Great tone or Speed?

HCPhilly

Interesting discussion. I'd agree with Michael about Stochelo's
tone. It seems to me that a lot of the players that I heard last year
jamming at Samois, especially the younger players were squarely in the Dutch modern school, lots of worked out open string/closed string patterns, etc. It's usually done very well, and it's impressive to some degree, but it gets old pretty quick. [Don't get me wrong, it's very cool stuff that is part of the style, but when you listen to Stochelo, you hear that the fast worked out stuff is just part of everything that he does]. It's funny that a lot of these guys sound like they are trying to be Stochelo, rather than Django. Django was clearly influenced by players of other instruments, like Louie Armstrong. I just hear the influence of other guitar players in a lot of players. It's kind of rare in general at jam sessions to hear players some really beautiful melodies slowly with some nice vibrato. It's easier to play a lot of notes than just a few really right ones. the whole "shredder" only style, doesn't have much mystery, romance or swing to it.

MichaelHorowitz

HCPhilly wrote:

It's funny that a lot of these guys sound like they are trying to be Stochelo, rather than Django.

Exactly! I know Gypsies who never really listen to Django. It's all about copying Stochelo...he codified a whole "Gypsy Shred" style that influenced a whole generation of players.

a

michael,
which is louder or more present, your dupont with the low action, heavy strings, or the favino with high action and lights? which one is easier to play? which has a bigger sweet spot?

MichaelHorowitz

The Dupont is hands down a louder guitar...but also a harsher guitar. But that's great for cutting through with leads. Ultimately the louder guitars are also harsher. But if you get a good one, it will have a nice balance that gives you projection without hurting your ears.

The Favino is still plenty loud....you just have to play it harder. It has a much higher threshold for abuse then the Dupont. You can really wack the crap out of it and it just keeps giving you more. Playing hard on the Dupont doesn't really do much. The Favino is a way, way better rhythm guitar and much better for solo guitar stuff.

If you listen to the early recordings of Boulou Ferre, you'll hear what a Favino sounds like when it gets beat to hell. Really great sound!

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Boulou
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Boulou
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Gypsy
Dreams

While the previously mentioned Stochelo CDs are my favorite Selmer tone on record. These Boulou CDs are my favorite examples of a Favino. The guitars sounds totally awesome on these recordings! But like Stochelo. Boulou seems to now play with lower action. I've played a few of the Dell Artes he had last time he was here and they were pretty buttery. And you can hear on the recent recordings he's got a lot more buzz then he used to. Again, I think it's just too hard to maintain that high action technique. It takes constant practice.


BTW, you can hear my favino here: [url=http://www.djangobooks.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1781]viewtopic.php?t=1781[/url]

Sounds nice for solo stuff...

a

i really dig his nuages and variation of romanian folklore from that gypsy dreams. definitely one of the best versions of nuages i've ever heard.
does boulou ever play with the newer guys?

MichaelHorowitz

He basically only plays with Elios and the occasional bass player or pianist. Boulou and Elios have been a duo their entire lives...pretty amazing when you think about it.

Boulou is also a great organ player...I think he plays Baroque stuff at the Louvre every Sunday.

a

his harmonic pallette is so much more complex than the others..are they any other guys who play like that?

MichaelHorowitz

He's a one of a kind.....

djadam

Put me down for tone. Music is as much about space and silence as it is about making sound. Some of the players who are considered great at the moment bore me to tears. There's no phrasing or breath in their playing. Speed has its place, but for me, music is sensual. Playing fast all the time is like bunny sex.

klaatu

Here's another vote for tone, and more to the point, musicality and expression. To borrow from other genres, Eddie Van Halen can dazzle you with his virtuosity and blinding speed, but BB King can play just one single note and bring you to tears.