Northwest Guitars

What’s the world coming to? I guess everybody wonders from time to time. This time of year we see a steady stream of moms and dads who bought a guitar on-line and want to know what it will take to make it play correctly. The answer can be “lots of money” or “there is nothing that can be done.”

How can you buy a guitar on-line? Have guitars just become another commodity like cell phones, I-pads and microwaves. I guess it’s easy to think that way. You’re at your computer shopping one of the big mass merchandisers before Christmas buying a sweater, a video game and you might as well click on that new guitar for Johnny while you’re at it. I guess some people do it that way.

Here’s the problem! Guitars are made of wood and almost all guitars that cost less than $1000 are made in Asia usually in a tropical environment. All wood is susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. The manufacturers do not air freight guitars over from Asia, they come in containers that are not heated or humidified spending weeks and even months either on the open ocean of in port waiting to clear customs.

American manufacturers must buy in container loads. They do not have agents who inspect all the instruments before shipping. They merely take what comes off the assembly line. Industry estimates are that nearly 10% to 15% of Asian guitars are defective. That’s because Asian factories are cranking out the products. Production is fast and usually the time is not taken to properly let the wood cure and dry. On the trip over it is common for the wood to shrink and the metal to rust resulting in rough fret ends and warped necks.

A guitar in that kind of condition can need a lot of work. A basic set-up runs $50 to $80, fret work considerably more. Most parents are not aware of this. You may think you are getting a bargain only to find out you have to invest more money is making the guitar play right and end up paying too much, not to mention handicapping your child with an instrument that is way too hard to play.

We’re a “pro” guitar shop. Every one of our instruments is inspected carefully by our guitar luthier and defective units are returned to the factory. Something the box houses don’t do. We set–up and restring every guitar if needed to make it play its best. We guarantee it to play and sound great when it leaves the store.

We also have the expertise to help you select the correct guitar for your needs. (Yes, guitars should be fitted to the player like a good pair of shoes.) We even have a Rental Program so it you have any doubts, you can rent a guitar until you find the right one.

Why leave anything to chance? Come in and let us help you start the journey down the guitar path to years of the joys of making music!

January 12th, 2012 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Okay so you’ve taken guitar, bass or vocal lessons and maybe you’ve even done a solo performance at one of our Student Concerts. Now you want to play with some other musicians about your age and ability. Now you can join our NWG “Band Practice. ”  Starting in 2012, you can sign up to be in one of our bands. For details just ask one of our teachers or staff.

December 15th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

We get this question all the time but usually posed “should I buy a ¾ “size” guitar for my child?”  First of all, “3/4 size” is a misnomer.  The correct term is ¾ “scale” not “size”. The scale length is the length between where the strings touch the nut at the top of the guitar to where they touch at the bridge.  The most common scale length on an acoustic guitar is 25 ½”, therefore a ¾ scale length would be somewhere around 19 ½”.

This means in practical terms that the fingerboard of a ¾ scale guitar is about 2 frets shorter than a standard scale length guitar.  What most parents are looking for is a small body guitar for their child not necessarily a shorter neck guitar.  If you child has short arms and a limited reach then a ¾ scale might be a good choice.  Remember that sooner or later the child will have to readjust to a full scale guitar once they grow.

3 /4 scale length guitars do come in all manner of shapes and sizes as do full scale guitars.  Sometimes a good alternative to a ¾ scale is a full scale parlor size instrument.  A parlor size is one of the smallest body guitars available and is a good choice for a child age 9 or so and up or for a woman or man of smaller stature.  Certainly smaller guitars can be more comfortable to play than a big box instrument.  They are easier to get your arm around and sit nicely on your knee.

In short, guitars must be tried on like buying a pair of new shoes. You want the guitar to fit your body comfortably.  So examine the reach of your left hand, the shape of the neck, how comfortable your strumming arm is around the body of the guitar and make sure this new guitar is something that you instantly feel at home with because you will hopefully be spending many, many happy hours holding and playing it.

November 25th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

This fall watch for these special events.

Student Concerts in November and December.  Most of our teachers have students who are ready to perform on the NWG stage in a live concert. Watch our events schedule for dates and times or if you are a student, check with your teacher.

Special Workshops-

Coming this fall, “The Art of Music” This special workshop will give you ideas on how to take a more artful approach to your instrument. Designed for those creative musicians, this one-hour workshop may open your eyes to new musical ideas.

“Beginning Songwriting” Learn a few easy steps to get you writing and creating your own music.  Presented in a one hour workshop.

October 22nd, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Back to school is right around the corner and we have a special offer for you. Sign up now and we’ll give you the first lesson FREE!  Get started at no risk with one of our excellent teachers and get a jump on reserving your preferred lesson time slot. Call the store or email kevin@northwestguitars.com

August 24th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Northwest Guitars announced Group Lessons. Tailored towards beginners, we teach beginner lessons in acoustic guitar and ukulele covering basic chords, strumming and finger-picking as well as songwriting. For more information call 425-284-1960 and ask for Kevin or David or email us info@northwestguitars.com

July 16th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

WORKS WHEN YOU BUY IT!!!

All guitars are inspected and professionally set up!

The majority of guitars are shipped from overseas. It is estimated in our industry that 10% to 15% of all Asian made instruments are defective. Mail order warehouses store the guitars in large unheated warehouses until purchased. The big box stores take the guitar out of the box and hang it on the wall with no inspection. Then it’s buyer beware with the defective units mixed in with the rest of the inventory. In addition, the moisture and temperature changes incurred during shipment affect the wood causing it to shrink and bow and can cause the guitar to be nearly unplayable and need an adjustment called a “set up.” If you want it adjusted they may charge you extra, up to $80. Sadly many new players quit before they even get started not realizing that a simple adjustment to their guitar could have made the learning process easy, fun and enjoyable.

We inspect and set up every guitar that comes in our door! If it’s defective we send it back. The set up service is included in the price of the guitar. Since we match prices, you’re actually getting the guitar for $80 less that the competition!

WORKS WHEN YOU KEEP IT!!!

What happens if you need more help with your guitar? What if it breaks, needs a future set up or you need to change the strings and don’t know how. Who’s got your back? We do. We’ll help you, give you tips, and show you how to keep it in tune and playing wonderfully. Other guitar stores make you send a broken guitar back to the manufacturer. At Northwest Guitars, just bring it down. We’ll help you get things straight fast! So really why buy there when you can buy here!

Same or better price, better quality, best service.

April 20th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

 We are frequently asked by parents and students if learning guitar or

bass using TAB rather than traditional music notation is “cheating” or

over simplification.

TAB is not a “dummied down” modern form of traditional music notation.

 TAB stands for tablature, a notation system that dates back to 15th

century France when music for the lute was written in a tablature

format that very closely resembles the modern TAB in use today.

Some of the confusion surrounding TAB and its use stems from the fact

that TAB and traditional music notation look very much alike.

Notation uses a staff consisting of 5 horizontal lines and TAB uses 6

lines for guitar and 4 for bass.

So what’s the benefit of using TAB for learning guitar or bass?

Simple.  TAB provides one type of “information” for the player that

traditional music notation does not.  TAB tells the player exactly

where on his or her instrument a note should be played.  TAB is like a

map that indicates what string and at what fret a particular note is

to be played.  Traditional notation lacks this information and because

unlike the piano, for instance, where a particular note can be played

in only one place, on the guitar the same note can be played in as

many as 5 different places.   For example on the piano there is only

one “middle C” note.  On the guitar, the same note, “middle C”, can be

played at 4 and on some guitars, 5 different places.

So if the note “middle C” sounds the same no matter where it’s played

on the guitar, why is location information important to the beginning

and intermediate student?   For two main reasons:  First, there is a

logical “flow” to a sequence of notes.  For example if the note “F”

(1st string, 1st fret) is to be followed by middle “C” then back to

the “F”, it makes sense to play the middle “C” note on the 2nd string,

1st fret rather than on the 4th string, 10th fret.  Second:  For many

types of music, the guitar and bass are often pattern-based

instruments (chord progressions, runs, scales, etc.)  Using TAB, makes

it easier to grasp the relationship between notes when it is “mapped

out” on the instrument’s fingerboard.

So is traditional music notation obsolete for bass and guitar?

Absolutely not.  TAB notation is very specific to guitar or bass and

can’t be read by most other instruments (piano, woodwinds, percussion,

brass, etc.)  Traditional music notation is a “universal language”

that lets players of all instruments “talk to” and “understand” each

other.  So a guitar player that wants to read or write music for

clarinet, violin or piano, for example, needs to use traditional music

notation rather than TAB.

Which notation system is better?  Neither, both have their place.

Some players find that TAB meets all of their needs.  Some players

have musical interests that expand beyond guitar or bass and become

fluent in both TAB and traditional music notation.

Whether it means using TAB, traditional music notation, or both,

Northwest Guitars’ staff of talented and experienced instructors is

available to put you on the learning path that’s right for you

by David Robin

April 7th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

All our guitars are made to make 100% Range Free, organic music!  They are all guaranteed to fight the Cold Weather Blues and create a soft, smoky flavor when paired with a warm fire.

February 23rd, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment