Showing posts with label Sustainable Wood Guitar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sustainable Wood Guitar. Show all posts

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Planet Waves Renew String Cleaning System

Planet Waves Renew String Cleaning System can give your strings new life

Some musicians are almost fanatical about changing strings while other prefer to leave them on forever as the enjoy that "dead string" sound.  I suppose I'm somewhere in the middle.  However I'm almost fanatical about washing my hands before I pick up my guitar and wiping them off after I'm done.  I also rotate between four guitars and an Autoharp so my strings generally don't go dead from use but old age. If you scratch the surface of your guitar strings and notice a lot of gunk coming off, or notice black patches of discoloration, well, it's time for a change.

All the same, let's say you get a call to fill in at a gig tonight.  With everything else that you have to do, you're not going to have time to change your guitar strings.  So what's to do?  Even if you had the time to change strings, new ones are going to constantly go out of tune that evening even with stretching them in.  Also sometimes when you change strings, it can throw off your neck adjustment especially if you go from  medium gauge to light.

Well, rather than go through all of that,  you can use Planet Waves Renew String Cleaning System. 
This system is so ridiculously quick & easy that you can
pretty much, clean your strings and pack your guitar up in seconds. It's really a time saver in a pinch or can be part of your regular guitar maintenance program.

You get two cleaning tools with extra replaceable pads and solution.  Simply moisten the pad with the cleaner, loosen your strings and run the tool up and down the fretboard as shown in the lead photo.  It even cleans the string's top and bottom.
That's it!  Re-tighten your strings and tune your guitar...you're done.  It really does clean your strings from grease, dirt and other debris too small to be seen with the naked eye.  However, you'll hear the difference immediately.

Deadbeat strings sound light and bright again and feel nice and smooth.  Of course you can add Nut Sauce to lubricate parts where the strings come in contact with your guitar, (the nut and the bridge), but the strings themselves will look and sound almost like a fresh set.   I've used this system on both naked and coated guitar strings and it made no difference.  Both types came out ringing clean.

So if you're in a hurry or would just like to keep your strings extra clean between restringing, consider Planet Waves String Renewal System.  It will save you both time and money both of which are often in short supply these days!
PW Renew System Tool
 


Planet Waves Renew String Cleaning System can be taken along on tour to clean your strings right before a show

Saturday, May 1, 2010

C.F. Martin's Gig Bag


Get your kicks on Route 66! C.F. Martin's 52BGB Dreadnought Gig Bag hits the road in this classic 1964 Mercury Caliente. Western Concho Hat by Dorfman Pacific.

Review of C.F. Martin's 52BGB Dreadnought Gig Bag. List $85.00, Street $69.00
Now that the weather is warmer, you'll be taking more road trips with your favorite acoustic guitar. The Dreadnought shape and design was actually invented by C.F. Martin & Co. Guitars and it is still a staple of many folk, country and western artists. The obvious reason why "dreads" are so popular is that they are loud enough not to require amplification. This makes them the best "unplugged" travel companions for picnics, beach parties and barbecues.

Depending on your travel arrangements, you might choose to pack your guitar in a lighter, easier to carry gig bag as shown above. The plus in using such a bag is the large outer zippered pocket that allows taking along sheet music and other larger items too big for a hardshell's storage compartment. These bags are good for traveling in a car or where you will be in control of your instrument.

Not all gig bags are alike though. I would recommend a Levy's heavy denim or leather gig bag for any solid body electric such as a Fender Strat or Gibson Les Paul. I have found Levy's to be extremely well made and richly padded.

Likewise the C.F. Martin 52BGB Logo Gig Bag is very well made. This gig bag is constructed of a tough nylon ballistics cloth exterior which resembles black denim with thick foam padding inside to protect your Dreadnought. I especially like the heavy double zipper pulls but wish they had put them on the outer pouch as well. All the same, this is a superior gig bag in style and features, worthy of your C.F. Martin or other beloved acoustic. The classic C.F. Martin logo is embroidered across the outside pocket in gold thread and the bag is reinforced at all the major stress points for extra strength. While it may not be a replacement for the safety of a hardshell case, it offers quite a bit more protection than the average gig bag being sold for acoustics.

Gig bags also give you more freedom to carry other items such as a stool or even an extra instrument. This is due to the backpack type straps. Slip the straps on your shoulders and your hands remain free or turn it on its side and tote it by the leather reinforced carrying handles. The bag is finished off with slip resistant resin feet. With a gig bag like this, you'll appreciate the lighter, breezier way to travel with your guitar this summer! For more gig bag & guitar case options, check out Eclectic Sound's BEST Gig Bags & Cases

PHOTO: C.F. Martin Special Edition Sustainable Series Dreadnought in Cherry, SWDGT. Handmade Guitar strap by Sully's Leather Straps.