Acoustic Guitar

August 1997, No. 56

46 CUSTOM GUITARS Five makers' approaches to building a customer's dream guitar.
How to buy a custom guitar p. 51

58 GALLERY OF GUITARS A photo preview of handcrafted beauties from the Healdsburg Guitar Festival.

62 RADICAL FOLK A conversation with Ani DiFranco and Utah Phillips, kindred spirits and collaborators on a daring new album. By Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

72 THE WITCH'S CAULDRON With voice, percussion, and guitar, Brazilian
phenomenon Badi Assad revolutionizes the art of solo performance. By Scott Nygaard
Music to "Farewell" p. 74

DEPARTMENTS

6 CONTRIBUTORS

8 MUSIC NOTATION KEY

10 MAIL

14 JUMP STREET Uppity blues woman Ann Rabson, the Bad Livers, Lou and Peter Berryman, and Happenings.

18 REVIEWS Hit List records and videos; a live, acoustic set from Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve; and cutting-edge guitar folios.

28 A.G. LETTER Chris Mosey visits England's Totnes School of Guitarmaking.

32 SONG CRAFT Six Strings Attached: The winners of our first-ever songwriting contests. By Simone Solondz
Words and music to the three winning songs p. 34

96 GEARBOX Equipment picks from this issue's featured artists, and new gear spotlights.

102 FOR BEGINNERS Bach for Flatpickers. By Dix Bruce
Duet arrangement of a minuet from the Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach p. 104

108 WOOD CHOPS Getting Ready to Perform. By Kristina Olsen.

114 SOLO Duck Baker introduces his arrangement of a gospel classic.
Music to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" p. 114

120 DEAR A.G. Answers to your questions.

122 GREAT ACOUSTICS 1830 Roudhloff. By François Charle

Cover: A custom beauty by Jim Olson. Story on page 46.