I have been lucky enough to get the befuddled hams that serve as my hands on a number of high end musical instruments in my day, and it is always a cool experience. The exotic woods and attention to detail can inspire a man to consider whether or not he could be in love with an inanimate object. I know that’s weird, and I totally don’t care.

Also when you read guitar reviews, you’ll notice the use of language that is sort of meaningless. Sometimes it can be had to understand what a person means when they say the pickups “sparkle” or the sound is “crispy”. Are they describing a piece of chicken made of diamonds?

“Fit and finish” is a little bit easier to get a handle on, I think. I would define it as the way the thing is assembled, or the care taken to make sure all the joints line up.

I have never seen better fit and finish than on this guitar. It is smooth like you would not believe. Check out the sweet-as-monkey-meat wood binding on this neck, would you?

Man I just want to play the hell out of that thing for hours.

Even on some other guitars that cost the same or more you can feel the pointy ends of frets sometimes, but not on this guitar. It is the jamma-lamma ding-dong for real.

If I had the scratch I would definitely pick one up, but for now I am just trying to sneak into Avatar often enough to get my fix.

Nice work, Taylor. Amazing guitar!

I was a preteen dork when I picked the instrument up, so I had a lot of free time to practice that other people might have spent on, say, hanging out with friends. My meager ability on the instrument bloomed with the self-confidence that comes with growing up, and is intertwined with my self image.

Now that I am a full grown dork, I don’t have as much time to practice obsessively, so I look instead for excuses upon which to blame my rusty playing. That’s where the Taylor 510CE Lefty comes in.

Of course I sound terrible on it, I’m not left handed!

Just take a gander at how great this thing looks, and keep in mind that this is one of the more affordable models.

 

My right-handedness aside, its a great looking instrument. Im jealous of Avatar’s left-handed clients who get to use it. They will be very pleased, I have no doubt.

I had a chance to play a few of them, which will become Taylor Tuesdays here on the site, so check back every Tuesday for a new review!

First up, I got my grubby mitts on the Taylor T5 12-string. As you can see from the photos it’s a pretty impressive looking guitar.

There are even more photos at the Avatar Flickr page too, so don’t be scared to give them a gander.

I tested it using the time-honored 12-string testing method known to all guitarists — playing Led Zeppelin’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” on it — and it performed flawlessly. As will all the Taylor guitars, in my opinion, the playability was incredible. I’m a big fan of their necks, if you can’t tell.

I only wish I could have kept it in my possession for a few days, but the Avatar folks know better than to let me out of the building with high end guitars, I’m sad to say.

Back in the days when I still thought I was a good enough singer to make it on the strength of my own songs, I was toting a Gibson Chet Atkins around because they were buletproof, sounded great, and could be used exactly like an acoustic, but with no monitor feedback.

I think the T5 has taken that idea to the next level and beyond. Too bad I am such a terrible singer or I’d grab one of these and make a go at it again!

It means Jam Cruise!

Probably one of the most-looked-forward-to events of any given year, Jam Cruise has just completed its eighth voyage. I haven’t heard the report from Rear Admiral Chip Smith yet, but I’m betting it went something like this.

It was probably a lot warmer in the tropics than it was here in Atlanta. There were probably a lot more cool bands playing at all times, and there were probably a lot of chicks in bikinis wandering around. Tell me that doesn’t sound like a good time.

Hopefully we’ll get the full report shortly, complete with photos, but having been on the cruise myself I know that everyone involved is already looking forward to next year. I got to hear an impeccable version of Lionel Richie’s “Dancing on the Ceiling” performed by Perpetual Groove when I went.

Keep kicking ass, Jam Cruise!

Well even if you don’t, don’t worry because we have items for sale on Thursday September 17th at Avatar Studios on Ottley Drive for all the way down to FIVE dollars.

Here’s the magic decree from our very own Chip Smith:
“The main goal of this sale is to move ALL of the smaller items in the storage room. Drum Heads, cables etc. The nicer pieces such as amplifiers are for sale but not as big of deal. Items are $5-$25 unless otherwise stated. It’s all listed on the flyer that is attached.”

So if you need drum heads or cables or any musical whatnots that keep you moving from song to song, come by Avatar and take a gander at our wares.

Here’s that flyer with all the meaty details. Come see us!

So, what’s the answer? Orange is the answer.

Now, it’s true that not everyone might have a stockpile of gleaming Orange brand guitar and bass amps lying around like Avatar does. Well, I’m sure Orange will be happy to sell you as many as you can afford.

It’ll be worth it.

There won’t be any rest for the Boys of Backline, though, because coming up hard and fast is the Allgood Festival in picturesque West Virginia, mountain mama.

A short few weeks after that a little festival called Lollapalooza descends upon Grant Park, and not too distant is the Voodoo Fest.

So it will be a busy festival summer for those adroit Avatar associates. That’s called “alliteration” when you use words in a row that all start with the same letter. Means you have writer street cred, or so I’m told.

Hey, whatever it takes!

Chip from Avatar is the one who tipped me off that they’d be arriving. “Dweezil Zappa’s going to be extremely stoked,” he added.

This morning I got the news that they’d arrived, so I set aside some time to go over and see what was going on with them. I found them on top of a road case in front of Chip’s office and gave them a look-see.

There were two rather small heads… smaller than a full Marshall head by a long shot. Shorter than a Mesa MarkIV head, also. They had full tube construction inside very sturdy boxes, so they weren’t light by any means. Just… compact. I liked the fit and finish right off the bat.

I thought they both had a bit of a Mesa look to them, so I grabbed a Mesa 1×12 8ohm cab off the Avatar shelves. I wanted something with a couple of humbuckers in it to use for the test also, so I snagged a Taylor T3 out of the Avatar guitar vault (also known as Jack’s office). At first I was thinking Telecaster, but then I reconsidered and brought out the T3.

Oh and by the way, being able to grab high dollar gear off Avatar’s shelves and wail away for a few minutes is really, really nice. Come by some time and see what it’s like.

Chip had the Overdrive Supreme plugged up first. These amp and effect reviews always sound really weird, but suffice it to say that the distortion and tones that came out of this little head were pretty amazing. Chip twiddled knobs and wailed and I didn’t hear a single non-stellar tone come out.

Additionally, even with only a single 1×12 speaker there was a ton of headroom to play with. Chip and I were both smiling at one another as I imagine the first two guys who tested a bazooka must have been smiling.

The Clean Machine stacked under the Overdrive Supreme was also really tasty. In fact I think for my personal style and tastes, the Clean Machine would be the choice of the two. Unless I could afford both, that is.

I gritted my teeth and asked Chip what these heads retail for. He told me.

After I was revived, I considered just grabbing the Clean Machine and dashing out the door, but everyone knows where I live. Besides, that’d probably be the end of my friendly Friday golf game with Chip, and some things don’t have a price tag. Hah! Just kidding, I can be easily bought.

Fact is, these heads are not cheap, but neither is a Ferrari. If you want the best, it’s going to cost you, and having tested these two amps I can tell you that they’re worth every penny.

So, what I’m saying is, save up your money and you just might be able to afford the Fuchs of a lifetime.

Avatar is lucky enough to have a fleet of B3s and Leslie speaker cabinets, each with a new case. It’s a sight to see for sure.

As a B3 owner, very often you need someone who can actually decipher the innards of the thing and get it working again when it throws a rod and needs a little rest. I’m not actually sure if there are rods to be thrown inside a B3. Every time I have looked inside one with the cover off, I have needed a lie-down and an aspirin tablet.

Luckily for Avatar, they are on good terms with one mister Milton Chapman, who is an expert on all things B3 and Leslie speaker cabinet. He’s also an excellent cure for any ailments that your Wurlitzer 300a or Rhodes may pick up.

If you can imagine someone who is part Sherlock Holmes, part witch doctor, and part wizard, then you put a gatsby style hat on top, that’d be Milton. I myself have seen him in said gatsby style hat and a pair of shorts playing a B3 long into the night. Which is also a sight to see on many levels.

If you have a B3 or Leslie cabinet and it’s sick, call Milton at 404.444.8804. If you don’t and you’d like to rent one, contact us!