Jim Wilson

Oh no!!! Not a banjo!!!

I generally work solo. But occasionally work with a second guitarist. I've recently heard a version of the song that uses two guitars and a slap bass. Pretty cool.

Ian Tyson's "Red Velvet"....with its key change in the middle.

Fishman acoustic amps are hard to beat.

In the words of that great American Bugs Bunny, "WHAT A MAROON!"

I had the same thing happen to me...got some 80/20 bronze by mistake. Couldn't get back to my phosphorus bronze strings fast enough. Which just proves that you are right...and I am right. We all have a tone in mind for what an acoustic guitar is supposed to sound like. It is virtually impossible to really describe...but we know it when we hear it.

As I mentioned on the other post, Ramblin' Jack is quite the character. He is also a very under-appreciated guitarist. Quite the picker, actually.

I have opened for Ramblin' Jack Elliott on three different occasions. On one, I had to give him a guitar pick....he didn't have one. On another, I had to loan him my guitar. And on the third, I had to loan him my capo. What an absolute character!!!

I'm playing my 2008 J45....relearning Ian Tyson's "Red Velvet."

I think that people try to describe the sound they like...but with little success. We all have a sound in our head that is what an acoustic guitar should be like...and most are different. That's why there are so many pickups.

Even when playing regularly, the calluses on the fingers of my left hand start to peel off. It helps if I take an emery board and sand them down a bit. Does this happen to anyone else? What do you do, if anything, to preserve and protect the calluses?

It' nice when everything comes together like that, isn't it?

I got the lesson a number of years ago. We were in the studio doing some recording when a guy came in with the sorriest looking old Guild dreadnaught I'd ever seen. When he played the first note I liked to have pulled a neck muscle doing a double take.

I've been noticing various guitar ads on the internet - not just Gibsons - and not just acoustics. It appears that a lot of folks must be drawn to a certain guitar because of how it looks instead of how it sounds. Of course, veteran pickers know better, but the guitar companies and the music stores seem to think that looks is what sells a guitar. What say you folks?

I have to agree with some of the others...I think you are over-thinking the whole thing. Those who successfully mic their guitars (Gillian Welch for one) spend quite a bit of time at sound check getting things just right...like an hour or better. You will be far more successful with an onboard pickup of some kind ( I like the K&K Pure Mini), a good preamp, and a good acoustic guitar amp. Most of the time, when we play out, we plug into whatever house system is available. This is especially true at Open Mic events. I have the Fishman Loudbox Professional acoustic amp, but use it only about 1/3 of the time on the road. The rest of the time I am plugged into a house system. However, I get a lot of use out of the Fishman amp at home...rehearsing.

WOW!

I have had good luck with Carter Vintage Guitars, in Nashville, and Wildwood Guitars in Colorado.

I think when we play out with our guitars they are just going to get some dings, bumps, and hickey-booboos. I try to keep mine wiped off and protected without getting anal about it. And I wear a long-sleeved shirt when playing just to keep the finish from getting dull. Still, I cringe whenever I see a new bump or other indication of wear. I suppose it's just the cross we bear.

YAWN!!!

Or, some of you folks could just lighten up and accept the fact that not everyone agrees with you. It's not the end of the world and there is no need to run and hide. it's just life.

Let me be very clear about this....I listen to music to be entertained. While I am trying to enjoy music, I don't care to be preached to by the right or the left. They certainly have a right to free speech...and I will exercise my right to free speech by getting up and walking out of the concert. I really appreciate those who just shut up and sing.

Paul14....I couldn't agree more!

STEVENDV...At no time did I say that "SHUT UP AND SING" should be the law. Methinks you are getting a little silly. Forgive me for having an opinion that appears to differ from yours...I thought I lived in America. Please give me a list of your most important opinions and I will give some thought to not violating them in the future. GEEZ!!!

"SHUT UP AND SING" is a good policy for entertainers to follow.

I play mostly out on the road. When I get home, I don't do anything serious with my guitar for a week or two, of I can afford the time, except to maybe mess with a new song or two. Then, about 2 weeks before I go back out, I get serious again. The time off seems to make everything refreshed.