039 - Is this the BEST entry level guitar?

Salutations guitar geek, may this fine Acoustic Tuesday cast plenty of pleasantries your way!

Acoustic Tuesday presented by http://tonysacousticchallenge.com

Another volume of Acoustic Tuesday is here and with it comes your weekly helping of acoustic guitar goodness.

This week another 5 guitar geek items are presented on a silver platter for your enjoyment.

-Jeffrey Foucalt -

I am so happy about the news that I just received... yet another Acoustic Tuesday artist is releasing a brand new album, and I heard this one in entirety and it is a beautiful piece of work.

Jeffrey Foucalt is set to release his newest album Blood Brothers on June 22, 2018, and I will just say that you need to pre-order it. Plain and simple, this album contains some gorgeously crafted songs. Jeffrey's writing on Blood Brothers is open, honest, and truly touching. This is the type of album that you just keep flipping in an effort to make sure it never ends. The cast of characters playing on the album treats the songs so incredibly well, playing with taste and a high level of reverence for the songs and their lyrics.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to receive my pre-ordered, signed, vinyl copy of this new album. You should be excited as well because you can pre-order yours too by visiting Jeffrey's Pledge Music page. There are a gaggle of great options available on that page from preordering the album, access to some live show material, and even getting a private show with Jeffrey.

One more thing that makes me love this project even more... this quote from Jeffrey's pledge music page:

"I don’t care about being famous, and if I did I would have made other decisions in my life until now. I want to make enough money to write songs, make records, tour behind them, and pay everyone fairly along the way. I believe in music, and what it’s meant in my life, and I want the music I make to mean something in the lives of other people."

That right there is a project I can get behind.

https://youtu.be/M1Eqp53o8uk

https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/bloodbrothers

https://amzn.to/2whQ7XK

https://jeffreyfoucault.com/news

https://jeffreyfoucault.com/tour/

-Blueridge Guitars-

The question of what is the best entry level guitar has been posed to me many times before, and I wish I had one I could go to as the end all be all, but the truth of the matter is that there are a whole bunch of really exceptional entry and mid-level guitars out there. So which ones should you consider?

It would be hard to pick just one, but if I had to I would say that one brand, in particular, would be a phenomenal starting place. Blueridge Guitars made by Saga Musical Instruments has some truly fantastic instruments and they come in at some unbelievable price points.

Usually, I would just isolate one guitar from a lineup, but in this case, I have to say that across the board Blueridge makes some very good sounding and nicely priced instruments. Both the Historic Series and the Contemporary Series by Blueridge are major home runs.

These models take their aesthetics from iconic guitars which is what initially caught my attention. While working in Chicago, I had the privilege of playing the BR43, BR40, BR63, BR60, BR143, BR140, BR163, BR160, amongst others. I have to say these instruments are well made, look the part, and most importantly sound good. Not only did I have the chance to play each of these models, I got to play a ton of each of them so I feel commenting on their consistency is very relevant here.

Whether you are looking for an intermediate level guitar for your guitarsenal or you are seeking out a second guitar that you can modify or use on camping trips I would certainly consider Blueridge. The amount of these guitars that I have seen at bluegrass festivals alone says a ton about their sound.

http://www.sagamusic.com/products/show-guitars.aspx?brand=blueridge

https://youtu.be/wWAdpDb0ocw BR143 Demo

https://youtu.be/QcCpqwG-tfo BR60 Review

https://youtu.be/AM2_Ow3oVh0 BR40 Review

https://youtu.be/kZQcNfiGWME BR160 Review

https://amzn.to/2KKaW1d - BR40

https://amzn.to/2rrmxcK - BR43

https://amzn.to/2rtqTA7 - BR60

https://amzn.to/2HVM6xC - BR63

https://amzn.to/2KHCZyp - BR140

https://amzn.to/2KHCZyp - BR143

https://amzn.to/2rpXSFF - BR160

https://amzn.to/2KKLc50 - BR163

-Molly Tuttle-

This week's artist is no stranger to Acoustic Tuesday, but there has never been an official artist feature on her. That changes this week...

She flatpicks with surgical precision, her phrasing is unique, and she sings with a magical voice. Her original tunes are crafted with expertise and the musicality she brings to every situation is her superpower.

Molly Tuttle has been on Acoustic Tuesday roughly 4 times and now she officially has an artist feature. This is long overdue because Molly is one of the top modern flatpickers that I have ever heard.

Molly has a knack for finding space and letting a tune breathe all the while balancing her high-level flatpicking ability. She is the type of picker that never seems to overplay; she plays what's right when it's right... nothing more and nothing less.

Watching her play is a master class in pick hand control and economy of motion. She picks with ease, although what comes out of her guitar does not sound easy... she just makes it look that way.

Molly is most associated with the acoustic guitar but she is an outstanding banjo player as well. In fact, she often brings the old-time clawhammer style of banjo to her guitar which can be heard on the song "Save This Heart" from her EP "Rise."

The bottom line is: if you like amazing flatpicking, incredible tone, an outstanding voice, and appreciate original music. Molly's new EP is one for you. If you are looking for a flatpicker that will make you think differently about bluegrass guitar you very much need to know of Molly.

https://www.mollytuttlemusic.com/

https://www.mollytuttlemusic.com/tour

https://www.mollytuttlemusic.com/store

https://amzn.to/2rsttGD

https://amzn.to/2I4955K

https://amzn.to/2rsWZw1

https://youtu.be/OezjWN44Ejc

https://youtu.be/DJY5RjuHHDY

https://youtu.be/lLlkKMg_Vaw

https://youtu.be/y9uLjD76vsA

-Dunlop Flow Picks-

Guitar picks... our best friend and arch nemesis. There are so many how do we know when to stop searching for the right one... The answer is never...

That search for the perfect pick is what brought me to this wonderful little gem. This beautiful green colored Ultex beauty has made my guitars scream with joy. I am referring to the new Dunlop Flow picks.

These picks have a comfy feel and even a subtle grip to them beyond the normal grippy feel of Ultex. What I noticed about these picks is that they are close to the Primetone picks but without the bevel. They come in a fatter shape that allows for a bit more control with the thumb, a huge bonus.

Overall I was very pleased with the tone produced by these picks. The notes are fat and warm, and the polished edge allows for a nice smooth release of the string. I experienced that the picks actually felt a touch faster than my standard Ultex picks. This may be in part due to that polished edge, but I also feel that it could be attributed to the shape of the pick and the extra control it seemed to offer.

These picks won't halt the perfect pick journey, but they may very well keep me occupied for a spell. My standard Ultex picks seem to be getting just a little jealous of the new Flow picks. I will have to keep you posted on how they cohabit in the pick box.

https://www.jimdunlop.com/product/549p100-7-10137-10861-5.do?sortby=ourPicks

https://www.jimdunlop.com/product/547p200-7-10137-10840-0.do?sortby=ourPicks&refType=1&ecList=1&ecCategory=

https://youtu.be/KY3BxSbky6o

-Gryphon Strings -

There are some amazing acoustic guitar shops in the US, but one has two figures that are largely responsible for what we know about the history of guitars, and how we fix them...

Back in 1969, Frank Ford and Richard Johnston started Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, CA. Those names might sound familiar and if they don't then take this as your introduction to two of the most amazing guitar geeks out there. Frank Ford runs the repair shop at Gryphon and he is a repair wizard of sorts, and Richard not only runs the retail shop, he also writes for industry magazines and guests on PBS' Antiques Roadshow as their instrument specialist.

The shop that these two founded and still are a part of is incomparable. They feature new instruments from some of today's top makers as well as a very wonderful assortment of vintage instruments. The selection of instruments that they offer is vast, but it is more than just a shop.

Want lessons? Gryphon does it.
Concerts? Gryphon does it.
Workshops? Yep, Gryphon does it.
Appraisals? Yes indeed, Gryphon does it.
Super informative and beneficial news? ...Sure thing, Gryphon does that too!

In fact, the news section of their website is one that should be checked out by every guitar geek. Particularly the article on how heat in a car can damage your acoustic guitar... beware if you look at that article there are some very graphic images.

All in all, Gryphon Stringed Instruments is a shop for guitar geeks by guitar geeks, and by the looks of what they are up to they do an amazing job of uniting guitar geeks as well.

https://shop.gryphonstrings.com/

https://www.gryphonstrings.com/the-history/

https://www.gryphonstrings.com/news/

https://www.gryphonstrings.com/hot-guitar-car/

https://www.gryphonstrings.com/events/

https://www.gryphonstrings.com/appraisals/

The warm breeze that is Acoustic Tuesday is done shaking the leaves on guitar geek trees for this week.

Alas, don't fear it will only be one more week until the next Acoustic Tuesday is here.

Until then check out those guitar geek items and live your best Acoustic Life!!!

Cheers,
Tony