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2 weeks ago | 
acousticguitar.com | Emile Menasche |Adam Perlmutter |Richard Bienstock
With online education now deeply woven into the fabric of music learning, today’s guitar students have access to instruction that was once available primarily through conservatory programs or specialized workshops. But for all the polished tutorials and algorithm-friendly content circulating online, something essential often goes missing: the human touch. That’s what makes the new Acoustic Guitar Teaching Artists series, hosted on Patreon, worth a closer look.
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2 weeks ago | 
acousticguitar.com | Emile Menasche |Teja Gerken |James Rotondi |Bob Doerschuk
March 1, 2025: It’s Billy Strings’ second consecutive packed-to-the-rafters show at the 17,000-capacity Bridgestone Arena in his adopted home of Nashville.
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3 weeks ago | 
acousticguitar.com | Emile Menasche |Teja Gerken |David McPherson |Adam Perlmutter
Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, who passed away in 2023, left a legacy of great songs—and a remarkable collection of instruments. Among them, one stood apart: his Gibson B-45-12. Late last fall, this 12-string guitar was the top-selling item in a Heritage Auctions estate sale, going for $350,000 to a group of Canadian collectors. Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Lightfoot amassed dozens of fine acoustic guitars.
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1 month ago | 
acousticguitar.com | Emile Menasche |Adam Perlmutter |Kate Koenig
Ernie Ball may be best known for its electric strings—especially the Slinky series, an industry stalwart for decades—but the company also has an impressive lineup of acoustic offerings. The latest is the Earthwood Bell Bronze set ($12.99), developed in collaboration with singer-songwriter John Mayer, a player as fluent on acoustic as he is on electric. Made with a proprietary alloy exclusive to Ernie Ball, these strings offer a distinct tonal character.
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2 months ago | 
acousticguitar.com | E.E. Bradman |Emile Menasche |James Rotondi |Mark Small
As country, Americana, and bluegrass artists like the Avett Brothers, Rhiannon Giddens, Jason Isbell, Sierra Ferrell, and Billy Strings continue to shake up the national charts and rack up record crowds, a rising generation of proudly roots-faithful young players and songwriters is following in their footsteps.
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Feb 2, 2025 | 
acousticguitar.com | Emile Menasche |Whitney Phaneuf |Anna Pulley |Karen Peterson
With a slide in his hand, 16-time Grammy winner Jerry Douglas has one of the most distinctive and yet adaptable voices in the business. Whether he’s playing with Alison Krauss and Union Station, or the Earls of Leicester, or working as a producer and master session player, Douglas can make a dobro or lap steel sing. But it’s as a solo artist with his longtime ensemble of Christian Sedelmyer (violin), Daniel Kimbro (bass), and Mike Seal (guitar) where Douglas and his slide can sing their own tune.
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Jan 31, 2025 | 
acousticguitar.com | Emile Menasche |Adam Levy |Kate Koenig |James Rotondi
With a soundhole-less top sleekly finished in its eponymous color, the Cort Modern Black makes a visual statement right out of the case. Offset by the rich browns of the walnut binding and the contrasting fretboard colors, the guitar has an after-hours look that’s elegant but informal—think turtleneck and sports jacket for a literary afterparty. Even the bronze finish of the strings fits the color scheme like a well-chosen accessory.
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Dec 4, 2024 | 
acousticguitar.com | Greg Cahill |Emile Menasche |Doug Young
In 1974, Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug founded Taylor Guitars after buying out the American Dream, a small guitar-making workshop in San Diego where they both worked as luthiers. At the time, they likely never imagined their brand would become one of the most renowned names in the guitar world. But fast-forward a half century, and Taylor Guitars has released a series of special limited-edition models to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary, starting in January 2024.
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Nov 17, 2024 | 
acousticguitar.com | Adam Perlmutter |Emile Menasche |Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers |Peter Mulvey
Ani DiFranco achieved her iconic status by relentlessly storming the 1990s, during which she played well over 3,000 shows, always taking the stage with an acoustic guitar and fake nails electric-taped to her fingers to achieve her kinetic rhythms. For every year of that decade she released an album on her self-owned indie label, Righteous Babe.
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Oct 30, 2024 | 
acousticguitar.com | Doug Young |Emile Menasche |E.E. Bradman |Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
Making videos is a core part of just about every working musician’s life these days. Smartphones have put amazingly good cameras in our pockets, but their built-in mics are definitely limited for recording music. Enter Audigo ($249), a small wireless mic/iPhone app that aims to upgrade the audio side and help you make good-sounding videos (or audio tracks) anywhere, quickly and easily—no cables, computer, or even electricity required.
