My Acoustic Guitars, Recording Resources, Online Music Distributors and Acoustic Guitar And Recording Communities

I have listed here websites that I have found indispensable over the past couple of years, whether I have been trying to buy a new guitar, build, obtain equipment for, and setup and learn how to optimally use a recording studio. Also listed are places to learn about independent musicianship and music promotion, and share ideas and experiences with folks treading a similar path. This is a list of the places that I’ve distilled from the hundreds out there and have found to be the most relevant and helpful to me in my particular endeavours.

Acoustic Guitars

I play guitars made by the following two companies:

CF Martin & Co
Eccleshall Guitars

I knew Chris Ecceleshall when I lived in London and he built me a fine guitar in 1987 which I still have.

Acoustic Guitar Recording

My recording setup is now completely digital and presently includes the following key items of equipment:

- Neumann KM184 microphones
- Audio-Technica AT-4033 microphone
- Allen & Heath GS3 mixing console
- RME Multiface soundcard
- QuietPC case containing a self-assembled workstation
- Steinberg Cubase Studio 4 audio recording and editing software
- Voxengo and Kjaerhus VST plugins

For many live situations, I use a K&K Pure Western Mini pickup which was installed by Jimmy Egypt in Glasgow who is an authorised Martin guitar repairman and who does all the work on my guitars.

There are two forums at PSW and recording.org where I have found a wealth of experience and professional advice on all varieties of topics salient to recording acoustic guitars and vocals. Cubase.net have a helpful and lively forum devoted to the use of their sequencing software. Quieter, but no less helpful fora exist for Voxengo and Kjaerhuis products which I have found indispensable. The folks over at studio tips share their wealth of knowledge on studio acoustics and how to obtain and/or make excellent items of acoustic treatment for your studio. Neumann also have a forum for discussion of their microphones here, but I highly recommend the DPA microphones site – click on the microphone university link for a superb review of microphone techniques.

For those who use a PC for recording, some indispensable advice on configuring and optimising Microsoft Windows XP for serious audio work can be found here.

OMDs (Online Music Distributors)

There are many of these to be found on the web, and for the casual listener all are probably worthwhile exploring. However, for the independent musician who is concerned to get her music heard, it is better to be associated with those that have many visitors and provide excellent promotional and statistical analysis tools. I have found Soundclick to be the best by far, however it’s a hotly debated topic and other musicians’ mileage will vary. Soundclick has also the liveliest community forum among the OMDs and is a fine place to read and learn, contribute, or just join in the chat.

Other OMDs where I have a page are Fingerstyle-Guitar.com, EZfolk and PureVolume.

Other Communities

The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum (UMGF) is the place to discuss Martin guitars with the most knowledgeable folk on the planet. Friendly, too. But be warned: if you are susceptible to GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome) it not the place to linger for long… Tell ‘em IainDearg sent ya!

Other fine guitar communities are at AcousticGuitar.com, Acoustic Guitar Forum (AGF) and the acoustic guitar section at Harmony Central.

Other communities that I find interesting and fun are Stefan Grossman’s Woodshed, the songwriter forum, and Talkawhile which is owned by an old colleague from my London days.