Guitar Review: Cort Earth 150F

Sometimes we overlook treasures just because they live in plain sight, to today I want to share a little jewel of my household with you, it is a Cort Earth Series 150F which belongs to my Mum. it is a little neglected if you compare it to my regular guitar, but it is still a very nice instrument that I wish to share with you today.

New Guitar Tanglewood TW70

It will be no surprise to friends or regular readers that I like guitars, all shapes and sizes are welcome as long as they are in tune…

Well. it finally happenned.
I have been playing guitar for 2 years… 90% of that time on my trusty Livingstone (which is a rebadged one of these- the 640 )
I have also been threatening to get a nice guitar for some time, even though I know it is likely years away (essential purchases must limit Guitar acquisitions). However I still keep going to my local music shop and playing everything new that comes through…

About six months ago a particular guitar arrived, I asked the guy what was new, he put a guitar in my hands, (a Tanglewood TW70 spruce top, mahogany back and sides) and told me it was his favorite that had been through the shop for some time (he knew I had no money to buy so it was just some fun) I played it… and it spoke to me in a language all its own, I even took a photo of it with my phone so I could show others and look it up later… I went in and played it again another day, but the next time I went in… it had been sold. oh well… I hung it on the “if i only had…” hook in my memory and left…

Unknown to me

Guitar Shop Excursion

As you have possibly guessed by my new header image, I do indeed enjoy some six-string-therapy, this year it is my plan to buy a serious guitar, to this end, I have been playing every guitar which passes by, trying to figure out what I want.

Last week I finally had the chance to go into my local music shop and take their guitars for a test run, I simply thought I would share my experience with you.

mmm… now that’s a Hardcase

Well… I finally got around to it, I Bought a new home….

For my Guitar that is, it’s first house was the gig bag it was in when I purchased it… However, with looming events like AYC when it will have to fly, I would certainly prefer it to ride in something a little more substantial than a soft case, lest I find nothing but splinters resembling a guitar on the baggage carousel.

I was going to spend time contemplating what to get, and procrastinate for a month or two, but i ended up walking into my local music store asking for a case that will survive flight, dropping the cash and walking out with a new Hardcase… see pics below…

Music To My Ears

The one truly universal language is Music, it communicates to the very soul of a receptive hearer, I have always had a great love for music from my earliest recollection of being a huge John Farnham fan, then Elvis, through the pop and techno music of my early teen years (which I now shudder at the thought of) unfortunately, this soon gave way to hip-hop/rap which is where my taste did abide for some time.

When I was about 12, I started to learn Bass Guitar which was a struggle to say the least, I just couldn’t “feel” the music but I persisted until i was about 15 when I moved away from the home of my youth in NSW to sunny Queensland, at this point my skill stagnated, the bass became a dust encrusted talking point in the corner of the room, it was coaxed into life by the occasional visitor but that was all, for over 4 years.

More recently my ears found the inexplicably unpredictable style of Jazz, which I got into, so much so that I went and got a fedora as I reached again for my Bass guitar, suddenly, I could “feel” music, this was an odd sensation as I had labored so hard with such meager results earlier in that decade of life, I started jamming with people when the option was presented, but as the Lord moved in my life so did my musical taste…

I lost my taste for jazz and R’n’B, and for a while didn’t listen to anything, it was like I was unintentionally cleansing my musical pallet, after this time, my love for acoustic sounds and harmonies grew and then it happened, whilst walking through my home, I noted the unplayed acoustic guitar in a cobweb ridden corner, looking almost bored with its own lot in life. I sat and tried to play the only chord I knew, D, and guess what… it sounded horrible, not unlike the sound that is made when you forget your favorite house-pet in the clothes dryer, but it was a start…

Soon thereafter I saw a friend of mine, an accomplished player and an inspired singer, who gave me a few pointers, this is what truly started my walk, that was about 6 months ago now, and since then I have acquired a guitar of my own, which was by divine appointment a great sounding guitar with a low price-tag, and I now play at every opportunity, not to perform, or impress people, but for praise.

I can tell you now, I am not naturally talented musically, if I was, I surely would have discovered it before now. My renewed desire to play was rooted in my longing to be able to worship my Savior in music, and indirectly to help others do the same, it was when I prayed this prayer that my hands seemed to find their skill, most assuredly I say unto you, this skill that I am in the process of obtaining was not hewn from natural ability, or even hard work and will power, indeed one hundred percent of the skill is a direct and free gift from my maker.