Emile Menasché

Guitarist, composer, writer.

Mics, Pickups, Recording Gear

Side view of Beyerdynamic TG i51 dynamic instrument microphone

Gear Review: Beyerdynamic TG I51 Dynamic Microphone Delivers Onstage or in the Studio

The Beyerdynamic TG I51 is well-built, affordable, and has a very wide frequency response. For the acoustic guitarist, it has something to offer both on the stage and in the studio.

April 29, 2021

Mics, Pickups, Recording Gear

Fishman PowerTap Rare-Earth and Infinity acoustic guitar pickup system

Gear Review: Body Sensors Take Fishman PowerTap Rare Earth and Infinity Pickups to a New Level

Fishman’s new PowerTap series mates either a soundhole or undersaddle pickup to its new TAP (which stands for Touch, Ambience, and Percussion) body sensors. The sensors are designed to capture percussive elements, body resonances, and performance dynamics that pickups alone tend to miss.

February 9, 2021

Dreadnought

Review: Taylor’s American Dream AD27 Delivers All the Tone Without the Frills

The American Dream is alive, well, and living near San Diego, at least if you’ve been dreaming of an affordable American-made, all-solid-wood Taylor guitar. Launched in the midst of the pandemic, Taylor says its new American Dream series was “born…

September 19, 2020
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Travel

Lava Me 2 carbon fiber acoustic guitar review

Gear Review: Lava Me 2 Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar

While carbon fiber guitars are unlikely to supplant wooden guitars anytime soon, the Lava Me 2 seems less eccentric than it would have even a few years ago.

June 5, 2020

Resonator

Gear Review: Gold Tone PBS-D

The Gold Tone PBS-D—or Paul Beard PB Signature-Series Squareneck Resonator Deluxe Guitar—is an elegant instrument with a homespun sound. In terms of looks, materials, and tone, it covers all the bases for slide players looking for high performance in a traditional package.

March 25, 2020

Guides and How To

Beyond Flattops: The Magic of Baritone Guitars

If the baritone guitar were a basketball player, it would end up on the scouting report as a tweener—a player whose size and skills don’t fit a standard position.

March 8, 2020

Mics, Pickups, Recording Gear

Gear Review: DPA 4099 CORE Instrument Microphone

DPA’s series of 4099 CORE microphones includes models designed to cover a wide range of instruments, depending on their sound-pressure levels. Each mic features some important qualities—a small footprint, a pre-polarized supercardioid condenser capsule, and mounting hardware optimized for the instrument in question.

March 2, 2020

Guides and How To

a collage showing three guitars: a resonator, a baritone, and an archtop

Beyond Flattops: The Magic of Resonator, Baritone, and Archtop Guitars

The wide tonal palette of acoustic guitars includes archtop, resonator, and baritone colors. Here's more about the history, makers, and players of these instruments.

February 7, 2020

Guitarmakers and Guitarmaking

Makers & Shakers: A Chat with Nylon-String Luthier Stephan Connor

Cape Cod, Massachusetts–based luthier Stephan Connor has built a world-class reputation by taking a fresh approach to what may be the most traditional branch of guitar building.

December 30, 2019

Parlor

Gear Review: Yamaha CSF-TA

Few musical pleasures compare to playing well-made small guitars. They’re comfortable. They resonate easily. They reward a subtle touch in ways few of their big siblings can match.

August 29, 2019