The Chetboard

John,
I just got around to purchasing Chet In Three Dimensions Vol 2 not long ago. I read in your interview where you said Chet would sing into the soundhole on his guitar sometimes. Would you mind elaborating a little for us here on the Chetboard? Was he singing the chromatic scale?

I also got a kick out of reading about how Chet hung up on Joe Namath and Johnny Mercer because he thought it was Norro Wilson doing impressions. I got to know Norro a little when I "officially" lived in Nashville. Norro even got to where he did a pretty good impression of me.

Bill, I remember Chet singing into the soundhole of a classical guitar to look for the note that made the box resonate. It's usually around G or G# on the 6th string. He also had a way of using a pencil and an index card to check the fret placement. He would use that if he were suspicious of a guitar's intonation. I'm glad you enjoyed the interview. I remember enjoying telling the stories. John

Hi John

This " pencil and an index card to check the fret placement" caught my eye. Can you briefly describe what went on there?

Thanks John.

I have an inexpensive Vantage steel string. The D note, 6th string 10th fret, sounds as good as on any guitar ever built. I'm going to try singing some notes into the sound hole and see if I get similar results. Of course, if only every note sounded as good as the D note on that guitar. ( And my singing will leave a lot to be desired as well. I'll only be singing for educational purposes!)

When I used to work in a music store sometimes I would sing into the soundhole, particularly on a good classic. I used to smell them at the soundhole too. Hard to describe what I was looking for on the smell test. Green wood had a different aroma than seasoned wood and we've all known the sharp, acidic odor of old instruments. It was a combination of sensory input you glean as you learn how to examine a guitar.

Like a DI examining a rifle.

Norm,
Good thing you didnt sell shoes.

no kidding