Sobell cittern at Music Emporium
Hey CBOM pals -
First, the disclaimer... NFI... just a mando-tasting report
I happened to be in Boston last weekend, and made a trip into Music Emporium expressly for the purpose of playing the Sobell Cittern (cocobolo... the one that is posted in the classifieds). I've been considering whether I might like to add a 5 course instrument to my collection, and figured I might as well try a really good one.
The Sobell did not disappoint. First of all, it is drop-dead gorgeous and in excellent condition, especially considering it is 30 years old. The workmanship is impeccable. The herringbone purfling is beautiful. And the neck joint is damn near invisible... really, I was LOOKING and could barely see how it all fit together. The sound was also exceptional... very balanced across the courses and up the neck, hard strumming didn't overdrive it, and delicate picking still rang true. Playability was good in terms of action - I struggled a bit with the scale and wider neck, but I think these were my limitations, not those of the instrument. It was more headstock-heavy than I am accustomed to, but again, that is endemic to the instrument's need for 10 tuners.
Anyway... I just couldn't find anything remotely wrong with it. It's one of those "if I win the lottery" instruments for me, as the price tag is well beyond my means at this time. But I just thought I'd share the experience here. I've played a couple of other Sobell's (om's) which were also great, but not quite as headstock-and-shoulders above the rest as this one is, in my opinion.
KE
ps. I also played some excellent guitars, and if anyone out there wants to support my newly acquired dream of purchasing the Santa Cruz Janis Ian model they have there, I wouldn't object. *(-;
Karen Escovitz
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Otter OM #1
Brian Dean OM #32
Old Wave Mandola #372
Phoenix Neoclassical #256
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If you're gonna walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!
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