NeilES335

Ron; I'm currently using DÁddario Chrome XL Jazz Light Flat Wound 11/50 on my Godin Archtop, (11.15.22w.30.40.50 ; Like) and DÁddario XL Nickel Round Wound 10/46 Regular Light gauge on my Gibson ES 335. ( Im not so sure I like these that much.. I think I'll likely go back to Gibson Brite Wire Nickel 10-46 next change, although I hear the DÁddario NYXL's a very good) These really arent any different than you'd use on a Les Paul I think... For acoustic (1969 Ovation) I like the Martin Acoustic SP Bronze 11/52

I used to follow Brian and ActiveMelody.com from his very early days and before I became involved with the LMG course. He 's (I believe) a very decent guy and a very good player and teacher . His method is to demonstrate technique by teaching short songs , riffs, fills etc that he composes himself, sometimes in the style of certain artists. I learned quite a bit from his videos.

Congratulation Ron? Beautiful indigo blue.. You obviously like hollow and semi hollow guitars as I do..

Boy this thread really took off! Glad you guys liked it. In case you didnt know.... see the attach area lower left? You can upload the mp3 or .wav file there up so others can download it, rather than play live with YouTube. SoundCloud works well too. Enjoy.

A place for members to post links to BACKING TRACKS To start off; A Slow Blues in A, 12/8 time in the style of BB King ; A good one for practicing Pentatonic solos. Download available below video. slow_blues_in_A BB King style.zip

An area where Members can post there general questions for Master Guitar Tech Greg Voros, on guitar maintenance, repair, building, lutherie, strings, etc. (Please scan any previous questions/answers to avoid duplicate entries)

Here's a helpful video from the Guitar Gathering 2016 where Greg Voros discusses in detail, setting up your flat top acoustic guitar yourself; (59:45 in length. Also found under Tips of the Pros)

Here's a Tip of the Month where Greg Voros (Head Guitar Tech for Gruhn's Guitars, Nashville TN) discusses with Steve Krenz selecting a new guitar; what to look for, what to choose, and why. (7: 12 mins) (also found under Tips of the Pros)

No Cindy; I have not played one... yet. I'm thinking of asking my local music store to bring one in for me to try...(or I can drive about a 1/2 hour to another one of their stores) They have undersaddle transducer pickups and an acoustic pickup under the chambered top. You can shape the sound with the EQ on board, or with an amp to almost any tone you want. Which is why so many pros use them...

Thanks very much Wim. I enjoyed that rendition of Black Orpheus... they did a great job. Cindy, if you look carefully at the 2nd guitarist in the above video, I believe she is playing Godin Mulitac Nylon .

Hi Cindy; I corrected the link, and here it is as well; https://www.long-mcquade.com/16691/Guitars/Classical-Guitars/Godin-Guitars/Multiac-Nylon-Encore-SG-W-bag.htm These are beautiful and very interesting instruments. You're right, they really are more of an nylon electric than acoustic. The higher end models come with a special connector cable to attach to a Boss synthesizer unit, so you can play virtual instruments like organ, flute, piano, horns etc. etc. There are loads of videos on YouTube about these. Godin's website http://www.godinguitars.com/godinmultiac.html A you can see there is a broad range of options from traditional neck/nut width, to crossover, with synth or without etc. even uke's and steel string models. They are very popular performance instruments especially in a live setting. My only hesitation is that i dont really use an amp that much, other than my Vox amPhones(guitar amp headphones which are great btw)

Thanks for the suggestion Gerard; I had not considered this one... It is one of a number of "newer' "crossover" guitars coming out these days with the narrower nut width of 1 7/8" vs the usual 2 " classical nut width. I see this one has a spruce top, with the usual Taylor bright tone. Personally I prefer the cedar top with rosewood back/sides for a warmer fuller sound. I've never seen one in person but i would try it out if I did... Im sure the quality is good.

This is an interesting topic to me as I too have it in mind to buy a nylon string guitar, preferably with a cut-away and electronics. I love the warm rich tone they have. What really strikes me is how good an instrument you can get for relatively little money vs many steel string guitars costing many times more. You can spend a TON on a classical guitar but you don't have to. I like classical style guitar music but my main thought was to play jazz, maybe in the Bossa Nova style, which I understand is the preferred choice for this style. A couple of years ago I rented a really good one from our biggest retailer here in Canada (yes they do that) for a whole month for only $12.00! It was one of these; An Almansa , with cedar top and laminated rosewood back and sides. It sounded awesome and I hated to take it back; https://www.long-mcquade.com/22606/Guitars/Classical-Guitars/Almansa/Classical-Cedar-Laminated-Rosewood-Acoustic-Guitar.htm I've been thinking about it ever since. Now I'm looking at a couple of options like brands Almansa, LaPatrie (by Godin) , maybe Yamaha (havent found one of those i like yet) or; The Godin Multiac Nylon is also an interesting choice.https://www.long-mcquade.com/departments/147/Guitars/Classical/Nylon_Solid_Or_Synth_Equipped.htm especially this one;https://www.long-mcquade.com/16691/Guitars/Classical-Guitars/Godin-Guitars/Multiac-Nylon-Encore-SG-W-bag.htm which has a 1 7/8" nut width, designed for steel string players who want this kind of tone. They have some volume unplugged, enough for practice, and can be used with a regular amp. (I think Maria ; SleepingAngel has one in another colour) I noticed the brands available in the USA are somewhat different, but any other suggestions are welcome... decisions, decisions... ps I dont mind paying up to about $1500.CDN if I have to, to get a really GOOD instrument. (I dont think I'll like the under $300 stuff.)

GREG; WHAT IS THE PROPER (BEST) WAY TO RESTRING AN ARCHTOP GUITAR WITH A Floating bridge ? How do I insure the intonation and string height will be correct? Thank you. Neil

Yes Gerard I ve watched a few of his lesssons, and I must admit his unique perspective lost me after a while....a great musician nonetheless.

Thanks for another Jazz artist posting Gerard.. I have not listened to Martino much (found him a bit too "out there"..) but perhaps i sbould.

Now guess I should watch them all too?!

You are all very welcome... Glad you find it useful. ( Yes it did take a while...;-) It's Steve that deserves the credit..

Joe Pass is one of my all time favorites in the Jazz genre. The solo album "Virtuoso" is simply astonishing. Any guitarist who gives it a good listen, whether they like jazz or not, will sit there in awe. Chord melody, lightning fast runs, bass lines, beautiful interpretation, the album has it all. I've listened to it many times, and never tire of it. You should too. Another great artist gone too soon. Here's the album uploaded to YouTube; "He weaves his own fast-moving chords and filigree work so nimbly that it is hard to believe fingers can physically shift so quickly. Slight moustached, fairly balding, he frowns over his fretwork like a worried head waiter with more guests than tables but the sound that comes out could only be the confident product of years of devotion to the instrument... But it is when he plays completely solo, which he does for half of each set, that he comes into his own, because without hindrance of the rhythm section he can completely orchestrate each number. Sometimes it is by contrasting out of tempo sections with fast-moving interludes, sometimes by switching mood from wistful to lightly swinging, sometimes by alternating single-note lines with chords or simultaneous bass line and melody-the possibilities seem endless. Luckily, there is a new L.P. by him which captures all this on vinyl, as someone has had the unusual good sense to record him all alone. It is calledVirtuoso and rightly so." - Miles Kington on Pass in an October 1974 article in The Times.[6]