Active Quote by Greg Howard
“The first instrument I had was made in the late '70s. Back then they had basically one tuning. I shifted slightly away from that tuning right away (to what is now called the Baritone Melody Tuning), because I wanted more string overlap between the two sides.The instrument I currently play has an active pickup system, Fret Rails, a fully adjustible bridge, adjustible truss, Flaps adjustible nut. Even with all of these advances, I'm always struck when I play the older instrument how good they were even then. Emmett's always been great at implementing his ideas.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Guitar Talk Podcast, 2020
The speaker reflects on how early instrument designs, despite limited technology, still produced excellent sound, and appreciates modern advancements while valuing vintage quality.
In simple terms: Early guitars were great despite simple tech; modern ones add many features.
Key Takeaway
Respect both vintage and modern instrument designs.
Themes
music
instrument design
technology
craftsmanship
Mood
nostalgic
analytical
appreciative
Type
reflective
technical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Choosing a guitar for performance
- restoring vintage instruments
- designing new models
- teaching students about instrument evolution
Key Concepts
tonal quality
engineering
innovation
historical comparison
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance vintage tone with modern reliability?
- What features are essential versus optional?
A Different Perspective
Modern features can complicate maintenance and increase cost.
