Static Live Magazine February 2020

THE ACOUSTIC
TAKEOVER
34
By Randy Pepper
The acoustic takeover is now in effect; more
acoustics are sold than electrics and there
doesn’t seem to be any slowdown in the
near future. Part of the reason is; girls
are now playing more guitar than ever before,
and the other reason is - gigs available. Clubs
and restaurants now have singles and duos just
about every weekend. So, the sales of acoustic
guitars have gone up. The days of having a stage
for a band just don’t exist anymore. So, more
acoustics are being sold to musicians looking to
cash in on the acoustic craze. But the question
remains; do you need an expensive guitar to do an
acoustic gig? I wish I could say you did, but in all
reality - no, you don’t. There are many musicians
all across the country that use cheap guitars,
and that’s probably the smart thing to do. Why
would you want to take out a $3,000 Gibson Taylor
Martin, or any other high-end guitar, to a gig when
someone might steal it off the stage or out of the
corner? Sure, there are players out there that still
use high-end acoustics - and they sound great
- but to the average ear, there is no difference.
There are players in this area that I personally
know who use cheaper acoustics, like my own duo
partner Bill Hamilton in Psycoustic. He gigs with
an Urban acoustic. These were guitars that were
sold on QVC TV and, to me personally, aren’t very
good. But you never have to worry about anyone
wanting to steal it. Since we use a good PA, we
can actually make it sound good. There are also
acoustic preamp direct boxes made by Radial
and Aphex that can make an ok-sounding guitar
sound great; or at least a lot better. The downfall
of playing these less expensive guitars is not
knowing how long they will last.
With a nice American made Gibson, Taylor or
Martin; they are made from premium woods and
we know they will last for many many years. I have
seen quite a few less expensive guitars come in
for repair after a year or so of gigging on the beach
that are toast. In most cases, the person will say,
“Oh well, I guess it’s time for another one.” So,
if you’re planning on playing outdoors a lot, just
remember; an acoustic is made out of wood and
the cheaper the wood, the less likely it’s going to
survive the elements. The best bet is to get a guitar
made from solid wood that has good electronics
and, that way, you will get years of use out of your
new guitar. Happy guitar hunting; and be sure to
ask the pros playing out what they use and that will
give you a better idea of what to purchase.
Randy Pepper is a Freelance Guitarist for hire and
the owner of the Guitar Attic in Holly Hill.
February 1
Travis Rudd 1-5
JW Gilmore 6-10
February 2
Relief 1-5
February 7
Stephanie Schaffer 6-10
February 8
Brett Messner 1-5
Joe Payne 6-10
February 9
Relief 1-5
February 14
Eddy Davis 6-10
February 15
Thom Blasberg 1-5
Wild Flowers 6-10
Live Music Line-up for February
February 16
Rasta Bayers 1-5
February 21
Sam Seas 6-10
February 22
Tiki Band 1-5
Big Beat 6-10
Live music Friday-Sunday
204 Buenos Aires Street
New Smyrna Beach, FL
(386) 319-0000
February 23
Danny Dread 1-5
February 28
Mark Moore 6-10
February 29
Laree App 1-5
Adam’s Edge 6-10
Thom Blasberg
Rasta
Bayers