Comments

• Bones Moderator

  February 2018 edited February 2018 Posts: 3,319

  Yeah Pickitjohn, Martz Grosz is one of my favorites!
  
  Mark A. The bracing on the top would not be strong enough if it was kerfed??? Seems like a cost saving measure and not a good idea.
  
  thanks
• plexi69 New

  February 2018 edited February 2018 Posts: 75

  Thanks Mark A. Very concise and informative comparison. I did not know some L4's had a mahogany neck. I have a 1940 L4 in maple, it has a maple neck with rosewood board and Nick Lucas inlays.
  Also thanks to Pickitjohn, for the link to the L5 site--very cool.
• MarkA Vermont✭✭✭ Holo Epiphany, Gibson L-5

  February 2018 Posts: 108

  Bones, kerfed bracing seems strong enough to support the top as the one I have hasn't sunk, but it could be affecting the sound, how exactly I'm not sure. I think you're right, probably was to cut costs and not a good idea as the next line, the advanced L-5s (17 inch) were using solid braces. Odd thing is that on mine it looks like they are kerfed and then a darker layer was applied to the face of the brace away from the top, seemed like a lot of work.
• Bones Moderator

  February 2018 Posts: 3,319

  Mark, hmmm interesting. I've never seen one so actually probably shouldn't really comment on it. I imagine if the top has held up all this time it must be fine structurally. I'd sure be interested in seeing one though as I hate fitting solid braces on arch tops. Totally fussy PITA.
  
  BTW, Marty Grosz uses a weird tuning in case anyone didn't know that.
• pickitjohn South Texas Corpus, San Antonio, AustinVirtuoso Patenotte 260

  February 2018 Posts: 936

  @Bones

  BTW, Marty Grosz uses a weird tuning in case anyone didn't know that./quote]
  
  Thanks for the info I was having trouble trying to get his chords.
  
  Tunes like Carl Kress tuned his guitar Bb. F. C. G. D. A.
  
  One guy that plays this style uses Newtone Masterclass Double Wound Baritone (bronze);
  
  1st: .014
  2nd: .018
  3rd: .026
  4th: .036
  5th: .054
  6th: .070
  
  Came up with this discusson from Google
  
  http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guitar-technique/43499-marty-grosz-tuning.html
  
  Sorry if I'm highjacking your thread
  
  I kind of remember Will @Lango-Django talking about Marty

  Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
• Bones Moderator

  February 2018 Posts: 3,319

  Ha, hijack away!! :-)
  
  One time I sent Mr. Grosz a letter years ago (snail mail) asking him about his tuning and chord shapes. And he actually wrote me back. He said to stick with standard tuning. (LOL)