Still really impressed with the way this guitar is opening up/breaking in. It's a completely different guitar than it was when it arrived this spring.
The uglyness, has all but vanished, and it certainly projects/responds better now. I swear, it's gotten louder. Even with the stock bridge,for comparison, it's tone and responsiveness are night and day from what it was.
The Cork piece ( thanks for the tip buddy) under the tailpiece has really made a huge difference in the overtones and wetness; it hasn't cured it, but it did drastically reduce it and cleaned up the sound quite nicely. I'm wondering too now, how much of a disservice that tailpiece is doing to the guitar? Just a thought.
I'm really glad I didn't unload this guitar,although I was REALLY considering it,a few times.
I've often wondered about the effect of pressing a wad of Blue-Tack (or some other rubbery substance that is used to hold posters to a wall) into the underside of the brass tail piece. It seems to me that would act to deaden any natural frequencies that it might produce.
I havent done this, bit it seems very easy, out of sight and removable.
Ian, you might remember that we suggested that it would take a year to a year and a half for the guitar to open up. Somethings can't be rushed. Interesting, isn't it, how the original bridge sounds after a year's time. I routed mine out to remove some mass, and it sounds splendid on my DG-300. It's a good guitar. I'm sure that your constant playing has pushed the "opening up" to the optimal level for the time that you've had it. I also think that we learn, very slowly in my case, how to coax the desired sounds out of the instruments.
do you guys got problems with the thinkness of the neck ?
i want a DG-300 or a Cigano with the custom bridge, leather piece and fret level upgrades from djangobooks. still cant decide between those 2 guitars.
I've often wondered about the effect of pressing a wad of Blue-Tack (or some other rubbery substance that is used to hold posters to a wall) into the underside of the brass tail piece. It seems to me that would act to deaden any natural frequencies that it might produce.
I havent done this, bit it seems very easy, out of sight and removable.
Ian, you might remember that we suggested that it would take a year to a year and a half for the guitar to open up. Somethings can't be rushed. Interesting, isn't it, how the original bridge sounds after a year's time. I routed mine out to remove some mass, and it sounds splendid on my DG-300. It's a good guitar. I'm sure that your constant playing has pushed the "opening up" to the optimal level for the time that you've had it. I also think that we learn, very slowly in my case, how to coax the desired sounds out of the instruments.
May your quest continue to be successful !
I do indeed!!! The difference over 9 months has been quite dramatic.Like a different guitar.
I can't help but wondering; when John Jorgenson gets a new 300, what does he have done with it?
do you guys got problems with the thinkness of the neck ?
i want a DG-300 or a Cigano with the custom bridge, leather piece and fret level upgrades from djangobooks. still cant decide between those 2 guitars.
The neck is quite stout. Older models have a more pronounced U shape with quite a bit of shoulder. Mine is quite thick, and almost "clubby". Not nessesarily bad, just really big. I'd say, fork out the extra $$ for the 300, and get the full "Josh-treatment". I wish I had when I ordered mine.
The felt didn't really do much. I did however get two pIeces of local Deer leather, that I'm going to try under the tailpiece. They're almost a butterscotch color, but I hope it'll look good whIle damping some more unwanted "Schmutz" in the Tone.
The guitar is playing really well lately. The treble's really more pronounced in the last few weeks, but it's still opening up and breaking in.
Just to mess things up a bit I tried a Dupont bridge on my DG 300 and had to come fast as I could to my modified stock bridge... as for the neck, way back when it used to be even more thick than now and that was a big plus IMO. This is one of the reasons why I find very hard to part from my old DG 300... the other is the wood they used for the top, I've never seen a more evenly grained one on a Gitane: they were trying to impress people with the JJ model at the time, I guess!
Did some recording/ playing with the 300 this weekend. I must say, it did a fine job. Played a bunch of standards with a Jazz band, and did some recording with em' too.
Comments
The uglyness, has all but vanished, and it certainly projects/responds better now. I swear, it's gotten louder. Even with the stock bridge,for comparison, it's tone and responsiveness are night and day from what it was.
The Cork piece ( thanks for the tip buddy) under the tailpiece has really made a huge difference in the overtones and wetness; it hasn't cured it, but it did drastically reduce it and cleaned up the sound quite nicely. I'm wondering too now, how much of a disservice that tailpiece is doing to the guitar? Just a thought.
I'm really glad I didn't unload this guitar,although I was REALLY considering it,a few times.
I havent done this, bit it seems very easy, out of sight and removable.
Ian, you might remember that we suggested that it would take a year to a year and a half for the guitar to open up. Somethings can't be rushed. Interesting, isn't it, how the original bridge sounds after a year's time. I routed mine out to remove some mass, and it sounds splendid on my DG-300. It's a good guitar. I'm sure that your constant playing has pushed the "opening up" to the optimal level for the time that you've had it. I also think that we learn, very slowly in my case, how to coax the desired sounds out of the instruments.
May your quest continue to be successful !
i want a DG-300 or a Cigano with the custom bridge, leather piece and fret level upgrades from djangobooks. still cant decide between those 2 guitars.
I can't help but wondering; when John Jorgenson gets a new 300, what does he have done with it?
The guitar is playing really well lately. The treble's really more pronounced in the last few weeks, but it's still opening up and breaking in.
Hi Ian,
I would like to try that on my guitars, any chance you could take some pictures of the process?
Thanks in advance
Miguel @ hcdb