Waterloo for 20's and 30's swing

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dansprucefir
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2018 12:53 pm
Location: Athens, GA

Waterloo for 20's and 30's swing

Post: # 2501Post dansprucefir
Mon May 25, 2020 8:47 pm

Hey all,

Could anyone recommend a Waterloo model for 1920's and 1930's jazz (including manouche styles). I remember hearing that Mark Althans was using a Waterloo for some gypsy jazz stuff. Also, do folks have opinions on the normal versus thinner neck options?

Thanks!
Dan

Cameleye
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:22 pm
Location: Amherst, NY

Re: Waterloo for 20's and 30's swing

Post: # 2513Post Cameleye
Wed May 27, 2020 11:21 pm

Dan,
I play just about everything on my WL-12 Mh, an all hog 12 fretter.
The swing material works really well due to the all hog body. I think a hog top somewhat modifies the somewhat in your face high end of most Waterloos and smooths out the overall sound.
Not sure of my neck shape but it's pretty comfortable.

dansprucefir
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2018 12:53 pm
Location: Athens, GA

Re: Waterloo for 20's and 30's swing

Post: # 2515Post dansprucefir
Fri May 29, 2020 12:19 am

Thanks Cameleye! Do you play chords, chord melody, leads, etc? How do chords feel up around the 9th-12th fret? Do you miss the few extra frets? I have never owned a 12 fret but have been curious.

Thanks!
Dan

Cameleye
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:22 pm
Location: Amherst, NY

Re: Waterloo for 20's and 30's swing

Post: # 2517Post Cameleye
Fri May 29, 2020 8:28 pm

Dan,
I play all over the neck. No problems with chords/notes around the 9th through 12th frets.
However, I tend to play mostly 12 fretters so that issue went away for me a long time ago.

GregO
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu May 14, 2020 8:38 pm

Re: Waterloo for 20's and 30's swing

Post: # 2525Post GregO
Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:55 am

I have a WL-S and find it excellent for swing style playing. Like the WL-S, Maccaferri and Selmer style guitars are ladder-braced, so they have a crisp, quick sound that really can cut through a band.

dansprucefir
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2018 12:53 pm
Location: Athens, GA

Re: Waterloo for 20's and 30's swing

Post: # 2528Post dansprucefir
Thu Jun 04, 2020 12:30 pm

Thank for the thoughts you guys. I keep coming across "ladder braced" in a lot of my searches. I guess the old Nick Lucas guitars were ladder braced as well? I am wondering if a WL-14L might be a good fit with its bigger box dimensions and ladder bracing.
Dan

Cameleye
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:22 pm
Location: Amherst, NY

Re: Waterloo for 20's and 30's swing

Post: # 2536Post Cameleye
Sat Jun 06, 2020 4:20 pm

I first tried a ladder braced WL when they first came out.
Found I much prefer the X braced ones for just about anything.

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