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Nic
Jones' Guitar
Q I was shocked and saddened
to read that Nic Jones hasn’t performed publicly since his tragic
accident. What guitar was he playing on the recording of "Canadee-I-O"
you transcribed in November?
Michael Weiss
Brooklyn, New York
A It’s likely that Nic Jones
used his Fylde guitar for that recording (Fylde Guitars, [44] 1768-891515,
www.fyldeguitars.com
). The Fylde Oberon was Jones’ primary guitar throughout most of
his career. It was damaged in the 1982 car accident that ended Jones’
career, but it has since been repaired, and Jones still has it today.
Fylde guitars have been made in the U.K. by Roger Bucknall since
1973 and are popular among many British guitarists, including John
Renbourn, Martin Carthy, and Martin Simpson.
––Dylan Schorer
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Laminated
Woods
Q What
are the advantages and disadvantages of building guitars with laminated
woods?
Hal Bellone
Olathe, Kansas
A The advantage
of using laminated woods in guitar construction is simple: reduced
manufacturing costs. Laminated woods are much less likely to change
dimensionally with humidity and are far more resistant to cracking
than solid woods. They’re also cheaper to buy and cheaper to work
with.
Laminated tops are curiously less strong than solid tops, because
100 percent of the pressure exerted on the top by the strings is
in direct line with the grain. So, all other things being equal,
a guitar with a solid top is likely to outlive a guitar with a laminated
top.
Solid woods also display better resonance than laminates, so the
overwhelming reason for using solid tops and backs is for better
tone. But it’s important to recognize that not all instruments are
born equal or built to the same design specifications. Thus, a Yamaha
guitar made with a laminated top might sound better than a solid-wood
Harmony instrument.
––Frank Ford
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Quick
Retuning
Q
You mentioned in February’s Great Acoustics that Richard
Thompson uses a Hipshot extender key on his Lowden L27F for quick
retuning. What exactly is the Hipshot?
Will Danforth
Rochester Hills, Michigan
A
Hipshot’s Guitar Xtender (www.hipshotproducts.com)
is a great little tool that allows the sixth string to be lowered
as far as two whole steps with the flick of a lever. The device
actually replaces the sixth string’s tuning peg and is available
in Grover and Schaller-Mini versions. It will not fit guitars with
pronounced volutes at the headstock (such as those found on some
Martin models). Once it has been adjusted properly and the string
has been stretched, the Xtender works beautifully, allowing accurate
midsong retuning.
––Teja Gerken
Tip:
Guitar Hangups
Got any great guitar tips or discoveries that you’d like to
share? Send them to Tip Sheet, Acoustic Guitar, PO Box 767,
San Anselmo, CA 94979. If we print your tip, we’ll give you a year’s
free subscription, gift subscription, or subscription renewal. Here
is this issue’s winner, submitted by Tim Hudson of Ontario, Canada.
I keep my guitar in its soft, insulated case when I’m not using
it. I attached a small hook on the back strap and an eye-hook in
a wall, and I just hook it up so it can’t fall. I can easily unhook
the bag when I’m ready to play my guitar in the house or take it
somewhere else to play, and I no longer have to worry about anyone
knocking it over.
Send Questions, tips, or observations to Acoustic Guitar’s
online discussion forums at www.acousticguitar.com
or write to Dear A.G., Acoustic Guitar, PO Box 767, San Anselmo,
CA 94979-0767.
Excerpted
from
Acoustic
Guitar
magazine, April 2001, No. 101.
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