeo in the courtyard of theprison Warden. The photograph is of him singing Sandy Dennys songs as they we Palazzo Simoncelli in Orvieto. She wasoutside the gates of St. Quentin Prison nt. born in England, studied music at thewhere he was governor before he retired. Bert used a Fylde Cittern as a centreVienna Conservatory and Edinburgh.In 1969 Robert was asked if he wanted piece of the journey. The expeditionShe has written for theatre, opera,to work overtime the night that Johnny started with a still life painting of thedance, film, TV and concert stage,Cash recorded Live at St Quentin, and cittern and ended with the presentationand numerous scores for Shakespeareof course, he said yes. Unfortunately, he of the portrait to the King of Bhutan, andproductions. She is co-founder ofwas posted on the opposite side of the of the Cittern to a music project. Kamikaze Ground Crew, (Rememberjail so that an older officer could be at Its a lovely story, full of culture, music andRearranging the deck chairs on thethe concert.In Roberts words - Grrrrrrr.friendship. Titanic?) and co-leads the Mr. Wau-Wa band, a quintet dedicated to the songs of Bertolt Brecht.97'