Zachary Taylor  |  Roosebeck™ Signature Artist Series

Zachary Taylor is a designer and maker of early stringed instruments. Early in his career as a performer on classical guitar and lute, he began to study the creation of representations of early instruments. For more than a quarter of a century he has taught the subject of lutherie.

We are proud to announce our new line of Zachary Taylor designed stringed instruments - beautifully designed Lutes, Guitars, and a Balladeer Harp.

The Lute Guitar is similar in size to a guitar but with a body like a lute. With a neck shaped like that of a guitar and a nut of ebony, it will appeal to those who are familiar with normal classical or acoustic guitars. It is tuned like a guitar with six strings, three of plain nylon and three of nylon wound in nickel. If it is to be used for lute music, the 3rd string may be tuned a semi-tone down to F# to enable the application of lute fingering. Spruce is used for the unpolished soundboard just like original lutes and its soundhole has a carved rose in an attractive geometric pattern. In keeping with the lute, the characteristically bowl shaped body is achieved by custom fitting slats of thin wood bent to a specific shape with no internal structure to retain its form.

Vihuela, Zachary Taylor

Vihuela, Zachary Taylor

Item Description

Zachary Taylor has based his stunning Vihuela design on the instrument that is displayed in the Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesús in Quito, Ecuador. A truly remarkable piece, it is thought to be a relic of Saint Mariana de Jesús.
Very few existing Vihuelas are known of but the most famous one is the so-called, ‘Guadalupe’ Vihuela in the Musée Jacquemart-André, in Paris. It was probably made around 1500 by an apprentice luthier or cabinet maker as a test piece. Comparatively large, with a narrow neck suggests that whilst appropriate for playing single-note continuo, it would not be suitable for solo performance repertoire or accompanying a vocalist.

Although the body of the Vihuela was shallower and lighter than the modern guitar, the scale length was often much longer. The strings were of gut and silk and the frets, which were tied around the neck, were also of gut. Tied frets represent a strong reference to the original instrument but are sometimes troublesome. Changes in humidity, temperature, and clumsy handling can cause changes in the fret location, making replacement difficult for an inexperienced player. For these reasons, the designer, maker and suppliers decided on metal frets as a standard feature. Customers who prefer the more traditional tied frets may request them to be fitted when an order is placed.

With six ‘courses’ of strings, the Vihuela has them arranged in pairs and these are usually tuned in unison, although variations were known that used ‘octave’ tuning on the lower-pitched strings, similar to the lute. When used in the musical sense, the word ‘course’, refers to more than one single string and possibly as many as three.

Music for the Vihuela was written in tablature, as stave notation was not used for fretted strings in those days. Tablature works well, provided the tuning of the strings is known. Many players prefer tablature as a music reading medium because the composer shows the string and fret where the note is located.

Much of the lute repertoire may be played on it, due to its similar interval string tuning. A bonus is that by tuning up the third course by a semitone, the Vihuela has the same intervals as the regular 6-stringed guitar — the repertoire of which spans about the last two-and-a-half centuries! It can also be used to play music intended for the Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic guitar, all-in-all, a most versatile instrument.

For reliability and security of intonation, this 6-course Vihuela is fitted with eight, fixed, solid nickel silver frets. For the more traditional players, these instruments are available with tied nylon frets which are adjustable to the player's preference.

Panormo, Zachary Taylor

Panormo, Zachary Taylor

Item Description




The Zachary Taylor designed, Panormo Guitar is a superbly crafted 'Romantic' guitar based on the innovative works of 19th century master luthier Louis Panormo.

Panormo was of Italian parentage, born in Paris in 1784 and became a British citizen in 1851 having settled in London to make guitars. He was a confident maker and even called himself 'The only Maker of Guitars in the Spanish Style'. Perhaps he forgot to add 'outside Spain'?

Although similar in appearance to the Spanish guitars, Panormo's soundboard technology followed the current thinking at that time. Thin strips of wood called struts were arranged in a fan shape beneath the lower part of the soundboard. The great Torres advanced the development of this system, more of which is noted in the information on the Torres-Taylor Guitar.

Those new to the Romantic, or 'Parlour' guitar, as it is sometimes called, may regard it as smaller than their later model offspring – the modern Classical guitar. The comparatively short scale of 600mm (about 23½ inches) makes the Romantic guitar accessible for players with smaller hands without restricting those with bigger spans.

Modern, master luthier Zachary Taylor based this model's design on several guitars by Panormo. Taylor owned an original and examined many others, including one at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He succeeded in creating a beautiful instrument that reproduces the 'feel' and sound of what players recognize as the 'Romantic' guitar. Composers such as Sor, Aguado and their contemporaries would have probably felt very comfortable with this Panormo-based model.

Specifications:
The Panormo Guitar comes strung with the Roosebeck™ 6-String Romantic Guitar Set (Item Code RBSRG6S), with the recommended tuning being E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 (E A d g b e'). We carefully set up each instrument up for optimum action (string height): between 0.5-0.7mm at the 1st fret for all strings; 3.0-3.5mm at the 10th fret for the 1st string; and 3.5-4.0mm at the 10th fret for the 6th string. A bi-directional truss rod is installed to compensate for any changes in neck curvature. Each guitar comes with a Roosebeck™ Panormo Hard Case which provides exceptional protection for your instrument. This case features a rugged, faux leather exterior, plush cushioned interior, and a locking fastener. The Roosebeck™ Panormo Hard Case (Item Code RHCPN) can also be purchased separately.

Materials:
Neck, Sides and Back: Maple
Head Stock Plate, Fretboard and Bridge: Ebony
Soundboard: Cedar
Soundboard Bracing: Spruce
Back Inlay: Green Abalone
Nut and Saddle: Buffalo Bone
Bridge Inlay and Fret Markers:White Mother of Pearl

Dimensions:
Scale Length: 600mm
Overall dimensions: 925mm length, 290mm width, and 86mm depth
Fretboard Width: 52mm at the 1st fret and 55mm at the 10th fret
Weight: Approximately 1.54 kg or 3.4 pounds.

Recommend Care:
It is very important that the instrument is stored in a humidity controlled environment, especially where the relative humidity is less than 50%. A Case Humidifier (Item Code OH-6) is a great way to protect your investment. It may be necessary to re-oil the fretboard every few months with Lemon Oil

ROHAN KRISHNAMURTHY

ROHAN KRISHNAMURTHY

Acclaimed a “percussion prodigy,” “young expert,” and “virtuoso,” Rohan Krishnamurthy has carved an exciting musical niche on the South Indian Classical drum, the mridangam. His multifaceted roles as a creative musician, teacher, inventor, and cultural ambassador continue to carry his talent all over the globe...

Balalaika, Prima

Balalaika, Prima

Weight: 34.00LB

Brands: Roosebeck

Categories: Balalaika

Country of Origin: Pakistan

UPC: 844731032066

Image Date: Thursday, December 03, 2009

Additional Information: Balalaika

Product Insert Link: Product Insert

Weight without Case: 1.2500

Item Description:

Our Balalaika Prima has the traditional 3 strings and measures approximately 27 inches in length. The scale length is 430 mm. The body has the classical triangular shape. The back is slightly bowed and made with stave construction in two tones of rosewood. The darker back contrasts with the light colored wood of the soundboard.

The Balalaika strings are tuned above middle C to: A, E, E (1st-3rd). The 1st string is the thinnest, and lays over more frets than the 2nd and 3rd strings. Use a piano or electronic tuner as a reference for tuning. The tension on each tuning peg can be adjusted by tightening or loosing the screw on the top of the peg. To play, the left hand notes the strings while the index finger of the right hand strums high on the soundboard near the neck. The dark rosewood on the soundboard is decorative but also protects the soundboard from the strumming.

The Balalaika most likely evolved from the Oriental dombra, which is still played in present-day Kazakhstan. Knowledge of the dombra most likely spread to Russia by Mongol trade and conquest. After undergoing structural changes, the Balalaika was embraced by Russians. It is said that the Balalaika embodies the Russian peopleandrsquo;s character, with its ability to switch from happiness to sadness with ease. It was common for the peasant ballads, composed for the Balalaika, to irreverently poke fun at the authority of the times. For this reason there were times when the Balalaika was banned by both the Orthodox Church and the State. The instrument enjoyed its greatest folk popularity in the early 18th century.

In the later 19th century the instrument underwent a number of changes, including the adoption of the classic triangular shape. Reportedly, in the late 19th century, Vassily Vassilievich Andreyev, was responsible for the transition from a folk instrument to a concert instrument. Andreyevandrsquo;s chamber ensemble, renamed The Great Russian Imperial Balalaika Orchestra, introduced the instrument to cultures outside of Russia. The Instrument was also carried by the common people when they fled Russia at times of war.

Manufacturers recommend that you change the strings on your instrument as soon as you receive it. Your instrument has completed a long journey before it ever begins the final leg to your home. During this time the elements affect the strings and may shorten their lifespan. It occasionally happens that a string will fail during that final leg of the journey. Therefore, it is recommended that you purchase a replacement set of strings and consider changing your strings soon after it arrives. If you are a student you may want to change your strings every 3-4 months. If you are a rock star you may need to change your strings every week. If you store your instrument, you should consider changing the strings when you pick it up again.

Arched Mountain Dulcimer, 4, F-holes,Scr

Arched Mountain Dulcimer, 4, F-holes,Scr

Weight: 8.00LB

Brands: Roosebeck

Categories: Dulcimer

Country of Origin: Pakistan

UPC: 844731041945

Additional Information: Dulcimers

Weight without Case: 2.5000

Item Description:

Chord with your fingers or strum with a noter, the mountain dulcimer is a beautiful 

sounding instrument. The traditional hourglass shape helps separate and blend the 

bass and treble tones producing a wide range of tone color and a balance of sound. 

A soundboard of spruce and a body of rosewood combine to create a warm tone in the 

Arched Mountain Dulcimer. "Arched" refers to the underside of the fretboard which 

features two sweeping arches which help free the soundboard. The sculpted strum 

hollow fits a variety of playing styles, and the tailpiece anchors the loop end 

strings on the side, and provides a handrest when fingerpicking. The carved scroll 

pegbox features geared 4:1 banjo style tuners. A pick and noter are included. 

The fretboard is 1.25 inches wide, the scale length, nut to bridge, is 25 3/16 

inches. The overall dimensions are L 33 x , W 7.5 x H (including bridge) 3.25 

inches, the depth of the body without the bridge is 2 inches. 

Special Note: The strings put on the instruments in our workshops, while playable, 

are put through some rigorous testing. They should probably be replaced for 

improved playability, sound quality, and better tuning shortly after you receive 

the instrument.

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Panic Bomber - Visit from the Grave (Featuring Madam Asuka)

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Learn About the Alfa tab.

File Readers

Contents

1 Guitar Pro 3-5
2 Guitar Pro 6
3 alphaTex
The input-process-output model teaches us that there need to be any input to process an output. The file readers implement this required feature of providing input data.
AlphaTab provides a pluggable file reader system which is used to read data from any file source (binary or textual) and fill the required songmodel.
We support the following file formats out of the box
Guitar Pro 3-5
Guitar Pro is a multitrack editor of guitar and bass tablature and musical scores, possessing a built in MIDI-editor, a plotter of chords, a player, a metronome and other tools for guitarists and musicians. It has versions for Windows, Mac OS X (Intel processors only), and Linux and is written by the French company Arobas Music. (27.08.2011, 04:26)
Guitar Pro 3, 4 and 5 use a file format which stores the notation data as a binary structure. The songmodel of alphaTab is based on this format and is able to load those Guitar Pro Files.
Guitar Pro 6
With Guitar Pro 6 Arobas Music introduced a new file format. A Guitar Pro 6 (gpx) file is a special file container (similar to zip) which stores several additional files required to read the notation from a Guitar Pro 6 file. The main file within a GPX container is an xml describing the notation data. alphaTab is able to transform this xml file into it’s songmodel.
alphaTex
alphaTex is the plain/text notation language of alphaTab. It allows writing tabs for alphaTab really easly. Additionally alphaTab provides a converter which transforms a songmodel into the according alphaTex source. This will allow you to store notation data easy within your database or other source.

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