Nylon-string Manouche?

Stackabones

Hey there! I'm new around here and this is my first post.

I've seen some pics of nylon-string Selmer-style guitars on the web. Are nylon-strings used in gypsy jazz? Who makes these guitars (if any) and are there any players?

I'd imagine in an acoustic setting that there'd be problems cutting through the steel-string gits, but in an acoustic/electric setting ... can't see any sound concerns. Technique concerns, perhaps?

What say you?

Charlie Ayers

I believe that Shelley Park has built at least one, which was used to great effect on Robin Nolan's Ballads CD.

Charlie

sockeye

I think Manouche is making a nylon-string model now. **** has a couple Sevillanos, and I'm sure other builders make them as well. Rodolphe Raffalli plays a nylon-string at times, although I think he uses one with a traditional design.

MichaelHorowitz

Just got one in:

Manouche
Modele Concert 12 Fret Nylon String D-Hole Guitar w/Hiscox Hard Shell
Case

CalebFSU

Michael how does the Nylon string sound compared to regular classical guitars? I have been really wanting to buy a nylon string guitar and was contemplating a Larivee ( I have one of their OM models and like it) but the Manouches may be the ticket. Thanks in advance

MichaelHorowitz

Hi Caleb...we don't have one in the Seattle warehouse so I haven't tried it yet. I've played a number of the Jazz and Orchestra models and they were really great for the money. Very similar sound to Duponts (which cost over double)...bright, ultra fast response...great if you want a trad. sound and a lot of volume.

ramsezaz

Thomas Dutronc (former rythm guitarist of the gypsy project) plays mostly on nylon string selmacs.

There not much footage of him, but here you can hear him play tears on one of these guitars :

http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid= ... as+dutronc

CalebFSU

Ramsezaz-Hey man have actually seen that a few times and didn't even think of it when I posted yesterday, so thanks for reminding me. To me it sounds like a nice nylon string guitar he is playing anyone know what it was? I tried to see but couldn't really catch it. Thanks guys.

Stackabones

Thanks all. Good responses. A Manouche Nylon would be nice, but a bit out of my price range.

I'll check out the players mentioned. By the way, did anyone notice Dutronc's pinky when he plays lines in that vid? At first, I thought it was dislocated! Great clip. Cool to hear nylons in this music.

Keep 'em coming!

MontereyJacques

.

Jack

Indeed-if you look at photo 28 here:
http://www.johnjorgenson.com/photos.html
you'll see Andy on the left with a Selmer Concert model. More info is here:
http://www.hotclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=98

Best,
Jack.