Newsletter October 2004
 I
have been receiving good feedback from the new Hicks 12 fret cutaway steel
string guitar. I designed this model out of a personal need for a steel
string guitar with classical properties and that such a guitar would help
ease the mental and physical transitions in performance when switching between
nylon string classical and steel string. I feel the resulting design fulfills
this need quite well and is a good instrument in its own right. It's a comfortable
instrument to hold, either in classical position, or standing using a strap,
or on the right leg, folk
style. This guitar has the body shape of a classical from the Spanish tradition.
The neck joins the body at the 12th fret whilst the addition of a cutaway
helps restore up the neck access for those of us used to 14 frets clear
of the body. I personally have the fingerboard and string spacing at the
bridge a little wider than the average steel string. Starting price is 1400
pounds (approx, $2450 USA for an instrument in Rosewood and Spruce. Various
custom options are available.
 
At present my waiting list is 9 months. My own instrument has Bolivian
Rosewood (Pau Ferro) back and sides plus an Engelman Spruce top. I am pleased
to report that I am now able to accept more repair work. My repair service
covers acoustic guitars and violin family instruments. I also undertake
bow rehairing.
Folks at gigs have been asking me what pickups I use in acoustic guitar?
I use a pickup plus an external microphone. The pickup is an L.R Baggs `I'
Beam Active system. This is a transducer type pickup that adheres to the
underside of the bridge plate inside the guitar. Its pre amp is built into
the strap/jack unit and a 9v battery power supply is housed in a little
Velcro backed battery bag which clings to the inner face of the top block.
The microphone is a Sure 16A. Condenser. I like to have the volume levels
close to equal between the pickup and the microphone. I occasionally do
shows just using the pickup and can get a pretty good sound from that alone.
I always go directly into the PA system.
The G7 capo (www.g7th.com) is a `must have' if you ask me. Nick Campling,
the designer showed me a prototype last year and I was very impressed.
For U.K supply go to www.sheehans.com For USA supply go to www.jpstrings.com.
This last site leads me neatly into, what strings do I use? I stick with
John Pearse 80/20 light gauge, set #200L. I use John Pearse phosphor bronze
and silk, medium gauge, set #610LM also. I really like these strings for
an alternative feel and sound and their great if you want to play things
like Barrios on steel string guitar. I use them permanently on one guitar.
In terms of technique, I flit between folk/blues and classical techniques
depending on the repertoire, the style or the instrument. I use a fairly
classical technique on steel string at times and I employ fairly well cultivated
fingernails, in performance usually reinforced with silk wraps hardened
with superglue. I keep the nails fairly short, just protruding over the
finger and strive to use a high wrist arch. On traditional steel string
finger style technique by that, I mean a technique that is thumb based I
use a flatter wrist arid post the little finger on the soundboard. I'm a
firm advocate of `posting the little finger for thumb based, or even modified
thumb based finger style. I'll also use a thumb pick for damped bass stuff
like Merle Travis tunes and I find the thumb pick helpful for volume if
I'm playing backup finger style. The brand of thumb pick is Zookies.
Gigs over the last year have been great fun. Peter Wesse and me had
a successful time for K. Yairi Guitars at the Acoustic Avalon Guitar Show,
Oadby Racecourse Leicester UK in November 2003. We hope to see you all
there again this year on 20f and 21st November and I have recently taken
possession of the new K.Yairi/ Hicks Signature model, which I will be
performing with at the show. I had wonderful gigs with Jonathan Byrd and
can report that Jonathan is set to return to UK from his native North
Carolina this December.
Thanks for logging on,
Steve.
or by snail mail
62 Beechfield Ave, Birstall,
Leicester LE4 4DA
UK
Steve Hicks the Luthier :
Maker of early and modern fretted instruments.
Music. Albums,
Gigs etc.
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