STUDENT NEWSLETTER 14 January 2008 
January sees many new guitar students. Some got guitars for Christmas. Some got Guitar Lessons Gift Certificates. Some have a New Years Resolution. Some students return from as long ago as ten years wanting to resume lessons. Kids and adults. Men and women. None have any idea of the cool trip they are starting. Guitar playing is a lifetime joy that gets better with age. It opens so many doors. Self esteem and confidence goes up along with the fun of making music. The new "in" TOY is this vidiot game called 'Guitar Hero'. It is a toy for the folks too lazy to learn how to play a real guitar. Playing guitar is not that hard. If the vidiot would spend as much time with a real guitar as they do with the controller guitar they would be a REAL GUITAR PLAYER. Practice is fun and productive. Don't go for second best.
If you do not have a professional level guitar yet you should get one soon. You are burning up time. Thousands of hours spent playing an 'off shore made' guitar might be saving you a buck or two but is costing you big in enjoyment potential. It could be so much more of everything with a real nice guitar. It plays easy and sounds fantastic. You will never get a professional sound out of a non professional guitar. You get what you pay for. Get a good tube amp too. Transistorized solid state amps sound like a tiny tinny transistor radio. Like Chet Atkins says; "if you don't know what a beautiful sound is, how are you ever going to make one?" A good guitar is a solid investment that only appreciates in value. This makes them a fantastic deal. For the past 8 years REAL guitars have doubled in value THREE TIMES! The $700 guitars I was buying in 1990 now cost me $2,100. What are you waiting for?
On the way here from my home state of Kentucky is a 100% original one owner near mint condition 1979 Gibson SG in custom color Polaris White with factory Grover tuners! Rare "zebra" bridge pickup. 29 year old rock machine.
Lightning strikes twice! On the way here from California is a 1978 Gibson SG in custom color Polaris White with factory Grover tuners. 30 year old rock machine.
Starting off the year with three fantastic guitars.
An un-ding-dang-believable 1968 Gibson ES 335 in rarest of custom colors Burgundy Mist that has faded and aged into a rainbow of cool colors. Burgundy Mist was never a production color. Only special order. This guitar has more mojo than all my guitars put together. Larry Carlton (aka Mr. 335) has made this guitar so famous Gibson has reissued the 1968 ES 335 Larry Carlton Model. Mr. Carlton swears the 1968 ES 335 was the best year. This is not a reissue but the real deal from 1968. The very rare color puts this one over the top. Feather weight 335 at only 7lb 13.5oz. Old original case is equally as mojolicious. This guitar was in dire need of a fret job so new frets are being installed even as we speak.
1984 USA Vintage '57 reissue FULLERTON Stratocaster in custom color black! From Canada. Real Fullerton Stratocaster. More mojo here folks. This one has it all. Almost all original. Great player and looks as cool as they get. Sounds fantastic. Very Strat like.
1971 Gibson SG Standard. Just arrived from Kansas City, Kansas. The wife of the owner for the past 35 years drove it down (with her mother and sister) and delivered it to me personally. Kansas City is over 500 miles away. Now THAT is service! The seller did not want to take the chance with the mail. No wonder. It is a fantastic example that is still bright cherry red. You know how I like these SGs.
This year I am implementing some new strategies for my students. My goal is to have a song a week per student to add to the song book so that at the end of the year you will have 50 new songs. Not just any songs. MONEY songs. No obscure songs by bands that are only 15 minutes old. Nothing in the weird category. Money songs are songs that people will pay you to play. Songs the audience loves to hear. Songs that can be played for more than one audience. The greatest songs of all times. I will print up the lyrics and chords so the piece is ready to add to your three ring binder with page protectors. Different songs for each student. Variety is the key. Let's get serious in 2008.
This is my busiest time of the year. Many new students got a guitar or bass for Christmas. Many Guitar Lessons Gift Certificates were sold to yet un-met students. In the past two weeks I heard back from 2 students of 10 years ago that want to resume lessons. Also a student from 6 years ago is driving up from Austin on a regular basis for lessons.
As busy as I am; my students are even busier! Seems like everyone is in a band playing the local clubs, private parties, and churches all around Dallas. A lot of quality recording is being done with my students. It is a wonderful feeling to see you all doing so well. If there is a way to have more fun than playing in a band I wish someone would tell me.
2008 starts my 50th year as a guitar player. MAN! I am still having big fun.
The search for the perfect tone never ends. But after years of consideration, trial and error this is my rig more or less. It is not easy to find the original vintage stuff anymore, so this is the new equivalent.
Every bit of my new gear comes from MusiciansFriend.com or Guitar Center for the past eight years. Best prices, selection, and return policy there is. AND they bring it to your door! If you click thru to MUSICIANS FRIEND .com or Guitar Center.com from this web site to buy something, I get an advertising credit and it does not cost you a penny extra! Musicians Friend and Guitar Center is where I get all my new gear. Click on the link below to go there. If the link does not appear on your browser go here and click on the MusiciansFriend or Guitar Center link at bottom of that page.
New feature on this web site:
Always Stay Tuned. A lot is going on around here!
Rock On,
Joe "TheGuitarman" Pacciano, C.G.P.
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