Fine Guitar Consultants

Dennis Hartmann

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself to everybody who knows, likes or even loves the work of Fine Guitar Consultants, either being a musician, reader, buyer or simply a lover of fine instruments. I'm sure you've all come across Richard and Annetta's website at some point in your lives.

For me to now be a part of this is as surreal as it is true. That said, I'll stop right here and take you back a couple of years in my life: I grew up with music -- starting with a little radio in my crib sounding off sweet music that put me to sleep each night. My mom told me that I was able to change the station with my toes to the music of my liking! Who knows? Anyway, it makes for a cute mom and child story. Both my uncles and aunt played the guitar as long as I can remember. Spontaneous jam sessions in my grandparents' kitchen were a weekend staple. Grandpa loved country music and it was right down his alley. Keep in mind, Grandpa was Dutch. I was first allowed to touch a guitar at the age of five. One of my uncles just bought a newer classical guitar and he got bored playing by himself. So he started teaching me basic chords to accompany him. After a while it became boring for me and fun for him. After a couple of years I started to challenge him when playing. I moved forward and he rewarded me with the gift of that old classical guitar and a few years later, gave me his beloved 12-string, as well. "You'll do better than me," were his words, parting peacefully with his instruments. So here I was with a nylon string guitar--its neck warped so badly I could stick my index finger underneath the strings on the 12th fret. The 12-string was in relatively good shape but the strings hadn't been changed in years. To my ears at this point it was heaven! I had the tools I needed to express myself musically. I continued playing with my family with renewed and heightened enthusiasm. Jim Croce, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, America and a good dose of Johnny Cash for Grandpa's benefit; the weekend staples continued.

I performed my first concert in 1981 at the age of 13 at a local club in Mannheim, Germany. It was The Sweetest Gift, by Linda Ronstadt with which I opened my short set. It was surely before my voice broke into a lower octave, as you can imagine. I think I had 3 or 4 more songs that night, but that was it. I ran out of material. It didn't bother the audience at all. They enjoyed it and it was a very fine night for me, indeed! I was stoked!

Many years passed till I felt that it was time to find an instrument that doesn't leave my fingers hurting for days or even bleeding. I tried this and that, bought this and that. I wasn't satisfied. Everything that excited me was out of my budget. Years passed again until I moved from Germany to my new home country, the USA. In the meantime, I accumulated many guitars. Every one had its own pluses but all in all they lacked something. I ended up selling all of these to have enough money to buy something 'real.' I saved the proceeds from the sales of my guitars in a jar (yep, I'm old time!).

It was 1992 and I wanted to go so badly to the Musikmesse in Frankfurt to see what was out there. I ended up standing agape at a booth with very weird looking guitars. They attracted me, but could they musically stand up to their gorgeous appearance? I took a headset, grabbed a guitar (with the luthier's approval) and started playing, knowing I wasn't disturbing people in the vicinity. I fell in love with it. I loved it, I loved it. I was sitting on cloud nine for the first time in my life listening to what my skills could produce on a fine hand made guitar. Only issue: The price! There was no way on earth I could afford this absolute beauty. I drove back from the show and felt awful. "Why did I do this to myself?" I asked my friend that accompanied me. "This instrument is made for you, you know?", he replied. This made me shut up and think. I had just started a family, rented a condo, a baby was on the way. No way could I afford that. ... Wait!--hold that. Yes, there was!

I called a friend who was in construction. A new housing development was under way and needed to go up quickly. I started working for him after my day time job till ten or eleven at night for weeks on end. The project was eventually completed and I ended up with a wad of cash. Yeeeehaaa!!!!

I called that luthier I had met at Musikmesse, Rolf Spuler, to see when he could make me one of hisParadis guitars for me. I had questions about what woods to use, his special electronics, and more. Six months later I was the proud owner of an exceptional instrument that did more than just put fingerings into audible and pleasurable music. The guitar started to push me even further in my musical endeavors to evolve and excel. What a ride!

Now at Fine Guitar Consultants, being part of the team, exposed to all these beautiful guitars is like a dream come true. Listening to Richard's approach to matching a guitar to a player is the most interesting experience I ever could imagine. It's real! Not a sales pitch. He doesn't care if you walk away not buying a guitar. He made sure you had the exposure and experience to the finest and most exceptional guitars built today. He surely helps players open up their minds to something beyond the ordinary. This is what drives both of us. Not more, not less. I always thought that there was very little else out there that could be as exceptional as the guitar I bought more than 16 years ago. There are nuances, styles, preferences I have not even thought of that Richard has carefully educated me on. Did all these luthiers mean anything to me at all before I was exposed to them and actually played their instruments? No! Were my eyes opened in the time I've worked, known and really appreciated both Richard and Annetta, personally and the work they're doing? They sure have. The guitars I have been able to play have for sure! There's much more in the world of fine hand made guitars than I ever thought possible.

This doesn't have to be as long of a journey for you as it was for me. Explore what we have to offer you for your music. Find your guitar!

Meet you at FGC!

Cheers, Dennis, FGC

Annetta

Hello, Friends (new and old)...

"I am happy to be the behind the scene player at Fine Guitar Consultants. When we developed the concept of FGC, I immediatley realized the need and want for our service. It all comes from the heart. Being the family nurturer, this is what I do best and love to do. Guiding players to find a guitar that sings to them and tugs on the heart strings is very fullfilling. The reward comes in the smiles and sometime tears. I like to be treated in a certain way when shopping and wanted to bring that concept/feeling to FGC. I think we have done a fine job in that respect. I once asked a woman who was having a small fit over the cost of her husband's new amp: "Would you rather have your husband at home playing or 'out on the town' with his buddies?" Music in the home is a very important element in having a cohesive family. Many adults have early memories of music being played in the home and it brings up warm feelings. Isn't it nice to pass that on to your own children?"

Email me your comments and stories for us to share on this site.

Warm Regards, Annetta, FGC

Richard's Background In Memoriam (November 14, 1947 • July 14,2008)

With more than 39 years experience as a guitar teacher, player, and consultant, Richard Glick is comfortable dealing with casual musicians and museum curators alike. At 'FGC,' a/k/a Fine Guitar Consultants (FineGuitarConsultants.com), clients include players, collectors, design industry professionals, and top recording artists from across the U.S. and nine countries abroad.

Richard has inspired thousands of people to play and/or rediscover the guitar and continue their learning. As a music teacher, guitar consultant and writer, he aids many in choosing the right instruments for their personal playing styles and physical "fit." Click here to read a letter in which a client eloquently wrote about his experience with Richard.

Richard has given his guitar workshop on "Choosing The Right Guitar for You" at two Healdsburg Guitar Festivals, at The First World Guitar Congress at Towson University in Maryland, the Classic American Guitar Show on Long Island, NY, at the 2008 Newport Guitar Festival in Miami Beach, Florida, and for private groups.

As a player, Richard has entertained audiences from 20-2,000 in small concert venues and theaters from Miami to Moscow. Richard toured many times with composer/performer Muriel Andersen and Jean-Felix Lalanne of Paris. He has shared the bill with Pepe and Celin Romero, Christopher Parkening and Peter Sprague. His most memorable recent performance was a guest slot with Tommy Emmanuel last year. Here is a small piece of that video (with Tommy's permission).

Twenty-seven years ago, Richard and his full time partner and wife, Annetta Glick, began Ragtime Rare Guitars in South Florida. Knowledge and hands-on experience with vintage acoustics and electrics grew into the awareness and research of contemporary guitar making. Even back then, Richard and Annetta were more concerned about matching up the right instrument with each player than focusing on the money side of things...a harbinger of more to come...

Today, as a full time guitar consultant, Richard freely shares his enthusiasm for fine handmade guitars, resonators, and basses of all styles as well as handmade amplification and the finest in home stereo and home theater systems. Richard loves instrument grade woods and how they interact to produce a variety of musical tone. Select older woods are available for upgrades on client orders--most notably the Lucky 12 soundboards collection available exclusively from FGC. Well versed on players' needs, the Glicks represent more than 34 small luthiers, whose quality and consistency they respect. Aside from well-known small makers like, Benedetto, Klein, Somogyi, and Grimes, their ranks include makers whom they judge to be gifted and consistent up-and-comers in the top range of excellence they admire and support.

Richard has made himself available to do corporate workshops on "The Guitar as a Stress Management Tool." He is an industry consultant, and lends his expertise on tone wherever he discovers a small manufacturer who "cares more about making beautiful tone than making a more cost-efficient product." He has written articles for Mister Guitar. Richard is a contributing writer and consultant for Just Jazz Guitar Magazine. He has written a monthly column for 20th Century Guitar Magazine, called "Flat Top Talk," and has an onging series in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. He was a guest speaker at NAMM 2000 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and moderated a panel discussion on the life and career of George Barnes at NAMM 2003 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Richard and Annetta Glick have been the subjects of in-depth articles and interviews in 20th Century Guitar Magazine and Just Jazz Guitar Magazine, as well as Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. This link will take you to a reprint of the Fingerstyle article. An interview/article was also featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine in Japan.

Fine Guitar Consultants was a member of the International Music Products Association (the NAMM Convention) for many years, the Guild of American Luthiers G.A.L.

Services are available without charge to guitar clients.The web site provides further details. Fine Guitar Consultants, P.O. Box 15524, San Diego CA 92175-5524 tel (619) 265-5900 fax 619 265-2527 email: aglick@fineguitarconsultants.com