Carlo aonzo playing a 1922 a-jr

[Martin Jonas]

I've just come across quite a curiosity: here (http://www.dinosguitars.com/rewiewAjrDS.htm) is an Italian web site, reviewing a 1922 A-jr. #Not speaking Italian, I'm not so sure whether this is a dealer's site or just a fan. #What I can readily make out is that the guy lives close to Carlo Aonzo and, for the purpose of having the tone assessed, took it round to his house and had him play it. #

So, here (http://www.dinosguitars.com/LoungeDS.htm#gibsonajr) are three clips of Carlo playing the A-jr, and sounding like he's having a lot of fun, especially on the fiddle tune on the second clip.

Also fun to run the site through Google for a translation here (http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dinosguitars.com%2Fre wiewAjrDS.htm&langpair=it%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools) -- this one makes more sense than most automatic translations I've seen.

Carlo seems to have liked the A-jr, anyway, and so has the site owner. #Pity he didn't put a serial number on the page, but it must be very close to my A-jr, #68884. #I don't sound like Carlo, but the family resemblance is definitely there in the tone! #As far as I can make out from the translation, this one has been refinished in black nitro, and has new tuners and a poor headstock repair, as well as some top sinkage.

Martin

[Jim Garber]

My favorite Italian expression: "vintage vibes à go go!"

As an aside, it looks like it may have been refinished:
http://www.dinosguitars.com/immagini/Junior-back.jpg

It does sound very nice, esp in Carlo's hands.

The last tune sounds like one from Jethro (can't remember the name tho) and the second sounds like variations on Blackberry Blossom. Any clue what the first tune is?

Jim

[MikeEdgerton]

That is one shiny AJr. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Martin Jonas]

The Google translation says:


Someone it has professionally riverniciato many years ago, and the nitrocellulose one has acquired one beautifulst patina of vintage year. The top it has been dyed of black, while manico, deep and bands still conserve the color originate them, a magnificent and deep dark walnut. The mechanics are Kluson, not of the age but vecchiotte, and they do not disturb together.

I read this as saying that the entire instrument was refinished with a nitrocellulose lacquer at some stage in the past, and that the top has in addition been stained black, whereas the back and sides are still the original walnut. Kluson replacement tuners instead of the original Waverleys.

Martin

[danb]

heh, that google translation is an hysterical read. Someone has pushed the four double ropes much long time!

[Jim Garber]

"riverniciato" does not translate but "verniciato" means painted.

I love those translating sites. It is fun to take a paragraph and translate it back and forth in other languages until you get complete gibberish.

Jim

[danb]

Sounds like a good epitaph:

"he pushed the four double ropes a long time"

[MikeEdgerton]

I consider myself lost in translation. I'm going to go push the four double ropes much long time!

[Jim Garber]

Sounds like a good epitaph:

"he pushed the four double ropes a long time"
Dan... Your next CD title "The Four Double Ropes."

Jim

[allenhopkins]

"If I had a life sentence, an' I had no hope,
No way the Cap'n make me push them four double ropes;
Makes a long-time man feel bad."
- Leadbelly (from The Lost Recordings)

[Jim Garber]

I just heard from Carlo on the tunes he played:

The first tune is my own "Ali for Flying"

The second one is a version by Sam Bush of a fiddle tune, but it isn't Blackbarry bossom

The third is Reubens Sandwich by Jethro.
Jim

[brunello97]

I'm no more to be trusted in Italian than I am in English, but this reads like a pretty concise review of archtop construction for the Continental reader. One of my favorite passages:

...il suono caldo e woody (termine intraducibile, si potrebbe dire "legnoso" ma in italiano non suona come un complimento..

(Il regista famoso, Legnoso Allen?)


All said and done, Martin, welcome to the GreatLakesRim oval A world. There is nothing like that sound (in any language.) Having been bowl-o-centric for the last couple years picking up the Gibson is always like going back home. I wonder if for Carlo (and you, perhaps) it is as exotic as the bowl sound remains for me. Now that I've been in Michigandia awhile I would love to get a Jr or a Kalamazoo. They are making good beer over that side of the state these days as well. Goes well with a Reuben. Trust me.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

Carlo has played/owned at least one non-bowlback pictured here. His Pandini, I believe, has had since at least 1996.

Jim

[Martin Jonas]

The article at the Dino's Guitars site does refer to Carlo's F-5 and refers to it as "1998 or so". #That's presumably the one in Jim's photo. #If I understand the translation right (Mick may correct me), Carlo has said that his F-5 only sounds good if played really hard, whereas the A-jr had more dynamics. He's complaining about the long scale length on both Gibsons...

Mick: I'm not quite as bowl-centric as all that. #I've played an F-5 clone since before I bought my first bowl and I've always played the Irish/Scottish stuff on flattish instruments, lately mainly a Mid-Mo. #However, the arched oval hole was a gap in my line-up, which I'm very pleased to have filled. #Unsurprisingly, the A-jr feels a bit like a mix of the F-5 and the Mid-Mo, with added vintage mojo. #I love it!

Martin