Right Hand Question

Rob MacKillop · December 2014

Haha. Seems like a good rule!

Lango-Django · December 2014

Rob, I too have occasionally found it more practical to do exactly the same thing as you when attempting to play along with Django.

However, I've always had the nagging feeling that a "real" gypsy guitarist wouldn't want or need to do so...

My excuse--- and I'm sticking to it--- is: "Hey, fuck off, I'm an old guy! Leave me alone!"

(BTW, that's a real good looking archtop in your picture... Is that your "Columbian Major"? That's a brand I've never heard of before...)

Rob MacKillop · December 2014

Yes, Lango-Django. I found it in a junk-shop about two weeks ago, for £100. It's a Harmony off-shoot, only imported into the UK in 1939. The top is solid spruce, the back and sides are laminates, and beautifully figured. The neck is a nightmare - really thick and heavy. The action is medium, and it currently has D'Addario bronze 12s on, which I might go down to 11s next time I buy a set.
It's not a Gibson L5, sadly, and the sound is not the best, but with a heavy pick and rest strokes I can coax an acceptable sound out of it. It will do me for six months as I save my pennies for a decent Selmer-like guitar. It does look beautiful, though.

Looks like I should abandon my "down strokes on down beats" idea I once learned from lute playing! :-)

Jazzaferri · December 2014

Check to see if the bridge is a really tight fit to the top. Have an old Kay that sounded really nice once I sanded the bridge feet to fit the top contours.

Rob MacKillop · December 2014

It seems to be the original bridge, and fits perfectly, thanks. These never were high-level guitars, but it does me fine for the moment.

rgrice · December 2014

I also have a late 50s Kay archtop which sounds great but very tough to play. It's an ongoing project. Have a bridge I need to lower, but have fitted it top and as @Jazzaferri says once that's done, they sound very sweet! Mine is very dry and gypsy sounding with much less volume.

Jazzaferri · December 2014

The neck on mine is sweet. Very much like a Les Paul of the day in shape.

rgrice · December 2014

My neck is bowed upward a bit beginning at about 12 fret due in part to a bad repair job. I can only lower the bridge so much before the strings make contact being fretted. Still slowly lowering by sanding bridge, which is adjustable at least, so that I can raise if lowered too much by sanding. Only true fix, I fear, is to remove fret wire, level neck, and replace fret wire. It's such a cool old guitar tho!