Tony McManus: “The Guitarman’s Guitarist”

Tony McManus has been described as the “guitarman’s guitarist.” In today’s article, I’m diving into McManus’s story; how he gravitated towards the six string, and what makes him such a unique force in fingerstyle guitar playing.

Know Your Acoustic Body: Jumbo

In this edition, we’re getting to grips with what is perhaps the largest model in the acoustic guitar realm; the aptly named Jumbo.

Know Your Acoustic Body: Dreadnought

Today, we’re diving in with an iconic and enduring type: the Dreadnought. Given the nautical origins of this instrument’s name, “diving in” is entirely appropriate!

Gibson ES-335 Legends

Today, in celebration of the great 335, I’m running through a handful of legendary players that adopted the instrument, and its variations, as their signature axe.

The Guitars that Made… Jimmy Page

The Dragon isn’t Page’s first signature guitar. In fact, he’s had several. With that in mind, I thought it’d be fun to tell the stories of some of Page’s more noteworthy instruments.

Legendary Guitars: Gibson ES-335

Today, we’re taking a look into the history of the 335 and the big problem in the guitar market that it addressed.

Words of Wisdom: Thurston Moore

As I noted in a recent article, the Fender Jazzmaster is a guitar for those who dare to be different. Thurston Moore, the former Sonic Youth guitarist, continues to push the boundaries of guitar-based music, and has influenced a generation of players in the process.

Iconic Guitars: Fender Jazzmaster

Today we’re taking a look at the Fender Jazzmaster; a truly unique instrument for those who dare to be different.

3 MORE Capo Classics Every Guitarist Should Know

We’re back with three more bona fide classic songs that feature guitars played with capos!

Iconic Guitars: Gibson Explorer

A striking departure from Fender’s Stratocaster or Gibson’s own Les Paul, the Explorer was suppose to be the guitar of the future.......

Eddie Van Halen: Words of Wisdom

Van Halen’s words of wisdom when it comes to guitar playing.

Eric Clapton: Six Decades, Six Songs

He’s been slinging his guitar for the better part of six decades now. And, as far as we’re concerned, Eric Clapton is still god.

Hawaiian Koa: Thalia's New Mission

Thalia Capos was founded when Thalia dreamed of making a capo that would complement the Hawaiian Koa in the Taylor Guitar held by Taylor Swift on the cover of Rolling Stone. Today, we are announcing our new mission to play a meaningful role in the reforestation of Koa in Hawaii over the coming decade while also promoting the use of sustainably grown Hawaiian Koa from 2nd & 3rd growth forests.

3 Capo Classics Every Guitarist Should Know

When it comes to writing great songs, a capo is a seriously useful tool...we’re running through three bona fide classics that feature guitars played with capos. And, because these are songs that every guitarist should have in their arsenal, we’re including guitar tab links as well.

Tommy Emmanuel Interview (Part 4)

Here it is, the fourth and final installment of our interview with the legendary Tommy Emmanuel. Read on for Tommy’s thoughts on pushing the limits live, his preference for one-take recording, and what young guitarists need to do to be the next Tommy Emmanuel.

Iconic Guitars: The Gibson SG

There’s something magical about a Gibson SG. That distinctive horned design screams rock and roll. It’s unmistakably devilish, and it’s the “Highway to Hell” guitar for a reason.

Tommy Emmanuel Interview (Part 3)

Part three of our interview with Tommy. Read on to hear his thoughts on YouTube success, the importance of old school leg-work and guitar practice routines.

Iconic Guitars: the Story of the Gretsch White Falcon

Plenty of electric guitars get described as “gorgeous.” But, in the looks department, you don’t get much prettier than the Gretsch White Falcon. With that striking white finish, distinctive headstock, and luscious gold appointments, it’s certainly a head turner.

Tommy Emmanuel Interview (Part 2)

Part two of our interview with Tommy. Read on to hear about what he is listening to now, his thoughts on electric vs. acoustic and more.

Tommy Emmanuel Interview (Part 1)

At the tail end of last year, Thalia Capos had the privilege of talking to the legendary Tommy Emmanuel while he was on tour with Jerry Douglas. Over the course of an hour, we got into everything from Chet Atkins to YouTube stardom.

The Thalia Christmas Playlist

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Or so the saying goes. And hey, we can’t deny that we’re big fans of the holiday season here at Thalia capos.

But, we do have a bit of a bee in our bonnet when it comes to the Christmas season, and that’s Christmas music. For six-string aficionados, typical holiday music fare can be a bit of a bummer. The mighty guitar tends to play a supporting role in popular seasonal songs. Tis the season to be jolly? Sure. The season to shred and strum? Not so much. So what can you do about it?

The Wisdom of Tommy Emmanuel

Back in August, the Thalia community voted Mr. Tommy Emmanuel as the greatest fingerstyle guitarist of all time. It’s not at all surprising. As we’ve already stated a couple of times in this blog, Emmanuel is as complete a guitarist as you’re likely to find. He’s got style, he’s got flair, and he’s got an undeniable sense of melody and musicality that makes him a joy to listen to. For today’s blog post, then, we’ve decided to compile a list of our favorite Tommy Emmanuel quotes.

How to Convince your Spouse to Buy you a Guitar for Christmas

Why won’t your partner buy you a guitar for Christmas? Probably because she thinks you own too many of them. You can try and justify it all you want: “I keep that one in DADGAD. That one’s a parlor guitar, that one’s a dreadnaught. Strats sound different to Les Pauls!”

Unfortunately, though, none of this will fly. As far as she’s concerned, “too many guitars” is less than the amount you currently have.

Being a Thankful Guitarist

When we think about Thanksgiving, we think about the festivities. Turkey and Cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving day football, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – you know what we mean. But, at its core, Thanksgiving is about, well, giving thanks. And that goes for us guitarists as well. Here at Thalia, we’re been thinking about the guitar-related things to be thankful for this holiday season. These are some of our observations.