Some Guitars More Prevalent Than Others?

[Bongo Boy]

This is a weird question, I know--I'm wondering if folks see a particular style of electric more often than others in bands who do "afro-cuban/cuban" music (where a strictly traditional guitar is not used or available).

Yeah I know--this is like asking, "What kind of guitar is used for rock?". But it's supposed to be a bit more like asking, "What do folks consider to be a traditional or popular jazz guitar?" I'd get a fairly narrow set of answers to that one.

Are we talking open/semi-open body, archtops, solid body, electric-acoutics? Does anything stand out?



Edited By Bongo Boy on May 08 2002 at 09:52

[JohnnyConga]

Hi In what is called "Cuban Son" the Tres guitar is used. In some rare cases even a mandolin. For examples chek out Arsenio Rodriguez (the master of the tres),Nelson Gonzalez (Grammy winner). Also from Cuba Pio Leyva. Don't know if this answers your question, but I thought I would give it a shot...At your Service...JC JOHNNY CONGA....

[timo]

also chech out Barbarito Torres , he plays Aud, thought. but hes amazing.

[Bongo Boy]

Is the tres the "pear shaped" cuban guitar?

I was actually wondering if you see stuff like standard big acoustics (dreadnoughts, classicals) or semi-hollow or hollow electrics (such as Epiphone dots, casinos, etc.) that might be considered "jazz guitars".

[timo]

No, it is a classical acoustic guitar with an added (double)
G-string,(or so I was told).

[Bongo Boy]

What I found at a luthier's site is that this is a guitar strung with 3 pairs (that would explain the name tres), tuned as follows:

gG cc Ee

I guess this is a perfect 4th and a 6th interval tuning, eh? Site says "upper case denotes a wound string".

But, another more history-oriented site shows drawings of both Puerto Rican and Cuban tres instruments, and refers to the Cuban style as "pear-shaped". BUT...it also says that "adapted acoustic guitars are the most commonly seen form of tres". This suggests the term is very, very loosely applied--the drawings indicate that 3 pairs of strings is not a requirement for calling an instrument a tres--at least not today. At least one instrument that is called a tres looks more like what others call a cuatro, and to make this even more confusing, the lonestar site indicates a cuatro has FIVE strings (or 5 pairs).

Golly, my Spanish sucks but "cuatro" would certainly hint at four, wouldn't ya think? I guess this is why music is an art, not a science.

http://www.lonestarguitars.com/



Edited By Bongo Boy on May 15 2002 at 19:52

[Oneleven]

The standard modern Cuban tres is strung with three courses, tuned to C major - in the manner shown above - although the derivative P.R. Tres is strung differently (I'm thinking with three sets of triple strings)...
The modern P.R. Cuatro indeed is strung with 5 courses, but the tuning ascends through 4ths, hence the name - although before standardization around the middle of the 20th century Cuatros were strung and tuned differently according to regional and/or personal taste, and 4 course Cuatros apparently were common if not general. And there's a similar instrument used in Venezuelan Llaneras called Cuatro, which is strung with 4 strings...

[Oneleven]

And the pear shape is the tipico style for the Cuban Tres, although modified classical guitars are the most common style nowadays...

[zaragemca]

The situation at that time(1920 to 1950) with the tres guitar(in to the Afro-Cuban Music) was,that this instrument was the one used for this musicians being the piano troublesome to be carry around,and the fact that this type of musical organization started as trios(three players),which were already using this harmonic base,but as the history show itself as soon as it was understook the full harmonic range of the piano,it was incorporated in to the music which at one point replace this type of guitar,and only the 'typical 'groups would use it as of to keep the tradition of the foundation in relation to this music.The semi-hollow guitar was created to keep both characteristics of being acustic and the electronic features which could be used.But also some Cuban Bands with more modern style of playing were incorporating the guitar in their music,Los Zafiros,Senen Suares,5 u 4,Los Barba,Mirta y Raul,Los Irakere,etc.



Edited By zaragemca on Nov. 19 2003 at 15:23

[whammy]

I'm not really a "traditional" player, but I say "If it sounds good, do it!" - meaning if the song sounds good with an electric guitar (Strat, Les Paul), or an acoustic guitar (be it classical or steel string), then just use it.

After all it's your music!