LB's Blues Guitar Sound Test
Note: Mic position is hard to identically match for each guitar recorded so these are mainly to compare tonal qualities and differences and not a volume comparison. You also will not get a correct impression unless you listen with headphones or decent speakers. It's still fun to hear how different these guitars perform depending on the style. They each have a wonderful quality that makes them special. None are really better or worse. I choose many of them based on the playing they pull out of me.
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GUITAR MODEL |
Open G Blues with NO SLIDE |
Open G Blues WITH SLIDE |
4 Song Blues Fingerpicking Sampler Medley |
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Notes: Small but huge dry bass with throaty nasally midrange and sharp biting trebles. Great for slide but also any kind of 1920s blues. Light strings and medium action.
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Notes: Still the throaty, nasally tone but a little more bass and a broader range than the Gambler with pretty sweet trebles that are a little more silky and less biting. Nice fingerpicker but still does good on slide. It's got light strings and medium action.
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Notes: See story of this guitar. Has a very strong almost harsh trebles and a real ragtimey sound. Adjustable neck and ultra modern styling and features. Snappy strings and snappy sound with a lot of funk and character. Very loud and responsive to the lightest touch. It's also an archtop. Read the story on this very rare museum piece. Only use light strings on this one.
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Notes: This is an
amazingly loud guitar with huge bass. Not much string separation in the
sound but a very throaty midrange and raspy trebles. Was a fantastic slide
guitar and when fingerpicked sounds like a 1920s 78 rpm record. Friend Gary
Davis NRGD owns this one now. I hated to sell it but needed the bread.
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1937 Stella 12 String Note: Stella was in a transition at this time but still making the good ones. This was a super deluxe model with mahogany back and neck with adirondak spruce arched top. Ladder bracing of course and a sound that's so close to Blind Willie McTell it's scary. In person with the right strings, songs and perfect tuning this thing is as loud as a bar room piano and a huge chorus like wall of sound. You have to get these bouncing with the thumb. These samples don't do it justice. It was expensive but I've seen other Stellas from the late 20s sell for 13,000 dollars. This one comes in around 3-4 grand but sounds and plays better than anything I can buy new for the same price. One of the best purchases I ever made and from expert Neil Harpe's collection. The burst is amazing too. You just don't want to restring it. I have heavy strings on it right now and tuned to Low-C like McTell.
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1930's Regal Parlor Notes: One of my recent scores and it really made me consider the Tone King above might be a Regal due to the bridge shape and tone. This thing is loud as God with huge bass that defies logic for such a small short scale guitar. It's also deluxe as they come with Oak stained to look like wild Brazilian and a super multicolored perfling and rosette. The headstock is a peach colored pearloid while the fretboard is black and white and pickguard grey and brown. Huge ball bat neck and plays surprisingly well but it's only something a blues player might appreciate.
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Open G NO SLIDE mp3 |
mp3 GLASS Slide mp3 BRASS Slide |
Sampler Medley mp3 |
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2001 Dell Arte Leadbelly BARITONE
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1930s Kalamazoo KG-14
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Open G NO SLIDE mp3 |
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Sampler Medley mp3 |
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1940s Kay L12-47 Jumbo
Note: I also have one of |
Open G NO SLIDE mp3 |
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Sampler Medley mp3 |
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mp3 GLASS Slide mp3 BRASS Slide |
Sampler Medley mp3 |
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2001 National Style EN
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