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Friends i bought a nylon string acoustic guitar. Since my interest is in jazz, i wanted to knw if i made the right choice. I really like the sound of it.
Its a cordoba c5 nylon string.
Please let me knw ur comments
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11-21-2016 12:17 AM
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I think it depends on the kind of jazz you are interested in. Most jazz players seem to play an electric guitar and play with a pick. But that doesn't mean you can't play jazz on a nylon string guitar.
A nylon string is not suited to jazz guitar as a rhythm/percussive instrument. The guitar's early role in jazz was mostly that, and a lot of jazz guitar instruction seems to begin there (think Freddie Green).
On the other hand, a nylon string guitar is a great choice if you are interested in jazz guitar as a solo instrument. Gypsy jazz is hard to pull off because of the distinct "pompe" rhythm, but bossa was invented on nylon. Chord-melody arrangements sound great on nylon and often are easier to make sound right.
Finally, nylon can work great as a single note improv instrument over bebop style changes. But playing fast lines is technique of its own and you have the same issues any classical guitarist would being heard in an ensemble. The acoustic guitar is an inherently quiet instrument compared to a violin or trumpet.
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Great post above pretty much sums it up.
I think a nylon string is great for jazz, and use one often. I also think the Cordobas are a great value--you get a LOT of instrument for the money.
So I say, enjoy it in health!
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Love nylon-string guitar - any will do!
(I'm about to pull the trigger on an Ovation Classic.)
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You can play any style of jazz on a nylon-string guitar. Charlie Byrd was, IMO, the greatest exponent of the classical guitar in jazz, but there are others. Current players include Gene Bertoncini and Nate Najar, among others.
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Originally Posted by destinytot
A student of mine just picked one of those up. I like it quite a bit, but I still think the pickup system in my Godin is better.
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My avatar is strung with nylon. I LOVE the sound and playability. However, when I took it and its f hole sibling to a guitar show the nylon couldn't be heard well over the room noise. I restrung it with steel and it was able to cut through and be heard.
The point is that when you play nylon strings it can have some limitations. Right tool for the right job.
PS Pete Sprague plays nylon, and he is also amazing. I think his custom built guitar has the RMC hexaphonic that Godin uses.
PPS: I build an archtop with a CF soundboard that is strong enough and responsive to both nylon and steel strings. Please DONT try swapping your nylons for steel on your Córdoba. You will destroy it.
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Love nylon string jazz! Check out John Knowles, Ken Hatfield amongst other exponents.
For a steel-string sound on a nylon string guitar, the only string set that is safe to use is the Thomastik-Infeld Rope-core S KR116.
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Google Sylvain Luc, Lionel Loueke or Nelson Veras. There isn't really anybody paying better jazz guitar than any one of these three nylon-string players.
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Yes, I've tried one - and I agree that those Godin nylons sound great. But I don't think I could ever bond with onethewayI could with the Ovation. Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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I had an Ovation Classic years ago, not bad at all, but I couldn't get into the bowl back; I sold it to Mick Goodrick and he used it on the Charlie Haden big band recordings and tours. I have been playing a Godin Multiac 7-string for the past few years, very happy with it for loud or outdoor gigs, still use a modified (widened fingerboard, 7th string, RMC pickup system) flamenco guitar for softer gigs.
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I play standing up. and I had a Country Artist years ago (so I'm fine with the bowl).
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Here I play a classical guitar strung in gut trebles and silk-core basses. I love playing jazz on a classical, even using a plectrum sometimes.
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Charlie Byrd used an Ovation for awhile. They were the first guitars to use piezoelectric pickups, and I think he needed amplification. That was unavailable for a classical nylon-string guitar before Ovation began using them. Afterwards, other aftermarket piezo pickups became available, and Charlie eventually went back to a more traditional instrument, but he used and recorded with an Ovation for some time. His brother Joe used an Ovation electric bass.
Another nylon-string player is the estimable Willie Nelson. Not strictly jazz, but certainly nylon.
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The ovation has a much better "unplugged" sound. Originally Posted by destinytot
I'm big on Ovation right now...the guitar I bought this summer as a "hang around outside with the kids" guitar has become my favorite "hang around with the kids indoors" guitar.
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(To be honest, if not for a need to use nylon on gigs, I'd almost rather be spending money on a Tele - and a 'real' tube amp - for fun at home.) Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
But I need to be able to go really loud (playing softly) on nylon - and the AER amp has been a complete game-changer.
Besides, with a bit of external eq (a separate right reverb), the sound of the Ovation does the job. It's processed, but its 'pretty' ambience can cut through in a noisy room - for me, it's a lion tamer. (Superficial as this may seem, I think I can also trade on its looks here in Spain - especially the cutaway, which differentiates it from a classical or flamenco.)
I tried to make an A/B comparison (nylon-string + pick-up vs mic) in the following video for another thread a while back. I still prefer the mic, but I can't afford to faff around with cables or risk feedback in a band setting.
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Paul Meyers on nylon...
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Vik,
Congratulations on your new guitar & nice to meet you.
In other news:
The T-I KR116 Strings (above) are MAGNETIC and do NOT, IMO,
sound worse when used this way than nylon & piezo whenever you
must amplify. Different, but worth a try.
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Check out Gene Bertoncini.
gene bertoncini - YouTube
And Nate Najar.
nate najar - YouTube
And the first well-known classical jazz guitarist, Bill Harris.
Bill Harris - a master guitar player
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Romero Lubambo!
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Hey, Cunamara, thank you for bringing up Bill Harris Originally Posted by Cunamara
A new old name to me!
Last edited by Jabberwocky; 11-23-2016 at 04:53 AM.
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Originally Posted by rpguitar
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