027 - My Favorite Guitar Player's Multi Tool

May this Acoustic Tuesday find you reflecting back on a month of guitar progress, acoustic discoveries, and positive momentum that continues to march forward... well... right into the month of March.

Acoustic Tuesday presented by http://tonysacousticchallenge.com 

Five acoustic discoveries are on the menu today so let's skip the appetizers and devour the main course. 

Fingerpicks are one of those necessary evils for certain styles. If you are seeking a certain level of cut and clarity while finger picking your guitar or are a banjo player that likes to cross over, finger picks are just part of the deal. The thing that stinks is that they can be very very uncomfortable. That's where Guptill Music comes in with their wonderful fingerpick brand, Pro-Pik. Pro-Piks come in a huge variety of styles and sizes to make sure you get the right tone and fit that you need. I particularly like the brass number 3 split band models for their comfort and warmer tone, but there are so many options to pick from and the cool thing is that they even offer specifically sized small picks for children or players with really tiny fingers. This really only scratches the surface, you have to check out the full line to really see just how vast the offering is from these folks. 

https://www.guptillmusic.com/

https://www.guptillmusic.com/propik-ec-split-wrap-finger-picks/

Now let's check out some guitars from over the pond for you to ponder... I have to start this with a bit of a disclaimer and that is this: I am a traditionalist and I like guitars made of wood... That being said I understand and see the uses for carbon fibre instruments. I have never played a carbon fibre instrument that really resonates; I'm talking top and back. I love the feeling when you strum a chord and it's as if the guitar kicks you in the belly. I was surprised to find this feeling from a carbon fiber instrument, particularly the Emerald Guitars X20 Woody Select Series. I was dumbfounded at how much the guitar sang and how much projection it had. It has a very clear and focused tone and it very freely offered volume. I recently reviewed that model so make sure to check out the full review to really hear it, and if you like wood guitars I think you will be surprised at its tone, I know that I was. 

 

Click here to watch the review

http://emeraldguitars.com/

http://emeraldguitars.com/guitar-galleries/?v=7516fd43adaa

This week I am listening to a band named after a raccoon. Mapache, Spanish for "raccoon" is a band that you will no doubt love if you gravitate towards duos, warm harmonies, and beautiful guitar interplay. Mapache is made up of Clay Finch and Sam Blasucci and together they conjure up a sound that resembles bands like The Byrds, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Grateful Dead (think "American Beauty" and "Workingman's Dead"). Their voices mix together so well as do their guitars. One guitar is a resonator, and the other seems to be a Martin D18V or something along those lines. This is a duo that I discovered after seeing them open at a local show and I was completely floored by the music that I heard. Essentially I rushed to their merch stand to get their album immediately after they got off stage. I urge you to dig into their album as well.  

https://youtu.be/XeqEbH6zk10 - "In the Morning Light"

https://youtu.be/6k_sdiulSIE - "Chico River'

https://youtu.be/fyhuAqYDoIQ - "Loretta"

http://amzn.to/2CdHZ8r - Self Titled Album

https://mapachesounds.bandcamp.com/

If you could only have one guitar tool on a desert island, what would it be? For me it would be the Daddario/Planet Waves Pro-Winder, and I would recommend you consider this for your desert island tool as well. This thing is an unassuming accessory that has saved my butt on numerous occasions. Usually, when you change strings you need the winder and the wire cutters, which is no big deal at home, but when you need them both in a pinch often times one goes missing. The pro winder is a string winder, but it has the string cutter built in, and it actually works... it cuts the string! It's not just an object shaped like a wire cutter, it does the job very well. So be sure to check these out if you have never seen them before. If you get one make sure to keep it in your case or gig bag... it will definitely save you in a bind. 

http://amzn.to/2nVbHL6 - Planet Waves Pro Winder

http://www.planetwaves.com/pwProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=4115&productid=551&productname=Pro_Winder_Guitar

The acoustic instrument hot spot, Elderly instruments, in Lansing, Michigan is in a class all by itself. This is the type of shop that you can go to and walk out having learned a ton of new information, and not only is this typical in their physical store it's also an experience you can have on their website. Elderly really has it all... if you are looking for something, anything acoustic I can assure you they have it, and if they don't they can likely get it. Elderly has quite the depth when it comes to acoustic guitars, both vintage and new. The great thing about these folks is that not only do they stock a ton of instruments... their knowledge is vast and wide-ranging when it comes to all things acoustic. Make sure to check out their site for acoustic instruments, accessories and two of my favorite parts: the vintage web vault, and the collectible ephemera section. Tons of treasures await, and like I said you will no doubt learn something surfing their site or talking to them on the phone. Happy guitar shopping!!!
 
https://www.elderly.com

https://www.elderly.com/vintage/web-vault

https://www.elderly.com/catalog/category/view/id/575

This Acoustic Tuesday just crossed the finish line hands waving in the air and a smile on it's face. 

Thanks to you #guitargeek for making Acoustic Tuesday what it is. Until next week stay in tune and keep on time.

Cheers,
Tony