Standard Series Are In Stock.

Hello,

Sorry for the long wait, the full range of the standard series are in stock now. :)

Regards,

Isaiah

On a tight budget??

Good news for those on a tight budget this December. The SA1 is now available @ $199 with a free w400 bag. here is a lil preview of this value for money instrument.

SA-1

The Grand Auditorium version of the SD-1 is the perfect start for a student pursuing fingerstyle playing. Also built with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, the Grand Auditorium shape gives better articulation on the highs and lows, bringing out intricate melodies effortlessly.

Detailed Specifications

Top: Sitka Spruce Laminated

Back: Mahogany

Sides: Mahogany

Neck: Nato

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Nut: Cow Bone

Saddle: Cow Bone

Machine Head: Die-Cast Chrome

Finishing: Natural, Gloss

Truss Rod: Double Action

Body-Neck Joint: Bolt-on

String Length: 650mm

Fret Board Marker: 4mm Pearl

Fret Board Side: 2mm marker

Body Shape: Grand Auditorium

Bracing: X-Bracing

Pickguard: NIL

Bridge: Rosewood

Strings: D'addario Strings EXP16

Lucky Dip!

Hello Friends,

This December for every $100 dollar spent in a single receipt, you get a shot at the lucky dip.
Prizes include discount coupons, freebies and even a pignose amplifier. See you guys soon!
Terms and Conditions apply.

Regards,
Isaiah

Guitar Of The Month DEC:

SA-3

Built with the same specifications as the SD-3, this guitar delivers a very crisp and clear tone for fingerpickers. Switching between styles is easy, with the rosewood back and sides producing a warm, full bass adequate for strumming.

Detailed Specifications

Top: Sitka Spruce Laminated

Back: Rosewood

Sides: Rosewood

Neck: Nato

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Nut: Cow Bone

Saddle: Cow Bone

Machine Head: Die-Cast Gold

Finishing: Natural, Gloss

Truss Rod: Double Action

Body-Neck Joint: Bolt-on

String Length: 650mm

Fret Board Marker: 4mm Abalone

Fret Board Side: 2mm marker

Body Shape: Grand Auditorium

Bracing: X-Bracing

Pickguard: NIL

Bridge: Rosewood

Strings: D'addario Strings EXP16

*bag not included*

The Spider-Capo Review.

Hi guitar-loving folks,

we are back with another capo review. This time round, we are really excited about this totally radical and new capo; the six-legged Spider-Capo.


Yes, arachnids usually have eight-legs, but this little here fellow gave up two for the sake of the guitar. That is the spirit.

The Spider-Capo caught our attention at NAMM '09 and we were so impressed that we decided to bring it back to Singapore.
I am sure you would just as impressed with it as we are. The guys in the shop just cannot get their hands off the demo-set.

OVERVIEW:
What makes the Spider-Capo different and so innovative is its ability to capo individual strings.
The six 'legs' can be adjusted individually, meaning you can choose exactly which string(s) you want depressed.

This is a far departure from the standard capos or even partial capos.
Most partial capos can do what the Spider-capo can do only to a limited extent. In the sense that the strings depressed have to be sequential, such as "333000", etc.
The Spider-Capo allows configurations that are previously impossible on other capos such as "030303" or "300330", so on and so forth. All these without having to touch the tuner-heads at all.

If you want something even more insane, you can always buy two or more Spider-Capos, and have one on each fret of your choice and get something like "577555", etc.

The whole idea is that the Spider-Capo opens up a whole new dimension to tunings with its versatility and innovative design.

Here is a video on how the Spider-Capo works:

CONSTRUCTION ANALYSIS:
I have the Spider-Capo in my hands now and I must say it is built very well. Workmanship is great, all moving parts twist, slide and turn with a smooth solidness.
The main-bulk of the Spider-Capo is made of some sort of hard-plastic, the screw and claws are made of stainless steel, on the claws itself where it comes into contact with your guitar, there is nice thick pad of genuine ox-leather, a nice luxurious touch.
All in good, good and solid construction, nothing that is potentially worrying.

USAGE ANALYSIS:
The Spider-Capo is not spring-loaded nor does it have the self-clamping mechanism of the Shubb Capos.
You need to manually fiddle with the screw; positioning it where you want it on the neck and tighten the screw to clamp the capo down tight onto the neck. Changing positions requires the same methodology, unscrew, re-position and tighten. This might prove to be a hindrance to those who need quick changes and switchings of the capo.

Upon the first usage of the Spider-Capo, you have to position the individual legs above the strings, and although it sounds daunting, it actually does not take more than a mintue. And you do not have to repeat this step unless you are moving way down the neck or onto another guitar where the string-spacings might differ.

When in position, you simply turn the 'legs' down to clamp onto the desired strings.

As I usually do when trying capos, I will check if the said capo would cause my tuning to go off. I am glad to report that after extended usage of the Spider-Capo, it does not pull my string out of tune.

When capo-ed, all strings ring out cleanly and correctly, i,e, in tune. No problems whatsoever encountered.

SUMMARY:
The only foreseeable gripe that anyone might have with the Spider-Capo is the ease of re-positioning.
The screw mechanism makes lightning quick re-positioning of the capo near impossible.
However, that is not something I would worry about excessively because for quick-changes, I can easily rely on my regular Shubb Capo.

I would buy a Spider-Capo for what it offers and does best, and that is the sheer versatility and flexibility it offers with regards to tuning possibilities. It does what it says it does superbly well, and that in itself is more than enough for me.

So if you are looking for something to spice up your playing, or have always wanted to try out some new and exotic tunings without the hassle of re-tuning, then the Spider-Capo would prove to be a very worthy investment for it would open up many new possibilities in your guitar playing.

regards,

Phil

Capo Talk + Shubb Capo Review!

Hello again and today we will be talking in general about capos and also reviewing the Shubb Capo.

To me, a capo is a necessity. And of all the different capos that I have used over the years, the Shubb is still the best that I have encountered; they are versatile, well-made and reliable. And frankly, they are the only capos that I will recommend other guitarists.

For the uninitiated, a capo basically allows you to shorten the length of the guitar’s neck, which allows you to change the key without having to re-tune your guitar or transposing the music by using a whole new set of chords.

This is especially handy when playing songs that were written for someone else and you need to change the key of the song to suit your vocal range. And when playing fingerstyle, the capo can add some interesting pitch variations.

Another use of a capo is to allow guitar players to harmonise alongside each other easily. Say, if my rhythm guitarist is playing in the key of E major, I can simply capo on the fourth fret and play an alternate version of the same tune in the key of C, and that adds a whole new dimension to the piece. I can put the capo on the seventh fret and play the tune with chords from the key of A and instantly I would get chiming, angelic harmonics of a pseudo-mandolin.

As you can see, a capo is indispensable.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alright, now we shall draw our attention back to the Shubb capo in particular.

The one I have on hand for the review is the Deluxe version, which costs around SGD 8 more than the standard version. This 8 bucks gets you a ball-bearing roller at the end of the tightening screw instead of the usual rubberised tip seen on the standards.

When one locks the capo the screw presses up against the padded lever, which in turn presses against the back of the guitar's neck. The deluxe version's roller is attached to a flexible piece of steel that sits between the screw and padded lever. The screw is used to set the height of the roller, but when you lock the capo into the position the roller moves along the length of the padded lever and wedges into place tightly and more securely.

This capo simply oozes quality. I love how it feels so substantial and sturdy, and how everything is so well-crafted and precise, and that its made with stainless steel and that the joints are all riveted. And should the rubber sleeve ever wear out on you, Shubb offers to replace it with a new one for the duration of, you guessed it; a lifetime.

Usage wise, it cannot be easier. The capo's fretting bar is held in place against the back of the neck with a lever that has a soft, rubber pad so that no metal comes into contact with the guitar itself. This lever is clamped into place with a second lever that has a screw passing through it so the capo's tightness may be adjusted depending on the thickness of the guitar's neck. To use the capo you simply lines up the rubber sleeve over the strings and closes the lowest lever into the locked position.

Some capos require that you manually apply the same amount of pressure each time in order to get acceptable results. With the Shubb, once the adjusting screw is set for your instrument, you will get the same results each time. I am a fan of consistency.

And the most important and impressive thing about the Shubb it does not cause you to go out of tune with repeated usage. Some capos will stretch the string out of tune, and this is due to them using a material that presses the strings far too hard; this bends the strings all the way over the fret, hence stretching it sharp. The effect of this problem is even more drastic on the thicker wound strings.

The Shubb, fortunately, does not have this problem. I tested it by first checking my tuning then applying the capo and various positions and re-checking the tuning, this was repeated several times and the Shubb did not alter my tuning the slightest bit.

The reason is that the Shubb uses a unique material that acts just your our fingertips, and also the closing action works just like a hand. As such, when engaged it simply bends the strings over the frets like how we would fret a note instead of violently clamping it down. The rubber pads acts just like the flesh on our fingertips while the steel rod acts like the bone within the finger that reinforces everything.

Aside from that, there is another thing that the Shubb can. And that is to use a standard model as a 'partial' capo. Of course, this ‘trick’ is only limited to excluding one or at the most two strings, but that is more than enough for my usage.

You can position the Shubb around the treble side such that it leaves out the low E, and you instantly have a Drop E tuning. You can invert the orientation and expose the B and or high E, use these further up the neck for Celtic tunings like DADGAD, or blues tunings like Open G, etc. You get the idea. The possibilities are endless and no other standard capos can achieve these. Yet. Of course, you can use a partial capo, but then a partial capo cannot serve as a regular capo.

Also, the Shubb is a lot more accommodating than other capos. In the sense that it suits necks of different thickness and wideness. It fits the standard neck profiles, in addition to that, vintage 'V' profiles or even a more pronounced deep 'C' are not a problem. I cannot say the same for other capos, which I often encounter gripping problems when using it with necks that are slightly wider or have a more pronounced profile to the neck.

So, to sum it up, the Shubb Deluxe capo is my choice, as how it is for many other guitarists out there seeing how they have sold millions upon millions of this unit. Or how people like David Gilmour, John Jorgeson, Peter Grant, Dave Hawkins, Johnny Hiland, Andy Mckee, Pete Seeger, Brian Setzer, etc are also using the Shubb.

It has all the features that I need and more, and by the looks of it, it will probably last me a lifetime or at least until I misplace it. What more can I ask for?

regards,

Phil

**I humbly stand corrected that only the Shubb can act as a partial capo. Other capos like the Kyser can do the same and more.

Cantata Classical Guitar Strings Review.

Today we will be talking about the Cantata classical guitar strings from Medina Artigas.

These strings are made in Argentina and they have quite an ardent following, and we shall see why today.

The company Medina Artigas is renowned for their strings and they have a reputation of utilising the best materials and workmanship for their products.Many professional classical guitarists swear by their strings, so when reviewing the Cantatas, I cannot help but to have some innate high-expectations for them. 

The Cantatas are packed in a simple paper box, which is to my preference because the simpler it is, the cheaper the overall cost. The packaging is going to the trash anyway.
Inside, the strings are packed sealed in an air-tight plastic wrap, and within it, each individual string is housed in an anti-corrosion paper wraps. So far so good, at least I know the strings will
be fresh when I open them.
And for the record, the strings were fresh when I opened them. No visible signs of tarnishing on any of the silver-plated strings.

On the packaging and website they claim that the Cantatas have a 'rich' and 'powerful' tone.

Pretty generic description, if you ask me. But after playing with the Cantatas for just 5 minutes, I am pretty much convinced.

They are indeed louder and pack more volume than other strings of a similar tension that I have tried, not really an incredible increase, but definitely an audible increase in projection.

But they were not kidding when they claimed that the Cantatas sounded rich; arpeggiated runs from the middle to higher frets yield an amazing liveliness that I have never encountered with other strings so far.
And there is an excellent balance between the bass and treble strings, which is a god-sent because I abhor strings with a bass-response so overpowering that it completely muffles the highs, vice versa

Furthermore, the strings are also very dynamic and touch-sensitive. Light touches give you a clear, gentle rings while heavier strokes sound absolutely bold and commanding.

Feel-wise, they are outstanding too.

They offer very minimal resistance when I tried a continuos rasgueo; they are smooth and even and it makes everything very playable and enjoyable

I can now see why people are raving over the Cantatas, and why Cacho Tirao loves them so much.

So if you are looking for an affordable set of good-sounding classical guitar strings, I highly recommend the Medina Artigas Cantata.

regards,

Phil

Dehumidifier!

The next best thing you can do for your guitar besides playing it, is to dehumidify it. 

Simply because Singapore is pretty much as humid as it gets.

And just like how we need air-conditioning, our guitars need a dehumidifying.

The relative humidity level refers to the amount of moisture in the surrounding atmosphere.

The optimum humidity level for acoustic guitars is roughly 50%.It ranges from a startling 75%-90% here on our tropical island city.

High humidity level causes the belly of an acoustic guitar to bulge, the neck to warp, it makes the guitar sound muffled and blanketed due to the moisture content in the wood which dampens the tone, and a host of other problems.

This is especially prevalent for acoustic guitars with solid tops, and even more so for  full-solid acoustic guitars. Solid wood is much more susceptible to moisture as compared to laminated wood.

Due to the nature of its construction (the glue and layerings involved in laminated wood), laminated wood is more impervious to high humidity levels. However, this same factor also inhibits its tone as the layers and glue greatly reduce the wood's ability to vibrate freely. 

In essence, they do not sound as good as solid wood, and they do not get seasoned with time and playing. But, they are hardier and require much less care.

For those with a tight budget or a small collection of guitars, we have ingenious products as the Zorb-It (SEE HERE) to help with the evils of humidity.

However, if you are looking for the ultimate solution, then look no further than an electric dehumidifier. It is by far the most efficient and effective method of keeping the relative humidity level at a constant of 50%.

If you have some valuable guitars that you want to maintain at optimum condition, then please do yourself a favor and invest in a dehumidifier.

It really is a worthy investment, and it will pay its dues in the long run. You will save yourself a lot of trouble, headache and worry. And your lovely guitar will thank you for it, for it will last longer, play better and sound much better. 

We have two models of dehumidifiers available, the DC930 ($469) and HD320 ($599), with a maximum capacity of 15L and 22L respectively. The maximum capacity is basically how much water it can absorb and hold in its tank before requiring you to empty it.

We are now offering them this special limited promotional price coupled with a free delivery.

For further enquiries, please feel free to give us a call at any of our outlets or drop by for a chat with us.

regards,

Phil

Books and DVDs.

We carry a wide selection of imported musical instructionals, tablature and DVDs at the Maestro Living Room @ Parklane.



(Click to Enlarge)



For the books, we have various instructionals for;
- various styles of guitar playing (blues, classical, flamenco)
- ukulele
- banjo
- harmonica
- singing

And for the DVDs, we have great titles from;
- Chet Atkins
- Martin Taylor
- Ana Vidovic
- Doc Watson
- Andrew York
- Peter Bernstein
- Juan Serrano
- Jerry Reed
- Rodney Jones
- Frank Vignola
- Muriel Anderson

and many more!


Do drop by to check them out at the Maestro Living Room.
There will surely be something that appeals to you.

regards,
Phil

Guitar Of The Month: November

ED-2

The next level up from the ED-1, this guitar features African Ovangkol on its back and sides giving it a unique mid-mellow character to its tone. Finished in matt, the ED-2 has got much to offer for players who like both strumming and fingerstyle. Dubbed as our “All Rounder”, this guitar lives up to its name with its versatility.

Detailed Specifications

Top: Solid Sitka Spruce Grade A+
Back: Ovangkol
Sides: Ovangkol
Neck: Nato
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Nut: Cow Bone
Saddle: Cow Bone
Machine Head: Grover Chrome
Finishing: Natural, Matt
Truss Rod: Double Action
Body-Neck Joint: Bolt-on
String Length: 650mm
Fret Board Marker: 4mm Pearl
Fret Board Side: 2mm marker
Body Shape: 41" Dreadnought
Bracing: X-Bracing
Pickguard: NIL
Bridge: Rosewood
Strings: D'addario Strings EXP16