Small Body Guitars

Comment

Comment by FloridaGull on January 17, 2012 at 10:34am

Here's a nice one - a 2011 Wechter Nashville tuned parlor:

And the link:

http://www.gbase.com/gear/wechter-nashville-tuned-parlor-2011-natur...

$489 - solid cedar top - very nice!  Perhaps someone can tell me what Nashville tuning is?  Yes, I could look it up...

Comment by Michael T. Swisher on January 16, 2012 at 12:22pm

Mike,

Regarding your question. Yes that's it. The older I get the fuzzier my memory.

Peace,

Michael

Comment by Phil Manuel on January 16, 2012 at 9:29am

Oh, I've not seen that type. Looks like they might work for me too. Thanks for the link, going to get some to try, as I like the idea of "feeling" the string. I don't play much classical anymore, but getting the touch of the string is a good thing.

Comment by Robin June Nakkula on January 16, 2012 at 8:32am

I've had good success with the Guptill ProPiks, the Fingertones with the open area over your finger's pad.

http://www.guptillmusic.com/propik/fingertone.html

I play both classical and fingerstyle (as well as flatpick when the song's energy calls for it). The ProPiks with my steelstring guitars permit me the feel of the string that I'm used to from nylon-playing, but they protect my nails from the steel strings chewing them up. That way,when it's time for classical guitar rehearsal, I stand a better chance of still having nails for the nylon strings.

Comment by Phil Manuel on January 16, 2012 at 8:23am

I tried fingerpicks of all types about 20years ago, and never really was comfortable with them. So, I used my nails,mtaking care of them daily was a chore, but a necessity. As I got older, my nails got more brittle, and no matter the attention to them, I just couldn't keep them in shape for fingerstylemor classical.

I went back to a hybrid picking style I used when I played electric guitars. Then, I started listening to my old Jorma Kaukonen and Hot Tuna albums again. I was determined to learn how to use fingerpicks to get that sound. It was a struggle, but finally after about six months, I found my way with them. I use some Dunlap brass fingerpicks on my index and middle finger, and either a Fred Kelley Bumblebee thumbpick or a Golden Gate pearloid thumbpick. I have some brass ProPiks, as a backup, too. I do find they do add some "noise" when I get lazy about picking, but generally they work fine.

For me, I just didn't feel the Alaska picks worked, hurt my nails, and I just don't like the idead of fussing with gluing and shaping nails anymore. So, I guess it just comes down to what works for you may not work for someone else. I think it's always worthwhile to exlpore your options, thennyou can narrow your choices.

Comment by Mike Nepper on January 16, 2012 at 7:41am

Michael, Online, I couldn't find any cream made by Hoofmaster's specifically, but there is some called "Mane and Tail HoofMAKER" cream. Is that it?

Comment by Michael T. Swisher on January 15, 2012 at 10:05pm

Mike,

When I started back to fingerstyle playing, I had some issues. My nails are pretty darn hard, however, my thumbnail kept spiting so I had to use a thumbpick. Then my first finger's nail started to shred (It grew slowly and unevenly since an ugly oops when I was a kid). Man was it frustrating. I read about this hand cream called 'Hoofmaster's' on some classical sites. I found it at a grocery store (not expensive) and used it for six months. My cuticles cleaned up and the splitting went away and even my weak nail got strong enough to not notice anymore. I keep my nails between about 1/8 to 1/4 inch and only use the cream about once a week now.

It felt great to toss the thumbpicks away and stop feeling inept for not being able to use fingerpicks well.

Fussing over your nails – even a little – is not for everybody. But it might be worth a shot. The guitar sounds better and no worries about super glue.

Peace,

Michael

Comment by Mike Nepper on January 15, 2012 at 7:58pm

So, I thought I would give you guys sort of a long term update on the Alaska Piks.  I have been using the Alaska piks since about March or April last year as some of you may remember in discussions on this group. They have been "OK" as fingerpicks go............good things about them are you don't put nasty crap on your nails, they are cheap, and last for months. Bad things are you never really get the precision i.e. they are bulky and loose and worse there is some unwanted pick noise. Now, people like Mark Hanson, James Taylor, Ed Gerhard use plastic nails from the drugstore and do about half the nail with super glue and just shape to suit with files. Trouble with those plastic jobs is they are very thin and don't last long. So, today I cut the back section off the Alaska pik and glued that to my nail and shaped them. Just an experiment you see, and yeah, I know they look like crap, but immediately the improvement in feel and control is huge! I gave the Alaska Piks a good long run. My opinion is the loss of control and the pick noise is sending me back to fake nails. If I can find some thicker plastic ones that look better, I'll do that. In the meantime, this works surprisingly well. 

Comment by Jeremy Ray Williams on January 15, 2012 at 11:55am

Hello Craig and Gary,

 These guitars you have are awesome as well. Most people under estimate the power of the small side! Thanks for the pics and inspiration to stick with small body guitars.

Comment by FloridaGull on January 15, 2012 at 10:19am

I don't, either - unless it comes down to an Art & Lutherie AMI or a Walden T550 (a Taylor GS Mini dimensional and material equivalent at half the price), and the Walden's nut is jut a touch smaller, and the overall guitar would be a better fit for my daughter, who is quite petite...

I should be getting the Walden sometime during the week of the 23rd - I'll post pics and stuff then...

My son may be getting a folk sized Art & Lutherie or Simon & Patrick (or Walden O550) for his birthday in April... :-)

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