UMD Professor creates guitar that allows for easy tone customization
Have you ever experienced the frustration of hearing a certain tone in your mind, but being unable to re-create that same sound when you sit down to play? Like so many guitarists, Bruce Jacob was tired of relying on pedals and amp effects to achieve the ideal tones he heard inside his head. But unlike many guitarists, Bruce Jacob happens to be an electrical engineering professor at the University of Maryland - the type of guy who teaches classes with names like "Electrical Guitar Design." The type of guy who looks at guitars from a unique engineering and mathematical perspective.
Inspired by obstacles in his personal musical quest, Jacob set out with two graduate students to develop a guitar that could be easily adjusted to create a range of sounds by flipping a simple switch on the guitar - the equivalent of automatic transmission for your axe. After a year of study, they finally achieved what they set out to accomplish. Seeing he had discovered something that a lot of guitarists would be willing to spend money on (why buy multiple guitars or pedals when you can just buy one?), Jacob created Coil Guitars LLC. He now sells 4 models of his versatile instrument, each one of them impressive in their own right. Check out some videos at the company web site - pretty cool stuff!
R.I.P. Les Paul
We've just learned that guitar legend Les Paul passed away last night at the age of 94 in White Plains, New York.
Put simply - we wouldn't be here, none of us would, without the great contributions that Les made to the art of guitar.
During his long life Les Paul achieved fame and credit both as an inventor and as a guitarist. He is credited with developing the electric body guitar, and also pioneered widely used recording techniques and effects such as multi-track recording and delay phasing. Many considered him to be "the father of modern music," whose contributions had an enormous influence on rock and roll sound.
Les Paul's unique playing style will live on in the sounds and styles of today's contemporary guitarists. Today we honor his legendary career and send our best wishes to his friends and family.
R.I.P. Less Paul
1915-2009
Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners
There's lots of beginners out there who want to know which acoustic guitar they should buy. We took a look at some of the most popular choices and highest-rated acoustic guitars, then compiled a list of three finalists. Each guitar is from a different price range - low, medium and high-end. While any one of these guitars is an excellent choice for someone who is just starting their musical career, the purchasing decision will be a lot easier if you set a budget and take a few trips to your local music store to get some first-hand playing time.
Check out the new article here, 3 Great Acoustic Guitars for Beginners. Let us know what you think about the finalists!