Modal Tuning in Denver

[Trevor Gore]

As David Smith mentioned here (just in case David was wondering where his thread had gone), I’ve recently been in Parker, Colorado, just outside Denver, twice presenting the Modal Tuning Course, hosted by the legendary Robbie O’Brien.

We had, all up, 20 participants, a class of 9 and a class of 11 with numerous participants in the usual on-line luthier forums coming along. Robbie and I had a great time, and many of the participants got back to us to say they did, too.

Robbie was a truly magnificent host, inviting us all to invade his home and his workshop, organising the whole deal and arranging a concert by Jim Deeming (a fingerstyle expert – think Tommy E.) for each class. So many thanks to Robbie and all the participants for the great time we all had.

A few photos taken by Robbie (or one of his clan, when he is in shot) are attached below.

Class 1.jpg (133.55 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

Class 2.jpg (142 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

Robbie and I having a technology challenged moment...

Robbie came up with some new ideas for driving a Chladni speaker. I couldn't fly out my 10kg sig gen/amp, so Robbie and one of his students built this self contained speaker/amp unit driven via a bluetooth link from an app on an iPad (will work from a smart phone if you have small enough fingers)! The speaker unit is the black cylinder behind the iPad.

iPad Chladni driver.jpg (127.29 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

The monopole mobility rig went hi-tech, too, when we found we didn't have the right sensitivity in a dial gauge. This is a string height gauge, but I would guess many types of digital depth gauge would suffice.

Digital mobility rig.jpg (99.23 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

Yet more hi-tech with an alternative bridge rotation measurement device - a smart phone app. Plenty accurate as it turned out.

Smart phone bridge rotation.jpg (95.24 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

The students tried their hand at tapping guitars, too. Here's Greg Mawell giving it a go.

Greg Maxwell tapping.jpg (133.14 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

A good time was had by all at Jim Deeming's concert.

Jim Deeming.jpg (112.61 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

Whilst Robbie is able to organise just about anything, he came up short with the weather...

Snow.jpg (287.87 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

... but that wasn't going to prevent up enjoying that most Australian of pastimes... the good 'ol barbie!

Denver BBQ.jpg (293.63 KiB) Viewed 12061 times

Thanks to Robbie, his family and all the participants for making this such a success!

[lamanoditrento]

Digital mobility rig.jpg

Yet more hi-tech with an alternative bridge rotation measurement device - a smart phone app. Plenty accurate as it turned out.

How good is that, no jig required!

[kiwigeo]

Better not let Trump know Modal Tuning has just hit the US......it's nearly as dangerous as North Korea

[Craig Bumgarner]

Man, how did I miss that was happening? Dang it!

[Dave M]

Coming to the UK any time soon Trevor?

[routout]

It's a good thing you do for the industry of guitar making big or small or just plain hopeful,thank's John.

[johnparchem]

I was luckily one of the participants in the first class. Despite having twice read the Design volume cover to cover and have been building based on the books I found the class really insightful and valuable. The three day class was very well structured and a lot of information was presented in a seemingly short period of time. Yet somehow Trevor was able to keep a loose interactive feel to the class; accepting questions and moving off on related tangents yet somehow ending every section on time.

I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to attend one of his classes.

[Trevor Gore]

Man, how did I miss that was happening? Dang it!

That seems to have been quite a common response and hopefully something we will be able to fix in future classes. Robbie put this on as a masterclass for his graduate students and it had a waiting list pretty quickly, so we didn't do any wider publicity. It's pretty clear that there is a lot of demand though, which augers well for more classes in the future.

Coming to the UK any time soon Trevor?

All it takes it someone in the UK to organise it, . If you can find a venue and enough participants to make it economically viable, I'll do it!

[Craig Bumgarner]

.... It's pretty clear that there is a lot of demand though, which augers well for more classes in the future.

I'd probably go to your class most anywhere in the US 48 states, so please put me on your list of those interested if you have such a thing. Thanks!