| Artisan Guitars - December 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Happy Holidays!
Fresh snow on the door step reminds us, winter has arrived here in Nashville, with gusto! But thats just fine Theres nothing we enjoy more than spending time at home, warming by the fireplace and watching holiday movies. An all time family favorite A Christmas Story is set in the 1940s. Since its debut this film has endeared itself to movie buffs around the world and grown such a cult following that one fan purchased and restored the original house in Cleveland, complete with the Old Mans major award in the front window. Cant get enough? You can enter a contest each year to spend your family holiday there, too! This movie set is so complete, it reminds me of my youth, growing up in northern Ohio. The Higbees department store in old downtown, with a live Santa, & Mom over-dressing us kids for the long winters walk to school each day. Theres the Old Mans ritualistic battle with the coal fired furnace and drafty Craftsman style houses reminiscent of a simpler time. Ralphies dream of getting a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas is dashed at every turn, surrounded by adult consensus, mimicking his mothers well practiced warning throughout the movie, Youll shoot your eye out, kid even Santa! The world could use allot more joy this year, so lets remember our inner-child - Bring some special happiness to the children in your life by giving them the gift of laughter Skipping normal protocol, I triple-dog dare you! Happy Holidays From all of us, to all of you!
Looking for a Bluegrass canon with an edge? Try the hot hide glue option from Bourgeois: The Adirondack Spruce top means that you can play this guitar quite hard before breakup, though with hot hide glue construction, you gain lightning fast response, too. Hide Glue was the original glue used on the early Martin guitars but has been phased out by many luthiers due to the added time it takes to work with... not to mention it is very messy! Hot Hide glue sets up like glass, offering a more immediate and efficient transfer of energy throughout the top, making the overall guitar more responsive with a clarity of tone that is unmatched. The result is a Vintage D that is very loud and extremely well balanced. The low end is clear, distinctive and incredibly powerful, without sacrificing the strong high end. Headroom seems unlimited, very typical of Dana Bourgeois dreadnoughts... the louder it is strummed the louder it plays! Lead lines are powerful and clear with a tone that can cut through any jam session with ease. For a great audio comparison of this exceptional guitar, we conducted our own "shoot-out", which you can hear on our website. These two guitars were built back-to-back and arrived the same week You can solve any controversy by giving a listen:
Collings guitars have always been revered for their signature tone and their ever-apparent high quality construction. One quality that is, without question, evident is their commanding presence and volume. Even in the smallest bodies, few boast the strength of a Collings. With the exception of the Baby, the 0 is Collings' smallest guitar and is offered with the same shorter scale found on the 12-fret 00. Although measuring only 13.5 inches in width, the Collings 0 has tone and volume that belies its first impression as being less than full-sized. Don't let this sweet little beauty fool you; it features an Adirondack Spruce top that cuts through with precision and knockout volume. Being built with Mahogany back and sides, the tone rests soundly in the mid-range with strong emphasis on the bottom-end. Each note is crisp and clear, with definition and separation. Good things come in small packages Especially from Collings!
Differences are in the details The Huss & Dalton is bench-built by hand, start to finish. At $321 difference in price, the additional features make for an exceptional heirloom quality guitar! (*Bolteron: Aircraft Quality PVC)
|
IN THIS ISSUE
10 Days of Christmas - Holiday Sweepstakes Join our friends on Facebook, enter to win 1 prize each day through December 24th, over $1,200 in prizes (free shipping included, US residents only):
Click the gift box here to enter on Facebook!
Cold Weather Travel Reminder We see many new visitors to our shop each holiday season, some traveling to visit relatives, or local friends bringing visiting relatives to show them round our fine collection of instruments. Its always great to have your favorite guitar along for a vacation trip, though before you leave the house, heres a few things to remember: If you are traveling by car, your prized guitar is probably going to ride in the trunk with your luggage. On long journeys in cold weather, the interior case temperature will likely drop below a temperature that is safe enough to open up in a warm room. Remember, once you arrive at your destination to allow your guitar to remain in the case for several hours or more to prevent damage to the finish and stability of the wood or joints. It is the rapid change in temperature which can cause the most damage, not necessarily the extremity of difference in temperature. If you are traveling by plane and plan to check your guitar with the airlines, you will need to either have a worthy travel case, or plan to pack it in a sturdy container just as you would if you were shipping it. Remember to drop the strings below pitch (a full step or more) to reduce tension on the headstock in transit We have seen instruments that suffered a broken headstock, with no apparent damage to the case or packing container. This occurs when the box or case is rough handled in transit and the shock energy is transferred to the instrument, a condition which can be made worse in cold temperatures. And of course take along your humidification gear, too. With furnaces running on cold winter nights the house humidity can drop well below a safe limit (40% to 50%) and cause unnecessary damage to your guitar. Click here to see some of our case humidifiers and hygrometers that can help you take care during your travels, to minimize worry and inconvenience. Santa Cruz - D Pre-War Custom
We have taken the standard D Pre-War and commissioned a custom line we call the "Traditional Series." Incorporating elements that take us back to a simpler time, we start with a custom Bear Claw Sitka Spruce top. Legend has it that the figuring on Bear Claw Spruce was a result of grizzly bears scratching at the bark. In reality, it is a genetic abnormality that stiffens the cross grain. Other additions include a custom Herringbone purfling, which we find opens up the top a bit. Bear Claw Sitka Spruce is matched with Indian Rosewood - bringing lushness with rich, round low end and natural reverberation. By combining these changes with the D/PW, you get an instrument that is balanced, crisp, and warm across the entire tonal spectrum with vintage appointments and a classic feel. An additional custom option on this guitar is the "Vintage Script" Santa Cruz logo and instantly sets the guitar apart from the standard Santa Cruz models. The standard Santa Cruz DP/W models built and setup with light gauge strings. Our Traditional Series was specified & built with medium strings and setup Just the way Brad Paisley likes his. We think you will too!
Ellie's Cranberry Tangerine Relish
Too bad we have so many favorite dishes at our house, that we forget about this one until Thanksgiving each year! This is a great condiment with turkey, chicken, and pork, and just over-the-top incredible as a garnish on sandwiches. The flavor gets very strong after a few days, so use the balance to cook over top pork chops or pork loin in the oven with sliced garlic and onions. Here's your shopping list: 1 BAG OF FRESH WHOLE CRANBERRIES
Sort the cranberries and rinse. Using a zester / grater, zest the Tangerine skin, then Juice the Tangerine. Combine your Zest, Juice, Sugar, & whole Cranberries into your food processor bowl. Pulse using very short 1 to 2 second pulses. You want the cranberries to break down to the size of mustard grains or slightly larger, so dont over process. Click the picture below to see more of Ellies famous recipes on our website!
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If you have had your eye on a Bose L1 System, don't miss out on our current sale! Purchase any Bose L1 system directly from our website, and save 10% on your purchase - now through December 31st. Click the image above to visit our website and learn more about the best sound systems on the planet. Enter coupon code "bose_fall_promo" during checkout to receive your discount.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
