"I'm with antonio on this ... they are all small bits of the puzzle ... and will work together .... though if it is keeping tune I would not bother with the tuners it is probably squeeking over the nut ( grapfite helps )…"
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sonia kelley
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sonia kelley's Discussions
antonio duarte
6 Replies
I have an old ( late 1800's) instrument that I am looking for information about. It is about the same size as a ukele . It has fan tuners and a rose carved into the headstock and is Portugese in…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by sonia kelley Jan 11, 2011.
sonia kelley's Page
Latest Activity
sonia kelley replied to Pascal Proust's discussion Set-up and custom work on a study classical guitar : worth it? in the group Guitar Makerssonia kelley replied to Janice Hamilton's discussion Guitar tops from PINE? in the group Guitar Makers"lol I have been thinking the same thing about a piece of yellow locust in the woods. the trunk is about 5 ft wide and really seasoned .. the density of the locust might be a problem for me .... still…"
sonia kelley replied to Janice Hamilton's discussion Guitar tops from PINE? in the group Guitar Makers"I remember this .. it impressed on me the importance of workmanship .. "
sonia kelley replied to Mark Bedard's discussion Seagull S6 Neck Warp in the group Guitar Makers"you could if you are into woodworking or want to learn do the fretboard leveling and refretting it yourself .. there are a lot of resources to learn from ... "
sonia kelley replied to Bill Foulds's discussion Vocal mics"glad I could help... definitely not the mic .. I had my first sm 58 20 yrs and dropped it on stage once too many times ... I cried ...lol ... bought another one the next week.. they are tough reliable and sound good…"
sonia kelley replied to Bill Foulds's discussion Vocal mics"lol I sound better the more brewskis you drink .........if it was me I would go to a music store and talk to a sound guy there who can set up a system similar to yours as far as mic and mixer or lug your stuff over and test different…"
sonia kelley replied to Bill Foulds's discussion Vocal mics"speakers can make ALL the difference in the world when it comes to mics...lol... try warming it up by rolling highs down and maybe even mids.bump the bass up a tad.. reverb will warm it up if the mackie has it ... just a touch not too much…"
sonia kelley replied to Bill Foulds's discussion Vocal mics"I have used that mic for 30 years and it is still an industry standard..... there are some wireless and effected mic systems out there but you got a great mic already ... there are also some that look like the old silver opry style mics that…"
sonia kelley replied to Terry Doran's discussion Do you use finger picks and thumb picks?"I use a blue chip flatpick in my guitar playing sometimes and love it ... I have heard also that their thumbpicks are great .. they have that metal band on them which definitely holds better than plastic ...... I use a propick with a…"
sonia kelley commented on Brent McElroy's group Guitar Makers"seems to me it that coating the inside of the backs and sides is a good idea to help against cracks and rapid changes... however the top being the actual soundboard you may not want to inhibit the movement ... this might…"
sonia kelley replied to Michael Shaw's discussion What kind of/maker of pick do you like best?"you say natural.. do you want bright or more muted? there are many materials out there... blue chip makes a pick with good volume and excellent sound though they are heavy ... there is very little if any rythym pick slap noise they…"
sonia kelley replied to Terry Doran's discussion Do you use finger picks and thumb picks?"ps .. love the two banjo's but I think banjo can be played to anything .. reminds me of a lead and rythym guitar duo but cooler ...lol
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sonia kelley replied to Terry Doran's discussion Do you use finger picks and thumb picks?"great old song ... I love the rowdy bluegrassers as well as old time ... I live about 3 mi from where tn va and nc meet so it is the music of my home.. I came up by way of rock and roll but play bluegrass and old time also .... I…"
sonia kelley replied to Terry Doran's discussion Do you use finger picks and thumb picks?"you guys are right about the "true " way to play classical style but as far as pick vs fingernails I think it boils down to preference... .. arpeggios and scales will always make you better no matter what instrument…"
sonia kelley replied to Terry Doran's discussion Do you use finger picks and thumb picks?"they say to soak them and put them on your fingers for a better fit the warm water softens the pick I cannot wear plastic pick they always fall off or roll"
Profile Information
- Which one of the following describes your involvement in music? (Check all that apply)
- Gigging or professional musician, Guitar maker, Music festival
- How many years have you been playing guitar?
- 10-20 years
- Which of these instruments do you own or play?
- Electric guitar, Lap-style slide guitar, Banjo, Bass guitar
- The make and model of your guitar(s) and/or other instruments and gear.
- I have a restored antonio duarte 4 string and a 1927 arminak derbitrussian oud I restored to playability ..plus several other basses 1 upright and guitars.1 electrc (les paul custom 1983...keyboard and piano pa gear and odds and ends .. recording programs and dedicated computer for it
- What type of music do you like to play?
- all kinds except for rap and disco...like rock(all) folk and old time and bluegrass ...plus world music
- Do you subscribe to or regularly read Acoustic Guitar?
- I purchase copies at newsstands/bookstores
sonia kelley's Photos
Comment Wall (3 comments)
- At 3:58pm on May 11, 2011,
Luis Motta da Silva said… Hi, Sonia,
Your 4-string instrument is a Cavaquinho, a traditional Portuguese instrument. Cavaquinhos are still very popular in Portugal and some of ancient Portuguese colonies, such as Brazil and Cabo Verde, but also in Hawaii, where they adopted the instrument taken by the Portuguese and re-named it Ukulele, and of coursein the USA. By the way, "cavaquinho" means, litterally, "little wood shaft (or cracknel)".
Your instrument features the traditional boca de raia (rayfish mouth) soundhole and chapa de leque (fanplate) tuners. Besides, its fretboard is flush to the top (another traditional feature) and it has the upper bout part of the top made of hardwood , probably pau-santo (palisander, Brazilian rosewood), a very popular wood among Portuguese instrument makers, for the reasons we all know. The use of hardwood in the top is aimed to protect it from the player's nails during the performance of the Rasgado technique - a very special kind of rasgeado which is typical of Cavaquinho playing.
Antonio Duarte opened his shop in 1870 at Rua da Banharia in Oporto (which happens to be my home town). The words "casa fundada em 1870" mean "house (shop) founded (estalished) in 1870". The shop was moved to Ponte Nova and, later, to rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 165-167 and, after being ran by son António Carvalho and widow Rosa Duarte, was sold to Castanheira music shop, but, as far as I believe, it still exists at this last addess.
I'll be glad to translate the whole label for you. Please have a look at my page, see the instruments I make and hear them play... you may also find some interest in a discussion I started in Guitar Makers group, with the title "restoring an old instrument" ( an early 20th century parlor guitar).
Any information you'd like to have about Portuguese instruments, please, be my guest, you show great love for these pieces of singing wood...
- At 6:16am on January 11, 2011,
Ship of fools said… - Hi Sonia send the pics and we'll see if we can't track down your instrument for you.lou
- At 9:11pm on January 10, 2011, Tim Stevens said…
Hi Sonia-
Sounds interesting! I have some information on Duarte, including son and I think grandson. Include me as and friend and I will email you about it. I'll have some questions about the instrument and I have a friend who can help as well.
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