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| An Idea is Born... Use your imagination (Shimo did!). Imagine that the center guitar neck is the profile of a human face--and the other necks and headstocks are the arms and hands reaching skyward... Here are some letters to Richard from Shimo regarding different aspects of this Harp Guitar named 'MOS' |
************************************************************************ Hello Richard, The inspiration of harp guitar came to me at hotel room in St. Louis in 2000. Yes of course, it was I visited there for joining to your The Great Midwest Guitar Show. In 2000, it was very special year for me. I exhibited ASIA symposium in Nashville. I met you and many luthiers there. And then I joined The Great Midwest Guitar Show. Both experiences were so exciting for me. Though you might not remember, (of course it is OK) I said "The new instrument came to me last night, Richard!" in the van from hotel to Sheldon Concert Hall one morning. There were Linda, Ervin and Boaz...in van. Maybe I got many stimulus at the previous day. And I drew the image of harp guitar on note pat that given by International Violin Company, Ltd. in the hotel room. The image was human was expanding both hands toward the sky. I drew many images. One month later I drew a little change images on scrap book. The face was changed from 'front face' to 'side face' (from 12 string to 6 string). And one arm become short for shorter scale. I drew many images on scrap book, too. In the beginning of 2004, I was thinking about the instruments for the guitar show in October. And I felt I had to make that harp guitar I drew that time. As thought, the harp guitar monopolized the topic of the hall and the press. Please let me write a little more about this harp guitar in next letter. Best Regards, Shimo************************************************************************ Hello Richard, For top I used German Spruce for cello top. For guitar wood's length is insufficient. As you know, the cello wood is wedge shape for being arched. So I sliced for flat top. Top is almost two piece, only one inch is added at both ends of the widest part. And these pieces come from same blank. I am not sure about age, but I think it is very old. The Honduran Mahogany for necks I bought from the custom design furniture maker in Hawaii. It was very rare and nice blank hard to find at market for musical instrument maker. For back I used five pieces Brazilian Rosewood for side were enough thickness for back. I made an effort matching for natural look. For side I used two book match sets from one blank. Those Brazilian Rosewood have stocked 21 years in my place, and plus 10 or more were imported to Japan. Of course this harp guitar has the story I would like to tell you, but please let me write tomorrow. Best wishes, Shimo On 2005/01/11, at 18:22, Takahiro Shimo wrote: Hello Richard, The top brace pattern is a kind of fan brace. Three braces that intersect with grain are five piece(spruce/carbon/spruce/carbon/spruce). Some of fan braces have been postponed to the end of both arms. So, the vibration is transmitted to there. As you can see the bridge is one piece Brazilian Rosewood. So, all of strings share the vibration more. And the special mention is about the extra bridge of shorter arm (treble side). It give us 14 tunes from 7 strings. And we can put any where, it means we can choose any tunes. Gotoh hight adjust machine heads will help to adjust the tension of each string. I put the carbon rod on all three headstocks for strength. I hope you love this harp guitar. Best Regards, Shimo ************************************************************************ On 2004/11/24, at 6:52, Takahiro Shimo wrote: Hello Richard, Well I think this instrument hides the infinite possibility. The player will choose gage and tuning for a performance style and key of tune. In the guitar show I set up like this,,, Bass side (from left to right) .100 D .100 E .080 G .080 A .065 C Guitar neck (Open G) .053 D .042 G .032 D .024 G .016 B .012 D Treble side (from left to right) .013 A .012 B .011 C .010 D .009 E .008 F# .007 G I put the extra bridge at one third from nut on treble side. So it covered two octaves I would like to you to see and play this guitar early. Best Regards, Shimo ************************************************************************ On 2004/11/24, at 9:15, Takahiro Shimo wrote: Hello Richard, I used D'Addario Coated Phosphor Bronze. Coated string is good for such a guitar show, it is long life. EXPPBB170 set for Bass side. EXP16 set for Guitar neck. Plain Single Strings for Treble side. I got those from First Quality Music. I still have more single strings, but EXPPBB170 is hard to get here. I will use Adamas Phosphor Bronze String when I send you. I am not sure what material is best. Someone likes Bronze string. One player said Nickel String might be nice for Bass side. Best, Shimo ************************************************************************ On 2004/12/26, at 7:31, Takahiro Shimo wrote: Hello Richard, I hope your family had peaceful times in this holiday season. I sent a harp guitar today by UPS. I stringed these gages... Bass side (from left to right) .100 G .080 A .080 B .060 C .060 D Guitar neck .053 E .042 A .032 D .024 G .016 B .012 E Treble side (from left to right) .017 F ( E?) .016 F# Martin Gold String .015 G .014 A .012 B Martin Gold String .011 C .010 D |
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