By Michael Stierhoff- The GuitarYouDreamAbout.com
It doesn’t matter if you play acoustic, electric or bass guitar
or how long you have been playing or how experienced you are. At some point you
will recognize that something could be better and your instrument has a lot to
do with how well you play.
I was a Rush fanatic when I purchased an Ovation acoustic
guitar; I was convinced that it would give me the edge to play Alex Lifeson acoustic
parts live and there is no doubt that it was a quality instrument.
But relatively quickly, I realized that the fingerboard was far too narrow and in the long run I learned that wide fingerboards with D profile necks are best for my hands.
In a lot of ways, I was lucky with that Ovation. I sold it at a profit and my personal style evolved rather rapidly.
But relatively quickly, I realized that the fingerboard was far too narrow and in the long run I learned that wide fingerboards with D profile necks are best for my hands.
In a lot of ways, I was lucky with that Ovation. I sold it at a profit and my personal style evolved rather rapidly.
  |
| Alex Lifeson with Ovation Acoustics |
If you’ve been
playing for a while, you probably are also aware that your perfect guitar probably isn’t the perfect guitar for your best friend
or for your favorite musician… we’re all different and we can waste a
lot of time and money when we imagine that the perfect instrument for someone
else is perfect for us.
That’s one of the big ‘takeaways’ that you will see throughout
the BornAgainGuitars blog— your perfect guitar (or perfect guitars depending on
the breadth and depth of your interests) is usually rather specialized; it supports
your requirements 100% and anything else just gets in the way.
Tone, feel, aesthetics— everything
that contributes to your ability to play your best should be considered. From
styles of music to hand size or balancing cutting-edge technology against
classic mojo, the perfect guitar can be a lifelong quest.
At BornAgainGuitars, we can speed up the process and help
you discover the exact sound and feel that you need to play your best.
Sometimes we setup and update your current instrument and sometimes we build from scratch.
We look at all of the variables and that gives you lots of options:
Optimization
From bridge adjustments, fret crowning, polishing and new nuts to repairs and touching up the finish, optimization is a relatively inexpensive way to make your current instrument a
perfect instrument. We have plenty of tweaking experience, making small changes that provide
dramatic results (string gauge, composition and height is a great example).
Ultimately, custom designs offer an incredible value because tone, aesthetics and playability are interwoven… form may follow function, but you can really make it ‘pop’ when all of your goals are built into the design.
So now you know what it takes to find your perfect guitar, give us a call! At BornAgainGuitars,
we have the experience to translate your needs into the instrument that meets your
ergonomic, economic and tonal requirements:
If your current instrument is already ‘in
the ballpark’, setup and restoration is often the best way to protect your
investment and make playing more enjoyable.
Upgrades and Modifications
From locking nuts and tuners to electronics, medium changes can make extreme
differences. If you have the right platform (perhaps a guitar that feels perfect)
modifications that build on a solid foundation can be hard to beat.
One of my personal favorite approaches is to find electric
guitars that feel good and sound good unplugged.
It’s relatively easy to design electronics that build on a great natural sound. Half-Out-of-Phase
Telecasters, Spin-a-split Les Pauls or TV Jones pickups on an inexpensive Gretsch
Jet; all are relatively simple modifications and combinations that can add tons of color and edge to your sound.
(Here's our Cover Guitar Series for those who need a single guitar that provides a lot of diversity for
live performances and Turning a Parker NiteFly into a great Cover Guitar. )
Of course you need a stable, solid instrument as a starting
point and it is essential to understand the end goals up front. That’s how BornAgainGuitars works, it a
cumulative process, and mods and upgrades are a relatively fast and
cost-effective way to create your perfect guitar.
Custom Design
As you would expect, custom designs are the ultimate opportunity
to build exactly what you need. As with optimization and modification, it’s
crucial to consider all of the variables. Of course, the great news with a custom
design is that everything is possible.
From scale length to wood selection, remember that
BornAgainGuitars founder, Hans Boyesen, went to Luthier school to give you
every possible option. (And keep in mind that he already had the artistic experience
and imagine how Abalone and Mother of Pearl inlays add aesthetic and monetary value.)
 |
| Boyesen Engraving |
 |
| Boyesen Custom OO |
 |
| Boyesen Custom Tele with Inlay |
Ultimately, custom designs offer an incredible value because tone, aesthetics and playability are interwoven… form may follow function, but you can really make it ‘pop’ when all of your goals are built into the design.
1. Technical knowledge to optimize your current
acoustic, electric, or bass
2. Tone and touch experience to refine, modify and
restore your current instrument
3. Design and artistic experience to build an
entirely custom instrument
No comments:
Post a Comment