Hey everyone,
So... Lily, thank you very much! And I'm looking forward to it.
Pab, thanks a lot for these great pics; it's a real beauty. And finally I can recognise Houghton banjos; I've always been confused by the similar body and tuning keys of Fenders but now all clear. So thank you again!
I've actually wondered about this extravaganza of using a Tanglewood for recording and a Houghton for live playing though I'm sure CR knows why he does it...
On your question: my copy of the bonus DVD is presently lent to a friend so I couldn't check it but using my memories and infos that little guitar must be a Fender Travel Guitar (actually that's the only one 'small' guitar I know about apart from the Hofner Shorty but that's another cup of tea). This is it:
So that's what I could discover but of course I might be wrong.
And now I continue:
11. Guild F47R
This is the last one from the acoustics of CR's inventory; so here's some facts about acoustic guitars.
Basically there are two kinds of them with the main difference of strings. The one with nylon strings is usually called classical or Spanish. These nylon-guitars have smaller bodies and wider necks. The three high strings (e,B,D) are of nylon while the low three (G,A,E) are made of nylon thread covered with metal (usually copper). They have quite soft tone, not too bright. The most known song played by nylon guitar is probably 'El Mariachi' from the movie Desperado; performed by Los Lobos and Antonio Banderas.
As for me, classical guitars are universal instruments since there's so much styles you can play it, and so you can get to pretty different tones with only one guitar.
As for CR, although it's not proven I think he actually used nylon guitar on the Latin Blues because that's the type of guitar that matches exactly the 'latin' style. I'll discover the album again to prove myself
. To be honest the main 'problem' with acoustic guitars is when in a big band, playing the rhythm they are almost unrecognisable. I mean you can't hear them being there... actually you can only hear when they're not there, you can only hear the lack of them.
The other kind of acoustic guitars is the one with steel strings, they're usually called Western guitars. Contrary to the Spanish the body is bigger, the neck is longer and narrower, the tuning keys are different. Western guitars are more popular to play because they're easier to play (because of the narrow and slim neck) and their sound is much brighter than classical's. Because of the steel strings this kind is more suitable for playing with a pick than the nylon one; since nylon-guitars are better to play with finger-picking.
(You know, novice guys never believe it's worth to learn how to play with fingers first... and when they desire to play e.g. Tears in Heaven from Clapton... well, just look at their faces
)
Western guitars usually have 14 frets from head to body, plus 6 to bridge. (On classical these are 12 and 7) Some guitars have cut bodies to reach frets 15 to 20 easier.
This particular guitar (a Western) shows us CR's fine taste since; as Pab pointed before; it's not a cheap one.
This one on the photo have pearl squares indicating 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th... frets; CR's has points instead.
It also has a nice pickguard (which is quite unnecessary; because if you really play guitar you'll scratch the body all over with or without a pickguard
)
On Guild Guitar Company, it's a USA-based manufacturer formed in 1952, New York City. Though making electrics as well, they're most known of acoustic guitars. In fact, when you see a 'superstar' playing some acoustics on stage, the guitar is 90% a Guild. Let' see a few names: Bryan Adams, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash(ł), George Benson, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Brian May, Tom Waits, Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen (both play 12-string either)... Chris Rea.
And the main thing; where to hear it. It's basically used on Country Blues and Latin Blues, but several other places, too. As I wrote above, when you play rhythm on a Western it can be put in every kind of songs. It's only not so stressed there; mixed to a lower volume, maybe panned to one side.
(So, if you haven't noticed yet, I love acoustic guitars a lot.. great for playing slide, too, that I practise many times.)
Well, that's for now since I've received some work to do but I come back with a Gretsch until the end of weekend.
Thanks for staying with me,
Chris