Choosing an Archtop for Pasquale-esque tone?

[SOLR]

They sound like amplified guitars to me, even the ones with carved tops, nevermind the laminates. No way around that with a magnetic pickup. Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant, though.

In the JGT interview!

S

[sgosnell]

Those were played acoustically. That's the sound of an acoustic archtop, at least some. Not a Gibson, more like a modern archtop. From the video, it seems he knows that he needs to turn up, he just hasn't quite got there yet. There is no doubt that he is a great player, but perhaps he just hasn't found his ideal voice yet. But what do I know? I'm just some guy with an internet connection and an opinion. One of milliions.

[SOLR]

Those were played acoustically. That's the sound of an acoustic archtop, at least some. Not a Gibson, more like a modern archtop. From the video, it seems he knows that he needs to turn up, he just hasn't quite got there yet. There is no doubt that he is a great player, but perhaps he just hasn't found his ideal voice yet. But what do I know? I'm just some guy with an internet connection and an opinion. One of milliions.

I was trying to "impress upon" the OP that, acoustically his guitar sound is no different than most archtop with rounds..amped though it's another story....He's definitely looking for a specific "round" tone..no highs no lows.....and has been refining that for some time with different pick ups on the same guitar(s.) and different amps vintage or not....It's never going to be the GB tone although this has a brighter tone from a few years ago....

S

[st.bede]

An absurd statement ! The same Engineer can mix a really great drum and bass sound but not Grasso's ??? and Treniers are definitely not "shit " guitars.....

BTW I am a sound engineer, I've heard it all, when it's good it's the artist the equipment the venue but when it's bad it's me?

This sounds fine, that's his sound

. Do I like it ? not particularly.. but that's what he likes.....it's a specific sound ...and he keeps experimenting with p-ups.....

S

wow he is ripping… I could be wrong but to my ear, it sound like he is loud but not pushing the right frequencies to cut.. I can understand having a particular approach, but at the same time you have to have enough higher(ish) mids to cut… it is almost like the drummer would need to be playing higher tighter sounding drums and the bass should be reggae low almost sub… then again that is my impression

however it is a really interesting tone that sounds great but as soon as the drums come in, it almost disappears, and then the single note stuff, really disappears … of course I an listening over the my phone, and allergies have an impact… idk

[wintermoon]

Fantastic player but I can't remember ever liking his tone. To my ear It always seems either too thin/trebly or muffled/muted. Not really sure what that's about. Maybe I haven't listened to him enough.

[PhillyNash]

Realize this is old thread but listening to Grasso playing w/Vignola right now and it dawned on me that his tone and attack is perhaps more reminiscent of a piano(!)

Given his love of Bud Powell, wondering if rather than going after a "guitar" sound he's looking for something quite different? Wondering if other posters in this thread who know PG better have any insights?

[Monica.N]

I'm also listening to Frank Vignola's Guitar Night with Pasquale Grasso, his playing is fantastic.

They have a different sound, each with their own quality

[RJVB]

I'm listening to that too as we speak, and trying to ignore my distaste of that nasal lo-fi sound that reminds me so much of a student violin played with a hotel mute in an acoustically dead room (but I guess the image of deep plush seats and carpets is very appropriate for the kind of jazz they're playing...)

[Christian Miller]

Realize this is old thread but listening to Grasso playing w/Vignola right now and it dawned on me that his tone and attack is perhaps more reminiscent of a piano(!)

Given his love of Bud Powell, wondering if rather than going after a "guitar" sound he's looking for something quite different? Wondering if other posters in this thread who know PG better have any insights?

I think that’s it. Pasquale plays the volume level of an upright piano too.


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[Cunamara]

You know I was listening to this today

And it reminded me how much I've always loved Martin Taylor's tone. He's not the hippest player among jazz guitar heads, but his tone is constantly gorgeous, with plenty of treble without harshness. More of an acoustic concept, maybe.

Also, strong 80s look going on here. Nice one, Martin.

I realize that I'm responding to an old post and, not having read through the whole thread, I don't know if this has been pointed out. However, the second guitarist up there is the great Louis Stewart!

As for Pasquale's tone, not entirely sure I've ever really noticed. I am so overawed by his playing that I'm not really sitting there wondering whether or not I like his tone. I guess he could have a bit more sparkle here two maybe pair just a bit more effectively with her wonderful voice:

[rrbasic]

"As for Pasquale's tone, not entirely sure I've ever really noticed. I am so overawed by his playing that I'm not really sitting there wondering whether or not I like his tone."

I could not agree with this more. He is such a fine player. I hear his tone and find nothing to complain about, this man is a master in his field and I'm amazed at his talent and can’t overstate the pleasure I experience while listening to him play.

[D.G.]

Capturing PG's guitar tone is simple: roll off the tone control all the way, roll off all the treble/bass on the amp and boost the mids. It's a very one-dimensional, non-dynamic tone that is super easy to play. This is by no means any kind of dig at PG's playing -- which is thoroughly astounding -- more that for this kind of tone the guitar's construction is of lesser importance.

[Woody Sound]

Additional note. I once asked him about his Trenier after a gig. "Is the top Spruce or Maple?" "Laminate or Solid"?

His response: "I don't know! It sounds pretty good!"

lol. I once caught Kenny Burrell at a small club. He had a custom made floating pickup. I asked him if it was single coil or humbucking. His reply:

”0h, I don’t know. He’s got some damn thing in there.”

[John A.]

I think some of Grasso's tone comes from the amp -- he uses old Gibson tube amps. Those, tweed Fenders, plus a few other older tube amp designs have mid-range peak in roughly the same spot that you can accentuate further via settings on guitar and amp. But it's harder to get that with, say, blackface or silverface Fender-based designs. All that said, the main thing is how and where he picks -- light touch, close to the neck.

[Christian Miller]

I’ve played that guitar

I would say it’s a laminate, but wouldn’t swear on it.

Relatively heavy strings - 13 flat wounds I think fairly low action, but not super low.

Pasquale was like ‘here, have a go.’

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