#1
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Fingerpicking on an Archtop
Howdy all,
I've recently been really drawn to archtop guitars....not sure why exactly but its a fun new area to explore. Just curious how many of ya'll play fingerpicking tunes on their arch tops...and what kinds you have? cheers, Blue
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Blue in VT Larrivee OM-05MT "Mary Helen" Harmony Herd (1203, 162, 165, 6362) Silvercreek T-170 Composite Acoustics Cargo RAW |
#2
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I have a 1927 Gibson L-5 on which I fingerpick and play bottleneck: http://www.howardemerson.com/music1.html Listen to 'Nokie's Blue Bottle' for an open D fingerstyle bottleneck track, or listen to 'Dust Mop' for straight open E country blues (open D, capo 2) HE |
#3
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Personally, I find archtops to be the most beautiful guitars, period.
I think "fingerpicking" might be a bit broad as you can fingerpick any type of guitar. Most jazz chord melodies were certainly meant to be played on an archtop. My personal favourites are Joe Pass and Tuck Andress -- but there are many other fine players in this genre. Lots of folks use archtops for blues as well. I do think archtops have a repertoire of their own and I would not play the same pieces that I play on my flat-tops. I've seen my share of Youtube videos where people were strumming away and playing power chords on their archtops. While people are certainly free to do whatever they want on their guitars, I think it's a waste. So if the question is whether you can "fingerpick" an archtop, absolutely. If the question is whether it's cool to play Tommy Emmanuel's latest ballad on an archtop, I'd say no. The difference in tone is debatable -- but it's rather the difference in decay that makes archtops less suitable for music traditionally associated with flat-tops. Joe |
#4
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Archtops are the most beautiful works of wood that exist - good ones, that is. Cheap ones are another story.
I have been playing a very long time and I have never had the opportunity to play a very high quality archtop. I also play fingerstyle. Howard E. has convinced me that I would like a top-notch archtop for fingerstyle, but he hasn't sent me any money to buy one, so here I am, writing about it rather than experiencing it. I do hope someday to find a quiet place to sit down with a great archtop and experience what so many people find so wonderful about these guitars. |
#5
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I play fingerstyle on all my guitars.I don't use picks much anymore.
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My tools-Larrivee OM03PA and J05,72 Harmony made Fender 12 string,Guild JF30 6+12,Stagg E/A,Guild Starfire bass,a couple of Tele's,65 Gibson L48 and a 49 L7,mando,balzuki,a couple of Gretsch's,72 Fender Princton Reverb,Ultra Sound AC30 and a bunch of other toys. |
#6
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I can lend you $35. That's all my L-5 cost me back in 1976. Here's another taste of it, in video, if you'll just fast-foward to 3:40 in the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Gho...eature=related HE |
#7
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Can you add a few zeros to that number? It is the season of giving you know. :-) CR |
#8
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But then I'd be lying about what I paid for it. If it makes you feel any better the heel was cracked through the sides, about 4" each side. And the original red stripe case has a replacment latch and lots of tape on it. I tried......... HE |
#9
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Howard:
Do you realize that with inflation, your L5 would probably cost you a whopping $133 today? No matter the year, you certainly won—in a big, big way!
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********************* David M. Bishop Tucson, AZ |
#10
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Is that you, from Arizona? How're you doon? Pharmacy? HE |
#11
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I like oval hole archtop guitars. They are the best of both worlds for chord melody acoustic. They are very sweet sounding and project a little better than a f-hole archtop. Eastman makes a nice on and Erich Soloman makes a terrific aval hole archtop.
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2017 Martin Custom OM-28, Adi/Cocobolo 2018 ARK New Era L-00, All Hog 2004 Martin Custom 0028-VS, Adi/EIR 2009 SCGC 1929 00-17, Hog/Hog 2006 Andrew White F Model, cedar/maple 2008 Andrew White E Model, Cedar/Zir 2013 Martin Ambertone 000-18GE 2011 Brentrup GC6, Adi/Oak 2012 Huss and Dalton OM, Sitka/Chechen 2013 Martin custom 0028, Adi/MR 2015 ARK New ERA, OM Adi.MR Turnstone TG, Oak, |
#12
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I don't buy much music, but I like this enough to maybe even spring for a CD. And I might buy a slide a some point too.... cool stuff! Last edited by wcap; 12-03-2009 at 04:28 PM. |
#13
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Will |
#14
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Isn't it terrible how good taste will cause you to spend money? You might be interested to know that each of my CD's comes with an 8 page booklet. Each song has the key, tuning, capo location, guitar used, mic's used, placement, etc, etc. Thanks again for the kind remarks. HE http://www.howardemerson.com/ |
#15
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE_AP-pI0Ns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYQgzBCOwWU I really love the definition and articulation and the way the voices blend but yet still have good separation. |