View Full Version : Labraid #81
joebrent
Oct-27-2012, 8:24am
Here's a few pics and a video of Brian Dean's new 10-string Grand Concert:
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MonicaJacobson
Oct-27-2012, 8:52am
That's stunning. The top looks like it's mahogany, slab-cut.. is it pressed?
Ooh Ahhh! She sounds as as beautiful as she looks!
joebrent
Oct-27-2012, 9:12am
The top is walnut, sides/false back are maple, and the true back is spruce. For more questions, you should ask Brian, he's at http://www.labraid.ca, some of the technical things go a bit over my head ;)
Schlegel
Oct-27-2012, 9:20am
I have to say I really admire Brian Dean's willingness to go unconventional 5 ways at once- and make it work!
DougC
Oct-27-2012, 10:07am
Brian is my kind of guy. He can make instruments like Chris Thile makes 64th notes. There are only a few builders on the planet at his level. And he can build any kind of mandolin, not just F and A models. I wonder if Chris has played one of these mandolins?
Pete Jenner
Oct-27-2012, 10:44am
It's always a joy to see and hear one of Brian's creations.
Joe, it sounds like you are using some reverb on the recording, possibly to recreate the sound of a concert auditorium.
If so then can we hear a sample without the reverb please. If not, then ...wow.
That is just so sweet... in sound and appearance!
What's the scale length? Doesn't sound floppy on the C?
Glassweb
Oct-27-2012, 11:15am
Very nice... and, of course, great playing!
wwwilkie
Oct-27-2012, 11:45am
Awesome! I'm going to go sharpen my chisels now.....
JEStanek
Oct-27-2012, 12:10pm
What an exquisite instrument and phenomenal voice. Brian is a real visionary.
Jamie
j. condino
Oct-27-2012, 12:10pm
Go Brian!!!!!
j.
www.condino.com
joebrent
Oct-27-2012, 1:53pm
That is just so sweet... in sound and appearance!
What's the scale length? Doesn't sound floppy on the C?
14.25", same as my 8-string. I'm going to put GHS Silk & Steel EADG on it with a D'addario mandola C, for a total gauge set of 011 016 026W 040W and 049W. The C isn't floppy at all, even with the lower action I requested.
Skip Kelley
Oct-27-2012, 2:47pm
That is pure art!!! Breathtaking!!
Josh Levine
Oct-27-2012, 5:49pm
Amazing work there.
14.25", same as my 8-string. I'm going to put GHS Silk & Steel EADG on it with a D'addario mandola C, for a total gauge set of 011 016 026W 040W and 049W. The C isn't floppy at all, even with the lower action I requested.
Count me impressed, that's a lighter gauge on the C than I use on a 17" scale mandola!
Whatever, it sure sounds great :)
Its one thing to think outside the box.
Its another to build it.
Very cool.
Jim Garber
Oct-29-2012, 9:32am
14.25", same as my 8-string. I'm going to put GHS Silk & Steel EADG on it with a D'addario mandola C, for a total gauge set of 011 016 026W 040W and 049W. The C isn't floppy at all, even with the lower action I requested.
Joe: What strings were on it for that video? Are those different from the ones you intend to use above?
Aside from the neck, did Brian expand the box in width and depth for the extra course?
billhay4
Oct-29-2012, 10:44am
Brian is, in my estimation, a genius of the highest order. He can completely re-imagine an instrument in totality, build what he has imagined, and make it both lovely and beautiful sounding.
There aren't many others who can build instruments at this level.
Bill
joebrent
Oct-30-2012, 9:22am
Joe: What strings were on it for that video? Are those different from the ones you intend to use above?
Aside from the neck, did Brian expand the box in width and depth for the extra course?
I don't know what strings are on it, but they're definitely not the GHS/D'ad combo I plan to use. I think she's essentially the same body shape and size as the 8-string, the major difference being (aside from the longer headstock, tailpiece, and bridge) the back, which isn't as segmented and doesn't have the sound pressure relief hole. Here are some pictures of the two of them for comparison: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joebrent/8130737688/in/set-72157631864359446
wildpikr
Oct-30-2012, 9:38am
Nice set of comparison photos.
Jake Wildwood
Oct-31-2012, 1:05pm
Pure performance machine. :)
Pete Jenner
Oct-31-2012, 1:34pm
I'd still like to know if you were using reverb.
joebrent
Nov-01-2012, 6:39am
I'd still like to know if you were using reverb.
Yes, there's a bit of verb on the audio in that recording. There's no EQ, however, the tone is as it comes -- or, as good as I could approximate it in my meager home studio.
joebrent
Nov-01-2012, 8:58am
Just tried the GHS and .49s, and sure enough, they're a bit flabby. Switching to D'Addario flat-tops, .11-.56.
Jim Garber
Nov-01-2012, 9:24am
What about D'Addario Flattop Mandola (http://www.juststrings.com/dad-ft76.html) set with a separate .011? I assume you prefer the flattops?
joebrent
Nov-01-2012, 8:46pm
I'd never used them until Brian sent this instrument to me with them on. I use GHS S&S for the 8-string and they sound wonderful and play well in tune -- for some reason on this instrument, they're flabby and the intonation instantly suffered. So I'm using exactly what Brian prescribes for this instrument. I find things tend to turn out ok when I do what Brian says ;)