Forging The Sound

For those of you buying your first guitar or simply buying a new one. I have been plagued by bad sounding guitars. Do you know why? Name Brands. Takamine, Fender, Simon & Patrick, Martin. Maybe that's why I've smashed them all

Now I'm not saying that Gibson, Fender and these others don't make some pretty well built machines but just because it says Fender or Gibson doesn't make it a heavenly body.

A long time ago, a friend of mine backpacked around British Columbia with a guitar that was dubbed 'The Beater'. It looked like shit, I'm not entirely sure that it played all that well but god damn if it didn't have the most intriguing sound that I've ever heard come out of a guitar. This is what I'm trying to say.

When most guitars are made, they aren't made on a line. The good ones get hand made. So they all have their different little imperfections that make up their unique sound. A sound that will be unique to you. And if you have a guitar whose sound you love, you will love music all the more.

When looking for a new guitar, forget the name you see on the headstock. Pick it up, play it and close your eyes and listen to that sound. Everyone wants a different sound, so it's impossible to tell you what a good guitar sounds like. It's individual but when you find one that speaks to you, you will feel it in your bones and the hair on your arms will stand up. Don't settle for a Simon and Patrick because the price is reasonable and most guitar shop owners will pawn them off on you because they sell so many of them. If that Simon and Patrick sounds good, then buy. But wait it out. Play them all. Play all of them you find until the owner tells you to get the hell out of the store because your bothering the customers.

The only ONLY guitar that I would tout as a perfect machine if you have 1400 to shell out is a Taylor. I've never heard a bad high end Taylor, I've heard a bad low end Taylor, but not a high end. Look into it. Look into all of them.