Below is a press release that I received from my good friend and Guitar Musings contributor, Hercules Castro. Hercules entered into the Guitar Player Superstar Competition and was selected as one of the top 10 finalists. You will find all the information below and if you are in the Bay Area and like great guitar, you should check this show out. I just wish I could go. Congrats Herc and Good Luck!!!! For Immediate Release Hercules Castro of Colorado Springs Named a Finalist in International Guitar Competition Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar Competition Centerpiece of Guitar Player Live! Weekend Celebration September 11-13 Brendon Small to Host Competition; Judges Include Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson’s guitarist), Elliot Easton, Greg Hampton, and Steve Lukather San Bruno, CA (August 11, 2009) — Now in its fifth year, Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar competition will be the centerpiece of Guitar Player LIVE!, a 3-day celebration of guitars, music, and gear presented by the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center in Livermore, California, east of San Francisco, on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Ten finalists have been selected from among hundreds of entries to battle for the international title of “Guitar Superstar.” Across the globe, hundreds of “unknown” guitarists of …
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If you follow Guitar Musings on Twitter, (now on YouTube) you know that I recently purchased a Larrivee OM-03RE guitar. I have been in wanting for a Larivee for quite a while, since I tried one out at a local guitar shop. The wait was finally over and I wasn’t disappointed. Specifications – From Larrivee’s website Lower Bout: 15.375″Upper Bout: 11.75″Waist: 9.625″Depth: 4.25″Depth: 4.25″Scale Length: 25.5Nut Width: 1 & 3/4Fretboard Radius: 17″ to 21″ CompoundSetup for Light Gauge StringsFrets: Nickel/SilverFrets Width: 2.5mm (0.0985″)Frets Heigth: 1.0mm (0.00394″)Satin finsh neck and bodyTusq Nut and Saddle by Graphtec Larrivee’s Look and Feel: This is not a fancy looking guitar with elaborate inlays and exotic wood grains but it’s a simple and elegant design that perfectly suited my needs. What caught my eye immediately was the rosewood back and sides and the African ebony fingerboard. What can I say, I’m a sucker for dark wood and the satin finish really compliments the beauty of the wood. A bit smaller than my other guitars, the OM-03RE felt natural either using a guitar strap or playing it sitting on my lap. This was important for me because I have problems with tendentious and the smaller form factor …
Came across the video below on YouTube. I’ve only flown with my guitar once and that was pre-911 when you could bring your guitar as a carry on. This is a fine example of why you need to invest in a good flight case and insure your guitars. I agree with the lyrics, they are liable and it sad to see that customer service is pretty much dead in the airline industry. This is a pretty catchy song too and well written. I don’t think this would have been as effective if it wasn’t so well written but it looks like he might get his claim fulfilled (see links below) after all the attention this song has recieved. United Breaks Guitars Lyrics I flew United Airlines on the way to NebraskaThe plane departed Halifax connecting in Chicago’s O’HareWhile on the ground, the passengers said from the seat behind me“My God! They’re throwing guitars out there.” The band and exchanged a look, best described as terrorAt the action on the tarmac and knowing who’s projectiles these would beSo before I left Chicago, I alerted three employeesWho showed complete indifference towards me Chorus United, UnitedYou broke my Taylor guitarUnited, UnitedSome big help …
A couple of days back; I attended a service celebrating the life of a friends son. I never met this person, yet I felt a connection and found myself getting emotional from time to time. Throughout the service I heard how much he loved the guitar and music and was surprised by how we enjoyed the similar musicians and songs. One song that particularly grabbed me was Joe Satriani’s “Always with you, Always With Me” that the played early on. This is my absolutely favorite Satch song and whenever hear it, I will now think of Jeff; a fellow guitarist. The connection is that six string wonder that can frustrate the hell out of you and comfort you in times of trouble.
It won a silver medal in the Acoustic Guitar Readers choice poll in 2008 and I’ve seen many opinions (good and bad) about Learn and Master Guitar (LMG) on the web. Now it’s my turn to check this guitar course out and give you my Two cents. First Impression: Opening the kit, I found 20 DVDs, five audio CDs and an instruction booklet; a bit intimidating seeing so much information and potential. I could see someone thinking to himself or herself that this is way too much to learn and being overwhelmed.As I examined the contents, I began to see the system. Sessions: Each DVD contains two of what are called “Sessions.” A session goes over an aspect of learning the guitar. IE, scales, chords, styles, etc… and is about twenty to thirty minutes long. Steve Krenz, the course creator and instructor, walks you through each session with examples and explanations. At the end, a review and assignments from the book are given and then you are expected to practice. If you need help practicing, that’s where the “Bonus Workshops” come in. Bonus Workshops: (Expanded Edition) The bonus workshops are meant to as a companion to your session discs. They …
