"Invitation" for Solo Guitar

[maxsmith]

Here's a version of "Invitation" from my solo guitar album "Guitarra Callada".

No chords, I wanted to do something monophonic, a la Sonny Rollins or Lee Konitz.

[kris]

A great version of Invitation.
A fresh look at this great tune.
Great sound with really jazz feel!
Best
Kris

[Cunamara]

Nice sound! Your Bandcamp page mentions a focus on acoustic guitar- is this recorded acoustically? And what guitar? The basses sound like bronze strings?

Also, really nice Giant Steps.

[maxsmith]

Nice sound! Your Bandcamp page mentions a focus on acoustic guitar- is this recorded acoustically? And what guitar? The basses sound like bronze strings?

Also, really nice Giant Steps.

Thanks!

I’m currently working on material for a couple of solo acoustic guitar releases. I’ve been playing acoustic exclusively for nearly a year and adjusting my technique and compositional perspective has been an ongoing and enjoyable process. As I said, I expect to release a couple of acoustic albums in the coming months, mostly original pieces in alternate tunings.

The two albums on BandCamp are prior efforts - the solo guitar album turned out to be done on electric guitar because of my limited access to resources during lockdowns. “Invitation” was recorded on a Kiesel Allan Holdworth HH2 (a much nicer clean jazz guitar than you might think) with Pyramid Monel Strings, 12-48. “Giant Steps” was done on a hollowbody Reverend PA-1, tuned down two whole steps to C, Newtone strings 15-60.

Below you’ll find a link to a book of original pieces written in alternate tunings that I just published as a Kindle book.

[Cunamara]

Interesting! When recorded cleanly enough, even electric guitars maintain some of that acoustical quality of the vibrating string. I have put Monel strings on my 17 inch archtop and I am really liking them a lot; I have not tried them on an electric guitar yet (i.e., solidbody). I also really like them on my flat top. These are the Martin Retro Monel strings.

I am an Allan Holdsworth fan and I've always been intrigued by his tiny little headless guitars, if nothing else for the sheer portability of them. One can get a base model alder HH2 from Keisel for about $1600 with case. That's a pretty competitive price. Do you use the original pick ups?

Giant Steps was tuned down to C? Wow. I heard the lower-than-E bass note but assumed you were using drop D tuning, not having checked it against one of my guitars. I have never experimented with other tunings, having enough trouble managing just the one.

[maxsmith]

My Kiesel Holdsworth is a 2016 - they have changed the guitar since Allan died. Mine is mostly hollow inside and has a locking vibrato bridge that doesn’t require a back door in the body. It is a very lightweight, dynamic, and resonant guitar. I bought it with whatever pickups Allan used at the time, not the 22-pole Carvin type. I can’t speak for how the newer models sound. I will say the neck (I got the fattest version) plays easier than any guitar I have owned.

I love Monel strings; they have such a solid fundamental tone without the clank you get with bronze and brass. I am using the Martin Retro Laurence Juber set on my acoustic, tuned to DADGAD most of the time, but they handle most tunings fine.

I love tuning down! I have a version of “What is This Thing Called Love” in what I call “Extended Cello” tuning - CGDABE. I’ll post it soon.

Interesting! When recorded cleanly enough, even electric guitars maintain some of that acoustical quality of the vibrating string. I have put Monel strings on my 17 inch archtop and I am really liking them a lot; I have not tried them on an electric guitar yet (i.e., solidbody). I also really like them on my flat top. These are the Martin Retro Monel strings.

I am an Allan Holdsworth fan and I've always been intrigued by his tiny little headless guitars, if nothing else for the sheer portability of them. One can get a base model alder HH2 from Keisel for about $1600 with case. That's a pretty competitive price. Do you use the original pick ups?

Giant Steps was tuned down to C? Wow. I heard the lower-than-E bass note but assumed you were using drop D tuning, not having checked it against one of my guitars. I have never experimented with other tunings, having enough trouble managing just the one.

[Cunamara]

Ah, according to prior discussions Seymour Duncan had a custom wind for Allan (which can be ordered through their custom shop).

Hollowed is now a $100 option for the Kiesel.