Holga x Nikonos

I was inspired by a beautiful shot of an electric guitar over at Salt Stained Eyes FB site to do a post today about the acoustic guitar I got for a big birthday, but the potential of a light leaked Holga shot got the better of my time. So, for now, here's Geoff from Western Australia - now resident of the bushy Noosa Shire hinterland. Have a great weekend and if the surf goes choppy try tuning your six string down to DGCEAD or something like that. EADGBE is for 6.0 thruster days.

Triad

In music theory you can make nice sounds if you hit three notes at the same time. So long as they have some sort of mathematical sonic relationship - like the notes C-E-G. So three strings on a home made cigar box guitar all tuned to have a special combination of notes should work. Throw in a bit of metal tubing for a slide, a couple of piezo electric pick ups, a wah wah pedal and amp and you have some crazy noise potential (aka fun). The "surf" linoprint is for embellishment only, but creates the illusion that the noise is vaguely oceanic.

4 M

Apologies to those who thought there might be some crispy colour shots of the brine this foggy Monday morning. Instead, I have digressed down a monochrome mental maze with Metal and Meaning on my mind.

Michael Angelo Batio at the weekend Guitar Show. I have no metal in my collection but was blown away by his craft, creativity and inspiring words in between songs, BIG THANKS and to the Guitar Brothers for putting on the show. Tim Gaze update to follow.

Meaning is what you make of it?

I heart carbo? 

Shot by my mate Tony after the saturday Guitar Show. On the way to the pub, they were giving out free potato chips (H!). I initially declined due to watching carbohydrates taking over my girth, but The Guitarist talked me into it. And, no kidding, this was the first chip I pulled out of the pak. No, my nails are only long on one hand - for guitaring.

Trent x Tricko

Above, Trent Dickey, hanging 10 at First Point a couple of autumns back and on the other side of the carpark, Captain Tricko, sailor, raconteur and busker of awesome cultural value jamming on his cigar box guitars while avoiding the hot gaze of the local constabs at post code 4567 during his Big Fat World Busking Tour, autumn 2011. Thanks for the chat, CD and performance. Those cigar box guitars are so lo-fi yet so incredible. Support street performers and hire the Captain for your next BBQ, blues party.

Guitar Amp and Vintage

It's back to brighten the dark nights and short days of winter - the 2011 Guitar Amp and Vintage Show See guitar stuff, hear guitar stuff, buy guitar stuff. Reignite your passion with the pentatonic scale or just buy some bargain strings to replace those 12 rusty disgustings on your little sister's hand me down steel string.

For the fret fanatics, there will be plenty of workshops and live performances including the legend  Tim Gaze whose guitar magic with band Taman Shud on the Morning of the Earth soundtrack still inspires. Stick it to the global financial circus and keep the economy going by buying a hand made instrument of sonic delight from one of Brinetopia's local luthiers.

Low Fi

Today's post is for Jack Brull of Salt Stained Eyes - one surfer who knows his way around vintage boards, music and low-fi photography. Neil Young once said "Better classic than plastic." But in photography, sometimes plastic is classic. Long live film.

3rd fro from the sun

What better way to start guitar week than with some surf music? This morning's blog infused with the innovative spirit of James Marshall Hendrix and his 1967 tune "3rd Stone from the Sun".

"and you'll never hear surf music again"

from "3rd  Stone from the Sun"  by Jimi Hendrix 1967

Wach and Roll Pt2

Christian Wach shows why he's a nose riding legend at postcode 4567.

Have a Cigar

Somewhere amongst the accumulated detritus of the Brinecave is a 70 year old wooden cigar box that has survived three break and enters by persons unknown. It belonged to my grandfather who loved a nice Cuban cigar. With a broken lid, it's a container of memories more than a work of art. 

This morning I re-discovered the following items shoved in there - a Coca-Cola Russell yo-yo (with "Special Spin"), a Von Weirdo's business card, a selection of fountain pens, an extract from my late Dad's birth certificate, the original mirror from our twin lens reflex art deco Rolleicord camera dated 16/03/35, a small pocket knife that belonged to my other grandfather and serendipitously, a hand scribbled note of the set list that Roger Waters' Pink Floyd band played (written at 11:20 pm while waiting for the concert traffic to unjam). And yes they played "Have a Cigar"

A few weeks ago I saw and heard cigar box guitars for the first time. Most were fretless and were being played in a low-fi stomping, slidey style. The sound intrigued me, especially when played through a wah-wah peddle like Nigel McTrusty(?) above. So now I know what to do with that old cigar box keepsake - gonna turn it into a home made blues guitar. 

 I just love the touristy tea strainer from Natural Bridge at the back of the Gold Coast used as a sound hole on the fretless cigar box guitar above. Guitars by Gary Martin from Hoodoo Hand. If you don't quite embrace the do-it-yourself approach then contact him on: gblues@y7mail.com (no webbie spot).

Evidently Chickentown**

Time to cut the nails and practice pentatonic scales - the Annual Chickentown Guitar Show complete with inner city blues and blue suede shoes. Big thanks to Reece from Guitar Brothers for letting me bring my camera.

On the road last century. Bundaberg I think at a place called Across the Waves. Maybe not. Definitely a Gibson Firebird bass owned by my mate Tony who is organising the visit to the Guitar Show this weekend.

Evidently Chickentown**copyright John Cooper Clark

The Constant Element

From Mississippi John Hurt to Metallica

From Midnight Oil to The Middle East

From the MC5 to the Masters Apprentices

From the Modern Lovers to Missy Higgins

From Mott the Hoople to Muddy Waters

The guitar - the constant element

Guitar, Vintage and Amp Show

Brisbane

May 28 - 29