Demo of two amplification solutions for Selmer/Macaferri guitar

[christianm77]

[Stringswinger]

Great video Christian!

I wrote several articles over the years about this subject for Just Jazz Guitar magazine. I still have a bigtone piezo, an at-70 clip on and have both Krivo PUPS, the Nuevo (that is the name for the one you have) and the Djangobucker. I pretty much just use the Krivo Nuevo these days. the at-70 is a feedback nightmare, the bigtone is quacky and I really like more of an archtop sound in any case, so a magnetic PUP is the right Gypsy jazz solution for me (Truth be told, the Gypsy guitar is far from my favorite sound/feel). Guys who like an acoustic tone may find the blend of two PUPS to be a good solution for real world gigging. And the Krivo pups do work well with acoustic archtops (though I prefer the tone of a vintage DeArmond).

The Krivo Djangobucker is less electric sounding, but is also thicker and will not fit on many Gypsy guitars. Try one, I think you will like it.

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks for doing that, Christian. It helped a lot, but maybe not in the way intended, as my preference is for the Rode mic. The sound was far more natural to my ears than any of the other solutions.

Nice Nuages, btw!

[christianm77]

Yeah for sure, condenser mic is always best, but good luck with that set up in a pub :-)

[Rob MacKillop]

Point taken...

[Klatu]

Thanks for the video. Both the sound and the playing were top notch. What guitar are you playing?

[christianm77]

Thanks for the video. Both the sound and the playing were top notch. What guitar are you playing?

Thanks! It's one of these:

Altamira M01D - DjangoBooks.com

[floatingpickup]

Great video Christian!

I wrote several articles over the years about this subject for Just Jazz Guitar magazine. I still have a bigtone piezo, an at-70 clip on and have both Krivo PUPS, the Nuevo (that is the name for the one you have) and the Djangobucker. I pretty much just use the Krivo Nuevo these days. the at-70 is a feedback nightmare, the bigtone is quacky and I really like more of an archtop sound in any case, so a magnetic PUP is the right Gypsy jazz solution for me (Truth be told, the Gypsy guitar is far from my favorite sound/feel). Guys who like an acoustic tone may find the blend of two PUPS to be a good solution for real world gigging. And the Krivo pups do work well with acoustic archtops (though I prefer the tone of a vintage DeArmond).

The Krivo Djangobucker is less electric sounding, but is also thicker and will not fit on many Gypsy guitars. Try one, I think you will like it.

I agree with Stringswinger - the Krivo Nuevo is the one I prefer for gigging with a GJG. I have tried so many other options and had lots of problems. I have a Bigtone in my Dupont and, although they are loud and feedback resistant, I am not really that satisfied with the tone.

[NSJ]

As fate would have it, the stars are strangely aligning. Without even looking for one, I found a solution to my acoustic guitar issue ( I didn't have a proper non nylon, non arch top ).
My friend who is pretty well-off and has lots of guitars suddenly offered to sell me a very unusual experimental Selmer style gypsy guitar, and a DPA mic-- at a very reasonable price and he gave me a year to pay them off .

Also, after 10 years, I finally upgraded my computer, preamp and sound card-- now, fully thunderbolt compatible --- as well as the DAW. Once I get up to speed, I feel like I can start recording decent sound. FINALLY!

At which point, I may bump this thread and produce a sound sample of the DPA-G clip on mic With the experimental style gypsy guitar .

Incidentally, this experimental gypsy style guitar was apparently owned at one time by Howard Alden . Thus, it is of course a seven string guitar. But it's not your typical Selmer looking gypsy guitar -- it's got a tap plate like a flamenco guitar, and four modern f-hole thingies with two plugs that fit into the four holes. Apparently you can dampen 2 of the 4 holes at any given moment, if you wish. If anybody wants to see a picture I can post it.

PS The maker of the guitar is "Gruen acoustic guitars". On the front page of his website, he says:

I'm currently building a 7-string version for a well-recorded professional player. I have played guitar for over 40 years, including Gypsy jazz, swing, modern chord-melody jazz, and even bluegrass. My guitars combine elements of Selmer Mac, archtop, and flattop construction, to produce a sound which, I think, has the bite and projection of Selmer Macs, coupled with more warmth and sustain. Tone is variable by inserting wooden "stoppers" into any one or two of the four oval soundholes. My guitars are available in 16", 17", and 18" lower bout widths, and in various woods."

That first sentence tells me that I must've bought the 7 string guitar he was building for a " well recorded professional player"

[mr. beaumont]

Oh man, a Gruen! I always wanted one. He's not building anymore...I talked with him a few years ago. Nice guy.

Weird looking guitars that sound FANTASTIC.

[NSJ]

Oh man, a Gruen! I always wanted one. He's not building anymore...I talked with him a few years ago. Nice guy.

Weird looking guitars that sound FANTASTIC.

The playability and the fingerboard are fantastic, and the sound is amazing . I am not an expert on flat top or gypsy guitars, but I surmise he's got a little bit of both as well as the arch top mid range tone.

The other thing is, the seventh string is very nice and loud; often the seven string is best heard only amplified. This one comes across loud and clear, acoustically.

If you want to play it and check it out, let me know when you're free. .

I have no idea why Howard Alden sold this one, but those cats usually have dozens of guitars on hand , I suppose .

[helios]

Nice video! How appropriate to play a Django song "Nuages" for a Selmer/Macaferri demo!

[mr. beaumont]

The playability and the fingerboard are fantastic, and the sound is amazing . I am not an expert on flat top or gypsy guitars, but I surmise he's got a little bit of both as well as the arch top mid range tone.

The other thing is, the seventh string is very nice and loud; often the seven string is best heard only amplified. This one comes across loud and clear, acoustically.

If you want to play it and check it out, let me know when you're free. .

I have no idea why Howard Alden sold this one, but those cats usually have dozens of guitars on hand , I suppose .

Yeah, I'd love to check it out. Maybe over Spring break...

[Jabberwocky]

Thank you, Christian. Very helpful.

[Rob MacKillop]

Thank you,

Jabberwocky, what is that guitar in your avatar? It looks gorgeous.

[neatomic]

how about a stimer repro?? django all the way!



cheers

[christianm77]

how about a stimer repro?? django all the way!



cheers

There wasn't one of those on eBay for 90 quid

[christianm77]

Although I understand the Krivo Nuevo is not a million miles away from the Stimers tonally.

[Jabberwocky]

Jabberwocky, what is that guitar in your avatar? It looks gorgeous.

Rob, Collings AT16. No, I don't own it. I'm hoping that by placing it there my wish may be fulfilled...some day. The odds are long. People do notice avatars, huh?

[Rob MacKillop]

An object of lust, for sure. If your plan works, let me know!

[Klatu]

Those Stimer pickup replicas look wonderful, but they transform the tone of a Selmer guitar into something very different. Not that it's a bad tone by any means, simply that it's more akin to an electric single coil tone than one of a gypsy acoustic.

[bayoubengal1954]

Thanks for doing this, Christian! My preferences were 1. Microphone (surprise), 2. K&K, 3. Krivo. The Krivo does give that more modern jazz sound which is not my preference, but I can see it's advantages in a noisy venue. It would be interesting to hear your experiences with the Krivo Djangobucker if you ever get one. FWIW Krivo now makes a slim version of the Djangobucker which is supposed to fit easily under archtops now.
NEW: Uber-Slim Humbucker for L-50 style Archtop Guitars – Krivo Pickups
Here is a video of a Tim Lerch demo where he is using the Djangobucker (which is essentially the same as the new slim version mentioned above) in an oval sound hole archtop and to my ears it has less of the modern jazz sound of the single coil you have, but still not as natural (obviously) as your demo with the mic. May be a good compromise between the mic and the single coil!

[christianm77]

Thanks for doing this, Christian! My preferences were 1. Microphone (surprise), 2. K&K, 3. Krivo. The Krivo does give that more modern jazz sound which is not my preference, but I can see it's advantages in a noisy venue. It would be interesting to hear your experiences with the Krivo Djangobucker if you ever get one. FWIW Krivo now makes a slim version of the Djangobucker which is supposed to fit easily under archtops now.
NEW: Uber-Slim Humbucker for L-50 style Archtop Guitars – Krivo Pickups
Here is a video of a Tim Lerch demo where he is using the Djangobucker (which is essentially the same as the new slim version mentioned above) in an oval sound hole archtop and to my ears it has less of the modern jazz sound of the single coil you have, but still not as natural (obviously) as your demo with the mic. May be a good compromise between the mic and the single coil!

You know I quite liked the K&K watching the video back. The thing is it's rarely sounded that good on gigs. Perhaps this has something to do with my choice of amplification (AER)

The K&K is pretty feedback resistant, also.

[sgosnell]

Some EQ of the Krivo might be helpful. Crank up the highs a little, maybe the bass and mids down a little, and you might like the sound.

[neatomic]

Those Stimer pickup replicas look wonderful, but they transform the tone of a Selmer guitar into something very different. Not that it's a bad tone by any means, simply that it's more akin to an electric single coil tone than one of a gypsy acoustic.

you just need the stimer repro amp!!

haha

cheers