Page Four-Righacres Uollegian, hay a), 1974
GUITARITIS
The guitar today enjoys
a pbpularity unequaled by any
other instrument at,any other
period in history. A conser
vative estimate_has-it that
there are between 1.5 and 2
million guitarists in the Unit
ed States alone, from your
basic three-chord wonders
to your Duane,Allman and
Johnny Winters. And one of
the biggest hassles facing an
up-and-coming guitarist is the
.many different brands of guitars
on the market today. Many
people walk into a music store
not knowing what they want and
wind up knowing even less when
they leave. I hope with this
article I can clear up some of
the haze surrounding the fine
art of purchasing a guitar.
There are two main types
of guitars on the market today,
acoustical and electric. The
eccoustical derives its name
frbm the 'act that it is un
amplified. The electric uses
some form of amplifisation to
prOvide its sound. The main
distinction between these two
itaCone of purpose. If you
plan only to play around the
house, or if you get into the
coffee house gig, then get
an acoustic. Some of the
major names are Martin, Ovation,
and Gibson. These are your top
of-the line instruments
ranging from $250 to $9OO in
price. Other less expensive
brands are Espana, Harmony,
Sigma M(which is made by Mar
tin), and Yamaha. These
run usually in the $75-$l5O
range. The best way to buy
an ,acoustic is to pick a
pribe range and get the sales
man to show you two or three
different guitars in that
range. Try them all look
ing for things like ease of
playing, construction, and
tuning. It really hurts to
zwyr,fro
by Tony Seo
buy a $l5O guitar and then
take it home and find out that
it doesn't stay tuned for
more than five minutes.
If electric music is your
thing, then your choices are
pretty much laid out for you.
Either go cheap ($75-$175) and
get a good copy (Univox or
Ampeg are about the best) or
go expensive ($225-?) and get
one of the better lines: Gib
son, Fender, or Gretsch. Of
course, you could get lucky
like one of my friends who
picked up a 1955 Fender Strato
caster for $125. But don't
count on it. Some of the more
popular models are the Les Paul,
SG, E 5335, and Stereo models by
Gibson, Stratocaster and
Telecaster by Fender, and the
Country Gentleman and the
Tennessean by Gretsch. Here
your main criteria for selec
tion should be your style of
playing. Rock stars should
go for the Les Paul, SG, or
the Stratocaster; blues freaks,
the ES or the Stereo are the
best; and country freaks will
dig the Telecaster or any of
the Gretsch models. Buying an
amplifier is another article,
but follow two simple rules and
you should be all right. -One:
stick with a name brand: Fender,
Marshall, Acoustic, Peavy, Kus -
tom, or Sunn are about your
best. Two: it is better to
have too big an amplifier. than
too small an amplifier, because
the louder you get, nine times
out of ten, the more distortion
and noise you get. So follow
these simple guidelines and
"Happy picking!"
NEW NATIONAL
BEST SELLER!
THE
WALDEN
BOOKSTORE
LAUREL NALL HAZLETON
459-0695
CLASSICAL
GUITARIST
by Tony Seo
On Saturday, May 4, a
classical guitarist named
Rick Jackman gave a perform
ance in the Residence Hall
Lobby. If you did not hap
pen to be one of the few at
tending, then you missed an
excellent performance. Rick
was born in Australia, lived
in England for ten years,. and
now makes his home at University
Park. He has studied under a
number of teachers and plans to
go to Spain this summer to study
under the great master, Andres
Segovia.
Rick is an exceptional
guitarist and any attempt at
describing his performance would
be a gross understatement. Ev
ery note and run was
played with a feeling of con
fidence and beauty. He played
a variety of pieces, both stan
dard and original and each song
was very well received. If
you ever get the chance to hear
Rick perform, then by all means
do so. You won't regret it.
THANKS TO
HARNER
JEWELERS
AND
INTER -
NATIONAL
PRINTING
BOB'S
Sporting Goods
133 N. Wyoming St.
HEADQUARTERS for
Hunting Fishing Archery
GENERAL SPORTS
Converse All-Star &
Adidas Basketball Shoes
Tennis Ravet Restringing
OPEN WED. & FRI. Till 9
455-1421