La Patrie Guitars specificaly the Motif model and washburn rover travel guitars

Keira-WitherKay

hello all , in my wierd and wonderful taste of acoustic nylon string guitars , i have via my research on the net come across an instresting instrument ...well to me anyway ... made by a canadian company La Patrie who i believe are somehow linked to Godin but not sure on that info.... but they make a guitar that caught my interest ... which is a nylon string with full size neck but a 3/4 size body basically a parlour guiat kinda thing... but the reviews i read are all incredible and through the roof with praise.... and the make an acoustic model and one with electronics...and priced quite reasonably..... cheapest i saw on a site was $350 and up to about $500 for the electronics version.... but price is never the issue...it's about if the guitar will suit my needs.... and this kinda instrument definitely pricks my interest.....

and no way in hell no matter how well the reviews look will i just order an instrument from the factory (which is possible) or from online store in canada/states where they freely available.....so does anyone know who if anyone imports them..... and where can i see one...and get my paws around the neck....or even if someone owns one.... or will it take a detour to canada next time i'm travelling????...

anyone know anything about these guitars and this company.....

oh i know all the specs ect ....and read the official website ...

second part ..... is Wasburn make a travel guitar a real cheapie.... but interesing.... again a fullscale neck on a travel size body .... but i am interested in the NYLON version and they do make it and again freely available from places like zz sounds and other internet stores. i was hoping someone in SA would import them or carry stock..... again interesting design as it has a full scale neck and even a solid spruce top.... on a minute body .... and comes in a case that apparantly can fit in airline overhead compartments...designed especially for travel.... and i have read some players have fitted pickups to them and have been more than happy with the amplified tone.... so very interesting ...

again any idea's ( i believe from my music store guy the steel string is available in this country ) but hey i'm putting it out there....

peace and light
Keira WitherKay

AlanRatcliffe

Yeah, Godin owns La Patrie (also Richmond, Seagull, Art & Lutherie, Simon & Patrick and Norman - they are fast becoming a Canadian powerhouse of guitars). La Patrie are their acoustic nylon-string models, while the Godin brand has their electric nylons.

I've never played any, but have heard lots of good things. They don't list a local distributor, but you can enquire with Macci Pro Audio in Randburg. 011-704-1124, shopATmacciDOTcoDOTza

I'm not sure who is doing Washburn these days - I haven't been impressed by anything they've made in a long time, so haven't bothered. Have you looked at the Yamaha silent guitars? They are pretty good (if you can do without a body).

Someone was making travel guitars locally - he contacted me a while ago about finding electronics for them. Can't remember who right now, but I'll chase it up.

AlanRatcliffe

Murray Kuun is the luthier in question: http://www.murraykuun.com/ 082 560-2432, murrayATdesignsunlimitedDOTcoDOTza

Keira-WitherKay

thanks yet again for the info Alan....

and in answer to your question re Yamaha nah i could never use a silent guitar ...i use the guitar body for percussion while i play the parts...lol don't ask to explain how i do it but it works for me... so i could never play on a solid body acoustic or a silent guitar .... but a travel /parlour guitar would be fab as there's enough body on em....

thanks again for a great site

Peace and light
Keira

AlanRatcliffe

Well, I do the percussive stuff on an electric, so it's possible. With piezos you can concentrate more on hitting the strings, fingerboard and bridge to get a variety of percussive sounds. I also have magnetic pickups, so I'm often whacking the strings into the neck pickup for a hefty kick drum type thud.

Keira-WitherKay

hey Alan ... from your reply I do the percussive stuff on an electric, so it's possible
yes i know it is to a degree but not to the extent i use it

well you have not seen me perform yet.... but next time you in jhb come pop in...and see what i mean about using the guitar percussively..... heheheh i have developed a technique where i place a brush between the fingers of my picking hand and have developed a style where i can pick the basslines/chords/melody or solo and still support myself with percussive parts ... too tricky to explain and the video's i have up does not even show that successfully since in the more percussiove ones i play with a drummer so no need to do it .... but yeah and i also do the flamenco style percussion playing like Gabriele from Rodriygo y gabriele does ....

so yeah .......... the simplest explanation i need the body of the guitar to be a djembe for me ...i have a studio grade mic retro mounted inside the body with a separate output jack and keep my guitar very active .... so it is very responsive .

what can i say i'm a wierd acoustic nutter .... always finding extra sounds and ways to create them....
( i even discovered if you whip the strings off and lay the guitar on it's back it makes a very attractive pot plant holder too ... )

chat soon

peace and light
Keira WitherKay

AlanRatcliffe

well you have not seen me perform yet...

Wait... does YouTube count? ? I do get where you're coming from completely - aside from your jazz influence and my electric leanings we seem to share a lot of common ground. Your list of acoustic players was 90% familiar to me.

what can i say i'm a wierd acoustic nutter .... always finding extra sounds and ways to create them....

That's not limited to only acoustic nutters dear, we electric nutters have effects and some of us even have guitar synth leanings. ? Ever "prepare" your guitar like a John Cage piano?

Keira-WitherKay

hey alan great so i'm in the company of fellow guitar nutters heheheh fabulous....

unfortunately the solo stuff i have on you tube is slightly outa date and a year old.... except for that live footage with my band....and my solo shows now include a new percussive style i perfected in this year ...and includes so much more than then...i may be in my 40's but i'm growing as a musician by the day ...and my passion for acoustic guitar and how to use it to the max ...is my addiction ..... not drugs or drink but ......."HI MY NAME IS KEIRA AND I'M AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR ADDICT!" . and i truly love what i do

i'm old enough to have grown up exposed to monty python so that explains my odd ball humour in my posts ...

peace and light
Keira WitherKay