Guitare Partie

Bob Holo

Oh that was a fun day. To answer your question - yes, some guitars I make are 'bench copies' of historical instruments and some borrow design elements from various makers. I'm particularly fond of Busato and so he influences quite a bit of what I do. Selmer does as well, as do Jacques Favino, and the elder DiMauros.

The ones in this picture are a variation on an historical instrument which I love. They are an attempt to capture its tonal palate and attack while easing back a bit on the nose. Some of you tried that cedar Selmer model at DFSF - same concept only that was based on a Selmer.

At any rate... I must be getting politically correct in my old age to preface all this stuff - but the bottom line is that there are some sound samples and I'm trying to figure out a way to post them up here in a manner that people will find cool but that will not reveal owners of various guitars or lead to heated debates. The only way I've come up with so far that makes sense is if I label them "Holo after Busato" vs. "Vintage Busato". If people think this is cool - pretty much the only heated debate that could come out of that is if someone said: 'Hey Holo - your guitars suck and you're ugly." ... and I'm pretty thick skinned so if that happens - it happens. On the other hand, if people find this interesting, maybe I could do them for DiMauro or Selmer work later on etc... Basically it takes Michael and I (and Josh when he's able to make it which unfortunatly he couldn't yesterday being slammed with work - probably setup for DJIJ!!! Woo hoo! Can't wait for DJIJ) But basically it puts us out of commission for a full day - and it means we need to coordinate with the owners of the instruments to entrust us with their babies, and it costs the better part of a hundred in gas money for whomever travels - so we don't do it often. But if you like it, maybe we'll do it a few more times. Or more accurately, we'll post something - because we'll continue to do it in any case because it's absolutely essential to do this sort of thing. It brings an objectivity that is impossible to get any other way. When the guitars are all side by side - there aren't any romantic notions or larger than life memories about once hearing Tchavolo play such-and-such a guitar... It's just "Bang - there is this one - and then - pick up the next one and - then pick up the next one. It is still subjective because you're figuring out what you like and don't like about each guitar, but it forces the listener to think critically which is absolutely necessary in order to make any real progress.

Craig Bumgarner

I would love to hear these kinds of A:B comparisons.

Craig