I just bought a Guitarron, in other words a 6 string acoustic bass for mariachi music. I am going to use it as a substitute for upright bass in my recordings. Since my bass player lives in CT and I live in NJ, I am going to simulate his bass with the use of the guitarron. If you've ever been to San Antonio or Mexico and heard a mariachi band using one of these basses, you'd be suprised at how much they sound like an upright bass. Of course I don't think it's possible to play slap bass, but at least I'll have the full booming acoustic fretless bass sound, something you can't get from steel string acoustic basses IMO. I like the idea of the short neck, but the tuning is wracking my brain A, D, G, C, E, A. I am thinking about experimenting with an alternate tuning of B, E, A, D, G, B to make it work better with a standard guitar. Then it'd be like a 6 string electric bass. If it doesn't work like that I'll go back to standard tuning and try and get used to that weird E thrown in there. It's a half step off from what I would think would be normal for a bass. 
Call me crazy... Mariachi bass for swing!
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- Rated: 115 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 6:47 a.m. wenzel:
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- Rated: 30 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 7:50 a.m. JazzBoxJunky:
Wenz, some guy showed up with one at an acoustic gypsy jazz jam I went to, sounded fine, we gave him some solos, everybody dug it.
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- Rated: 115 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 7:53 a.m. wenzel:
Yeah, I love these things. I have for a while. I am working on how the arrangements will go for an entire album of recording using this bass in my mind. I am thinking of doing a second album with some good drum beats similar to the sound of Odelay by Beck with this bass in the background using the flamenco acoustic guitar and my gretsch with a little mandolin thrown in for good measure. I think it'd be a great sounding idea, in my head that is. What do you think?
I am also going to use it for my rockabilly album that I am working on right now...
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- Rated: 20 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 8:27 a.m. Mark:
Those things are so cool. Just do it.
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- Rated: 47 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 9:15 a.m. dignan:
This is a great idea, but you'd darn well better have an appropriate velvet suit to wear with it... not just live, either, I'm talking every time you pick the thing up.
Come on Wenz, don't halfass this, it's too important.
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- Rated: 115 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 9:42 a.m. wenzel:
dignan, all bases are covered!
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- Rated: 27 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 12:06 p.m. Deke Martin:
That's what the guy from Fairground Attraction used. Great sound...
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- Rated: 45 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 12:20 p.m. Tsar Nicholas :
Jeez, Wenz. You've got your hands full!
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- Rated: 102 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 12:27 p.m. Setzer:
Is that Jamie Fox?
Chris, I see these every once and awhile in some local shops and pawn shops. We have lots of Mexicans here in NC.
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- Rated: 17 ↑
Aug 30, 2007 12:29 p.m. tommy59:
Wenzel -
I think you're right that your idea for retuning would be more "bass-like". Having the open low E and all. But, If you're still trying to wrap your mind around the original tuning, realize that it is the same as a guitar tuned down a perfect 5th. That's where "that weird E" comes in - the interval between the 3rd and 2nd strings is a major third, rather than all 4ths as you rightly said a six-string bass would be.
Just a thought that might help. Have a ball.
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Aug 31, 2007 12:16 a.m. JimL:
Mariachi Varga de Tecalitlan were in town last week-end, and the Guitarron player seemed to be plucking two strings simultaneously, with one acting as sort of a drone, not two strings as in a double stop. Don't know if this is correct, but that's what he seemed to be doing. Always wanted to add a Guitarron to my stable. regards, JimL
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- Rated: 32 ↑
Aug 31, 2007 1:01 a.m. gagsy:
Wenzel, great idea. I bet it will sound great.
Deke Martin this is for you & all of us fans (plus there's a Gretsch in there too!). . . . .
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- Rated: 27 ↑
Aug 31, 2007 2:03 a.m. Deke Martin:
Yeah, just love that Gretsch. Whenever someone asks me what TGGS is I tell 'em go listen to Perfect! I thought is was a double-cut 6120 though...? Maybe the Streamliner was considered more photogenic for the video.
Little bit of guitarron solo here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4569luyzLSY&mode=related&search=
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- Rated: 32 ↑
Aug 31, 2007 4:44 a.m. gagsy:
Nice one Deke, great song - hadn't seen the video before. That solo on 'perfect' certainly IS just that. I keep meaning to try & figure it out, as you said; it really captures that Great Gretsch Sound alright.
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- Rated: 115 ↑
Aug 31, 2007 6:08 a.m. wenzel:
Deke, I have never heard of that band before. I don't particularly like the singer, but the music is great! Thanks for posting that. Yeah, for me that's a cheap way to get an upright bass sound, for a lot less money! I can't wait for mine to arrive. I am already comfortable with fretless instruments, so I would assume that I will pickup the instrument fast and since I used to play bass guitar, I don't think it will be a problem. My bassist can't always be here to record due to living in Connecticut.
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- Rated: 32 ↑
Aug 31, 2007 7:55 a.m. gagsy:
Wenzel, i'd love to hear ya work your magic on a cover of "Perfect" - playing your new bass AND the Gretsch solo. I've said it before but that is one of my favourite songs & one i really wish I'D wrote!
I know you're a busy man - just a request from your old english buddy, for if you're ever at a loose end!
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- Rated: 44 ↑
Sep 1, 2007 6:14 a.m. Jeff O(h, Look Me In The Eye):
Wenzel, if you weren't such a cheap ass you could fly me out to NJ, and I could record the bass parts for you !
(never got my Wenzels shirt, ya know!
)
And IF I DID have my Wenzels shirt, I would have worn it to the Deke Dickerson show Thursday.
Incidentally, he's a great guy. I worked with the promoters and spent an hour talking to Deke, Crazy Joe, and Jorges.
I might have his name spelled wrong but Jorges is the guy who record ATOMIC BASS on youtube.
He blows you away with ATOMIC BASS live.
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- Rated: 115 ↑
Sep 1, 2007 7:59 a.m. wenzel:
Jeff, I have your address label sitting in my car ready to go. I'll get it out to you and 2 other guys after the holiday! I want to see Atomic Bass!!! Live!
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- Rated: 44 ↑
Sep 1, 2007 6:20 p.m. Jeff O(h, Look Me In The Eye):
It was cool, and if you didn't see my post in the other thread, Deke, Crazy Joe, Jorges, and Brian the drummer (I might have his name wrong) were the absolute NICEST BAND IN THE WORLD.
Beyond nice.
They were like hometown boys.
OH, and too cool about the shirt. I'm always looking for unique shirts to wear, and this will be one of them !
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- Rated: 44 ↑
Sep 1, 2007 6:39 p.m. Jeff O(h, Look Me In The Eye):
OK - you bastards owe me 6 minutes and 47 seconds of my life back. Those videos are GOD AWFUL !
Such SHITE !
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- Rated: 115 ↑
Sep 2, 2007 6:50 a.m. wenzel:
Jeff, here are two videos with Guitarron...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_5nCgAXIYU
These two have some 15 year old kid it looks like and he's pretty good!
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- Rated: 44 ↑
Sep 2, 2007 7:12 a.m. Jeff O(h, Look Me In The Eye):
OK
Now you're messing with me. 4 minutes 32 seconds and MAYBE 3 or 4 cutaway shots with some guy holding a guitaron ! The only redeeming quality of that video was the midget skateboarding the mini pipe bar. Even the women were skanky.
The other 2 led me to you tube where I actually saw a guitaron begin played.
So the traditional guitaron used WHAT for strings? Can't be the nylon these all seem to have on them. Is there a source for gut strings?
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- Rated: 115 ↑
Sep 2, 2007 7:15 a.m. wenzel:
just strings has a set, but they are the nylon ones. I be you could put gut strings on it from an upright bass and cut them short. I would be willing to be that they'd work, but no I don't know.
Yeah, I threw that first one in there as a joke, but with a compressor and some EQ, I bet you could get a guitarron to sound like that!
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- Rated: 52 ↑
Sep 2, 2007 9:19 a.m. ADR:
Wenz, why not get an electric upright bass? They can sound quite good thru the right amp.
Palatino or Clevenger make stuff like that are kind of Baby bass-ish.
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- Rated: 40 ↑
Sep 2, 2007 9:47 a.m. roadjunkie:
I don't know man! The action on those things look pretty spooky!
