Both holy grail instruments. Just gorgeous. I was surprised to hear Roger Bucknall say that the smaller soundhole emphasizes the bass. I think that truth is audible here. Spectacular instruments. Thanks for this posting.
I have a similar Stefan Sobell (1986) and a Fylde. My Fylde is a longer scale and I also use octave strings with it. They are both beautiful, the Sobell has a bit more punch and with the shorter scale makes jigs and reels a tad easier. The Fylde for singing is just georgeous, deep rich sound. Love them both. There is a definite body thickness between the 2, the Fylde being quite a bit thicker with the smaller sound hole as he stated. Workmanship on both blows me away, don't know how they Roger and Stefan have the patience to be so exact! I cannot find a flaw anywhere!
Excellent video. I enjoyed this and Part 1 very much. I have a slight preference for the Sobell, it seems to have a slightly keener edge which would cut through in a session, but there is very little in it. You can get individual wound strings from Eagle Music. They go down to a 16 gauge, nickel or phosphor bronze, loop or ball end. If you fancy doing a part 3 I'd really like to hear a comparison between the two 12-string instruments on your web site. For Part 4, I'm not far from you and have a Jimmy Moon 10string, a Paul Doyle custom from 1979 and a Gazouki (or Bizarre?) made by Andy Rogers.
Stunning instruments! Thanks for sharing them. I would love to hear them played without such a hard attack and to hear tunes being played on them as well.
The Sobell presented as more brazen at first but the Fylde tarted up equally well once in the spotlight. I believe when I make it to heaven 🤗 and get to play both 😄 one could make them sound almost exactly alike through picking & strumming variations. Under such excellent and precise examination I was most interested to note a chorus-y effect on the thicker paired strings which changed ever so slightly as the gap widened or reduced relevant to finger position and pressure. I have >always< tuned my 12's via tuning fork, vibration and ear so maybe the effect is relevant to me only? or it might be that no two zouks have ever been compared with such top notch (digital), recording equipment before. Wonderful comparison, thank you.
I think with unison stringing a certain amount of phasing is inevitable, and that's what's making the chorus-like sound. "Ye canne break the laws 'o physics." - Mr Scott.
Hi, Clifford Essex have wound A's in Phosphor Bronze, I have them on my Fylde's. That Sobell is a beautiful instrument, and it sounds great, such sustain. Got to say, though, that the Fylde shades it for me.
Indeed, and in fact I was planning to make another video in a couple of years time to try to illustrate the difference - same gear, same setup, just try to record any modification to the sound.
Joe is quite hard to track down, but when I was going throught the decision process that led to Stefan I did manage to find a phone number and I spoke to him at some length. So yes, as far as I know, he's still making instruments. So many bouzoukis, so little time...!
I admire Stefan’s craftsmanship & design. However, it’s the Fylde Long scale bouzouki for me if I was to judge by this video. Its sound isn’t as raspy as the Sobel and seems a tad mellower/warmer. Would have liked to have heard some single note melody runs mixed in with chords. Sobell’s are now in the stratosphere price wise & maybe well worth it but again, as a working pro, the Fylde would seem more justifiable too!
Stefan's work is certainly pricey, but on the other hand compared to some of the comparable American makers his stuff is a cast iron bargain! I was amazed at the sale price for one of his instruments in the recent auction of Mark Knopfler's collection. And compared to the likes of Traugott and Olsen you're getting all the guitar for a fraction of what they're charging. A Sobell instrument costs about the same as the *deposit* on a Casimi.
Both holy grail instruments. Just gorgeous. I was surprised to hear Roger Bucknall say that the smaller soundhole emphasizes the bass. I think that truth is audible here. Spectacular instruments. Thanks for this posting.
Fylde has the best overall sound though the Sobell looks slightly smarter, both lovely instruments, thanks for the comparison it was useful
I have a similar Stefan Sobell (1986) and a Fylde. My Fylde is a longer scale and I also use octave strings with it. They are both beautiful, the Sobell has a bit more punch and with the shorter scale makes jigs and reels a tad easier. The Fylde for singing is just georgeous, deep rich sound. Love them both. There is a definite body thickness between the 2, the Fylde being quite a bit thicker with the smaller sound hole as he stated. Workmanship on both blows me away, don't know how they Roger and Stefan have the patience to be so exact! I cannot find a flaw anywhere!
Here is the Fylde in one of our videos. czcams.com/video/hu3Kam4jvIc/video.htmlsi=1zERsRNgaGbBMtO6
I have to agree regarding the workmanship. Recently, I went to an exhibition of Stadivari violins and was struck by how comparable they are.
Excellent video. I enjoyed this and Part 1 very much. I have a slight preference for the Sobell, it seems to have a slightly keener edge which would cut through in a session, but there is very little in it.
You can get individual wound strings from Eagle Music. They go down to a 16 gauge, nickel or phosphor bronze, loop or ball end.
If you fancy doing a part 3 I'd really like to hear a comparison between the two 12-string instruments on your web site. For Part 4, I'm not far from you and have a Jimmy Moon 10string, a Paul Doyle custom from 1979 and a Gazouki (or Bizarre?) made by Andy Rogers.
Stunning instruments! Thanks for sharing them. I would love to hear them played without such a hard attack and to hear tunes being played on them as well.
I do my best, but 30+ years as a metal drummer has had certain effects on my approach to the instrument! :-)
The Sobell presented as more brazen at first but the Fylde tarted up equally well once in the spotlight.
I believe when I make it to heaven 🤗 and get to play both 😄 one could make them sound almost exactly alike through picking & strumming variations.
Under such excellent and precise examination I was most interested to note a chorus-y effect on the thicker paired strings which changed ever so slightly as the gap widened or reduced relevant to finger position and pressure.
I have >always< tuned my 12's via tuning fork, vibration and ear so maybe the effect is relevant to me only? or it might be that no two zouks have ever been compared with such top notch (digital), recording equipment before. Wonderful comparison, thank you.
I think with unison stringing a certain amount of phasing is inevitable, and that's what's making the chorus-like sound. "Ye canne break the laws 'o physics." - Mr Scott.
Hi . Using a Radius dish and Go-Deck helps achieve lovely curves for the back of Instruments.
Keep up the good work.
Absolutely correct. But with Sobell I think it goes a bit deeper than that - his arching looks much more heavily radiused than most.
Hi, Clifford Essex have wound A's in Phosphor Bronze, I have them on my Fylde's. That Sobell is a beautiful instrument, and it sounds great, such sustain. Got to say, though, that the Fylde shades it for me.
Presumably the Sobell, being new, is not properly played in. It might sound much better in a year or two.
Indeed, and in fact I was planning to make another video in a couple of years time to try to illustrate the difference - same gear, same setup, just try to record any modification to the sound.
I have Foley Bouzouki I got 1998 , I've had to repair some but still good ..I've only seen 3 in America. I assume Mr Foley still alive
He is and still has a wait list!
Joe is quite hard to track down, but when I was going throught the decision process that led to Stefan I did manage to find a phone number and I spoke to him at some length. So yes, as far as I know, he's still making instruments. So many bouzoukis, so little time...!
I admire Stefan’s craftsmanship & design. However, it’s the Fylde Long scale bouzouki for me if I was to judge by this video. Its sound isn’t as raspy as the Sobel and seems a tad mellower/warmer. Would have liked to have heard some single note melody runs mixed in with chords.
Sobell’s are now in the stratosphere price wise & maybe well worth it but again, as a working pro, the Fylde would seem more justifiable too!
Stefan's work is certainly pricey, but on the other hand compared to some of the comparable American makers his stuff is a cast iron bargain! I was amazed at the sale price for one of his instruments in the recent auction of Mark Knopfler's collection. And compared to the likes of Traugott and Olsen you're getting all the guitar for a fraction of what they're charging. A Sobell instrument costs about the same as the *deposit* on a Casimi.