I just had to post this Mance Lipscomb performance

[bjorn-fjord]

 

 

This kinda puts everything in perspective.

Mance Lipscomb playing a Harmony Sovereign with a jack knife and a busted hand.

[Queequeg]

good stuff, BF.

I always assumed when the old guys used a jack knife that:

A.) it was open, and

B.) they were using the blade.

[Dave W.]

 

good stuff, BF. I always assumed when the old guys used a jack knife that: A.) it was open, and B.) they were using the blade.

 

 

Queeg,

 

Your assumptions are correct, hence the bandage on his finger. In this performance he is using the "modified jack knife technique" until it heals.

 

I says with a straight face;)

 

BF, thanks for the post. I have some Stephan Grossman instructional videos and he always includes a few clips of the masters at work.

[MBWendel]

Lipscomb is the reason I play fingerstyle now. He was incredible.

[Jon Chappell]

This is a great video.

 

I like the way Mance's thumb does that quick hop in a swing-8ths time -- between the off-beat on the following beat (which is the short distance, not the long one).

 

For some more rock-solid thumb action, check out Lightnin' Hopkins' "Come Go Home with Me" and "Let's Pull a Party":

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeIO9DnLzE&NR=1

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlN2_ru37vg&NR=1

(That's Joan Baez on the stool next to him.)

 

Note his irregular phrase length in both cuts. These guys just feel it.