AcuTab DVD

Marty created a unique DVD for AcuTab about the care and feeding of the acoustic guitar. In this clip he’s discussing bracing. Check out the Lanham General Store to learn more.

Get To Know Your Acoustic Guitar

DVD format / two hours

Noted guitar builder and repair specialist Marty Lanham of the Nashville Guitar Company gives an inside look at the flat top, steel string guitar. Learn how the guitar creates its sound, and what each component contributes to the tone – plus what you need to know about common repair and maintenance of your guitar.

Millions of people own acoustic guitars, but not many know much about how they generate tone, how they are built and maintained, or how they can be adjusted to improve tone, responsiveness or playability. Many guitarists have questions about proper care – or whether and when their instrument needs a visit to the repair shop – but don’t have access to skilled luthiers to ask such questions.

Topics covered on Get To Know Your Acoustic Guitar include:

• component overview
• bridge pulling up
• loose bracing
• bridge plate wear
• action and saddle height
• temperature and humidity
• truss rod adjustments
• cracks
• restringing
• intonation
• finish care
• choosing a used guitar
• neck problems
• tuning machines

Marty Lanham is Nashville’s “go-to guy” when delicate repair or restoration is needed on fine acoustic guitars. Prominent guitarists in country and bluegrass music rely on Marty for regular maintenance, and many use his handmade guitars on stage and in the studio. On this DVD, Marty shares his many years of experience as a luthier to help you get to know and understand the acoustic guitar.

REVIEW

Marty Lanham’s two-hour DVD, Get to Know Your Acoustic Guitar, gives a thorough tour of the flat-top guitar, highlighting design, maintenance, and repair issues every picker ought to know. It covers the kind of information most of us have learned, or put two and two together about, in a haphazard way through years of conversations, dumb questions, trips to the repair shop, and even stupid mistakes or oversights. While it’s especially valuable for beginners, there will be points where most viewers say to themselves, “I sure wish somebody’d told me that before.”

Marty’s explanations are well-paced, clear, and understandable, and the camera work provides good visuals on all his various topics. Without being too technical, the commentary covers terminology, mechanical design issues, common problems and their causes, troubleshooting pointers, setup, basic repairs, and tips in buying a guitar. I’d recommend this for anybody who wants to know more about how their instrument works, how to take good care of it, and when to seek help from a qualified repairman. I don’t know of anything else quite like it.

Roby Cogswell

This DVD is now available from the Nashville Guitar Company for $35, shipping included.

If you’re really into guitars, we think you’ll find that this video is not just a great investment, it’s a must-have. All purchases are shipped via USPS.

Price: $30 + $5 shipping & handling