Just the Facts, Ma'am, Just the FactsGreetings to one and all and welcome to Spring, soon to be Summer! It's been about 60 days since we last spoke and we wanted to bring everyone up-to-speed on what we've been doing here at Gbase since our last newsletter. For starters, we hired a design firm and they are diligently working on our redesign. We have a programmer waiting in the wings to begin the process, which should start in the not-too-distant future. On the marketing front, we’ve started a major online ad campaign and we've also struck a deal with a syndicated radio program, "Acoustic Café". It's syndicated in nearly 90 markets and on Voice of America. We're taking the news about Gbase to the streets and letting people know who we are and what we do. You will begin to see our ads online at sites such as Harmony Central, Premier Guitar, Talkbass and others through the rest of the year. Plus we're also going to be doing print advertising. That kicks off in the third quarter of this year, so we'll be sure to give you a heads up when the ads start to appear in print. Other than that, we'll be attending lots of guitar shows, consumer events, festivals and the like. If you'd like to share your thoughts and concerns with us, please send them ahead to info@gbase.com and we'll address them accordingly. Thanks for being a "Gearhead" and be sure to share this newsletter with a friend. 
Little Red FerrariCascade Guitars Presents – Little Red Ferrari – Here's Your Chance to win a 1989 Gibson Ferrari Red SG. The 80's truly lives on with this timeless classic. Whether you're Angus Young, Billy Joe Armstrong or Buckethead, you'll love the look and feel of this truly classic Gibson icon. It's in Very Good Condition! Has an ebony fretboard plus the classic discontinued Ferrari Red finish. It also comes with dual Seymour Duncan Humbuckers (SH-1 Neck, Super Distortion Bridge) and of course a nice hardshell case. 
Dealer of the monthGbase Dealer – Big Orange of Edgewater, Florida shares a few thoughts with where they started, where they're headed and what's going on in the current marketplace. Many thanks to Dennis Weaver for taking a few minutes to speak with us.1). Can you give a brief history of your business started? I've been searching for the ultimate guitar, my entire life. Over the years I've realized that a single guitar cannot fulfill the requirements for all the types of music that I play. This passion and love for music and the instrument finally developed into a business, which is Big Orange Guitar. In March of 2003, we opened the shop in the oldest building (1930's) in Port Orange, Florida. The shop consisted of a 9' x 14' space in the front and an 8' x 8' room, where I taught guitar lessons after hours. After two years, the adjacent barber shop moved and we expanded, doubling the size of the shop and adding a lesson room. The following year, we expanded again, adding three more lesson rooms and hiring 4 more teachers. Recently we have moved the business about 15 miles south (the old building had to go). We are located in a new building that lets us display our instruments in a unique train depot-type atmosphere. Over the past 2 years, my daughter Jennifer has become an integral part of the business. You can catch us at major guitar shows around the U.S., sometimes accompanied by my wife June, and other daughter Christina. 2.) Are you a player? Do you still gig? I learned my first licks on my Dad's 1958 Gibson ES-125 at the age of 9. In 1973, my brother John and I bought matching Japanese Epiphones, and spent time learning on our own. In 1977, I started taking lessons from local master guitarist, Ted Conner. Ted is famous for teaching local greats, Duane and Greg Allman. Shortly after, I started playing music in a local church. After that, my brothers, John and Sam, joined a local band and got experience touring and playing live gigs. When I am home, I still play every Sunday in my church, and I'm always looking for more opportunities to play. 3.) What is your business philosophy? Our business philosophy is to be able to make a living, but through the course of our business, affect people in a positive way and to be a Christian example to all those around us. 4.) What are your specialties? This may include certain brands or models, years, repairs or restorations, building, genres, etc. Although 90% of our business is used and vintage, we still specialize in new high quality American hand built guitars, amps, and effects pedals. We carry Heritage, G&L, and Larrivee guitars, and Keeley and Fulltone effects. We also work with luthier David Bryson, of Bryson Guitars, who is an accomplished player and builder. 5.) What is your favorite guitar? Every guitar I own is my favorite. Even though we are in the business of selling them, I still have a hard time letting them go. 6.) Are you hunting for something in particular? I would like to find a near mint mid 1950's gold top Les Paul. 7.) What is the finest guitar you have on the sales block at the moment? Well, we do like orange guitars, and the coolest orange guitar that I have right now is my first year 1969 Orange Competition Mustang with a matching headstock. I also have a 1957 Gretsch Jet Firebird that I recently acquired. I have recently sold 2 of the finest guitars I've had, which included a mint 1958 Les Paul Jr., and a 1942 Martin D-18 in exceptionally nice condition. 
Please be sure to visit Dennis and Big Orange online at:
Or you can check out Dennis' Gbase inventory at: 
Lock & Rock Sweepstakes
Enter the Lock n' Rock Sweeps for your chance to win the grand prize!Grand Prize includes:
The Ohio Guitar ShowQuestions with Marc Wayner of the Ohio Guitar Show
Gbase: The Ohio Guitar Show is beginning to get a bit of a buzz nationally. How did this show get its start? Marc: Back in 1985 my partner and I wanted to go to the Texas shows. But Texas is a long way from Ohio. So we thought "what if we put on a guitar show in Ohio, will the dealers who go to Texas come to it and bring us their stuff." And damn it worked! Gbase: There are so many shows now being done in big cities, small cities – how does the Ohio Show separate itself from the many others? Marc: For one we have been doing it a long time. We did the first show in 1985. We also are bigger than most shows. We've been told by dealers and the public who go to many shows, that we are the biggest outside of Texas. Our January show has over 120 dealers and the June show sits around a hundred. We're also very friendly and it has a relaxed atmosphere. How many people do you except to host during the course of the show? Marc: Like I said, for the upcoming June show around 100 dealers and 1200 to 1500 through the door in one day. The January show is at least 25 to 35% bigger. Gbase: Is the Ohio show the only show you promote or do you have other events upcoming? Marc: No it's the only one we do. Twice a year keeps us busy. We also publish Guitar Digest so that's enough. Gbase: Can you give us a quick rundown of the what to expect at the show? Marc: It's June 22. Hours to the public are 11:30 to 6:00. Admission is $8.00. Parking is Free. Dealer tables are $95.00. No workshops or anything. Just more guitar and bass related stuff than you can shake a stick at in a really cool looking room. We have had "famous" people come through. They usually quietly come in do their business and leave. We've even had a couple who have set up to sell some stuff and people didn't notice who they were. Gbase: Will there be any Music Manufacturers in attendance? Marc: Usually we don't get factory reps. Every so often though. It's mostly guitar fanatics and dealers selling their wares. Gbase: This will the first time Gbase has been in attendance. How many dealers will you have on-hand? Marc: As mentioned previously we'll expect around 100+ dealers. Gbase: How is the music scene in Columbus? Good guitar town? Marc: Actually music wise it is a good town. As for guitar buying there aren't as many "vintage" dealers with stores as in the past, but there is a big private market and most of the stores have stuff from time to time. Pawn shops aren't a good deal anymore. Gbase: If someone wanted to contact you regarding the show, can you provide us with contact info (email or phone – along with your web addres? Marc: www.ohioguitarshows.com - 740-592-4614 or 740-797-3351 or alexmack@frognet.net or guitardigest@frognet.net – etc.) Gbase: We look forward to seeing you on the 22nd of June – are you looking for a special guitar yourself? Marc: No this time I'm looking more to sell than to buy to get some money together for future purchases. Though a PRS CE22 at the right price may interest me. Gbase: Care to add anything we might have missed? Marc: The 2008 Summer Ohio Guitar Show will be held on Sunday June 22, 2008, from 11:30am to 6:00pm at the Aladdin Shrine Temple, 3850 Stelzer Rd., Columbus, Ohio (Easton exit off I-270). Our bi-annual show is the biggest guitar show in the Midwest and is in its twenty-third year in Columbus, with last winter's show drawing over 120 dealers from all over the United States as well as from England and Japan. Buy, sell, trade guitars, amps, effects, parts, records, video, memorabilia, etc. Dealer tables are $95, general admission is $8 and parking is free. The Summer and Winter Ohio Guitar Shows are sponsored by Guitar Digest Magazine, available by subscription and on the World Wide Web at WWW.GUITARDIGEST.COM and OHIOGUITARSHOWS.COM. Call (740) 592-4614 or (740) 797-3351 or email us at bobolink@frognet.net for more directions or information. 
Camp Guitar Blues!Safe camping tips for your guitar.By John Levan
In 1985, John LeVan studied under many repairmen and Luthiers to learn his
trade. He opened his own guitar repair business in Auburn, California in 1990. He
relocated to Music Row in Nashville Tennessee In 1997 and inaugurated guitarservices.com and Guitar Services Workshops. These
workshops provide hands-on repair training for players, technicians, retail employees.
A Mel Bay Author, John LeVan has composed five guitar repair books. His best seller;
Guitar Care, Setup & Maintenance, is a hands-on guitar care and repair guide with
a forward by Bob Taylor. He also produced several Mel Bay DVDs on guitar care and
repair.
Camping with your favorite guitar can be hazardous to its health. If you love to camp and travel with your guitar, there are some things you need to know to keep it safe, secure and playing well. A few things to consider are weather conditions, mode of travel and which guitar is best to take on your grand adventure. WEATHERWeather conditions will greatly affect the playability and structural integrity of a guitar. Cool nights and hot summer days can cause a host of ailments, from tuning problems to cracks and glue failure. When camping or backpacking, pay close attention to the elements so you can avoid over exposure, resulting in damaging your guitar. Here are some things to avoid while in the wilderness.
Exposing your guitar to direct sunlight can cause several problems, such as, tuning problems, warped neck and glue failure. Guitars don’t like sunbathing, so if you’re at the beach or backpacking, keep it in its case or gig bag in the shade or under a towel. I’ve had a lot of experiences performing at outdoor festivals during the summer months. I would set my guitar out 30 minutes before the show to let it acclimate to the weather. This would minimize some of the tuning issues. If you’re playing in direct sunlight, there’s not a lot you can do to keep the guitar from drifting out of tune. Sometimes you just have grit your teeth and play on. A cold guitar is a sad guitar. Cold weather can dry it out and cause dramatic changes to your action and intonation. In extreme conditions, it can result in body cracks. These can be very expensive to repair, and alter the tone of the guitar negatively. Storing your guitar in a case or gig bag will help, but in cold weather, it’s best to keep it indoors if possible. A humidifier is a great way to keep from drying out your guitar. Planet Waves makes a great humidifier that is effective and affordable. Be kind to your guitar. Tossing it around, even in a case or gig bag, can cause serious damage. Unnecessary roughness is the primary cause of broken headstocks and cracked tops. Even a cheap plywood guitar will break when handled without care. When packing it in a vehicle, always place it on top of the other gear. Make sure that it doesn’t slide around or fall out of your vehicle. I still have flashbacks of my beloved Taylor acoustic bouncing out of the back of my drummer’s truck and traversing down a ravine while we were on the way to Lake Tahoe. This could have been avoided had he tied it down, or better yet, if I hadn’t let a drummer pack my gear! Remember, your guitar is your friend, so be kind to it! MODE OF TRAVELTransporting your guitar can be tricky, especially if you’re flying. The rules and regulations on carry-ons seem to change daily. Each airline has a different set of rules and they seem to be enforced arbitrarily. After investigating the fine print from the three major airlines (American, Delta & Southwest), I discovered some shocking information. Many of the airlines may require you pay for an extra seat to carry your guitar aboard the plane (if there is no room in the overhead compartments). In addition, if the guitar is put in “special handling” (checked at the gate), you may have to pay an additional fee. Another issue is insurance. You must declare its value and pay extra for insurance. To make matters worse, if the guitar is in a gig bag, the airlines have no liability if and when it’s damaged. In the event that your guitar just happens to damaged while in a hardshell case, you must make a claim within four hours of your arrival. Even then, your claim may be denied. Flying with a guitar has the potential of being a costly decision. Before September 11, I rarely had a problem boarding a plane with my guitar. Flying out of Nashville or Los Angeles, there was always someone at the gate that understood why it was important for me to carry it on. Now everything has changed. So if you fly with your guitar, I recommend that you call the airline in advance and find out what the “new rules of the day” are to avoid any hassles. Traveling by car is an easier way to transport a guitar, but there are few things that you should know before hitting the highway. If at all possible, don’t put your guitar in then trunk. The temperature can rise to over 160°. Most glues will break down at this temperature causing catastrophic results. It’s best to keep it in the back seat under a blanket. Guitars do well when kept in an environment that is comfortable to humans. PLAYING IT SAFEWhen camping with your guitar, treat it the way you would like to be treated. Keep in an environment that is comfortable to you, and avoid direct sunlight. In cold weather, keep a humidifier in the guitar to prevent excessive dryness. These basic precautions will keep you guitar safe and playable. WHICH GUITAR IS BESTThere are several “travel guitars” on the market. Some are great, many I would classify as firewood. The guitars that I have had the best experience with are the Baby Taylor, Larrivee Parlor and the Martin LX series. I compared these models on tone, playability and price. Tone:The Larrivee PO5 is definitely the best sounding out of the three. The parlor style body really projects well and boasts a full rich tone. It has mahogany back and sides, an ebony fingerboard, solid Sitka spruce top and nice appointments all around. The Baby Taylor has the next best tone. It has a solid Sitka spruce top, laminated sapele back & sides, ebony bridge and fretboard. The tone isn’t as deep and rich as the Larrivee, but it does sound good enough for around the campfire. Martin LX series is made of high pressure laminated material (HPL). Not a very loud or rich sounding guitar, but very durable. It’s a great guitar for the kids, but I wouldn’t gig with it! Playability:As for playability, the Larrivee is awesome, but it has a wide neck. Likewise, the Baby Taylor is easy to setup with low action, the only drawback is the narrow string spacing. The Martin can also be setup with reasonable action, but also has narrow string spacing. What I like about the Baby Taylor is that it is very easy to work on. The neck is bolted on so that you can reset the angle in no time. Taylor even provides shims so you don’t have make your own. Price:
The Martin LX series and the Baby Taylor are about the same (sale price), around $299 brand new.
If I were spending $299, I would go for the Baby Taylor. There’s no better way to end a day of camping than sitting around a fire playing and singing your favorite songs. Just be sure to take care of your guitar while enjoying the great outdoors. Remember to keep it humidified, out of the sun, and away from the fire! |
