Maury's Blog

 It’s no great mystery that musician’s buy tube amps for tones and a feel that can only be derived from the glass bottles we call tubes. Players obtain MESA/Boogie amps because they realize that the amps are so tonally versatile and so well built that they can last their entire career. Many players possess a great knowledge about the features of their Boogies but what I’ve found in my travels is that there is quite a lot of confusion about the main participant in the tonal foundation, the tubes.

This topic was actually requested by a customer who was having some difficulty understanding the difference between the D-28 Marquis and D-28 Authentic 1937. Both of these guitars offer similar woods, construction and features. However, as with all things acoustic guitar, the devil is in the details and it’s only by looking carefully at the specs that you’ll get a full picture.

Martin brought the 00-15M design into the Retro Series.  The 00-15E Retro is the first-ever mahogany-topped Martin to include Fishman Aura electronics!

With the official start of summer only a few days ago and the Fourth of July fast approaching we are right in the middle of road trip season.  Whether it's to a family BBQ, to the shore, to a music festival or any of a thousand other places, many of us are going to be traveling this summer and there's a good chance your guitar is going to come along for the ride. 

For a newcomer to Martin guitars, the sheer size of their lineup can be overwhelming. With over 100 guitars in their lineup at any one time, all labeled with Martin's own unique labeling system, it could seem tough to narrow down your options. This weeks article is going to be an explanation of Martin's guitar naming system, breaking down exactly what each part of a model's name designates and what it means to you. In ten minutes you can go from a complete Martin beginner to an expert. 

For 2015, Ed Sheeran has again teamed up with Martin for another signature guitar, the Ed Sheeran X Signature edition. While taking many design elements from the previous Sheeran model, the X does make a few marked improvements on the original...

This week we're going to take a crack at answering one of the most common question's I'm asked: What exactly is the difference between a D-28 an an HD-28?

" Projective enough to be heard over multiple instruments without sacrificing tonal quality or detail, the D-28 has carved out a place in Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Pop and probably a dozen genres that I'm simply forgetting. The D-28 is the guitar that made Martin a household name and without it I don't believe they'd be the same company we know and love today."

Bluegrass Rhythm and Travis Picking: Starting from the basics this lesson will give you a solid understanding of the theory and technique behind both. Whether you're new to the instrument or just looking for a refresher course, be sure to check it out. 

This week we're going to take a step back to basics and discuss the major components of an acoustic guitar. We'll be talking about what the most common parts are, what they do, and how they affect the sound of the instrument as a whole. Although this article may be aimed more at the beginning player, we're hoping there is enough information there that even seasoned players can pick up a thing or two. 

Whether you've been playing for years or are just starting out, learning the basics of how and why to use a capo is an invaluable skill for any player to have. This blog aims to explain the theory of not only what a capo does, but also to demonstrate how, when and why to use one in your everyday playing.