Hey, if fiddles can "tune down" why not guitars! :)


1/2 step and you are in happy Guitar land!

I've only seen/played one A flat in my life and it was a Martin that Jr. made for his daughter. BEAUTIFUL sound. He said the only problem with it is how most fiddle players cant stand to play with it.

John

Hmmm. Fiddlers tend to tune down a whole step to play with a C box, playing as if it was D and A. An Ab box means you'd only tune down a halp step, playing as if it was A or E. A is a natural, and E lends itself to some pretty bluesy type stuff. It's crazy enough it just might work
Steve

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't have an Ab... yet. I have an A -- and a G. The G is a great key for me, vocally. When I pick it up, my guitarist knows the tune will be in the key of D. Chris Ardoin's box sound on his first few discs was enough to convince me that a G accordion was cool. The only downside to boxes in this low range is that they can sound a bit a muddy. Throw in an internal mic and you've got one grungy rock and roll accordion -- a sound that would leave most Cajun purists looking for earplugs and the power switch. A few weekends ago when Rosie Ledet came through town, she let me play with her G box. (get yer minds out of the gutters...) Seriously, she has a beautiful 9-button Bon Tee Cajun. Black with red hardware and engraving, in the key of G. It was a treat to play. Beautiful box for a beautiful artist!

Again, thanks for the A-flat comments!

Rick

Was Rosie's a high G or low G?
Larry Miller used to have this high G 9 button box around his shop for some time.
It was an absolute screamer!

All heads would turn when playing just a few notes.

DP

Rosie's 9-button is a low G. It sure is a pretty one. Larry did a really nice job on it. Moreover, Rosie is a really nice gal.

I think Pat Savant has a Bon Tee with the same black with red harware color scheme, but his is a 10 button. Man-o-man... You wanna talk about some trippy accordions... Pat Savant has had the most bizarre color schemes EVER. Even Sydney Brown made him a blue one back in the 60's that would even make Jim Pettijohn (bravenet radioactive Hohner dude) blush. Just look at the gallery on his web site... holy catfish! http://www.cajuntwist.com/

I'd like to hear a high G. I'll bet you're right, DP, that would be very unique in the realm of C&Z. I can't think of anyone who has recorded with one. If anyone *has*, it would probably be Jo-el Sonnier. The highest-octane-octave I'm familiar with is Wayne Toups, who has a high F. Sometimes I can hit a high F... but only when I'm full of cheap beer, red beans and rice and in a hot shower. Poo-yaie!

R!CK

I sat in with Geno's band once, and his accordion was an Ab. Obviously, the band didn't have a problem with it!

If a guitar were to complain about playing in Ab, my response would be to tell them to suck it up!

-David