I have noticed that some bands have a different guitar arrangement as opposed to the standard bass rhythm mi-solo and solo. JB has no mi-solo replacing with a synthesizer. Fally uses aacoustic guitar for rhythm. Some don't use mi-solo at all.
What reasons belies these choices do they make a band unique sound?

I think it's all a matter of taste by the band owner. JB Mpiana has carried on with the original set up of Wenge Musica where they didn't record mi-solo in studio but at some concerts they had mi-solo.
The mi-solo concept can only be appreciated when all the guitarists are highly professional and understand sound properly,at Maison Mere for instance,the only time mi-solo made sense was when Thierry Mogratana held the position of mi-soloist,he played very well and his guitar was tuned differently and the tone was different to that of the rhythm and solo so the harmony between the 3 was excellent but put Kapaya on mi-solo and Mogratana on lead and there was always confusion especially at concerts as Kapaya couldn't just avoid soloing too they had contracting solos and often Kapaya was smiling making it seem like he was doing it deliberately.

The synthesizer does not replace mi-solo at BCBG or any other band,the synth produces sharp keyboard sounds,it replaces harmonica,trumpets and other instruments,those are the sounds Geremie Kitubu produces at BCBG whilst Cedric Guez produces rhythm  on his keyboard which is in sync with the rhythm guitarist.

The band where they used the concept of mi-solo effectively was at TPOK Jazz band,all guitars were in harmony and all sounded different.

<cite>@Sylvester said:</cite>
I think it's all a matter of taste by the band owner. JB Mpiana has carried on with the original set up of Wenge Musica where they didn't record mi-solo in studio but at some concerts they had mi-solo.
The mi-solo concept can only be appreciated when all the guitarists are highly professional and understand sound properly,at Maison Mere for instance,the only time mi-solo made sense was when Thierry Mogratana held the position of mi-soloist,he played very well and his guitar was tuned differently and the tone was different to that of the rhythm and solo so the harmony between the 3 was excellent but put Kapaya on mi-solo and Mogratana on lead and there was always confusion especially at concerts as Kapaya couldn't just avoid soloing too they had contracting solos and often Kapaya was smiling making it seem like he was doing it deliberately.

The synthesizer does not replace mi-solo at BCBG or any other band,the synth produces sharp keyboard sounds,it replaces harmonica,trumpets and other instruments,those are the sounds Geremie Kitubu produces at BCBG whilst Cedric Guez produces rhythm  on his keyboard which is in sync with the rhythm guitarist.

The band where they used the concept of mi-solo effectively was at TPOK Jazz band,all guitars were in harmony and all sounded different.

Anything on acoustic guitar rhythm?

Anything on acoustic guitar rhythm?

Again it's personal choice,i have noticed that most younger musicians like Fally and Ferre mainly prefer using electro acoustic guitar for their rhythm,it's probably because the sound is rich from the acoustic guitar,Fally uses both electric guitars and electro acoustic guitar for rhythm in slow songs, I think they follow Koffi's style.
JB Mpiana rarely uses acoustic guitar on his songs except when he does purely acoustic songs like the song Ezau otherwise on most songs it's electric guitar and keyboards.

Thanks am self tutoring to play acoustic guitar and any info on guitars is appreciated.

As Sly says, it is mainly a personal preference but there are other factors that influence choice. For instance, the acoustic rhythm guitar sounds great on slow rumbas, especially with finger-style picking, but an acoustic guitar will rarely feature in a fast song or in a sebene where a fast tempo is employed. The mi-solo, apart from complementing the main solo and harmonizing it, also works to bridge the frequency gap between the solo and rhythm guitars. But there are players, like Kapaya, whose style of playing is so complex such that they are able to harmonize most notes to the extent that the mi-solo would be competing with some notes they play and as such rendering it unnecessary.

In my opinion, the synthesizer is the bane of Congolese music. I can tolerate keyboards when used to replace trumpets to fill some gaps during singing breaks or to aid in transitions (this in itself is a short-cut; in the good old days, bands had a horn section). Now most people use them to replace all sorts of things like flutes, harmonicas, marimbas etc, but they can hardly imitate the genuine sound. When synthesizers are used as padding or to replace strings sections (violins, violas, cellos and contra bass), which is how many people use them to fill and suffocate songs, I stop listening. It works in pop music, not in African music. Using them to replace guitars, as more and more people do it nowadays, is madness.

One of my favourite arrangements is a bass, one rhythm guitar, a marimba or muffled/muted guitar (or both, playing the same pattern), and a solo during the body of the song. The sebene would have a bass, two rhythm guitars (different effects and/or ranges) and one solo. (Madoka and Popolipo have perfected this kind of sebene).

<cite>@shamala said:</cite>
Thanks am self tutoring to play acoustic guitar and any info on guitars is appreciated.

...Have fun with your acoustic; I got me a miniature one that I use to play along my favorite licks as part of practice...
[video][/video]
[video]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x11kq0m_4th-of-july_music[/video]

Kaisari Asante

Very true Felo. It's difficult to play lead sebene on acoustic guitar, I have only heard Olivier Tshimanga do so on Josky's album Double Vie. Quartier Latin soloist Poumpa Mystique also played lead using an acoustic guitar at a rehearsal,sounds really nice.
Here is another one with acoustic as lead playing for BCBG's Didi Kalombo
[video][/video]

...Have fun with your acoustic; I got me a miniature one that I use to play along my favorite licks as part of practice...
[video][/video]

Jahburu,kata nsinga tokende  :lol:

<cite>@shamala said:</cite>
Kaisari Asante

Karibu

<cite>@Sylvester said:</cite>
Jahburu,kata nsinga tokende  :lol:

...Who said paractise can't be fun lol, here's one where I am playing to my Son's drumming..[video][/video]

King Kester probalbly has the most disciplined Intrumentalist; great sound...[video][/video]
And Mopao when he wants to prove a point...
[video][/video]