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Blog

Nylon or Steel Debate!

8/29/2016

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​​Choosing the Right Acoustic Guitar
 
Nylon or Steel?
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Choosing the right acoustic guitar isn’t as scary as you might think.  There are just a few things to consider that will match you with the perfect instrument. And one of the first considerations is …..
​Nylon or Steel Strings?
The type of music you want to learn and play makes a difference.    Guitars designed for nylon strings are usually used to play classical, flamenco and some types of folk music.   These instruments are commonly referred to as “classical” or “nylon string” guitars.  Nylon string instruments are not as loud as steel string acoustics and they are almost exclusively played with the fingers of the right hand (for right handed players) rather than with a pick.   They produce a wonderful warm and intimate sound.  In recent years the sound qualities of the classical guitar have been finding their way into pop and jazz.  This has given rise to a newer kind of classical guitar called a “hybrid” or “crossover” guitar. This instrument features electronics, nylon strings and a neck and fingerboard that more closely resembles that of a steel string guitar like a narrower nut width and sometimes a slightly curved fingerboard.
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“Acoustic” guitars, also referred to as “steel string” guitars, are louder, brighter and are great for strumming, picking, playing in a group and accompanying singing.  Remember, though, that you can’t put steel strings on a guitar built for nylon and you can’t put nylon strings on an instrument built for steel strings. 
​

Different acoustic guitar body styles and shapes produce different kinds of sounds.  One of the most popular steel string guitar styles is the large dreadnought size.  It produces a rich, loud, full-bodied voice that favors the lower end (bass) frequencies.  Another popular size is the OM.  OM stands for “orchestra model.”  This style features a smaller body which can be more comfortable to hold than larger sizes and produces a more refined, balanced and a bit quieter sound.  There are many other sizes including the popular auditorium size, which yields a sound that’s between the dreadnought and OM tones, and the smaller parlor guitar named so because it was originally designed to be played in the front parlor.       
 
Some beginners are attracted to nylon string guitars because the strings are softer than metal and they’re concerned about sore fingertips.  This shouldn’t be a consideration as a properly set up (adjusted) steel string guitar with the right gauge strings can be just about as easy to play.  In addition, nylon string guitars usually have a wider fingerboard which may be challenging for some players.
 
Talk to the experts at Northwest Guitars.  They can answer all your questions and help you select the instrument that’s perfect for you.

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Guitar Care Is Like Changing Your Oil

8/29/2016

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​Caring for your new instrument
 
Just like changing the oil in your car or the filter in your furnace, your guitar or bass requires a certain amount of maintenance. Why? Just like with your cars oil or furnace filter, without the proper maintenance it gets dirty, runs poorly and eventually clogs. The dirt and oils from your hands gets between the wraps of your strings, eventually rusting the strings, dulling the tone and weighting down the strings so it’s harder to keep in tune.
 
You can prolong the life of your strings by simply washing your hands before you play and then wiping down the strings after you play. There are also products such as string cleaners that are designed to prolong the life of your strings. Coated strings will last much longer than ordinary strings but do cost more. If you don’t like to change strings, they may be a good choice. But keeping fresh strings on your instrument ensures a bright, clear tone and comfortable feel.
 
Keeping the back of the neck clean is also important. You want your hand to glide easily up and down the neck and not get hung up on a bunch of gunk and sticky sweat.  
 
Instruments are usually made of wood and wood is susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity.  Leaving your instrument in the trunk of your car and exposing it to extreme temperature changes can cause the neck of your instrument to bow or back-bow making it harder to play or causing it to “fret out” or buzz.  Worse yet, prolonged exposure to the outdoors can eventually ruin your guitar. 
 
If you find that your instrument becomes harder to play with higher action (the height of the strings from the fingerboard is commonly referred to as the action) our qualified guitar technician can check your instrument and make the necessary adjustments. Your instrument should be checked at least once a year.
 
There is nothing wrong with leaving your instrument out on a stand or hanger when at home but to prolong the life of the instrument and keep it looking and feeling new, always carry it in a hard case or well padded gig bag when transporting it.
 
As a full service guitar store we offer classes in re-stringing and caring for your instrument and our excellent guitar techs can re-string your guitar and make all the necessary adjustments for you. Stop by the store and pick up your FREE copy of our “Caring for your new instrument” flyer which contains much of the above information.

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8 ways to sound better for FREE!

8/29/2016

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​​ 8 ways to sound better right now – for free!     by Shawn Demots
 
Though there is a lot of great gear on the market, you don’t always need to spend serious bucks on the latest boutique gear to improve your tone.  Here are eight easy ways to sound better instantly without emptying your wallet.
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"Turning it up to eleven"
1. Turn down the gain
 
I’ve always thought there should be a twelve-step program for guitar players and their addiction to gain.  “..Uh, my name is Shawn D., and I’m hooked on Gain.  I started with a Rat pedal and it all went downhill from there.  Next thing I know I’m daisy chaining four, five distortion pedals in a row…”  Try turning the gain down on your amp or pedals just a little bit.  You’ll notice that everything sounds bigger and clearer.  This goes hand in hand with my next tip.
2. Hit the strings harder.
 
A lot of musicians play quite a bit softer than they really need to.  Obviously you don’t need to whack the bejeezus out of the thing but a little force is good, especially if you’re playing energetic music.  If you notice a lot of string rattle and hum, you might need stiffer strings and higher action.
 
 
3. Check your right hand technique.
 
It’s natural to focus on your left hand since it’s doing the more complicated stuff.  Nevertheless, your right hand is where your tone comes from.  Try picking at different spots closer and further away from the bridge.  Try every pick you have, playing the same riff each time. Hit the strings with the pick as near to parallel to the strings as possible for a fat tone, angle the pick for a thinner tone.  Finally, try creating pinch harmonics by holding the pick so it’s just barely sticking out from your fingers.  The idea is for the string to hit the flesh of your thumb right after striking the pick.
 
 

4. Tune your instrument before you play a single note.
 
I know what you’re thinking. Duh, tuning, everyone knows that!  Ah, but do you tune religiously before you play, or do you wait until people cringe?  If you’re a little bit out of tune when you start playing, it messes with your head.  Subconsciously, you know you don’t sound as good as you can, and that takes the shine off of everything you do.


"The best guitar players tune before every song."

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5. Enjoy the silence.
 
Try to eliminate every bit of background noise possible.  Turn off your computer, TV, stereo, washer, dryer, fish tank, etc.   Muzzle your spouses, roommates, children, and pets. Make a sacred space for you and your guitar to become one.
 
 
6. Move your amp or guitar.
 
Try moving your amp into a corner, setting it on a chair, tilting it back, or pushing it up against the wall.  Does your speaker cab rest on casters?  Take ‘em off and annoy your neighbors with the massive low-end thump! Acoustic players, try changing the place where you play.  You might find that your bathroom has an awesome slapback echo.
 
 
7. Use a delay pedal to work on your timing.
 
I find practicing with a metronome to be torturously dull, so I like to use a delay pedal instead.  Set it up for a single repeat and turn it up loud.  Trying playing something that is straight eighth notes like the Cars or the Ramones.  Bass players can pick just about any AC/DC song ever created.  You’ll find you naturally lock in with the delay you’ve set.  Notice that if you speed up or slow down even slightly, every note sounds messy.  Relax and concentrate on the feeling you get when you’re in sync with the delayed notes. 
 
 
8. Plug and unplug all of your cables a few times.
 
Musical instrument signals are fragile things.  We’re talking about millivolts here; they make a hearing aid battery look like a hydroelectric dam.  Once a month or so plug and unplug all of your cables a few times to clean the crud off of the contacts.  You can use electrical contact cleaner if you have some, but simply plugging and unplugging could be the key to a brighter and clearer sound. 
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Top 6 Reasons to get New Strings

8/17/2016

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Top 6 reasons to get new strings:

6. They have become rusty and lose elasticity.  They end up feeling less smooth.
5. Kinks or flat spots in strings can also cause the string to play differently, they may even start to buzz.
4. They become weighted down with sludge over time making them sound out of tune.
3. You get the whole guitar inspected and cleaned while the strings are getting changed. (Only at NWG)
2. Your guitar’s tone slowly becomes dull. Starts to sound muddy, even more prevalent with distortion.
1. Your guitar strings are discolored and are gross to touch.  Plain strings should be silver are now black from dirt, grease and rust. It's gross!

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Using the same strings for months is the same thing as wearing the same underwear for months.  Yeah you can do it if you really want, but you may become the stinky kid in class.  And no one wants to be the stinky kid in class.  Hygiene is important for you just like it is for your guitar.  New strings will bring back that sparkly tone and silky feel that made you buy the guitar in the first place.  New strings are cheap plus you can pay our tech to change them and he will clean and inspect the guitar at no additional cost!
FAQ:
Is okay to keep the guitar in a slightly damp atmosphere?
If the guitar is kept out of it's case in a damp room the strings will soon get spots of rust, they are likely to need to be changed sooner rather than later. Buy a dehumidifier if necessary.
How do I know I know they are dirty?
If they feel rough when you run your finger up the length of the string then they could be on their way out.
What is the cost of strings and labor?
Strings are normally between $6-$15 depending on quality and features.  Our labor is between $20-$30 depending on if you are a student of NWG and the type of guitar being restrung (students get discounts on everything).
Can I do it myself?
Yes! However it is not as easy as it looks.  If done incorrectly the strings will slip out of tune or take a long time to settle into position.  Depending on our techs schedule, most of the time you buy a re-string he will show you how to do it as long as you ask.

Author Sean Fallon

Manager, digital media, social media, photographer, webdesign, videographer, video editor, sales, uke teacher.

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Eat Right

8/11/2016

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There are a lot of articles on nutrition but how do you know what's right for you?  Here at Northwest Guitars we suggest a healthy yet filling guitar. They have the perfect amount of fat tones in our meaty licks with plenty of fiber found in the wood.  The strings have additional minerals such as nickel and iron that you need for a balanced diet.

All our guitars are packed with vitamin R (Rockium).  It gives you that sweaty after rock show rocker glow everyone is looking for this summer.

​Remember good organic tones come from healthy organic eating/playing!

(For the one crazy person who actually tries to eat a guitar.  We do not actually recommend you eat a guitar.  This  a satire article.  Northwest Guitars is in no way responsible for you munching on a tele.)
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Updates:

8/8/2016

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We have recently added more videos to our site:
-Repair Page
-Tom Anderson
-Wall Walla Guitars
Added Menu links for Bass, Amps > Bass Amps and Amps > Guitar Amps
Added Menu link for Used Basses
Added Menu for used guitar and bass amps
​We will continue to build out our site so keep tuned!
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Northwest Guitars Server Crash

8/2/2016

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  Many of you have already noticed the website has been down.  We are lucky that our store and our customers are like a family and many of you have given us advice and offered to help.  We thank you! As a result of all the help we have found a great place to build a new website.
  Our e-mail addresses have changed as well.  Our quick fix is to skip the forwarding @NorthwestGuitars.com and just give you the direction @Gmail.com e-mail address.
KevinNorthwestGuitars@Gmail.com
SeanNorthwestGuitars@Gmail.com
JamesNorthwestGuitars@Gmail.com
MichaelNorthwestGuitars@Gmail.com
  Thank you again for all your support.  We have worked hard to stand out from the big box store and be something special.  A community of guitar players, music lovers and a home to all those who love the arts. And as we support you, the community is always there to help us!  Thank you for that!
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    Categories

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      Nylon of Steel
      8 Ways to Sound Better
    ​  6 Reasons New Strings
      Truss Rod Actually Does
    ​
      Guitar Care Is Like
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      Why Vox AC30
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Hours

M-F: 11am - 7pm
​Sat: 10am - 5pm

Telephone

425.284.1960
Address
13107 NE 20th ST
Bellevue WA

Email


SeanNorthwestGuitars@gmail.com
KevinNorthwestGuitars@gmail.com
MichaelNorthwestguitars@gmail.com
  • @NWGuitarsWA
  • Info
    • Brand Info >
      • G&L
      • NWG Brand
      • Tom Anderson
    • Blog Articles
    • Service Department
    • Event Calendar
    • Social Media Feeds
    • Contact Us
    • About >
      • About Our Photography
  • Online Store
  • Music School
    • Music School Info
    • Schedule Free Trial Lesson
    • Student Registration
    • Teachers >
      • Jake Days
      • Daniel Christopherson
      • E Pruitt
      • Kevin Fallon
      • Mark Riley
      • Mike Mattingly
      • Phil Hansen
      • Sam Vierra
      • Sean Fallon
    • Vinnie Scholarship >
      • Selection Process
      • Official Rules
      • Scholarship Sign Up