Official Luthiers Forum!

I played a McAlister last wednesday in Sylvan Music (Santa Cruz, CA). After forty minutes or so with their Goodalls, I asked if they'd let me take it out of the case. The guitar has been there for four years and has a beautifully aged Sitka top with Brazillian back and sides.

The first thing I noticed was how remarkably light it was. Second was the comfort of the neck. Third thing was that it might be the best guitar I've ever had the luck to play. Yeah, I know, it's all relative

But this guitar was amazing. It was incredibly warm, and the sound had so much space. Lots of overtone, but lots of fundamental. It was almost as if it had a short reverb built in.

Have you guys been able to play any guitars that have really stuck with you lately?

Off Topic?

James, I'm not sure if you mean new and old, but...

a friend recently gave me a short term loan of a great c.1928 Gibson L1 to study, pick on and take measurements of; think of one of the two images known of Robert Johnson that's the L1. This little box is light and is in reasonably good shape for it's age and light build. What is unique is the H style bracing (see the GAL's plan for L-O). It is kinda punchy and not unlike a ladder braced parlor guitar.

The coolest part about it is that at some point (probably the late 70s or early 80s) he walked into an antique store and found it in it's original case for the sum of $25.00.

Lately? No. But a couple of years ago I waited IN LINE to play a Kevin Ryan Nightingale at a guitar show in Spartanburg, SC. I wanted to see what the big deal was, so I skeptically stood there until the line slowly, painfully, made to me. And I sat there, for only a few minutes, putting the guitar through the 4-5 licks and little fingerstype passages that I know. And striking a harmonic or two, etc. And looking it over.

It was/is the best guitar I've ever held in my hands, and I've held hundreds, from some of the bigger names. I can't remember exactly how much it was, something like $7-8000 dollars, etc. (it was used). All guitars are subjective creatures, and they tug and pull at us from our own individual perspectives. Personally, I like dark guitars with extra bass, strong mids and just a hint of trebles...and this one had it in 10-gallon buckets - along with all the other superlatives.

It's the ONLY time in my life when I've stood around with other guitar freaks, just to watch the reactions of people while they were playing it. It was, honestly, funny.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Seems similar to your thread about playing a Heshtone at an open mic.

Andrew, that certainly applies!

Bill, I've never had the fortune to play one of Kevin's guitars. I'd certainly love to! I know what you mean about waiting around for reactions!

Difference is I didn't start the thread!!

Get your facts right before you take an immature shot...sheesh! Not long ago we had a lengthy discussion on cleaning up the content of the main page. Off Topic Discussions is there for a reason. Kindly use it.

Oh yeah to answer your original question, I play a Heshtone daily

It doesn't make any difference who started the thread unless it somehow changes the fact that you played a guitar and it was discussed. I don't think it belonged in the off-topic forum to begin with. You have to play great equipment in order to elevate your own. You have to learn how to think about it, evaluate it, and how to find out what it's best suited to do. This thread is extremely on topic, and I would love to play one of Hesh's guitars someday, too.

When I do, I'll create a thread about it. Being exposed to great guitars effects your ability to create them more than most of the things we discuss. Listening to what others like and have to say about them enables you to think about them in deeper ways. It will, inequivocably, come out in what you do.

Bang your head against a wall if you want to, congratulate yourself with your friends, and enjoy the status quo.