What you do when off sick... Vintage VE2000GG video review

Well I am feeling better thankfully.  Still have an annoying cough from time to time but on the mend.  Soon back to work.  However now I'm not just lying on the sofa watching snooker or my DVD collection of Ewan McGregor's various motorcycle journey's I've been learning a couple of pieces and getting to enjoy my new Vintage Gordon Giltrap VE2000GG Deluxe.

The Deluxe edition of this model features like the cheaper model a shaped based on one of Gordon's most iconic custom guitars made by Rob Armstrong many moons ago and has a mahogany neck and a solid cedar top.  The difference lies in that this model has a solid rosewood back and laminate rosewood sides - the cheaper one is laminate back and sides in mahogany (don't scoff at laminate the original was laminate as Rob believes it adds strength without reducing tone!).  The fingerboard on this is a lovely piece of ebony, becoming rarer and rarer on guitars these days with the issues surrounding the reduction of ebony stocks.  The other major update is that the pickup is the Fishman Rare Earth Blend system - which is Gordon's go to pickup - most of his stage guitars feature this pickup.  Considering that the pickup as a retrofit item can set you back over £250 the whole package including the really nice Kinsman hard case being on the streets for only £629 is a bit of a bargain frankly.

Ok so - some people have commented in reviews that the neck is a bit "chunky" - I don't find that to be so, it is wider and a bit more D shaped than my Yamaha LL11 but those Yamaha's are noted for narrow necks.  I've not had a chance to use the pickup live yet but can't believe it'll be anything other than excellent - I'll report back after my first live use of this.

Anyway - I've been learning two pieces both in DADGAD tuning recently.  Gordon Giltrap's Isabella's Wedding - very apt to play on his signature guitar and David Mead's Unseen Sunlight which has the added fun of having a partial capo on the top five strings at the fifth fret so you have to play "over" the capo at times.  Here are two videos of this pieces played on the new guitar.




Comments

  1. The Unbearable Banishment9 May 2013 at 11:57

    Your illness came along right after you purchased a new guitar? That was no accident, I'm sure.

    Very nice playing. Nice, bright sound. Were those one-take sessions?

    I clicked over and listened to "On Camber Sands." Are all those guitars in the background yours?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Furtheron9 May 2013 at 16:02

      Guilty as charged with the new Giltrap I'm up to err 14 I think!

      Delete
    2. Furtheron9 May 2013 at 16:04

      Oh they took a few takes and I took the ones with least bum notes in them ;-)

      Delete
    3. The Unbearable Banishment10 May 2013 at 19:11

      I have one crappy Epiphone 12-string with only six strings on it. Hardly seems fair!

      Delete
    4. Gledwood10 May 2013 at 19:24

      Sorry I am commenting here when not strictly relevant. Computer browser thing won't provide a letterbox at the bottom of the screen. For some reason.##

      Anyway there is a terrible summer flu going round with laryngitis/terrible coughs so be careful.

      Hey you know I GAVE UP DRINKING some months ago. I had one bottle of that 4% piña colada for "Dutch courage" before seeing the dentist the other morning. And promptly remembered why I had given UP drinking for breakfast. All I felt was heavy-limbed and full of an indistinct malaise. Alcohol does nothing to improve my mood now. (Doesn't depress me either.) But I'm so glad to live WITHOUT IT!!

      Know what I mean...☺

      Delete
  2. Anonymous9 May 2013 at 20:55

    Awesome, Graham! Very nice - my three year old son and I just finished watching your videos together. It was very cool. :)

    Blessings,
    Paul

    ReplyDelete
  3. John Going Gently9 May 2013 at 22:41

    I am impressed and envious.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nic 10 May 2013 at 05:31

    I'm going to send these links to your employers. :P x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12 May 2013 at 14:22

    Absolutely beautiful! listened to both recordings as i went about making my Sunday coffee and relaxing... there is something about the open D tuning that is full and rich. haven't yet played with that on my new love, but it's in the cards!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Furtheron12 May 2013 at 19:29

      Thanks. Without a doubt DADGAD does suit this guitar open G is good too

      Delete
  6. Anonymous15 May 2013 at 15:43

    Very nice!! What a nice way to spend sick days. DADGAD sounds so sweet, we had a friend who used that quite a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unknown25 June 2013 at 11:10

    But you must tune the guitar better, it does not sound good. E

    ReplyDelete

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