by Michael Shea. Continued from page one » How would somebody that wants to get into inlay go about it nowadays? With the use of CNC machines is there still a place for handwork? CE: The thing with the CNC is it’s only good if you’re going to do multiples of a design. If you’re […]
Guitar International recently caught wind of a stunning blue guitar built by West Virginia luthier Andrew White that was on display at the Montreal Guitar Festival. A highlight of the guitar is the inlay work of Craig Lavin. A quick call to Lavin gave us the inside scoop regarding the collaborative design of a Powder Blue Tang fish and underwater landscape for the guitar. Read »
Though he claims the nickname Caveman is the result of a physical resemblance, odds are the moniker has much to do with the fact that Kevin “Caveman” Shirley spends quality time in dimly lit recording studios producing, engineering, or mixing the likes of Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Dream Theater, and, since 2006, Joe Bonamassa. On August 20, 2007, Premier Artists (US) and Provogue Records (Europe) will release Bonamassa’s seventh solo studio album, Sloe Gin, for which Shirley served as both producer and mixer. While the actual role of record producer is often nebulous and, especially in the case of a seasoned recording artist, logistic or simply titular, Joe Bonamassa is quick to point out that Shirley’s contributions to Sloe Gin are concrete, serious, and artistic. “It’s unbelievable,” Joe says in a pre-release one-sheet, “he takes my vision, augments it, and brings it further than I ever would have thought to.” Interview »
This time I’ll show you some of the work involved with the building of Number One’s neck. A lot of folks think it’s pretty much as easy as sticking some frets into a piece of Maple… well it’s not quite that simple… at least on the P-1. I’ll be breaking the neck building into at least 2-3 different Functional Art articles, because there is just so much to cover. In fact, there are tons more steps than what I’m outlining here, but if I keep taking the time to document this build, instead of building it, I think I’m going to be upsetting my very patient client, Mr. Eddie James.
As I mentioned in this column last year, I decided to build some guitars again. After many years away from the guitar business, I got the “jones” again, and designed my newest guitar, The P-1. Over the next several months I thought that I would take you through the journey of building serial number 001, which was ordered by Mr. Eddie James (thanks Eddie!).
Navigation Main Crashocaster thumbnail page (all 50 bodies) CRASH’s Guitar International journal Crashocasters 11-20 Crashocasters 21-30 Crashocasters 31-40 Crashocasters 41-50 #1. Journal entry. #2. Journal entry. #3. Journal entry. #4. Journal entry. #5. Journal entry. #6. Journal entry. #7. Journal entry. #8. Journal entry. #9. Journal entry. #10. Journal entry.
From the book review by Rick Landers: Guitar – An American Life, by National Public Radio commentator Tim Brookes, carries readers along the bumpy trail the guitar travelled before becoming one of America’s most fascinating icons and the country’s most popular musical instrument. The book is a wonderful tapestry of history and daily life with the author weaving together the evolution of the guitar with his personal story. Read review »
by Tom Guerra.
Guitarist Mark Easton has been a mainstay on the East Coast club circuit for more than three decades. A fiery rock and blues player and talented songwriter, Mark and Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze (one of his many bands), were just named Best Blues Band in the Northeast in a recent Advocate poll. Now in his early 50s, he’s playing at the top of his game and continues to stay busy both on the road and in the studio. Guitar International caught up with Mark in October, 2006, as he was preparing for another winter tour with Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze…
by Tom Watson.
Tish Ciravolo is well known in the music world not because she’s recorded great guitar instrumentals but because she’s been instrumental in creating great guitars for an underserved segment of the guitar buying market: women. Ciravolo claims that in the year 2000, female buyers accounted for only 5% of total new guitar sales and the odds are she’s done her homework. Tish Ciravolo is the founder and president of Daisy Rock Guitars, “The Girl Guitar Company”…
