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Resource page

Gear I'm using, stuff I recommend and companies worth checking out.
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Online music suppliers:

If I can’t get what I need at my locally owned independent music store, sweetwater.com is my go to place for getting music stuff online. They almost always have what I need at the best price. I can actually talk with a real live human if I have a question or problem unlike with  Amazon and eBay purchases. If you are lucky enough to have a music store in your community that you know and trust please support them. If you don't have that option, sweetwater.com is the place I recommend and feel good sending  you to.

Gear I'm using right now: Guitars, ukulele, electronic tuner, capo, strings and picks.

My main guitar is an older Takamine  steel string acoustic electric with a cutaway. It's an older blonde model made in Japan with a solid top which was a gift from my friend and mentor Moe Dixon. I  keep it in a Breedlove soft case which has nice thick padding, big pockets for gigs and comfortable shoulder straps.

I  have a  1971 acoustic nylon string Garcia.  No pickup and no cutaway.  I love having a nylon string to play on when in the mood for folky stuff, spanish style or bossa nova type guitar music. I've been lusting after a Godin solid body nylon string for a while but haven't gotten my hands on one  to try yet.

In some of the lesson videos you will notice  I'm playing a different guitar   than my Takamine. After  years of patiently waiting, I finally treated myself to a 1920's Gibson Nick Lucas. I bought it off a friend in the Bay area who kindly let me make payments on it. Thanks T.M.!

I've ordered a Kala beginner uke package for playing on around the house.

Strings-
I've used D'Adarrio acoustic light gauge strings forever. I've spent many years working in music stores tuning and restringing guitars and have always stuck with the D'addario J16 Phosphorus Bronze strings. It's just my personal choice but they have never let me down and once I find something that works great I pretty much stick with it until it gives me a reason to change.

Capos-
I've been using Keyser Capos for a couple decades now. I like the shubb capos but kept leaving them at gigs and rehearsals which got expensive. I clip the Keyser on the headstock of my guitar when not in use and haven't lost one in years. I did have one break on me   and when I  returned  it to the company, they sent me two back for the trouble. So I like them as a company too.

Tuner-
I'm using a t.c. electronics poly tune clip on chromatic tuner which works for guitar, uke, mandolin etc. It's a little more expensive than some but works great and doesn't have the cheap feel that many clip on tuners have. I've broken several of the cheaper plastic types. They work fine but don't seem to  hold up in real world gigging situations. Glue, rubber bands and tape won't really get them back in service. I've tried. Best to buy a good one IF you have the extra cash. Or, just take really good care of your gear.

Picks-
Guitar picks are another very personal choice item. Different types of picks sound, feel and play differently. When I'm playing traditional Irish rhythm guitar I use a very thin nylon pick. When I'm flat picking bluegrass tunes I use a thicker one and if I'm playing Gypsy Jazz rhythm guitar I use a super thick pick. It's a tool you will just have to figure out. The thickness and material affects the tone. Different textures have a different grip and feel. Try a bunch and you will discover what feels and sounds good to you.  Sweetwater has a variety pack of light/medium picks. This could be a good place for you to start.
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  • Home
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