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The Acoustic Guitar Wire

From Acoustic Guitar Magazine
www.acousticguitar.com

May 2003 Issue 19
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1. Welcome to the Acoustic Guitar Wire
2. News and Notes
3. New at Acoustic Guitar Central
4. Securing Copyright Permission
5. Sail on the Inaugural Acoustic Guitar Cruise
6. Win an Autographed Copy of Patty Larkin's New CD
7. On the Web: Harp Guitars and Free Tab Paper
8. Highlights from Upcoming Issues of Acoustic Guitar
9. Takamine NV340S Giveaway
10. Special Acoustic Guitar Subscription Offer
11. Great Books from String Letter Publishing
12. Win a Free CD!
13. Drum 'n' Bass Joke
14. A.G. Wire Archives
15. Contact and Unsubscribe Info

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WELCOME TO THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR WIRE NO. 19

With spring finally in full bloom, it's time for the rebirth
of the A.G. Wire. Actually, the full-fledged regeneration of
your favorite electronically-delivered music missive awaits
the impending conversion to a beautifully designed HTML
version, coming to your inbox soon. In the meantime, enjoy
the latest acoustic music news, special offers and
giveaways, helpful tips, and previews of new publications
from String Letter Publishing--brought to you by Acoustic
Guitar magazine.

This newsletter is best viewed in 10-point Courier. Our
hyperlinks are formatted to be "hot" in most email programs.
If your software doesn't support click-through linking from
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the wrapped portion of the URL into your Web browser in
order for the URL to work properly.

If you have received a forwarded copy of this newsletter and
would like to subscribe, fill out our online form:
http://www.acousticguitar.com/agwire/entry.html

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NEWS AND NOTES

ASSUME THE POSITION
Acoustic Guitar magazine's latest round of editorial musical
chairs is settling down. Eagle-eyed assistant editor, Nicole
Solis, has been promoted to associate editor, and veteran
San Francisco Bay Area music writer Derk Richardson slips
into the assistant editor seat. Also, former A.G.
contributing editor David Hamburger is our new education
editor and will soon be editing and writing a new Teacher's
Guide to Acoustic Guitar.

DIY ANYONE?
If you aspire to crafting your own axe, the Association of
Stringed Instrument Artisans Symposium (
http://www.guitarmaker.org) takes place June 4-8 at McDaniel
College in Westminster, Maryland. Working and would-be
luthiers can attend inlay and engraving classes, a
presentation by Martin Guitar's R&D department, and panels
on different aspects of lutherie. One month later, at the
Brookfield Craft Center (
http://www.brookfieldcraftcenter.org/) in Brookfield,
Connecticut, luthier Frank Finocchio hosts an intensive six-
day workshop that covers bending wood, bracing, setting neck
angles, fretting, inlay, and more. It's called Guitar
Making: Liberating Wood from Silence, and takes place July
7-12.

DVD x 2
Susan Lacy's 90-minute documentary, Joni Mitchell: Woman of
Heart and Mind, which originally aired April 2 on PBS as
part of the American Masters series, is now available on a
DVD that includes additional interview material and several
full song performances. Graham Nash, David Crosby, Herbie
Hancock, and others offer commentary on Our Lady of the
Canyon's unique artistry and distinctive guitar tunings.
It's available from Eagle Vision (
http://www.eaglevisionusa.com).

The DVD of Merlefest Live! The 15th Anniversary Jam (also
available on VHS and CD) features performances by Doc
Watson, Earl Scruggs, Patty Loveless, Alison Krauss, Sam
Bush, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien, Chris Thile, Peter Rowan,
Tony Rice, and many others. MerleFest (
http://www.merlefest.org/) has also released Fresh Faces at
MerleFest 2003, a CD with performances by Americana artists
who are new to the MerleFest stage.

R.I.P. x 3
June Carter Cash--who made history as a member of the early
country music dynasty, the Carter Family, wife and
collaborator of Johnny Cash, and composer of "Ring of
Fire"--died on May 7 at age 73 from complications after
heart surgery.

Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter Felice Bryant, co-
writer (with husband Boudleaux Bryant) of the 1957 Everly
Brothers chart-toppers "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Bye Bye
Love," the Buddy Holly hit "Raining in My Heart," and the
bluegrass anthem "Rocky Top"--died April 22 at age 77.

Rose Augustine--who helped develop the nylon string (out of
fishing filament) with her guitar-making husband, Albert
Augustine, and became a generous patron of classical guitar
performers--died on April 21 at age 93.

TALK IT UP!
Guitar Talk is the online discussion forum at the Acoustic
Guitar Central website. For the past year or two, folks who
have been meeting in cyberspace to chat have been gathering
to play music together in real time. Read about the events
and post your own in the Gigs, Workshops, and Gatherings
forum of Guitar Talk.
http://www.acousticguitar.com/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi

For more news and events, check out our online listings:
http://www.acousticguitar.com/issues/ag126/happs126.html

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NEW AT ACOUSTIC GUITAR CENTRAL
http://www.acousticguitar.com

Excerpts from the June issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine--
now on newsstands-- are available online. Read about living
legacy Doc Watson, and the career that's taken him from Deep
Gap, North Carolina, to international adulation. That same
issue includes an in-depth interview with singer-songwriter
Patty Larkin, as well as a new batch of the latest CD
reviews, plus insights from the pros in the Q&A and What
They Play sections. Find out more at
http://www.acousticguitar.com.

Acoustic Guitar magazine subscribers, now you can take care
of all your subscription needs online. Our website has been
upgraded to include easy access to your account. You can pay
your bill, renew, give a gift, and change your address all
online. And of course, new subscribers can sign up online,
too. Come to http://www.acousticguitar.com/Subs/index.html
and save yourself time and hassle.

Break out of the same old fingering patterns with "Finger
Freedom," courtesy of fingerstyle ace (and A.G. gear editor)
Teja Gerken. Find this and other great lessons at
http://www.acousticguitar.com/lessons/lessons.shtml

Get more every month when you subscribe to Acoustic Guitar
magazine.
http://www.acousticguitar.com/Subs/index.html
or call toll-free (800) 827-6837.

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MOTHER MAY I?

Ever wonder how you get permission to play somebody else's
song? A.G. associate editor Nicole Solis addresses that
issue in the latest informative edition of Q&A, found in the
June issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine. To wit:

Since any song, once it is recorded or otherwise put into a
tangible form, is protected by copyright law, you'll need to
obtain permission (called a mechanical license) from the
song's publisher. The Harry Fox Agency (
http://www.harryfox.com) was created by the National Music
Publishers Association to issue mechanical licenses on
publishers' behalf (you can even obtain a license through
their site). If HFA can't help you, many performing rights
organizations, such as ASCAP (http://www.ascap.com) and BMI
(http://www.bmi.com) have searchable online databases of
songs with publisher's contact information.

For more tips, advice, and answers to questions about
guitars, gear, and history, visit the Q&A section at
http://www.acousticguitar.com
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SAIL ON THE INAUGURAL ACOUSTIC GUITAR CRUISE!

New lower rates are now available for a relaxing Acoustic
Guitar vacation, November 1-8, 2003. Join the Editor and
Publisher of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and such special
guests as fingerstyle guitarist Peppino D'Agostino, teacher
David Hamburger, Homespun Tapes founder Happy Traum, and
master guitar maker Bob Taylor, onboard the Norwegian Cruise
Line's luxurious Norwegian Wind as it cruises from Miami to
ports of call in the western Caribbean. Mix with fellow
guitar enthusiasts, catch up on your rays, learn some licks,
share some songs, and make some lasting connections.

For more information, visit
http://www.acousticguitarcruise.com
or call the Cruise Authority, toll-free, at (800) 707-1634.

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WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF PATTY LARKIN'S RED=LUCK!

There's always a good discussion about guitars, players, and
acoustic music going in the Guitar Talk forums. Register to
participate and automatically get a chance to win a free
autographed copy of Patty Larkin's new CD, Red=Luck.

Get the details when you sign up today at
http://www.acousticguitar.com/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi

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ON THE WEB: HARP GUITARS AND FREE TAB PAPER

Gregg Miner's Knutsen Archives (
http://home.earthlink.net/~chrisknutsen) is an online museum
dedicated to harp guitar builder Chris Knutsen. The site
includes historical information and extensive photographs of
Knutsen's instruments. Read more about Knutsen and harp
guitars in our feature in the May issue of Acoustic Guitar.

German luthiers Uli Albert and Toni Müller offer printable
and downloadable PDFs of blank guitar and mandolin tab
paper, standard notation paper, and chord diagram sheets in
their A&M Cafe (
http://www.albert-mueller.de/cafe/print/print.html).

Get more every month when you subscribe to Acoustic Guitar.
http://www.acousticguitar.com/Subs/index.html
or call toll-free (800) 827-6837.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM UPCOMING ISSUES OF ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE

Our July issue hits newsstands June 3. Highlights include:

-- A review of 14 great small-bodied flattops priced under
$3,000

-- An interview with singer-songwriter Stephen Fearing.

-- A tribute to the musical majesty of Delta blues master
Son House.

In our August issue, we profile singer-songwriter Lucinda
Williams, look back on the legacy of Spanish guitar maker
Antonio de Torres, and talk to Bireli Lagrene about his
return to Gypsy jazz.

Don't miss out on any of these great features! Subscribe to
Acoustic Guitar today. Sign up online at
http://www.acousticguitar.com/Subs/index.html
or call toll-free (800) 827-6837.

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ENTER TO WIN A TAKAMINE NV340S GUITAR

The lucky grand prize winner will take home a TAKAMINE
NV340S Nashville series acoustic dreadnought with solid
bearclaw spruce top, abalone rosette, and bound ebony
fretboard inlaid with abalone snowflakes, worth $1,999.50.
One runner-up will receive a Takamini, Takamine's travel-
size guitar, with fitted gig bag, worth $399.50.
To enter the contest and see the grand prize package, go to
http://www.acousticguitar.com/giveaway2/ag125_takamine/index
.html

To meet some of our previous giveaway winners, go to
http://acousticguitar.com/giveaway2/winners/index.html

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SUBSCRIBE TO ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Would you like to preview a complimentary issue of Acoustic
Guitar? To send for your FREE TRIAL ISSUE, just click the
link below. If you like it and decide to continue, pay just
$19.95 for eight issues and save 50% off the cover price. If
for any reason you decide not to continue, simply write
"Cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing. The FREE TRIAL
ISSUE
is yours to keep, no matter what.

Subscribe now!
http://www.acousticguitar.com/Subs/index.html

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NOW AVAILABLE FROM STRING LETTER PUBLISHING

FIDDLE TUNES AND FOLK SONGS
By Scott Nygaard
Add to your repertoire and reinforce your technique with
this collection of traditional, easy-to-play American roots
music. Written by flatpicker extraordinaire and Acoustic
Guitar editor, Scott Nygaard, this book teaches both the
melody and strum patterns to 15 complete songs. As a
supplement to the Acoustic Guitar Method, Fiddle Tunes &
Folk Songs for Beginning Guitar continues to build on the
essential traditions and styles established in the Method.
As a standalone package, Fiddle Tunes & Folk Songs for
Beginning Guitar will help you get a better understanding of
old-time music and its repertoire. On the CD you'll hear
clear performances of all the music in the book. Check it
out at
http://www.stringletter.com/FiddleTunes.html

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WIN A FREE CD!

Humor us--and win! We're giving away a free CD of acoustic
guitar music to the
contributor of the best music joke or gig story each month.
To enter, simply send your favorite music joke or anecdote
about a gig from hell to mailto:jokes@stringletter.com. Be
sure to include a mailing address in case you win. We'll
award a new prize with each edition. This month's winner is
Fred Ball, who sent us this drum 'n' bass joke.

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Why are drummers jokes all one-liners?

So the bass player can understand them!

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Back issues of the A.G. Wire are available online at:
http://www.acousticguitar.com/wire_archive/index.shtml

To subscribe to the A.G. Wire, go to
http://www.acousticguitar.com/wire_archive/index.shtml

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Send news, comments, and requests:
mailto:agwire@stringletter.com
Copyright (c) 2003 String Letter Publishing. All Rights
Reserved. You are welcome to forward this email to your
friends. Other reproduction in whole or in part in any form
or medium without express written permission of String
Letter Publishing is prohibited. Acoustic Guitar Wire and
the respective logos are trademarks of String Letter
Publishing.

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