We had a great time at the store last Saturday when co-owner Jim Baggett hosted our first ‘Appraisal Day’. It was a lot of fun, very informative and folks brought in some great instruments for Jim to check out. Thanks to our own Brian S. for the photos:
Very cool vintage Gibson Mando
Unique Gibson Style O in a sunburst finish!
Late '60s Telecaster...very, very cool!
Here’s what we’ve been eyeballin’ around the store lately!
John Flynn - Anthology Straps
Like an ultra fine baseball mitt - only gets better with age. If you’re fond of finer things, these are the best.
AND
Dr. Z Prescription ES & Dr. Z Prescription Jr Strength - The most dynamic, touch sensitive amps I have ever played. Going on 5 years now and I have not been tempted by any other amp.
Jim Baggett - ‘61 Gretsch Country Club 6196
Plays great and the color is really cool. Just saw It Might Get Loud at Liberty Hall….I’m thinking Jack White might like this one.
Beautiful vintage Gretsch
Mike Horan - Collings CWMA (Collings Winfield)
This is an exceptional dreadnought. It already has a played-in sound to it and responds real quickly to the flatpick. The thing sounds amazing.
The Collings Winfield - so good it made our silent shop manager speak
Brian Soden - Collings D2H
Over the years of working here, I’ve learned from our owner Jim that the best acoustic guitars will have a great, usable dynamic range. Meaning that if you play with dynamics, the guitar will respond to your playing tonally. He’s absolutely correct, and a prime example of his point is this Collings D2H. Just like your favorite vocalists…the character, charm and emotions of their singing is a huge part of why we like their voice and that a lot of that comes through with dynamics and volume control. This Colllings D2H in particular has an incredible, dynamic voice. When Lyle Lovett sat down with Guy Clark to play an acoustic gig at the Ryman (I was there!), he grabbed a Collings. It just makes sense to couple one great voice with another, right?!
Collings D2H
Kurt Morrow - Ernie Ball Stingray 4 Bass
If you are a bassist and you are lookin’ to get the funk out a la Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson, then this is the ticket. Along with many other funk-meister bassists from the ’70s, this Stingray is a must-have - big, phat, solid sound, and versatile enough for any style of music.
EB Stingray Bass
Eric Mardis - Ernie Ball 2008 Ltd. Petrucci
A great deal on a used and seriously killer guitar.
Anyone surprised Eric picked a Petrucci? No...didn't think so.
Matt Christenot - Dr. Z Maz 18 Jr NR
If you’ve ever thought about going boutique but didn’t think you could afford it then I highly commend this amp. It looks great and sounds great. I like it enough to own one, and I’m around great amps all day long.
This 'Junior' packs a wallop
Isaac Flynn - Dr. Z Mazerati GT Head
I love the simplicity of it. Just plug and play! With only two knobs, I can dial in my tone quickly, and I can make any adjustments in just a split second. Whenever I want to rock, this is the amp I go to.
The good doctor's Maz GT
Jason Jones - Fender Classic Players Black Dove Telecaster
A great new spin on a popular aesthetic, this guy lives somewhere in the line between the Fender feel and the Gibson sound. Great guitar!
Fender's new Black Dove!
Matthew Khomsi - Collings C10 Mahogany SS
The way Collings does their all Mahogany guitars is unlike any other company I have seen. They sound better, and look better. The short scale on this guitar in particular makes it a joy to play.
This C10 is going to make someone very happy
Anne Tangeman - Collings C10 Mahogany SS
I have to second that emotion. This is a special guitar. Structurally, it’s a freakin’ work of art - haircut headstock, binding, just killer details, and built for a lifetime, but this is not something you’ll save for special occasions. You won’t want to put it down at all. It just sounds rich and deep and, I think, is pretty much as good as it gets.
You’re invited to a very special evening! Whether you’re a longtime customer or just recently discovered us, we appreciate your support this past year. Please mark your calendars and join us Thursday, December 10, from 7pm - 9pm at our store at 1347 Mass. Street in Lawrence, for our Customer Appreciation Sale! We are not advertising this sale at all - just telling those who have signed up on our mailing list and our faithful blog readers.
We will have storewide discounts on select merchandise, plus one-night only special deals available exclusively to you. We’ll also be giving away special prizes, including one very cool grand prize!
Whether you’re looking for some great deals or just window shopping, please stop by and say hello. We’ll have live music, beer, wine, soft drinks and something to nosh on. Hope you can join us!
Bring your musical instruments - or just yourself - for a fun (and free) day of informal verbal appraisals/evaluations and informative historical info on instruments this Saturday, November 7, from 10am to 2pm. Our co-owner, Jim Baggett, a regular contributor to the great PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, will be giving free verbal instrument appraisals. Whether you’ve got an instrument or not, it will be an entertaining and instructional time as Jim talks about what makes an instrument ‘vintage’ rather than just ‘old’. He’ll have a few unique instruments on hand as well to show.
We won’t be offering written appraisals on this day, but arrangements can be made for another time. (Note: Due to Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no ‘last Sat.’ Elbow Room workshop in Nov. - this is it!)
We just wanted to share with you the unbelievable quilt wood that Collings is using to craft us another of their outstanding I-35 guitars. Flynn’s take…”this is a 10+, incredible”. Can’t wait to see the finished guitar. Check out Flynn’s review of our last I-35 for more info on this model.
Quilt I-35 - comin' soon
When anyone is asked about George Winston, the majority of folks may respond that they know Winston for his beautiful and unique piano music and extensive knowledge of the form. In truth, he’s also an incredibly accomplished guitarist as well as a harmonica player - and quite an authority on Hawaiian Slack Key playing. We were lucky enough to do a Take 5 interview with George in anticipation of his benefit solo guitar concert on Friday, October 30th at Unity Temple on the Plaza in Kansas City. Details of the upcoming concert follow the interview.
1. Some people might be surprised to know you’ve been such an active advocate for Hawaiian Slack Key music with your Dancing Cat Records label for over 21 years. I have several of the discs and didn’t realize you were the man behind the label! How did a pianist become such a Slack Key fan as to start a label?
GEORGE: Actually I am a solo instrumental player on the guitar and the harmonica as well as the piano. Many of the great Hawaiian Slack Key guitarists are influences and inspirations to my own playing, and about 40% of what I play on solo guitar is Hawaiian. I started the label to record much more of the music of these great players.
2. Has your interest in Slack Key influenced your playing of other instruments from acoustic guitar to piano and harmonica?
GEORGE: Very minimal on the piano and harmonica as far as a direct influence, but inspiring for everything I play.
3. You play an unusual Martin D-35 - can you tell us about that and why you had it modified as you have?
GEORGE: I play almost everything in Open G Major (C)-D-G-D-G-B-D from lowest › Continue reading