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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Guitar Bracing

Guitar Bracing

Guitar bracing. I love ladder braced guitars.  I had an Gibson LG that really opened my mind to what's going on inside the box.  Fraulini guitars... same thing.  Dale Fairbanks uses X braces, but they are unscalloped and they...
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Guitar Festivals

Guitar Festivals

Guitar festivals. I want to go.  When I was a wee lad of 18 or so I found the Healdsburg Guitar Festival website and would use that as my research.  I found links to websites for Jeff Traugott, Judy Threet, Linda Manzer,...
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What is handmade?

What is handmade?

A bit of a philosophical tangent now.  What is handmade? I think this a conversation I've always heard phrased in more questions than answers.  I think that's a great thing and I think it proves it's own point- that...
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Building Resonator Guitars wherever You're Allowed

Building Resonator Guitars wherever You're Allowed

  You have to do what you  have to do, and getting going with these resonator guitars was no different.  I spent about a year and a half at the first 'Shop", two years in the basement and the last six months at shop...
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