D’Addario Strings

Here is why I love using D’Addario strings on all of my guitars:

1. The strings are consistent. I never have a bad set that won’t stay in tune. Before I started using D’Addario in 1990 I had problems with another brand and I remember that during the “Nouveau Flamenco” sessions I once had to change strings on my guitar three times before I found a set that stayed in tune.

2. D’Addario is committed to improving their product. A few years ago I did an interview with a Canadian show called Much Music and as Jon and I launched into a duo performance of “Snakecharmer”, my D-string broke and we had to stop. During the commercial break that followed I put a new D-string on my flamenco guitar, but it broke again. I called D’Addario the next day and suggested that the D-string needed to be reinforced because I had quite a few break, but never before on live TV! Well, D’Addario sent me prototypes of a new, stronger D-string within a month and I have never again had one break!

Currently I have D’Addario composite strings on my Flamenco guitars, which use a new plastic composite instead of nylon for the 3rd through 6th strings. I feel that they are more in tune than regular nylon strings, and especially the often troublesome 3rd string sounds better.

Mic Pre-Amps and Christmas

Here is our rating of Microphone pre-amps we tested this year. This is NOT a scientific account, but merely what sounded best to our ears and is valid for Flamenco guitar. Other instruments will create a very different rating:

1. Martech MSS-10 – 10
2. Avalon M5 – 9.7
3. George Massenburg GML – 9.5
4. Amek – 8.5
5. TubeTech – 7
6. Studio Technologies/PreEminence – 6
7. ProSonus M80 – 6
8. TC Gold Channel – 5
9. Old Neve 1092 – 3

Travel Tips.Santa Fe.Part Two:
You may hear the following exchange at a Santa Fe restaurant:
Question: Would you like red or green chili?
Answer: Christmas!
Explanation: The diner would like both green and red chili – like the colors of Christmas. But don’t ask me how that became a custom in New Mexico…..