Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote:
Do they appeal to alternate tuning types or do guys who play solo a lot just use lots of alternate tunings?
Impossible to say without polling everyone. I've always found that really stiff laminated necks work best for extended range instruments and altered tunings - especially where you already have a low action and downtune a lot.
IMO you need the longer scale too - 25.5 inches (I think the same as a Strat) is often used by the alternate tuning merchants.
Though when I saw Martin Carthy the guitar he used for most of the show was a Martin 000-18 which is the Les Paul (shorter) scale length. His 6th is tuned down to C and his 1st down to A (!). It sounds fabulous, but he was retuning after every song even though, it's fair to assume, that guitar is set up for that tuning. Dunno what gauge strings he uses, but certainly the 3rd is wound.
Lowdens are all 25.5 inches.
To my ears the cedar has a very fast attack and a slightly less complex tone than spruce - like there's a stronger fundamental and less overtones. I can see the attraction because you get great separation between the strings as well.
