Bluegrass Jams... and Martins!

[SoggyBottomBoy]

I've been looking to attend a few BG jams over the coming months and I'm curious how 'diverse' the landscape will be with guitars. Would you mind indulging a few dumb questions...?

Is there any "shade" for the Chinese brands? Eastman/Blueridge/Recording King/etc?

How often are people brining Gibson or Epiphone acoustics to BG jams? Would a J45 or Hummingbird clone be audible in the sea of D18s and banjos etc?

How about the dreaded smaller bodies like OOO's?

Every video I see on YT seems to just be a sea of D18s and 28s, but what do I know... huh?

What do you bring to BG james?

[warfrat73]

Depends massively on the particular BG jam. Some places there will be almost all Martins, others relatively few (they're still not cheap).

There might be some shade thrown by some people at "inferior" brands, but those people are jerks and you don't want to play with them anyway.

Most (though, sadly, not all) of the BG jams I've been to have been very welcoming.

000s certainly might struggle to be heard over mandos and banjos and a bunch of other guitars, but it's not something to really worry about, since mostly you'll just be chunking chords along with a half dozen or more other guitars anyway.

[birdsong]

I live in an area of bluegrass/Martinlandia.... it's been a few years since I've done the jam thing but in the past I often took my Larrivee L-body and no one seemed to care, or even notice.

The "tone" of the jams I went to was about the music, and the jocularity in between songs.

And when a newbie joined, they almost always had a non-Martin guitar but the crowd was welcoming, encouraging, etc.

As noted by warfrat, some jams won't be as open-minded. But there's little reason to fret over it (ha). People are, in general by a wide margin, more interested in the music, however you can play it. To that end, the folks I hung around with were more interested in things like being in tune, having accurate rhythm.... you get the point.

[Tnfiddler]

I’m seeing more and more variation at all the jams I attend. The old adage, “If it ain’t Martin, it ain’t Bluegrass”, Is mostly old now. More and more pro players are camping out in the world of Collings, Bourgeois, Edmonds, Thompson, and other small luthiers and jammers are following suit, as well. Martins will still be a large percentage of guitars that you see, but feel free to roll up in there with any dread you want! If someone throws shade at your guitar, I’d walk away from that circle, because it’s probably full of jerks. Bluegrass festivals are FULL of some of the most fun and accepting people you’ll ever meet and there will be a jam circle for your skill level, no matter what it is. I like the fast, hard-driving jam circles, myself, that aren’t playing only the old standards and play lots of new, modern stuff. Hit as many as you can and enjoy it to the fullest! SPBGMA is in Nashville this weekend and it’s one of the best.

[Br1ck]

If you can play the hell out of your guitar, it could be a Taylor. Martins are just very traditional, like F style mandolins. I will cop to deep down, an aversion to the many Martin affordable guitars out in the world. Gotta be a D 18 or better. I'd never voice that opinion. And if you are worried about what I or anyone could be thinking, well, get a grip, you'll always be thinking I'm thinking the worst.

[Bob from Brooklyn]

I have seen a variety of guitars at some BG jams but if you're looking for permission to buy a Martin you've come to the right place.

[lfoo6952]

If you can keep the rhythm and play breaks, you’ll be quickly accepted and any disparaging thoughts about your non-Martin guitar will disappear.

[phydaux]

My monthly acoustic jam is all Martins & Taylors, and me with my Guild D-25.

Bring the guitar you have, and play it with joy. Anyone gives you crap, don’t drink beer with them after.

[Zissou Intern]

Originally Posted by phydaux

My monthly acoustic jam is all Martins & Taylors, and me with my Guild D-25.

Bring the guitar you have, and play it with joy. Anyone gives you crap, don’t drink beer with them after.

But do drink shine with them during!

[rllink]

I had a GS Mini when I discovered Bluegrass and Old Time Music and no one said much. A few made some suggestions about what might be a better choice. Martin did not come up as a have to have but more as something like that.. I bought a Guild D-240 dreadnaught. Not a high dollar guitar. No one has said a word about it either way. That's been my experience.

The people I'm around these days are more into the music and not as much into what you play. But I liked my Mini when I first got started because it wasn't just banjos, everyone was drowning me out. It was a good way to stay below the radar. But eventually you'll want to step it up.

[J Patrick]

….from my experience…Bluegrass players are way more impressed by what songs you bring and how well you sing them than they are by what brand of instrument you’re playing….I’d concentrate on working up a couple of great tunes to share and just bring the loudest but not obnoxious guitar you have….

[Tnfiddler]

Originally Posted by J Patrick

….from my experience…Bluegrass players are way more impressed by what songs you bring and how well you sing them than they are by what brand of instrument you’re playing….I’d concentrate on working up a couple of great tunes to share and just bring the loudest but not obnoxious guitar you have….

To add to that, if you can sing high tenor, PROPERLY and on Pitch, you’ll be a big hit, no matter what guitar you’re playing.

[rstaight]

The jams I attend you will see Martin, Gibson, Cort, Blueridge. I take a Takamine and sometimes one of my Indiana's. Was at jam where a few played an old Lotus.

I have seen some jams that really didn't want "outsiders" but held my own.

Mostly it's not what you play but that you play.

[J Patrick]

Originally Posted by Tnfiddler

To add to that, if you can sing high tenor, PROPERLY and on Pitch, you’ll be a big hit, no matter what guitar you’re playing.

…true….and a good frog will get the nod of approval too…

[FingahPickah]

Originally Posted by Tnfiddler

I’m seeing more and more variation at all the jams I attend. !

If someone throws shade at your guitar, I’d walk away from that circle, because it’s probably full of jerks.

Bluegrass festivals are FULL of some of the most fun and accepting people you’ll ever meet and there will be a jam circle for your skill level, no matter what it is.

I agree 100%