Acoustic Whammy

On the outside chance that an expert guitar luthier is browsing through random blogs and finds this one... let me describe my dream guitar, which I have only so far imagined as 2007. The guitar is shaped like a regular Martin dreadnought steel-string, but neck has the feel and dimensions of a Taylor only larger. Why larger? To support a low seventh B-string below the the regular 56-gauge low E. This is of course a bit unconventional, but let me get to kicker. At the bridge of this acoustic masterpiece is an 80's style matted-black Floyd Rose locking tremolo whammy-bar. Yes. Nobody makes a flat-top guitar with a whammy-bar. Why? Because the tension and flex created by a whammy bar would rip through any top of an acoustic guitar, no matter if it's spruce, ebony or Brazilian purple-heartwood. Here's the solution: an extended truss-rod. The truss rod of a guitar usually extends the length of the neck. But on the whammy acoustic, the truss rod will go past the end of the neck, behind the sound-hole, all the way to the bridge. This metal rod will attach to a metal plate behind the bridge, which then connects on the top of the guitar to the whammy-bar. Alternatively, the truss rod could extend all the way out the guitar past the strap-button. The strings could be anchored all the way out there at the back edge of the guitar or the whammy bar could also be anchored back there. How about it, science!?

Ugly Boyfriends

I saw the movie "Knocked Up" yesterday. It wasn't very good. Sometimes I enjoy watching lame movies because I'm inspired by the fact that so many people got involved to create somebody's average project. It's similar to seeing some ugly guy with a really hot girlfriend... gives me hope for my future.

The Water Around You has Grown

I have been working on some new recordings that I'm excited about. I am recording cover versions of classic protest songs from the 60's as part of a project for InterTerra New Media. The company is publishing a book call "The Next Paradigm" which will be released with a companion CD. There's more information about the book/cd at this website:
http://www.interterranewmedia.com/thenextparadigm.php
I posted some of the demo work I have done so far on my myspace site for you to sample. Hopefully, there will be more to come soon.