Solo Guitars: GUITAR OF THE MONTH – OCTOBER, 2021

It’s always nice to see someone you know get recognized for doing good work – especially when it comes to custom guitars!

Recently, our good friend Mike LaPointe was lucky enough to get one of his many custom guitar builds featured on the Solo Guitars site.

The following article was originally published by Solo Guitars in November of 2021 and is reproduced with permission.

Written by: Kevin Strom On: Nov 9th, 2021

Congratulations goes out to Mike Lapointe for his guitar build, to earn him Guitar of the Month for October 2021.

Mike used our JEK-10 DIY kit as the basis to create his guitar.

“I completed this JEK-10 kit with my daughter Amanda Lynn. Frankly, looking at last month’s Guitar of the Month winner, I was humbled to even be considered.

I work in collaboration with my daughter Amanda Lynn on about one guitar a month. She’s the real talent in our family. I was inspired to try this because she was doing similar artwork on canvas and was rather prolific and driven to create.

It occurred to me as the art stated to accumulate in our home that it might work on a guitar body. We started by stripping down and painting a Squire body and it turned out (to a Dad’s eyes anyway) spectacular.  So when I saw these kits available for less money than a body and neck would cost from virtually any other credible source, I thought, why not. I was shocked at the quality of the neck and body.

The build process was basically as follows:

I sanded the body to about 220 grit, filled with simple wood filler, and then primed it in matte black. Then both the neck and body went to Amanda’s studio (living room, LOL) where she did her magic. Her process is not a wrap and not a hydro dip. She prepares her paints in cups and then manually pours them on the guitar.

The top and back must be poured in separate steps. One must dry completely before the second can be started. During the pours she manipulates the paint with torches, compressed air and with her hands.  As you can see she also works in acrylic resin. The two pockets on the front of the guitar are chambers she created with hand tools and a dremel. She filled those chambers with acrylic crystals and resin as well as a glow-in-the-dark material, so yes, they glow quite strongly after being exposed to light.  This one we named MindStorm.  After both sides have cured, she returns them to me.

For this one and all I have done recently, I spray them with nitrocellulose lacquer and buff them to as good a shine as I can achieve. With this type of process, there will always be texture. In other words, bumps and lumps are par for the course.

I had lots of parts on the shelf and for this one I wanted to upgrade the bridge so I opted for a Gotoh 1996. That required me to reposition the bridge inserts as the Gotoh was slightly wider than the stock Floyd. That meant doweling the existing holes and re-drilling them.

The pickups I selected were also parts I had on the shelf and as this is obviously a shredder, I went with a Seymour Dimebucker in the bridge, a Seymour Duncan Strat single coil in the middle and a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the neck.

I opted to wire it so that the humbuckers were automatically coil cut in positions 2 and 4 of the five-position pickup switch. I did this because I always tap or coil cut humbuckers when combined with a single coil and why have a push / pull or toggle which is just another step?

Did I mention that I bought two of these kits?

While building the second kit (nearing completion now) I decided to use the supplied FR licensed bridge and frankly, although the Gotoh is indeed a stellar bridge with excellent design improvements, I have to say that the supplied bridge is more than adequate. It works as you would expect a Floyd to work, and that is bulletproof stability.

Now that I’ve started reading about other submissions for Guitar of the Month, I recognize the huge resource these testimonials represent. I intend to pick the brains of previous winners (whether they know it or not, LOL) to improve my process.

At the risk of repeating myself, I’m shocked at the quality of the neck and body. The neck pockets are tight and the fret work is excellent. Naturally, I dressed the edges and polished the frets but it plays far better than I would have expected for such a reasonably priced kit.

Thank you for considering this guitar. To be mentioned among such beautiful instruments and talented builders is a source of immense pride for us.”

Unfortunately, Amanda didn’t film the making of this guitar, but if you’d like to see her finish a different guitar using the same techniques, check out this Youtube video here.

-Mike Lapointe

With the help of his daughter’s unique process, Mike is brilliant at assembling his custom guitars and realizing a vision.

By using carefully selected materials, innovative hardware and premium pickups, they look and sound awesome!

He’s also wise enough to know that there are some very fine setup adjustments needed to make the guitars fully playable – which can be slightly out of his comfort zone.

To that end, we’re grateful to be part of the process, and see these killer instruments reach their full potential.

The post How To Take A Solo, And Make It Your Own first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Do You Still Have Opportunities to Make Money Playing Guitar?

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, musicians have had to scramble to continue to find work. Concerts and live performances are at a stand-still, with no end in sight as to when we can resume being able to go to a live show.

The online world has become saturated with creative ways that guitar players have discovered and implemented to continue working. Here are some great virtual opportunities that guitar players can take on so they can keep making money right now.

1. Do A Virtual Live Show

Though you can’t pack an auditorium to be on stage and perform a live show, guitar players can still find ways to do virtual performances.

Hosting your own premiere streaming event with other musicians and executing proper social distancing, you can easily market and gain viewership with your intended audience.

You can take things a step further and have a pre-sale for “seats” to see the concert from at home, ensuring that you will be getting compensated for your efforts.

If you performed with a band previously you could dub this a “virtual reunion” of sorts. Many of your followers will be interested in watching the group perform together again, and wouldn’t mind paying to listen to your music.

2. Fundraising Opportunities

You can use crowdfunding programs like GoFundMe or Kickstarter, but sometimes just hosting your own fundraiser for yourself or your band can go a long way.

You can even make a game of it, such as whoever donates the most to your fundraiser gets to pick the set list, or have multiple people pick some of their favorite songs for you to play.

As a guitar player you are already creative, so get creative in thinking of how you can easily earn money with a fundraiser.

3. Teach Online Guitar Lessons

So many music teachers and instructors have been pivoting to helping their students by teaching guitar online. You, too, can benefit as a guitarist by offering one and one, individualized online guitar lessons.

This is a great way to not only meet new people but market yourself as more than just a player, but someone who can help others and train them learn the guitar.

You can easily set up weekly, 30 or 60 minute lessons with students that they pay for on a monthly basis up-front, where you can help guide them through their playing.

Depending on your skill level, you can promote yourself as someone to work with beginners to more advanced players.

4. Create Music For Movies Or Television

Musicians have unique capabilities when it comes to creating music, and if you know how to arrange or compose your own tracks, you can easily make money by joining a music licensing agency that helps up and coming artists sell original works for royalty fees.

Directors and producers are always looking to have royalty-free music that they can utilize in scenes or backgrounds, and having a custom licensing agency that promotes your work is a great way to earn some money in a virtual setting.

Appearing in the credits doesn’t hurt, either, and could open the door for more opportunities with your music as well, so it’s a great way to make yourself more visible as well as earning more income.

5. Playing For Private Online Parties

Even with a pandemic, people are still finding alternate ways to throw parties in virtual settings so that people can essentially “get together” for special events.

You could promote your guitar playing services for things like these. Whether it be playing for some sort of virtual dinner party where people want music in the background.

Events such as a special occasions that people might want to have some musical interludes included, like someone who is hosting some kind of talent show or live awards ceremony.

You can offer this as a gift option for purchase, and be there to “perform” online when needed. You could even put together packages that provide music at different times, with different tiers, and so on.

Create your own custom music packages for purchase online. You can compose or arrange in specific genres and sell for small fees, customizing for specific events or occasions. Get creative with your options, giving people more opportunity to invest!

6. Work Online With Other Musicians

A great way to take advantage of virtual opportunities is the ability to work with musicians outside of your location. You can reach out to musicians you may have wanted to work with in the past and see if you can’t create music together.

If you’re both teaching online, you can put together a masterclass for all of your students to attend together with your guitar expertise. Combining your talents is a great way to expand your reach, and fill your pockets more.

7. Make Some Online Guitar Courses

One last way that you can create income in a virtual setting – creating your own online and digital courses revolving around your guitar knowledge for purchase.

There are so many basic things that people miss when trying to self-teach. Maybe you can eliminate that pain point in your audience and help them learn some things.

Whether it’s an online tutorial where you walk through something as simple as how to properly hold and strum a guitar.

There are beginner lessons on how to play, where to find the best acoustic guitar for the best price, or practice exercises to help you with your finger placement.

Even writing songs on your own, you can easily take your well-known guitar knowledge and help others to learn.

For example, even guitar legend Carlos Santana has an online guitar course available through Masterclass:

In Closing, If You’re Passionate Enough About Playing Guitar, You Will Make Money

Thanks to technology, and learning to embrace it, you can find multiple opportunities to generate income virtually as a guitar player.

You should now have a lot of innovative and creative ideas to help you continue as a musician in today’s world. Any of these income streams can continue to serve you even when you get back to playing live again. 

The post Make Money Playing Guitar [7 Virtual Opportunities] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

How to Protect Your Guitar When Travelling

As of 2015, passengers on US airlines are officially allowed to check in small instruments as carry-on luggage. This will have been a relief to travelling guitarists concerned about the security of their instrument when in transit.

For, just as you should prioritize keeping your guitar secure when not in use, it is important to think carefully about how to keep your guitar safe when travelling.

This is particularly true if your guitar is custom-made, expensive or has considerable sentimental value. There are certain things to consider before any journey, both in relation to the guitar itself and the type of journey involved.

Whether you’re going on a trip, or moving to a new home with Porch.com, here are a few tips to ensure your guitar is as safe as possible in transit.

Consider the means of transport

One of the first things to consider when travelling with your guitar is how your guitar will be transported. You will need to make certain decisions depending on whether it is predominantly by car, plane, van, trailer or on foot.

Is your guitar going to be stowed alongside other musical equipment or cumbersome luggage? Is it likely to be a tight squeeze and could something fall on it?

Meanwhile, extreme temperature can damage wood, potentially making your guitar vulnerable. It is also worth considering the guitar’s journey from beginning to end.

For example, while investing in a heavy duty guitar might ensure a safe transit on a flight, it is likely to be a hindrance should you need to travel some distance by feet at the other end. Whatever vehicle your guitar is travelling in, put your mind at ease by ensuring it is covered for any eventuality.

Prepare your guitar for the journey:

It is worth putting some measures in place before a journey to help prevent any accidental damage to your guitar or theft. These include the following:

1. Loosen the guitar strings: this prevents strain on the neck if there are changes in temperature. The neck is one of the areas of the guitar most vulnerable to damage.

2. For flights, try to take the guitar on board with you. As stated above, this is now allowed legally, but as long as the guitar is small enough. Boost your chances by boarding the plane first (which mean booking a seat at the back of the plane)

3. Ensure that you stow the guitar in an area that is at a suitable temperature, that is, not too hot or cold. This will help keep your guitar neck in good condition while also preventing the guitar needing a costly set-up.

4. Aim for a snug fit: if you find that your guitar is moving a little in its case, pad it out if possible with foam or soft cloths in order to protect it in transit. Be careful opening and closing the case though; make sure nothing is jammed or scratched in the process.

5. Lock the guitar case for added security. This will give you more peace of mind while travelling.

Use an appropriate guitar case

Hard cases are extremely resilient. However, compared to multi-pocketed gig bags, they often lack storage space for accessories such as guitar strings and cables. They are also often very heavy. An increasingly popular option is a soft case made of military materials that also provides support for the guitar neck – one of the most common parts of a guitar to break during transport.

Gig bags, or soft cases, have the added advantage of allowing you to wear them on your back. They also have sufficient storage space for extra accessories. You might consider using a brighter-colored guitar case. This makes it easy to identify and also helps deter potential thieves.

Finally, consider the price and/or sentimental value of the guitar itself when thinking about what case to buy. If space is an issue with the mode of transport, or you are limited when it comes carry-on or stowed luggage when flying, one option worth considering is a dual guitar case. This enables you to safely and comfortably carry two guitars in one case.

Keeping your guitar secure on the go: planning goes a long way

Travelling with your guitar can be a daunting prospect, especially if you are unable to keep a watchful eye on it. However, there is a lot you can do to help make its journey a smooth one.

Think carefully about how the guitar is being transported and for how long, as well as the appropriate type of case in which to put it. Paying special attention to the neck is important, no matter the nature of the journey.

Finally, try to establish in advance whether you can have your guitar with you while travelling on a plane or bus, and how secure the guitar will be if it is not possible.

The post How To Transport Your Guitar Safely (Step-By-Step Tips) first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Should You Start with a Classical or Acoustic Guitar?

To the untrained eye, acoustic and classical guitars look very similar. This is often a big problem for beginners who don’t know which guitar is better to start with. In this article you will learn the main differences between acoustic and classical guitars.

The first thing that needs to be said is that no one can really blame you for confusing these types of guitars since in the family of string instruments acoustic and classical ones are very close relatives.

Honestly, you can even be somewhat good at guitar, but if you only played acoustics or electric guitars, you may not even know what’s different about classical guitars.

However, let’s not rush the horses and first look at the similarities.

Similarities between acoustic and classical guitars

Acoustic and classical guitars work in the same way in regards to sound production and amplifying. The air vibration caused by the strings is amplified by the hollow body of the instrument (guitars with bigger body types will product a deeper tone).

With that being said, both acoustic and classical guitars don’t need electronics or extra equipment like amps, chords or pedals to sound good. Acoustic and classical guitars often have similar size, shape and even color!

With so many similarities one might think that the differences are fairly minimal or not really that important. This is definitely not the case. Let’s look at why acoustic and classical guitars are much more different than they seem on the first sight.

Differences between acoustic and classical guitars

The neck

Classical guitars have a significantly wider neck than their steel string counterparts. The string spacing is also different as they are set further apart from each other. On one hand it’s very comfortable to play finger style since there’s more room to move between adjacent strings with your picking hand.

On the other hand, with a wider neck it may be harder to strum and play chords, especially in the case of a youngster with smaller hands. If you’re a beginner and want to practice strumming basic chords – you might want to stay away from classical guitars for now.

Strings, truss rod and action

Most steel string acoustic models have a considerable amount of tension on the neck. On average, about 160 pounds between the headstock and the bridge. That’s nearly double to the 85 pounds of pressure created by classical strings.

For this reason you’ll notice that acoustic guitars are equipped with a reinforcing metal truss rod. The truss rod used to counteract the string tension that would otherwise cause it to warp up or pull towards the body.

Steel strings come in many different gauges, materials, and pressures that can impact the sound as well. If an instrument reacts adversely, you can adjust the truss rod if the action happens to be a bit too high or too low.

Lastly, one of the primary drawbacks to learning with steel strings is that they will hurt your fingers until you develop calluses.

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D'Addario Pro Arté Nylon Classical Guitar...

Classical guitars on the other hand come with softer feeling nylon or synthetic gut strings. These different materials have an effect on tonal quality and overall feel. Standard classical nylon strings also come with different gauges, but what makes the difference in tone and feel is again, the string tension.

Because of the nature of the materials, nylon strings are easier on the fingers and produce more mellow sound. As mentioned, they don’t impart the same amount of tension on the neck which also shifts their frequency response.

This reduced tension is also why classical guitars generally do not come equipped with a truss rod, although higher end models will as an extra reassuring feature.

Size and body shape

Acoustic guitars come in all sizes and shapes – from half size instruments to giant dreadnoughts. However, the most common acoustic guitar sizes are 3/4 or full size. A standard classical guitar is usually 25-26 inches – which is about the same length as full size acoustic models.

Keep in mind that classical guitars have smaller bodies in general, and despite the having a similar scale length, will have a very different tone.

Besides having differences in body structure, the headstocks are also specific to each type of instrument. A classical guitar is instantly recognizable by its slotted headstock, whereas steel string instruments feature a flat face with vertical pegs.

Sound and styles

Because acoustic guitars come in larger sizes, they produce louder, stronger and more vibrant sounds than the classical ones. They are suitable for playing music genres like rock and jazz. Therefor if you want a brilliant tone and the ability to cover a vast majority of modern, popular acoustic songs, a steel string acoustic is your choice.

Even though these features are likely to attract most guitarists, some beginners may be better off with a classical instrument as they are easier on the fingertips and have a beautiful warm tone. But it’s important to note that they often have a hard time maintaining a modern contemporary guitar voice.

Price

Your budget also plays a great role in the type of guitar you choose. Even though prices can vary greatly between instrument styles, steel string acoustic guitars are usually more affordable simply because of market acceptance. To put it in a different way, for $200 you have a broader range of sizes, shapes and colors compared to classicals.

Parting Thoughts

Learning to play the guitar is a very rewarding experience. The type of guitar you start with will have great influence over the future of your musical career.

Unfortunately in this age of instant gratification, many beginners quit because the guitar they started with gave them a hard time while learning.

Still the question remains, which guitar should you choose as a beginner?

To sum up, classical guitars are easier on the fingers, easy to play and produce a mellow sound. In contrast, steel string acoustics are more versatile allowing you to practice a wider range of music.

Finally, it has been our experience that regardless of the category of guitar you choose, making sure the instrument is properly setup makes a huge difference in the enjoyment factor for the player.

Contributor: Alan Jackman from Beginnerguitar.pro

The post Classical Guitar vs Acoustic Guitar [Which One Should You Start With?] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Revitalized Opportunities in the Music Industry

Despite being cut-throat, countless starry-eyed guitarists would like nothing more than to forge a career for themselves within the American music industry. After numerous years of sluggish growth, American music is once again on the rise with recording music sales generating nearly $7.7 billion in 2016 according to an announcement made by the RIAA.

For the myriad of individuals with a passion for music, especially those in college and university, this is great news as it signals hope for a career in one of the most sought-after industries in the world.

Source: RIAA

Don’t starve your dreams

If you are lucky, you meet a handful of guys (or girls) during your time at college, you formed a band and you are bound to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Vampire Weekend who also met as students and went on to become very successful. Alternatively, after completing your studies you might find yourself at a cross-road.

You have just obtained a qualification that does not necessarily support your passion for music, but you can’t disregard it altogether as you have a host of new financial obligations to attend to.  Once you have calculated your student loan repayments and other expenses, you can make an educated decision as to just how much time you are able to dedicate to your passion.

If your field of study allows you to pursue your musical dreams full-time, you have undoubtedly hit the proverbial jackpot which within the music industry tends to be very prolific. There are a number of career options, such as the following, that exist for passionate musicians.

Become a music producer

It is not uncommon in the music industry for a talented guitarist to move from one side of the recording cubicle to the other. Todd Rundgren, who was the popular guitarist for the 60s band Nazz, went on to become a highly successful producer, being responsible for (amongst others), Meatloaf’s multi-platinum selling Bat Out of Hell. Mitch Easter is another guitarist-turned-producer who managed to forge a very successful producing career for himself. Apart from producing the early recordings of R.E.M. he also produced music with Suzanne Vega, The Loud Family, and Velvet Crush.

Blake Mills is a present-day example of someone who is both an accomplished musician and producer. As a guitarist, Mills has toured and recorded with the likes of P!nk, the Dixie Chicks and Kidd Rock while his producing accolades include working with John Legend, Perfume Genius and Jim James.

What does being a music producer entail?

Music producers are some of the most important players in the music industry. They are most commonly responsible for writing, arranging, producing and recording songs, whether for other artists and bands, or themselves. Being a successful music producer is hard work and often entails working endless hours, doubling as studio owners or sound engineers (or both).

Being a producer does not limit you to working within the studio either. You will find yourself attending numerous meetings, rehearsals, writing sessions and shows in a bid to become the next Gregg Kurstin or Timbaland.

Become a songwriter/composer

Although the artist/band performing an award-winning song more often than not receives most of the praise, there is one thing many people seem to forget: The best songs in the world do not write themselves. While there are many superb artists such as Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, and John Mayer who pen their own songs, many others rely on the writing skills of other for their chart-topping hits.

Although all accomplished recording artists in their own right, Sia, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran have all penned songs for other renowned artists, highlighting just how multi-faceted a music career can be. If yo have a knack for writing you can make a lot of money writing the hits for other artists/bands while also creating masterpieces for your own use as well.

Photo by Tikkho Maciel on Unsplash

Other career paths to pursue

The music industry is extremely vast and varied. Apart from the two examples mentioned above, there are a large number of other career paths that a budding guitarist can pursue. Depending on your particular talents and personal interests, you may be interested in forging  a career for yourself as any of the following:

• Musical therapist
• Musical teacher
• Musical engineer
• Writer/journalist
• Music festival organizer
• Record label owner

If you have a genuine passion for music, you will not feel fulfilled unless you can build a career for yourself around this passion. Even if you don’t quite make the cut as a recording artist, you can still have a very prolific career in another sector of the music industry.

The post Inspiring Music Careers for Budding Guitarists first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Guitar Types and Styles

Did you know that there are actually people out there who think that all guitars are pretty much the same? To them, the only major difference is that some guitars are acoustic, and some are electric.

Then there are individuals who look at collectors guitars and ask “why it is necessary to own so many guitars?” (if you’re a collector, you know the answer).

After all, you can only play one at a time, right? Just like you can only wear one pair of shoes, wear one watch, or drive one car…

The thing is, there are many different types of guitars, and they’re all used for different styles of music.

A guitar that is used in one style may sound totally wrong when another style is being played on it. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the different types of guitars available, and how they’re used.

The Evolution of the Guitar

Did you know that the guitar can be traced back more than 4,000 years to stringed instruments known as bowl harps? These instruments had bodies made from tortoise shells, calabashes for resonators, bent sticks for the necks, and gut or silk strings.

Throughout the centuries, many different types of stringed instruments would be developed, including the guitar, and they can all trace their roots back to the bowl harp.

word “guitar” comes from the Sanskrit word “tar,” which means string. There are many different instruments that “tar” is used to describe, including the sitar, the chartar, the setar, and the dotar.

In today’s music, the popular choice by far is the guitar. The instrument as we know it today comes in many shapes and sizes, and usually have six or 12 strings.

There are newer models that have seven and eight strings as well. Of course, there are also the bass guitars, which have four or five strings.

Acoustic Guitars

The first style of guitar we are going to discuss is the acoustic guitar, which is a guitar that doesn’t need to be plugged in (though there are acoustic electric versions that can be used with and without amplification).

There are two main types of acoustic guitars: steel string and nylon string. Many people who do not play the guitar don’t realize that they are definitely not the same thing, and have distinctly different sonic footprints.

Nylon String Classical Guitars

Joakim Thielke (1641–1719) of Germany is credited with creating an ornate guitar that did not rely on “courses” of strings (such as pairings of strings seen on mandolins), which then continued to evolve from the mid-18th century through the early 19th century,

A nylon string acoustic guitar is primarily used for classical and flamenco guitar playing, while a steel string guitar is used for country, folk, rock, etc.

There’s a huge difference in how these guitars are built as well. The classical guitar has a weaker neck with respect to steel string instruments which have extra support by way of a truss rod.

It’s not recommended that one ever put steel strings on a classical guitar, as the extra tension can damage the neck over time, or even tear away the bridge entirely.

Steel String Acoustics

Seeking a louder sound, a steel string version produced by brothers Carl and August Larson was first seen in the late 1800’s. A more modernized acoustic guitar with a larger body, the dreadnought, was developed by C.F. Martin in 1916.

Since then, the steel-string acoustic, such as their popular DRS2 model, or Seagull’s Artist Mosaic, have morphed into many technologically advanced and popular body styles such as grand auditorium, jumbo, cutaway, and many more.

In voicing, steel string guitars are louder and have a much brighter sound than nylon, and as mentioned, are used for many more styles of music.

The only problem from a beginner’s point of view is, it can be a painful process to play a steel string acoustic guitar until you develop calluses on your fingertips, which take a good couple of weeks or so to build up.

Which is Better?

Nylon string guitars may be popular with beginners, simply because the relatively soft strings are easier to play than the tighter steel strings on an acoustic guitar.

But with regular practice, it doesn’t take long before a player can move on to steel strings if they wish as their playing improves and they want to play more musical styles.

Electric Guitars

Many people choose to learn on an electric guitar, because the strings are usually a lighter gauge, and they are closer to the fretboard than they are on a steel string guitar.

This makes the instrument easier to play because you don’t to press as hard on the strings to produce a clear sound.

There are so many different types of electric guitars on the market, many hundreds and thousands over time, that it would be impossible to discuss them all here. Therefor we’re only going to mention a few of the most influential and popular electric guitar manufacturers, and their top models.

Fender Electric Guitars

Many guitar players dream of owning a now iconic Fender Stratocaster. Of course Fender does offer a number of other popular guitars, including the Telecaster, JazzMaster, Jaguar and a host of others, the Strat is by far one of the most popular types of electric guitars in the world.

A short time ago, we were lucky enough to get a first hand look at a very early, and highly collectible specimen – Serial #0014:

To give you a sense of the numbers associated with the Strat, an estimated average of 2,000,000 units were sold per year in the US alone from 2005 to 2013.

Gibson Electric guitars

Another guitar manufacturer that enjoys huge popularity is Gibson, perhaps famous for some of the most highly prized collectible guitars on the planet – the ’59 Les Paul ‘Burst.

Gibson has created some pretty great guitars over the past several decades. Models such as the SG, ES335, Firebird, Explorer, Flying V, Hummingbird acoustic, and a host of others come to mind, but the Less Paul still stands out among one of the most coveted guitars in the world.

Ibanez Electric Guitars

This is a brand of guitar that is popular with many rock guitarists, for several reasons. Ibanez guitars are solidly built, and have quality electronics and hardware. They also look amazing.

Earlier models such as the X-Series Destroyer model, patterned after Gibson’s Explorer, are the dream of many metal players.

If there was one major advantage Ibanez has over it’s long standing historical competitors, it’s that they have free reign when it comes to design. Because they came after the initial inception of their iconic, high profile and well-marketed electric guitar counterparts, they’re still seen as the newcomers.

The different types of guitars they put to market are readily accepted whereas brands such as Gibson and Fender still rely heavily on their core designs. As styles and tastes in music change, one company may have a definite advantage over the others.

Common Electric Guitar Body Styles

There are three basic electric guitar body styles, and then these styles are played with with incredible imagination by some manufacturers so they have a totally unique appearance. The three styles are:

Solid Body

This the most common type of electric guitar body. It is made from a solid piece of wood, and can have single or multiple pickups.

They don’t produce as much natural resonance as an acoustic, but they have a great sound that is ideal for rock and metal. Plus they can be a very cost effective instrument for a new player looking to cover a lot of musical ground.

Hollow Body

The hollow body guitar, or archtop, is just that, a guitar with a hollow body, similar to an acoustic. They produce a lot of resonance, and are the preference of many jazz players due to its rich tones.

Semi-hollow Body

The semi-hollow type of guitar has more resonance than a solid body model, but it is made with a solid wood center that makes it stable and helps to produce sustain.

Also referred to as a thinline, this style also produces less feedback, and is preferred by blues guitarists because of the warm tones.

Is This The Future of Guitars?

Final Thoughts About Types Of Guitars

This article just touches the surface when it comes to the history and types the guitars. The amazingly funky imports from the 60’s and 70’s could fill volumes alone.

If you’re interested in playing the guitar, use this information to help you make your final decision, along with your budget. No matter what type of guitar you want to play, there is sure to be a style that suits you, and your wallet.

The post Types of Guitars [6 String Evolution] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

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Stringjoy

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Axe And You Shall Receive

https://www.axeandyoushallreceive.com/

Need a piece of gear that you just can’t find anywhere else? Need to talk to someone about it who knows everything, I mean EVERYTHING, about the coolest gear on the planet?

Scott knows his biz, takes care of his clients, and he’s a nice guy to boot :)

Find what you’re after at Axe And You Shall Receive.

Applied Guitar Theory

https://appliedguitartheory.com/

Applied Guitar Theory is geared toward beginner guitarists or those new to exploring music theory on the guitar. Chad put a lot of time and attention toward creating clean diagrams and concise lessons for this great resource that make it easy to understand and apply theory to the guitar.

Guitar Tricks Blog

https://www.guitartricks.com/blog/

Guitar Tricks represents a prime example of how technology has developed whole new levels of convenience for those learning guitar. Established in 2008, they’ve leveraged their massive experience into an award-winning lesson system that’s one of the easiest, fastest methods of learning guitar to be found on the internet.

Why we love the blog: The Guitar Tricks blog is chock full of interesting, relevant articles and reviews aimed at active guitar students. It’s broken down into a half dozen logical sections like How To, Music Theory, Gear, Bands etc. and the content is often conveniently presented in bite size-chunks that are easy to digest.

Guitar Chalk

https://www.guitarchalk.com/

Founded in 2012, Guitar Chalk offers up a host of incredibly in-depth and well researched articles. Their contributors list reads like a veritable who’s-who in the guitar publishing world. Offering up everything from online lessons reviews, academic and educational resources, to detailed gear reviews, and an articles section that’s full of quality content of all kinds.

Why we love the blog: The quality of the articles is simply outstanding. While no guitar site can offer up a solution to every guitar player’s questions under one roof, Guitar Chalk is a great place to find solid information on a multitude of topics.

Musician Tuts

https://musiciantuts.com/

Musician Tuts is a tutorial hub for musicians. From instrument lessons to guides and tutorials about music production, Musician Tuts aims to contribute to the music community through helping musicians learn skills to better their craft.

Learn more about Musician Tuts.

Shredaholic

http://www.shredaholic.com

As the name implies, Shredaholic is for guitar players who love to shred. But that doesn’t mean that the website is only limited to heavy metal music. It also provides tips on how to improve your speed or how to practice efficiently. They also have an area where you can read about your favorite guitar players. They also have reviews and more technical articles to learn how to play the guitar and improve your skills

Why we love the blog: This blog is very helpful to those who love to play guitar as well as those who teach guitar. It provides very useful tips for teachers, which can also be used by those who are teaching themselves.

Nail Guitar

http://nailguitar.blogspot.ie

If you get bored by simply reading information about guitars and you learn more if things are shown to you, then you will love Nail Guitar. Andy Collins is the man behind the blog and in it are his videos. He is a YouTube sensation who helps guitar players of various levels to play different songs. He is up to date with the latest songs and he also has blog posts on guitar lessons.

Why we love the blog: Apart from the guitar lessons, he also teaches how to play current songs through video so he shows you exactly how to play it. This is great for beginners, especially those who are not yet experienced in reading tabs or simple chords.

Melodic Exchange

https://melodicexchange.com/

Careers in the music industry are very rewarding and our mission is to provide unbiased and helpful information on everything there is to know about getting started.

If you’re looking for the best information on music, sound or audio engineering careers, plus reviews on the best music production equipment you’ve come to the right place.

Learn more about Melodic Exchange.

Guitar Lifestyle

http://www.guitarlifestyle.com

Guitar Lifestyle blog is written by Josh Evitt. Here you will find comprehensive reviews about guitars and gear related to guitars. There are also very useful tips for guitar collectors as well. They also have an area where you can find more information about what some of the most famous guitar rock bands use.

Why we love the blog: In this blog, you get to see different guitars from different brands. It is also a useful source of information if you want to know what guitars and gear are being used by various rock bands.

Guitar Answer Guy

http://www.guitaranswerguy.com/blog

The Guitar Answer Guy blog is owned by Bobby and the articles you find in there are written by him or some of his guests or contributors. The blog is very beginner friendly and in fact, they focus on helping beginning guitarists with everything they need to know. They can provide tips for guitar selection and even provide guitar lessons.

Why we love the blog: We love the blog for its simplicity and for the topics that are geared towards helping beginners. Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced guitar player, you may find some of their tips and advice to be very useful and effective.

Classic Guitar

http://classicalguitar.org/blog

Classic Guitar is a great blog to follow and explore so that you can learn everything there is to know about the classic acoustic guitar. Although it offers a more traditional take on guitars, the kind of music you find in it is not limited to traditional music only.

Why we love the blog: They offer free stuff like a downloadable guitar eBook, guitar exercises, and sheet music.

Guitarhabits

http://www.guitarhabits.com

Guitarhabits is a blog by Klaus Crow who has been playing the guitar professionally for the last 20 years. The blog is about anything and everything about guitar. It is mostly filled with guitar lessons, exercises, tips and tricks, licks, music theory, and just about everything about guitars.

Why we love the blog: Every lesson in the blog is free and you can take the lessons as you wish. There are also videos in the blog that helps in the better visualization of the lessons or tips.

Guitar Noise

http://www.guitarnoise.com/blog

Guitar Noise is blog that provides help and information for beginners as well as more experienced guitar players. They provide mini-lesson for absolute beginners and provide even more complicated lesson fit for those who already know the basics. They have published articles from various authors so you get to see not just one person’s opinion.

Why we love the blog: We love that the blog doesn’t only focus on one kind of guitar. Instead, it has lots of information on different kinds such as bass guitars, 12 string guitars, ukulele and left handed guitars and many others.

Eddie’s Guitars

http://eddiesguitars.com/blog

Eddie’s Guitars is another blog that doesn’t limit their focus to one type of guitar. They review lots of different guitars and show you videos playing them. Video and sound quality is great so you really get to see and compare guitars.

Why we love the blog: They provide reviews for various guitars, most of which are high-end acoustic guitars. It is a great blog to find your dream guitar or a guitar that you would consider as a good investment.

The Guitar Journal

http://www.theguitarjournal.com

The Guitar Journal is a blog by Jesse who is based in Sweden. It talks about the different guitar gear, guitar apps and some of their recommended resources. They also feature different guitar players who have captured their interest.

Why we love the blog: Posts are done weekly so you can expect to read something new every week. They are really updated with the latest apps and gear available for guitars.

Bruce Music

https://brucemusic.co.uk/

Guitar Lessons London. At Bruce Music we provide Guitar lessons, Bass Guitar lessons and Ukulele lessons to students anywhere in Greater London. We also offer Guitar lessons throughout the surrounding counties, covering all of South East England.

At Bruce Music: Guitar Lessons London we teach students of all ages, all abilities and any experience level.

Guitarz

http://guitarz.blogspot.com

Guitarz has been up and running since 2002 and until today, they are still adding more articles about anything related to guitars. They provide lots of reviews not just on popular guitars that you find on the market, but also the more obscure models. They also provide relevant news about anything related to the guitar industry.

Why we love the blog: They have lots of pictures of some of the rarest guitars ever made, some of which you never knew existed. Some of their posts have videos showcasing the guitars as well.

GuitarAdvice.com

https://guitaradvice.com

As a relatively new site, GuitarAdvice.com offers an interesting mix of all good things related to guitar. You’ll even find a few things that you wouldn’t normally find on a guitar site – not going to give anything away, you’ll have to check it out for yourself :)

All in all, from product reviews & guides to tutorials on how to do virtually anything on or with the guitar, GuitarAdvice has something for just about anybody.

Transcribe!

https://www.seventhstring.com/xscribe/overview.html

Transcribe! – software to help transcribe recorded music

The Transcribe! application is an assistant for people who want to work out a piece of music from a recording, in order to write it out, or play it themselves, or both.

NewViolinist

https://newviolinist.com/

At NewViolinist, you’ll find great reviews on beginner violins, beginner violin outfits, helpful accessory and buying guides plus resources to help you make informed decisions.

Guitar Secrets

https://guitarsecrets.com/

Guitar Secrets, Lead Guitar Made Easy and free online guitar lessons. It’s time to learn right, become a Gold Level Member today and learn to Rock!

Guitar Tone Master

https://www.guitartonemaster.com/

GuitarToneMaster.com – Find the perfect Jam & Backing Track
Search a library of 1000+ free jamtracks and find the right track. You’ll always find something amazing!

NewPercussionist

https://newpercussionist.com/

Just starting to hit the skins? NewPercussionist.com provides some of the best drum set reviews and helpful advice a new drummer will find anywhere.

Know Your Instrument

https://www.knowyourinstrument.com/

Know Your Instrument – this is a great site to learn more about guitars and ukes. You can find some in depth buying guides which will help you pick the right guitar the next time you buy.

FaChords

https://www.fachords.com/

FaChords Guitar Lessons & Software. Tips, tools and strategies to skyrocket your guitar playing. If you want to learn how to play the guitar, or just improve your skills and knowledge, check out Gianca’s great guitar resources!

Join the Conversation

If you have any favorite blogs you think are exceptionally helpful, please leave a reply in the comments section below. We’d love to share notable sites and help keep the guitar community healthy.

The post Top Guitar Blogs and Music Communities first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Little Jane Travel Guitar with New Neck Connector

Velké Němčice, the Czech Republic – August 24, 2017 – Furch Guitars (Furch), the world’s leading maker of premium-quality guitars, introduces a new design of the neck-joint connector that attaches the neck to the body of its widely popular Little Jane travel guitar. The new design features a routed fastener with components made from aerospace aluminum. Combined with innovative neck construction, the new connector mechanism improves rigidity, and guarantees long years of enjoyment from playing this exceptional instrument. The Little Jane travel guitar is a unique instrument whose design provides musicians with unmatched freedom in a plethora of situations. The patented assembly system allows the guitar to be easily and quickly assembled into a full-fledged instrument. Likewise, the instrument can be simply disassembled into a compact form, and stored in a travel bag with the size of a regular backpack. Like this, the guitar is always ready to accompany the owner during his or her travels and adventures. The main component of the assembly system is a robust fastener, which securely attaches the removable neck to the guitar’s body. This component, formerly made of cast metal, has been replaced with a redesigned CNC-routed fastener, which includes parts made from aircraft grade aluminum and high-quality stainless steel. The new design improves the guitar’s rigidity, and it is much more resistant to wear during assembly and disassembly. Another unique feature of the Little Jane is an opening in the left side of the instrument. The opening primarily serves for the secure storage of the removable neck during transport. However, it also enhances the guitar’s acoustic response because it delivers sound with a surprising clarity and volume straight to the player’s ears. Little Jane is a great instrument for both unplugged jam sessions with friends and professional use on stage or in recording studios. Thanks to Furch locking machine heads, the guitar stays in tune when reassembled; all that might be necessary is fine-tuning individual strings.

Natural Musical Sound and Attractive Look

The Little Jane travel guitar is made from all-solid woods and features a red cedar top, African mahogany back and sides, and artificial tortoise binding. This combination allows the instrument to produce a full, rich, and balanced musical sound across the entire sonic spectrum. The guitar’s woody acoustic qualities and beautiful natural look are underscored by an open-pore finish. The Little Jane is sold with no electronics, but upon request, Furch Guitars can deliver it with the LR Baggs Element Active System with volume and tone controls (EAS-VTC). The system features a broad dynamic response and accurately transmits all nuances of the player’s technique and the guitar’s acoustic response. The electronics are hidden in the soundhole where they are conveniently accessible, and their installation causes no damage to the body of the guitar.

Guitar that Conquered the Himalayas

The Little Jane’s outstanding quality and durability are evidenced by two occasions on which the guitar traveled to the Himalayas to keep company to Czech mountain climber Lukáš Krejčí. He played the guitar during several days in the Manaslu base camp (4,870 m.a.s.l.) and subsequently below the Larkya La pass (4,920 m.a.s.l.), where the instrument was exposed to temperatures below -10 °C. The highest point where the guitar made it while traveling through the Himalayas was the Larkya La pass itself (5,260 m.a.s.l.), where temperatures dropped to as low as -20 °C. Despite the harsh conditions and extreme weather fluctuations, Lukáš’s Little Jane sustained no damage and lost none of its fine acoustic qualities. Apart from the Himalayas, the Little Jane earned fame in Baku, Azerbaijan, where it starred in the Youthvision 2017 International Song Contest.

Game of Thrones actors Rory McCann and Kristofer Hivju relax while singing Yellow bird with a Furch Little Jane travel guitar:

Furch Guitars

Established in 1981, Furch Guitars (Furch) has worked its way up to become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of all-solid-wood acoustic guitars and acoustic bass guitars. The company’s production complex and head office are located in Velké Němčice near Brno, Czech Republic. Furch instruments combine the company’s extensive know-how in building handmade guitars with state-of-the-art technologies, production processes, and proprietary innovations. Thanks to that, the company is able to bring to the market premium-quality musical instruments with outstanding acoustic properties and excellent design parameters. Covered by a three-year warranty, Furch guitars are sold in 32 countries on five continents. Furch employs over 60 luthiers and craftsmen and makes in excess of 6,000 instruments annually. Furch guitars are the preferred choice of such artists as Calum Graham, Glen Hansard, Suzanne Vega, Zdeněk Bína, František Černý, and David Koller. For additional information, visit www.furchguitars.com.

The post Furch Little Jane Guitar [Innovating Travel Technology] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

What Is A Luthier?

From Webster’s:

noun lu·thi·er

Definition of LUTHIER: one who makes stringed musical instruments (as violins or guitars).

Being a fairly broad statement, let’s put a finer point on it…

By today’s standards, there are newer, modern levels of luthery that all stem from the same basic principle: having a complex intimate knowledge of the building process from which the instrument is derived.

Sounds easy enough.

Many guitarists have had dreams of opening up their own shop, handcrafting exquisite guitars at their own pace, and selling them at their own prices.

Glorious.

While luthiers do just that, there is a lot for one person to learn before they get to that point.

This post will tell you exactly what a luthier is, provide sources for online and live instruction, the luthier tools that you’ll need and where to get them, as well as how to get started in the guitar building business.

You will also find that most luthiers will specifically work on instruments that they can also play well. For example, those who work on guitars should also be expert-level players.

Are You A Luthier Or A Technician?

One of the main differences between a guitar luthier and a technician is that a luthier makes their own guitars.

Technicians mainly work with guitars that are already made and focus on the finessing an instrument to it’s maximum point of playability.

Unlike some luthiers, technicians typically have the expertise to repair both acoustic and electric guitars. Another difference between a luthier and a technician is in their work place.

While a guitar technician may work in a guitar shop or for an instrument manufacturer, luthiers are usually found either in their own one-man shops or in a factory that creates one-of-a-kind guitars.

With new technologies such as CNC, 3D printing, and the ever expanding availability of unique products through the internet, new micro builders are popping up every day as their operations become more cost effective.

The off-the-shelf component nature of electric guitar suppliers such as Allparts and Stewart MacDonald have helped create a whole new sub-type of guitar builder that could even be referred to an “electric luthier”.

Fun fact: Leo Fender, guitar inventor, consummate musical entrepreneur and creator of one the world’s premier guitar companies that still bears his name – never knew how to play guitar.

Photo by Jon Sievert

How’s that for irony?

Where Can You Learn To Be a Luthier?

There is no specific process for becoming a luthier in North America. Many apprentice with the luthier in their local area until they know enough to go out on their own. Others attend a luthier school, either online or in their local area.

Live training programs can come in the form of demonstration-only classes or a vocational-type atmosphere where you come to class every week to learn a certain aspect of guitar making in a hands-on manner.

Live luthier training classes are located in over two dozen north american locations. Many of them hold classes and sessions that last no more than a week. This would be beneficial to someone who wants live instruction but does not live in a state with a luthier school.

If you don’t live in an area that has live luthier instruction, another option you have for learning the trade is online classes. The Guild for American Luthiers has a comprehensive list of online courses and instructors that are vetted by them.

Another great source of online luthier instruction are the courses on Tom Bills’ website The Art of Lutherie. Bills features plenty of tips and tutorials for beginners and experts alike. The courses that he currently features on his website are “The Art of Guitar Design”, “The Art of French Polishing” and “Guitar Physics & Design”.

Tools You’ll Need to Start Making Acoustic Guitars

As a luthier, you are going to require a variety of tools in order to create the not only the instrument itself, but the aesthetic effects you want for your guitars as well. The luthier tools you’ll need to purchase include the following:

• Chisels
• Clamps
• Dovetail Saw
• Electric Glue Pot
• Planers
• Sanding Station
• Saw Rasp
• Shaver Tools
• Veneer Roller

Many of the tools can be purchased directly from suppliers such as Luthiers Mercantile.

If buying brand new luthier tools turns out to be too pricey for your budget, purchasing your tools on eBay can certainly be one option. As you do with all of your eBay purchases, make sure that whatever seller you deal with is a trusted entity on the website with a good feedback score.

If handcrafting guitars is your passion, the good news is that there are many paths you can take to get from student to master.

Whether you decide to take a certificate course, learn from online classes, or ask every luthier in your local area for an apprentice position, your options for creating a business for yourself in this field are numerous.

The deciding factors will be the time you are willing to invest, and your own faith in your ability to build something extraordinary; to bring something new and exciting into the world of guitar. Being persistent, detail-oriented and infinitely curious are your keys to eventual success.

The post What Is A Luthier? [A Modern Definition] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

There once was a time back in the mid nineties where everything was going perfect. I had more than enough money, a job I absolutely loved at a local small town mom and pop music store, lots of service clients, TONS of students and three bands on the go. I was one busy boy.

It was a dream come true.

Then time passes. Flagship products shift to other local retailers through corporate shuffling, the store I’m working at closes, and I decide to hang my own shingle because that’s what I know and I have the passion to continue to do what I do. I’m opening my own store! Jammit Music.

Music and Sound closed on a beautiful Friday at the end of March of 2000. After playing a gig that night in Barrie Ontario, I officially opened Jammit Music the following morning. I showed up bright and early to greet students waiting at the door ready to go – pretty cool, to be able to open your own shop without skipping a beat. It was surreal and familiar all at the same time.

I turned the key in that front door every morning for many years with a wonderful sense of pride, joy and anticipation. This was MY house, and I wanted to built it bigger, better, badder.

So that’s what I did.

It took a few years; reinvesting to bring in inventory, hiring staff, building systems. And in early 2009 during the beginnings of a wonderful recession, I convinced my account manager at the bank to float me a business loan to manifest a move. The idea was to take advantage of the downturn to negotiate a good lease with one of the many empty spaces in the prime area of my choice.

So again, that’s what I did.

It was at this point the chinks started to form. I didn’t know at the time but they were already deeply rooted. Sometimes you get so focused on the goal, everything else, your family, your little girls, your primary personal relationships, your sense of what really matters… becomes blurred. That and the fact that there is absolutely no way to predict what the future holds. Who knew the “slight downturn” would last for years… sorry, but my crystal ball is a little cloudy today.

The wheels continued to turn, but they were wobbling big time. There was a good bit of growth after the initial move to a larger space: we tripled our inventory and doubled our student body. But the economy was not keeping pace. It became harder and harder to pull in business compared to previous years – and I wasn’t getting any younger.

My world of fun had collapsed. Separation, debt, no business growth, working harder for less reward – just plain ugly. That was my shit-show.

And one day while driving past my store, I glanced over at the building as I passed it and thought, ‘what if it wasn’t there, what if it was just… gone…’ In a split second everything in my world came into immediate focus.

I was done, the business had killed my passion, therefore I had to kill the business.

Funny thing is, I eventually realized every last bit of circumstance and condition that had led to that point was my fault. All the result of the choices I had made. And I take full responsibility, I will not point a finger at anything or any one other than myself. I do not suffer from regret, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat because I did it my way – thanks Frank (and Paul).

So I floundered for the last couple of years looking for purpose and a new venture. All the while feeling disgusted with the whole guitar, music biz thing – ugh (turns head and spits). I had to find another avenue of interest other than the machine that had destroyed my one true friend.

Rather than go on with more suck-it-up life moments, let me say this; I am absolutely convinced that all my previous experiences were purposeful, and happened for a reason – to prepare me for something… more meaningful.

Then one day it hit me. Someone, I think it was Glen Booth from Levy’s, posted a picture of an absolutely gorgeous Les Paul custom shop ’59 repro. There’s normally nothing remarkably special about such a pic that would catch my eye, there’s lots of them out there. But this one.., this one struck a sleeping nerve. I was instantly re-energized. I don’t know if it was the cast of light, the checking, the background or whatever. All I knew was, ‘Oh my god that’s gorgeous, just beautiful’.

That was one big spark. And I was sucked in all over again.

Which ultimately led me here, to GuitarNiche.

With a renewed passion and purpose, I decided to commit to helping others by sharing my many, many years of experience with through the medium of the digital world. Giving it away to the benefit of anyone who has an interest in the workings of a fine playing machine. Anyone who looks at a guitar and is utterly captivated by its shape, and wonders in its infinite musical potential.

My friends, GuitarNiche is for you.

Cheers!

Steve B.

The post How To Kill A Passion With Business first appeared on GuitarNiche.