Hello everybody.
First of all, I want to say that this forum is wonderful:).Provides many info and gives answers to many thoughts of mine.Also this community makes you feel more comfortable for gypsy jazz at least for a beginner like me...:)
I am playing guitar many years and the last 3-4 months i got really excited with gypsy jazz.
I read a lot of things in many sites and the thing is that i m little bit confused:(
I am planning to buy a Gypsy guitar and Start studying more serious(now I have an acoustic normal guitar).
My wallet cannot afford more than 800 Euros...to pay
...so..with what model can I start with?
Also what is the suitable pick for a beginner..Imagine that now I play with 1.5mm....pick.Also,Gypsy picking book that is on sale is necessary to start with?
Maybe seems very rookie all my post but I would appreciate to read some advices from you.
Thanks
Comments
first : welcome to the forum :!:
now for your questions :
The book "Gypsy Picking" by Michael Horowitz is strongly recommended, you won´t get any better tutorial on the special picking technique required to make the music sound the way it should...definitely a "must have"
Picks : 1,5 mm is okay when you feel comfortable with it, but a lot of people go with a thicker one. I felt fine with the Wegen Gypsyjazzpick, it´s 3,5 mm, which sounds like a lot, but you get used to it quickly. Just try and find out what you like.
Guitars under 800 Euros...there´s the "budget standard" Gitane DG-255, also the Gallato Modele Django, which is about the same price as the Gitane, but semi-handcrafted in Europe. I bought a Gitane a few weeks ago, and it serves me really well so far.
Keep playing and enjoy....best wishes,
Matthias
I'd say if you want to stay really cheap, ie not to invest in anything, I think it's very fine and won't prevent you to play GJ.
As Dennis often demonstrates, any guitar works fine if you want to learn the genre. Of course acoustic is better, and GJ is even better. But it isn't necessary.
A thick pick will only help you to get your ears and your hands used to what it should feel like, but then again a cheap Dunlop 2mm should do it. But it's the right technique that will really deliver the right sound and the right drive to your playing, not the pick.
Finally, there is plenty of material online, website or Youtube videos, that should give you the fundamentals of your GJ education :
http://www.serendipity-band.com/misc/ma ... toc-en.htm for example, and the free lessons on this website.
If you're ready to commit and want to use your dedicated budget, then I'd go for a Cigano with a custom setup from Michael's website.
A Wegen pick is going to help to get the tone.
And for your education, you can't go wrong with any of Michael's books or Dennis Chang's DVDs.
Then it is necessary for you get some of these online play-along, or do them yourself, and find some friends to play with.
Good luck !
-JG
From a past thread (that guy had a lower budget than you but it's still a good way to go):
With $400 I'd get a Cigano oval hole, some Argentine strings, you can get one set of each and see which one you like best, Wegen gypsy jazz pick 3.5mm is a good to place to start and won't let you do anything wrong while learning gypsy picking, a 2.5 mm will work too.
So:
Cigano $330 with gigbag= $380
Wegen= $15
2 sets of Argentines (1 -10s, 1 -11s)= $18
Gypsy picking book= $35
That's about $450 and a really good way to start. Amazing value for the $$ i think!
If you have a little more I'd get this:
Hardshell case instead of gigbag
Dennis chang "the art of accompaniment" DVD =$50
That will get you playing good rhythm which is very important.
Denis Chang's "Technique and improvisation" 4 dvd series around $200. You'll be playing in no time!!!
If you can afford it get a Gitane 300 series instead of the Cigano.
If you have any questions ask Michael Horowitz he knows a lot about this! and he's really honest.
I really needed all that..:)
Today i spoke with the only shOp in Athens,Greece that sells gyspsy jazz guitars and they offer me
GITANE DG255---750 EUROS
GITANE DG250---790EUROS
DG-300 John Jorgenson--1050EUROS
....
Shipping to Greece is only 20 Euros.
Here is the Gitane DG-255 for only 569 Euros
http://www.thomann.de/gr/gitane_dg255.htm
Good luck
https://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/ca ... -saga.html
I used to own a DG 250 which I liked and would have kept if it wasn't for the neck being so thin, in retrospect if had had a Jorgenson I'd probably be still playing it to this day.
This is quite true... My bandmate has at 250-M and the neck is oddly thin. I have a Jorgenson 320 (which I got through this site) and I love it.
Dave
I think that I found a used one, Saga Gitane 250,2 years old used and the guy will give me around 300Euros.
I think its ok for mY beginning
Thanks anyway