Charley Hicks - Too Much Alcohol

https://youtu.be/L_UugWZ_G-8...
Read more
Making Resonator Guitars or Just About Anything: Consistency

Making Resonator Guitars or Just About Anything: Consistency

As it applies to making a living making stuff: I, at one time, was someone who didn't make anything who transitioned into making things full time to make a living. It was, well, hard. But being on both sides of that coin has...
Read more

Guitar Making : Starting Down the Sawdusty Path

Want to make guitars as more than a whenever-you-have-time hobby? Here's my advice, guided by the principle I've found to be true and was put into words by Bob Taylor in his book 'Guitar Lessons": Quantity is just as...
Read more

Jeffrey Foucault and the Mule

Jeffrey Foucault playing Rainier Ptacek on his Mule resonator guitar, and then I died. https://vimeo.com/176494839...
Read more

Resonator Guitar Biscuit Cone Tweak

I'm not a huge fan of guitar voodoo- you won't find me filing away the nut in between the string slots, or clamping things to head stocks.  All these things can change the tone of a guitar in theory.  Does they contribute to...
Read more
Charley Hicks

Charley Hicks

Charley Hicks is the man.  You want a new blues voice that isn't Chicago blues? How about this guy. He recorded videos for every one of Charley Patton's songs.  He just rips. Follow him on instagram too. He's bought three...
Read more

Aggregate Alternatives

A bit of a tangent but it still applies. We tend to think of alternatives in aggregate. "If I didn't work this job I could start that business, go back to school and still have more free time." We take the best parts of all...
Read more
The Haag Spinning Lathe

The Haag Spinning Lathe

The resonator guitar cone.  The myth, the legend. Built in mojo bag. Talisman and bringer of all that is good and loud in the world. Ok, that's overkill. But we love them don't we?  It's such a unique part of guitar culture....
Read more

Amateur/Professional

If you make things for a living this is for you. If you make things but not for a living, add this to your thoughts if you find yourself daydreaming about telling your boss to shove it. This is my friendly encouragement to...
Read more

Wild Ideas and Just Saying Yes

The Yes Man. Mocked throughout the cubicles. "Don't be a yes man." is used in contexts other than the office to try to instill in people a sense of pushing back, going against the grain, standing up for their own...
Read more

Books to Buy

If you are guitar maker, resonator guitar enthusiast, or are just looking for a good book- Guitar Lesson by Bob Taylor and  The Way of the Seal by Mark Divine are two of the most helpful I've read this year. The hard part of...
Read more
Ant Hill Luthiery

Ant Hill Luthiery

I was listening to the radio a while back and they had a scientist on to talk. She studied ants. First I was stunned that there was such a thing, second that she most likely was not the only ant researcher. She spent all her...
Read more
The MuleCaster Lives

The MuleCaster Lives

The MuleCaster Lives. Neck through design because simple is awesome. Hipshot bender for pedal steel dreamy goodness. McNelly Pickups. It sounds alive, it looks so damn good. I want to make one for you. One of the...
Read more
Resonator Guitar Parts 101

Resonator Guitar Parts 101

A bit of a primer on the pieces of these resonator guitars. If you are new to the world of resonators, this will help you get acquainted. The body of a resonator guitar is typically either steel or brass.  My guitars are no...
Read more

Talent is an Excuse

"You are so talented!" This is probably the number one comment given to makers-of-things, and probably players-of-instruments as well. Talent.  I think talent is used like 'miracle' is used.  There is talent and there are...
Read more
Just Use a Mic

Just Use a Mic

I'm sure this will be a bit of a touchy subject, but that's why I'm writing about it.  It's not just regards to resonator guitars, if you have any guitar- any instrument at all- and you also play for people this applies to...
Read more
The Custom Guitar Industry: Honest Pricing

The Custom Guitar Industry: Honest Pricing

Things might get a little bit spicy. 10 years ago when I was at Huss and Dalton as an eager 20 year old I wanted to build guitars all the time.  I did many operations during the day but not the whole deal.  I wanted to keep...
Read more

What to Expect Buying A Handmade Resonator Guitar

What's it like buying a handmade resonator guitar anyways? If I can't pull it off the wall and play it first, why should I buy it? I totally admit it's a completely different experience buying a resonator guitar that isn't...
Read more
Building a Resonator Guitar: Learning How to Build

Building a Resonator Guitar: Learning How to Build

The e-mail sometimes goes like this: "Hey Matt, I love resonators and have always wanted to make one.  How?" I totally get the feeling.  I worked at Huss and Dalton guitars for a while and went to a guitar making school, so...
Read more

Charley Hicks on Mule Resonator Guitar records every Charley Patton Song

Charley Hicks on Mule Resonator Guitar records every Charley Patton Song https://youtu.be/SuWJm4RobXQ If that's not a worthy news headline, I'm not sure what is.   Charley has #42, and tow more mules, a steel tricone and a...
Read more