Gibson Tal Farlow Appreciation Thread

[agentsmith]

Having had old and new instruments and instruments from the late '90s, I can tell you that the instrument opening up is a myth as far as I'm concerned. None of my 20 year old or even my 30 year old 175 had the vibe of the '60s gibsons. At one point, I had a '57, '65, '72 and '89 175. I ended up selling the earlier ones for financial reasons but there was absolutely no comparison. And you could pick them up and understand why. Each instrument was progressively heavier than the earlier ones and when you compared the '57 to the '89, there was about a 1.5lb difference!

The build on gibsons gets heavier and heavier to counteract warranty problems up to the modern thicknesses which probably arrived sometime in the mid to late '80s.

The earlier instruments were just lighter and more resonant. No amount of aging can change that.

I love both old and new Archtops. I had my Guild AA and my D'Aquisto for over 30 years. My problem is where I live. No Archtop land. The risk of buying used sight unseen is of too much risk to me.
Buying new has just as much risk as far as a good working instrument. I have bought countless new Gibson's with bad necks or trussrods that don't work.
The difference being if new their is no risk getting your money back from a reputable dealer.
Ebay and Reverb is not a option for me. I don't like the risk factor. Jack has had his share of headaches with both of these online sellers. In the end he always seems to overcome bad buys but not without some stress involved.
I don't gamble. My luck is horrible.
A new guitar will take a few years to open up I will admit. I am retired from buying finally and glad to have that stress behind me. Buying a new guitar is joyful and terrifying at the same time. Believe me when UPS drops off your new guitar your heart is pounding with excitement and fear.

[agentsmith]

but p.s. I'm not putting down shiny, new instruments. I loved my Tal Farlow. I think the BK is vibier and groovier but the Tal was a bad-ass instrument if you had never played a '60s BK.

[agentsmith]

And another thing I like about the older instruments is that their value is not reduced if they get a ding or scratch. When I had the Tal, it was in absolute mint condition and when a luthier cracked the finish at the side of the nut putting a new nut on it, I was horrified because with that type of "piece", any cosmetic defect can be counted in the $hundred$ of dollars. In fact, I bought it for $2800 or $2900 but sold it for $100 or $200 less because of the defect.

A BK with a scratch or chip in the finish just ain't a big deal!

[vinnyv1k]

Mine was "very orange" when I first got it. It is now turning kind of a brownie reddish which I am happy about.
Still that 93 has a gorgeous color for sure.
Funny thing is the 1st time I ever saw a TF guitar I thought is was butt ugly. Now I think they ooze beauty not to mention I love how they sound and play. Long live Tal Farlow ! Both the guitar and the man's music.
Sadly I never had the privilege to see Tal perform.

[Max405]

Tals are beautiful, but in Viceroy Brown they reach ultra exclusive status.
One of the best looking guitars out there.
2b, ITB will always be, "Im thinking of buying", to my stupid ass..
JD

[citizenk74]

To me, the key to the Tal's visual mystique is that the visual dynamic really comes together when it's being played - the angle, the arm across the upper bout. the wrist and hand in motion, the neck hand all over the neck, all mesmerically drawing the eye to the scroll and back out again. In performance, it's a knockout. And of course a nice sunburst is like a gilt frame.
Geez. I need a Tal!

[Max405]

Hey Guys,
This is the song that changed my musical life. When I was a little bone headed 13 year old, I sat and learned this song note for note. Surprisingly, 41 years later the notes are still there. I've seen George play this song alot of times and many different ways. But to me, Breezin is best when its played just like the 1st time I heard it, simply the way it was on the record.

I played this on Booboo. This guitar cuts through and allows me to play it and not force it. Vinny, it is starting to open up just like you said it would. I love this guitar and it is the one guitar I will never part with in my life. No way, no how.

Thanks for looking.
Joe DeNisco

[Larry M]

Thanks so much, Joe. That album changed my musical life too. Just wonderful. Your playing is really great.

And, now my desire for a Tal is becoming impossible to resist.

[vinnyv1k]

Memorizing a melody is one thing but a entire solo is quite a task. Bravo bro ! BooBoo sounds great !

[citizenk74]

Joe, you really make that Tal sing! Just great, man, just great.

[Max405]

C74, Honestly, I just sit in back of it. The Guitar does the rest. It really is so easy to play. There are no surprises. It is easy to play out with, easy to play solo and easy to play to backing tracks with. A lot of guitars get lost in the mix. Even my 175 does to some extent. The Tal is a real working mans Jazz Guitar tool. It is splendid to look at and everything else just falls into place with it.

For those who dont have one, the Tal Farlow is the real deal guys. Get one.
Thanks everyone!
Joe D

[silverfoxx]

Joe, you really make that Tal sing! Just great, man, just great.

Ken , one cannot disagree with JD's enthusiastic review, I have
had three over the years , although laminate it gives the L5CES a good
run for the money , but with its own unique tone. I read previously that
you've not seen an L5CES in the flesh , which is fortunate because if you
do encounter one , you will be gassing for one.
Not to derail this thread, back to the OP, you will know also that a TF is
Less than half the price of the ubiquitous L5.
May I suggest another alternative , the Eastman AR 580ce, carved top
which has superb appointments, and is even less $$
I would have one ,except for its 1.75" Nut width.
best regards
Silverfoxx

[goldenwave77]

Ken , one cannot disagree with JD's enthusiastic review, I have
had three over the years , although laminate it gives the L5CES a good
run for the money , but with its own unique tone.
Silverfoxx

That laminate tone is WHY it sounds so great. To me, the laminate sound is like the tone of Lester Young, Desmond, Coltrane, or Stan Getz---more focused, fewer overtones.

The carved top sound is like the tone of Ben Webster, Gene Ammons, or Johnny Hodges....it "breathes" more, has more nuance, and more overtones...but in a mix, sometimes it doesn't work so well. By itself, or in a small group, it can be amazing.

[pingu]

C74, Honestly, I just sit in back of it. The Guitar does the rest. It really is so easy to play. There are no surprises. It is easy to play out with, easy to play solo and easy to play to backing tracks with. A lot of guitars get lost in the mix. Even my 175 does to some extent. The Tal is a real working mans Jazz Guitar tool. It is splendid to look at and everything else just falls into place with it.

For those who dont have one, the Tal Farlow is the real deal guys. Get one.
Thanks everyone!
Joe D

Is a Tal similar in constuction to an ES350 like Barneys ?
Could be perfect for me , there aren't many cheap 350's about
Might a Tal be be slightly thinner ?

[Max405]

Joe you inspire me to go back and learn some of my favorite players' favorite performances. Honestly, until I heard you do it, it never occurred to me to learn, say, a whole Joe Pass tune on solo guitar (to the extent I could) and then make it part of my repertoire. But I think that could be a fun way to incorporate some great stuff into my playing. I doubt I'll ever be the hugely creative improvisor that I (and we all) want to be, so walking in the footsteps made by Joe Pass, Johnny Smith, Jimmy Raney, etc. could be the next best thing.

Or as Sinatra sang, "...it'll have to do, until the real thing comes along!"

you are a true inspiration to me.

Lawson, thanks buddy. You are right. it is fun to be able to emulate the greats. And it absolutely will help in our ability to improvise. That's how the greats learned. By picking off runs by a trumpet player, a piano player or, Wes.. That's how we evolve.
The way things are done around here make it an absolute pleasure to evolve. The respect shown toward one another is outstanding. We all enjoy each others contributions and it makes us all better. And it makes getting better really fun and rewarding.\
Jazz is not easy. Thanks for helping me guys.
Joe DeNisco

[Max405]

Is a Tal similar in constuction to an ES350 like Barneys ?
Could be perfect for me , there aren't many cheap 350's about
Might a Tal be be slightly thinner ?

Not sure what Barneys guitar measured, but the Tal is the perfect recipe, 17", 3" deep. Mucho comfortable.
JD

[Stringswinger]

Not sure what Barneys guitar measured, but the Tal is the perfect recipe, 17", 3" deep. Mucho comfortable.
JD

I would guess that the TF is slightly thinner than a 350, plus the TF has humbuckers. The 350's (made from 46-56 all had P-90's. In 57 when Humbuckers came out, the 350 was given a short scale and a 2 1/4 inch body and was renamed the ES-350T. Later the ES-350 T was reissued with a long scale for a time and recently there have been some full depth ES-350's made by the custom shop (with P-90's).

The TF is it's own thing, a humbucker equipped ES-350 with a slightly thinner depth and the cosmetics that sign painter Tal Farlow approved of.

Looking at Tal's hands, I am thinking that to him, a 25.5 scale must have felt like a Byrdland to the rest of us!

[vinnyv1k]

Not sure what Barneys guitar measured, but the Tal is the perfect recipe, 17", 3" deep. Mucho comfortable.
JD

The original ES350 (Barney's) had 3-3/8 rims identical to a L5. It s amazing how just 3/8 makes a world of difference in comfort.

[vinnyv1k]

Those plywood Byrdland's (ES350T) are going for $10k. You can get a real carved Byrdland for half that. Same goes for the early 3 knob ES350's. You can get a L5 for half the price. I don't get it. I had a 1993 reissue ES350T long scale.
The TF guitar sounds way better IMO. I still would love a old 3 knob ES350. Very cool axe.

[Max405]

Hi Guys,
Whenever I play this guitar, I wonder why I play anything else.
Boo-Boo can really do it all. When I pick it up, I look down at the neck and immediately think, "Oh yeah, these strings are gonna buzz.." And they never do. Laser straight neck, the lowest action you can imagine. The guitar really does play itself.
When I play the Tal, It re-emphasizes why someday, I will have another L5 Wes.
I tried something different. I recorded the Guitar using only my Mixer and my Computer. So the guitar is not amplified, Volume and tone on the guitar are set to 10 and the settings on the Mixer EQ are at 0. So, its pure guitar and nothing but the guitar.
Joe D

[Fred Archtop]

Nicely played Joe. Love the low D.

Cheers.

[citizenk74]

Nothing brings on an ear-to-ear grin like a Joe D. video, and this is no exception. Nice playing, Man! That Tal looks good on you, too. What a toneful guitar. As to why you play anything else, I think it's cause you can.

[Stringswinger]

What K said.

16 inch, 17 inch and 18 inch Archtops all have their own sound. We need different tools for different jobs. And every fine jazz guitarist (like yourself) needs an L-5. you WILL have another L-5. I would bet on it.

[vinnyv1k]

What K said.

16 inch, 17 inch and 18 inch Archtops all have their own sound. We need different tools for different jobs. And every fine jazz guitarist (like yourself) needs an L-5. you WILL have another L-5. I would bet on it.

Yes one of mine. Anyone that thumbs there nose at a Tal Farlow model is simply because they never owned one. One of the best guitars on the planet period. LOL getting one now though sadly. Nice playing bro.

[silverfoxx]

Joe. a very nice video, Tenderly sounding particularly good on the TF
I love the drop D also, The lack of popularity of the TF has
always puzzled me, it's like a poor relation to the Archtops
but depending on who is playing it !!...........it can sound like
an L5, thanks for posting this, such a relaxing tune. As it has
been said many times. If we could have only one guitar the TF
is a leading contender.

[Max405]

Yes one of mine. Anyone that thumbs there nose at a Tal Farlow model is simply because they never owned one. One of the best guitars on the planet period. LOL getting one now though sadly. Nice playing bro.

Thanks Bro.
The Tal is a very comfortable guitar to play.
Just think about it bro... your new Campellone is going to be the best of all the guitars ever made wrapped into one. 17 x 3. Perfect carved, all over. 25” scale and a 1-11/16 nut, perfect amount of bling and the nicest Tailpiece in the business.
You got me started on the Tal.
i wish my Tal didn’t have the “Boo-boo”. But it’s still one of the best guitars I’ve ever touched. Thanks bro.

[neatomic]

ps- just revisited the old boo boo-renaldo original thread..to bring that guitar back and make it sound so good...that's wonderful!! kudos all around

NGD - Gibson Tal Farlow

cheers

[silverfoxx]

Yes one of mine. Anyone that thumbs there nose at a Tal Farlow model is simply because they never owned one. One of the best guitars on the planet period. LOL getting one now though sadly. Nice playing bro.

I suggest that the forthcoming scarcity of Crimson Custom Archtops, including not
only the TF, but also the Byrdland, S400, L5' s etc., will enhance the desirability
and asking prices will increase accordingly, I don't buy into the theory that only
old fogeys have an interest in them. There is no greater challenge in this sphere
than dearly wanting something that is no longer readily available. Big Mike recently
opined that players will be searching worldwide for their heart's desire, an
unavailable Gibson Archtop.

[Max405]

Joe. a very nice video, Tenderly sounding particularly good on the TF. I love the drop D also, The lack of popularity of the TF has always puzzled me, it's like a poor relation to the Archtops but depending on who is playing it !!...........it can sound like an L5, thanks for posting this, such a relaxing tune. As it has been said many times. If we could have only one guitar the TF is a leading contender.

Thank you Alan, the other class of the organization.
The only other guitar that felt like my L5’s is this Tal. It makes the playing part of guitar playing a lot easier than the remembering part! What’s New and Tenderly are similar in a lot of ways. Just like Cant Get Started and The Song is You, they seem to commingle onto one song all the time. The challenge to keep them all separate is excercise for the brain.

[rio]

Very nice playing an the guitar sounds lovely. The Tal is such a winner and I miss mine even 18 years after selling it - hope to get another some day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[oldane]

Joe, you are too modest. I love fine guitars as much as you do though my finances and location in the world rules out buying as many as you have done. However, it seems to me that you have said "this is my best guitar ever" - or something to that effect - about every new guitar you have got. And the playing and the tone sounds great on the clips with all of them. Maybe it's more you than the guitar which makes it sound so good.

[rpguitar]

Hey Joe,

You always sound great and so does this guitar. But my personal opinion is that I prefer your carved top Johnny Smith guitars (of different makers) for your particular style. The Tal is a very warm and seems less dynamic. I'm sure it plays wonderfully, and that matters to you as a player for sure. But I like the woody and brighter tone of your JS guitars a bit more.

Enjoy them all...

[Max405]

Hey Joe,
You always sound great and so does this guitar. But my personal opinion is that I prefer your carved top Johnny Smith guitars (of different makers) for your particular style. The Tal is a very warm and seems less dynamic. I'm sure it plays wonderfully, and that matters to you as a player for sure. But I like the woody and brighter tone of your JS guitars a bit more.
Enjoy them all...

Thank you RP. You know, I cant disagree with you at all.
I try not to box myself into a particular style of playing, but I cant run away from my preferences. I love Chord Melody guitar and in particular the style of Johnny Smith and Joe Pass. And you are right, the big carved Floater archtops really sound better when I play them as opposed to Guitars like the Tal or even the 175/165. No doubt.
I tried playing my floater 165 last night through this same workflow. Straight through the mixer changed the sound of 165. It removed some of the brightness from that guitar. That was disappointing to me. Perhaps the Mixer altered the sound of the Tal too.

I want to have one box that;
I can practice with headphones.
I can record with (using my Windows 10 SurfacePro3)
I can have a Auxiliary Jack.

The Mixer does all of this. But it might not transfer sound accurately.

The Zoom G3 does everything but it doesn't have a Aux jack.
The RP360 does everything but I doesn't work with Windows 10

I am looking at the Boss GT001 and the Zoom G5N which I thing will do the job but I will sell my other pedals 1st. I don't want to be tripping over pedals in my room..

[Greentone]

Gibson archtops sound really good straight into the board. Your Tal sounds great that way.

My '68 ES-175 used to record well and sound great straight into the recording desk. The circuit on the desk provided a bit of compression (it was a tube circuit) and the EQ on flat was perfect.

You can hear the difference between a 17" and a 16" Gibson, though. I like the big guitar.

[Bluedawg]

Very nice!

I had a new Tal in my hands a couple of years ago and could have taken it home for around $4K ...

wish I could have done that, but I just didn't have the cash handy for another guitar at the time


It was a wonderful guitar ... a Tal is high on my dream list so maybe someday ...


Then again ... I'm not hurting for great guitars ... so I can't complain

[jzjazz]

I'll write something more later, for now here's a short movie from today - me and my new Tal with a friend playing his telecaster. I would love him to play his nylon, but this is also a new guitar of his and he wanted to play it.

I'm not completely happy with the sound - I have .11 d'addario chromes on it (probably) and my Deluxe Reverb made some weird noises so I had to use my henriksen, but it's not bad for a first try.

What do you think about both - the sound of my new dream guitar and the playing?
How do you find this duo - Tal + tele?

Thanks,
Jakub

[Stringswinger]

Jakub,

Congrats on the Tal. Playing by both players is great as are both tones. I like the Plywood hollowbody a bit better than the Humbucker equipped Tele, but that is a matter of taste. If I were you, I would try TI flats on the TF.

This is a tasty duo. The sound quality is great. What is your video/recording setup? Show us more!

[helios]

Great playing & tone by both parties! Congratulations on both new guitars-the tele added a nice contrast to the video IMHO!

[jzjazz]

Jakub,

Congrats on the Tal. Playing by both players is great as are both tones. I like the Plywood hollowbody a bit better than the Humbucker equipped Tele, but that is a matter of taste. If I were you, I would try TI flats on the TF.

This is a tasty duo. The sound quality is great. What is your video/recording setup? Show us more!

Thanks! I have Thomastiks 12 on all my guitars and the Tal will get them, too. This is what it came with and I got two additional sets, that why I'm trying to get used to them for now they don't sound bad at all but I have had chromed in the past and the change to thomastik always made a difference.

This was recorded with my canon eos 500d, sound wise two akg c1000 mics close to the amps and into my NI Kontakt interface. Everything pretty inexpensive.

[sgosnell]

The Tal might sound marginally better with .012 TIs, but I doubt the difference would be much, perhaps not perceptible on a recording. Differences a player can hear in a quiet room often can't be heard at all once the sound is recorded and played back. I think you sound fine on the Tal as it is, but clearly string choice is entirely up to you. Excellent playing by both.

[2bornot2bop]

TF's are kings! Get that tube amp fixed and you'll be in guitar heaven!

[Max405]

JZ, Yes! I loved it. Beautiful playing. And the sound of the Tal is classic. Both of you guys are very accomplished Jazz players.
Great song to try out your new Tal with.
Im happy for you Jakub.
Joe D

[rio]

Great sounding guitar, as I would expect from a Tal, and boy is that a looker too. Enjoyed the playing as well - the Tal and the Tele compliment one another and offer some contrast between the sounds. I like that combo a lot. I’ve been having hand problems and was thinking perhaps about going down in gauge but am used to 13s so this at least shows me that a big archtop can still sound great with lighter strings on it too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[wintermoon]

Some of the modern Gibson finishes are shaded as nice as I've seen since the 60s
"Darn that Gibson"

[vinnyv1k]

Tal’s rule ! Congrats on getting one of the best Gibson’s on the planet.

[vinlander]

Great playing and tone!
The Sunburst Finish on your Tal is particularly stunning, congratulations.
Strings do make a difference even a slight gauge change, at least it does on my Tal.
When I got my mine in summer 2015, it was setup on TI JS112 and sounded awesome.
At that time, TI JS113 was my go to set and I even had a couple spare sets.
I did a quick swap for JS113 but felt my Tal was better responding to the slightly lighter gauge.
After only a couple hours I put back the JS112 and it was obvious from that point it was my new go to set.
Fortunately I could swap all my spare JS113 sets with some guys here for their extra JS112.

[Dutchbopper]

I don't get it. I have listened to two Tal Farlow clips today (this one and Joe Ds) and none sounded anything like mine. As if I was listening to a different model.

DB

[Stringswinger]

I don't get it. I have listened to two Tal Farlow clips today (this one and Joe Ds) and none sounded anything like mine. As if I was listening to a different model.

DB

It is the mechanic, not the tool.

[Greentone]

If I had to restrict myself to a single guitar, at this point, it would probably be a Tal Farlow--i.e., a 17" laminated archtop guitar. If I could get my hands on an old ES-350, I would do that instead.

Fortunately, I am no that constrained. Therefore, I play a carved archtop, a laminated archtop, and both a Stratocaster and a Telecaster.

I find you and your buddy's playing and guitars to be simply GREAT. I also love the chart "Darn That Dream."

[jzjazz]

TF's are kings! Get that tube amp fixed and you'll be in guitar heaven!

Yeah, the deluxe was fuller sounding than the Henriksen, but you know me - I'll put another video up soon :-) maybe Tal vs 175 through the deluxe? :-)