Nick Pyall's Friends

Nick Pyall's Page

About me:: Guitar maker specialising in copies of 19th-century-Viennese guitars and kontragitarres, and North American guitars.
Currently funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (GB) for a PhD re: the influence of 19th-century-Viennese guitar making on North America.

At 18:55 on November 13, 2009, Stanley Alexandrowicz said…: Hello Nick,
Good to hear back from you! I am glad to hear you know Gary - Yes, definitely a Gent! I LOVE the A-Series he made for me—it is half 19th C. Viennese guitar and half Gary's 21st C. innovations! The Scherzer he is now making (and almost completed! can't wait!) is adapted with a cutaway based on the personal instrument of the great virtuoso Johann Dubez (he often used the upper fingerboard in his compositions). (See:
http://www.earlyromanticguitar.com/erg/pics/Dubez-gtr_f.jpg ) I asked Gary to make this modification. Do you know anything about Padovec's 10-string guitar? He was supposed to have a device that could change the pitch of the 4 open bass strings. I believe the guitar still exists in a museum in Croatia (I have been unable to find out any more...)
The Martin 10-string really caught my eye when I looked a bit through Early Guitars and Vihuela site here! (lovely work! my compliments!) I contacted Dick Boak (Martin Historical Division - you must know him?) about that guitar (I live about 1 1/2 hours away from the Martin Company). He said "We don't even HAVE one like it!" I had wanted to see if Martin sponsor some historical concerts where I could play that guitar (or a reproduction). Happy to see you made one!
My Best - keep in touch! Stanley

At 22:53 on November 12, 2009, Nick Pyall said…: Hello Stanley,
Thank you for your encouraging comments! I do know Gary. He has been really helpful...discussing with me the 'Stauffer School' when I started the research as an Undergrad dissertation. He mentioned he was about to make a Scherzer 10-string when again I talked to him about some constructional approaches to the Scherzer I made. A gent- I shall give him a call. The PhD as a thesis I have only just started, but in actuality is a continuation of the research I've been doing fora couple of years or so. I shall keep you posted! The Martin is a sweet sounding thing- not as loud as the Scherzer (its obviously not as big), but very warm with clear trebles. Its opening up nicely! Its very good to meet you through the ether and to be invited in to Early Guitars and Vihuela! Best wishes, Nick

At 21:34 on November 12, 2009, Stanley Alexandrowicz said…: Hi Nick,

Nice to see your lovely guitars on your website! GLAD to see someone making a copy of the rare Martin 10-string! (I'd love to hear what it sounds like!). Your PhD thesis sounds of great interest to me - has it been completed yet? (I'd love to read it!). Do you know Gary Southwell? He's currently building a 10-string Scherzer for me! (so I understand your aesthetic). With Best Regards! Stanley
Stanley Alexandrowicz
(D.M.A. Manhattan School of Music)

General Website: http://stanleyalexandrowicz.com/

19th Century Romantic Guitar website: http://19thcenturyvirtuosoromanticguitar.com/

Российский Вебсайт: http://www.abc-guitars.com/pages/alexandrowicz.htm

Welcome to
Early Guitars and Vihuela

Sign Up
or Sign In