Not (yet) owning an archtop or other more traditional jazz guitar
instrument, I play a bit of jazz (and other stuff) on my Lowden
handmade Irish acoustic guitar (actually, mine is Japan made as George
Lowden moved production to Japan for a few years to keep up with
demand), and love the sound. The Lowden is a somewhat large bodied
guitar that has such a wonderful, balanced, bell-like tone. It is
fitted with a LR Baggs I-beam pickup so is pluggable, but I generally
play it unplugged for sheer pleasure.
Presently, I yearn for a nice flat-wound fitted archtop to amuse myself
learning and playing more jazz. Really a lifelong goal and one can
always learn so much more and grow. I was particularly moved and
motivated when I recently saw a TV special featuring Les Paul playing
jazz in a small NYC club, aged 90 and with what looked like pretty bad
arthritis in his hands, yet smiling ear to ear and enjoying himself
tremendously. What a role model for all of us ageing guitarists!
Now if only one day I can play "Sweet Lorraine" or "All the things you
are" 1/10th as good as Joe Pass did, I can die satisfied!
--- In jazz_guitar@..., "DAVID RUDICK" <sribeme@m...> wrote:
I love playing jazz on acoustic instruments. ...
Every player has their favorites of course. And playing a nice steel
string is just a gas.
