-
Here's Phil Upchurch on his blonde NYL2
-
06-03-2021 10:57 AM
-
"Uh-oh, Phil Upchurch just walked in. Now I'm nervous...." Joe Pass, on the guitarist's guitarist's guitarist.
Originally Posted by Greentone
-
C74, I'm sorry buddy! It took me a some time to measure the thickness of the Tailpiece. Originally Posted by citizenk74
Joe, I was wondering if you could enlighten me on a couple details on that iconic tailpiece - my number one favorite - as to its thickness and manufacture. In my mind, I see it as perhaps 1/8 of an inch in the long part, and maybe 3/8 of an inch in the cross-bar and either cast or stamped. And do you know what the original D'A's were like in that regard? Thank you very much!
The thickness is 13/32 at the top and about 3/16 on the long part. Good eye buddy!
This tailpiece is stamped. The Real D'A's were cut from a solid piece of brass and then etched. It was probably polished and overcoated with something to protect it. But all brass will tarnish in pretty short order.
I've experimented a little bit with some brass screws. I polished them out with some Meguires 105. They polished out like they were gold plated. Then I used some ceramic Coating to give them a permanent sacrificial top coat. The stuff I used is C-Quartz UK. I did this on the pickguard screws on my GB100. Well, 10 months later, they are still gold and shiny. Now with all honestly, I don't really play the GB every day (or even every week for that matter), but they didnt tarnish naturally with the coating on it. I think they would have darkened by now without the ceramic coating.
JD
-
Wow! Thanks GT. That was one of the best solo played blues pieces I've ever heard! Originally Posted by Greentone
There you have it. That is all the sharpness, clarity, warmth and precision that I hear in my Guitar. Except, playing wise, I couldn't carry Phils Gymbag..
You know guys, something weird is happening with this guitar. I need to share..
Since I got it, I've been almost afraid to play it at times. I am worried that the newness might wear off and it might start to become a mediocre guitar. I've been so delighted with the guitar that I am afraid reality will eventually set in.
Last night, I played like shit. I think I just had an off day in general, but it was the most awful I've played in a while. But one bright spot prevailed.
The song I am working on, "There Will Never Be Another You" needed a little less Treble so I reached down and and Adjusted what I've thought all along was the Tone wheel. As I lowered it, the volume reduced. So the wheel that I thought was the Tone was actually the Volume. WELL... I've been playing this guitar at around 65% volume. So I maxed out the Volume wheel. The sound Got BETTER! The pickup came alive. The reverb on my Boss GT-001 began to sparkle. The only problem, the tone wheel has the wrong taper so it goes from tone all the way up to mud in the middle somewhere, with really no adjustability. Brian actually told me the hidden (not Schatten) wheels under the bridge were actually Audio Pots with the wrong taper for a Guitar. He tried changing the capacitor in the middle and it didnt help at all.
So eventually, I will get a new Volume/Tone thing. Not now. Its all good.
I LOVE this Guitar! Much to my surprise, as the newness wears off, it keeps getting better and better. The finish is like glass. Acoustically the guitar is ALIVE. Its the perfect guitar for the type of music I play. I am set.
JD
-
JD, like most of us, you have been "set" for quite some time, but there is always " just one more guitar" lurking out there on the horizon.
-
Thank you so much for this information! I greatly appreciate it. I've long been fascinated by the tailpiece's role in the overall archtop tonal picture and that particular tailpiece format has always mesmerized me with its perfection. Again, my thanks! Originally Posted by Max405
-
Yeah, You are right bro. I was "set" at one time. then, it hit! The Storm of storms.. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
JD, like most of us, you have been "set" for quite some time, but there is always " just one more guitar" lurking out there on the horizon.
I've been trying the re-"set" my guitar situation ever since. Im getting close..
You are very welcome C74. I have long thought that the tailpiece contributes greatly to the tone of guitar. There is not a greater example of, "the sum of all its parts" than the construction of an Archtop Guitar. You know, Our guy Stringswinger has the Ghost Built D'Angelico, that uses the original D'Angelico tailpiece made by "Shaffner" in NYC. I hope I spelled that right. He can give you exact thickness of the same exact TP's used on the real DA's. His real Style A or Style B may actually have that tailpiece on it. I know his Excel does not. I think the Excel TP was actually made by Grover.. Originally Posted by citizenk74
JD
-
The real deal Shaffner tailpieces are slightly thinner than JD's measurements...
-
Thanks SS.
JD
-
Thank you, Stringswinger! You're a gent. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
-
“ I’m set “ ……hey I just saw some pigs flying.
-
I think I am. A lot of reasons.
There is nothing available to me that I want to buy.
This guitar solved a few dilemmas I had.
There is really just one more guitar I want. But I don’t know if it will ever become available to me again. Either way, I’m cool with it.
I’m Good bro.
-
The only way anyone can be “ good “ is if you never look at Reverb, eBay, TMZ, Dave’s,
archtop.com, Craigslist, MF, GC, and The For Sale section here.
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak…….LOL
-
Said the boy who cried wolf
Just messing w/ ya Joe! You're a good egg, you crack me up sometimes! I think you want to be done like many of us but....
I've purchased just 1 guitar in the last 7 yrs or so, back in the day it might be 1 or 2 a year. Still have a couple on my bucket list but they're big ticket items and have been there nearly 30 yrs so they may never happen. So until I'm officially done I guess I'm not really done.
Some guys here seem to post a ngd every couple weeks, but hey, free country, whatever makes you happy I say. Can't understand why some folks resent them unless it's jealousy.
-
Then I must be just, "OK"... Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
Because there are many of those that I don't look at. EBay, TMZ, Dave's, Archtop, Craigslist, MF and GC. Haven't looked at them in ages. Only when directed.
Although, I was checking out that Tal. AND, I was seriously considering that Heritage Golden Eagle with the Floater at Panther. But both were gobbled up.
OK, I suck. I'm not even just OK..
-
WM, that was a good one.. Egg + Crack me up sometimes.. You deserve a little love for that one.. Originally Posted by wintermoon
Said the boy who cried wolf
Just messing w/ ya Joe! You're a good egg, you crack me up sometimes! I think you want to be done like many of us but....
I've purchased just 1 guitar in the last 7 yrs or so, back in the day it might be 1 or 2 a year. Still have a couple on my bucket list but they're big ticket items and have been there nearly 30 yrs so they may never happen. So until I'm officially done I guess I'm not really done.
Some guys here seem to post a ngd every couple weeks, but hey, free country, whatever makes you happy I say. Can't understand why some folks resent them unless it's jealousy.
I watched a Video Last night, Joe Pass at the Umbria Jazz Festival. He was playing a JP20. It sounded amazingly good. No really, amazingly good. It got me to thinking.. And then I realized, it was Joe PASS playing it.. But I am still thinking..
I was one of the few who really liked that guitar. I just couldn't get along with the shallow neck. But I think that's been conquered with my GB100 and this VDA.
Mmm..
(your right, it never ends.. it just gets more and more ridiculous)
-
I have this very strange urge to get a JP20. I can't say as I really need it, but it just has an aura for me, being such a Joe Pass fan... maybe I'll snag one sometime! Originally Posted by Max405
-
Vinny to wife: I promise this is the last one
Wife to Vinny: Liar
-
I enjoyed owning a JP-20 for a time, but found the 25.5 scale on a 16 inch guitar a bit "off". And truth be told, I like a 175 so much better that there was no reason to keep that guitar.
It is hard to beat a good 175 for jazz.
-
Yes, I think a certain amount of envy plays a role. Whenever I see a NGD or NAD or whatever, I rejoice for the happy new "owner," though "caretaker" or "guardian" might be closer to the mark. At our best, we are not merely amassing; and certainly not hoarding. It's sad that in a free economy, wealth-shaming is a thing. I blame (anti-) social media. "Divide and rule" remains in force, as ever. Originally Posted by wintermoon
Said the boy who cried wolf
Just messing w/ ya Joe! You're a good egg, you crack me up sometimes! I think you want to be done like many of us but....
I've purchased just 1 guitar in the last 7 yrs or so, back in the day it might be 1 or 2 a year. Still have a couple on my bucket list but they're big ticket items and have been there nearly 30 yrs so they may never happen. So until I'm officially done I guess I'm not really done.
Some guys here seem to post a ngd every couple weeks, but hey, free country, whatever makes you happy I say. Can't understand why some folks resent them unless it's jealousy.
-
Lawson, Originally Posted by lawson-stone
If you get a chance check out the Video I mentioned.
The video quality was not so good. But not only does the JP-20 sound great, but Joe's playing was absolutely as good as it gets. On the money.
Joe D
-
Always amazing how people can say "Joe Pass was really great but..." and then basically trash the guy. I just find his playing breath-taking. His willingness to just start in on "Stella" and even needing to listen a bit to hear what NHOP was doing, and clearly not being embarrassed or awkward about it, and then coming in when he gets it... pure improvisational intelligence. Originally Posted by Max405
-
I do not get guitar players who do not get Joe Pass.
-
Joe Pass was/is the icon of Jazz guitar anyone who says otherwise clearly has failed in great book of jazz guitar knowledge. I think some guys give him a hard time because he played solo so much and frankly he did, but also played with small groups. He stunned the guitar world with his Catch Me sessions in the early 60's. The sound of his 175 and level of melodic playing was almost as if he put together the perfect solo lines. In a sense he certainly was able to handle quick tempos and chops but he also was melodic in making almost speech like sentences.
The other side of the coin is he stunned the guitar world 10 years later with Virtuosos probably my most favorite jazz guitar recording and certainly my favorite solo recording. He just manage to swing and make your toes tap. As a 13 year old boy in Mel Bay Book one when I got the record in about 1974 listening to it on my grandmother's old record player. Looking back I was encountering history and the presence of something great. It was like opening the book of the Gospels and saying.............yes I was there when the Lord took us to Mt Tabor. I still listen to this recording often at times,then put it away for awhile and get it back out.
Since this is a gear page Joe manage all of this on his trusty Gibson 175 with, and without an amplifier. If anyone dare trash this in some form it is only because they simply could not pull this off themselves. Certainly I have heard transcriptions of others playing from this recording................sorry Joe did it first and a clone is still a clone not the original. Joe did not do this on the coveted L5 and Fender Twin, he did it on laminated 175 with a Polytone which he then made his sound. Even when the recording dropped the amp as happened on the session Joe actually sounds even better. Joe was a regular fellow and he had a sense of humor and never made guitar playing about himself.
The truth be know his entire audience at times were guitar players because he was so good everyone had to go check him out. Most players playing for a living are working gigs trying to get anyone to listen to jazz guitar. Joe was talented that he had guitar players listen and making a living playing in effect for them I think at times. He played with his fingers, the pick, sometimes he used both and frankly he love tunes. He did not jam he played music and melodies. Check out Beautiful Love he did solo.
Now if anyone wants to trash Joe.............be prepared to take it up in the next life...........one of the 10 commandments of jazz guitar........I shall not trash or dismiss Joe Pass.
Sorry I got rolling
-
People say those JP Ibanez's are weird and don't sound good, but I always thought Joe sounded great on his.
If you believe pictures, he plays it on Andre Previn's "After Hours," and that's some of my favorite Joe on record, playing and tone wise.
Reply With Quote
Survived a MuseScore attack tonight
Today, 12:56 AM in Recording & Music Software