Although composed in the thirties, it has a decided bop feel to the harmonic changes. It moves a half-step upward at the end of the first phrase and back again at the start of the next. the shift makes it a little more difficult to make up a convincing melody.This progression has the harmonic influence of the French Impressionists written all over it! Visit my jazz guitar blog at http://richardmetzgerguitar.blogspot.com/ or my web site at http://www.richardmetzgerguitar.com/
Finally, I did a second file with this guitar in which I got the recording levels a little more under control. It is "Softly as a Summer's Morn." The guitar sounds good without amplification, but you don't forget it was intended as an electric first. As a strat player, you probably find it has less bite and bark than you are used to, and the mids and basses will be fun for you and a new dimension with regard to tone. If you can get one clean and used, it's a lot of bang for the buck.
rmetzgerguitar 2 years ago
Almost forgot--it does not seem to much more of a problem with feedback than an ES 175. Every time I've a used a 175 a loud gigs, I've had to run full treble to be heard. The 165 is already balanced toward the treble. So, both are better suited to small gigs than ones in which you have to be really, really loud.
rmetzgerguitar 2 years ago
It's a love-hate thing. I really like the way the lower registers sound, but the high strings have a big more bite than I like. The bite sounds great on older songs, kind of authentic (even though it's not). I notice in comparison to other guitars the 165 sounds quite bell-like. The guitar is only a couple years old, so maybe it will play in. As far as comfort in playing it, it is easy to hold and the neck is quite good.
rmetzgerguitar 2 years ago
how do you like de 165? Is it full sounding in electric mode? Does it feedback easily amplified? How about the acoustic sound? regards.
Grooveitman 2 years ago