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Acoustic Amplification: When and How to Plug In At some point in every acoustic guitarist’s journey (these days, often immediately), they will start weighing  amplification options. Although we may have been attracted to the instrument due to its intimacy, our current cultural context begs that it be rendered louder. Suddenly, we’re confronted with a myriad of “pickup” options that confou …

Hosting a wide variety of Gretsch Guitars Gretsch Guitars were Founded in the 1880s by a German immigrant, and the company initially focused on drums and tambourines. They began producing guitars in the 1930s and quickly gained a reputation for the production of quality 6-strings. It was in the 1950s, however, under the leadership of Fred Gretsch Jr. (great grandson of the founder, Friedrich …

Taylor and the 21st Century Guitar Taylor is largely responsible for the development of the modern acoustic guitar. Since the mid-70s, they have been crafting innovative instruments that address many of the issues players have been navigating since the dawn of the steel string. Whether it’s their  “NT” bolt-on necks, which offer an unprecedented amount of adjustability …

Virtues of the Straight Brace | Midwood Guitar Studio The ideal “voicing” for a guitar is highly subjective. The wood and the luthier fall into a deep conversation with the end goal of mutual self-expression. The scalloping of the braces on the top is often emphasized as one of the most important steps in defining an instruments sound. That said, sometimes the brace …

This One’s a Doozy! | Midwood Guitar a Charlotte NC Music Store The sensual curves and vibrant finishes of classic automobiles have always borne a strong influence on the aesthetics of electric guitars. Cars and guitars. It’s as if the cosmic symmetry of the universe aligned to ensure these two words rhymed. In the case of  Duesenberg, they literally adopted the name of an iconic …

Easy Chord Shapes in Alternative Tunings One of the great things about the guitar is its versatility. It can be employed as a lead, rhythm, or solo instrument. Players can decide between a myriad of body, wood, design, and electronic options. Much of the world’s music has already been arranged for it. These are all compelling virtues, but one of my favorite things about the guitar is that y …

Continuing a Legacy of Innovation Leo Fender first began building amps out of frustration with the quality of technology he was tasked to fix. He’d had success with the PA systems he’d constructed for local dance halls, and although his sign read “Radio Repair Shop”, more and more musicians were bringing their tube amps, “electrified” acoustics, and lap steels t …

Collings Guitars: A Standard in Excellence | Midwood Guitar Studio Bill Collings came from an engineering background and his meticulous attention to detail was unparalleled. He found a way to consistently produce exceptional, high-end instruments with the smallest possible difference from serial number to number. If you hear a D2H somewhere and decide to buy one online, you can be confident about …

The Wood Whisperer - Dana Bourgeois | Midwood Guitar Studio   Dana Bourgeois of  Bourgeois Guitars is perhaps the most significant luthier in the modern acoustic guitar renaissance. He effortlessly imbues tradition with innovation, consistently producing instruments that are both precise and unique. While many builders start with a specific design in mind, Dana begins by deeply cons …