News
Camatillo Rosewood Model B goes home
Mon, 12 May 2008
Damian dropped into Newcastle on his way north back to Glasgow to pick up his brand spanking new Camatillo Rosewood/Italian Spruce Model B. You can read more on the blog....
New version of the website!
Tue, 29 Apr 2008Apparently the clever flash version didn't work on many folks computers so here is the new old fashioned HTML version. Rather nice eh? Comments welcome as ever. If you click on the pictures they GET BIGGER! Am also busy updating the photos of the instruments as they are rather out of date - if you check out the blog you will see how my work looks these days.
Goodbye Mahogany guitars
Mon, 31 Mar 2008I have decided to stop making the Models E and ES, and concentrate on Rosewood guitars. Those of you who wanted to order one ....sorry. I have still the prototype for the adjustable neck model G, which is all plantation grown Mahogany, but I intend to keep it for the time being as it is the only guitar I have!
Richard Dawson on YouTube
Fri, 28 Mar 2008Martin Stephenson on YouTube!
Thu, 13 Mar 2008Martin called round the other morning to get some work done on his guitars, and very kindly performed a few songs for us all to go on me YouTube page. Two clips with my Model G and two with the recent Model J. So here they are, and enjoy!
Model J on YouTube
Thu, 6 Mar 2008A chap is coming to collect his wonderful new Rio Model J soon, so I nipped down to see Ian Stephenson and filmed him noodling about on it. The guitar is in a tuning unfamiliar to Ian, but he seems to cope! The guitar is tuned CGCGCD low to high. Click here to see for yourself.
Happy New Year!
Tue, 19 Feb 2008Sorry there have been no news of late, to celebrate 20 years since I began guitar making, I started the year with a holiday! I've taken much of the last month off - I've been to India. Had a fantastic time once I got used to the place, and I even came back with a slight sun tan - unheard of!
Most of the time was in the lovely city of Mysore, a few hours south of Bangalore (where there are some excellent timber dealers) and me time was spent doing very little, not a pastime I am naturally good at, but I became rather good at it by the end of the trip.
But I'm back now, and itching to get cracking, I had a load of ideas whilst away, and a good few orders, so things are off to a good start.
I will be spending a day or so a week on the 20th Anniversary Model , and an excellent local photographer is planning to document it's creation. Perhaps there will be a nice glossy NK Forster Guitars book out before long!
Stay tuned.....
Happy Christmas!
Tue, 18 Dec 2007Hope you all have a great time over the festive season. 2007 has been a good year here at NK Forster Guitars HQ, and I'm looking foreward to the new year - plenty of orders, and plenty of ideas. Can't be bad.
I've been very happy with how the work has progressed this year with a few important changes having been made to the soundboards, and this years crop of owners seem very happy too. Here are a few quotes:
I'm emailing in from Cloud Nine. The guitar is just a dream to play, and sounds wonderful. I'm full of admiration for your skill and talent.
Russ Clare
Doune, Scotland, Model F
The guitar arrived tonight, safe and sound. I would have written sooner, but it is too hard to type and play guitar at the same time.
The guitar is fantastic! It plays and sounds like a dream. Very balanced, clear and smooth. I love the profile of the neck and the action is perfect. It is also very comfortable to play. It's funny, but my other guitar almost feels clunky after holding the Forster.
Aesthetically, she is a thing of beauty. The rosewood and spruce are top notch quality.
Anyway, thank you again for such a wonderful instrument. I think I may need to order a Model C next.
Regards,
Emmett Wood
NJ
USA, Model B
Your bass response is so fantastic I'm having to retrain my "Martin" thumb to push the notes off the E string rather than "thump" it. I just adore the tone. The bass notes develop out away from the guitar. That is exactly what I was hoping for. The look is really pleasing as well,,beautiful lines..great combinations of wood color tones..standing ovation from Texas my man.
Kevin Mabus
Dallas TX
USA, Model C
Dear Nigel ,
Reproductive photography on any internet site, nor any camera could mimick the true beauty of what you just sent me ! I'm truly chuffed 2 bits !
When I de-bubble wrapped , and opened the case I swear I nearly keeled over !!
Words fail me .
D. Brown
Hong Kong, Model C
Many thanks for a tremendous guitar. fabulous. so clean and well articulated. balanced all over, and you can dig in right back at the bridge and get some good cut or get juicy bell tones up near the neck. the body is light, and the neck is really good. i don't know what you've done, it must be where it's placed in the body and the shape of the neck itself.....it promotes good posture and proper left hand placement. the guitar likes it good technique and clean fingering.
There's no superfluity with your model c. Everything makes sense.
Sean Parker
NSW Australia, Model C
See you all in 2008!
Model C review
Mon, 10 Dec 2007There is another good review up on Harmony Central, this time from the chap who bought a used Indian Model C from DreamGuitars. He seems rather stuck with his guitar which is nice. What may interest some of you is how it compares with his Sobell Model 1. Many of you ask about differences and similarities , this may help answer some of your questions.
More Spruce !
Sun, 2 Dec 2007Was in Germany last week spending me money on yet more Spruce. Came back with some FANTASTIC stuff, German, Swiss, French (first time I've seen French Spruce - very nice too) Italian, and some really good tight Carpathian. The cream of the crop is a batch of 1930's German Spruce which came from a retired German Classical builder. Let me say that again - 1930's German Spruce. I think it should be pretty dry by now!
It did cost a fortune but it's worth it - but my supplies of it are limited as you can imagine so I think I'll be using it on my new Anniversary Model
It will be 20 years since I started building guitars for a living in January 2008, and to celebrate I'm going to make one guitar next year with this old German Spruce and my best Rio. It will be a new body shape, a 14 fret version of my popular Model B . Can't say exactly when the Anniversary Model will appear as I have quite a few orders to be getting on with, but don't worry, I shall keep you all informed.
Model C at DreamGuitars
Thu, 1 Nov 2007Paul and Joe of DREAMGUITARS over in Weaverville NC have the experimental Model C for sale that some of you spotted in my recent Gareth Pearson and Ian Stephenson YouTube clips. It is a superb guitar and if any of you want this design it is available at no extra charge. It works rather like a soundport giving the player more bass. Have a listen to Al Pettiway's soundsample - he said it was a dream to record.
More stuff on YouTube!
Fri, 26 Oct 2007The short films I've made of guitar making have been well received so I've just posted two more. These ones are about the fiddly process of fitting a rosette. If you enjoy them, send in your comments and tell your friends!
More to come...
New articles on Blog
Tue, 23 Oct 2007Have just posted a couple of "work in progress" pieces on the Blog. One about a pretty Indian Model B soundported cutaway, the other about an equally bonny Rio Adjustable neck Model F. Soundsamples coming soon...
Back to normal
Thu, 18 Oct 2007Me computer has been fixed, but I have probably lost a lot of emails so get back in touch if you have had no reply from me.
Email trouble
Mon, 15 Oct 2007Can't get my business email to work just now so aplogies if you have written to me - I don't seem to be getting any mail at all - not even spam! Shall get someone to fix it soon I hope. In the meantime, you can get me on:
nigelkforster@btinternet.com
Had a great time in America, Asheville is as wierd as ever and Nashville was fantastic - the International Bluegrass festival was on in the hotel I was stopping in and it was just amazing - the new crop of players are taking the music to new heights. Think I may go back next year and take a guitar or two. Austin was knockout - what a city - music, comedy, poetry, dance, drama - every type of art you can think of, every night. Met some great people out there including one of my customers in Dallas who has some great old vintage Martins. Thanks for treating me so nice Kevin and Mel!
It was me second time in the States and I'm getting to really like it...
Another new Model!
Tue, 4 Sep 2007I've developed the old idea of Austrian luthier Stuaffer (the chap who taught a certain CF Martin in the 1800's)- a neck attacked by pivots and bolts that allows you to take the neck on and off with ease.
The guitar comes apart and fits in a case that is small enough to carry on as hand luggage. Clever eh? Not only that the guitar will be fitted with the Fishman Aura - in my opinion THE best pickup on the market today. Click here to see images of the prototype. The Spruce and Rosewood verion is coming soon.
Just imaging - no more touring with that thing you picked up for a couple of hundred, and leaving the guitar that inspires you in the house - now you'll be inseperable!
Johnny Dickinson is going to do a little video for us, showing how it all goes together and then dazzling us all with some of his tasty slide playing.
Still havn't got a catchy name for it though so if any of you can think of something better than Model G...
Cheltenham Guitar Show News!
Fri, 31 Aug 2007It's going to be great- I have two demonstrators - Ian Stephenson - the chap who plays on all my excellent sound samples and Gareth Pearson - one of the finest fingerpickers on the planet will both be on the NK FORSTER GUITARS stand at the Cheltenham Acoustic guitar show on the 8/9th September. I won't have to do a thing - just sit back and relax! I might bring the video camera as there is bound to be some class playing from those two.
I'll bring along the Model F which has been recorded for the Fishman Aura system - it's knockout! Ian will probably bring his Model B, and the experimental Mahogany Overhead Model (you can take it apart and fit it in a little case)
Ian will be available to give 1 on 1 lessons to anyone who wants one (if you give him some money) He's a great teacher as well as a player, and if I'm feeling nice I may lend you one of my guitars for the lesson.
The show runs from about 10.30 till 5.00. in the Cheltenham town Hall. See you there!
Guitar Making in YouTube!
Mon, 27 Aug 2007What a miserable looking feller I am! But I 'm not really, it's just me face and me dead pan delivery. Can't be helped. And I thought I was being all smiliey?..Anyhow, I've made a couple of short video's with me bending some linings and some sides. Hope they are of interest to you. More soon...
Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar Show
Sat, 11 Aug 2007Forgot to tell you all, I'm coming down to exhibit a few instruments at the Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar Show on September the 8th and 9th. Have no clue what instruments I'll have as the cupboards are bare. Hopefully some of you will lend me your guitars back!
Fishman Aura Samples Part 1
Sun, 5 Aug 2007I have never liked ANY systems for amplifying acoustic guitars. They ALL sound awful and many undersaddle pickups harm the acoustic sound. Most soundhole pickups are unbalanced, and whilst the sound can be ok, it is always the sound of the pickup and never the sound of the guitar.
Here is a video of Ian trying the Aura out with his Rio Model B cutaway.
Fishman brought out a thing called the Aura a couple of years back,. It uses sound modelling a bit like the Variaxe.
I fitted a Highlander into an Indian Model F. Next step was to send the guitar to Fishman to record the guitar at their custom shop. They recorded with several good mikes - Neumann U87, Neumann KM84, and a few others and recorded them with different positions. The signal from the pickup was also recorded. Then some clever jiggery pokery went on that produced some files which I downloaded into my floor mounted Fishman Aura unit. The files reproduce the sound of the microphone recordings using the pickup as a trigger.
Fishman sent me the Model F back and last week Ian Stephenson and I started playing about with it.