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Q: I want
to know what made you change from your Fernandez electric, to your
Fenders vintage Strats? What's the real difference between a vintage
and an actual Strat? Do you like Telecasters? - from George
A: The
main difference with the Fernandes and Fender Strats is in the sound.
Also, the Fender feels more natural to play. I also like Telecasters
and would like to get a good one some day.
Q: I am so
interested in what classical guitar you played in the album Shapes. I
like the pieces so much, may be I am a classical guitar player too.
Any info of your guitars that can share with me and what guitar you
love the best. - from Philip
A: The
guitar I used was (and still is) a Rodriguez, made in Cordoba, Spain
in 1986. I love it! It is the same guitar I used on 'Another Day in
Paradise' with Phil Collins and most of the albums I have recorded
with Sting.
Q: Just
wanted to know what your new red guitar is - I couldn't see what name
was on the headstock - is it a Hammer? Also wanted to know why you
play this guitar on 'Sacred Love', does this song require different
tuning? - from Drew
A: Yes
that was a Hammer, with knobs, especially the one playing it. I like
the hollow body sound for that song. I will be getting a Gretsch
soon!
Q: I saw
your video lesson on CD-ROM in the latest addition of Guitar
Techniques and was wondering what make the new guitar you were playing
was? It looks like a flamenco built guitar, is it? I love the sound it
makes through the amp; does it also play well acoustically? Are you
moving away from cedar tops to spruce for the added clarity that
spruce brings when playing with flesh? - from Paul
A: This is
a custom built guitar made in Japan by Kazafumi. It's the best nylon I
have had yet. It has a maple top and sides which I think makes for a
warm sound.
Q: I was
just wondering what version of Rodriguez guitar do you use, and what
one would you recommend to someone starting to play the classical
guitar? - from Demitri
A: The
Rodriguez I use is made in Cordoba, Spain. It is a 1986 and they only
make about ten a year. There is another Rodriguez make which isn't so
serious. The best guitars to start out with are Yamahas because they
are not too expensive but sound really good. Plus, they stay in tune
really well.
Q: I live
in Canada and I'm flying to Europe soon and I would like to bring my
classical guitar with me I was wondering if you have any tips? - from
Carlo
A:
Try to take the guitar in the cabin with you. If not, loosen the
strings before they take it away.
Q: I have
been hearing some rumours that when storing a guitar for a long period
of time that you should loosen the strings, I was wondering if this is
true or a load of rubbish. - from Carlo
A:
I think this is good advice. But the most important thing about
storage is the humidity level. If it's too dry or damp it will have an
affect on the neck, depending on what kind of guitar it is. Whenever I
check a guitar on to a plane (check in luggage) I always loosen the
strings because they don't have any heating down there and the
temperatures can go below zero.
Q: I am
very curious about the nut width on your nylon string guitars. From
what I have observed, a true classical has a 2" nut, while some modern
variations have a 1 7/8" nut (i.e. Godin's). I looked at the
specifications on the Guild Paloma and it appears to have a 1 11/16"
nut, about the same as a Standard American Strat. If the Paloma indeed
does have a 1 11/16" nut, doesn't that cramp your finger space when
finger picking making it difficult to do some of the manoeuvres a
wider nut allows, especially with nylon?
Also, it appears that the classical you play most (not the Paloma) in
your videos has a nut less than 2". Just curious on what nut width you
prefer -or- do you just find it easy to adapt to different widths? -
from Daniel
A:
I have never taken this subject seriously. Maybe that's because I have
always been happy with the nut widths. I have always been able to
adapt to these varying widths as I have with varying scales (the one I
am using now is a parlour size guitar). I played a baritone guitar
recently and had no problem with it. I do have a P-Project nylon which
has a small nut width which is noticeable. It can indeed be hard to
articulate some of the trickier classical tunes, but it sounds so good
it's worth it. I thought the Paloma was more like a real classical or
at least it feels that way to me. My Rodriguez probably has the
maximum width and I like it. Easier to articulate but sometimes harder
to make the stretches. I shall now take more notice.
Q: I was
wondering what intonation means. - from Carlo
A:
Intonation is when the string is perfectly lined up with the frets. If
the intonation is out you will find yourself more and more out of tune
the further up the neck. For a singer it means singing in tune. For a
violinist or cellist (or any instrument without frets) it means
playing perfectly in tune. There are two reasons why the intonation on
a guitar can go out. One is the bridge position might have moved as
little as a tenth of a millimeter. The other is that the string(s)
might be faulty.
Q: I saw
you the other night at Jones' Beach here in NY with Sting and was
wondering what guitar strap you guys were using. It looked incredibly
comfortable. - from Joe
A: I have
never been asked this one. I use Fender straps and yes they are
comfortable, somehow making the guitar feel lighter.
Q: As you
play a vintage Strat I was wondering if you have your guitar fretted
with the thin fretwire as originally fitted to this instrument, or do
you go for the larger fretwire as fitted modern guitars. - from Steve
A: Thank
you very much Steve. The frets are the original thinner type. I find
the larger (flat) ones work best on a Les Paul which I have (Deluxe
74).
Q: I want
to know what kind and gauge of plectra do you use and if you have long
nail or use finger to play? - from Marco
A: I use
Herco (nylon) heavy gauge plectrums. I don't use nails when I play
Spanish guitar. I prefer the flesh sound.
Q: I know
that Sting is a big fan of the Roland VG8 guitar synth. Do you ever
mess around with it? - from Michael
A: I think
the VG8 is an interesting concept but I am a purist in that sense. I
would rather try and get the sound organically. I can always tell the
difference.
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