We
had an excellent turn out for this meeting. We had about 20 folks
and welcomed six new attendees that we hope will join us permanently.
Steve Lamb Jr.,shown here playing a new Jenkins Chameleon, was our
host. The meeting was held in the classroom at the back of the Mars
store. Steve talked in depth about the setup process for new
factory guitars. His hand out listed the factory specs of various
manufactures. Specs by the way that are rarely correct out of the
box, thus the need for a professional set up.
<Click
here for this spec sheet.> |
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| Our
members and guests had some new instruments to show. Chuck Lee a first
time attendee showed off a recently completed open back banjo. Check
out his web site. lonestarluthiery.com.
Chris Jenkins showed off a beautiful new 14 fret Chameleon
Guitar .It featured East Asian Rosewood back and sides with an
Engelman Spruce top. Highly decorated with Redwood Burl, Makore and
Abalone Pearl inlay and edge banding. It also features a B-Band under
saddle pickup system. (more on this below) |
| Member
Mike Roach showed off some gorgeous back and sides sets that
he obtained at wholesale cost from a major tone wood suppliers
to the manufacturers. He is working on a deal for direct sales
to our members at a deep discount. More on this as soon as Mike
works out the details. |
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Chris
Jenkins brought his version a parallelogram binding ledge cutting
jig. His is yet another variation on Harry Fleichmans innovative
design. Chris's version features a fully articulated arm that
makes this version super easy to use. Look for a technical article
soon on all of our members variations on this invaluable rig. |
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The
meeting ended with a mini listening session to compare acoustic
amplification systems from various manufacturers. Steve Mayo
is shown here playing a Martin custom shop herringbone with
a L.R.
Baggs I-beam installed. It may have been the amplifiers
fault, but this one came off with a brassy sounding high and
and muted bass. A factory Guild with a Fishman system came in
a respectable second best.
Best both amplified and un-amplified was Chris Jenkins' Chameleon
with a B-Band
under saddle ribbon transducer. It sounded like a natural acoustic
guitar, just louder, and was judged overall superior to the
other two instruments. |
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