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Riffs: U.S. Electric Guitar Exams, President Nikki Sixx, Music Downloading and Taxes

Electric Guitar Exams In U.S. from Solanco News The Registry of Guitar Tutors (RGT) is starting electric guitar examinations in the United States. For those of you who are

Paul McCartney

Electric Guitar Exams In U.S.

from Solanco News


The Registry of Guitar Tutors (RGT) is starting electric guitar examinations in the United States. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the RGT, it is a global membership organization for guitar teachers. But it''s not just any old organization -- you may know some of the members: Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood and David Gilmour.
Nikki Sixx

President Nikki Sixx

from Billboard


Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx is the new president for Eleven Seven records. The guitarist discussed the recent title in an interview with Billboard. The bassist is not just busy with that -- Motley Crue is expected to release an album this summer.
iTunes Logo

Music Downloading

from Mercury News


Charles Calderon, a Los Angeles-area lawmaker, is proposing a tax on personal property, which would include internet downloaded music, books and videos. Unfortunately, poor Calderon probably hasn''t read the newest research showing that people are not downloading from the internet as much as copying offline. Despite that information, Apple just announced that it has surpassed Wal Mart as the leader in CD sales. We suspect that this tax would be a troubling development for the many musicians today who depend on downloads to get their music out to the public.

Whitman Audio introduces the Decoherence Drive and Wave Collapse Fuzz, two innovative guitar pedals designed to push the boundaries of sound exploration. With unique features like cascading gain stages and vintage silicon transistor fuzz, these pedals offer musicians a new path to sonic creativity.

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In our third installment with Santa Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard Hoover, the master luthier shows PG's John Bohlinger how his team of builders assemble and construct guitars like a chef preparing food pairings. Hoover explains that the finer details like binding, headstock size and shape, internal bracing, and adhesives are critical players in shaping an instrument's sound. Finally, Richard explains how SCGC uses every inch of wood for making acoustic guitars or outside ventures like surfboards and art.

We know Horsegirl as a band of musicians, but their friendships will always come before the music. From left to right: Nora Cheng, drummer Gigi Reece, and Penelope Lowenstein.

Photo by Ruby Faye

The Chicago-via-New York trio of best friends reinterpret the best bits of college-rock and ā€™90s indie on their new record, Phonetics On and On.

Horsegirl guitarists Nora Cheng and Penelope Lowenstein are back in their hometown of Chicago during winter break from New York University, where they share an apartment with drummer Gigi Reece. Theyā€™re both in the middle of writing papers. Cheng is working on one about Buckminster Fuller for a city planning class, and Lowenstein is untangling Austrian writer Ingeborg Bachmannā€™s short story, ā€œThree Paths to the Lake.ā€

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Featuring torrefied solid Sitka Spruce tops, mahogany neck, back, and sides, and Fishman Presys VT EQ System, these guitars are designed to deliver quality tone and playability at an affordable price point.

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