Luthiers based in New Zealand:
LAURIE WILLIAMS GUITARS
http://www.guitars.co.nz/index.html
PADDY BURGIN - offers guitar making course
http://burginguitars.co.nz/
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
3/4 guitar...ooosh!
Borrowing a 3/4 guitar off my guitar buddy.
So wierd to play, I swear the frets keep changing position on me 'coz I keep bumming so many notes!
Very comfy to hold while playing but golly it sounds like I'm a terrible player, which is theoretically possible I guess -erg!
Plan from here is to go find a decent 3/4 in a shop and play it - then I'll know for sure if that's the way to go...
Considering a Taylor 900 series guitar - be pretty awesome if I can source one in New Zealand for a reasonable price.
Then there's that 12-string I've been offered...
Decisions...decisions - what will to do?
So wierd to play, I swear the frets keep changing position on me 'coz I keep bumming so many notes!
Very comfy to hold while playing but golly it sounds like I'm a terrible player, which is theoretically possible I guess -erg!
Plan from here is to go find a decent 3/4 in a shop and play it - then I'll know for sure if that's the way to go...
Considering a Taylor 900 series guitar - be pretty awesome if I can source one in New Zealand for a reasonable price.
Then there's that 12-string I've been offered...
Decisions...decisions - what will to do?
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
A 12-string Opportunity
Turns out my guitar buddy who trusted me with two of his 12-string guitars has offered to sell me his Yamaha APX-5-12A.
It's not a full size guitar, neither is it a 3/4; it's actually an inbetween and so comfy for me to play. Bonus that it's an acoustic electric with the built in pre-amp. Though I never did get around to trying it out connected to an amp when I borrowed it.
Top: Spruce
Back & Sides: Nato
Neck: Nato
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Rosewood
Body Depth: 80–90mm
(3-1/8"–3-9/16")
String Scale: 650mm (25-9/16")
Tuning Machines: Diecast Chrome
Preamp System: System 46
Color: Sand Burst (SDB)
His reason for selling? Apparently, the neck is too skinny for his liking and he prefer to play his 6-string (and he has another 12-string under his bed to fall back on if he gets bored again). Personally I like the neck width, it's great for my small hands and I can manage to bar all 12-strings - well most of the time.
I'm pretty keen to take it off his hands as it's not often I find a guitar that just feels so natural to play.
TBA on whether I go ahead on this one.
 |
It's not a full size guitar, neither is it a 3/4; it's actually an inbetween and so comfy for me to play. Bonus that it's an acoustic electric with the built in pre-amp. Though I never did get around to trying it out connected to an amp when I borrowed it.
Top: Spruce
Back & Sides: Nato
Neck: Nato
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Rosewood
Body Depth: 80–90mm
(3-1/8"–3-9/16")
String Scale: 650mm (25-9/16")
Tuning Machines: Diecast Chrome
Preamp System: System 46
Color: Sand Burst (SDB)
His reason for selling? Apparently, the neck is too skinny for his liking and he prefer to play his 6-string (and he has another 12-string under his bed to fall back on if he gets bored again). Personally I like the neck width, it's great for my small hands and I can manage to bar all 12-strings - well most of the time.
I'm pretty keen to take it off his hands as it's not often I find a guitar that just feels so natural to play.
TBA on whether I go ahead on this one.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Typical Useless-ness
My typical useless-ness strikes again...
So gave back the 12-string I was borrowing today; quite disappointed really, would have liked to play it more but the owner really did want it back although he'd never say that.
Naturally, just to continue on with my useless-ness, that amp never did get purchased and thatelectric guitar never did get purchased and I never did get to try out that borrowed 12-string on the amp as was the intention - no surprises there considering my useless-ness seemed to be in full force on this one.
Nevermind, I still have my Yamaha F310 to play around with, nothing fancy just something to potter away with. I've discovered that this hobby may have to take a back seat a little, so until further notice, I'm sinking back into one of those random, casual, sit on the back porch, 'play when I hve nothing better to do' guitarists.
Kinda sad really, I thought I was really motivated this time, turns out useless-ness has won this round!
So gave back the 12-string I was borrowing today; quite disappointed really, would have liked to play it more but the owner really did want it back although he'd never say that.
Naturally, just to continue on with my useless-ness, that amp never did get purchased and thatelectric guitar never did get purchased and I never did get to try out that borrowed 12-string on the amp as was the intention - no surprises there considering my useless-ness seemed to be in full force on this one.
Nevermind, I still have my Yamaha F310 to play around with, nothing fancy just something to potter away with. I've discovered that this hobby may have to take a back seat a little, so until further notice, I'm sinking back into one of those random, casual, sit on the back porch, 'play when I hve nothing better to do' guitarists.
Kinda sad really, I thought I was really motivated this time, turns out useless-ness has won this round!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Was Lost, Now Found, Still Lost
Random splurge time…
Amazingly I found my 0.73 mm pick, as usual in the most
unlikely place…in the middle of a roll of wallpaper – crazy! My purple pick is
still to be found.
Learning some random riffs like “More than words” by
Extreme, “More than a feeling” by Boston, “Nothing else matters” by Metallica…
As usual only bothered to learn part of the songs before I got bored and moved
on…one day I’ll get around to learning rest I guess, maybe.
Will return the 12-string currently occupying the guitar
stand to its rightful owner soon – I guess my neighbours will be happy to hear
less of me, (or unhappy as the unlikely case may be); haven’t managed to peeve
them off yet. Although I haven’t had any urges to play on high volume in the
middle of the night for a decade now.
Gargh – haven’t bought an amp yet, haven’t bought an electric
guitar yet, and haven’t decided what I actually want yet. Oh well, I'll think about it some more later...
Note: Gold digger flavoured ice cream is amazing.
End splurge.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Random Guitar Stuff - Just Websites and Things
WEBSITES
www.chordfind.com
Go here to find out how to play any chord. Covers most variations and special chords. If you're really clever you can use the variations chords to play songs easier (or harder). Sweet as and done.
www.originalguitarchair.com
Never used one but looks like it'd be nice. They probably won't ship one to me but I guess a stool is just as good. Kinda neat how it folds up and is hand made using hard woods.
http://justinguitar.com/
Free guitar lessons, tips and tricks. Shared to help everone learn guitar in return for voluntary donations from those who can afford to pay. This keeps the website going so everyone can enjoy. Nice concept.
THINGS
If you just want someone to show you real slowly how to play a quick riff of a well known song search youtube for vids loaded by martyzsongs. His genre is generally pop/rock/grunge/alternative/metal etc
www.chordfind.com
Go here to find out how to play any chord. Covers most variations and special chords. If you're really clever you can use the variations chords to play songs easier (or harder). Sweet as and done.
www.originalguitarchair.com
Never used one but looks like it'd be nice. They probably won't ship one to me but I guess a stool is just as good. Kinda neat how it folds up and is hand made using hard woods.
http://justinguitar.com/
Free guitar lessons, tips and tricks. Shared to help everone learn guitar in return for voluntary donations from those who can afford to pay. This keeps the website going so everyone can enjoy. Nice concept.
THINGS
If you just want someone to show you real slowly how to play a quick riff of a well known song search youtube for vids loaded by martyzsongs. His genre is generally pop/rock/grunge/alternative/metal etc
Sunday, April 29, 2012
The guitars I like
The list of guitars from which I'm considering buying
Acoustic Electric Guitars
Ovation Elite 2078AX (contour)
Ovation Adamas II 2081GT (contour)
Ovation Custom Elite C2078AX (contour)
Ovation Custom Legend C2079AX (contour)
Ovation Legend 2077AX (contour)
Ovation Balladeer 1771AX (midl)
Ovation Balladeer 1861AX (Shallow)
Ovation Balladeer 2771AX (contour)
Ovation Standard Elite 6868AX (shallow)
Ovation Standard Elite 2778AX (contour)
Takamine EG260C-BSB (FXC body)
Electric Guitars
Maton MS2000DLX
Maton BB1200
Maton BB1200 DLX
Maton BB1200JH
Maton MS500
Maton MS503
Acoustic Guitars
Taylor 900 series
Brook Lyn
Acoustic Electric Guitars
Ovation Elite 2078AX (contour)
Ovation Adamas II 2081GT (contour)
Ovation Custom Elite C2078AX (contour)
Ovation Custom Legend C2079AX (contour)
Ovation Legend 2077AX (contour)
Ovation Balladeer 1771AX (midl)
Ovation Balladeer 1861AX (Shallow)
Ovation Balladeer 2771AX (contour)
Ovation Standard Elite 6868AX (shallow)
Ovation Standard Elite 2778AX (contour)
Takamine EG260C-BSB (FXC body)
Electric Guitars
Maton MS2000DLX
Maton BB1200
Maton BB1200 DLX
Maton BB1200JH
Maton MS500
Maton MS503
Acoustic Guitars
Taylor 900 series
Brook Lyn
Amps
Short and sweet splurge.
Thinking of getting an acoustic electric amp, found out specific acoustic amps cover a wider frequency range than just purely specifc electric guitar amps. I'm thinking this means that although more pricy, an acoustic amp should be sweet for both.
Some guitarists reckon glass tube amps are the 'thing' to have - personally for the beginner/intermediate player such as myself, who cares, transistor amps are pretty good for the price and quality these days.
Looking at getting a practice amp. Although it would be amazing, getting a stack and head set is probably a little OTT for my needs and would be more like an amazingly stupid decision!
Here's my plan:
- Make sure an acoustic amp will be OK for aelectric guitars too
- Buy an electric guitar amp
- Test the 12 string acoustic electric I've borrowed on the amp for fun
- Buy a 6 string electric guitar
We'll see if this eventuates...
Thinking of getting an acoustic electric amp, found out specific acoustic amps cover a wider frequency range than just purely specifc electric guitar amps. I'm thinking this means that although more pricy, an acoustic amp should be sweet for both.
Some guitarists reckon glass tube amps are the 'thing' to have - personally for the beginner/intermediate player such as myself, who cares, transistor amps are pretty good for the price and quality these days.
Looking at getting a practice amp. Although it would be amazing, getting a stack and head set is probably a little OTT for my needs and would be more like an amazingly stupid decision!
Here's my plan:
- Make sure an acoustic amp will be OK for aelectric guitars too
- Buy an electric guitar amp
- Test the 12 string acoustic electric I've borrowed on the amp for fun
- Buy a 6 string electric guitar
We'll see if this eventuates...
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