June has brought an incredible array of used electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and a boatload of new and used mandolins and more to the store, so take a gander if you’re looking for a deal. We also just added Saturnworks Pedals to our unique pedal selection – these are inexpensive utililty pedals that can make a huge difference in the control you have over your pedals, as well as streamline the flow of your board in general. We love ’em. More on Saturnworks here. Three time Winfield winner Jason Shaw stopped by the other day – here’s a video of him playing our new, spectacular Collings D42 Brazilian A Varnish. Mando and guitar master Rick Faris also visited and we were treated to him playing the vintage 1938 Martin D-28 Herringbone.
Locally, June is loaded with events here at Mass Street Music! This Saturday, June 21, we have a basic Guitar Care Clinic at 3pm. We’ll go over everything including how to clean your guitar, restringing, when you might need a set up, humidification and more. On the following Saturday, June 28, we’ll have Scotty “Blind Dawg Willie” Shipps here teaching a free Cigar Box Guitar Clinic. He’ll talk about how he builds these fun instruments, demonstrate his slide playing style and give a little history about these cool, easy to play guitars. Coming up in July your kids (ages 10 and up) can take Kids’ Guitar Lessons here at Mass Street Music, every Saturday in July, from 11 am to noon. Tommy Perez from the Guitar Studio next door will be teaching. The cost is $100 for the month and rental guitars are available too. Call Tommy directly for more info or to enroll: 785-452-1667.
A few things happening elsewhere in town we thought you should know about: music legend Johnny Winter will be giving a free concert at the Lawrence Arts Center on June 25 as part of the Free State Festival – an added bonus is that there will be a very special Guitar Master Class with Johnny Winter guitarist Paul Nelson at 3 pm that day – in fact all of Johnny’s band (minus Johnny) will be at the workshop! The cost is $40 and half of the proceeds will be going right back to the Lawrence Arts Center – an essential part of our community. If you’re interested, sign up now, there are limited spots for this rare clinic. More details are at lawrenceartscenter.org/music. The next session of Americana Music Academy‘s great Kids’ Music and Art Camp is happening August 4-8. Our boss Jim B. had a great time entertaining the kids with some musical instrument history during the first session in June, and we look forward to another visit from the kids in August! A few photos from their June visit are below.
Jim gave a talk to the Americana Music Academy Kids’ camp attendees on the history of instruments (and played a mean doghouse bass too!)
Peter Lague (left) of Americana Music Academy and Jim Baggett (right) chat while the Kids’ Camp attendees are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at our Repair Shop.
Check out our full June Newsletter here with our Staff Picks, Events and more!