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SoloDallas and The Schaffer Replica SoloDallas created the Schaffer Replica because of his great love for the tone and sound of AC/DC. Thanks to an Italian acolyte of AC/DC we now have access to one of the secret ingredients used in mid-70s/80s classic rock. Turns out an early wireless system (using frequencies subsequently commandeered for cell phones) was doing a lot of the work. It may be …

Best Acoustic Guitar Brands Although taste is ultimately subjective, we strive to carry the “best acoustic guitar brands” at Midwood Guitar Studio. The guitar brands that we carry are a reflection of our values and extensive knowledge—if we don’t stand behind it, we don’t sell it. No matter what kind of player you are, we want to find you the perfect guitar for your p …

In March 2020, everything changed. An imminent global pandemic crashed the stock market and cast a dark shadow over the rest of the year. We were fearful for our lives and livelihoods. Small businesses across the country were forced to close indefinitely. The early days of the lockdown were some of the worst.  The ambiguity of the situation sent many of us into a panic. For those of us who h …

How Budget Brands Shaped Guitar Culture In the early to mid 20th-century, America fell in love with the guitar. It started with the ukuleles and lap-steels that were built to capitalize on the Hawaiian music craze of the 1910s, and developed into a distinct culture of stringed instrument manufacturing. While companies like Gibson and Martin had deep roots and high price tags, other brands, many of …

Paul Reed Smith started out as a shop class whiz and part-time guitar slinger with a dream of creating a 6-string that boldly positioned itself between the two giants of the industry: Fender and Gibson. The History of PRS Guitars During the 1980s, the two major guitar manufacturers in America were Fender and Gibson, each a household name and their own reputations. During the mid 80s, however, they …

Established in Chicago in 1892, the Harmony musical brand produced consistent and affordable instruments of all kinds throughout the better part of the 20th century. The artists who learned to pick on Harmony guitars are legion, including Howlin Wolf, Elvis, Keith Richards, Syd Barrett, Big Joe Williams, and many others. In 1916, Harmony was acquired by Sears, Roebuck, an Co., which greatly i …

History of Magnatone Amps Long before it was known as  Magnatone amps, the Dickerson Musical Instrument Company was founded in the 1930s and largely catered to the still-burning Hawaiian steel guitar boom that started around the turn of the century. In 1946, it was acquired by Art Duhamell who changed the name to the Magna Electronics Company, and began building Magnatone guitar amps. Ma …

As most humans are only capable of producing one note simultaneously, it’s safe to say that monophonic music came first. Over time, melodic threads were combined, creating the sort of sonic tapestry that can still be heard in isolated villages of Eastern Europe, and deep in the heart of the Ituri forest of the Congo. The throat singers of the Asian steppes succeeded in mapping the overtone s …

Larrivee Guitars are known around the world for their uncompromising quality, beautiful, all solid wood bodies, and attention to detail. No matter which Larivee guitar model you choose, you can be sure that it was crafted with the finest materials possible. Their X-Brace and Scalloped Hybrid bracing systems offer unique tones, allowing you to choose the model that best suits your playstyle Shop La …