Ah yes Sobell instruments are truly magical. Fylde also make very nice citterns: www.fyldeguitars.com. However, you might find that the best instrument to start on is an octave mandolin if you want that low grumbly sound. If you learn on the octave mandolin you will be training your left hand to play several other instruments including the mandolin, Irish tenor banjo and fiddle. You might find the cittern a bit limiting, as the standard tuning is different to most other instruments in the mandolin family. Just a thought...
Thank you Joel. That's very kind. I put up a new one every now and then, but still only have 7. I might do some more soon ...
About the Fylde's - I've found, listening to them whilst playing in sessions, that the Fyldes are a bit bassier and somehow 'dirtier' than the sobell instruments. It's very nice, but I prefer the cleaner sound of the Sobell. I find it lets the melody through more clearly. It's a beautiful sound, but not quite as imposing as the Fylde.
Makes perfect sense. It's the same difference with Fylde and Sobell mandolins. I have a Fylde Touchstone mandolin which can growl and be as dirty as you like, but will also purr delightfully if you stroke it the right way. I once borrowed a Sobell mandolin to do some recording, and it was one of the nicest instruments I've ever played. Beautifully clean and balanced sound. Shame I can't afford one!
Yes but Stefan, last time I heard, had closed his mando-family waiting list, as it was already 3 years long ! And not cheap neither,even if good value for money.
Incidentally, there IS no standard tuning for a cittern, people seem to make up what suits their own style and preference. Some people like a 5ths and octaves open-style, others like the straight 5ths, I've played one that was in ADGAD which totally threw me, it wasn't a guitar, it wasn't a 'zouk, and it was in funny....
Do you mind me asking why the Cittern if you dont know much about them? Most people would go for a Bouzouki, as there are alot more out there to buy....
Citterns are far from limiting....you can tune them any way you want really as Guernsey Pete states....
And I would have to agree that Stefan Sobells are the best out there by far, but it is true that he is no longer taking orders on them, and the last I heard it was 4- 5years + when he was!!
They are like hens teeth to find 2nd hand...and very pricey too.
There was a thread here on thesession about 2mths back with one for sale...An older model (70s) and about 3000 euro I think....
All the best,
Seanie
Oops. Sorry about that. I always thought that citterns had a different standard tuning that wouldn't readily translate to the other family instruments. Sorry if I misled you Celtic Guitar and good luck finding what you want.
If I had the money I'd wait 5 years for a Sobell instrument. Actually, if I really had money I'd try to bribe him to make me one faster.
I would add that the Fletcher Brock link shows some very nice-looking instruments, but I have no idea how they sound.
It doesn't take much googling to come up with a whole list of cittern-luthiers, someone of which must be within your price-range or visiting distance, so you can try one if possible.
Celtic Guitar says he knows virtually nothing about citterns, and I don't either. I just happen to know somebody who plays one from Fletcher Brock, and he says he is happy with it. He tunes it in fifths--I think the lowest string is a C.
It sounds good to me. Nice full tone, good volume. But they're not cheap. And as I say, I'm no expert on the subject.
(Joel, thanks for the nice words about my Sound Lantern clips, but you are too kind. No, I really mean that--much too kind. I have a lot of things to work on. Timing, tempo, ornaments, working in some variations, shedding the last vestiges of my scanty classical background... I just felt it was only fair to put some up, sorta "put my money where my mouth is.")
I heard Cantrip a few times over the past month and I loved the sound of the cittern that Cameron was playing. They also came to ur session so I was able to hear the cittern in a session setting and just really loved it.
I play a 12-string Guild and am starting to capo up the neck and play there; the cittern seemed to have a lot more space between the frets up high on the neck.
Citterns
Citterns
Any suggestions as to who makes the best citterns? I am interested in buying a cittern and know virtually nothing about them.
# Posted on October 6th 2008 by Celtic Guitar
Re: Citterns
There's a very good plumbers' merchants just down the road from me ...
# Posted on October 6th 2008 by ethical blend
Re: Citterns
... oh wait ... CITTERNS ... ah ...
Last time I looked, Stefan Sobell was about as good as you could get. Maybe that's changed, but there are some lovely instruments out there.
# Posted on October 6th 2008 by ethical blend
Re: Citterns
A friend really likes the cittern he bought from:
http://www.fletcherbrock.com/Home.html
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by John Galt
Re: Citterns
Ah yes Sobell instruments are truly magical. Fylde also make very nice citterns: www.fyldeguitars.com. However, you might find that the best instrument to start on is an octave mandolin if you want that low grumbly sound. If you learn on the octave mandolin you will be training your left hand to play several other instruments including the mandolin, Irish tenor banjo and fiddle. You might find the cittern a bit limiting, as the standard tuning is different to most other instruments in the mandolin family. Just a thought...
Benhall.1: I enjoyed yer tunes on Sound Lantern.
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by McDermott
Re: Citterns
Ooh and yours too Mickray
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by McDermott
Re: Citterns
Thank you Joel. That's very kind. I put up a new one every now and then, but still only have 7. I might do some more soon ...
About the Fylde's - I've found, listening to them whilst playing in sessions, that the Fyldes are a bit bassier and somehow 'dirtier' than the sobell instruments. It's very nice, but I prefer the cleaner sound of the Sobell. I find it lets the melody through more clearly. It's a beautiful sound, but not quite as imposing as the Fylde.
Does that make sense?
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by ethical blend
Re: Citterns
Makes perfect sense. It's the same difference with Fylde and Sobell mandolins. I have a Fylde Touchstone mandolin which can growl and be as dirty as you like, but will also purr delightfully if you stroke it the right way. I once borrowed a Sobell mandolin to do some recording, and it was one of the nicest instruments I've ever played. Beautifully clean and balanced sound. Shame I can't afford one!
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by McDermott
Re: Citterns
Yes but Stefan, last time I heard, had closed his mando-family waiting list, as it was already 3 years long ! And not cheap neither,even if good value for money.
Incidentally, there IS no standard tuning for a cittern, people seem to make up what suits their own style and preference. Some people like a 5ths and octaves open-style, others like the straight 5ths, I've played one that was in ADGAD which totally threw me, it wasn't a guitar, it wasn't a 'zouk, and it was in funny....
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Citterns
Hey all,
Do you mind me asking why the Cittern if you dont know much about them? Most people would go for a Bouzouki, as there are alot more out there to buy....
Citterns are far from limiting....you can tune them any way you want really as Guernsey Pete states....
And I would have to agree that Stefan Sobells are the best out there by far, but it is true that he is no longer taking orders on them, and the last I heard it was 4- 5years + when he was!!
They are like hens teeth to find 2nd hand...and very pricey too.
There was a thread here on thesession about 2mths back with one for sale...An older model (70s) and about 3000 euro I think....
All the best,
Seanie
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by seaniemcg
Re: Citterns
Oops. Sorry about that. I always thought that citterns had a different standard tuning that wouldn't readily translate to the other family instruments. Sorry if I misled you Celtic Guitar and good luck finding what you want.
If I had the money I'd wait 5 years for a Sobell instrument. Actually, if I really had money I'd try to bribe him to make me one faster.
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by McDermott
Re: Citterns
I would add that the Fletcher Brock link shows some very nice-looking instruments, but I have no idea how they sound.
It doesn't take much googling to come up with a whole list of cittern-luthiers, someone of which must be within your price-range or visiting distance, so you can try one if possible.
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Citterns
Celtic Guitar says he knows virtually nothing about citterns, and I don't either. I just happen to know somebody who plays one from Fletcher Brock, and he says he is happy with it. He tunes it in fifths--I think the lowest string is a C.
It sounds good to me. Nice full tone, good volume. But they're not cheap. And as I say, I'm no expert on the subject.
(Joel, thanks for the nice words about my Sound Lantern clips, but you are too kind. No, I really mean that--much too kind. I have a lot of things to work on. Timing, tempo, ornaments, working in some variations, shedding the last vestiges of my scanty classical background... I just felt it was only fair to put some up, sorta "put my money where my mouth is.")
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by John Galt
Re: Citterns
Ive got mine up on ebay...well its a zouk but close enough
http://cgi.ebay.com/Custom-Built-Irish-Bouzouki_W0QQitemZ200260747333QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200260747333&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
# Posted on October 8th 2008 by Splendid Isolation
Re: Citterns
I heard Cantrip a few times over the past month and I loved the sound of the cittern that Cameron was playing. They also came to ur session so I was able to hear the cittern in a session setting and just really loved it.
I play a 12-string Guild and am starting to capo up the neck and play there; the cittern seemed to have a lot more space between the frets up high on the neck.
That's the source of my interest.
# Posted on October 8th 2008 by Celtic Guitar