General Guitar
Just starting your guitar journey? Here are 10 songs that you can play right away. One of the best ways to get started on guitar is to learn some songs. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with learning technique, scales, and barre chords, so learning some easy songs helps remind you why you are playing in …
Can Godin deliver the hollowbody goods for a reasonable price? Overview When I first picked up the 5th Avenue Godin Kingpin, my first question was if its sounds could match its great looks. The Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin is a fully hollow archtop guitar that is manufactured in Québec, Canada. The Kingpin line comes in …
Owning multiple guitars is great, but before long you will be faced with the question of how to store them properly. And it doesn’t take a rockstar sized collection to begin thinking about guitar display and guitar storage ideas. Depending on the size of your apartment, house or music room, you may be looking to …
If you’re reading this, you probably love guitars, and probably own one… or two… or twelve. Does this make you a collector? A guitar investor? Or a person who plays guitars? Let’s look at being a guitar player vs. a guitar collector, and why it matters. Is More Better? In the guitar world, amateurs who …
No tonewood commonly used for guitars has a greater status gap than maple. The back and sides of acoustic guitars have historically been constructed of Rosewood or Mahogany, with maple-bodied guitars being far less common. Stradivarius violins, long considered the finest in the world, are constructed with maple back and sides. In modern times, John …
Maple Acoustic Guitars—Why isn’t this Tonewood Used More? Read More »
Fender’s American Ultra line has been a staple in their lineup for years. The Ultra name conjures up a luxury vibe, and that’s because the Ultra line represents the best of Fender’s American production line guitars. Positioned right below the Custom Shop, the Ultra line is a way to get some of that special high …
A lot has been written about the CAGED Guitar System. Some people love the CAGED system, and others do not. Some contend that a CAGED approach actually prevents people from making progress on the guitar. While I would not necessarily say that CAGED is harmful, there are some aspects of it that are troublesome. Let …
The Relic era started in the mid-90s in the Fender Custom Shop. And since then, guitarists have been arguing about Fender relic guitars, and relics in general. Some feel they are “fake authenticity” while others contend that relic jobs increase a guitar’s comfort by making it feel “broken-in.” Who is right? We’d like to offer …
Fret size is one of the most important but overlooked aspects of a guitar. Unlike neck relief, action, pickups, and other hardware, frets are not adjustable (without a costly refret, of course). Replacing guitar frets is expensive, so it’s worth paying attention to the fret size on any guitar that you are considering for purchase. …
Guitar Frets: How to Choose the Right Ones For You Read More »
You’ve no doubt heard of the benefits of stainless steel fretwire, and maybe you’ve wondered: Are Stainless frets better? Are they a real improvement to Nickel Silver, or a solution looking for a problem? Stainless Steel frets are an option for refret jobs, but they are also increasingly being offered by guitar manufacturers on new …
