12-string Interest Low But Steady

New toy alert, Google Trends.

Here's a comparison of searches for "12 string" or "12-string" compared to searches for "classical guitar" over the last few years:

Here the searches are broken down by country:


Nothing pops out particularly except that the Classical Guitar searches seem to be steadily declining despite a steady stream of news about the topic. The interest in the 12-string is steady despite a complete lack of news items. Seems like the guitar makers and performers should be pumping up the 12-string related press releases more.

Installing Bass Traps

One nice thing about bass traps that is better than absorbers is that they work best up against the wall where the wave pressure is greatest.

Building Bass Traps

The bass traps I mentioned earlier this month are done. Here's how, adapted from Ethan Winer's plans:

The notched saddle, part deux

I don't think the notched saddle is such a good idea anymore. Lowering the octave strings so the tops are even does make for more accurate unison strike of string courses, but it also tends to make the lowered octave string buzz unless you raise the action. I would rather have lower action.

Update Thursday, March 20th - I just can't quit you. The notched saddle is back. I'll deal with the buzz, maybe a little more relief in the neck?

New Theory on the Boom

The dratted boom that haunts the studio is still around. I've been surrounding the recording area with more and more absorbent panels but nothinng seems to help. But after researching how to build some real bass traps that might attack the 90 to 95 hertz boom directly I noticed a post that explained how aborbent panels soak up the high frequencies even better than the low frequencies, and this lead to, guess what? Boominess! Duh (smacks forehead).

So this morning, after several cups of coffee with the Babe, I moved the panels back into the corners and on to the walls, foil side pointing inward to make sure the glitter of the 12-string remains. A quick test recording definitely sounds better.

I have material for 3 deep bass traps, per Ethan Winer's design and will be putting those together to mount on the wall, probably over some brick area.