(the following question comes from @jennjones172):
"Who drives the design and ideas for your custom work? For example, the bog oak fingerboard and amber fret on Rubin's acoustic, or the engravings on JJ's resonator. Is that all a production of Pete's imagination or a collaboration with the guitarist? It seems so personal and yet wildly creative."
"Who drives the design and ideas for your custom work? For example, the bog oak fingerboard and amber fret on Rubin's acoustic, or the engravings on JJ's resonator. Is that all a production of Pete's imagination or a collaboration with the guitarist? It seems so personal and yet wildly creative."
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I love the 'personal and yet wildly creative', can I use that?! Well they say that lefties like me are inherently creative and artistic..................perhaps also because I'm not a trained luthier or cabinet-maker I'm subconsciously not constrained by pre-conceptions of what a guitar should look like, or be made of. I've not 'reinvented the wheel' with the Marrakech, I've brought an engineering perspective into play. And you've hit the nail on the head – it's personal. As I've said I want to create the vintage aura and so I love to pick out some unusual woods to create something of quality and beauty that I like – and then just wait for inspiration. For example, I bought the amber when I was just looking around for a gift for someone, and recently at an antiques fair I bought some beautiful vintage Japanese ivory games counters that maybe I'll build in one day. |
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Kaleo's first public performance with this custom resonator was on French TV. You mentioned before that it "already sounded different" to you -- what did you mean by that? What are you listening for? I've had great on-line comments about the new resonator that I've come to call the 'Runes'. Well firstly I could discern the different resonance that the gold-plating over brass influenced, and of course the sound holes design is different. All my resonators have a generic sound, yet each has its own 'note'. And sometimes it just all comes together in harmony – I think the Runes has that perfect storm. |
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(also from @jennjones172):
"Do Pete's unique touches affect the normal tonal development of guitar's sound over time? He's mentioned the development of the tone but I am curious if his methods/custom touches give his guitars a unique tone development."
"Do Pete's unique touches affect the normal tonal development of guitar's sound over time? He's mentioned the development of the tone but I am curious if his methods/custom touches give his guitars a unique tone development."
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I've already said how I expected the unique cover plate on the Runes resonator to influence the sound, with the material being brass and the shaping and placement of the sound holes. The answer is a firm YES. While there are traditional 'tone woods', as I've explained, I like to mix it up a bit and use something more exotic that brings a different flavour to the sound. And the more a guitar is played it 'warms up' and the tonal qualities develop.
Grain structure and density of wood play a big part, so to a degree I've learned to anticipate the outcome, but when designing and building an instrument you can never know for sure how it will sound until it is completed. It's not predictable, and that intrigues me and makes it fun. The commission for Kaleo was just that; I hugely enjoyed the whole design and build process for the Marrakech Runes and more than that, did what I wanted – produced a unique instrument for JJ and brought a smile to his face. Now I'm looking forward to hearing him play it. |
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What is your favorite Kaleo song to date?
I'd have to say the tracks recorded with my resonator! Joking apart, I really like " I Can't Go on Without You", which does feature JJ's Marrakech #16, and "Rock 'n' Roller" was stupendous live.
I'd have to say the tracks recorded with my resonator! Joking apart, I really like " I Can't Go on Without You", which does feature JJ's Marrakech #16, and "Rock 'n' Roller" was stupendous live.
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If Kaleo could cover any song, what would you want it to be?
Wow that's a really hard one. JJ talks about the influence of his Dad's vinyl collection, like Led Zeppelin, and mine is probably the same – same era! |
(as you can see.......)
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So I've picked some lesser known tracks.
I couldn't narrow it down more than this:
Oh, and Heidi wants to mention her suggestions of:
Listen to the songs the Turners would want to hear Kaleo cover! ---> |
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Anyway thanks again for the forum to share the stories behind the Kaleo acoustic and Marrakech resonator guitars – maybe it will encourage someone to pick up a guitar and play. |
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You can see more of Pete's guitars at www.peteturnerguitars.com
or contact him by email You can also like Pete Turner Guitars on Facebook and follow him on Instagram |
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