Acoustic Guitars

So many things get better with age -- cheese, wine, George Clooney -- but did that Ibanez Blazer Bass really attain some magical quality once it hit the two-decade mark? Crosstalk discusses the liberal use of the "vintage" tag and its implications.  

We get yet another look at more parts of the process of building guitars as Steve McCreary takes us in the back room, where guitars are finished.  

Collings Guitars' Steve McCreary walks us from station to station where various points of assembly are in action. We get a look at some sides and tops as well as some bracing as Steve gives us the skinny.  

Graph Tech has been producing after-market upgrade parts for electric and acoustic guitars for years, from nuts to saddles and more. For the first time ever, they've packaged matching components into complete upgrade kits.  

Sacramento-based Loose Acoustic Trio busk and play in Northern California. They are a sort of modern jug band and have some super-neato gear.  

Patrick Ogle tries to control his oafish sausage fingers on the Art & Lutherie Ami, a guitar that actually belongs to Patrick's son. Seriously, have you seen Patrick palm a basketball? He was the second choice to play Billy Hoyle behind Woody Harrelson in the 1992 classic White Men Can't Jump.  

Steve McCreary from Collings Guitars offers some advice on guitar maintenance. Find out what a damp sponge in a bag can do for your acoustic.  

We take a look at more guitar building techniques from Collings Guitar where Steve McCreary stresses the importance of knowing your wood. Since Collings is a smaller operation, their size affords them more time to get to know each piece of wood and where it would fit best.  

Without naming any names, Rob Fishman -- Technical Director at Old Town School Of Folk Music -- dishes on some of the best and worst-case scenarios he's had to contend with as the live engineer for the school's Gary And Laura Maurer Concert Hall.  

Larry Stevens likens his luthiery to smoking cigars. He shows us an acoustic that he built for himself that turned out to be the cream of his crop.  

We're back with Larry Stevens from Larry and Larry. Mr. Stevens not only plays guitar, he builds them as well, and he talks about tools and starting a guitar in this video.  

Matt Mercado of Sonic Palace is an engineer, but sometimes he plays choreographer when trying to get the right acoustic guitar tone for his mix. When placement fails, he turns to EQ, and when that fails? Time to switch out the guitars.  

Now that the drums and bass are all set up at Sonic Palace with Matt Mercado, it's time for some acoustic guitar. Before Matt sets up his mics, we take a look at the beautiful Breedlove Atlas acoustic and its dazzling details.  

Gearwire contributor Patrick Ogle talks about how Chicago School of Guitar Making's Ian Schneller taught him how to investigate buzzing. As Occam's Razor specificates, the simplest explanation is oftentimes true.  

Singer-songwriter Jann Klose, with a new CD out and in-between tours, takes some time to talk about his acoustic guitars with Gearwire.  

Recently, Patrick Ogle took a couple of courses at the Chicago School of Guitar Making. Patrick shows not only what he learned, but how he learned it -- from his mistakes.  

Patrick Ogle's Harmony H165 was a slick ebay find, but it had some problems. Nothing to be ashamed of! According to Chris Eudy of Third Coast Guitar Service, even Pre-War Martins get the blues.  

A few months ago, Patrick Ogle took his broken down Harmony H165 to Third Coast Guitar Services, and Chris Eudy explained all the work that needed to be done to make Patrick's guitar playable again. Here are the results.  

We sent Patrick Ogle to the Chicago School of Guitar Making and told him not to come back until he learned something. What we didn't count on was Ian Schneller's ability to teach him so fast.  

Patrick Ogle brings in his beloved Harmony Sovereign guitar and talks about where you can find one. He theorizes on the advantages auction sites provide over finding used instruments at your local music shop.  

David Schwartz demonstrates some of the many timbres, tones and effects that can only be created on a fretless instrument, like the Godin Multiac Fretless Nylon guitar he's brought in. Microtones and Glissandos are only the beginning!  

So many different kinds of guitars, so little time; what's a musical neophyte to do? Tim and Tony from Old Town School of Folk continue their acoustic stringed instruments 101 clinic, and demo a lovely Antonio Aparicio AA15 for us.  

The dreadnought-style is the most common body shape for modern acoustic guitars, and where better to learn about these guitars than at Old Town School of Folk Music's music shop? Tim Joyce and Tony Polecastro play a few of their beauties for us and talk about what makes a dreadnought a dreadnought.  

Tim Joyce of Old Town School of Folk Music has already gone over different guitar finishes. In this video, he talks about pickups for your acoustic and how they sound with different finishes.  

What wood would you choose if you could choose which wood you should use on your acoustic guitar? Hear how mahogany sounds compared to spruce in this video from Old Town School Of Folk Music.  

Tim Joyce of the Old Town School Music Store explains the difference between laminate, solid top and all solid wood acoustic guitars. If you're interest is piqued by picking on an acoustic, check this out.  

Mark Pickerel says he is not a gear head. But he sure has some interesting ideas and things to say about gear.  

There is a certain satisfaction when a recording session starts to work. But then how do you handle the close to finished product?  

Micah Walk, the highly regarded frontman of the Micah Walk Band, talks about his acoustic guitars -- a Martin HD-28V and a Taylor 410. Micah compares the two guitars in terms of tone and gives a little insight to their histories.  

Fender has updated their California series acoustics for 2008. They aim to bring back that cool 1965 feel, making these acoustics great guitars to play when you're . . .

"Right near da beach . . . boyeeeeee!"