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The recording
The seminal 1937 recording of 'Minor Swing' was recorded in Paris on November 25, 1937. The track features the Quintette du Hot Club de France, consisting of Django Reinhardt on lead guitar, Stéphane Grappelli on violin, Joseph Reinhardt and Eugène Vées on rhythm guitars, and Louis Vola on double bass. Played at approximately 200 BPM, the recording is characterized by the 'la pompe' rhythm technique and Django's virtuosic, two-fingered improvisational style captured in a natural, dry acoustic studio setting.
Tuning Standard
Signal chain
Original gear
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Minor Swing guitar tone?
The available research points to Selmer Maccaferri (Oval Hole). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Minor Swing amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Minor Swing in?
The current research record lists Standard. ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Minor Swing tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
