London Acoustic Guitar Show 2016 review

Went to this yesterday. Summary as follows. My 3rd visit and this was probably the best. The musicians in the Main Stage and Workshops were excellent.

--1st was workshop with Gordon Giltrap. Great humour, great player and quite a few tips. I never realised that his style involves his fretting hand holding a plectrum between thumb and first, and fingerpicking only with his pinky. He doesn't use the other 3 fingers! Almost the opposite of me (and of course he's 100 times better). He says he just started to do it this way and it stuck. For his picking nail strength he uses a mixture of superglue and acrylic dust! He demoed various alt tunings, including DADGAD (Isobella's wedding).

--Over to main stage for Richard Gilewitz. I've seen him before. Brill player with a laconic sense of humour; I think he's a bit marmite in his presentation. Played a real mixture including some excellent 12-string pieces.

--Back to Masterclass for Preston Reed. His integrated percussive style may not be to everyone's taste but it is amazing and eye-opening. You've got to see him; its no good just listening. To see a style pioneer like Preston was a treat. He explained why he switches between standard right hand position and 'over the top' with his right hand coming over the back of the fretboard. This allows him more options for his percussive on the top of the guitar body. He played in this masterclass mainly on a baritone guitar tuned Bb, F, C, F, F, C for most of his demos. He explained this gives him a power chord strum on the top three strings and 'melody' more on the bass. He also talked about various different tunings.

--After short break then a Masterclass with Blair Dunlop. Very personable and haven't seen him before although listened a bit. Very enjoyable and humble guy who just loves his music. Sees himself as a songwriter first and foremost.

--Then a Main Stage Performance from Preston Reed. Amazing.

Overall the emphasis of many of the players was very much on alternative tunings.

There were other Performances and Masterclases that we simply hadn't time to see if we wanted to look around the show.

So what about the show itself? Probably 25% fewer exhibitors this year and at least that number fewer people. Made it nicer for those of us there but does it pay now? The main players you would expect were there with biggish stands; Taylor, Martin, Lowden, Yamaha, Faith. Also Collings, Cole Clarke, Ortega, amongst them. Our Forum friend Adrian Lucas had a stand (see below) and Rozawood (who had a weird fretted 6-er which I should have got a picture of). Also Auden, a maker I know little about but will soon know more as I bought a guitar from them! (see separate thread shortly).

Added to this various other makers, accessories etc and enough to while away time between performances.

The Positive Bit summary. Where for £20 (£16 if you got a discount ticket) can you see people like those above for a total of about 6 hours on 1 day; tremendous value for money. Plus some fabulous guitars to have a go at.

The Big Negative Bit Summary. Only one thing and the organisers in my view really need to sort this out. This is an ACOUSTIC show. OK, some people may want to hear a guitar put through an amp briefly if they are considering a purchase. But there were two stands in particular, next to each other, who had guest performers who were playing loudly through amps for extended periods of time. If you were on a stand within 50 yards of these you could not hear anything else; certainly not an acoustic if you wanted to try one. Unfortunately Adrian Lucas was one of those stands, backing onto a noisy one. I could barely hear to talk to him never mind try his guitars. If I was him I'd be asking for a refund. Why don't they have a simple rule of no demonstrator amplified sessions on the stands.

Overall very enjoyable; more about my purchase shortly for those interested.

John