Ask Doktor Dave

November 2008

I’m going to keep asking you – if you’re reading this, PLEASE tell me. Leave a comment at the bottom of this page…you don’t have to write anything, maybe just say “hi”. It’s difficult to figure out if any *real* people are reading, so I ask you directly. Please take 2 seconds to leave a comment. Thank you very much, in advance. [SMILE]   Now, on to the Q&A!

JR Asks: I’m shopping for a second guitar, something smaller, more parlor style. I’ll probably pick something up and get a shop to install a pick-up system for me. Any ideas where I can shop around for something like that, in the mid-price range? (I’ve done Guitar Center and Buffalo Brothers).

Doktor Dave Answers: A parlor or auditorium style is a great choice, unfortunately they’re not as popular as dreadnoughts and therefore not quite as easy to find.

It’s easier, and less costly, to purchase a guitar with a pick-up already installed. Making an acoustic guitar into an acoustic/electric allows you to choose the pick-up system you might prefer, but the modifications required on the guitar might change it’s acoustic properties. It may also turn a $300 guitar into a $500 guitar.

Music Power (formerly Guitar Trader) in Clairemont has some good stuff. There’s also Music Mart in Solana Beach (tell Jerry that Doktor Dave sent you…it won’t help, but it’ll make me look cool. [GRIN]), The Music Playce in Escondido, Ozzie’s Music in Poway, Moze Guitars (I THINK they’re up the street from Cosmos), Giacoletti’s in Carlsbad, Acoustic Expressions (down the street from Claire de Lunes).

These are only ones I can think of, off the top of my head…look for more ads in the San Diego Troubadour, phone book or a Google search.

If you find any, take a look at an Alvarez, Breedlove…and in the low to medium cost brands, Dean and Yamaha. Every Dean I’ve heard sounds great. I don’t know how they play or how sturdy they are, but I’d definitely check ‘em out. I have 2 Yamahas, they sound great and are very sturdy.

I know Music Mart has a good selection of Dean as well as Yamaha. They also stock a few REALLY high-end guitars that you won’t find anywhere else, locally.

The most important thing, in my opinion, is to find one you can play comfortably, and sounds great acoustically. Then make sure it sounds very much the same electrically. Many guitars lose much of their tone when plugged in.

The most accurate way to check acoustic vs. electric tone is to use an amp or PA with all tone controls set to the middle. Make sure any effects (reverb, chorus, etc.) are off. Also set all controls on the guitar to center (middle). If the guitar sounds very close to the same between the 2, great! If it’s not quite there, but gets acceptable with a tweak or 2…that’s fine. If it takes too much tweaking or doesn’t get there at all – put it back on the shelf.

NOTE: Don’t be afraid to try ANY guitar that strikes your fancy…brand names don’t matter if an instrument sounds and feels right. If it looks cool too, that’s a bonus!

I LOVE shopping for guitars. I just wish I could afford one now! [grin] Happy hunting!

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SZ Asks: 1. How do you exercise your hands in order to pick guitar strings instead of strum them?

2. I recently saw a video on how Carvin guitars are manufactured. Many are solid inside…is that better than hollow for an electric guitar?

Doktor Dave Anwers: 1. Keep picking. The are various isometric type movements you can do to keep your fingers limber and articulate, but it all boils down to practicing on the guitar and moving your fingers as often as you can.

2. What? Are you like *special* or something…you get TWO questions???

Ok. Yes Virgina, there are both solid and hollow bodied guitars. Semi-hollow too.

First of all, there is no “better” body type. They each serve their purpose and provide the tone and playability any given player might require.

MOST electric guitars are “solid body”. The most popular models are Fender’s Stratocaster, Gibson’s Les Paul (although many new Les Pauls are “chambered” and could be construed as semi-hollow) and Carvin’s DC400 series. The big benefits of the solid body are sustain; resistance to feedback at high volume and durability.

Nearly every manufacturer that produces solid bodys, also produces semi-hollow bodys. Including Carvin. Semi hollows can be completely or partially hollow and they’re not very deep. Usually 2 – 3 inches. The popular models are Gibson’s ES335, Fender’s Thinline Telecaster…and MY guitar of choice, Carvin’s AE-185. (Can I get an endorsement deal for this? Someone call Carvin…)

Probably the most well known player of a semi hollow is Chuck Berry. Kind of odd because semi hollows are widely associated with jazz and blues…B.B. King being the 2^nd most well known, after Chuck.

The benefits of the semi-hollow are it’s tone and “feel”. It gives a more mid-range tone and, because the top is relatively free to vibrate, the player gets a more organic feel toward the guitar. The drawback is that they feedback at high volumes.

Hollow bodys are essentially deeper semi-hollows, with a few differences. The depth is usually around 5 inches or so. I’m not sure if it’s a universal design, but I know many have a “sound post” between top and back, in addition to standard bracing. Hollows use “trapeze” style bridges, rather than “fixed” (Solid bodys use fixed, semi hollows can use either).

You’ll see hollow bodys used in jazz, blues and even rock/punk-a-billy music. Popular models – Gibson’s ES175, the Gretsch Chet Atkins and Brian Setzer models, Ibanez’s George Benson models. Carvin doesn’t make a full hollow body at the moment. Most well known players are Herb Ellis, Johnny A and Chet Atkins, Brian Setzer, George Benson of course.

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Whew…a long one this month. I do go on, don’t I?

Here’s your to-do list for November:

1 – Come to the H.A.T. Awards on the 1^st:

Normal Heights Community Center: 7:00 PM
4649 Hawley Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92116

2 – VOTE! Whomever or whatever…VOTE. It’s the only voice you have in our government, use it.

3 – Have a very Happy Thanksgiving…and wish my buddy, Jeffery Joe Morin a Happy Birthday! It’s the same day, after all. [SMILE]

‘til next time…”SPOON!”

>Doktor Dave<