19th Century Guitar

[Paul Certo]

This is kinda off our usual subject, but interesting, and does tie into Minstrel Era music in one section.
This came up in a discussion on early dulcimers.
http://www.19thcenturyguitar.com/index.php?option=com_content&v...
Paul

[Sylvia]

A very interesting read, thank you Paul.

[Ian Bell]

For guitar players in the group - if you have an suitable guitar and want to go hard-core (soft core?) you can get real gut guitar strings from Elderly instruments.

[Ian Bell]

For guitar players in the group - if you have a suitable period guitar and want to go hard-core (soft-core?) you can get Aquila real gut guitar strings from Elderly instruments. About 25 bucks. Not recommended for Mac Wiseman.

[Sylvia]

Hi Ian, thank you for the info re gut strings, just might have a go. ( Might also buy a Mac Wiseman CD, like his songs and they could be useful) By Period Guitar, I take it that you do mean Classic Guitar style guitar?

Ian Bell said:

For guitar players in the group - if you have a suitable period guitar and want to go hard-core (soft-core?) you can get Aquila real gut guitar strings from Elderly instruments. About 25 bucks. Not recommended for Mac Wiseman.

[Ian Bell]

Not classical guitar in the modern sense. I'm thinking more of what people often call "parlour" guitars, though I don't even know if that's the right term. I'm not a guitar scholar so I'm not sure what the technical distinctions might be. I think of the parlour guitars as having narrower necks than a real classical model. They also often have pin bridges. Maybe someone else can help me out here.

Sylvia Wynn Heckley said:

Hi Ian, thank you for the info re gut strings, just might have a go. ( Might also buy a Mac Wiseman CD, like his songs and they could be useful) By Period Guitar, I take it that you do mean Classic Guitar style guitar?

Ian Bell said:

For guitar players in the group - if you have a suitable period guitar and want to go hard-core (soft-core?) you can get Aquila real gut guitar strings from Elderly instruments. About 25 bucks. Not recommended for Mac Wiseman.

[razyn]

This came up in a discussion on early dulcimers.

Dang, that sounds like one of my rants. Off our usual subject? Can't imagine.

I have one of those period parlor guitars, or rather my wife does. 1870-ish. Maybe I'd better get her a set of these gut strings. Modern black nylon strings just don't look right on it -- although they sound OK, and haven't collapsed the soundboard. I haven't changed her strings in about 38 years, so it's probably overdue.

And btw I agree that the article is interesting.

[Ian Bell]

Somewhere on the Internet Archive site (if you don't get distracted by the hours and hours of Grateful Dead concert recordings) are a number of Elias Howe Books including one that's full of simple guitar accompaniments for popular 19th century songs. It's probably worth having a look at.

razyn said:

This came up in a discussion on early dulcimers.

Dang, that sounds like one of my rants. Off our usual subject? Can't imagine.

I have one of those period parlor guitars, or rather my wife does. 1870-ish. Maybe I'd better get her a set of these gut strings. Modern black nylon strings just don't look right on it -- although they sound OK, and haven't collapsed the soundboard. I haven't changed her strings in about 38 years, so it's probably overdue.

And btw I agree that the article is interesting.

[Sylvia]

Hi Ian , thank you again for the info , found the Archive site and the book , think it could be useful. Didn't get side tracked by Grateful Dead (shhhhh, not sure who they are ) did get distracted by Howes Flagelot Book though. !
Ian Bell said:

Somewhere on the Internet Archive site (if you don't get distracted by the hours and hours of Grateful Dead concert recordings) are a number of Elias Howe Books including one that's full of simple guitar accompaniments for popular 19th century songs. It's probably worth having a look at.

razyn said:

This came up in a discussion on early dulcimers.

Dang, that sounds like one of my rants. Off our usual subject? Can't imagine.

I have one of those period parlor guitars, or rather my wife does. 1870-ish. Maybe I'd better get her a set of these gut strings. Modern black nylon strings just don't look right on it -- although they sound OK, and haven't collapsed the soundboard. I haven't changed her strings in about 38 years, so it's probably overdue.

And btw I agree that the article is interesting.