Showing posts with label 爵士吉他. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 爵士吉他. Show all posts

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Hofner Jazzica Custom

 特別身材的女郎
 
幾天前在Craigslist看到一把上次沒有買到的二手Hofner Jazzica Custom, 雖然不是我喜歡的小提琴塗裝, 但是她的琴身設計是我一直想要的.  上端 2 1/2" 彈奏時不需要彎腰趴著彈, 下端又慢慢的加大到4", 有Jazz Box 大桶身的音效.

圖檔

圖檔


Sound holes 是真的洞, 不過有兩條Ebony做的木條加上海綿可以把她們蓋住減少回音Feedback.

圖檔











 

賣琴的是一個非常友善的年輕人叫 Andrew Trim. 買完琴聊起來, 原來他出生在芝加哥五歲隨父母去日本在名古屋長大. 最近才回來. 現在在芝加哥教課兼表演.

http://www.andrewtrim.com/live/

買琴後Andrew答應給我一個免費的爵士吉他課, 到時我想邀請上次買另外一把爵士琴結交的新朋友, 去台灣教過書的Kris一起去. 看來又交了一個新朋友.

 

Jazzica Custom Archtop Guitar, Natural Finish: Single Venetian cutaway with carved, solid German Spruce top and 5 ply binding. Highly figured laminated African Maple (aka Anigree) back & sides. Neck is 1 3/4'' at the nut, 25 1/2'' scale. Body is 16'' across lower bout. Specially designed ''Hofner Contour'' body tapers from 4'' @ the tailpiece to 2 1/2'' @ the neck and brings the neck closer to the player. You will love playing the Jazzica in either a sitting orstanding position. Asymmetric neck profile is thicker @ the bass side, thinner @ treble side. Ebony fingerboard on a 24-fret Hard Rock Maple set neck that joins body @ the 16th fret. Bound neck, top & ''cat's eye'' f-holes. Ebony pickguard & hand-fitted bridge, Schaller M6 machine heads with ebony buttons. Single neck-mounted floating Hofner Diamond pickup (by Kent Armstong) w/ body mounted volume & tone controls. Removable, Ebony f-hole plugs eliminate feedback. Deluxe 5 ply hard-shell case with plush black lining.
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Friday, April 27, 2012

Hofner John Stowell VeryThin Signature model

送環迎燕?

這把德國生產Hofner VeryThin John Stowell Signature Model 吉他(不是海外生產的VeryThin CT型號)在Craigslist賣. 琴身厚度比ES335還薄, 德國Spruce Top. 我很喜歡的小提琴塗裝色. 價格公道. 一直認為我的1968年Gibson Barney Kessel 的Jazz Box 桶身太大了, 不容易彈.

和賣家約好星期日去看琴. 如果決定買, 就打算把大琴身的 Gibson Barney Kessel 吉他賣掉. 楊玉環太豐滿了, 換把輕巧一點的趙飛燕.

  •  
     音色示範:



     


     世界真正小, 天涯遇同鄉

    今天去看這把Hofner Verythin John Stowell Signature琴. 進門後互相介紹寒喧後, 沙漠嫂看到一隻小貓,
    喜歡動物的她問賣琴者Kris的媽媽, 小貓咪幾歲? 她告訴我們Jumper其實是隻18歲的老貓. 我們一點都
    看不出來她的老態. 更驚奇的是她來自我和沙漠嫂的故鄉; 台灣!!

    我們告訴他們我們也來自台灣. 我過去摸摸她的頭和同鄉打招呼. 正納悶她如何從台灣來到美國. Kris
    告訴我們他在台灣呆了十年, 擔任過淡江大學當英文教授. 我們又驚喜又好奇, 就和Kris聊起來.  Jumper
    和他一起回美國有十年了.

    我們坐下來像是老朋友聊了半天, Kris在台中待過一段相當長的時間, 也學過國語, 和我們攙雜著英文對話,
    高興講了一大堆台灣的往事, 包括他爸媽去台灣看他去過的地方.

    Kris小我十歲, 彈爵士吉他有三十多年了. 他有兩把Hofner Verythin John Stowell Signature, 所以想賣掉這把.
    試過琴覺得不錯, 琴身真的很薄, 而且很輕, 叫她趙飛燕一點都不言過其實. 調音鈕有個特色; 調到"7"以上
    變成Humbucker的音色, 往下調到"5"左右變成Single Coil 的音色.  做工相當細膩,Pickguard 板, 琴尾板, 調音鈕
    (Volume & Tone Control)和調弦鈕(Tuners)都是用黑檀木Ebony. 吉他線條簡單大方. 價格也相當公道. 就買了下來.

    和Kris約好以後保持聯絡再多聊聊台灣和吉他.

























    回家後迫不及待的馬上試看看, 用唯一會的"哈林小夜曲"彈彈看, 而且用她彈了首沖浪曲. 好像強迫趙飛燕跳現代舞一樣.



     
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  • Sunday, April 15, 2012

    2011 Gibson Custom Shop ES339

    移情別戀

    今天總算把一直不喜歡彈的Taylor Solidbody Custom 和別人在Craigslit換掉了. 試過好多次都沒有人要. 今天狠下心貼了不少錢, 換了把全新的 Gibson Custom Shop ES339. 雖然Taylor Custom 賠的很慘, 但既然不喜歡她, 就讓別人試試她吧.

    緣份已盡, 不如分手
    TaylorSBCustom.jpg picture by onemanventures

    ES339 和ES335 大同小異, 主要是琴身小一點. 希望會喜歡她而多彈.

    有了ES339, 原來的ES335 如果有好價格就要賣掉了. 希望能賺回一點, 賠償今天的損失.

    Classic semi-hollowbody sound from a solidbody-sized guitar.

    The ES-339 is the next generation from the Custom Shop of Gibson's iconic ES electric guitars. It goes where no guitar has gone before with a bold, new semi-hollow tone that is rich with expressive, even stinging, overtones. The ES-339 has some exciting enhancements including Memphis Tone electronics, the 30/60 slender neck profile, and reduced dimensions and weight.

    Memphis Tone electronics
    Memphis Tone circuitry utilizes 500K audio taper pots that operate with an interactive load that preserves high end as you turn down the volume. The loading effect preserves the full-bodied tone with rich midrange and singing sustain from the '57 Classic humbuckers while adding a very sweet bite. Another difference is the volume is very smooth, rolling off in even increments along with the numbers on the knobs. Since they operate more like how we hear (logarithmically), the controls work the way the player thinks they should. So when the guitarist turns down the volume the highs are still there!

    30/60 Neck
    Developed in assistance from guitar guru Jon Schwartz. The 30/60 slender neck is a '60s style neck with an extra .030" front-to-back to preserve the semi-hollowbody tone, sustain, and feel while providing smooth playability (The rounded '59 neck profile is also available on the ES-339 '59 Neck - product #515255).

    Reduced dimensions and weight

    The ES-339 builds on the success of the semi-hollowbody guitars first introduced by Gibson in 1958 with the ES-335. Lighter and more compact than a traditional semi-hollow guitar, the ES-339 retains the distinct semi-hollowbody electric tone that powered so many hit records and landmark performances.

    Outer rim output jack

    Here's one ES players have been wanting: The output jack is mounted on the outer rim. No more cable crossing the body, spoiling the guitar's clean looks and and getting in your way.

    Two '57 Classic Humbuckers with 3-way pickup selection plus individual volume and tone controls provide the incredibly versatile sounds that make the semi-hollow electric famous for its use in jazz, rock, blues, country, and nearly every other style you can think of. Quality Kluson tuners keep retuning time to a minimum, and nickel hardware enhances the great looks.

    To show off its vintage vibe, the ES-339 is available in a choice of three finishes: Antique Cherry, Antique Vintage Sunburst, and Light Caramel Burst. The lacquer finish is applied with a light, even touch, allowing the guitar's wood to resonate naturally while providing a protective, mirror-like shine. The Antique Cherry and Antique Vintage Sunburst both come with aged bindings to further enhance the proud ES tradition

    The ES-339 comes with a Gibson Custom Shop hardshell case and a Certificate of Authenticity.

    Features
    • Body Type: ES-339
    • Body Wood: Maple/poplar/maple laminate
    • Top wood:Maple/poplar/maple laminate
    • Scale Length: 24-3/4"
    • Neck Joint: Set-in
    • Neck Wood: Mahogany
    • Neck Profile: Slender Players Profile - '60s slim-neck plus .030" front-to-back
    • Fretboard: Rosewood
    • Frets: 22
    • Nut Width: 1-11/16"
    • Fretboard Radius: 12"
    • Bridge: Fixed
    • Pickup Bridge: '57 Classic Humbucker
    • Pickup Neck: '57 Classic Humbucker
    • Controls: Volume / Volume / Tone / Tone
    • Tuners: Kluson
    • Hardware color: Nickel
    • Pickup selector: 3-way
    • Finish: Lacquer











    [網上說ES339是介于LP和ES335之間的吉他. 我認為更接近ES335. 沒什麼LP的感覺, 只有琴身小似LP, 重量可差多了. 音色彈奏幾乎是ES335的感覺. ]

    音色介紹:





    .

    Saturday, April 7, 2012

    四把爵士吉他彈奏音色的測試

    愛彈就不後悔

    [買琴後是否後悔除了買價以外, 最重要的是音色是否合乎追求, 彈奏是否容易. 喜歡不喜歡多彈她是最大的關鍵.]

    買了Epiphone Elitist Casino後就要經過這個考驗, 今天晚上把我的爵士吉他候選人拿出了讓新的Casino和其他三位老姑娘做ABCD的彈奏測試.

    我還不會彈爵士吉他, 剛剛想開始學. 用剛剛學的一首出名的30年代爵士曲"哈林小夜曲" "Harlen Nocturne" 隨便彈感覺一下, 並且錄音來比較音色. 大家不要在意沙漠叔彈的不熟練, 剛剛學嘛! 也不要在意沙漠叔彈的對不對, 自己摸的. 聽聽吉他的音色就好了.

    比較的四把爵士吉他除了剛剛買的Epiphone Elitist Casino外是下列的三把:


    1965 Fender Jaguar: 本來不算是爵士吉他, 因為爵士大師 Joe Pass 用過, 特別把琴弦換成 .11的
    Flat-wound. 的確音色比較接近爵士味道了.

    1968 Gibson Barney Kessel Regular. 正統的大爵士吉他桶身 Jazz Box.

    1959 Gibson ES330: Casino 就是 Gibson買下Epiphone後模仿這把製作的. 讓Epiphone Elitist Casino來拜見祖師婆.

    錄影帶在此:

    2011 Elitist Casino:


    Gibson 1959 ES330


    Fender 1965 Jaguar:


    Gibson 1968 Barney Kessel Regular:


    彈完看錄影帶後, 我自己的評論如下:

    Casino 非常好彈, 音色也還可以, 但和ES330比, 還是差很多. 但價格是祖師婆的1/4. 當練習是很可以, 買的不後悔.

    四把爵士吉他中, 我個人最喜歡ES330, Barney Kessel 次之, Casino第三, Jaguar彈爵士比較勉強, 彈一段後將來還是要換Round-wound的弦回去彈沖浪樂曲.

    有了好的工具, 希望不久的將來, 沙漠叔可以彈比較像樣的爵士吉他曲. 和對爵士吉他有興趣剛學習的朋友共勉之.


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    Thursday, April 5, 2012

    2011 Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino

    尋找最好的"卡西諾"

    [買賣琴要不後悔, 就要在事前多做功課, 而且心不要急, 但手腳要快. 下面是我這兩天尋找一把爵士吉他的日記, 供大家參考]

    這個"卡西諾"可不是賭場, 沙漠叔是從來不睹的.

    這"卡西諾"是Epiphone在60年中出的一把爵士吉他. Gibson在50年代出了一把ES330T, 是全部空心的窄身吉他. 有一個或二個pickups選擇. 1957年Gibson買下Epiphone 後, 在63年就不生產ES330. 而 在61年改用Epiphone的品牌推出這個全部空心的窄身吉他Casino型號, 也是有一個或二個pickups選擇. 兩個長相幾乎像是雙胞胎兄弟.

    披頭四樂隊 The Beatles的Paul McCartney 買了把 62 sunburst 漸淡色的Casino, John Lennon 借彈後也買了把素色65年出品 Natural, 自己稍作改裝, 這就是有名的 65 John Lennon Casino. 這把琴因此大紅熱賣, 把古董吉他的價格炒高起來.

    有天在吉他師傅店裡看到一把65年的古董Epiphone Casino, 是一個Pickup的型號. 我試彈了一下, 音色和彈奏是出乎我意料的好. 但要$2700. 而且不是像John Lennon 的 65 Casino 最紅火的兩個Pickups 型號. 價格太貴, 我買了將來不易脫手, 就不敢下手了.

    我另外有收藏到一把59年單PU的 ES330吉他, 是向投機者The Ventures主奏諾奇Nokie Edwards買的, 是古董吉他又是名人的私人吉他, 價格不菲. 雖然音色很好, 很好彈. 平日有點捨不得常常用來練習.

    最近立志要走進爵士吉他的大門, 聽到一位爵士吉他手 Grant Green 用ES330彈的非常動聽, 想開始學彈, 就開始找音色類似但比較便宜的這把"卡西諾" Casino練習用. 先看看網上的大吉他店, 有把中國製作的Casino Standard只要$599似乎合理想. 打電話問熟悉的吉他店. Mike說正好有現貨, 而且可以賣我特價. 就馬上跑去看了.

    Grant Green








    Mike吉他店總共有三種Casino型號; 一把 Standard標準型($599), 一把65 John Lennon 的特別版 ($999), 一把高檔日本製的Elitist ($1799). 我對John Lennon 的特別版沒有興趣, 只想找類似ES330的替代品. 日本的那把 Elitist 折扣相當好, 很想買. 但是想想要兩倍多的價格, 只是練習用捨不得下手. 就用我的一把 Fender American Special Jazz Bass 貝士和Mike換了便宜的中國Casino Standard 型號.(還加了琴盒, 再退點錢)

    回家彈了一下, 覺得音色還不錯, 但是比較亮一點, 和ES330有段差別, 彈奏也沒有ES330順手. 中國的手工品質的確進步了, 整體的塗裝比幾年前進步很多, 但還是有點小暇疵(我做過傢具生意, 對塗裝可能眼睛尖一點). 但最擔心的還是中國的吉他將來轉賣可能價格不會太好.

    再上網仔細的研究, 發現大部份的Casino愛好者還是喜歡日本Elitist的品質. 對中國製作的Casino有不少意見. 對Elitist Casino卻褒多于貶,

    這把Elitist Casino琴是在日本品質最好的吉他工廠之一的Terada公司生產, 送到美國組裝拾音器. (用美國Gibson廠的P90 Pickups). 中國廠標準型的Pickups是中國廠自己捲的, 難怪音色有點差異.

    而且琴面, 琴側, 琴背日本廠都用5 Ply的合板, 不像中國廠用的3 Ply, 琴身比較輕一點, 有點頭重腳輕, 平衡性比較差.

    另外的大差別是在琴頸, 日本廠琴頸稍微小一點, 但是手感比較好. 日本廠用加級的五金零件. 做工塗裝還是要比中國廠細膩, 整體品質層次較高. 光看日本廠的吉他琴盒就覺得品質要高檔好幾倍.

    上網去eBay查賣價, 發現Mike給我的Elitist價格實在便宜. 許多琴頸背後蓋印 "Used" (用過) "Refurbished" (重修)的賣價還比Mike的新琴貴. 全新的還有終身保證, 買的安心一點, 錯過可惜.

    想了一個晚上, 第二天還是回到Mike店裡, 加錢換了日本廠的Elitist型號.

    Casino的唯一缺點是琴頸在16格處接琴身, 彈奏的指板較短, 雖然有22格, 超過17格就不好彈. 基本上是很好的節奏吉他.

    ************

    古董 59 Gibson ES330T vs. 現代的再製Epiphone Casino Standard. 兩個長相幾乎像是雙胞胎兄弟.

    Epiphone Casino Standard (Made in China) 一般賣價 $599 (不帶琴盒)
    DSCN8177.jpg

    Epiphone 65 John Lennon 用美國Gibson廠的P90 Pickups, 金色的五金. 一般賣價 $999 (帶琴盒)

    後面有John Lennon 的卡通圖簽名. 65 JL 用金色五金配件. 我喜歡Elitist鎳的顏色Nickel.

    Epiphone Elitist 65 Casino (Parts made in Japan, assembled in the U.S.) 送到美國組裝拾音器, 用美國Gibson廠的P90 Pickups. 一般賣價 $1799 (帶高級琴盒)






    琴盒真漂亮, Casino 的下身比ES330, ES335稍微寬一點, 必須用特別的琴盒, 不能共用.


    Elitist Casino 的規格:


    Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino

    Features

    • 5-ply maple back, sides, and top
    • One-piece mahogany neck
    • 24-3/4" scale
    • Neck set at the 16th fret
    • Rosewood fretboard
    • Bone nut, 1-5/8"
    • 22 frets
    • P90 USA single coil rhythm pickup
    • P90 USA single coil reverse treble pickup
    • Nickel hardware
    • 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way toggle
    • Grover tuners
    The Epiphone Elitist '65 Casino, with its clarity and high level of responsiveness, will satisfy precision players who demand well-defined low and high tones. Designed for the professional musician, the Elitist '65 Casino from Epiphone combines over 125 years of instrument building experience and expertise with the finest materials. The result is an instrument of impeccable quality and beauty.

    The Elitist '65 Casino Wood
    At the heart of every great instrument is the wood itself. That’s why every piece of wood used in the Elitist '65 Casino line is hand-selected. It is then slowly and painstakingly dried to perfection in custom kilns until it is at the ideal moisture content. The Elitist '65 Casino features 5-ply maple top, back, and sides.

    The Elitist '65 Casino Neck
    All Elitist necks are cut at a 14o grain orientation from one piece of wood for optimum strength, stability and tonal response. As with all great instruments, the necks are then carefully and individually fitted to the body using a hand-glued, dovetail neck joint. The Elitist '65 Casino has a 22 fret, 1-piece mahogany set neck with an rosewood fingerboard, which imparts a warm midrange sound.

    The Elitist Pickups
    All Elitist instruments are equipped with custom-wound pickups “Made in the USA” exclusively for Epiphone by Gibson Musical Instruments and feature such uncompromising features as:

    - High Quality Cover Materials – All pickup covers use quality German silver with vintage Nickel or real 24K Gold finish.

    - Vintage Braided, Shielded Wire – For authentic vintage look and tone with no noise.

    - Full Wax Potting – Every pickup is potted in a special wax bath to insure that microphonic feedback due to internal vibration is eliminated. All covered models receive a second wax bath to further protect the pickup.

    - Specially Made Magnets – All magnets are magnetized by Gibson to ensure the total reliability of each magnet’s performance. Critical magnetic flux is maintained for the perfect combination of output without sacrificing tonal characteristics.

    The Elitist Hardware
    All Elitist instruments feature the finest hardware including precision Grover machine heads for precise tuning accuracy
    and stability

    The Art is in the Elitist Details
    The Epiphone Elitist '65 Casino's appointments are nothing but the finest including real abalone and pearl Inlays, bone nuts and saddles, hand-rubbed finishes, USA strings, and goes through a meticulous adjustment and set-up.

    Epiphone Elitist '65 Casino Features:
    • Color: Vintage Sunburst finish
    • Body Wood: 5-ply maple back and sides
    • Top Wood: 5-ply maple
    • Neck Wood: 1-piece mahogany
    • Neck Profile: Joint set, 16th fret, 1-11/16" bone nut
    • Fingerboard: Rosewood
    • Scale length: 24 3/4
    • Number of Frets: 22
    • Pickups: 2 PU P90 (USA single-coil)
    • Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone
    • Pickup Switching: 3-way selector
    • Hardware: Nickel
    • Machine Heads: Grover
    • Case: Hardshell

    音色介紹(1):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t039alhYFT8

    音色介紹 (2)


    .