Going Bespoke
What about the custom builder? We talked to Fylde Guitars’ ROGER BUCKNALL about his philosophy on building a stageready acoustic guitar…
“There was a time when ‘semi-acoustic’guitars were very popular. Generally, they were very heavily built, with great playability and not prone to feedback, but the downside was the limitation in the acoustic sound. For a while the amplified acoustic guitar sound was a distinct experience, to the extent that audiences expected it, and stopped appreciating the pure acoustic sound. We tend to forget that volume is really a part of tone, no instrument sounds the same at high volumes as it does with no amplification. Our ears are not linear. “Technology has changed a lot: notch filters and graphic equalisers to catch a troublesome frequency, phase inversion to deal with a difficult venue, and new pickups that don’t turn the guitar into a microphone.There is a growing trend to have two pickup sources on the guitar, blended either on the guitar, or downline in a separate preamp. Plus, of course, a variety of pedals to shape the sound, each with an opportunity to sidestep many of grandad’s problems… “When I discuss this with customers now, it’s a different set of questions compared to 40 years ago. Newer pickup systems, better amplification and sound engineers and probably most of all, greater understanding from the artist. Sitting in the venue during a soundcheck with someone like John Smith, Martin Simpson or Eric Bibb, they can identify by ear a troublesome frequency and ask the desk to deal with it. So, in one way,not much has changed for me – I concentrate on making a guitar that the artist can use, and trust. It must be strong enough to withstand a little ‘enthusiasm’, and enable the player to produce his music.The amplified guitar is a tool, it needs to do its job.”