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Acoustic Dreaming
When I play live it is almost always electric guitar. Although I love playing acoustic, I don’t get many opportunities. I’ve sort of been pigeonholed as an electric guitarist. I had an Ovation that I used as a stage guitar for a few years, but it got so little use that I eventually sold it. I still have the Alvarez Yairi acoustic I got way back in 1981, but it doesn’t have a pickup, and I really wouldn’t want to use it live. It was a gift from my wife, so I would hate to see it get damaged. So the last couple of times I played acoustic on stage, I had to borrow one.
Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard
Lately though, I have been thinking a lot about acoustic guitars and wanting to devote more time to improving my acoustic playing. I really can’t justify buying an expensive acoustic for as little as I use one live, but I can still dream can’t I? If money wasn’t a concern I would probably have one custom built by a small luthier such as Charis or Bashkin. Or choose a model from a small company such as Collings. But custom guitar prices are out of reach for all but the richest pickers and super-stars. A higher end “stock” model from one of the big names is more realistic, although still very expensive.
I have tried several Taylors, Martins, and Gibsons over the years. And while the Taylors are always consistent and the higher end models play like butter, I just can’t warm up to them. I think is partly the tone, partly they seem a little “too perfect”, and partly everyone has one. High end Martins can sound great, but there are so many models it’s hard to choose. And many of the high end models are similar looking and a bit plain, especially for the price.
Most of the Gibsons models seem to have some character. They don’t look like every other acoustic out there, but they also don’t look too radical, which for me is a good thing. To me they seem to have that “X factor” that so many acoustics lack. Of course they all have their own unique tone, and I don’t care for them all. But one I have tried and really like is the Songwriter Deluxe (non cutaway.) There are three versions, the Studio, the Standard, and the Custom. The studio is the least expensive model and has split parallelogram inlays and a unique “mustache” bridge. This is the first one I played and loved the feel and tone. It made me want to play it. The new Standard is a little more understated in the looks department than the Studio, which I also like, and has better electronics. The Custom is just too fancy for me with its elaborate body inlays (something I have never really liked.)
So if I had three grand laying around unused I would probably buy a Songwriter Deluxe Standard (dream, dream, dream...)
Available At Guitar Center
Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar Antique Natural
Musician’s “Friend”? Hmmm...
For several years I was an “affiliate” of Musician’s Friend. You have probably seen their advertising on Better Guitar. If you clicked one of those banners (or text links) and purchased something, I got a small commission. That is until June 30th when I received the following email:
"Dear Mark Starlin,
Due to the imminent change in law, we have discontinued Musician's Friend's affiliate program with affiliates located in Hawaii, North Carolina and Rhode Island EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. While we have the contractual ability to terminate Programs and Offers at any time, we are giving you the benefit of doubled commissions for the sales in the month of June 2009 in lieu of the typical notice period. This would mean that any July sales would not be commissionable sales. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your business over the years.”
The issue is Hawaii, North Carolina, and Rhode Island want Musician’s Friend to start collecting state sales tax when residents of those states make a purchase at Musician’s Friend. Of course, there are two sides to every coin. Local retailers have long cried that online retailer have an unfair advantage by not collecting state sales tax (true.) The online retailers say they shouldn’t have to collect state tax for states where they have no physical stores (true of the old pre-internet law.) But in these difficult financial times, states are desperate to make up lost revenue and this is an easy source.
Therefore Musician’s Friend has decided to cancel all affiliate programs in those states (mine.) I wonder if they will also refuse to ship products to those states? If not, why cancel the affiliates? And if they do stop shipping to those states, what will they do if most states enact the same legislation?
While I never made a lot of money from my affiliation with Musician’s Friend, it usually covered the costs of hosting this website and I will miss the few extra bucks I occasionally got. I am also a musician with bills to pay, and right now I don’t feel like Musician’s Friend is being much of a friend to me. So, unfortunately, the Musician's Friend banners and text links will have to come down. I ask you not to click through any of them while I do the work of taking them off, as they no longer support Better Guitar. Sigh.
Hopefully, more intelligent minds will eventually prevail and this will turn around. Thanks for listening to my rant. Back to guitar stuff next time.
Mark
My First Stomp Box Shrinks
My love affair with effects pedals started back in the 1970's when I saved up enough to get an Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man pedal. There was no Web or YouTube back then, so any information I got about gear came from going to a music store, from friends, or from Guitar Player magazine ads (the only guitar magazine around back then.)
The Deluxe Memory Man had three effects: chorus, vibrato, and delay. It was truly one of the first "multi-effects" pedals. I didn't really understand all it could do when I got it, but it looked cool and had lots of knobs and buttons, so I figured it had to be good.
Man was that thing crazy. By mixing the delay with either chorus or vibrato you could get some extreme effects. And by twisting the knobs while a chord or note sustained, you could get some psychedelic or "spacey" effects that were way cool to my teenage ears. It was kind of like using a synth. I had tons of fun experimenting with that pedal.
You could also get some very sweet sounding delay and chorus. Unfortunately my pedal died a couple of years later. I then moved on to a Korg PME effects unit. But I have always thought about replacing that Deluxe Memory Man. I just never got around to it.
Well it's crunch time. Electro Harmonix is "downsizing" the Deluxe Memory Man into a smaller enclosure. It supposedly has the same electronics as the original, just a smaller footprint for your pedalboard. They are also selling the original enclosure for as long as they remain in stock. So I guess if I want the old style I better act now. Although, I would be happy with the new smaller unit as long as it works and sounds the same...
Available At Guitar Center
Electro-Harmonix Classics Deluxe Memory Man Delay Guitar Effects Pedal Standard
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man XO Analog Delay Guitar Effects Pedal Standard
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