Acoustic cutaway for chord melody?

[bebopluvr]

Just curious: do any of you play chord melody on an acoustic guitar? If so, which make and model? Do cedar or spruce tops sound better for chord melody (way too general a question, I know)?

[cmajor9]

I like to play jazz on a Taylor with a spruce top - then again, I like to play anything on that guitar!

[mr. beaumont]

I play jazz (and thereby chord melody) on anything I pick up--it's what I play.

As far as non archtop acoustics go, I jazz it better on smaller bodied guitars--more balance less boom. I love doing chord melody on my Larrivee Parlor, which is a 12 fretter and no cutaway! To me, the same wood type of on two different guitars can sound different, so I don't put too much stock into that--let your ears decide...

[docbop]

I just started playing Jazz again on my Martin and love it, but it has no cutaway so gets to be a hassle for me. Chord melody on my Martin sounds real nice, clear, full sound, comfortable neck.

I've been looking for nice acoustic with cut-away that doesn't cost too much. I got to try an Eastman acoustic and that was nice. Taylor or Martin would be great expect for the price. Has anyone tried any of the Ibanez or Takamine's in the $1000 range how are they???

Mr. B. I like the idea of the parlor guitar that would nice to have a smaller body. To me bigger body is just for volume.

[jayv999]

I use a Taylor 714ce. Sounds great. I use pretty heavy gauge strings and tune down 1/2 step for extra fullness.

[mr. beaumont]

Docbop... because I like inducing GAS...

[matt.guitarteacher]

I agree with Mr. B on the body size.

I play on a Larivee LV-03. It's spruce with a cut away and electronics. the body style is a little smaller than a dreadnought. Honestly I can't imagine playing jazz (or anything else now) on a dreadnought.

I didn't purchase it to play jazz though.

[matt.guitarteacher]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Docbop... because I like inducing GAS...

Nice! Larivees are great for the money. I personally think you get a little more bang for your buck than with a martin or taylor. They don't have so much marketshare, and you're not paying extra for the name on the headstock. Super resonant, nice woody acoustic tone at all price points I've ever played.

[whatswisdom]

Totally agree. I play CM on my Larrivee cutaway all the time. Superior instrument.

[docbop]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Docbop... because I like inducing GAS...

Oh I feel the GAS building! That is a nice look guitar and price is sweet too.

[joe b]

Originally Posted by docbop

I've been looking for nice acoustic with cut-away that doesn't cost too much. I got to try an Eastman acoustic and that was nice. Taylor or Martin would be great expect for the price. Has anyone tried any of the Ibanez or Takamine's in the $1000 range how are they???

I think Takamine is a great value as a working man's axe. Professionally set up, of course. OTOH, for $1000 you might be able to get a Taylor.

Taylor cutaway items - Get great deals on Guitar items on eBay.com!

[Gramps]

I play a 000 martin 99% of the time. Very comfortable to hold and ballanced tone. If I have to play higher than the 14th fret I use my archtop electric which has a cutaway. (hardly ever happens though)

[brad4d8]

I use my Guild F-50, no cutaway, for some chord melody stuff. I don't currently own a cutaway flattop, so if I need one it has to be either my acoustic archtop or an electric.
Brad

[Meggy]

I have been considering the possible merits of a gypsy/Django style acoustic for acoustic chord melody use. I don't really go in for that style of playing, probably because I'm not very good at it , but I think one of these guitars might work very well for more general acoustic jazz/CM use. I would be interested if anyone would like to comment on this idea, i.e. is it a good one or not?

[docbop]

Originally Posted by joe b

I think Takamine is a great value as a working man's axe. Professionally set up, of course. OTOH, for $1000 you might be able to get a Taylor.

Taylor cutaway items - Get great deals on Guitar items on eBay.com!

Cool some good deal in that list.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by Meggy

I have been considering the possible merits of a gypsy/Django style acoustic for acoustic chord melody use. I don't really go in for that style of playing, probably because I'm not very good at it , but I think one of these guitars might work very well for more general acoustic jazz/CM use. I would be interested if anyone would like to comment on this idea, i.e. is it a good one or not?

I think it's a fine idea! I do it all the time actually, my gypsy jazz duo doesn't have enough material for three sets yet, so I always flesh out each set with a few solo pieces while my compadre grabs a beer...

[msr13]

I really enjoy using a flattop. I have settled on smaller bodied (oo or ooo/OM) with 12 frets and no cutaway. The scale is about 24.9. I find them the most comfortable, and most resonant for what I like to play. Right now, I am playing the flattop more than the archtop-- for now.

[hot ford coupe]

I don't own a flat top so I when I want a good acoustic sound, I turn off my floating pickup and just go unplugged on an acoustic archop. I've got my 39 D'A and then I just got a hold of a '35 L7 which has an incredible tone. I'll just mike them and they do just fine.

[morroben]

I've been using my Martin 000-15 quite a bit lately. It's a pretty warm sounding acoustic, so I think it works well for chord melody. Probably helps that I use fingers instead of picks. It probably wouldn't make a great bluegrass acoustic, but luckily that's not what I play.

[4thstuning]

My favorite guitar (most of the time) is my Goodall std. It's the best flattop I've ever played. For jazz and chord melody it's just great.

It's used in a solo improvisation of "I Hear a Rhapsody" at my YouTube channel.

[Meggy]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I think it's a fine idea! I do it all the time actually, my gypsy jazz duo doesn't have enough material for three sets yet, so I always flesh out each set with a few solo pieces while my compadre grabs a beer...

Thank you for that feedback Mr B, I could well be tempted by this idea at some stage. Another benefit for me is that this type of guitar can be got for somewhat less than a hand carved acoustic archtop (not that I wouldn't mind one of those also...). Who knows if I got one, I might even find myself getting drawn in to the whole gypsy jazz style - I do love listening to it!

One question you might be able to help with: I have heard that the action on these guitars can be a bit on the high side - a) is this true, b) can it be adjusted lower if so, and c) does it matter for chord melody playing anyway? Cheers!

[fivebells]

There is some discussion of suitable guitars in this thread from last year: http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...tars-jazz.html

I'm still playing one of these Martinez guitars. It looks more jazzy than your average flat-top:
http://www.melmusic.com.au/image.php...ures/59917.jpg

[mike_k]

I have a Breedlove Atlas AC25SR Plus. This specific model is not made anymore because Breedlove has revamped the line. However, there is a similar model available. I think that he biggest difference between new and old models is the electronics.

My axe has a very smooth neck. In terms of playability, the guitar is highly comparable to a Taylor. Actions is very close to an electric. I really like if for chord-melody. The Atlas series is a a good price point for many players. It is around $1,000 these days for a solid top and solid back model.

[ah.clem]

I can recommend the Seagull cedar top CW (built in Canada); it's a very nice sounding small body flat top with a deep cutaway for CM and under $1000. For some reason it is hard to find the CW on their site but if you Google "Seagull S series S6+ CW Cedar" you will get the page. The street price is generally around $550-$650 US and they are a great sounding acoustic for that money.

Here's the link. http://www.seagullguitars.com/products6%2Bcw.htm

[pingu]

How do you guys deal with getting the intonation in with flat tops generally
I like to play with 13 or 14 guage TI flats

and I'm always concerned that even if the guitar has good intonation
in the shop , once I've parted with my cash and got it home
and strung it up the intonation might well be out

and you can't easily adjust intonation on a flat top can you ?

I've got an old Hofner archtop acoustic partly for this reason

how (well) do you guys cope with this potential problem

[ah.clem]

I had my guy replace the existing compensated saddle with a harder compensated saddle that he then tweaked for my chosen strings. The intonation is excellent. It's actually better than my acoustic archtop with a compensated bone saddle. I'm considering going to a tune-o-matic on the archtop if I can get over the look of it.

I guess maybe having a really good tech do the work might be a key component to getting good intonation on any guitar. They are expensive but you hear your investment every day. I compensate by drinking cheap wine...

[pingu]

ta for that ....... on flat-tops do techs move the whole bridge around
to get the intonation right ?

BTW I heard a good dodge for the archtop intonation TOM vs Wood
saddle dilemma

put the TOM bridge on
intonate with your choice of strings
trace the saddles onto a bit of paper
make / have made a new rosewood saddle based on the tracing
voila

[ah.clem]

I haven't seen the entire bridge moved; I think that would be indicative of a pretty serious intonation problem, but maybe it happens. I picked up a new saddle already compensated for the Seagull and then gave it and the strings I usually use on that instrument to the tech. He then did the fitting and the final sanding on the saddle to get the intonation set correctly. It looks and sounds great. OTOH, I have a friend with a guitar that was more than twice the cost of the Seagull do a new saddle on his instrument and it is out; but it was a tech he didn't know and the tech says it's not a big deal. Well, actually, it is. So, lesson learned.

Thanks for the tip on the TOM; the problem is, the bridge still floats so intonation is a problem once the bridge takes a hit. I actually saw a nice hack in a Stew-Mac Tips e-mail; after doing pretty much what you suggested, a transducer was being installed under the bridge, so the tech made a small hole for the wiring through the bridge and the top of the guitar, then he added a very small dowel to keep the bridge from moving. Once the saddle was installed everything was jake. Intonation spot-on and no more bridge movement. And no wires hanging off the bridge. I could probably live with that. My old ears aren't going to notice the change in sound produced by the modification.

But that's just me. Might be sacrilegious to someone else.

[pingu]

No probs with the dowl thing from me
I've never needed do fix an archtops bridge ........
depends on the downward string pressure I'd guess
ie break angle and guage of strings