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FEATURES_____________________________________

14 Guitar Maintenance By Jas Obrecht

Spending too much cash on getting your guitar to play right? There are

several procedures that owners can—and should- do themselves. Master

repairman Dan Erlewine troubleshoots the guitar from the headstock down.

24 Effects On Records By Jas Obrecht

From stock volume knobs and toggle switches to complex analog delays,

guitar effects devices have colored records since the '40s. Here we examine

the first—and most memorable—appearances of 17 effects on vinyl.

32 Inlay Artistry By Jim Ferguson

The use of decorative inlay in instruments is practically as old as music itself.

This article explains materials, tools, and procedures, and includes a gallery

of work by some ol lutherie's most prominent artists.

38 Alternative Electrics By Jim Ferguson

While large companies strive to build instruments having wide appeal, it *s

often the individual luthier who leads the field in design creativity. Here seven

builders departures from conventional guitar design are profiled.

49 Cheap Thrills By Teisco Del Rcy

A rogues gallery of flea market specials, pawnshop refugees, and other

cheese-o guitars. Scorned by many, these offbeat specimens provide new

looks and new sounds. Bonus: Bargain beauties in pulsating color.

57 Multi-Effects & Programmers By Tom Mulhern

First came effects, then pedalboards, and now integrated units combining

several signal processors. Some remember various combinations of effects,

and others allow for presetting the order in which units are interconnected.

74 In Color: Arch-Tops By Tom Wheeler

A collection of acoustics and electrics representing builders from Orville

Gibson to Jimmy D’Aquisto. companies from Martin to Gretsch.

80 How Strings Are Made By David Aizofon

GHS tour: Follow the construction from raw materials to packaged product,

and learn how quality is maintained through miles of wire. silk, and nylon-

97 Radical Acoustics By David Aizofon

Five contemporary luthiers and inventors expand upon traditional designs

by reshaping the guitar’s soundboard, crafting hybrids, and increasing

strings to 31. necks to four, and soundholes to three.

109 Tubes: A Primer B) r. Aspen pittm«n

The characteristic tube sound is well known, yet the actual operation of the

glowing glass-and-metal devices is rarely understood. Here's a look at how

tubes are constructed, how they work, and why their effect is so distinctive.

WORKSHOPS

12 Rare Bird

1956 ES-350T: The Byrdland's less

fancy short-scale cousin.

120 Craig Anderton

The anatomy of sophisticated fuzz-

tones. With electronic diagrams.

122 Herb Mickman

Buying a bass: The best doesn’t have

to be expensive. Find out why.

DEPARTMENTS

6 Books

George Gruhn reviews Tom Wheeler's

new encyclopedia. American Guitars.

8 Patent Search

Gibson’s mid-’30s lap steel: The com-

pany's first solidbody and a vehicle for

the early Charlie Christian pickup.

116 Questions

Charlie Christian’s amps. Pete Town-

shend's guitar, impedance, and more.

118 Product Profile

The Jim Kelley FACS amp offers

sonic versatility and packs a strong

punch.

126 It’s New

Compact Fender amps, Hamer's Andy

Summers-designed solidbody, modu-

lar effects, and steer horn picks.

134 Crosscheck

An index of editorial references to this

issue's artists and manufacturers.

136 Advertiser Index

This issue's equipment, schools, pub-

lications. retailers, and more.