Great Machines: Guitars - Play Skillfully with a Loud Noise
06/02/2003
Today’s guitar player and collector has more high-end choices than ever before—whether investing in and playing vintage instruments or buying contemporary custom-made, limited-production examples that embody the most desirable qualities of vintage instruments while incorporating useful modifications not available on the originals. Our “taste test” took place at Westwood Musical Instruments in Los Angeles, Calif., which carries a seductive selection of the best current offerings.Collings is one acoustic guitar maker whose instruments exhibit amazing quality and beautiful sound. You can tell this guitar is special just by holding it. Inspired by the 1920s-era Martin (with the neck joining the body at the 12th fret), the features on this guitar are breathtaking: herringbone-pattern purfling (the black and white inlay on the outside edge of the body), East Indian rosewood on the sides and back, a simple yet elegant and functional slotted headstock, and the snowflake- pattern fingerboard inlay made from mother-of-pearl (see above). The tones of this guitar are so clear, and the intonation and playability so perfect, that the Collings can be regarded as he benchmark against which other acoustic guitars are judged.
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc(); "Citron CF1")
Citron CF1 (Click on image to enlarge)
Two electric guitar makers that craft astounding instruments are Harvey Citron of Woodstock, N.Y., and Roger Giffin, who is now based in Southern California. Citron’s CF1 has the appearance of the slightly smaller Gibson Firebird and Explorer, and has a beautiful quilted maple top with a soft purple tone. Not only does it look exquisite, but the vintage-shaped neck makes this guitar almost impossible to put down. While the overall appearance is modern, it has the feel of a favorite guitar that you have loved for years.
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc(); "Giffin Standard")
Giffin Standard (Click on image to enlarge)
The Giffin Standard embodies many of the same qualities, emphasizing exquisite modern craftsmanship and attention to detail. With a gorgeous deep orange finish over flame maple with cream-colored binding, this guitar’s appearance is the perfect accompaniment to its thick, sweet tones. The Giffin’s neck becomes more comfortable the longer it is played. Before Roger Giffin relocated to his current shop, he built instruments in London for a who’s who list of clients, and then moved on to Gibson’s famed custom shop. His Standard effortlessly echoes the flavors of the great old Gibsons.
Of course, an electric guitar without a proper amplifier is like a sports car without a winding road, so our sampling includes the choicest amplifiers to pair with these special guitars. American and English tube amplifiers from the 1950s and 1960s have skyrocketed in value in recent years, and can have reliability issues with their 40-plus-year-old transformers and circuitry. Those seeking the tuneful magic of yesteryear can rejoice as abundant choices exist for those seeking to plug in, turn on, and turn up.
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc(); "Zeeta amplifier")
The Zeeta amplifier by Maven Peal (Click on image to enlarge)
The Zeeta by Maven Peal is truly unique because it is designed to extract maximum flexibility from the power—as opposed to the preamp—section. Handmade and using the finest audiophile-grade components available, the Zeeta’s secret is its ability to deliver the spellbinding sound of a truly loud amplifier, rich in harmonics and sustain, at a reasonable volume. Plugging into the Zeeta and turning up the wattage control provides an experience you will not forget. Imagine the word “chewy” used to describe the sound of a guitar through an amplifier: Plug into the Zeeta and you will know what that word sounds like.
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc(); "Roccaforte Amplifier")
Roccaforte Amplifier (Click on image to enlarge)
What guitarist among us can deny the desire to plug a favorite guitar into an old Marshall amp, and feel the heart pound and skin tingle with goose bumps from the surge of power as the volume is turned up? The original “muscle cars” of the amplifier world, Marshalls from the 1960s are costly and rare, and costlier still when restored to original specifications with either new or NOS (new old stock) parts. Thank goodness for Doug Roccaforte, who custom-builds amplifiers ranging in output from 20 watts to a 100-watt monster at his Southern California facility. With a tip of the bowler to the coveted 1960s Plexiglas-paneled Marshall (referred to by reverential acolytes simply as “plexis”), Roccaforte adds a number of his own unique twists. It is a delight to hear this amp’s beautifully edgy sounds without the crackles and pops evident in so many of the originals. Plugging in and playing a few bars of “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Moby Dick” gave me a bigger grin than when I saw my first Russ Meyer movie. In a strange way, playing with volume has a therapeutic and resolving quality, leaving one quite peaceful—the perfect reason to pick up that Collings just one more time.
Harvey Citron, 845.679.7138, www.citron-guitars.com;
Roger Giffin, 818.348.6132, www.giffinguitars.com;
Maven Peal, 802.456.1607, www.mavenpeal.com;
Roccaforte, 949.981.6095, www.roccaforteamps.com;
Westwood Musical Instruments, 310.478.4251, www.westwoodmusic.com