-
I am wondering if anyone has had success with resonator style guitars, biscuit or otherwise, in jazz? They seem very popular in blues, but not so much in jazz?
-
08-28-2011 08:38 PM
-
Oscar Aleman was known to have used a National Tri-Cone during his career.
Although not a jazz player, Natalicio Lima, of Los Indios Tabajaras, used a Brazilian made Del Vecchio resophonic guitar to good effect in the 60s and 70s.
-
Saw this on the Kurt Rosenwinkel forum I while back. Sounds cool if you ask me, but I would not use it as my main guitar, as an effect maybe
-
I had an album when I was a kid with Earl Klugh and Gearge Benson and I am sure Earl played a resonator. It is what I would call smooth jazz but he sounded great. The album was called Collaboration I think. I think you could do some really interesting things with a resonator in a jazz context.
-
I think it'd be really cool. I've thought about doing it, but I don't have one. One nice thing about it is that it'll set you apart from most jazz players. It harkens back to a tradition, but at the same time it shows that you aren't just another suicidal lemming with a tobacco-burst archtop top playong muffled museum pieces in the dusty corner of a restaurant.
Last edited by Stackabones; 08-30-2011 at 11:37 AM.
-
Resurrecting this old thread because I'm about to pull the trigger on nice National steel single cone resonator. Here in NYC increasing number of Gypsy/Trad/Swing players are using them for busking or acoustic gigs.
In my situation, I play many gigs where part of it is kind of like marching brass band walking through the crowd, followed by the full stage performance. I do have a tenor banjo which i could and sometimes do use, but I can't solo on it really and it's not suitable for many songs we play.
I think a resonator guitar would be the answer for those sort of gigs, and of course busking in the parks in NYC is only legally safe on acoustic instruments, where resonator would be the loudest option for guitarist.
Anybody care to comment on this?
-
I have a Dobro 33H in chrome-plated bell brass and it is LOUD. Be aware that if you are doing un-amplified singing while playing the resonator, and matching your vocal output to the perceived level of your instrument, the guitar is going to be WAY louder than you think it is. There's a good reason why Son House did not croon, but bellowed; resonators project. I strongly suggest you record yourself and put a mic about 15' out there to get the mix. I think you'll be surprised.
Best of luck.
-
Check the vids at Steel Guitar Jazz - ('It isn't just for Country Music anymore!') - Home. You'll find some there.
-
Originally Posted by citizenk74
-
Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
-
Originally Posted by SmoothOperator
-
Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
-
Here is a YouTube video where the set up is discussed. Also, my impression is that the guitar function more like a guiro than a harmony instrument in those settings.
-
Originally Posted by SmoothOperator
Last edited by Slide; 07-25-2016 at 09:02 AM.
-
Originally Posted by Slide
-
in the Eddie Lang duos w/Lonnie Johnson, Johnson played a National resonator I believe.
-
Originally Posted by SmoothOperator
-
hey hep, reso's can be pretty heavy...gonna be a tough drag marchin through central park!! haha..also can be "heavy" in the midrange volume, but short on nuance..also have to worry about neck shapes..many are v's..
i'd think a nice gypsy guitar would be an alternative, to look into...can be loud but lighter..and more familiar feeling (and sounding)..and some nice ones to be had for well under a grand $$
luck
cheers
-
Originally Posted by citizenk74
love son house
hadda add vid
cheersLast edited by neatomic; 07-25-2016 at 07:03 PM. Reason: add-
-
Originally Posted by neatomic
Actually, the steel National single cone is under 8 pounds, the weight of an average tele, so not that bad really!
The only other guitar I have considered as alternative loud acoustic is a nice big archtop, but $$ for it I dont have. If anyone knows where I can get those old acoustic cannons like Epiphone, Gibson, Stromberg, D'Angelico for around $1500, please do let me know
-
seen this brand new epi masterbilt arch century deluxe?...under a grand$..there's also an f-hole version
ps-"(it was a circle jerk Gypsy jam)"--glad i missed it!! haha
cheers
-
Originally Posted by neatomic
PS. yeah circle jerk Gypsy jazz jam is what my non guitar playing friends call it- bunch of dudes sitting in a circle taking turns soloing, oblivious to what's going on around them. I mean, I like it, it is what it is
-
-
-
Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
Last edited by oldane; 01-26-2017 at 08:35 AM.
Gibson Thin line Guitar Models
Yesterday, 11:07 PM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos