Guitarists: the earliest Gibson L-5. Swoon.

[jerry_smissingfinger]

@WordMan

To be clear: an archtop was good for “Freddie Green comping” AND for solo lead work. Freddie Green was the guitarist in Count Basie’s orchestra and famously held down the groove with simple, few-note, four-to-the-bar jazz chords.

Youtube lesson I randomly found which illustrates the technique: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zueZ8HzfPI4

When you are playing those fast, sharp downstrokes (hey! kinda like Johnny Ramone!!), an archtop has a big burst of sound when you hit the strings, that is very midrangey and decays fast. So the midrange cuts through in the rhythm mix, and the fast decay means you can play a rapid succession of complex jazz chords and not have them sound clashy.

In a completely different way, an archtop can be very subtle and responsive for solo guitar work. Listen to Pickin’ my Way by Carl Kress and Dick McDonough:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uhcrRuTsPFI

Just fuckin’ brilliant. McD plays gorgeous single-note lead runs (listen to the pingy tone of the guitar), with Kress playing rhythm chords underneath him. THen they switch, and Kress plays chordal melodies, i.e., lead guitar using small partial chords that sounds fast, badass, superhard, and with a slight uke tone. These guys are shredding in their way as much as any modern day guitar gunslinger, but it is wonderfully musical. (I hope I am assigning them correctly - I always mix up who’s playing what…)

In this case, they aren’t playing for volume, they are exploiting the responsive capabilities of a top-tier instrument. The L-5 could do both.

Enjoy the photos on the Kress/McD video - lots of vintage L-5 shots.

Thanks for the YouTube recs

Marked for later

[drad_dog]

@WordMan

Dave Rawlings plays a '35 Epiphone Olympic. As a guitar, it is a bargain instrument, much more like Pork Rind’s old Gibson L-37 or my Kalamazoo (Gibson cheaper level during the Depression). It’s a VW Bug vs. an L-5 Mercedes. And yeah, Rawlings plays the crap out of it - amazing: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PyWTzAoZhzE

Yeah, I love a good Gibson - I have a 40’s J-45 and have had a bunch of other old ones. Nice warm thumpy tone.

I wonder if that reflects the quality of guitars in the early 20th century, vs later. Why is the budget epiphone from 1935 the best guitar he has ever played in 2000?

[WordMan]

@drad_dog

I wonder if that reflects the quality of guitars in the early 20th century, vs later. Why is the budget epiphone from 1935 the best guitar he has ever played in 2000?

I would have to read / listen to his discussions about it, but I suspect he says it fits his style more than it is the best he’s played. He’s discussed its tone limitations, but understands how his approach to playing that guitar complements what Gillian does down low on her bigger guitars.

I think of it more like Jack White playing that awful Res-O-Glas Airline guitar. Those things are not very good. You really have to wrestle with them. But he really made it work. But I can’t say I am surprised he’s ended up with a Tele these days

I’ve played a few Olympics and other 30’s and 40’s Epi Archtops. Those little ones are well-made but you really have to work them to get your tone out of them. Not very strummy which is typical for archtops, and with a midrange bark to the tone.

[jerry_smissingfinger]

Hey Wordman can you help me I.D a Gibson? Not sure how to post pics to here but here is the story.

My friend’s Uncle died and they found a Gibson Acoustic. ser.# 38908 in his closet.
Rosewood fret board and spruce top that is split.

I’ve been to The Guitar Dater Project - Gibson Serial Number Decoder says pre 77’ not recognized? The two closest styles appear to be a J50 or J100. It has a tortoise pick guard and an adjustable bridge with a ceramic insert.

Someone from as different site said it was made in Kalamazoo 1961 based on the info and ser# I gave him.

Someone also told me that a 4,5 or 6 digit ser # fall between 61 and 69’. During those years Gibson did not add made in the USA on the stock. This Guitar does not have made in the USA on the stock.

I found an identical guitar on Gibson J-50ADJ 1956 - 1968 | Reverb. but the ser# does not match up with the site info.

regardless of the crack from being so dry and not being played it needs a little work to say the least.
I figured $500 should fix the crack, straighten the neck and set up with new strings. I just pulled that number out my ass assuming it is a 61’ J50. I think I paid around $500 to have the same work done on a Martin D18 1973.

My friend said if I buy him a playable nice guitar that cost $500 to a $1000 of his choice, he would trade me. I may jump on this.

what do you think? And got any research sites I can peg this thing down with 100% confidence in what it is?

[WordMan]

I don’t have time tonight, but try checking this site and see if you can narrow it down. If it is a '61 J-50 - similar pickguard as that photo you link to? - it might be worth it.

http://guitarhq.com/gibson.html

[jerry_smissingfinger]

@WordMan

I don’t have time tonight, but try checking this site and see if you can narrow it down. If it is a '61 J-50 - similar pickguard as that photo you link to? - it might be worth it.

Vintage Guitars Info - Gibson collecting vintage gibson guitars

Thanks a bunch for the link