Stephen Fearing's New Manzer Cowpoke

Canadian guitar virtuoso Stephen Fearing has played his original Manzer "Cowpoke" for the last three decades. I just returned from seeing him in concert, and is it very difficult to make any kind of distinction between his virtuosity and her instrument. I post this here because I believe after listening to them both speak on their particular areas of expertise, it permanently puts paid to those who want to deny the facts regarding acoustic instrument break in and evolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRFtUdX9L_o

Just saw Bruce Cockburn ... looks like Manzer has built him a charango!

Yes, good stuff. Stephen's quite a talker, I must say, but it was interesting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fretbear

Canadian guitar virtuoso Stephen Fearing has played his original Manzer "Cowpoke" for the last three decades. I just returned from seeing him in concert, and is it very difficult to make any kind of distinction between his virtuosity and her instrument. I post this here because I believe after listening to them both speak on their particular areas of expertise, it permanently puts paid to those who want to deny the facts regarding acoustic instrument break-in and evolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRFtUdX9L_o

---

Well, I disagree this puts nothing to rest in the breaking in argument. I believe instruments change over time but the sad truth our hearing observations are way less than perfect. Until someone can track this with data everyone will not believe it. I also think the break-in we perceive as players has as much to do with resonances we feel as much as hear. And still, I can not prove that. I can give my Martin to a dozen guitar players and have and everyone says wow that's a keeper, people on the outside listening may or may not believe that. I will say his commnets on enviromental changes certainly shows the impact on an instrument.