Bolivia is a land of many instrument makers, but it is not known for world-class guitars. Whereas you will find the finest charangos in the world in Bolivia, particularly those made by Sabino Orosco of La Paz and Waldo Panoso of Cochabamba, the level of guitar craft is, I'm told, fairly primitive. In nearby Peru, however, you will find very highly regarded and refined guitars. Look for the brand name Falcon, especially.
--William Cumpiano
I have a two-year-old Gibson J-200, and the finish on the body where my arm rests has completely worn off. This has never happened on my other two guitars (a 30-year-old Gibson J-50 and a 12-year-old Guild 12-string), so I am especially concerned. Could the apparently defective finish have anything to do with the instrument's poor sound?
Tom Kramer
Bayport, New York
Without seeing your J-200 it is difficult to say what caused the problem with the finish, but it is extremely doubtful that this problem has anything to do with your guitar's sound. Moreover, what people describe as an area with no finish is sometimes just a spot where the finish is extremely dull. The residue from perspiration and body oils combined with guitar polish can create a dull glaze that is extremely difficult to remove. If the lacquer were actually defective you'd probably see a similar problem on other parts of the guitar that get lots of wear, such as the back of the neck and where the lower side rests on your thigh. If the finish is lifting or flaking in these and other areas, it is probably safe to blame the lacquer and to assume that the problem won't happen again once the guitar is refinished.
The fact that your old J-50 and Guild 12-string finishes are still fine doesn't necessarily prove that the J-200 finish is defective, however. Not all lacquers are the same, and some people's body chemistry will destroy one lacquer finish but not another. Due to current restrictions on VOC (volatile organic compounds) content in finishes, the lacquer on a new instrument is not likely to be the same as what went on your older guitars. Lacquer with less solvent content is better for air quality but often has lower "stickability" (meaning it has a tendency to flake or become somewhat opaque as it loses adhesion to the layer underneath).
Sometimes deodorants or cologne can have an adverse effect on lacquer, so it might be best to avoid them. Some players drape a cloth over the edge of the guitar that fits under their arm to keep wear to a minimum. One of the easiest safeguards is to wear a long-sleeve shirt. And before using polish on a lacquered guitar, be sure to wipe down the finish with a damp cloth.
--Richard Johnston
I am looking for the music of Luiz Bonfá. I've found it in standard music notation but have not been able to find it in guitar tab.
John Ward
Wausau, Wisconsin
Luiz Bonfá is one of Brazil's greatest guitarists and composers. There are no complete volumes of his music in tablature, but the book Bossa et Samba, Vol. 2 (published in France and distributed in the U.S. by Music Sales) does have tablature transcriptions of his two most famous works: "Manha de Carnaval" and "Samba de Orfeu."
--Michael Simmons
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