Hey guys, new guitar on the channel this week !! Here is a 1936 Gibson Super 400 from the first generation, with small upper bout, short scale, and X braced ! They build about 200 of them between 1935 and 1937, before switching back to parallel brace, long scale and larger upper bout.
You’ll be able to compare the sound of this one with the 1937 on the channel, with the exact same specs as this 1936, but with a different sound : I think the 36 has a more open sound, but maybe a little less complex, in the sense that everything could be played on the 37 whereas the 36 seams to be particularly well suited for old stuff (better for Eddie Lang than for Wes Montgomery I guess, but time will tell). So please share your impressions (the 37 is on the channel on « night and day », « in the wee small hours », « east of the sun » just to name a few).
The song I’m playing is « Blue skies », it was composed in 1926 by Irving Berlin and was a hit among big bands. I’ve been playing the Fletcher Henderson version for Benny Goodman (with the Umlaut Big Band), from which I’ve borrowed the Ivm chord in the A parts. Worth mentioning is the great Tommy Dorsey orchestra version with Frank Sinatra in the 1940s : PURE GOLD !!
I’m playing a 1936 Gibson Super 400 strung with D’Addario nickel strings round wound gauge 12, with a Dunlop .71mm tortex pick. The sound is captured by Neumann TLM 103 and a Bluebird.
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I’ve decided to take a couple of student for online classes so hit me up if you’re interested. Contact and info : acousticstandardsinparis@
I haven’t recorded albums in the style of those acoustic standards, but i have 2 albums on bandcamp with my Django tribute Quartet :
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Please drop me an email (acousticstandardsinparis@) if you sell a vintage arch top in the style of those you see on the channel since I may be looking for a new one since I had to let another go.
Stay safe
Romain