If you are reading this post, you have discovered what we hope is a wonderful and welcome new experience in Wildwood Music’s continued presence on the Internet! This is the first overall change in our Web image since 1995, and we thought it might be appropriate to do some “updating.”

We have had many kind offers from several multi-talented customers—all experts in the field of Web Design; their suggestions were generous, and are much-appreciated! Our accepting of Ted and Paula, and TH Design, was a product of Fate: Marty and I were ready to change our Website, and Ted and Paula–who happened to have wonderful expertise in Web Design—came to visit Wildwood at that precise moment!

As we labored through the overhaul process, we were amazed and comforted at the way our “Dynamic Duo” from TH overcame the various obstacles we frequently placed in their path! They made it very easy for us to deal with any problems that arose, and Marty and I did not feel so much like “Dumb and Dumber” in our encounter with HTML, WordPress, and other “foreign languages!” (LOL)

Hopefully, you will enjoy this fabulous new iteration of Wildwood Music on the World Wide Web as much as we do! It is beautifully artistic and very creative. We really like that it is easy to navigate the different pages, too!

We send out our enormous gratitude to Ted and Paula, to the many fine folks who happily offered their talented services, and to all our wonderful customers—you have been so very special, and are such incredible sources of joy for us! Thank you so much for your remarkable encouragement of Marty and I, as you join us in that blissful quest for Stringed Instrument Happiness!

Filed under: Wildwood Music by Don
Comments Off

The moment is all too precious: the case has been laid at your feet; with trembling anticipation you reach down and unclasp the latches, carefully grasp the case top and lift to reveal the concealed treasure—a brand-spanking-new Taylor 454ce 12-string guitar! Someone hands you a flatpick; you lift this beguiling beauty from her resting place and make a quick mental notation: the ovangkol back and sides are wonderfully figured and the color a pleasant surprise (more “woodsy” brown, almost like walnut)—not what you expected. Suddenly, the guitar is resting on your knee and your hand instinctively finds the comfortable neck; your fingers naturally form a first-position, G major chord. The flatpick is ready, you make the requisite downstroke motion with your wrist and your reward is instant and oh-so gratifying: the sound is rich and full! The bass is strong yet not overpowering; there is that wonderful shimmering and glistening “chime” only a good 12-string guitar can deliver. For the next hour you are transported to another world, another dimension, as your new companion yields her secrets and caresses your ears with her charms.

Attempting to describe what it’s like to play a fine acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, harp, viola, flute, horn, etc., often elicits language evocative of love or romance. Why? To those musicians already captured by an acoustic instrument no explanation is necessary. Indeed, for many musicians, the signpost to their musical path was discovered upon hearing the sound of a particular acoustic instrument—a kind of “love at first sound” event—being played “live” or in a recording. For myself, hearing Who Will Stop the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival along with The Boxer and El Condor Pasa by Simon & Garfunkel on my Mom’s kitchen radio as an impressionable 12-year-old in the summer of 1970 has fueled a 35-year obsession with acoustic instruments. (Note: I didn’t actually start learning to play the acoustic guitar until I was 18-years-old,  but the seeds had been planted in 1970.)

(more…)

Filed under: Acoustic Instruments by Ted
1 Comment »