A GUITAR CHAT thread
 

If you're in southern CA, there's a brand new guitar store called Organic Sounds Select Guitars in Santa Ana. I wish it was closer to where I live.

https://organicsoundsguitars.com/

The owner, Larry Sogolow, is a guitar lover who changed careers to open up a top-notch guitar store. I saw a thread about it on Acoustic Guitar Forum that referenced this interview on the Santa Cruz Coffee Break videos.

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I emailed Larry a congrats on his beautiful new store and we've talked a few times. There couldn't be a more gracious guy to chat with! He carries brands that he feels best represent different price ranges- including Santa Cruz, Huss and Dalton, Larrivée, National Reso-Phonic, and Alvarez. His videos playing the guitars are excellent quality- most of the compositions are his own. All his videos are here. Check out the "Huss and Dalton TOM-M - Italian Spruce/Sinker Mahogany"- he does an excellent cover of Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush." The "National ResoPhonic Guitars: M1 Tricone Deep Body with Figured Maple and M14 Thunderbox" video will make you want a resonator...

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=organic+sounds+guitars

I enjoy watching Mark Knopfler talk about playing guitar. Somewhere I heard him describe it as 'making your fingers go where they don't want to go." Here's an example.

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I don't think my memory is nearly as good as it used to be. Repetition is the sledgehammer to overcome that, and it's more of a battle than I expected. Right now I'm working on "Bitter Creek" by the Eagles and it really comes alive if you find a lesson that teaches it with the right chords in the original Double Drop D tuning (the 1st and 6th strings dropped a full step from E to D). I'm using this guy's lesson:

https://www.jerrysguitarbar.com/guitar-video-lessons/individual-songs/eagles-bitter-creek/


Soon I'm going to work on this version of "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode. This guy's lesson format is outstanding:

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Great looking store offerings. Would love to swing by if ever in the area.

This guy is selling a herd of guitars, looks like to fund his honeymoon or some such. I've only heard of some of the brands. Looks like he's a moderator there and gets involved with the custom builds. Some of these are stunning.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=654337

I guess if you're playing with banjos, you may need the new Martin Custom Shop Super D to be heard...

https://www.russomusic.com/blogs/articles/introducing-the-martin-custom-shop-super-d

He is clearing out some unique pieces.

Attended the Vancouver International Guitar Festival today. Lost of small boutique manufactures as well as some big names. Good show.

I have my Grandfather's 1965 Silvertone electric guitar and amp, all original and complete with case and foot switch. Silvertone guitars were sold through Sears stores and various companies manufactured the guitars and amps under the Sivertone name throughout the years. The guitar and amp I have were manufactured by Danelectro. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4eab4b0547.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...97c601b845.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b0919409e0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5c782a8e98.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2d142f8b1a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...96c112ad41.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7ecf35954e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...482028edde.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b802440cff.jpg

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I saw that yesterday on the AGF. That's some high dollar stuff. I've been getting ready to post some stuff in their classifieds, needing to thin the herd a bit. Was going to try Reverb but have heard that they can hit you with some high fees.

True about Reverb. I had no success with craigslist for many weeks on a mainstream Martin for $1,500, so I consigned it to a local dealer that carries Martin and it's a good fit with them because they don't have a brand new competitive unit. They said it could take 2 weeks or 2 months- we'll see, but they'll give me a good net price on it.

Trade-in can be the best, but obviously only if you're buying something. Selling something yourself sucks, I think. I see stuff on AGF that gets reduced and bumped to the top for months. Seems like boutique stuff is hit or miss.

I have a 25 year old Santa Cruz dreadnought and the old Waverly tuners on it are not smooth. I was researching what tuners to put on it based on quality, performance, footprint, looks, and originality. The Waverlys are owned and controlled by StewMac (Stewart-MacDonald Mfg), and their pricing is high at $195 for what I need vs $70-90 elsewhere for competitive quality. To be honest, I don't see how little machines like this are as cheap as they are. I could picture them being a lot more expensive for what they are.

In talking to StewMac, they apparently are making the same tuners they made 25 years ago, so the fit would be good and I wouldn't be exposing a shadow that might have developed under the existing tuners. GOTOH got high marks for quality, but some were recommending the OEM tuners, which I was inclined to do for an extra $100. Most said the Waverlys were of excellent quality, and a local builder of high-end guitars said he uses them for a reason. He also mentioned they have a lifetime warranty and will usually replace them if asked. I didn't think the warranty would apply to me since I didn't buy the guitar or tuners new, but very politely asked StewMac if they could help me. To my astonishment, they said to give them a description of my issue (which was unevenness in turning the knobs) and they would process a free replacement. So, I received the free tuners, bushings, and screws yesterday. They will look much better on the guitar, too.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1665526843.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1665526960.jpg

^^ just like classic cars, keep the old original ones in the case

On my Santa Cruz I had a waverly that failed. Called Santa Cruz and they sent a few new ones

My next Santa Cruz a few years later, same model, I noticed they now ship with Santa Cruz branded open tuners. No idea who makes them though. No issues with them yet after 18 years

I recently bought a PRS SE "Pauls Guitar" I know its the PRS low end offering...

However its one of the best playing guitars I've ever had....

Part of my collection... I have some odd balls squirreled away

Gibson ES 125 3/4... PRS SE "Pauls".... 1978 Ibanez "Randy Scruggs"


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1665534777.jpg

Nice. I have a 1990 prs custom 24 bought back in 1990. Haven’t played it much in 20 years but can’t seem to let it go. Scarlet sunburst with moons instead of birds

I came across that. I think they were Grovers. Not easy to find the answer when you're looking. I think the humidity over the years influences how the tuners hold up.

TimT, nice colleciton. I have seen you post them before, but I must say, you choose well.

Cheers

I lube tuners, and I also put lightweight (Hipshot Ultralights) on all my gigging basses. Basses are heavy. The lighter Fender basses are under 9 pounds, but some are heavier and even a half-pound makes a difference during a four-hour gig. Further, bass necks are long (34-inch scale), and the weight of the heavy stock tuners causes "neck dive" where the neck basically tries to move toward the ground unless you are holding it. Lightweight tuners help address all these problems. I don't have a gigging Fender bass that weights more than 8 lbs 3 oz! I have a Jazz bass (heavier than Precisions) that weighs only 8 lbs, 1 oz! Probably none of this will resonate with folks who do not struggle with the struggles of bass-playing. :)

But yeah....crappy tuners will work better after a drop or two of 3-in-1 oil.

I just took that Gibson out of like 20 year slumber.. I can't find the bridge?..

Off to check Stew Mac

I'm just trying to find the bridge! Has anyone seen the bridge? Where's the confounded bridge?

My Ibanez weighs a robust 9.8#... its actually tiring to play for to long...

The PRS is 6.8#....probably one of the reasons I pick that up more often

Have any of you seen this? I stumbled upon it the other day

Moises its an Ai program that deconstructs songs from youtube, etc. into tracks..

Live tracks it has trouble with... bleed between mics etc... but some studio tracks get seperated well...

Toggle on and off track and play your leads, rhythm's, bass..etc..

Its like $40/yr so

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1665702082.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1665704330.jpg

Calling Les Paul.....

Never tried that program. I probably wouldn’t bother as I just turn up the stereo very loud and play along anyway regardless of how many guitars are on the recording but I can see how it would be fun to remove all guitars from the tune…maybe I’ll check it this winter

When I'm working on band songs at home, I wear my Air Pods and play through a GK 250ML along with the song on Youtube.

A great practice trick is to sit on the couch, throw on your favorite radio or Sirius station and just play along with every song that comes on. You won't know how to play most of them, but it's good to see how fast you can pick it up by ear.

My rare, but not especially valuable Gibson SG. It’s a Firebrand, but it came from the factory painted. Very rare, come to find out.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1665705186.jpg

I do something similar; put on a backing track from YouTube which I listen to through headphones. Then play through my amp and adjust the volume as needed. I've been having a lot of fun with this guys lessons and backing tracks lately
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Modern digital technology is pretty amazing. I enjoy listening to the individual tracks on epic recordings to understand what they were doing. Rick Beato will often dissect the original recording stems of Classic Rock tunes from the 70s and hearing the raw performances is awesome.

Careful with Rick Beato, the rabbit hole is deep...... lol Great knowledge and he is a great presenter, talent and personality. A true gem.

I have all his courses gifted to me by a freind. Oh my.... makes you realize how much you do not know... :)

Cheers

Anyone play the Eastman guitars. They are all handmade. The models E10D , E20D and DT30D are amazing guitars . Huge sound for half the price of a Martin HD28. Check the reviews. I have owned Martin and Goodall guitars but my new Eastman is the best guitar I have ever played.

I want to find an Eastman dealer and sit down there for a while- I've heard really good things about them. I also want to try a Recording King...

The thing I like about Rick Beato is his passion. He’ll be doing one of his “what makes this song great” videos and he’ll focus in on some little drum fill or bass run and get so excited. I can relate. :)

Rhett Shull is another good YouTube guy. I really like his videos.

Yes, Very passionate.

and Rhett plays in a few of Rick's "what makes this song great" as I am sure you noticed!

Cheers

It's amazing how many different guitars they make. This is a great video on guitar sizes, all Eastman. Then there is another (part 2) linked in the comments that goes through tone woods.

Very informative, but be warned, commercial breaks throughout the video.


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I'm probably going to order an "Inspired by Gibson (IBG)" J-200 this week. There's several acoustic and electric models. This series is made in Indonesia, but to a very high standard. For $999 vs $5,299 MAP pricing, it sounds like it's pretty close to the real thing.

https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Acoustic-Guitar/EPIWYA96/Aged-Antique-Natural-Gloss


There's lots of videos of this thing being played, but this guy removed the piezo pickup under the bridge, raised the saddle to compensate, and added brass bridge pins and Elixir strings that I think were a notch lighter. He claims it sounds much better. This thing sounds sweet:

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^^^^ I have an Epiphone "Blues Master" parlor that they made around 1994-98 Went for around $499. Keb'Mo was famous for playing it on some of his albums. Then Gibson introduced the Keb'Mo "Blues King" which went for around $2,500 (I had one, regret selling).

They stopped making the Epiphone version because it cut into their Blues King sales. I really never noticed much of a difference between the two.

I've always wanted a J-200 but really lust after a J-185.

What a beauty! I have a metal guitar Fender Jim Root Telecaster Source: https://houseandbeyond.org/best-guitar-for-metal This guitar is just great. It is the always wanted tele with a very thick sound. Satin finish looks awesome with black hardware. The neck feels very comfortable and slick. Playability is out of this world. Extremely easy to bend strings and the saddles are a breeze to adjust to your preferences.

I have the cutaway version of by Epiphone. It is a nice piece to play.

Cheers

Just checked out the website. They have some great looking stuff.

Cheers

I found a semi-local dealer that had a IBG J-200 in stock. What a sh** ton of guitar for $999 (or close). Sitka spruce top jumbo, flamed maple back and sides, very sweet. I reached out to a Guru of these and other value bargain guitars, J.P. Cormier for some advise. He was very helpful and recommended the Masterbilt Frontier, which I have coming. I love the pickguard, same woods as the J-200 Epi.

https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Acoustic-Guitar/EPI9WT926/Iced-Tea-Aged-Gloss

J.P. Cormier is a Canadian in Nova Scotia, performed for many years, and now likes to talk guitars. He's big into inexpensive stuff that represents incredible value, including Epiphone, Recording King, and Yamaha. He's a big fan of the boutique Canadian Bourgeois guitars, which appear to be on a par with Collings, Santa Cruz, Huss & Dalton, etc.

https://bourgeoisguitars.com/

https://www.youtube.com/c/JPCormier

One of my friends has a Bourgeois... I was on the site last night and had to turn off my laptop to prevent ordering an OMC Custom lol...

Cheers

My bad. J.P. Cormier is a big fan of Boucher guitars, which are built in Canada. I don't know much about them. I think the only seller in the US is in San Diego. Are you familiar with them, Jeff?

https://boucherguitars.com/

Bourgeois are outstanding boutique guitars like the others I had mentioned.

So I got buyer's remorse before I even received the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier. I didn't research the Masterbilt Excellente enough, but saw this video that plays them side by side. It would be nice to understand what this guy is saying, but the guitars speak for themselves. So, I'll do the same thing and return the one I don't like as much, which will likely be the Frontier.

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