stein Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Thing is, if I was a bluegrasser, I'd be tempted not to use a D-28 or other accepted Martin model as that's what all the bluegrass players tend to use, why would I want my sound, or our collective sound to be strikingly similar to every other bluegrass mob out there? The other thing I found odd is that the pioneers who influenced and started the bluegrass thing half the time, or most of the time, played Gibsons. EDIT: while I take an interest, and have read up on it, I am not an expert on Bluegrass and I can't play it very well at all. I don't know how to use a pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis57 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Any acoustic-electric guitar will do. but get a LOUD AMP! a guitar will only sound loud as much as you make it sound loud. Amps on the other hand, and blast them banjos away! something like this might help Wow! You can use any uke and plug it on this wall of speakers; that will take care of those banjos! :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aitch Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 The loudest guitar I've played was an Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I have lost count of the number of guitars described as a "banjo killer" in my lifetime. Thing is, I have yet to hear a geetar that was un-mic'd or without a pickup that could beat down a banjo. As someone noted what the bluegrass guys seem to really dig is not only volume but the booming low end of a good Martin dread. If you wanted to think a bit outside the box and stand out in the crowd - you could always snag something like a Harmony Sovereign and have the bracing redone. Based on how good they sound stock, it might just out-Martin a Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseguy Posted August 24, 2011 Author Share Posted August 24, 2011 THANK YOU ONE AND ALL FOR ALL THE GREAT AND USEFUL ADVICE FOR THE RECORD I HAVE NEVER MET OR PLAYED WITH A BLUE GRASS PLAYER WHO WASN'T A REALLY NICE PERSON NEVER HEARD A BAD REMARK MADE ABOUT MY J200 REGARDS MOOSE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Haven't seen the film, but this 1 looks loud ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 That is one heluva of a guitar, and heres' the story behind it ... Haven't seen the film, but this 1 looks loud ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnt Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I agree as I own one myself but I still neeed MORE VOLUME Moose P.S. Loudest one I ever owned was a Kalamazoo arch top-wish I had it now Where have you been young man? I thought this was an old thread Nice to hear from you here, made me come out of infrequent lurking Fred sends love to Nou Nou! J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soao Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 This topic is of great interest to me because I regularly drag my square shouldered J45 to bluegrass jams. If it's a circle of more than 8-10 players, forget it. I can't hear the other D28's if the banjos are on the rampage. Typically with a large group, I'll just concentrate on making music with the players directly on each side of me. Playing loud in that setting takes some adjustments no matter what you are playing. I use a very stiff pick with medium strings. I don't use a lot hammers and pull offs. I run my breaks up the neck where I feel my treble cuts through. I actually get a lot of complements for my guitar at jams. Yeah yeah yeah, the square shoulder j45 is overbraced, but it is just short of 40 years old. It has pretty nice tone for an old guitar. I think I have the same or better volume than the new J45's I've tested in stores. I wonder if the square shoulder design might help in the volume department. I've thought about what one poster commented about why use what every one else is playing and sound just like them. I really think that each player is significantly different as to make what ever guitar they are playing sound different. I hear the same model guitar at different volumes depending on how it's played more so than what it is. Of course my dream is that if I played better, other folks in the jam would turn down the volume just to hear me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill67 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Would something like a Gretsch G400 cut thought at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseguy Posted August 24, 2011 Author Share Posted August 24, 2011 Where have you been young man? I thought this was an old thread Nice to hear from you here, made me come out of infrequent lurking Fred sends love to Nou Nou! J Sir Johnt: Greetings and salutations to an "infrequent lurker" (doing this here could probably get you a nicely confined free vacation) I must have struck a nerve with this thread including yourself who probably needs a volume booster due to Fred's lovesick calls for NouNou. I am seriously happy to know you are alive and hopefully still happily HUMMING AND STRUMMING. I also trust that you will be still available to continue your superior board memebership activities in behalf of the PISS POOR PICKING ACADEMY Of ADVANCE GUITAR TECHNIQUES. Ever since we lost our financial backing from the local cartel due to their finding mostly sober roaches in the student's watered tequila which they supply, thingies have have been going from worst to rotten. The BEST best to you and yours and a big hug to Fred from NouNou Moose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryp58 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 What ever you do...DON'T turn up to a Bluegrass jam with a Gibson. You have to have a Martin D-28 - preferably from the 40s! Well, I play in a bluegrass band! I play my Gibson All the time! (my SongBird, it's rosewood) At first I caught the sneers and jeers from the ol' timers, but after they gave my Gibby a go they were amazed at the volume and sound from it. In fact, I've had a few die-hard Martin pickers break a string during performances and ask to play my Gibby the rest of their set!!! Most of the Martin fanatics, I've found, just have never played a Gibson guitar. It's just that people stereo-type bluegrass music and Martin guitars! But I'm blazin' a trail with my Gibsons through the dark, dark world of bluegrass music!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 My money is on Keef's Sea Turtle Guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 My money is on Keef's Sea Turtle Guitar. Dude, anybody can tell that's a sea-turtle stand-up bass. I'm just waitin' for Keef to be playin' Jack Sparrow's J-200 in the next movie. And I thought my J-45 had a fancy headstock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Moosey!! So good to *see* you again !! My vote is ADVANCED JUMBO! Just throw a paper bag over the headstock and blow 'em away with the sound. Yeah, the purists might notice the little arrowheads on the fretboard but so what!! I must tell my standard banjo joke here: What's the difference between a n onion and a banjo? No one ever cried when you cut up a banjo I really need to get some new material Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6stringTom Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Karen, no need for new material. Just consider yourself a preserver of tradition. B) As for guitar volume, I agree that a lot is involved beyond the make and model. I'm really amazed by how much difference pick choice can make in the volume. Set up, string choice, and just the variation within the same model line also are important. However, I did sell an HD28V because it was simply too loud for my type of music. That model really projects. Also the one D18 authentic I've played had incredible volume. My J-45 has more than enough volume, but is not as loud as either of the Martins. In bluegrass, I don't feel the guitar as rhythm instrument needs to overpower or compete with the banjo. The guitar is important, but it really isn't the defining sound of bluegrass. During any bluegrass break it is the responsibility of the other players to back off if necessary to make the overall sound good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Rondack Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Loudest guitars I've ever owned were a Lowden F-35 and a Martin D-18 Golden Era. Must say that my Advanced Jumbo gets the job done pretty well also, and I play bluegrass all the time. Bring a Gibson to the jam just to be contrary... and prove to the ignorant that the AJ is as good a bluegrass guitar as any. Just ask Randy Scruggs. Somebody posted about Collings... seriously? They are a myth promoted by the folks that have paid too much for them. If you want a traditional dreadnought, save some money and buy a Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duende Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 The one below is louder than hell! - gypsy jazzers were made to cut out above the rest of the band/ensemble. They make great all round guitars too, my wife has accompanied herself singing Simon and Garfunkle and Richard Thompson songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 And I thought my J-45 had a fancy headstock! No worry – it will easily and soon make you a genuine flag officer in The Royal English Fleet. It is with h-stocks like this you from Portuguese ports in the Caribbean sea head out hunting types like J. Sparrow and Cap. Blackbeard. Only eventually to become a naval commander yourself – on a proud reborn dreadnought ! My link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I have two Martin dreads, as well as a J-45TV and an AJ. The AJ is the loudest of the bunch. I have no experience with bluegrass or banjos, but if I'm not mistaken Gibson specifically designed the AJ to compete with the Martin dreads. The AJ appeals to me for several reasons. First and most importantly, it sounds fantastic, but it also looks incredibly good and comes with a great hertige and tons of tradition. So the AJ is what I would look at first if I were you. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseguy Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 GGGIRL: JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I HAD FOUND TRUE LOVE AND PSST YOU WERE GONE (ALA HEE HAW) I AM SO HAPPY TO KNOW YOU HAVE NOT ZAPPED ME FROM YOUR MEMORY BANK. HOPE THAT LIFE IS TREATING YOU WELL AND THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES WHICH I HAVE YET TO HAVE. MOOSE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseguy Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 The one below is louder than hell! - gypsy jazzers were made to cut out above the rest of the band/ensemble. They make great all round guitars too, my wife has accompanied herself singing Simon and Garfunkle and Richard Thompson songs. Mathew: This could be an answer to them thar banjoes-what make guitar is this and does it come all steel string?-the photo makes it look like some are gut type? Moose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duende Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Mathew: This could be an answer to them thar banjoes-what make guitar is this and does it come all steel string?-the photo makes it look like some are gut type? Moose Hi Moose The guitar is made by an English gypsy jazz luthier named Roy Eneas, it is steel strung, but some of the original Macafferri guitars did have nylon strings I believe. Mario Macafferri I only found out recently when I rented DVD account of Django's life, was actually a classical guitarist! I assumed like many that he was a jazzer at heart, but apparently not! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseguy Posted August 26, 2011 Author Share Posted August 26, 2011 Hi Moose The guitar is made by an English gypsy jazz luthier named Roy Eneas, it is steel strung, but some of the original Macafferri guitars did have nylon strings I believe. Mario Macafferri I only found out recently when I rented DVD account of Django's life, was actually a classical guitarist! I assumed like many that he was a jazzer at heart, but apparently not! Matt Mathew: Many thanks for your most appreciated luthier info on you wife's great guitar-Another question if I might: What kind of wood including the top is this instrument made of? Is it a laminated side & back or solid throughout? I thank you in advance for the information Regards, Moose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 My link Funny you should use that dreadnought link. My father did his Marine gunnery training aboard the USS Texas in about 1930, before transferring to BB-31, USS Utah, for sea duty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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