Ragmakamtar 6 is making music already. For those who had a peak at version 5 you will see that 6 is a refinement on 5's concept. Version6 is now
strung up except for the sympathetic strings. So far all is going well and sounding very good - the voicing process is almost finished. I only had to
adjust the bracing once, and remove the fingerboards to adjust the neck angles about 4 times.
I am just now playing it in, and will post some test drive vids in the next days. I will take my time before adding the sym strings and varnishing...
those things can be done anytime --- so I want to make sure no more major surgury will be required before i begin varnishing. . . . .Sazi - 11-11-2009 at 12:38 AM
Looking good! Is it totally acoustic or does it have pick-ups?Edward Powell - 11-11-2009 at 01:04 AM
it is totally acoustic - but I put a KK system inside (mic and piezos)fernandraynaud - 11-11-2009 at 03:39 AM
I must say I'm impressed with how you've taken that development step after step, and how that not entirely pretty hunchback camel is turning into
something you might take home to mother after all! Edward Powell - 11-11-2009 at 03:43 AM
ha ha! I guess you are refering to the last version
funny because with these last two instruments - the visual aspect was NOT even a consideration because I am tired of spending so much energy building
beautiful instruments that either don't sound the way I want - or are too awkward to play..... but at the end, I am starting to think that a weird
appearance can even be an advantage at least in that I might turn a few heads
...but the main thing is that this one is finally sounding the way I want, and is very comfortable to play --- test clips coming soon...Luttgutt - 11-11-2009 at 05:33 AM
WoW!
Please post a video! I would love to SEE it beeing playd, not just listen :-)Edward Powell - 11-12-2009 at 09:40 AM
here are some fav fotos from the building process.
more fotos and clips upcoming.
Edward Powell - 11-16-2009 at 11:46 AM
-katakofka - 11-18-2009 at 08:14 AM
Ed:
having experienced fixed and floating bridges on your instrument do you find a better sound quality with the floating bridge as compared to the fixed?
or the opposite?MatthewW - 11-18-2009 at 08:18 AM
hey Edward- how's it going bro? like how much does this Ragmakamtar weigh? Edward Powell - 11-18-2009 at 09:24 AM
Ed:
having experienced fixed and floating bridges on your instrument do you find a better sound quality with the floating bridge as compared to the fixed?
or the opposite?
i think it is a matter of individual taste...
I think fixed bridges are safer, and more reliable - better for a beginner maker. The floaters are much more sensative and easier to get sounding
bad.
but what I just now realised with the floating bridge is that in fact you can tailor the sound to a HUGE degree with a floating bridge. Alioud was
saying various things about how to adjust the tone by altering the floating bridge... and now experimenting with this I find that the possible changes
you can manifest are not subtle at all -- for example, if you make a VERY wide bridge, then the bass increases like crazy!!!Edward Powell - 11-18-2009 at 09:30 AM
hey Edward- how's it going bro? like how much does this Ragmakamtar weigh?
it is pretty heavy... previously i had a lot of problems with NECK-HEAVINESS with other versions... so this time I made the body heavy on purpose,
and the necks as light as possible - - - now it is much more managable.
yesterday i decided to try a sitar bridge on the sarod side, and the bog fat heavy sitar bridge caused the BASS to increase enormously! also the
sitar buzzing greatly loosened up the whole sound and feel - - - but too much sitar buzz sounds tooooo cheap. So today I made a tiny - mini sitar
bridge and put it on the sarod side and tweeked it for just a little bit of buzz. I am really happy with the sound --- so much so that I decided that
the voicing process is now complete and I now have the instrument back in the dusty room for final sanding decorating and varnishing...
I made this final test clips (now uploading to http://www.youtube.com/4128w10 ) ---this clips sounds TOO bright because I was testing out also the electronics and it is going thru an amp - -
- too much treble.
