Bajo quinto hernandez is a string instrument in the guitar family. It is played with one hand adjusting fret pitch while using its right to pluck or strumming strings, similar to how bandurria or fandango is played on guitars.
Lower sixth visual representation has great significance due to media influences, hybridizations and differences among builders and consumers. This article utilizes Bordieu’s concept of field to examine the dialog between tradition and innovation.
Origins
Ruben Luengas, a National University of Mexico student, set out in 1995 in search of an old instrument in Oaxaca Mountains to study its music from home region he asked his grandmother if she remembered anything. Her reply revolutionised his life – she stated that her mother played bajo quinto at their wedding ceremony – making Ruben a force in revitalising this unique Mexican string instrument and its music that it inspired.
Bajo quinto’s history is inextricably linked with that of conjunto music from northern Mexico that later spread southward to Texas as Tex-Mex or Tejano music. The bajo quinto was an ideal accompaniment for this rhythm-heavy style; as its popularity increased so did that of bajo quinto itself.
Bajo quintos have become a mainstay in musicians’ lives, with long waiting lists for new instruments. The tradition of personalized craftsmanship continues within this realm: newcomers to this instrument typically seek out a skilled luthier to commission an instrument tailored specifically for their playing style and preferences – for instance bass players often request one without lower strings.
George Macias, son of Martin Macias, is one of only a handful of bajo quinto builders still crafting instruments in his father’s shop. Using various woods that create distinct sound characteristics for his instruments and his grandfather’s signature on them, George can often tell which instruments were created by either himself or him just by hearing it!
Styles
The bajo quinto, commonly referred to as Conjunto music in Northern Mexican, Norteno and Tex-Mex music genres, is a guitar-like instrument played to accompany accordion players for Conjunto music. This two-player instrument provides many musical possibilities with only 12 strings tuned down an octave from E bass guitar’s E string; lower strings are heavier for full sound while upper strings lighter so as to reduce tension in their playback.
Traditional construction techniques aside, bajo quintos also incorporate several innovative features. Custom fretboard inlays are common features as are decorative binding and cutaway designs; all these enable players to more easily play intricate techniques on this instrument while also producing clearer sounds when playing alongside bass players.
Traditional bajo quintos had six pairs of strings tuned one octave apart to produce an unmistakably distinctive sound and resonance. But, with the rise of electric bass guitars, many players decided to remove one set of strings altogether, eventually leading to the development of 10-string bajo quintos similar to 12-string versions but without its lowest course of strings.
Oscar Schmidt Latin’s OH42SE bajo quinto features a resonance solid spruce top with one white pearloid mica layer and mahogany back, sides, and neck construction. Additionally, this instrument includes a Barcus Berry preamp/tuner as well as its limited lifetime warranty protection – making this perfect for anyone seeking the classic sound of bajo quinto without compromising on quality or convenience – coming complete with its own padded gig bag for optimal protection and safety.
Customizations
Instrument customization has long been an ingrained practice in traditional Mexican music. Aspiring musicians typically seek out skilled luthiers and commission instruments tailored specifically for their playing styles and preferences – particularly the bajo quinto bass instrument, which many bassists opt to have without its lowest string for greater melodious range, or with smaller neck sizes or decorative inlays, or customized bridge designs as the focal point.
George Macias continues this rich heritage of craftsmanship at his family’s workshop, producing two to three bajo quintos each week as well as repairing and restoring older instruments. Even with such rapid production, custom orders still require up to an eight month wait before delivery; each LBQ2 model boasts a resonate solid spruce top, one white pearloid mica layer, mahogany back and sides featuring wood marquetry features, as well as an included gig bag with limited lifetime warranty coverage.
Materials
The bajo quinto is a stringed instrument typically employed to accompany accordions and fiddles in conjunto music. Using its neck similar to that of a guitar, its 10 strings do away with low E string altogether – often built by skilled luthiers who take pride in quality construction as well as style.
Decorational inlay was common on both the fretboard and body of a bajo quinto, alongside ornate pickguards, serving both aesthetic and functional purposes; it adorned the fretboard while also adding depth to its sound. Some manufacturers designed cutaways to increase fretboard accessibility for advanced techniques; H. Jimenez bajo quintos feature traditional Florentine cutaways as well as resonate solid spruce tops featuring one white pearloid mica and mahogany back and sides with wood marquetry; each instrument comes complete with its own black padded gig bag as well as limited lifetime warranty coverage.
Price
The bajo quinto is an instrument which requires only 10 strings instead of 12. As such, it is more familiar to guitar players and produces richer sounds; making this an excellent option for those seeking something with distinctive sound while staying within an affordable price range.
H. Jimenez Bajo Quintos feature cutaway neck designs created in partnership with master bajo quinto luthier Hilario “Layo” Jimenez. Each instrument is handcrafted in Paracho Michoacan Mexico and comes with its own padded gig bag and limited lifetime warranty.
The LBQ2 Acoustic Bajo Quinto features a solid spruce top with one white pearloid mica for optimal resonance, mahogany back and sides with wood marquetry, an adjustable truss rod neck for comfort, as well as its signature Thunderwing bridge for projection and tone.