Carl Kress question

chap

It is my understanding that Kress played tuned to fifths straight across accounting for that crazy range of his. Are there any gypsy players or other jazz players using this tuning?

Stackabones

TedGottsegen wrote:

Marty Grosz.

Man, I love him! I had no idea!!!

Cuimean

TedGottsegen wrote:

Marty Grosz.

Funny that he should come up...I just started reading his father's autobiography.

bbwood_98

Also,
Dck Mcdounogh also played in this tuning at first, as did the cat who played in Nat coles trio- name is escaping me- but he played on tenor, and when on 6 srting in the 5th tuning. Sometimes so did fred guy. a host of the older bigt band cats used these every once in a while- though very few all the time. Anyone know anybody else current who's using this tuning other then marty?
B.

Stackabones

bbwood_98 wrote:

Also,
as did the cat who played in Nat coles trio- name is escaping me- but he played on tenor, and when on 6 srting in the 5th tuning. .

Oscar Moore?!?! Really? Wow!

Cuimean

bbwood_98 wrote:

Anyone know anybody else current who's using this tuning other then marty?
B.

I saw Raul Reynoso at a Djangofest in Laguna a few years ago, and the guitarist who was playing with him talked about using that tuning. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name.

Bones

What are the pitches of the strings from low to high?

Jack

According to this article, which is an interesting read on its own, the Kress tuning is:

6th string - Bb
5th string - F
4th string - D
3rd string - G
2nd string - A
1st string - D


I think though that the actual tuning is more like this (see The Guitar in Jazz by James Sallis, page 92):

6th string - Bb
5th string - F
4th string - C
3rd string - G
2nd string - D
1st string - A

Finally, I've also seen it listed as having a second string B and first string D in some articles about Reynoso and Mattocks...I'm sure someone else can confirm it one way or another...

best,
Jack.

delsbrother

IIRC Doug uses BbFCGBD (fifths on the bottom and plectrum on top). Last time I saw him he was playing a beautiful maple Dellarte..

ps Ted, still interested in your EFS stuff, but I don't have your address! PM me!