Gibson Tal Farlow Through a Polytone

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

I thought it would be interesting to add a clip with the TF Polytone combination too. I have been recording directly over the past years and rarely used an amp. Still. the clip that I recorded this morning makes me wonder I should not use the amp more.

It's a short chord melody that I arranged myself. It was inspired by the way Tal Farlow plays his chord melodies, at least a bit as "feel" is concerned. The end features some quartal stuff a la Diorio.

So the amp is the Polytone again.

Enough clips now. Thanks for listening and all the kind replies on the ES 175/Polytone thread.

DB

[DMgolf66]

I thought it would be interesting to add a clip with the TF Polytone combination too. I have been recording directly over the past years and rarely used an amp. Still. the clip that I recorded this morning makes me wonder I should not use the amp more.

It's a short chord melody that I arranged myself. It was inspired by the way Tal Farlow plays his chord melodies, at least a bit as "feel" is concerned. The end features some quartal stuff a la Diorio.

So the amp is the Polytone again.

Enough clips now. Thanks for listening and all the kind replies on the ES 175/Polytone thread.

DB

Your the best. Everytime I see a new post with the name DB's Jazz Guitar Blog under it I always cant wait to read and listen. Thanks for that!

[waltf]

That sounds great too. Hard to compare because on this clip you play more chords but so far the es-175 wins. Crazy because i have a es-175 and a polytone and I don't sound like that.. great playing! What mic are you using? Oh, and this evening we expect a clip from the es350

[vinnyv1k]

Monster chops and tone. Sweet !

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

That sounds great too. Hard to compare because on this clip you play more chords but so far the es-175 wins. Crazy because i have a es-175 and a polytone and I don't sound like that.. great playing! What mic are you using? Oh, and this evening we expect a clip from the es350

Thanks. The mic is a condenser type, not very expensive.

I think the Farlow even sounds better on the single line stuff, though it's a tough call. I'll see if I can upload some single line boppin' later.

DB

[waltf]

Thanks. The mic is a condenser type, not very expensive.

I think the Farlow even sounds better on the single line stuff, though it's a tough call. I'll see if I can upload some single line boppin' later.

DB

Or some more chords with the es-175.

[Stringswinger]

DB, you are making me covet a TF

Sounds great, but for my taste, that tune could be played a bit slower ( I prefer Kenny Burrell to Tal Farlow)......That said, your playing is inspiring me. Keep posting (and do not lose that Polytone!)

[silverfoxx]

DB, you are making me covet a TF

Sounds great, but for my taste, that tune could be played a bit slower ( I prefer Kenny Burrell to Tal Farlow)......That said, your playing is inspiring me. Keep posting (and do not lose that Polytone!)

SS, You probably know that I've had three TF's in the last 20 odd years, the latest is superb too, won't part with it.
it remains in tune better than any other, for long periods, strung with 11's it has a great tone IMHO far superior
to an ES175, if you play one you'll be hooked or i'll be surprised.

007

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

DB, you are making me covet a TF

Sounds great, but for my taste, that tune could be played a bit slower ( I prefer Kenny Burrell to Tal Farlow)......That said, your playing is inspiring me. Keep posting (and do not lose that Polytone!)

Yeah, I know. I don't treat it as a ballad. It's probably more an etude of sorts. Tal often has that feel on his solo stuff. The romantic nature of the tune gets lost. But somehow I like that.

DB

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

SS, You probably know that I've had three TF's in the last 20 odd years, the latest is superb too, won't part with it.
it remains in tune better than any other, for long periods, strung with 11's it has a great tone IMHO far superior
to an ES175, if you play one you'll be hooked or i'll be surprised. 007

The Tal Farlow re-issues are extraordinary instruments. I have the real vintage 17" thing" too (1947 ES 300 and 1952 ES 350) and it holds up well in that company. I once played a 1964 Tal and found it no better than my re-issue. It was more lightly built but I kind of liked the sound of my 1998 better. It sounded fatter.

The TF has a real "Tal Farlow" vibe somehow. I think it is the best and most convincing signature model ever made by Gibson.

But I have been saying this year after year after year ....

DB

[Cunamara]

Tal takes a lot of knicks for being technically sloppy in his later years, but hearing that rendition of "Misty" he is playing some really difficult stuff there and pulling it off with pretty good aplomb. I think the Art Tatum influence is maybe a little more prominent in his later years than in his earlier years when his soloing seemed more influenced by Prez and the beboppers.

[Max405]

DB, to my ears the Tal sounds extraordinary through the Polytone.
And being able to play DDD at that pace proves your Brain is still working good!
And your skills, well, they haven’t changed at all since the the other video you posted this morning.
Great Stuff DB.
JD

[wzpgsr]

I know it’s not a contest between the ES-175 and the TF, but dang that TF sounds incredible.

[vinnyv1k]

That video of Tal with his huge hands makes it look like he is playing a Les Paul.

[neatomic]

speakin of big tal..newport 68...has tal custom tailpiece




cheers

[Greentone]

I agree with Joe. DB, your Tal Farlow sounds fantastic through the Polytone amp. It actually sounds VERY much like Tal Farlow playing his Tal Farlow guitar, to my ear.

More! Encore!

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

I agree with Joe. DB, your Tal Farlow sounds fantastic through the Polytone amp. It actually sounds VERY much like Tal Farlow playing his Tal Farlow guitar, to my ear. More! Encore!

Thanks Greentone. Yes, with the right amp and a bit of his stylish approach a Gibson Tal Farlow actually sounds like the man ... As a huge TF fan, I love that model. I noticed prices are rapidly going up for it on the used market by the way.

DB

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

That sounds great too. Hard to compare because on this clip you play more chords but so far the es-175 wins. Crazy because i have a es-175 and a polytone and I don't sound like that.. great playing! What mic are you using? Oh, and this evening we expect a clip from the es350

Thanks. The mic is a condenser type mic, nothing special and not very expensive.

The 350 through my Polytone. Yeah I can do that. Gimme some time.

DB

[lawson-stone]

I so love threads that start from somebody actually playing. Gear, theory, technique... all so much more interesting when we’ve got a great piece of a forumite playing to inspire us. After listening to DB play through the polytone I spent a couple hours when I should have been work I just putting all my guitars through the polytone mb2. Got reacquainted with all my guitars, got reconnected with the polytone, and played myself full.

A Good day. Thaanks to DB for inspiring it!


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[Max405]

Thanks Greentone. Yes, with the right amp and a bit of his stylish approach a Gibson Tal Farlow actually sounds like the man ... As a huge TF fan, I love that model. I noticed prices are rapidly going up for it on the used market by the way.

DB

DB, From my perspective, asking prices are going up.
Selling prices are not. There is an excellent Viceroy Brown TF in Hawaii, that can be bought for $3600, delivered.
Asking and Selling prices are different.

Keep inspiring us with your playing. Inspiration is a great thing. As a result of the things that we see and hear on this very forum, we are all better because of it.

JD

[vinlander]

speakin of big tal..newport 68...has tal custom tailpiece




cheers

His prototype had already started to fade quite quickly in those 6 years he had it, here is the original color

Tal definitely inherited his dad's hands...