Subject: RECOMMENDATION PLEASE
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 13:42:54 -0400

Hello, I'm thinking about learning (trying?) to pick up a guitar again but I'm a bit naïve about some things. Could you answer a few questions, please?

Greetings,

Glad to assist if I can...

What would be the best acoustic guitar, especially in terms of size, to recreate the old cowboy crooner tunes, say, of the Gene Autry genre? I've decided a dreadnaught size would be best for me but I'm not sure. I'm looking at something like your DC-100 as a starter but I'm not at all familiar with sizing and your quality/price looks like a good place to begin.

I would say that a dreadnaught size guitar would be preferable...or a Jumbo Gibson. In fact, I've seen more Jumbo Gibsons used within a Cowboy setting than just about any other guitar. Be aware, both Jimmie Rodgers and Woody Guthrie, exponents of western-style crooning, played smaller bodied guitars.

The DC-100 would be a dreadnaught size guitar...

Where would I find more info on learning about cowboy crooner tunes? Is that a particular form of music, say, as opposed to bluegrass, etc., or is it just considered plain old country-western?

There's quite a bit of cowboy music books on the market...

Be sure to try www.melbay.com for a decent selection...it most definitely is its own form of music under "Western" categories.

Where could I learn more about all this before buying a guitar on a whim?

You might try www.elderly.com where there's plenty of books and recordings within the Western category. Watch for the new site: www.wisdomfothewood.com which will list many acoustic titles including Cowboy music...

Hope the above helps...Mickey




Thanks for your time…



Jim Wray