Long time Bass Player learning to play Jazz Guitar

[Sailynn]

After being an exclusive bass player for over 45 years, I'm turning to learn jazz guitar. I've just been a basic chord strummer, but it's onto to the world of jazz guitar theory.

I'm on lesson 10 of Mickey Baker's Vol. 1 and I'm using my jumbo flat top for practice. I've looked at a number of archtop hollow body's, Ibanez, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guitar Research, Samick, Aria, etc. I've picked out two guitars, the Loar LH-650 and the Hofner HCT-J17. The specs on the Loar are remarkable for an $1,100 guitar. The Hofner is probably more my speed to learn on without a huge investment.

Anyone recommend Jimmy Bruno's books and DVDs?
Adrian Ingram's DVDs?

[derek]

Welcome to our group. Jimmy's stuff is always good. Haven't seen Adrian's stuff in person.

[Sailynn]

Thanks. I just ordered Jimmy's DVD "No Nonsense Jazz Guitar", so I'll get started on that.

[oldplayer2]

I am an old bass man also. Many years ago I was studying classical guitar to get the skill to try so sound like Charlie Byrd. My teacher had played guitar for Louie Prima and Keely Smith. When I heard him play on a club date, I quit guitar shifted to bass. I played with with him for several years. I finally had to quit because of business travel. Now I am working on guitar again.

[Sailynn]

I may met one of your band mates, years ago. I worked in Dallas, TX and an office mate told me he played sax for Loius Prima. For the life of me, I can't remember his name. Unfortunately, I remembered that he passed away.

[oldplayer2]

Hi Sailynn
The guitarist I worked with, who played with Louie Prima, worked under the name 'Jimmy Perry'. I worked with him in Philadelphia for a singer Skippy Devine. Jimmy had his own trio in a club in Las Vegas for a while. Jimmy has been gone for a few years. He played a 1931 or 32 Gibson L5. He used heavy strings with the action cranked up high. He play with the side of a pick not the point. His instrument had been refretted several times.
He had the ebony finger board replaced twice. He slowly crushed the wood and wore the board out from string contact.
I am looking around to find what strings I should use to get his sound. What should the top string be--0.013----0.015?

[Sailynn]

From what I hear from other players, I don't know of anyone that uses larger than 0.013 gauge. Right now, on my practice guitar, I'm using 0.012.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I'm using 13s on a L5 now (so 25 1/2" scale, and low action, by the way), and for YEARS I used La Bella Nylon Tape Flat Wound Mediums (0.014 - 0.067). We're out there!

[Josh Sanders]

Hey one thing you should look into is learning carter family root-strum technique....get some Carter family records from the 1930s and listen to Mother Maybelle's technique. It is not exactly teaching you how to play complex chord voicings but it is a must as far as basic strumming technique...

Originally Posted by Sailynn

After being an exclusive bass player for over 45 years, I'm turning to learn jazz guitar. I've just been a basic chord strummer, but it's onto to the world of jazz guitar theory.

I'm on lesson 10 of Mickey Baker's Vol. 1 and I'm using my jumbo flat top for practice. I've looked at a number of archtop hollow body's, Ibanez, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guitar Research, Samick, Aria, etc. I've picked out two guitars, the Loar LH-650 and the Hofner HCT-J17. The specs on the Loar are remarkable for an $1,100 guitar. The Hofner is probably more my speed to learn on without a huge investment.

Anyone recommend Jimmy Bruno's books and DVDs?
Adrian Ingram's DVDs?

[Sailynn]

Thanks for that tip. I'll look for that. I can't tell you how affirming your advice is. When I played bass, my rhythm is primary.

I recently told another guitarist, recently fired from a band, that I thought he needed to work on his strumming hand moreso than his chording/soloing hand.

Thanks,