newbe question

adk

hello all

newbe here. just stumbled upon the site.

been playing music for 30 + years. looking to get more into the django style and sound. here's a clip of my current band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-zdlPyGPYs

i'm looking at possibly a gj guitar.

looking at spending $800 - $1500. i know nothing about gypsy jazz guitars. does anyone have any good suggestions on recommended instruments in that range as well as good places for research. (pref with sound clips). i play mostly rhythm (but not always...) i do like a richer, warmer sound. also, i'm seeing a lot of higher end laminate (back and sides) guitars. is there a sound difference between solid and laminate wood?

adk

hmm. not a very friendly community here.

Passacaglia

Hi adk - I wouldn't say that. I can only give you my perspective. I had to stop playing a couple of years ago, due to chronic spine &^&$$ that couldn't be relieved. At that time, I myself was quite active in the community, I was a noob (still am - only recently returned to GJ playing), and benefited a tremendous amount; this was an active, vigorous community.

Since coming back, I've noticed it seems almost like a ghost town, relative to what it was a couple years ago. I have no idea why. It might be that a lot of relatively less experienced players have become experienced players, and have moved on; I really don't know.

I know I pm'ed the mod a while back (just not getting e-mail notifications on subscribed thread updates), and I didn't hear back, not sure why - might not have actually gotten the pm. I suspect the site has just slowed quite a bit, but there's still a ton of useful info here.

I'm afraid I can't be of much help in selecting a guitar. I can only say, I got an incredible deal a few years' back on a Gitane John Jorgenson, oval hole, DG-300. These are machine made, but I've had many luthiers and players (incl. Alfonso Ponticelli - I studied with him for a bit while in Chicago) praise my guitar - not exaggerating, a Madison luthier called my buy a complete steal (it was - I lucked out, about $500, shipped, I think it was), and he expected this guitar to really improve with age. I've found since coming back and playing hard, whether by an improvement in my technique or add'l breaking in, I'm loving my guitar. I could spend $1000's on a dupont, etc. - and likely will - but not until my playing merits it. For now, and for years (and my son), quite happy with this make.

So, while I do not have any breadth of experience, I can on my personal experience recommend looking into Gitane guitars. Can only offer a gut instinct on the laminate question - but suspect yes, it makes a considerable difference.

Jazzaferri

We have become a fairly small community.

If you can find a used Manouche Latcho Drom I have heard they are excellent value for money

Check out the guitars for sale in djangobooks the parent forum. Michael often has clips of the guitars he has for sale. If you see a used Latcho Drom don't wait long. They go quickly

adk

thanks Passacaglia,

sorry to hear about your condition.

yes, there is a lot of info already on the board that i've been digging up.

i was considering a gitane but decided to look into other makes and models. i've always played vintage solid wood instruments (always gibson and martin) except for my 5 string banjo (a new ome which i can't imagine living without). they just seem to age better and hold their value on the market.

at this point in my life i'd rather spend a little more on something that i'm 100% happy with. and not have to swap out in a few years. i will try out the gitane however i wasn't blown away with the sound. a few weeks ago i saw stephane wrembel with django go go. (an amazing show) i thought his tone was a little thin compared to some of the other players on the stage.

adk

thanks Jazzaferri

just gave on a listen on youtube - very nice.

Passacaglia

thanks, adk - c'est la vie. Longstanding issues and besides, like you, it sounds perhaps, getting up there in years, and body's willingness or not, I just miss it too much, so glad to be back. Heading to a fest this weekend, lots of jamming, will be fun to play around.

Good luck on your hunt - the manouche sounds great!

Paul

Jeff Moore

adk
I want to chime in on using videos as a shopping strategy. I've had (have) really good and expensive GJ guitars.
I've many times gone to buy a GJ guitar based on vids. It simply doesn't work at all for me. I'm not a techie and I don't know why my Apple laptops with or without good earphones mislead me every time. In fact, for me vids are worse than nothing.
I've asked two guys who make vids and sell guitars, and I think their thinking was that to much is lost. Only 25% of what hits the mic gets through?
I know this makes it much tougher, and it could just be me, but my experience is stark in this regard. I'd hear a bunch of videos and go to buy one guitar only to be shocked, and I'd buy another or nothing at all.
Equal and opposite to that is my experience with Michael, but its only happened in this way. I'm on the phone with him asking about guitar X and he says, you want guitar Y! Twice this has happened and twice I was smoked with the guitar he sent. This probably means that you can't limit the price (both Ys were more than the Xs) but my suggestion is that if Michael knows what you want and you have the money for a smokin guitar, he'll get you one.
Call me if you would like more specific anecdotes or opinions on whatever.
Jeff
206 842 9487

adk

thanks jeff, sound advise. (sorry)

yep always good to take the recording with a grain of salt. so many variables... (the player, the pick, the microphone, the microphone placement, the optimization of the video.)

i'm just starting out here and need to get a general idea of the characteristics of the various tones and colors associated with different woods and sound hole shapes. i'm also taking into account the size and shape of the instrument as well as the type of bracing used on the sound board.

i did have great luck selecting my ukulele this way. although it took me over a year to fully research. here's a link to hear me (if you wish to view) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWzCEa53ywc

thanks for the offer call you it is very generous and appreciated. and i didn't know calling michael was an option as well. hopefully this could possibly shave off 7 or so months in my search. i'd much rather pend that time playing rather than reading anyway.

best regards
mark