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Good afternoon everyone. I learned about and joined this forum this past spring...right before I retired. I had planned on purchasing a Benedetto Bravo as a retirement present...from me to me. However, after reading so much on this forum about Mark and his guitars, I decided to ask Mark to build one for me. He started building my Campellone Deluxe back in August and, judging from the photos he's sent, it shouldn't be too much longer before it's here in Arizona with me. Given that, I thought I would pose a couple of question to the Campellone guitar owners in the group:
1. What amp do you prefer playing through? I currently own a Blues Jr (IV) and a Monoprice 5 Watt tube amp. Do you prefer playing through tube amps or solid-state? At present, I'm just a home player. Perhaps someday I might play some neighborhood parties but, who knows. But for now, it's playing for my one and only groupie, my wife. Let me know your thoughts.
2. What strings do you prefer...round wound, flat wound? I know some folks on the forum like the TI's. I like their Power Brights on my Guild Bluesbird (a Les Paul clone with p90's). Let me know what you think.
Thanks for your input. And thanks to all for the input on Mark. I've really enjoyed working with him and am looking forward to receiving the guitar. Someday soon I'll be posting some NGD photos of my Deluxe.
Cary
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12-20-2019 07:14 PM
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Good move on the Campellone.
Originally Posted by Copablitz
Can't wait to hear more about it!
Steve
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i prefer my old Deluxe Reverb and I like 12 or 13 TI flats
Great m0ve
welcome
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Copablitz,
Your decision to have Mark build you a guitar was a great choice. I don’t know of any custom Archtop builder that provides a better value for those seeking a Gibson styled guitar. His fit and finish is absolutely impeccable - and he never raised his prices to the point where his instruments were unattainable.
I can’t answer your amp questions, but I prefer DR 12-52 round wound phosphor bronze strings. I rarely plug in and mainly play straight acoustic - and I find the DR’s to be a terrific choice for that purpose.
There is a tremendous knowledge base here and I’m sure the guys will be adding to this post with electric string/amp recommendations.
Good luck with your build - and looking forward to the new guitar day.
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In the spirit of giving (to yourself) I recommend a good tube amp. If you are playing at home or small venues, I’d say get yourself a nice mid sixties Princeton or Princeton Reverb. If you’re into flats you can’t beat Thomastik. Very few people disagree with that recommendation. For rounds you’ll see more variance in recommendations. My favorite rounds are Newtone Archtop strings. They have a wonderful bounce to their feel and the sounds is rich without excessive string noise unlike most round wound nickel strings. You can only buy them either direct from Newtone in the UK or from Guitar Gallery in the states. I like them so much better than any round wound electric strings that I went ahead and placed a large order from the UK to last me a couple of years at least.
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Welcome to the Forum!
Like you, I asked Mark to build an archtop for me in 2016 as a retirement present to myself (thin-line standard with a few modifications). He was great and the guitar is phenomenal - one of my prize possessions.
I use TI 13 flats. In fact, if I recall correctly, I mailed a set to Mark to put on the guitar as he was finishing it -- in 3 years it's all I've used on it. I think they sound great.
As between a tube amp, and a solid state, I generally have a strong desire to purchase the one I don't have at the moment (and I'm a one amp kind of guy). Currently, I have a DV Mark Little Jazz, which sounds really good, but I'd have to say that my favorite small amp that I've used with the Campellone is a Gries 5 (5 watts) tube amp. For bedroom (or louder) level volume, it's fantastic and, for a boutique amp, very affordable. Worth checking out.
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I have a Special and Mark is starting a new custom for me. You will be very happy with your Campellone. Very wise decision to get one. The amps you are currently using don't fit the pedigree archtop you have coming. For home use I would suggest a Princeton if you are a tube guy or a Henriksen if you like SS. Neither amp will break the bank and both will sound great. A Blues Jr. will sound boxey. For strings I also like TI flats. 12's or 13's will both sound great. Your new guitar will be perfect in every way. One note of caution. Mark uses Cedar Creek cases and some tend to color bleed. Especially the green lined ones. Keep a close eye. I had to replace my case with a Gibson L5 case.
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I have 18 inch deluxe from 1998. It works with both roundwounds and flat wounds. If you are going acoustic for most applications then I suggest 12-52 I use round wound dadarrio they are fine.
If you plug in and looking for smooth no sound from strings, then flat wound Dadarrio of same gauge as above. You can sound like Wes.......well I can’t but has nothing to do with the guitar.
Finally I have a Claris R2 but a Henriksen Bud would be a winner. You picked a winner Mark’s guitars are second to
none. Built solid, light, responsive and affordable.
One could dig a lot deeper in the mines on jazz guitar choices., only to find nothing more outstanding than a Campellone.
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I use TIs and have loved the Benson 12 roundwounds for years but have a little OA in the fingers so have stepped down to roundwound TI Bebop 11s with a wound 20 as a single string purchase from justsrings.com
I will probably move down to TI Swing 10 flatwounds someday, but am in no hurry.
One thing to think about. If one or more of your parents have OA you may get it too. So even if you can handle 12s or 13s now, the wear and tear on the finger joints - especially the first finger - will take place. If you start with a lighter string now you'll likely last longer. Just a matter of physics.
And congrats on the exciting custom build!
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Thank you all for the responses. Much appreciated. Back in the Spring of 2018, I attended a conference in Savannah, GA and had the opportunity to tour Benedetto Guitars. While there I had the opportunity to play several models...all through a Henriksen Bud. I have to admit...I really liked that amp. Given some of the other SS options...Acoustic Image, Quilter, Schertler...I wanted to get your thoughts on the subject.
Same goes for the strings. You all have given me some great options. Based on your recommendations I'll pick up a set or two of each and see how they sound to my ear as well as feel on the fingers. Jazzstdnt...thanks for your input on OA and string gauges. For me, so far so good on the OA front, but I do feel some twinges in the hands so I may be heading down that path myself. For now, I'll go with 12s or 13s and see how it plays out down the road.
Vinny...thanks for the heads-up on the case. My guitar will have an antique natural finish and I would hate to have that green...or red, or blue...bleed onto the guitar.
- Cary
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Originally Posted by Copablitz
Yes I have Cedar Creek cases and have had the color bleed into the plastic binding issue as well. Infuriating.
An easy solution - wrap the guitar in a simple bed sheet inside the case. (take some scissors and cut it down to size for the guitar and case). I am doing this with a couple of my newer archtops and they have stayed clear and clean, baby. Like Nike says - Just do it!
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I have TI Swing Series on most of my guitars. I like the 13s on a guitar with 25.5” scale. Although I seldom use roundwounds, I tried a set of Newtones (12s) on my Campellone Special. They are really nice sounding and feeling strings, but I will probably go back to the flats next time. As far as amps go, I have owned a number of Fender tube amps over the years, but I really do prefer the more mid-range sound of an amp that is designed for a jazz guitar. This is especially the case with floating pickups, which can be quite bright. My main gigging amp is an acoustic image Clarus. It is a perfect match for the Campellone IMO. I also have a couple of older Polytones, which sound great too. For practicing at home, I love my Baby-Brute. An old orange Roland Cube is also and excellent amp for jazz. I have had both the 40 and 60.
Keith
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Jazzstdnt: Thanks for the bedsheet tip. That sounds like an excellent solution and I know that we have some old bedsheets that I can repurpose for that task.
Floatingpickup: Interesting comment regarding 13's on a guitar with a 25.5" scale length. I didn't {think to} mention that my guitar will be coming with a 24.75" scale. I'll also check out those Newtone strings as well as the TI's that others had mentioned.
Once again, thank you all for the recommendations. Most helpful.
Cary
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I should mention that Thomastik Swings are the only brand where I go with the 13’s. That’s because they are kind of a heavy top/light bottom set, going from 13 to 53. The tension on that set is probably similar to a set of D’Addario Chromes, 12-52. If I was using any other brand, I would probably go with 12’s on my 17” long scale archtops. Not sure what I would put on the 24.75” Campellone. I use TI Jazz Swing 12’s or D’Addario Chome 11’s on my ES175’s, but they are totally electric guitars. BTW, I always use the bedsheet trick too. Originally Posted by Copablitz
Keith
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You made the right choice. I have owned both a 16” Campellone Standard (that I wish I still had) and a Bravo. Hands down, the Campellone was the better guitar. It will sound great through either a nice tube amp or a solid state. I recommend that you wait until you receive the guitar and then go and demo some amps. I played a nice Campellone Deluxe through a Henriksen Blu at Rudy’s in Soho a few months ago, and it sounded spectacular. That is maybe the nicest guitar I have ever played, and the Blu certainly brought out the guitar’s beautiful tone.
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An additional thought on strings: I have tried a lot of them, and ultimately TI Swings are now the only strings I’ll use on my arch tops. I use 13’s on my L5 and 12’s on my ES175. I agree with the previous posters that they feel like less tension than the D’Addario or other chrome alternatives. The TI’s or other nickel alternatives last twice as long (which justifies the additional cost) and I think they are easier on the frets (My theory. I haven’t seen any empirical evidence to back this up).
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Hi from Madrid. I have a wonderful Campellone with La Bella Tapes black nylon string 14-67 and an tiny combo JazzCat and a passive cab from Guitarsound systems, a french engineer, with incredible amps for archtops (Mini ampli guitare 05G200SJC Jazz Cat 50W Guitar Sound Systems). I seriously recommend both, strings and the JazzCat. Best
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