The Practice Room

Harvey Leach

Every now and then I check in with various guitar guys to see what’s new. Harvey Leach makes great guitars and specializes in over the moon inlay. Here are two pieces he’s doing for "The Floating World Guitar", based on 16^th century Japanese prints. Bear in mind that after he did the inlay for the fretboard, he had to saw lines in it to make room for the frets, which must have hurt. The other inlay is one of two going into the ebony (!) back.

Cost is $100,000, and I’ll bet, if you figured his time in, he’d lose money on it.

[TJH]

How to spot a fake Gibson

Here are a few highlights from a more comprehensive article on the Gibson site:

• Measure the guitar to check that it’s not undersized. Correct measurements can be found on www.Gibson.com.
• Examine headstock and headstock logo to determine that they match those of authentic Gibson guitars.
• Check to see that all pearl is inlaid.
• Check that Les Paul model script is always in cursive.
• Verify that there’s not a three-screw truss rod cover.
• Check the control and pickup cavities for sloppy routing or wiring.
• Make sure the pickup cavity is not painted black inside.
• Always ask for the Gibson Owner’s Manual and Gibson Warranty Inspection card.
• Check the wiring. If it’s plastic it isn’t a true Gibson.
• When all else fails, contact Gibson Customer Service at 1-800-4GIBSON.

[TJH]

Taylor solidbodies

First Collings, and now Taylor – makers of great acoustic guitars are producing what appear to be great solidbody electric guitars.

I don’t have all the details, but there seem to be three models. They have single-cut bodies, newly-designed, proprietary pickups, an aluminum bridge, proprietary neck joint, and unique switching capabilities.

Taylor is creating a dedicated web site for these, but it’s not up yet. They’re taking the guitars on the road, though; you can check the Road Show calendar at the regular Taylor site, here.

[TJH]

Free stuff

From Modern Guitars:

“Modern Guitars magazine has five copies of Guitar Pro 5.1 (the complete boxed version) from eMedia to giveaway to five lucky readers on October 16, 2007. Guitar Pro 5.1, a complete workshop for guitarists, is known as the most powerful and intuitive tablature editor on the market. New advanced notation features add drum notation, vocal notation and tablature support for any stringed instrument with four to seven strings... Guitar Pro 5.1 features the newest in playback technology including RSE-Realistic Sound Engine. RSE gives you real time playback of your scores with realistic sound samples taken from high quality guitars and real time effects such as wah-wah...”

The site offers test-drive versions for PCs and Macs.  You have to enter by October 15 (once per person); the other 4 winners (besides me) will be chosen on October 16.

[TJH]

Powertune

Gibson has come out with self-tuning guitars:

“The Powertune System, available as original equipment only on Gibson guitars, is the first fully functional, performance-ready, and non-obtrusive automated tuning system, and the only self-tuning system practical for use by the professional guitarist. It is operated solely from the guitar, with no external connections or interface from a third-party device, and no need to move your busy fingers from the guitar strings and controls they are already manipulating in the course of your performance. Simply activate your guitar’s Master-Control Knob (MCK), strum the strings lightly, and within seconds the Powertune’s digital brain and Powerhead tuners work together to put you perfectly in tune. Or to achieve any open or alternate tuning, rotate the MCK to the desired preset, strum, and you’re ready to play in Open E, Dropped D, Double Dropped D, DADGAD, Open G, Hendrix Tuning (half-step down), or any of your own custom tunings. In the time it takes you to say, “Hello, Cleveland—we think you’re gonna like this next one…” you’re back in tune, and ready to rock. No stomping on pedals, staring at the floor, or breaking eye contact with your audience, and your fretting hand doesn’t even have to touch a tuning key to get you there.”

I’m not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, why not? I’d certainly use it if I had it, although I don’t know how much extra I’d pay for it. On the other hand, in order to play a guitar you need to be able to tune a guitar, and I like that. I’d hate to see tuning evaporate the way reading music seems to be evaporating. It’s part of a growing tendency for people to believe that we should make things so easy that anybody can do anything, regardless of talent, training, education, practice or even the smallest amount of effort. (Karaoke, anyone? Guitar Hero?)

Fender has something similar on the market, and Transperformance has offered a 240-tuning system as a retrofit for a few years (not cheap, though.) There’s also a retrofit system called Tronical, which looks like the basis for the Gibson system.

[TJH]

PS: "Hendrix tuning"? Give me a break. Tuning down half a step doesn't require a name.

D'Addario Humidipak recall

D’Addario has issued a recall for its Humidipak:

“We have discovered that we have a potential defect as it relates to the film lining of the Humidipak packettes. Our testing has discovered that there is a possible risk that minor spotting of the Humidipak solution may become visible on the packette over time. This possible defect in the film lining is applicable to all Planet Waves Humidipak 2-way Humidity Control System products for fretted and bowed instruments…”

From what I’ve read, this is a fairly minor issue, judging by this answer from the FAQ:

Will the solution damage my instrument's finish?

Wood finished with lacquer or urethane is protected. Simply wipe the solution off of the wood with a dry cloth and clean spot with guitar polish to remove any residue.

Still, if you have one, visit the site to see if you need to have them replace it, and, while you’re there, have a look around – lots of useful info there.

[TJH]

More more more

Received this from Brian Wampler of indyguitarist.com. Brian is deeply into effects pedals and amp mods (and effects pedal mods), many of which are available through the web site. Brent Mason, in addition to being one of the world's most-recorded guitarists, is a frequent instructor at the National Guitar Workshop's Nashville campus.

Here's something I thought you might get a kick out of if you are a fan of Brent Mason or just monstrously huge pedalboards. I finished one up for Brent this past week and I wanted to show you some pictures. It’s huge! 24" by 48" wide complete with a custom case by Stompin' Ground Cases. Here is the pedal order:

guitar - custom hifi buffer - tremolo - microvibe - keeley compressor - dynamic wah - vox wah - tubescreamer - sparkledrive - zendrive - BB preamp - RC preamp - EQ - Katana boost - Mk4.2.3 volume boost - Boss Volume Pedal - Small Stone phaser - Boss Chorus - Rotosim Leslie Simulator - Line 6 DL4 Delay

The huge true bypass box has 20 individual true bypass loops and 3 stereo true bypass loops. It has the buffer built into it as well so it is always on.

So, Brian, I have two questions:

            - who carries it?

            - who changes all the batteries?

[TJH]

Free good stuff

Once again D’Addario is opening the vault doors and offering free stuff to some lucky person. If you’d like to stand in line behind me as the probable Grand Prize winner of:

• An Ibanez JS1200 Joe Satriani Signature Guitar (autographed by Joe Satriani);
• a Planet Waves Strap (autographed by Joe Satriani);
• ten (10) sets of D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings;
• a Planet Waves Pedal Tuner;
• five (5) Planet Waves Joe Satriani Straps;
• a Planet Waves Chrome Dome Pick System;
• a Planet Waves Pro Winder; and
• a collection of Joe Satriani compact discs, including an autographed "Surfing With The Alien 20th Anniversary" deluxe 2-disc edition,

then surf on over (with or without the Alien) and enter your name and e-mail. I’m going to do it every day, as D’Addario makes clear is OK with them, but you don’t have to, since I’m going to win anyway.

If you’re interested in First Prize, rather than Grand Prize (they probably won’t let me win both, so you might as well try for it), it consists of:

• Ten (10) sets of D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings;
• a Planet Waves Joe Satriani Strap;
• a Planet Waves Chrome Dome Pick System;
• a Planet Waves Pro Winder; and
• a collection of Joe Satriani compact discs, including an autographed "Surfing With The Alien 20th Anniversary" deluxe 2-disc edition.

I’m not sure what D’Addario is thinking, giving away six guitar straps and one guitar. Now, when I win, I’m going to have to buy some more guitars.

[TJH]

Where's my Powerball ticket?

The guys at Fretboard Journal apparently either have a travel budget or live in Austin. One way or another, they hit the Summer NAMM show and brought back some interesting tidbits about new electric guitars from Collings, Fender (J Mascis and Joe Strummer models) and PRS. There’s also a bit about Composite Acoustics hanging one of their carbon fiber guitars in a working shower, with no ill effects – try that with your D-45.

The new Collings guitars seem to be ES-335 inspired (the I-35), Les Paul inspired (the City Limits), and Les Paul Junior inspired (the 290). Pickups are by Jason Lollar. The photos I've seen are gorgeous. No word on price, but they won't be cheap. I’ll take two of each.

[TJH]

Best flatpicking

Flatpicking Guitar Magazine has just released the "Best of the First Ten Years" on four CD-Roms. The compilations include articles published from November/December 1996 (Volume 1, Number 1) through September/October 2006 (Volume 10, Number 6). The discs include:

Volume One: Cover Story Articles: every cover story article that was published during FGM's first ten years, including the transcriptions and tabs. 

Volume Two: Guitar Builder Articles: fifty Guitar Builder articles, plus 14 guitar reviews and 11 articles about guitar building by Don Gallagher. 

Volume Three: Rhythm Guitar Articles: includes 90 rhythm guitar articles (with tabs) and 29 interviews with rhythm guitar players.

Volume Four: Editor's Pick Song Transcriptions: includes 147 song transcriptions.

All are available through FGMs's web site, www.flatpick.com

[TJH]