Ray Montee plays Liebestraum

[Paul Bostic]

Check out Ray's rendition of Liebestraum on Ray's CD page at the jerrybyrd-fanclub.com. It is a beautiful piece and his use of special strings certainly adds to the seamless sound.

[J. Wilson]

Nice playing by Ray as usual. Very expressive!

What's the deal with the strings? What kind are they?

[Paul Bostic]

Ray told me that he orders the strings for his Panda from bOb. He uses non wound strings so you don't get that scratching sound when barring the base strings. The bar seems to effortless glide over the strings. I can find out the diameters he uses if you would like.

[Frank James Pracher]

Just amazing. Great tone and phrasing. Makes me want to go practice.

[J. Wilson]

I can find out the diameters he uses if you would like.

That would be great yes, thanks!

Yeah, it makes me want to practice more too!

[Kevin Brown]

Great stuff, thanks for posting, Ray is a living link to the golden age and still going strong, always respected his touch and tone.

[J. Wilson]

Ray is a living link to the golden age

Well put!

[Paul Bostic]

J, I asked Ray about the string diameters. He referred me to the Jerry Byrd Fan Club. On the Jerry's guitar page it says to use a plain 2nd string for strings #1,#2 & #3 and a plain 3rd string for string #4. He said he got his from a Gibson dealer in San Antonio. However when I was getting a lesson from Ray a couple of weeks ago I recall that he had all plain strings on his Panda. I believe at some point he said bOb could supply them as well. I could be wrong! At my age the old "recall" can become a little fuzzy!

[J. Wilson]

Yeah I read that too, on the JB fan page, but I don't recall seeing the string gauges -- tho I suppose these are fairly standard.

Thanks Paul!

[Paul Bostic]

J, The clarification on the strings is: #1,2 & 3 use a #2 plain Spanish guitar string. #4 use a plain #3 Spanish guitar string. #5 & 6 use flat wound strings. That should get us pretty close.

[Paul Bostic]

J, The string diameters are #2 = .014, #3 = .017 or .018, #5 = .020 - .024, #6 = .030 -.036. I believe that bOb might supply the individual strings or knows who does. I checked at Elderly Instruments and they sell a John Pearse 8 string set that I use on my Ric B8. They are nice strings! You would have to get a 3 pack for $23.85 to get the strings you need. Elderly also has D'Addario electric guitar, Jazz Fusion Chrome flat wound in the appropriate diameter for strings #5 & 6, they cost $9.30. So it would be a mix and match affair.

[J. Wilson]

That sounds excellent! Thanks for the leg work! I should stock up soon.

Happy Pickin'!
John