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March 2012 Mass St Music Staff Gear Picks!

Grosh NOS Retro electric guitar

The new Grosh NOS Retro -- John's pick 'o the litter this month

John FlynnGrosh NOS Retro
Simply one of the best sounding instruments I have ever played and Mass St Music veterans Michael Hamm and Brian Soden both concur. Not only that, but it’s a total beauty as well.

 

Collings D1 VN Custom acoustic guitar

Jim says this Collings D1 VN Custom is 'simply wonderful'.

Jim BaggettCollings D1 VN
We’ve been ordering these with Adirondack bracing and no tongue brace for more resonance and I have to say, this one sounds simply wonderful.

 

Goodall MDRP 12S Parlor acoustic guitar

Tim's favorite is this beautiful, used Goodall MDRP 12S Parlor acoustic

Tim NelsonGoodall MDRP 12S Parlor
I have always liked the amazing overtones James Goodall guitars have. This guitar has really clean and clear low end that is really appealing. The Madagascar is amazing on this perfectly stunning guitar.

 

The Presonus Firestudio Project Recording System

Matthew's new demos have been much easier to get down with the Presonus Firestudio

Matthew KhomsiPresonus Firestudio Project
Lately, I have been spending more time making demos of new material on my own and it has been all because of this Presonus interface and the Cubase LE4 software that comes with it. I am not a big recording junkie, so finding the right software that would work for me, without much training, was important. Everything was simple running on a Windows 7 PC and I haven’t looked back. It has been a blast making recordings of my band in addition to it being a useful writing tool.

 

Egnater Rebel 30 112 Combo Amp

Eric loves the British & classic American tones (& everything in between) with this Egnater Rebel 30

Eric PutnamEgnater Rebel 30 112 Combo Amp
The Egnater Rebel 30 is an extremely versatile amp. With the turn of a switch you can change from the classic tone of an American amp to the roar of a British amp. The two channels are great too. The clean channel sounds very natural and with the tone controls you can get any kind of clean tone imaginable. I was able to dial in a very Fender-ish bright clean tone as well as a darker warmer clean tone. The second channel is where it really starts to get fun. there is an amazing amount of gain available and you can get anything from a light bluesy tone to a high gain sound that still lets the sound of your guitar come through. The bottom line is if you want an amp that can do British and American tones and anything in between the Egnater Rebel 30 is the one for you.

 

Egnater Rebel 20 Amp Head

Alek says of the Egnater Rebel 20, "Very cool head!"

Alek NelsonEgnater Rebel 20 Amp Head
This Rebel 20 sounds great. It has a wide-range of gain, takes you from sparkling clean to percussive crunch to all out, full-on distortion. The tube mix control is amazing. Very cool head!

 

Kiwaya Soprano Ukulele

Ted says the Kiwaya Soprano ukes are "exceptionally well built" with a "beautiful sound".

Ted KritikosKiwaya Soprano Uke
If you’re a serious uke fan and have been dreaming of a vintage Martin uke, you should definitely check out this Kiwaya Soprano, and the whole line. These are exceptionally well built with an eye to vintage Martin ukes. Beautiful sound and they’re built for a lifetime of playing. Love these.

 

Fender clip on chromatic tuner FT-004

Mike R. says the Fender Fender Clip On Chromatic Tuner is "a steal" at $16.95

Mike RunyonRepair ShopFender Chromatic Clip On Tuner
I’ve been enjoying the clip on style tuner for a while now. They are great for acoustic instruments of all sizes and work well at isolating the instruments even in high noise situations. We recently started carrying a Fender version that allows you to select the instrument you’re tuning. Whether it’s a guitar, uke, bass or violin, it will display which # string you are tuning and glows vivid green when the proper tuning is reached. The best part is the price – at $16.95, they’re a steal!

 

Fender Road Worn 50s Tele electric guitar

Josh B. loves the pickups in this Fender Road Worn '50s Tele and says this guitar is "a great bang for the buck".

Josh BaldridgeRepair ShopFender Road Worn Series 50s Tele
Maybe it’s because my personal Tele Custom is out of commission right now, but I have been having way too much fun with some other Teles we have in stock. This Fender Road Worn Series 50s Tele is a great bang for the buck guitar (plus you’ll never worry about putting a scratch in it). It is well built and the stripped neck with taller frets feels wonderful. Also, it is lightweight and would be comfortable to play during an entire gig. The bridge pickup has that classic Tele attack and the neck pickup brings a more woody, almost hollow body kind of sound into the mix.

 

Goldtone OB-250 Orange Blossom banjo

Jesse's favorite, this Goldtone OB-250 Orange Blossom banjo 'packs a punch'.

Jesse RobertsGold Tone OB-250 Orange Blossom Banjo
This Orange Blossom packs a serious punch and is built for the long haul. Really nice banjo.

 

Grosh Retro Classic Standard with gloss Candy Apple Red finish

Anne's sold on the Grosh Standard line, particularly this Retro Classic Standard in gloss Candy Apple Red.

Anne TangemanGrosh Retro Classic Standard
You might already know you can basically design your dream guitar with all the options in Grosh’s Custom line, but their Standard line is thoroughly amazing as well, including this RC Standard in Candy Apple Red. I didn’t realize Don builds less than 300 guitars in a year and these Standards are priced in the realm of some high end Fenders, but offer seriously hand-crafted workmanship – right down to the killer pickups. I love the options on the customs, but the standards, both Retro Classics and the EJs are simply fantastic instruments. You know when you pick up an electric, strum it without even plugging it in, and can tell it’s amazing? That’s exactly what this is. I was always a cheap guitar girl, but this RC has me thinkin’.

 

Kiwaya Soprano Uke gig bag

This Kiwaya uke gig bag is great for ukes, but Chucho says it's pretty dang comfortable for a dog to lounge in too.

ChuchoKiwaya Soprano Uke Gig Bag
This new gig bag is not only super durable, but it’s super comfy inside too, which Chucho can attest to.

 

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New On the Bench (& Update!): Bourgeois Slope D

Bougeois Slope D acoustic guitar before repairs completed

Mike H. is doing a bridge reglue and refret on this Bourgeois Slope D

Our repair shop manager, Mike Horan, originally was just going to do a bridge reglue but we’re now also doing a refret, so this should be ready around the beginning of April. This Slope D is going to be killer when it’s finished. Here’s a look at the before pics (more posted here, along with other ‘On the Bench’ projects here). We’ll post updated photos when Mike’s done with the job and this beauty is up for sale.

March 2012 – It’s done, and Mike did a spectacular job!  You can see full photos of the completed guitar on our Mass St Music website. Here are some images of Mike in the process of the refret job…

guitar refret job, placing the fret

Mike carefully places the fret

 

guitar refret job, wetting the fret space

Mike often wets the area before placing the fret for a better fit

 

guitar refret, hammering fret into place

Mike hammers the fret (carefully!) into place

 

freshly refretted guitar

Mike does some detailed finish work after placing the frets so it's smooth and sounds perfect

 

guitar bridge reglued

Mike also reglued the bridge on this Bourgeois Slope D

 

Bourgeois Slope D acoustic guitar just refretted

The Bourgeois Slope D has a new lease on life now

 

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The Armadillo Charango

traditional Armadillo back of a Charango in the Mass St Music repair shop

That's the back...and a hairy one at that.

Well, you just never know what you’re going to see in our store or the repair shop, and this month brought us an Armadillo Charango. The Charango is an Andean instrument with 10 strings – 2 sets of 5, with 4 sets in unison and one set an octave higher. Traditionally the back was made from an armadillo though most no longer are. The one in our shop was a getting a crack repaired (the top, not the armadillo shell).  Here’s what a charanago sounds like in the hands of an expert…or a ninja.

Traditional Charango made from an Armadillo, being repaired in Mass St Music repair shop

Mike R who fixed this charango questioned if Ovation got an idea for their rounded backs from this perhaps?

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How Does a (Taylor, Martin, Collings) Sound?

Victrola record player - illustration

 

We sent our  Boss Flynn back into the studio to get down some more tracks in an effort to share just how beautiful some of our Taylors, Martins and one very special Collings sound for our out of town customers. Flynn recorded the tracks at Lawrence’s own Art House Recording Studio and we think they sound pretty wonderful and are a true rendition. Check them out and let us  know what you think, and what other instruments you’d like to hear recorded in the future (comment here below, or email us at info@massstreetmusic.com). For Eastmans, Bourgeois and more Collings, check out our blog post last September. You can check out the sound files on our Mass St Music website as a blue button at the end of a guitar’s description, or check out our account on SoundCloud. Look for more soon!

Taylor Sound Files include:
Taylor Baritone
Taylor GC8
Taylor 814CE

Martin Sound Files include:
Martin GPCPA1
Martin DCPA3
Martin OM-21

Collings Sound Files now include:
CJ G Maple SB Custom

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February 2012 Mass St Music Staff Gear Picks!

We have loads of great new gear in the store and some killer used items as well. Here’s what’s been turning our heads at the store lately…

John FlynnTungsten Buckwheat Amp
Phenomenal for performance or the studio. And at a great weight, it’s 30 watts but still grab-and-go.

Tungsten Buckwheat 112 Combo Amp

John says this Tungsten Buckwheat 112 Amp is 'phenomenal'

Jim BaggettCollings D2H VN Custom
Beautiful sound on this – we’ve really been pleased with the no tongue brace combined with Adirondack bracing – a small change that makes a big difference with Collings’ already exceptional build.

Collings D2H VN Custom Acoustic Guitar with no tongue brace, Adirondack bracing

Another custom Collings with no tongue brace and Adirondack Spruce bracing - we love these.

Tim NelsonCollings 01 SB
The sunburst on this guitar is just gorgeous. I really like the subtle light 1 style ‘burst Collings does. The woods they picked to build this guitar are unique and beautifully figured. This guitar is surprisingly warm for a single 0 size. A lot of fun to play.

Collings 01 SB acoustic guitar with a beautiful burst finish

"Surprisingly warm for a single 0"

Matthew KhomsiTC Electronics Hall of Fame Reverb
There is a reason this pedal has been so hot even though it has been out for over a year – it’s awesome! I use this pedal all the time and I haven’t even taken advantage of the cool Toneprint feature yet, where you can replace the last patch on it. This is my favorite reverb pedal by far.

TC Electric Hall of Fame Reverb Pedal

Matthew's favorite reverb pedal!

Alek NelsonMusic Man Stingray 4 HH Bass
This may be the most gorgeous bass I have seen in the store! The “roasted Maple” neck is beautiful and is similar to naturally aged woods with a lower moisture content. Great tone. Just look at the pictures, they do all the talking.

Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 4 Bass HH with Roasted Maple neck

Alek's favorite is this Music Man Stingray 4 HH Bass

Mike HoranRepair ShopPosch DM
This vintage-styled Mahogany dreadnought delivers on so many levels. Aesthetically, the hand-rubbed sunburst Adirondack top is stunning. Leo Posch’s method highlights the depth in the Spruce that you don’t get with a spray-on burst. And the lighter stain that he uses on the back really highlights the Mahogany grain as well. As for the sound, this guitar has a broken-in, super responsive sound that is rare in new guitars. The bass end is big, without being tight, and balances well with the treble strings. The fret work is exceptional, and plays true up and down the neck. I’ve had a Posch DM for 5 years now, and continue to be inspired by it. My only regret is that my life doesn’t allow me more time with it.

Leo Paosch DM acoustic guitar

Mike H says the Posch DM 'delivers on so many levels'. Agreed!

Ted KritikosTakamine EC132SC
I love the warm presence that the “cool tube” preamp adds to the sound of this guitar.  It’s a great player too, with a nice low action from our shop.

Takamine EC132SC Classical guitar

Ted's pick, this Takamine EC132SC, comes with 'cool tube' preamp...

Jesse RobertsCollings UT-2K Koa Tenor Uke
This is simply the cadillac of ukes. Great sound and it’s gorgeous too.

Collings UT-2K Koa ukulele

Jesse's calls this Collings UT-2K Koa uke the 'cadillac of ukes'.

Anne TangemanAnderson Short T Classic
I’m not normally a tele person, but there’s something about the feel of this one I really like. The pickups too are out of this world – I think it’s a real workhorse that can do just about anything.

Anderson Short T Classic electric guitar in black finish

Anne says this Anderson Short T Classic is 'a real workhorse'.

Eric PutnamElectro Harmonix Big Muff Pi
The BM Pi is a total classic with good reason – one of the best distortion/sustains out there.

Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi distortion/sustain effects pedal

Eric's pick is a 'total classic'.

 

Isaac FlynnFender Modern Player Tele Bass
Seriously cool. This has a great retro feel, is loaded with two killer humbuckers and sounds amazing.

Fender Modern Player Tele Bass

This Fender Modern Player Tele Bass caught Isaac's eye

Zach MehlNord Stage 2 SW73 Keyboard
Sigh….

Nord Stage 2 SW73 Keyboard

This Nord Stage 2 SW73 Keyboard rendered Zach speechless...yes, it really is that cool.

ChuchoRocktron Chromatic Tuner Pedal
Even Chucho can operate this puppy with one paw. And it’s only $50.

Rocktron X Tune Chromatic Pedal Tuner

You think it's cool Chucho can use this tuner? You should see him tune his autoharp...

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