Rich Cohen
Senior Member
Here's a really nice video of Chris Whiteman playing "Wave" by A. C. Jobim. I think the sound of the Guild humbucker on this model is really good.
Circi 1993 Artist Award
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Beautiful tone!
Rich Cohen
Senior Member
That's what I think. I have one of those. I don't understand the attitude of LTGers regarding the AA's that have that pickup. I think it's simply an updated sound from the DeArmond 1100. Sometimes, folks hold on to "vintage."
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Always love listening to Mr. Whiteman. He is from Richmond, VA and has connections with Lindy Fralin.
Not over played! Wonderful.
Masterfull.
Masterfull.
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From a simple mechanical standpoint it's a piece of junk that looks like it was assembled by a high school kid in his basement. That's my problem with it. It's also a humbucker and a lot of Archtop players dislike humbuckers.
Rich Cohen
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Thanks, Rich. I'd be interested to know if he has changed the pickup as well.
Walter Broes
Enlightened Member
The DeArmond 1100 pickups that used to come on AA'S are a proven design - an awful lot of players from different generations swear by them, and more than a few classic albums have been recorded with guitars with that pickup.
That 90's floating Guild humbucker....not so much..
Rich Cohen
Senior Member
banjomike
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I agree with you, Rich. I have a 1990 AA, and I like the sound of the pickup just fine.
I seldom plug my AA in, mostly because I enjoy it's acoustic tone so much. Once in a while, I'll plug it in to try to play something I heard and want to have the electric tone I heard. So far, the stock PU has done OK for me.
I have to say though, that I once owned a Gibson L-7 that had been retrofitted with a Frailn humbucker, and I loved the sound of that pickup- it was the best part of that particular guitar.
I think GAD is mistaken about the humbucker's dislike by archtop jazz players. The GIbson PAF is by far the most favored pickup in the senior jazz community. But there's no doubt the DeArmond is their favorite single coil PU.
These days, the jazz players are all over the place in the instruments and the pickups they choose.
Guys like Bill Frisell have really changed both the music and the guitars that make it.
Bill owns a stack of acoustic, semi-acoustic and solid body guitars and uses them all, but in live performance, he's mostly used Telecasters for a long time, some stock, and others customized or custom-made in the Tele style.
As times change, so does American music's best stuff. It's always been interesting to me that as a stringed instrument's players gain more expertise and musical knowledge, they tend to turn toward jazz for higher inspiration and challenge in their playing. That's true with the 5-string banjo, the mandolin and the violin as much as it is with the guitar.
I seldom plug my AA in, mostly because I enjoy it's acoustic tone so much. Once in a while, I'll plug it in to try to play something I heard and want to have the electric tone I heard. So far, the stock PU has done OK for me.
I have to say though, that I once owned a Gibson L-7 that had been retrofitted with a Frailn humbucker, and I loved the sound of that pickup- it was the best part of that particular guitar.
I think GAD is mistaken about the humbucker's dislike by archtop jazz players. The GIbson PAF is by far the most favored pickup in the senior jazz community. But there's no doubt the DeArmond is their favorite single coil PU.
These days, the jazz players are all over the place in the instruments and the pickups they choose.
Guys like Bill Frisell have really changed both the music and the guitars that make it.
Bill owns a stack of acoustic, semi-acoustic and solid body guitars and uses them all, but in live performance, he's mostly used Telecasters for a long time, some stock, and others customized or custom-made in the Tele style.
As times change, so does American music's best stuff. It's always been interesting to me that as a stringed instrument's players gain more expertise and musical knowledge, they tend to turn toward jazz for higher inspiration and challenge in their playing. That's true with the 5-string banjo, the mandolin and the violin as much as it is with the guitar.
Made not to be overplayed.
Rich Cohen
Senior Member
Walrus, I enjoy playing my AA both ways, with the pup and acoustically. The AA stands alone at the top of all Guild models IMO.+1! I'd play it unplugged if I had to!
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