Review: Taylor’s GTe Urban Ash Is a Little Guitar that Packs a Punch
The smaller Taylor GTe doesn’t feel like a travel guitar and plays and sounds like a front-line instrument; the TaylorSense App helps you maintain it.
Emile Menasché
Guitarist, composer, writer.
Review: Breedlove Pursuit Exotic S Concert Edgeburst CE Features Sustainable Tonewoods
The Breedlove Pursuit Exotic S Concert Edgeburst CE, constructed with responsibly-sourced woods, is an attractive and well-made guitar at a reasonable price.
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How CEO James ‘JC’ Curleigh Is Using Lessons from Levi’s to Spur Gibson Guitars’ Revival
James “JC” Curleigh is using his experience revitalizing the Levi's brand to do the same with Gibson guitars after taking the reins as CEO in 2018.
Guitar Review: Furch Blue MM Dreadnought Offers Warm and Surprising Tonal Colors
If I had to pick two words to describe the Furch Blue MM, they would be “Play me!” Right out of the box, this mahogany acoustic-electric dreadnought felt ready to make music.
Gear Review: Beyerdynamic TG I51 Dynamic Microphone Delivers Onstage or in the Studio
The Beyerdynamic TG I51 is well-built, affordable, and has a very wide frequency response. For the acoustic guitarist, it has something to offer both on the stage and in the studio.
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Gear Review: Body Sensors Take Fishman PowerTap Rare Earth and Infinity Pickups to a New Level
Fishman’s new PowerTap series mates either a soundhole or undersaddle pickup to its new TAP (which stands for Touch, Ambience, and Percussion) body sensors. The sensors are designed to capture percussive elements, body resonances, and performance dynamics that pickups alone tend to miss.
Review: Taylor’s American Dream AD27 Delivers All the Tone Without the Frills
The American Dream is alive, well, and living near San Diego, at least if you’ve been dreaming of an affordable American-made, all-solid-wood Taylor guitar. Launched in the midst of the pandemic, Taylor says its new American Dream series was “born…
Gear Review: Lava Me 2 Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar
While carbon fiber guitars are unlikely to supplant wooden guitars anytime soon, the Lava Me 2 seems less eccentric than it would have even a few years ago.
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Gear Review: Gold Tone PBS-D
The Gold Tone PBS-D—or Paul Beard PB Signature-Series Squareneck Resonator Deluxe Guitar—is an elegant instrument with a homespun sound. In terms of looks, materials, and tone, it covers all the bases for slide players looking for high performance in a traditional package.
Beyond Flattops: The Magic of Baritone Guitars
If the baritone guitar were a basketball player, it would end up on the scouting report as a tweener—a player whose size and skills don’t fit a standard position.
Gear Review: DPA 4099 CORE Instrument Microphone
DPA’s series of 4099 CORE microphones includes models designed to cover a wide range of instruments, depending on their sound-pressure levels. Each mic features some important qualities—a small footprint, a pre-polarized supercardioid condenser capsule, and mounting hardware optimized for the instrument in question.
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Beyond Flattops: The Magic of Resonator, Baritone, and Archtop Guitars
The wide tonal palette of acoustic guitars includes archtop, resonator, and baritone colors. Here's more about the history, makers, and players of these instruments.
Makers & Shakers: A Chat with Nylon-String Luthier Stephan Connor
Cape Cod, Massachusetts–based luthier Stephan Connor has built a world-class reputation by taking a fresh approach to what may be the most traditional branch of guitar building.
Gear Review: Yamaha CSF-TA
Few musical pleasures compare to playing well-made small guitars. They’re comfortable. They resonate easily. They reward a subtle touch in ways few of their big siblings can match.
