Chef
In Memoriam
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Mexican Guitarron
- Thread starter Dave Irwin
- Start date
I play the guitarron. Got one about 7-8 years ago, and studied the mariachi technique. A very different animal than a bass guitar or upright, but i highly recommend adding it to your arsenal. Nothing else sounds quite like it. I've since used it on hip hop and roots rock sessions, and for a while, just so I could get my chops up, I took ONLY my guitarron to any acoustic singer-singwriter type gigs I did, and people LOVED it.
Keep in mind the traditional technique which works best for the it, has you playing two note chords, usually octaves, all the time. That's part of why it's tuned that way. BUT, anything goes! I will say though, that just plucking it bass guitar style produces a pretty anemic sound. That's why you see the big plucking arm movements from the mariachis--you have to do that to get the full sound, but you're rewarded with a biig wad of resonate goodness.
it was originally designed to be a portable "bass harp".
Keep in mind the traditional technique which works best for the it, has you playing two note chords, usually octaves, all the time. That's part of why it's tuned that way. BUT, anything goes! I will say though, that just plucking it bass guitar style produces a pretty anemic sound. That's why you see the big plucking arm movements from the mariachis--you have to do that to get the full sound, but you're rewarded with a biig wad of resonate goodness.
it was originally designed to be a portable "bass harp".
To play the guitarron the traditional way, you pluck two strings with the right hand, using the thumb, index, and middle fingers, two strings, a bass and an octave, both VERY thick strings. The left hand chords, including using the thumb over the top of the neck ( this was way before Hendrix, people!). The action can be a bit rough, and runs are do-able with practice. My nephew is a master guitarron player, I have dabbled, it is VERY different from a 4 string bass approach. I play electric 8 and 12 string basses, but the guitarron is a different animal. A COOL animal, just different!
Hi Dave
Don't want to brag but I invented the use of a guitarron for Blue grass music in 1990.
At festivals I would see ladies pushing stand ups around on golf carts and thought there had to be something better.
I bought a good one and took it to my luthier friend in Portland. we lowered the action and fiddled with the strings and created a "bluegarron"
I took it to the old time fiddle national finals in Weiser,ID that year and it worked great. Even playing one string at a time it is louder than a stand up and the sound is a good deal brassier which matches the fiddle and banjo better, bedides being more portable.
I lost two fingers on my left hand and that instrument is for sale for $600.00 with a gig bag.
I have photos if you or anyone else is interested.
John McCarty
Don't want to brag but I invented the use of a guitarron for Blue grass music in 1990.
At festivals I would see ladies pushing stand ups around on golf carts and thought there had to be something better.
I bought a good one and took it to my luthier friend in Portland. we lowered the action and fiddled with the strings and created a "bluegarron"
I took it to the old time fiddle national finals in Weiser,ID that year and it worked great. Even playing one string at a time it is louder than a stand up and the sound is a good deal brassier which matches the fiddle and banjo better, bedides being more portable.
I lost two fingers on my left hand and that instrument is for sale for $600.00 with a gig bag.
I have photos if you or anyone else is interested.
John McCarty
The guitarron is no stranger to country music.
Mariachi bands have been covering old-time fiddle tunes (like Orange Blossom Special) for decades.
Mariachi bands have been covering old-time fiddle tunes (like Orange Blossom Special) for decades.
I tried to find one when I went to Mexico, but no luck (didn't know where to go.) I happened upon some old dudes that strolled the streets and played for tips. I tried to ask about the Guitarron but we just couldn't understand each other. It looked uncomfortable to play, but lots more portable than an upright. The Guitarron makes an ABG sound like a ukelele!
I have experienced the difference between a good and a bad Guitarron.
I bought both a relatively new one and a funky beat up one. The old one was brought to Europe by someone who bought it from a Mariachi player in the street in Mexico. It has a really rough construction, the top is extremely curved by the tension on the bridge, the neck had been broken and crudely repaired, but its has a wonderful full sound. I had the fingerboard raised about 5 mm to make the instrument playable like a bass guitar. I also tune it like a bass guitar.
The newish guitarron was finished neater, but sounded quite thin in comparison, although still fuller than any acoustic bass guitar. It had a beginners' guitar-like look and feel and I sold it.
I bought both a relatively new one and a funky beat up one. The old one was brought to Europe by someone who bought it from a Mariachi player in the street in Mexico. It has a really rough construction, the top is extremely curved by the tension on the bridge, the neck had been broken and crudely repaired, but its has a wonderful full sound. I had the fingerboard raised about 5 mm to make the instrument playable like a bass guitar. I also tune it like a bass guitar.
The newish guitarron was finished neater, but sounded quite thin in comparison, although still fuller than any acoustic bass guitar. It had a beginners' guitar-like look and feel and I sold it.
I'll resurrect this thread, so no to start a new one. I've been searching everywhere for a chord chart for guitarron but found just the basic few. Is there anyone that can share his?
So far is the nicest toy I ever had, I don't understand why they are not more popular.
So far is the nicest toy I ever had, I don't understand why they are not more popular.
From a true mexican cantina, Navojoa Sonora Mexico, the land that saw me born.
I was having some drinks with my father and brother:
my brother drunk.
Tequila for my father
Tecate Light for my Brother
Bud Light for Me.
I was having some drinks with my father and brother:
my brother drunk.
Tequila for my father
Tecate Light for my Brother
Bud Light for Me.
Looks like a good time was had by all!
I love the sound of the guitarron, and thankfully, living in LA, I can go hear one whenever I want by going to Olvera Street.
I tried to play one before, and they really are loud for an acoustic bass instrument. But the technique is totally different than electric bass, so I couldn't really play it.
Here's a really cool guitarron video:
Check out this guy's YouTube channel, he has a lot of guitarron videos.
Check out this guy's YouTube channel, he has a lot of guitarron videos.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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Thanks for those great photos! I wish we could hear the music.
The cantina looks classic.
Thanks for those great photos! I wish we could hear the music.
The cantina looks classic.
I have a greatly modified guitarrón. A local luthier made a new fingerboard that he fitted on top of the original. It extends down to the sound hole, giving me an octave on each string. It also reduced the action tremendously, making it far more playable.
I tossed the high "a" string, shifted the other five upward, had a custom E1 string made to fit below the other five (same custom stringmaker makes all six), and now I have it tuned: E1 A1 D2 G2 C3 F3 -- in fourths, all the way up, so it's tuned like a double bass with two extra high strings that make up for the short neck. The luthier made a new nut to accomodate the new string sizes.
I added a homemade endpin, and I play it sitting down, in much the same position as a cello, but pizz only, of course. I'm playing blues and jazz, double bass style. I'm still only at the beginner stage, but so far it's working great and is a whole lot of fun. Next, I'm going to have the luthier make a serious endpin -- hopefully adjustable -- while properly reinforcing the bottom to accomodate it, which I didn't do with my homemade endpin.
By accident, I discovered that a Rubbermaid Roughneck Model 2979 trash bin makes a perfect instrument stand. Nothing touches the strings or machines and it even protects against bumps. (I'll let you guess what I use for a dust cover.) A piece of 50mm-thick slotted soft foam makes a good mute, when that's necessary.
I'd like to trade ideas with anyone doing something similar, including modifying double bass playing techniques to fit what I'm calling an upright guitarrón.
I'm particuarly interested in finding an adjustable endpin that my luthier could install, probably with additional bracing.
I'm also interested in amplifying the thing. Dieter at K & K recommended their Pure Bass 5 pick up, which is a triple-transducer job designed for 5-string acoustic bass guitars, along with their Trinity pre-phase preamp or their Pure XLR preamp.
Any thoughts?
Jack (nimbleswitch)
[email protected]
I tossed the high "a" string, shifted the other five upward, had a custom E1 string made to fit below the other five (same custom stringmaker makes all six), and now I have it tuned: E1 A1 D2 G2 C3 F3 -- in fourths, all the way up, so it's tuned like a double bass with two extra high strings that make up for the short neck. The luthier made a new nut to accomodate the new string sizes.
I added a homemade endpin, and I play it sitting down, in much the same position as a cello, but pizz only, of course. I'm playing blues and jazz, double bass style. I'm still only at the beginner stage, but so far it's working great and is a whole lot of fun. Next, I'm going to have the luthier make a serious endpin -- hopefully adjustable -- while properly reinforcing the bottom to accomodate it, which I didn't do with my homemade endpin.
By accident, I discovered that a Rubbermaid Roughneck Model 2979 trash bin makes a perfect instrument stand. Nothing touches the strings or machines and it even protects against bumps. (I'll let you guess what I use for a dust cover.) A piece of 50mm-thick slotted soft foam makes a good mute, when that's necessary.
I'd like to trade ideas with anyone doing something similar, including modifying double bass playing techniques to fit what I'm calling an upright guitarrón.
I'm particuarly interested in finding an adjustable endpin that my luthier could install, probably with additional bracing.
I'm also interested in amplifying the thing. Dieter at K & K recommended their Pure Bass 5 pick up, which is a triple-transducer job designed for 5-string acoustic bass guitars, along with their Trinity pre-phase preamp or their Pure XLR preamp.
Any thoughts?
Jack (nimbleswitch)
[email protected]
Chef
In Memoriam
Please post some pictures! That sounds very cool, indeed! I wonder if one could rig an acoustic guitar stand to serve as a stand for the guitarron? Then it could be free-standing.
Well, there are some I posted at this TB forum location:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=461567&highlight=
These are a little out of date, though. For example, because I use a little taller stool, the endpin is longer now and the instrument sits up higher in its "instrument stand" such that the bridge is showing now.
Yes, please, I'm interested in seeing the photos.
Also, I'm interrested in how you strung it, and what type of strings you used. (Silvered Copper-wound, Copper, Brass, etc.) And did you play it on a strap still? And it's louder than a DB? How, exactly, are you playing it?
I've modified my guitarrón, too, as shown on this and another thread. But apparently very differently from what you've done. Like to exchange ideas as to good moves, pitfalls, etc.
Hey,
I was going through this forum about the Guitarron and I saw that there was some information about the guitarron in San Antonio.
I am new to the area and I have been playing guitarron in mariachi bands for about 5 years. I taught myself and am definitely no expert, but I really want to master the instrument.
I wanted to know if anyone knows of any resources or people i could get in contact with to help me out with this. While all the talk about using the guitarron in other genres is awesome, I really want to master it in mariachi music.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
I was going through this forum about the Guitarron and I saw that there was some information about the guitarron in San Antonio.
I am new to the area and I have been playing guitarron in mariachi bands for about 5 years. I taught myself and am definitely no expert, but I really want to master the instrument.
I wanted to know if anyone knows of any resources or people i could get in contact with to help me out with this. While all the talk about using the guitarron in other genres is awesome, I really want to master it in mariachi music.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
