•NEWS AND REVIEWS

Fender Diversifies Squier Offering With All-Modern “Contemporary Series” Electric Guitars

On February 8, 2018 / •NEWS AND REVIEWS

Tags: electric guitar, Fender, squier contemporary series

Fender Diversifies Squier Offering With All-Modern “Contemporary Series” Electric Guitars

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced the expansion of its offerings with the new Squier Contemporary Series, which includes Stratocaster® and Telecaster® electric guitars with an all-modern look, feel and sound at a meaningful price point. The first new series added to Squier’s offering in several years, this line is ideal for players – entry level and beyond – seeking progressive features in a guitar that that has authentic vibe and style. “When we set out to design this series, we

Practicing, The Internet and 100 Conflicting Opinions

On January 19, 2018 / •NEWS AND REVIEWS

Tags: David Martin, music school, playing an instrument, practicing

Practicing, The Internet and 100 Conflicting Opinions

My students will frequently ask me what my thoughts are on various online articles they may have come across. It might be a specific video tutorial, maybe a how to hold your hands article or a how to structure your practicing time column. There is a lot of information out there, much of it conflicting and a lot of it in my opinion misses the mark, in some cases by miles. I remember in one case a student was

Ibanez RB and RGA Models – Quality and Versatility In A Beginner Electric Guitar

On January 19, 2018 / •NEWS AND REVIEWS, All New Instruments

Tags: electric guitar, Ibanez, mahogany, rosewood fretboard

Ibanez RB and RGA Models - Quality and Versatility In A Beginner Electric Guitar

In my opinion two of the most important things to look for in a great beginner electric guitar is quality in the craftsmanship and versatility both in sound and playability. While there are many guitar makers that are offering these traits in their line of student and starter guitars and for this I am going to focus on two Ibanez models – the RB and the RGA models – from the Ibanez standard series. The Ibanez RG and Ibanez

Humidification On a Larger Scale

On January 19, 2018 / •NEWS AND REVIEWS

Tags: humidification, instrument care

When the time of year arrives where both temperatures and relative humidity drop, and musical instruments start to respond to the changes, that’s the time when extra care for humidification is required. The rule of thumb is that once the furnace comes on, it’s time to humidify and if it comes to the point where you are uncomfortable, instruments will be at risk. Maintaining a good humidity level of around 45% in your spaces will help you, not just

Intonation and Guitar Set Up

On January 6, 2018 / •NEWS AND REVIEWS, Lessons & Tips

Tags: guitar set up, intonation

Most of the photos seen on The Twelfth Fret’s website are taken in a room next to the Repair Shop’s intake desk, usually the room I often spend time in. One of the most common requests I over hear is to replace tuning gears because the guitar won’t stay in tune. However, the parts are usually fine – the problem is that the guitar isn’t set up properly and can’t get in tune at all! There are situations where parts

The Metronome

On December 28, 2017 / •NEWS AND REVIEWS

Tags: metronome, Metronomes, rubato

One of the less glamorous but critically helpful tools for any musician is the metronome. Ranging from simple clock-spring click devices to electronic boxes capable of multiple rhythms and time signatures, properly used the metronome can quickly improve your playing. It is essential if you are playing with other musicians or want to record your music. Like tuning, our sense of time is partly learned and many things that will cause a player to speed up or slow down. We