Acoustic guitar

[MrMike]

I am looking at the links and I have serious doubts that this guitar will hold up well in a tropical climate, assuming the owner does not have a way to keep it in an air conditioned environment.

I am not an expert on wood, but I suspect the cedar top will have difficulty holding its shape in high humidity.

Also I have yet to see a steel string guitar with a trapeeze style tailpiece that can stay in tune in any climate.

If I get a chance to play one of these I would be very pleased if I discovered I was wrong, but to date have never seen a $200 guitar that was good for anything but an ornament.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by MrMike

I am looking at the links and I have serious doubts that this guitar will hold up well in a tropical climate, assuming the owner does not have a way to keep it in an air conditioned environment.

I am not an expert on wood, but I suspect the cedar top will have difficulty holding its shape in high humidity.

Also I have yet to see a steel string guitar with a trapeeze style tailpiece that can stay in tune in any climate.

If I get a chance to play one of these I would be very pleased if I discovered I was wrong, but to date have never seen a $200 guitar that was good for anything but an ornament.

Exactly because the climate conditions and the shipping risks, I'd rather try my luck with a 200 bucks axe instead of a two grand luthier's guitar.

And as I said... price is not necessarily a guarantor for a good sounding and playing instrument anymore. I have experienced that both ways. But I hand you this... yes, 200 seems little money for a reasonably playable instrument, but since it sure is purdy (unless Transexpress sandwiches it) it can still make a nice wall ornament.

I'll try to post truthfully about the experience once I'll have it.

... J-D.

[NorCalNative]

Anyone know where to get guitar, piano or voice lessons in Santo Domingo?Ideally in English.

[mountainannie]

The name of the street you were looking for in SD is 30 de Marzo . I think, up from Independencia, along with Claro. At least that is one street with several music stores on it.

I bought a decent little classical there.made in Spain finished in PR..for about $100 after my Taylor was stolen (sob sob sob) ...

There should be a good supply of high end classicals in this country since they both study and teach guitar at the masters level

I know nothing of electric or even steel strings since I play thumb and finger picking and just cannot even get a sound out of steel....

I have to go and get new strings soon so will report back

[J D Sauser]

NorCalNative: As the Direccion General De Bellas Artes (Bienvenidos al Portal de la Dirección General de Bellas Artes) would suggest the UASD university (Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo - Primada de América) has an arts faculty.
My suggestion would be to start your search for a musical teacher there.


Well, since the thread has been resuscitated. I did not follow thru with the steel string acoustic guitar. The reason being that I can't seem to keep my steel strings alive for a half way reasonable time on my electric steel guitar. Since I brought along a pedal steel guitar in February, an instrument which can alter the pitch of most strings by mechanically changing their tension by the flick of a lever or snap of a pedal, the problem has become even more obvious; the humidity and salinity of the air is doing a bad number on my strings, so bad, I can't seem to hold tuning.
I would need a constantly air conditioned room to keep and play the instrument... I currently don't have such a room... or ... keep it acoustic with nylon strings.

... J-D.

[windeguy]

JD sorry to hear about your pedal steel having such issues. I love the sound of those instruments.

Regarding using a regular acoustic or electric guitar with steel strings, I am only about 100 yards from the ocean. I don't have much problem with steel strings on my acoustic or electric guitars even with normal steel strings because I put the guitar back in the case after playing them.

The new coated strings are even better and don't have to be replaced after many months.

[MrMike]

Yes, get elixir strings, they last muuuuuch longer.

[J D Sauser]

I'll look into them.
Don't know if they'd handle the "sliding" very well and how'd they sound.
I'm 300 yards of the Atlantic... Computers dying away, amp crapping out, string dead and rusty... heck, even I am getting rusty!

... J-D.

[reese_in_va]

Such is the problem having a good piece here. It's just not worth it.
Originally I had owned a 59' Fender Jazzmaster and brought it here, in near mint condition.
Luckily, I sold it fast knowing it's doomed fate, to an American buyer in the US (who could take care of it), with the proceeds I bought myself a very nice new truck.
Had I held onto it, I might not even be able to buy a pasola today. It would have been a shame to see such a beautiful guitar go to the wayside, ah and the rich, deep tones... I do miss it.
JD- If you ever want to play/ jam come on up and I'll break out the acoustic and put some new strings on her. I'm getting a bit rusty myself

[windeguy]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

I'll look into them.
Don't know if they'd handle the "sliding" very well and how'd they sound.
I'm 300 yards of the Atlantic... Computers dying away, amp crapping out, string dead and rusty... heck, even I am getting rusty!

... J-D.

JD, I know that Elixir makes at least two types of coated strings while other vendors have come out with competitive products as well. From Elixir, one variety is called nanoweb and the other is called polyweb. The coating may diminish the brightness of the strings compared to uncoated strings, but either type will last much longer than uncoated ones. I don't think they feel all that different, perhaps a bit smoother because of the teflon coating, but I am a keyboard player that strums a guitar and not a true guitarist. I will let the real guitar players comment on that.