Reviews

Santa Cruz Guitar Company Parabolic Tension Strings

Wound metal instrument strings pose many challenges to a string manufacturer. Issues such as overall diameter (gauge), the ratio between the core and wrap wires, composition of both core (hex or round) and wrap metals, and more variables create a calculus of possibilities even Newton might struggle to describe mathematically. Two strings of identical gauge…

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Dixie Dewdrop: The Uncle Dave Macon Story

By Michael D. Doubler Although Uncle Dave Macon was not a bluegrass performer, he was such an important part of the Grand Ole Opry from its earliest days until he passed away in 1952, that he can be considered somewhat of an important figure in the early development of bluegrass music.  Uncle Dave Macon was…

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Traditional Bluegrass Fiddle Solos

Fiddle Solos Annie Staninec has been playing the fiddle from the time she was 4 years old and was performing by the age of 11.  It seems that her love for music happened very early in life and endures into the present with her performing and teaching in Portland, Oregon and all over the world. …

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Coyote Ugly

The SPGMA award-winning band Coyote Ugly has released its debut album, Ponderosa.  The band may be new, but they bring years of bluegrass experience with some of the genre’s top groups. Banjoist Joey Cox held down five-string duties for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Blueridge, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Lou Reid & Carolina and The Jeff…

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Rascally Mountain Boy

Marc Pruett, the banjo player in Balsam Range, has had a long and very impressive career in bluegrass music.  He was born in 1951 and raised in the town of Canton (near Asheville) in the mountains of North Carolina.  He may be one of the few guys around today performing in a top-tier active bluegrass…

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Believing in the Old Time Way

Cardinyl Class Records Davis Bradley has traditional instruments and traditional songs, but in their latest gospel album, Believing in the Old Time Way, they offer a different take. It’s the fourth album for the Virginia-based duo who offer plenty of elements from bluegrass, old-time and gospel to build this 12-song collection.  Kathy Davis sings and…

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