Del Vecchio Dinamico

[guitarchuck]

I had a request from one or two people here on the Chetboard to hear my Del Vecchio. After this I may have a lot of requests not to hear it! One thing for sure, I can make the babies cry with my pickin'. I'm playing the song, Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling. It's "loosely" based on Chet's arrangement that he did with Gary Chapman on the "Hymns From the Ryman" CD. Here it is, mistakes and all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPktMUvqWlM

[PhilHunt]

Chuck,
Maybe I don't hear things correctly, but yours doesn't seem to have the "Del vecchio" sound. It sounds like a steel string guitar (could be the microphone placement). Try to mic it right at the biscuit or at one of the lower bout holes.
Also, you might wanna try different materials for the saddle. I've tried 3 different materials: plastic, bone, plexiglass. I finally settled on a raw piece of bone that I shaped myself and had my repair guy notch out for me. The harder the material...the better and louder sound. Also, the more downward pressure you have on the saddle, the better.
Phil

[guitarchuck]

Phil,
I wasn't happy with the mic sound that I got on that clip. The guitar does sound better naturally. I'm sure the mic placement and sound control had some to do with it. I'm also sure that there is room for improvement in the guitar saddle etc. Thanks for your suggestions, I'll give then a try. My action on this guitar is a little low to suit me too.
Thanks again!

[alexjones]

Chuck,
How do you like the pickup in it? Does it somewhat capture the tone of the natural sound? Great playing by the way!
Alex

[guitarchuck]

Hi Alex,
No, I would rather the pickup not be there. It makes it sound like an electric guitar. Thanks!

[Steve Sanders]

I have the Conrad Del Vecchio copy. It came with a metal piece with a slot for the plastic bridge material. I removed the whole setup and had a biscuit with a fairly wide (about 1/8 inch) groove in the biscuit. I got a deer antler, cut it to length and went to filing, grinding, and sanding to make it a good fit in the biscuit groove. It greatly improved the sound of my resonator guitar. I suspected that metal was sucking the tone out of it before it had a chance to go thru the biscuit and on down to the cone. Worked for me. Might work for sumbudy else!! Steve