ACOUSTICS
DEAN PERFORMER E/A
Well, I had to replace one Dean acoustic with another one, although, I wish I didn't have to do it.
Back in 2003, I purchased a Dean Nouveau CR - my first real acoustic/electric guitar. It had cool Shadow electronics and a very unique body shape. But during the summer of 2005, it got smashed. A long story. Let's just say someone's rage against me was taken out on one of my beloved instruments. But everything can be replaced.
I wasn't sure which guitar would replace the Nouveau. I was considering a Carvin Cobalt and a couple of Takamine models. I even was pricing used Taylors on eBay. But nothing really was catching my eye. I finally saw what I wanted in late October 2005 as I was looking through a Musician's Friend music catalog. The catalog had Dean Performer E/A guitars for just $299! The body shape wasn't as cool as the Nouveau, but it did come stock with Fishman electronics and flamed maple top, back, and sides. I also had a 10% off coupon, so the guitar cost me only $270 - and I was able to use my original Nouveau hardshell case.
As with my last Dean acoustic, I swapped out the stock Grover tuners for black locking Grovers. I also added black Schaller straplocks. I even replaced the stock bridge pins with Planet Waves ebony pins. Not too many modifications.
The guitar sounds great and after I lowered the action by filing down the saddle, it plays great, too! I actually plugged it in and recorded it the night I received it for the verse sections for a song titled Waiting off of Amor Del Mar. Let's just hope this guitar lasts a few more years.
November 2005
JOHNSON 000 HERRINGBONE-S
My tribute guitar to a true guitar hero.
After reading a couple of books about blues legend Robert Johnson and checking out his limited recordings (he died in 1938), I got on a Johnson kick. And what better way to celebrate the guy's achievements than to buy a Johnson (no relation) 000 model. I ordered the straight acoustic (no electronics) from Instrument Pro in California for a little over $200. It's a simple guitar - nothing too fancy. And not much to upgrade.
Since there is no pickup/electronics or bridge hardware, I was limited to the number of modifications I could perform. I upgraded the stock tuners to chrome Wilkinson EZ-Lok tuners. Not the greatest tuners (they don't truly lock!), but they work fine on this guitar. I then replaced the stock bridge pins with real ebony bridge pins from Stewart MacDonald. But I couldn't stop there.
I purposely scratched up the body in strategic places to "relic" the gloss finish and give the guitar a nice, worn look and feel. I took some steel wool to the back of the neck. I also had to level one of the frets, but considering what I paid, it was no big deal.
It's a great guitar for louder couch-strumming and it stays in tune well. And it's also the only guitar I own that does not have Schaller straplocks or a case/bag. Doesn't need either.
THE Robert Johnson
September 2007
YAMAHA APXT-1N
There must be something about acoustic guitars - there's nothing left to mod! I bought my 23.6" scale Yamaha APXT-1N in August 1997 (during my Summer of 97 bonanza), at Guitar Trader in San Diego. (The APXT-1N is the mini "travel" model of the Yamaha APX 500.) They had a steel-string model and a "classical" model - both with electronics. I chose the nylon-stringed version. I even took it on a few trips, as its small size makes it a great travel guitar.
As far as mods, I just replaced the stock strap buttons with Schaller straplocks and added Schaller locking tuners. The set screws for the tuners are totally stripped - there's no way they're ever coming off! I also replaced the chrome tuning buttons (just the buttons) with Schaller ebony (real wood!) buttons. Believe it or not, this helped balance the guitar, as it tended to be top heavy. I also replaced the plastic football jack plate with a heavier chrome jack plate. This helped the balance issue, too.
This guitar has a pretty good sound unplugged, and I can coax a really good tone out of it plugged in for recording. It's just a cheap, stock, Yamaha piezo pickup, but it works. The preamp comes with one volume and one tone - real simple. I use ball-end nylon strings because I've tied off nylon strings before and it's quite difficult. This guitar has shined in a couple of my songs, most notably in the solo break in my song Lime (11 expressions of me).
May 2002
Other acoustic beasts:
Agile HEA-30B5 Bass
previous story back to the BEHIND THE GUITARS page next story