Hi Mel Thanks for your comments. Oddly (or is that 'coincidentally'?) in recent years I've taken to playing the baritone ukulele and have found much the same as you found with the mandolin. The flabby fingertip (hereafter referred to as the 'FF') is no problem with that, possibly because of the neck...

A little while ago, whilst wandering the bylanes of Youtube, I hit upon uploads by one of the folks involved in 'Re-loved guitars'. They take mass-produced guitars and do major setups on them to turn them into good instruments. The videos I found are fascinating but VERY long and a tad rambling ... ...

So what, I'm guessing you asked yourself, is a 'flabby fingertip'? It's turning out to be the key to the problem I've had playing guitar ever since I slashed my left palm over a decade ago. That severed the nerves which are in my lead and middle fingers but also severed several of the mini blood ves...

This thread, I suspect, will mostly be of interest (if that) to those of you who love the 12 string guitar. Ever since 1963, I’ve developed an abiding interest in the instrument. Don’t get me wrong, I love and have both 6 string acoustics and an especially gorgeous PRS electric … but 12s have always...

Hi again Brad As a result of what I've bought over the last year or so, or been given as Christmas and birthday presents, I seem to have accumulated several different sets of strings for 12ers I've just got them out and laid them in front of me. There are two complete sets of each. In ascending orde...

I have always favoured 12 frets to the body twelve strings because the pull on the neck and table is far less,also the scale length is shorter making the string tension looser,thus making the whole thing far easier to play. Thanks Gordon - that's all really interesting and validates the feeling I h...

Here's a question for Gordon or any other experienced plucker .... At the moment I'm playing two 12 strings a lot. One has the common body-to-neck join at the 14th fret, the other has the join at the 12th fret. The 14 fretter has a nut-to-bridge length along the 3rd string of 25 5/8". The 12 fr...

Since postting my original comment, I've trawled the internet and have found these three links which deal specifically with the issue of batteries fitted INSIDE acoustic guitars. Of two Youtube uploads which demonstrate the idea using Martin and Gibson guitars, the first is the best. The problem of ...

I have seen your post elsewhere on the 'battery sack' and agree that it seems a silly solution, however it does seem to be a trend that has crept in to manufacturing of other acoustic electric guitars. Perhaps someone can explain why this method is used. I've done my usual thing and researched on t...

In that case, I'm surprised Paul didn't veto the idea or design. I read somewhere that the installed pickup was chosen so as to not impinge on the integrity of the body --- yet your own GG12 has that sort of feature without any harm whatsoever. I'm looking at ways to get round the problem so I suspe...

As I have described elsewhere, after a lot of research, I eventually bought the VE8000 Paul Brett 12 string which is a stunning instrument. But there is one feature about it which I'm not at all keen about and I wondered if anyone else in the forum has got or played one of these instruments and, if ...

For me the VIATOR is an outstanding instrument and as with all the Vintage products represents OUTSTANDING value for money. Well worth noting that Paul Brett has collaborated with JHS again to create a new tenor guitar which will be called the Viaten. First test demo here: https://www.youtube.com/w...

during the colder spells this winter I have used the PB Vinatge Viator - whoops ... I've let the secret out the bag. I bought it a couple of months ago from our favourite Blackburn retailer I assume you mean the shop that beins with an 'R' and ends 'ys'? I've only ever been inside the shop once - m...

I don't hear many tunes or soul in the new guard of players tapping and slapping. I think we're on the same wavelength here Gordon which is why I chose the signature for this forum which I have never felt the urge to change. At the time, I was thinking of Peter Green. Anyone who knows his early sty...

Another hero has gone. Bert Weedon, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, Billy Strange, Chet Atkins and now John Renbourn to name but a few. The only real antidote to natural sadness is the joy of listening to their recordings and maybe remembering the first time you ever heard them and what impact or long-la...