Improvisation on "Take the A Train" by Richard Metzger

This piece is one of Billy Strayhorn's best known, "Take the A Train." The impetus for the creation of the song was the instructions given to him when he got to New York on how to find his way. Visit my jazz guitar blog at http://richardmetzgerguitar.blogspot.com/ or my web site at http://www.richardmetzgerguitar.com/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• strayhorn
• A train
• perdido
• ellington
• metzger
• Guild
• x500

[shecky308]

Hi,dont you think that guild should be making some of their earlier designs [jazz box] like the x-500 and 175 s from the late fifties [in limited runs] The x-500 is great!!

[rmetzgerguitar]

@shecky308 I don't know what the deal is with Fender, who now owns Guild. Benedetto got involved, redesigned the x-500. The price went through the ceiling. Fender closed the R.I. plant and moved the operation to CA. From there the archtops just disappeared. It's a shame Fender didn't leave well enough alone. While I love Gibson, I also love my Guilds precisely because they are so fine and don't sound like Gibsons. I keep eyeballing eBay, always tempted to get an X175 before they're gone.

[ChristopherRosato]

Excellent playing, my friend. Great Guild tone too.

[rmetzgerguitar]

The tone of these guitars is truly great and the workmanship and materials are among the best there is. I have never understood why the company didn't survive and why these guitars don't command higher prices in the vintage market.

[ChristopherRosato]

I've always said the same thing! The best jazz guitar I ever owned was an X-180 Manhattan. It had better tone and playability than most Gibson ES-175s I've played. You do it justice with your playing.