No. 319, November/December 2019

On the Cover: Stage-Ready Acoustic-Electrics
Want to be heard? Berklee professor Jane Miller provides a comprehensive guide to current options in the world of acoustic-electric guitars

Special Focus: Letters from Pete Seeger
Celebrate the legendary guitarist, songwriter, arranger, song leader, author, teacher, and activist’s lasting legacy by taking a peek into his offstage life through a close-up look at his personal correspondences encouraging other musicians to make music and get involved in their communities. 

Features and Departments

• Keb’ Mo’: The modern blues-folk legend talks guitars, recording, and his latest release, Oklahoma 
• Gypsy Jazz: From Django Reinhardt to his disciples, guitarists Paul Mehling and Tommy Davy present a brief history of hot club jazz and a look toward its future
• D-I-Y Folk: Six enterprising artists weigh in on what it takes to survive and thrive as a folk musician in the streaming era
• Woodshed: Guitarist and Gypsy jazz scholar Greg Ruby takes you deep inside Oscar Aleman’s swing jazz version of “You Made Me Love You”
• The Basics: Fred Sokolow shows how to use blues turnarounds in a variety of keys
• Ask the Expert: Luthier, repair, and restoration Martin Keith on how to diagnose and eliminate common nut problems
• Makers & Shakers: Luthier Eric Schoenberg discusses his business, namesake instruments, ragtime, and the state of the vintage guitar market

Songs

• Dire Straits’ classic “Sultans of Swing” 
• Pete Seeger’s “Quite Early Morning”
• Oscar Aleman’s hot take on the standard “You Made Me Love You”
• Sean McGowan’s jazzy rendition of “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful”
• “Waltz” – A fingerstyle gem in open G from Mary Flower

New Gear

• Eastman DT30D Double Top
• Lowden Ed Sheeran Model S02
• Cort Gold Mini
• Blue Ember XLR microphone

Reviews: We check out new releases from Molly Tuttle, Mary Flower, Abigail Dowd, Adam Palma, David Pritchard, and more

More!