miroslav Posted August 23, 2008 Posted August 23, 2008 http://www.blueberryguitars.com/images/feature-groove.jpg http://www.blueberryguitars.com/en/about/new/groove.html miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Caevan O'Shite Posted August 23, 2008 Posted August 23, 2008 Interesting; I guess it's sort of like a logical extension of scalloped (and/or lighter) internal braces and thinner tops making the instrument more responsive. I'd love to try one. That's a cool idea; I hafta wonder if it might be better to only have the grooves on the underside of the top, though... Bet that handling-noise is greatly magnified, though, especially if using a piezo-bridge pickup... Can you say, "washboard"? Might be great for Zydeco! I definitely would NOT like their position-referencing carvings on the back of the neck, though; I hate feeling anything but buttered-glass-smoothness (on nitro'-lacquer) or a marble-like cool smoothness (on Tung-oiled & Butcher's-Waxed "unfinished" jobs) on the back of a neck... little dings and dents there are SO annoying to me!! Can't stand a "chewed pencil" feel... Their groups of craftsmen (as opposed to a typical assembly-line) production-approach is similar to the way that Yairi (Alvarez-Yairi) acoustic flat-tops are made... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Bluesape Posted August 23, 2008 Posted August 23, 2008 Hnmmm.......Montreal, accordin' to the area code..... Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
Goalie Blues Posted August 23, 2008 Posted August 23, 2008 I live in Montreal, so I'll give them a look in the next couple of weeks and let everyone know. Ask not what your guitar can do for you, rather ask you can do for your guitar without provoking a divorce or a visit from the police. - with profound apologies to JFK
Caevan O'Shite Posted August 23, 2008 Posted August 23, 2008 Ah-well-ah-Rub-a-Dub-Dub, then! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Bejeeber Posted August 24, 2008 Posted August 24, 2008 ......I hafta wonder if it might be better to only have the grooves on the underside of the top, though... Yeah I hafta wonder about that too! .....I definitely would NOT like their position-referencing carvings on the back of the neck... Same here fer sure. Just a pinch between the geek and chum
Billster Posted August 24, 2008 Posted August 24, 2008 That's a cool idea; I hafta wonder if it might be better to only have the grooves on the underside of the top, though... Because then it wouldn't look any different, and how could you photograph it? I definitely would NOT like their position-referencing carvings on the back of the neck, though; Yeah, that's weird. Don't go scuffing up the neck. Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?!
Guitarzan Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 groovy http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will
Caevan O'Shite Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 I wonder, would it work well for kinetic, percussive playing where the the top is patted, slapped, knocked-on, and otherwise struck a la some flamenco styles and that of Badi Assad, Michael Hedges, Ani Difranco, etc. or would it scrape the skin off from your knuckles? (Not to mention crack through the minor thicknesses of the grooved top.) Not to knock this innovation (no pun in ten did), just to ponder... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
miroslav Posted August 25, 2008 Author Posted August 25, 2008 Well they say "The sound is nothing short of spectacular." I would think the grooves would be fairly "quiet" AFA hand noise...unless you ran you fingernails or pick across them. miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
fantasticsound Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 The guitar looks interesting but they need to improve some of their marketing videos... The "Nashville session player" video has people I've never heard of who obviously need a script. They may be able to play but their comments sound like the worst of infomercials. They put the Canadian guy in the frame with a studio background and apparently had some issues with green screen. The headstock of the Blueberry guitar is semi-translucent. I'll believe it when I have one in my hands. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd
Bejeeber Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 groovy Wish I woulda thought of that. Just a pinch between the geek and chum
Bejeeber Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 A tremendous advantage of this guitar has been overlooked so far. For the first time ever it is now possible for the guitarist to do an authentic guiro solo right on the body of the guitar itself! http://perso.wanadoo.es/sissu/images/guiro%5B1%5D.jpg (just jokin', not meant as a serious belittling of the design - I'd personally actually like to give one o' these Bluberry Groove Guitars a spin ) Just a pinch between the geek and chum
Stewart4328 Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Hey guys, I am new to the forum but just bought a Blueberry Groove. It is everything they claim it to be. I am really impressed. I posted a review on Harmony Central for those that are interested.
fantasticsound Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 How about giving us the lowdown here?? It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd
Stewart4328 Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Not a problem,I am at work right now but will try to post something later on today with some pics!!
Bejeeber Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Cool. Just a pinch between the geek and chum
Terrell Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Tell us how much they cost too! Everytime I go to GC, I'll find a Taylor or two that are just so perfect... The cost of them is not so perfect, and they have become so mass produced that I find it hard to spend so much on them.
Stewart4328 Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Okay lets start with when I received the guitar which was about two weeks ago. It was ordered directly from Blueberry Guitars in Montreal after having many conversations with owner Danny Fonfeder, I had my concerns about the strength of the solid Alaskan spruce top having all those grooves carved into it. This is not an extra thick top designed to accommodate grooves, it is a standard thickness. Danny reassured me that this was a non issue and that in all likely hood it would be the best sounding guitar I had ever played! I have been playing for 20 plus years and have owned Martins, Guilds, Seagulls, Blueridge etc. So I have played some good guitars. I haven't ever had a Taylor. I've played some beauties but never found one that really did it for me! So I receive the guitar at my office and could not resist taking the case out of the box. It comes in a dark blue TKL case with the Blueberry logo on the top of the case in large gold letters. I opened the case and was quite shocked to see a guitar with probably over 1500 grooves in the top. It was kind of hard to get my head around, The back and sides are solid mahogany and the back is also completely grooved. The first thing I noticed was just how light the guitar was, Probably as light or lighter than anything I have owned before, It was naturally shipped detuned. Incidentally the packaging was first rate. I was concerned about the grooves carved into the back of the neck which mark the 3,5,7 and ninth frets, They were there and were quite deep. I wasn't sure that I would like this?? Danny hand promised to give me a full refund if I did not like the guitar and in the back of my mind I thought that I might well take him up on his offer. Thats as far as I went with my first inspection because I was at the office. Packed it back up and waited for the day to end so I could get back home. I got home and took in out again and and gave it a thorough inspection, It was virtually flawless with the finish and fit of all components. 14 frets to the body, ebony fingerboard, bridge and headstock, bone saddle and nut. Fret markers done very well with nice fit and finish. Had rubbed finish is beautiful and it will not check or crack which is a bonus when you live in a city that can hit -40 in the winter! My wife also plays guitar so I handed her the Groove and asked her to tune it up while I left the room. I wanted to hear the first notes come out with everything tuned up. I went back into the room and looked at the action. It was very very good for my tastes. Danny asked me if I wanted a specific set up prior to shipping as they will do this for the customer at no charge prior to shipping. I said not to change anything. So the "factory" set up was excellent. So I sat down and began picking...I'm a finger picker no picks, just the flesh on my fingers, Without exaggerating....I almost fell out of my chair. I forgot to mention..body size is Grand Concert, so smaller than a dred. I had so many thoughts going through my mind, the volume was incredible and yet played softly did not loose any of it's character. The sustain on this guitar is nothing short of mind blowing. I have never heard anything like it before!! The highs ring the mid range seems to be perfectly balanced and really nice bass response without the boominess of some dreds, You can feel this guitar, it's like it's alive. You can feel it resonating on your leg, on your stomach and chest, on your picking arm and all the way up the neck!! This whole guitar just resonates!! I found the grooves on the back of the neck a bit of a distraction at first but I have probably put 30 hours of playing time into it now and to be honest I don't even notice them now but have noticed that I have relied on them a couple of times as I move up and down the neck. I brought it to show my friend and the first thing he did was take it from the case and banged it into the corner of a metal shelf in the lower bout where the top meets the binding. My heart literally stopped figuring that the already light top would have a hole punched right through it!! There was barely a mark and with the grooves, it isn't even noticeable. That put my fears to rest about the top being more fragile because of the grooves. This guitar in my opinion is a flat pickers or fingerpickers dream guitar. It is nothing short of fabulous!! It also sounds beautiful when strummed as well. I have loved the sound of all the guitars I have owned and this one as well. They all have different characteristics that I like. But I do have to say that this may very well be the favorite of them all!! For my style of playing I have never heard anything that even comes close. I know they are not easy to find yet but everyone should definitely try to get there hands on a Groove. You will not be disappointed! I paid $1850.00 for my Groove, it had been at a trade show in Toronto so Danny knocked a little off the price. I paid over $1000.00 more for each of my Martins and you cannot knock a Martin they're awesome, but for the price the Groove is a steal!! I think you'll see prices start to rise once people get their hands on a few of these. I am still not sold on the look of the grooved top but I really don't care. It's a small sacrifice to make if it makes this guitar play and sound the way it does. If you have anymore questions, let me know, I would be pleased to answer as best I can. I'll post some pics when I have more time!! Take care all!
Terrell Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 DUDE! Paragraphs are always a nice touch! They're like grooves in your thoughts.... LOL Nice review... I wanna try one now... How are supposed to clean it?
BrianWren Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 I wonder if the grooves collect dust, body oil, sloughed skin cells, etc. over time... I am inclined to think I wouldnt like the neck grooves as well. I have a faded cherry Flying V, and Gibson did not fill the mahogany pores prior to spraying the lacquer (supposedly to give the finish more of a heritage, heirloom feel/appearance). I can feel those pores while playing, and I dont like that feeling. (Im going to be correcting that...) I have a Squier Strat, and I dont even like the feel of the semi-gloss finish on the neck. (Fortunately, using it has polished that quite a bit.) These realities make me think I also wouldnt like the notched back of the neck. But I presume they did some research on this, and Im guessing that those who tried itby and largecame to either accept it or prefer it over time, or they would have abondoned the technique. Not very many luthiers take extra effort to make their instruments less desireable to play...
Stewart4328 Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Terrell, Paragraphs added for your pleasure!!
Stewart4328 Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 As for cleaning, just a damp cloth. Because of the hand rubbed finish it seems to pick up everything so far.
fantasticsound Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Doh! I had this page up from hours ago, read the un-paragraphed version then reloaded to check for replies! Thanks for the info, Stewart! I only wish you lived closer so I could check it out first hand. (No, I don't know where you live but anywhere that gets to -40 below can't be close to Nashville, Tn. The coldest I've experienced was back in Chicago in a particularly cold Winter (Feb. 1994) when the temp was -22f and -70f with the windchill. That was an omen for me to move south, which we did that Fall. ) It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd
miroslav Posted September 19, 2008 Author Posted September 19, 2008 http://www.blueberryguitars.com/images/Groove-frontal.jpg http://www.blueberryguitars.com/en/news/groove.html http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-GROOVE-Blueberry-Handmade-concert-Guitar_W0QQitemZ120285065207QQihZ002QQcategoryZ2385QQcmdZViewItem miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Terrell Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 Terrell, Paragraphs added for your pleasure!!
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