This weeks dbTwang member feature is of Jeb Buffinton who is in his own words a musician, papa, fiancé, communications consultant… American-raised, gone native in France since 1990.
This is a photo of Jeb jamming with his son.
Jeb playing his favorite guitar - the custom built 6-string by Michael Sanden of Sweden
1) What is the favorite guitar that you own and what is it about that guitar that makes it special?
My favorite guitar is a custom built 6-string by Michael Sanden of Sweden (see photo above) . It’s small, OM model, Old growth redwood top, Indian rose back & sides, simple maple & ebony trim. Finger-style only, dammit! Anybody gets a pick within a mile of this soft-topped baby is putting their life at risk. Slot head with high-ratio Gilbert classical tuners. (Guitar tech told me recently these were the nicest machines he’d ever seen.)
Keep this in standard tuning, but a full step down, sometimes to dropped D (so in reality C) or double D (C) for Black Water.
Not particularly loud (has a Shatten bridge PU) but responsive to the lightest breath and perfectly balanced. This was a present to myself when I was hired into the events business. I feel blessed every time I pick it up, which is often.
2) What’s your dream guitar?
Can’t get around this question. A single dream guitar? I keep dreaming & playing with ideas for acoustics & electrics. Here is one of those.
Jeb works out ideas for his own dream guitar - here is one of them
3) When you pick up a strange guitar, for example someone else’s or in a shop what’s the first thing you play to check out if you like or not?
Depends on my mood… The look of the guitar will focus my selections at the beginning. An arch-top calls for some jazz or bossa-nova progressions, some chicken-pickin’ leads on a tele, open chords up the neck on a 12-string. Will eventually get to some blues turnarounds on every guitar I pick up.
Like to tune down most acoustics to double dropped D, then open G, to open up the lower register, and to riff a little on “Water Song”, which tends to attract attention. Nice for the ego.
Thanks to Jeb for sharing those answers with us. Want to be featured? Leave a comment here or email keith AT dbtwang.com
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