"Werewood" - Fact or Fantasy?

July 9, 2012

When you encounter an old acoustic guitar that sounds magical—like this 1941 Gibson ES-150—it’s tempting to speculate why. Is it due to vintage construction techniques? Decades of string vibration?

Trial by Fire: Your First Pub Gig

June 8, 2012

Larry Fishman

Holding your excitement in check, you pack up your gear and head out for the club.

Of Tree Elves and Hide Glue

May 11, 2012

Mark Dalton

There are some notions about how certain things affect guitar tone and volume that, I think, we just don’t know for sure.

Listening Deeply to Acoustic Guitar Sound

April 6, 2012

Ervin Somogyi

Mostly, the guitar is supposed to be about sound. But that’s the hardest of all of these to pin down.

Choosing Your Gear for a Pub Gig

March 9, 2012

Larry Fishman

Once upon a time, acoustic guitarists needed to haul a van’s worth of gear to a gig to amplify their instruments and vocals. Today’s sound-reinforcement gear is far more

Dad’s Old Guitar

February 10, 2012

Jeff Huss

It had been his dad’s guitar since the age of 16, when his uncle bought it for him around 1940 at a pawnshop in Roanoke, Virginia.

Guitar Making: The Ultimate Hobby In Retirement?

January 10, 2012

Ervin Somogyi

Lutherie provides the opportunity to meet and get to know a whole bunch of interesting people who are sometimes quirky, but never stupid.

Context is Everything

December 20, 2011

Larry Fishman

By now you may be thinking, “What is this story doing in a column about acoustic amplification?” It has everything to do with understanding and choosing the right gear for the job.

I have touched on the many challenges we and most other builders face every day, so when you’re at your job thinking, “I’d give anything to be making guitars all day long,” you will know that though it has its moments, it also has its moments—if you know what I mean.

"The Right Look" in Guitars

October 18, 2011

Ervin Somogyi

Some of the guitars I see have that certain something (some don’t) and are visually appealing enough for me to approach and take a closer look.

Amplifying a Solo Acoustic Performance

September 20, 2011

Larry Fishman

Equally important in making the proper choice is deciding on why you want to amplify in the first place.

Guitar Builder or NFL Player ?

August 16, 2011

Jeff Huss

More and more young people have been coming into our shop lately, wondering how to prepare for a career as an instrument maker. Should I be the voice of reason and advise them to pursue a less exclusive career path, like the NFL?

Acoustic Amplification, Pt. 1

July 19, 2011

Larry Fishman

A quick look at today’s guitar market shows that acoustic guitars are still outselling electric guitars, and that roughly half of the acoustics being sold have pickup systems already installed by the manufacturer.

A Day in the Life of a Luthier

June 14, 2011

Mark Dalton

Mark Dalton takes you from open to close as the head of Huss & Dalton

Tracking the Steel-String Guitar’s Evolution, Pt. 3

May 17, 2011

Ervin Somogyi

To truly understand the flattop and its sonic place in the extended guitar family—a lineage that stretches back to the lute and even the oud—it’s important to listen to

Tracking The Steel-String Guitar's Evolution, Pt. 2

April 19, 2011

Ervin Somogyi

We began looking at the origins of steel-string guitars in February. This month, we continue by comparing nylon and steel-string instruments.

Acoustic Soundboard: Checking the Guitar Market's Pulse

March 15, 2011

Bob Taylor

Though known for his beautiful steel-string flattops, Michael Gurian began his career building classical guitars. This elegant 1973 Gurian sports Brazilian rosewood back and sides and reveals the luthier’s

Acoustic Soundboard: Tales of Custom Inlays

February 15, 2011

Jeff Huss

Jeff Huss details memorable custom inlays, from cheesy to heartwarming

Tracking The Steel-String Guitar's Evolution, Pt. 1

January 17, 2011

Ervin Somogyi

In this three-part series, we’ll explore the genesis of the steel-string and look at the evolution of this versatile and intriguing stringed instrument over the last century.