Why no Gypsy mass guitar

[whvick]

I just ran across some youtube and it was impressive. Do any of you guys have those guitars and play that way?

[whvick]

Originally Posted by whvick

I just ran across some youtube and it was impressive. Do any of you guys have those guitars and play that way?

That should be Gypsy Jazz guitar

[Brent Hahn]

I love that style of music, but I'm not crazy about that style of instrument.

[Steve DeRosa]

Interesting juxtaposition of words, since St. Peter's Lutheran in NYC has a long-running "Jazz Vespers" series that draws top-flight musicians; went to a couple in the early-70's, don't know if they've ever done a Gypsy-jazz service but I'd love to see/hear it if they did...

[Rudy4]

Not me. To do it right ya gotta chop off a couple of fingers...

[frankmcr]

The thread starter can change the title. "Advanced edit" I think is the function for doing that.

Right now it's like "Why aren't gypsy jazz guitars mass produced" or something.

[mr. beaumont]

It's my go to acoustic. I sold my much more expensive flat top after buying one, actually. I have a "short scale" (short for these guitars is about 25.5") D hole, and it's surprisingly versatile. I use it for everything, and while I play mostly jazz, I do not only play gypsy jazz, if that makes sense.

They'll kinda ruin other flattops for you, if you like to play single note solos.

[whvick]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

The thread starter can change the title. "Advanced edit" I think is the function for doing that.



Right now it's like "Why aren't gypsy jazz guitars mass produced" or something.

But how do I get to advanced edit?

[Silly Moustache]

Go to Edit and loo for box saying advanced edit.

These guitars are a design by an Italian luthier called Mario Maccaferri.
They were built in Paris by Selmer (noted orchestral instrument makers) from 1932 to 1952.

They were an alternative to the US style archtop for orchestral rhythm use.
They are very lightly built, wear very thin strings, but very loud.

As usually happens - when a style of guitar is made for one market they are taken up by another, and the french Roma (Manouches) made them famous for their form of jazz in the '30s, with Django Reinhardt and his brothers (Hot Club Of France etc.) being the most famous.

To me they feel strange and sound very thin but they certainly work for the type of music with which they are now associated.

There are two main styles - Grand bouche (big mouth) with a D shaped sound hole with a resonator thingy within to accentuate volume and balance, and the later Selmer modified version with a smaller oval sound hole and a longer scale (>26")

there have been larger and smaller luthier made versions of these designs made ever since and I see that Eastman are now making them.

here are some examples:

Django and the HCF: Picture shows him playing the original "Maccaferri style.




Here yuo see him playing the "petit bouche" style. Note his crippled fingers on his fretting hand.



Eastman is now building very similar instruments.

Here is a chap called Birelli Legrene who I first saw playing when he was about 14 !



Here's a bunch I met at the Cambridge folk Festival in 1975. They were booked for the main stage twice but simply never stopped playing - so could be seen playing in the bars, in the woods anywhere.

[mr. beaumont]

The original Maccaferri design was intended to be a classical guitar! Who would have known...

You won't find many, if any, D holes with a resonator these days. That was pretty much a failed design.

People often say they have a "thin" tone, but I disagree completely...maybe not lush for strumming chords with lots of open strings, but if you play some chunky swing rhythm or take a single note lead on one of these guitars, they're fatter sounding than any flat top you'll ever play.

[Silly Moustache]

Well whilst recovering from Storm Dennis tearing lumps off my house all last night, this has sent me down a "lapin" hole of Manouche guitars and music.

I stumbled on this lesson which whilst very interesting and well done also demonstrates the real sound of a Maccaferri design (grand bouche) and the Selmer (petit bouche).

As you will tell the acoustic sound of these things is not exactly "pretty" like we expect from flat tops (they aren't archtops nor real flat tops really). the Selmer is harsher, but more percussive - and cuts though for lead work.

they are also played with very light gauge strings and usually a really heavy pick(!)

[musicman1951]

I've seen the Hot Club of Detroit a couple of times and those guitars work great for their music, but I don't play Gypsy Jazz. It's not a guitar I'm interested in purchasing. I like sustain.

[gfspencer]

Every time I hear music like that it reminds me of what a crummy guitar player I am.

Love the music! The guitars are very interesting.

Excuse me while I practice "Tom Dooley".

[mr. beaumont]

They can soften up, depending on how you play. Here's some of the best young players in the world, very pretty tune.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by whvick

That should be Gypsy Jazz guitar

Ha!!! well when I read the title I thought of this (be forewarned nary an acoustic in sight )