The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
  1. #1

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    I debated whether to post this in the players sections, or the gear section, but am posting in the gear section, as I believe that might be the key to solving this tiny mystery. For quite some time, I’ve been very interested in the playing, and the story, of Snoozer Quinn. For the uninitiated, here’s a great website: https://snoozerquinn.com


    The most readily available recordings of Snoozer are what’s known as his death bed recordings, recorded in 1948 while he was in a tuberculosis ward at New Orleans’ Charity Hospital where Johnny Wiggs recorded him, shortly before he died at age 42. The album can be listened to here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nUH7kPzMSxjO9meteashjm5UgAWT dWEm4


    One track, “Lover Come Back to Me / On the Alamo”
    has a distinctively different sound and feel, and I’m wondering if anyone here might have some insight. It sounds like the only electric guitar out of all the tracks, and has a vibrato effect. I’m wondering if anyone knows anything about it? Snoozer was known to play a 1920s L5 in his heyday. The DeArmond’s Tremolo Control came out around 1946, and has a similar sound, but with the primitive recording, its hard to tell. I could also make a case for the Rickenbacher-Electro Vibrola Spanish guitar as well. And sometimes…I’m not even sure it’s Snoozer Quinn at all. The track is an outlier. Anyone have any ideas? Any other Snoozer Quinn fans?

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    Quote Originally Posted by customxke
    I debated whether to post this in the players sections, or the gear section, but am posting in the gear section, as I believe that might be the key to solving this tiny mystery. For quite some time, I’ve been very interested in the playing, and the story, of Snoozer Quinn. For the uninitiated, here’s a great website: https://snoozerquinn.com


    The most readily available recordings of Snoozer are what’s known as his death bed recordings, recorded in 1948 while he was in a tuberculosis ward at New Orleans’ Charity Hospital where Johnny Wiggs recorded him, shortly before he died at age 42. The album can be listened to here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nUH7kPzMSxjO9meteashjm5UgAWT dWEm4


    One track, “Lover Come Back to Me / On the Alamo”
    has a distinctively different sound and feel, and I’m wondering if anyone here might have some insight. It sounds like the only electric guitar out of all the tracks, and has a vibrato effect. I’m wondering if anyone knows anything about it? Snoozer was known to play a 1920s L5 in his heyday. The DeArmond’s Tremolo Control came out around 1946, and has a similar sound, but with the primitive recording, its hard to tell. I could also make a case for the Rickenbacher-Electro Vibrola Spanish guitar as well. And sometimes…I’m not even sure it’s Snoozer Quinn at all. The track is an outlier. Anyone have any ideas? Any other Snoozer Quinn fans?
    definitely a fan. I wondered about that particular record
    Frankie Trumbauer said he was 'better' than Lang

  4. #3

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    Yes, I love his playing, and that '48 recording by Johnny Wiggs(great name, and Wigg's own recordings(minus Quinn), included on the album, are also good, as is the guitarist on those tracks).

    Quinn's history is fascinating, and tantalizing, because there are apparently no earlier recordings(or at least, any good ones) from his prime, and even in '48, near the end, he's phenomenal.

    I hadn't really noticed the possibility of him playing electric(I'll re-listen!), so can't comment on that.

  5. #4

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    Snoozer Quinn's ELECTRIC guitar?-img_5717-jpg
    Christmas came a little early this year!