Comments

• Ian Rossiter Fort Vermilion ,Alberta ,CanadaNew

  October 2011 Posts: 203

  Actually, all I really did was slide the new one in, and slide the old one out!! I had shaved off a bit on the sides by the moustache ends to make it fit my 255,(which I had originally bought the Dupont for, before I had the 300). The Dupont is about 1mm thinner than the stock Saga bridge,and you can only really tell when you look close. My action now is just a hair under 3mm. I have the Rosewood model to better match the moustache pieces.

  Practice ,Practice,EAT PRACTICE- Tommy Tedesco
• Tele295 San Buenaventura (Latcho Drom), CA✭✭✭ Gitane DG300, D500

  October 2011 Posts: 629

  Il Trovatore wrote:

  Howdy sir,
  you commented on my post about my dg340, which I am loveing by the way, but I play a lot of bebop/gypsyness and I was coming to getting a GJ style guitar from playing a gretsch synchro arch top. All that said, I would say my guiatr is loud and wet. The shop I bought it from profesionally set it up so it sounded sweet when I first tried it out, put some argentines on it and I play with Wegens GP250, it's constantly opening up, but I'm really happy with it. Gets a little singsong with the overtones but if I pick and fret it right I can get that sitar twank Bergara gets. I may get a new bridge eventually but I don't feel like I need it now. What did your stock bridge look like?

  
  To combat the "wet overtones", I put some wine cork wedges under the tailpiece of my DG300. Much more direct and pure sound now, even with the stock bridge. I like the idea of more volume that Ian is now getting, but I don't want more brightness.

  Jill Martini Soiree - Gypsy Swing & Cocktail Jazz
  http://www.jillmartinisoiree.com
• Ian Rossiter Fort Vermilion ,Alberta ,CanadaNew

  October 2011 Posts: 203

  Cork wedges eh?? Hummm, could I trouble you for a pic?
  The guitar is brighter now, dare I say, "twangier"?? Bear in mind though, the guitar was dull and lifeless with the stock bridge. It's still full sounding, but it didn't turn it into a screeching treble machine,y'know?? Just more of everything.
  To use a Telecaster analogy, it was like when I put Barden's in.
  It's also much more responsive now; I don't feel like I'm bogged down when I play. That stock bridge was sooo bad in retrospect. So much lag on the notes, you could almost feel the string energy getting sucked away with every pick stroke. Not anymore.
  It's astounding how much difference that Dupont bridge makes!! It's such a pleasure to play now.
  The next thing is to try and remedy the remaining stiffness in the action; it's just a bit too much.

  Practice ,Practice,EAT PRACTICE- Tommy Tedesco
• dmin7th ✭✭

  October 2011 Posts: 25

  Ian Rossiter wrote:

  The next thing is to try and remedy the remaining stiffness in the action; it's just a bit too much.

  What gauge are your strings?
  I went from Argentine 1510MFs to 1510s just for the heck of it and there's definitely less tension.
• Ian Rossiter Fort Vermilion ,Alberta ,CanadaNew

  October 2011 Posts: 203

  Just regular Argie 10-45's. I'm thinking it just needs a proper setup, nothing drastic. I use the same strings on my 255, and they feel completely different. No biggie.

  Practice ,Practice,EAT PRACTICE- Tommy Tedesco
• Ian Rossiter Fort Vermilion ,Alberta ,CanadaNew

  November 2011 Posts: 203

  1610MF Argies on today. Tryin the ol' 0.11's out.

  Practice ,Practice,EAT PRACTICE- Tommy Tedesco
• Ian Rossiter Fort Vermilion ,Alberta ,CanadaNew

  November 2011 Posts: 203

  Just a thought;
  - Considering that JJ uses various pickup/mic systems for gigs, is it too far out to wonder,are these guitars designed to better accomidate "plugging in"?? The heavier bridges,wetness,ect...I wonder if it might be used to reduce Feedback,overtones,and to better respond to pickup systems. Guitars are very different animals when amplfied, so I'm wondering if the bridge design is made to work better in a plugged-in setting.
  Does anybody know if JJ uses a stock bridge on his personal guitars?? Just an idea to ponder.....

  Practice ,Practice,EAT PRACTICE- Tommy Tedesco
• Heretic In the Pond✭✭✭

  November 2011 Posts: 230

  Ian:
  
  I'm just wondering if you've heard other people playing the DG-300, like Colm Reilly on youtube playing JJ's Snowflake Waltz?, or some of his other videos with the DG-300?
  
  Do you find them undesirable in sound? Have you had your instrument played at you by someone else?
  
  Some guitars sound vastly different from behind them as opposed to being in front of them.
  
  Here's Colm Reilly :
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEmAvaCQZPg
• Ian Rossiter Fort Vermilion ,Alberta ,CanadaNew

  November 2011 Posts: 203

  That's a really good question!!!
  I have actually, by a lot of different players. Most guys around these parts have never even seen a GJ guitar in person, so whenever I take it anywhere, it gets passed around quite a bit. I'll hand em the Wegen, and show them the broken wrist postion,and let em have a go. It's also been played by a few GJ players who are familiar with Gitanes and GJ guitars.
  I've also done some A/B recordings with both bridges, the Dupont really does improve the sound and playability by a huge margin. Playing it, the guitar now responds sooo much better,it's quite drastic actually. It's really tamed down the wetness and ugly overtones as well.
  I think, for the most part, we can agree that it's a good guitar that, with a few modifications,setup,and most importantly...Playing Time, can become a really Great Guitar,for the $$$. It's readily available, mass produced,and reasonably priced, great for getting more players into this amazing music.
  Don't get me wrong, I'm really rooting for this guitar. This thread isn't here to trash the 300, but to document bringing it to it's full potential,and exchange idea's and experience. I'm sorry if it comes across as bashing.
  Damn good question though!! Thanks.

  Practice ,Practice,EAT PRACTICE- Tommy Tedesco
• Heretic In the Pond✭✭✭

  November 2011 Posts: 230

  It sounds like you've covered that issue well. My lead guitar player has a fine Dell Arte D-hole, with solid walnut back and sides, and the difference between listening to it while I play it, and then hearing it played at me is dramatic. Just thought I'd ask.