Guitar loud enough to play with gypsy guitars

[MMarc]

Hello,

I play some jam where :
- we can play only acoustic
- with double bass
- with gypsy guitarist

I have a 16 inch archtop - eastman ar805ce with acoustic strings - which is not loud enough when playing melodies or chorus.

I am looking for an acoustic guitar loud enough - very loud in fact - to play whith those gypsy guitarists.

I don't play gipsy jazz so I don't think buying a gypsy guitar will be a good idea.

I play almost only jazz.

Have you got recommandations ?

Will a jumbo guitar be a good solution ? With enough mids ?

Thanks for your help.

(I am french so my english isn't good. Apologize for that).

[Stringswinger]

Hello,

I play some jam where :
- we can play only acoustic
- with double bass
- with gypsy guitarist

I have a 16 inch archtop - eastman ar805ce with acoustic strings - which is not loud enough when playing melodies or chorus.

I am looking for an acoustic guitar loud enough - very loud in fact - to play whith those gypsy guitarists.

I don't play gipsy jazz so I don't think buying a gypsy guitar will be a good idea.

I play almost only jazz.

Have you got recommandations ?

Will a jumbo guitar be a good solution ? With enough mids ?

Thanks for your help.

(I am french so my english isn't good. Apologize for that).

If you don't want to go the Gypsy guitar route and you cannot use an amp you have two choices:

1. A Resonator guitar

2. An acoustic archtop made for volume. A vintage Epiphone will be your best bet.

[Christian Miller]

Hello,

I play some jam where :
- we can play only acoustic
- with double bass
- with gypsy guitarist

I have a 16 inch archtop - eastman ar805ce with acoustic strings - which is not loud enough when playing melodies or chorus.

I am looking for an acoustic guitar loud enough - very loud in fact - to play whith those gypsy guitarists.

I don't play gipsy jazz so I don't think buying a gypsy guitar will be a good idea.

I play almost only jazz.

Have you got recommandations ?

Will a jumbo guitar be a good solution ? With enough mids ?

Thanks for your help.

(I am french so my english isn't good. Apologize for that).

Loar LH600 or LH700?


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[GuyBoden]

115 Euro
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010406906043.html?

I'd get an inexpensive China gypsy guitar for occasional Django Jams.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010406906043.html?

[SierraTango]

Hello,

I play some jam where :
- we can play only acoustic
- with double bass
- with gypsy guitarist

I have a 16 inch archtop - eastman ar805ce with acoustic strings - which is not loud enough when playing melodies or chorus.

I am looking for an acoustic guitar loud enough - very loud in fact - to play whith those gypsy guitarists.

I don't play gipsy jazz so I don't think buying a gypsy guitar will be a good idea.

I play almost only jazz.

Have you got recommandations ?

Will a jumbo guitar be a good solution ? With enough mids ?

Thanks for your help.

(I am french so my english isn't good. Apologize for that).

I agree mostly with what SS and Guy have posted, however would like to add a few thoughts:

A vintage Epiphone non-cut Spartan, Zenith, Triumph would be ideal. Don't be fooled by the Reissue models that came out a few years ago. The real thing from the 30's, 40's and early 50's in good playing condition is going to be at least $1500.00 USD and probably more in Europe. If you find something like that be sure to play it first because like any 80ish year old guitar it can have issues.

For that kind of money, you can buy a Dupont Nomad, which is probably more available in France. I understand you are hesitant to purchase a Gypsy guitar. However let me assure you that even though they are kind of a one trick pony, you can play straight jazz on one no problem. Also a archtop isn't going to give that crunchy, dry tone like a GJG.

Although I'm no ace Gypsy player I owned a Dupont MC-30-14 up until a few months ago. Unfortunately I had to sell it due to family circumstances. As a "consolation prize" I picked up a mint Gitane D-500 for about $800 USD and it's pretty close to the volume output of the Dupont, but does lack the power and tone of the Dupont. It's fine for practice or the occasional campfire jam.

[John A.]

I had a Gitane D500 for a while. They’re not too expensive, decent quality, and quite loud. Their GJ “bark” is a little less pronounced than most others (which makes them a little more usable just as an acoustic guitar).

[AllanAllen]

Hello,

I play some jam where :
- we can play only acoustic
- with double bass
- with gypsy guitarist

I have a 16 inch archtop - eastman ar805ce with acoustic strings - which is not loud enough when playing melodies or chorus.

I am looking for an acoustic guitar loud enough - very loud in fact - to play whith those gypsy guitarists.

I don't play gipsy jazz so I don't think buying a gypsy guitar will be a good idea.

I play almost only jazz.

Have you got recommandations ?

Will a jumbo guitar be a good solution ? With enough mids ?

Thanks for your help.

(I am french so my english isn't good. Apologize for that).

Based on this… I think you do, in fact, play gypsy jazz.

[MMarc]

Or maybee play classic jazz with a gypsy guitar...

[Christian Miller]

I lot of projection is in the right hand technique


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[AllanAllen]

I lot of projection is in the right hand technique


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No, the only solution is to buy another guitar.

[Christian Miller]

No, the only solution is to buy another guitar.

Sorry, my bad


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[MMarc]

Hello,

Thanks for your help.

It's not a matter of right hand technique while comping :
- I ask mostly for being heard when playing melodies and chorussing
- we exchange our guitars when one of the gypsy guitarist and my guitar wasn't loud enough even with his right hand technique

[Cavalier]

Old Ovation. Deep bowl. Lots of variations, I'd look at a A braced Legend. The harder you play the louder it gets. You could get a Al Dimeola vibe going

[MMarc]

Ovation are loyder than jumbo ?

Are there flat top guitar loyd enough to be played with gypsy guitars ?

I don't have the money for a vintage epiphone archtop and I don't find any here in France under 5 000 bocks

[Christian Miller]

Ovation are loyder than jumbo ?

Are there flat top guitar loyd enough to be played with gypsy guitars ?

I don't have the money for a vintage epiphone archtop and I don't find any here in France under 5 000 bocks

What’s your budget?


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[ragman1]

Allan is right. Obviously you need another gypsy guitar so you either buy one or borrow one. An ordinary acoustic won't compete with the gypsy sound.

Or forget this gig, of course. Dommage, but tant pis.

[Sigmund451]

Lots of choices on Leboncoin in all price ranges. Of course its better if you can play it in person.

[garybaldy]

I haven’t done GJ for a long time. I've been meaning to go to a local GJ open session on a Monday night for ages but can't seem to get my butt out of the chair to go. I'm 70 in May!
If I did go, I'd take this:

[Cavalier]

Ovation are loyder than jumbo ?

Are there flat top guitar loyd enough to be played with gypsy guitars ?

I don't have the money for a vintage epiphone archtop and I don't find any here in France under 5 000 bocks

Deep bowl Ovations are louder than jumbos, that parabolic back projects like a bandstand. The A braced versions have strong mids and even tone and volume all the way up the neck. I think the question about if it would fit the music is up to you. People as diverse as John McLaughlin and Tony Rice used them which gives an idea of the range of applications.
Never hurts to try when you are looking, comparing.

[Hep To The Jive]

Maybe such guitar doesn't exist unfortunately. At least in the lower budget category. Some guitars are loud but you can't still hear them in a mix. I had a single cone National resonator, pro level instrument that was plenty loud, but still not cutting. No mids, too much bass, that's a problem. I've heard tri cones are better, but no experience with them. If someone can prove me wrong I'll be only happy.

[AGreatApe]

Maybe such guitar doesn't exist unfortunately. At least in the lower budget category. Some guitars are loud but you can't still hear them in a mix. I had a single cone National resonator, pro level instrument that was plenty loud, but still not cutting. No mids, too much bass, that's a problem. I've heard tri cones are better, but no experience with them. If someone can prove me wrong I'll be only happy.

Yes, OP seems to equate "jumboness" with more sound, but the extra power one senses at point of guitar is not same as projection. Projection to corners of a room is often the opposite situation- with smaller box, voiced to all but forget about bass response (which costs extra energy.) The most projecting classical guitars are on the small side, and probably not so pretty to a player, who is used to nice bassiness and sustained tone. (I don't know anything about GJ guitars, just putting a principle on the table for consideration.)

[Ascend to Victory]

I'm surprised the Eastman AR805CE isn't loud enough. I have an AR880CE and while it's not as loud acoustically, it does pretty well against my friends Gipsy Jazz guitar. Sounds like that other guitar must be a cannon.

[Jx30510]

Hi. I went thru the same problem. Funny, I'm also french and was exactly in the same situation..
These Gypsy players seem to like banging their instruments, and are in some kind of "the louder the better" competition.. no kidding.

I tried to play with every acoustic guitar I could find (Martin OM, Gibson LG2, Yamaha Red label.. )
Nothing could compete. Gypsy guitars are made to cut like razors, and the unusual long scale enhances that.
I eventualy tried the real thing.. a Gypsy guitar. But the thing is, I don't like them.
An acoustic archtop will not compete either.
So you have 2 solutions :
* get these guys to play softer. But that'll be a tough task
* just get a small acoustic amp and a rosace mic, and play the guitar you love.
Bonne chance !

[Spook410]

So.. you have a perfectly good excuse to buy another guitar. Carpe diem.

[Hammertone]

Try one of these. Hofner Model 456 or 456/S. All-laminated, all maple, lower end of the range. Very little bass, lots of treble, lots of cut. And loud. And cheap. And easy to find in Europe.