Keeping Up With The Johnsons

Unboxing the Gibson Robert Johnson L-1

Most of my post on this blog have been about guitars and stuff that had
recently come into my possession, and this one is no different. But instead
of a “review” after having used the kit for a few days, this time I waited
for much longer to make up my mind about it. As is fit if the gear in
question is Gibson’s L-1 Robert Johnson signature Blues guitar. You know the
man: enigmatic Bluesman

It Goes A Long Way…

… towards a versatile amplified guitar!

Last Sunday was a fun day. Europe’s largest online music store had it’s annual summer party in the little village in Franken where this family-owned business is still situated (one would not be amiss to say that Treppendorf is an annex to the Thomann warehouses!). It was cool event with nuclear-level Blasmusik followed by gigs of different groups on the wickedly nifty stage in a large beer tent. Plus workshops and tours through the impressive warehouses. I’ll have more to post on that event on my other ‘blog shortly, when I’ve developped the film.

Double the Strings and the Tone

As I get freer to express myself musically, I’m leaning more and more towards acoustic guitars.

DIY Neckstrap for the Martin

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I was wondering how to attach a guitar strap to the Martin HD-28 securely and removably.

Spruce and Rosewood vs. Mahogany

My son (the real musician in the family) fretting out the "A Hard Day's Night" chord on the Martin HD-28

Buying and selling guitars has become part of my quest for guitar proficiency and the unattainable “right” tone.

The Takamine Terror Treatment

If a thing is too good to be true it probably isn’t.
Likewise with the Takamine G460S whose acquisition I related in the previous post. Played with a plectrum and with emphasis, there was a nasty buzz on the treble strings. Intermittent, and it wasn’t fret buzz.

Epiphone Les Paul Ultra III

Very colorful, isn't it?

Santa has been good this year. I was getting more and more into Les Pauls this year,

You Say Mahogany, And I Say Mahagoni …

… but let's not call the whole thing off.

Bass… I like it so much I have a special stompbox on my pedalboard to emphasize it (Electro-Harmonix’ The Mole).
And I like Martin guitars. Playing electric guitars seems to have spoiled me. On an acoustic concert guitar, I found the high action difficult to get used to. But Martin’s steel string guitars have a much lower action and even their affordable models with parts made from laminate wood sound great.
So, when I chanced upon a combination of the two in a store in Lübeck, it proved irresistible. A all-mahogony Martin D15 dreadnought. It has a well grounded tone that in a band context would make a good rhythm foundation.
Played solo, it has two personalities. Fingerpicking yields a deep, resonant hum, as if a contented crowd of tomcats purred a melody. Strumming chords with a pick (I like orange, 0.6 mm Dunlop Tortex ones) elicts a deep, almost-but-not-quite boomimg voice. High notes do come through, but you want to listen to the bass.
And like all acoustic guitars I’ve had, It shows up errors in playing mercilessly. Frets are low and you’ll have to get your fingers close to them to avoid string buzz. Likewise, you will hear even a bit of damping of adjacent strings, something that you’d strum right through on an electric. So, a Martin is a great teacher for proper technique.

P.S.: Oh, about the title. Isn’t it funny that the German name for this wood is so incrementally different from the English? As long as no one says mohagony …

On the Road with Messrs. Schmidt and Thomann

What I did on my weekend ...

As often crops up on my other ‘blog, I’m an avid cyclist with a history of long exploits on the road bike. Right now, I’m building up (or down, weight-wise) from a period of relative inactivity.
The last two days have seen me on the road combining two of my passions and generating that incomplete GPS track that makes up the lead photo. The idea, as is so often the case, came from a simple suggestion. I had told my daughter I might visit Thomann’s music store to have a look at some acoustic guitars. Whereupon she replied: “Aw, that takes three hours to drive there, don’t waste the gas!”

Jammin’ With My Bro’

Lucille and a small selection of gear at my parent's place. One thing is conspicuously missing: a real amp. Should've brought one.

Over Easter, I’m at my parent’s place and my brother is here, too.
He brought his rather striking, acoustic french concert guitar. Yesterday evening, we had our first practice session together.