![thumbsdown :thumbsdown:](./images/smilies/thumbsdown.gif)
On the plus side the dog seems to be pretty well recovered, apart from what looks likely to be scarred muscle tissue under the skin causing a bulge. Which we need to keep an eye on. Thankfully we realised pretty quickly that something was wrong and he got treatment at the vets within a few hours.
During this time I have had the fortune to be able to try out for free over 3 weeks a hand made small parlour guitar. Dave White has a guitar building business called De Faoite Guitars and is a member of a UK based acoustic guitar forum that I'm a member of. He has sent one of his guitars on a "road trip" around some forum members for them to try out, make recordings and videos, and review. The guitar is called "An Fea Caol".
It has been a joy to play
![smile :D](./images/smilies/smile.png)
It is also the first guitar I've tried with a small sound port in the bass side of the upper bout. It gives the player so much more of an idea just how good a sound is coming from the guitar. I'm baffled that it isn't a standard practice.
It is a short scale instrument (610mm) and is designed for Terz tuning - like a normal guitar with a capo at fret 3.
So in standard tuning = G, C, F, Bb, D, G.
Though I had it most of the time in the equivalent of DADGAD with a capo at fret 3.
F, C, F, Bb, C, F .... not as easily said as DADGAD!
![Image](https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1825/42858517784_42e7fb5ce9_o.jpg)
This is it compared to my Tanglewood TW73 Parlour. Quite a bit smaller and a you'll see the shorter scale.
![Image](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/917/42671054785_6274611e58_o.jpg)
This is it compared to one of my Vintage Giltraps that I usually play.
You will see that the "An Fea Caol" has a similar pinched waist to the Giltrap.
I have a real liking for sound produced by guitars with that shape and An Fea Caol was no exception.
![Image](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/914/43529482842_b6462a1a91_o.jpg)
No bling, and no flashy detail, but just a very pleasing look with an air of quality about it.
Comparing "An Fea Caol, the TW73, and the Giltrap guitars:-
Upper Bout = 225mm, 245mm, 282mm
Waist = 168mm, 207mm, 205mm
Lower Bout = 310mm, 355mm, 405mm
Waist v Upper Bout = 75%, 84%, 73%
Waist v Lower Bout = 54%, 58%, 51%
So it is close to the extreme pinch of the Giltraps waist - much more pinched than the normal factory made acoustic guitar shapes.
I don't know why there's so few factory made guitars with a more pinched waist like this - the sound so damn good.
It usually only seems to be the hand made operations that make guitars of that shape.
Here's a couple of sound samples :-
![play acoustic :music1:](./images/smilies/music1.gif)
An improvisation in the equivalent of DADGAD with Newtone Heritage strings.
![play acoustic :music1:](./images/smilies/music1.gif)
Semi Improvised around some of the ideas, note and progressions of a Pierre Bensusan piece - much simplified of course. Also in DADGAD equivalent.
I passed the guitar on to the next forum member in the chain today.
![tears :tears:](./images/smilies/cry2.gif)
Fortunately I find I still enjoy the sound of my cheap Vintage brand Giltrap guitars.
![phew :phew:](./images/smilies/phew.gif)