Odds and Ends

I misspoke yesterday in saying that the new medium gauge strings I put on the Alvarez weren't that much tougher on my fingers. After an extended playing session today, I say without shame that I am definitely a lightweight when it comes to strings. These mediums are like playing steel cables. My fretting fingers are traumatized ...

The traditional face-melting rock guitar solo may not be dead but it is in critical condition, says the Financial Times of London. This article cites Eric Clapton, along with Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, as being among the pioneers of the searing, self-indulgent solo back in the 1960s and '70s but says that has given way to more subtle lead play. Nonetheless, the FT says the solo could make a comeback thanks to Guitar Hero, since the video game relies so much on classic rock and heavy metal and kids who like to make funny faces ...

There's a man in Scotland who's looking for a deal on guitar strings. His girlfriend cut the strings on all his guitars because he was cheating on her after he told her that his guitars were more important to him than any relationship. The woman was originally charged destroying property and assault but in the end got off with just an admonishment from the judge ...

Stephen Colbert likes to whip out his guitar on "The Colbert Report" every now and then and his staff gave him a 1973 Martin D41 for his birthday this week. It came from an online dealer in Boulder, Colo., who said Colbert had recently played on the air and then said he needed a new guitar. You can see the previous guitar in this video. Note the excess stringage; everybody wants to be Chuck Berry.