Oct 29 2020
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Oct 8 2020
Apple? It's a Turnstone, anything is possible!
Rosie Heydenrych of Turnstone Guitars can always be relied upon to bring me something I've never played before and in this case it's a gorgeous TM model in the fashionable Bearclaw Alpine Spruce but also, apple!
And why not? Apple…
Read moreOct 1 2020
Between Streets - One Take Performance
Hello everyone,
I've been pretty ridiculously busy this past couple of weeks but I finally found the time to get in front of the camera for a one-take performance of Between Streets on my Gretsch White Falcon.
A Gretsch White…
Read moreSep 30 2020
Zoom Call with Carlos Santana for Guitar.com Live!
It's been an interesting couple of weeks...
When Guitar Magazine editor Chris Vinnicombe told me of Guitar.com's grand plan to hold a huge on-line guitar festival featuring some of the biggest names in the six-string world I thought he'd lost…
Read moreSep 17 2020
Moon Spruce - What is it? Is it worth the cost?
I've had a lot of emails asking about my thoughts on Moon-Harvested Alpine Spruce or "Moon Spruce" as it's more commonly known. That's hardly surprising as it's regarded by many as the ultimate spruce choice and often means a significant…
Read moreSep 16 2020
Playing a Casimi C3 Signature Fanfret
The latest episode in my "Michael Watts Plays..." series is out now and it features one of my favourite Fanfret guitars on the planet - this mighty Casimi C3 Signature in African Blackwood and Moon-Harvested Alpine Spruce.
Take a look!
…
Read moreAug 27 2020
The Messiah Will Come Again - Roy Buchanan - Solo Arrangement
It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
I had other plans for today.
I was planning to make you a beautiful in-depth analysis of my evolving approach to nail care with quotes from players from Tarrega and Pujol to Miles…
Read moreAug 20 2020
Is a Fan-Fret Guitar Right For You? 7 Questions Worth Asking!
Recent chats with luminaries in the world of fan fret guitars such as luthier Michael Greenfield and Paul Heumiller of Dream Guitars got me thinking about fan fret instruments again. So much so that I arranged to spend some quality…
Read moreAug 6 2020
My First Thoughts On The Passerelle by Kaki King and Atelier Rosenkrantz
This morning the postman was on form! In amongst the usual stuff was this gorgeous creation, a Passerelle designed by my friend Kaki King and handmade in Bronze by luthier Rachel Rosenkrantz who you need to check out. Now. Seriously.
…
Read moreJul 28 2020
Watch me chat with Paul Heumiller!
Since I began my Instagram Live video series I have had more requests to chat with Paul Heumiller of Dream Guitars than any other figure in the modern acoustic scene. I was very happy to sit down and talk guitar…
Read moreJul 24 2020
The Taran Oreval
I have had the pleasure of playing several beautiful Taran guitars over the years but one model has been on my list for a while - The Oreval. This is Rory Dowling's biggest guitar and I was intrigued to find…
Read moreJul 9 2020
McNally Guitars Review - The Guitar Magazine August 2020 Issue!
The latest issue of The Guitar Magazine features my review of an instrument by Ciaran McNally - Check it out, I hope you'll enjoy it!
It's very pretty...
Until next time, Stay Tuned!
Michael
Jun 29 2020
Watch me chat with Al Petteway!
Al Petteway is a giant of the world acoustic guitar scene. A Grammy-Award winning instrumentalist, Al's work is familiar to many from his albums of original music as much as his collaborations with Ken Burns and Dream Guitars of North…
Read moreJun 3 2020
Watts x Polecastro - Instagram Live - Saturday 6th June
I hope you'll join me on Saturday 6th June for a live Instagram chat with a giant of the acoustic scene, the mighty Tony Polecastro! Tony will be familiar to many of you as the host of Acoustic Tuesday…
Read moreMay 26 2020
Watts x Greenfield Instagram Live Video
Chatting with super luthier Michael Greenfield about any subject whatsoever is one of life's real pleasures. Here, in all its rough and ready glory is an hour of exactly that - from the advantage that a solid foundation in guitar…
Read moreMay 14 2020
Watts x Kostal - Instagram Live - Saturday 16th May
It was a real pleasure to catch up with my dear friend Jason Kostal in an Instagram Live chat last Saturday! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the session where we discuss the history of the fingerstyle acoustic…
Read moreMay 14 2020
Recording Acoustic Guitar Q+A with Nashville Producer Rory Rositas
Nashville studio ace Rory Rositas has worked with many of the biggest names in acoustic music including Bryan Sutton, John Jorgenson and most recently Tommy Emmanuel whose wonderful new album The Best of Tommy Songs was tracked in only…
Read moreApr 22 2020
Late Night Live Stream 2 - Sunday 26th April UK
I know that many of us have been experiencing stress, anxiety and sleep disruption. If that's you then I'd like to play for you.
I have started a series of Late Night Live Stream sessions on my YouTube channel, this…
Read moreApr 15 2020
DPA Microphones Comparison Video - Sound Network London
Back when that sort of thing was actively encouraged I was invited to Sound Network HQ London to film a comparison video of the DPA microphone range. DPA is a super-high end microphone company that sprung from the ashes…
Read moreApr 13 2020
Late Night Live Stream - Thursday 16th April 22:00 UK
I know that many of us have been experiencing stress, anxiety and sleep disruption. If that's you then I'd like to play for you.
I have a series of Late Night Live Stream sessions on my YouTube channel, the…
Read moreMar 31 2020
Interview with DA Musical HQ - Berlin
It was a real pleasure to talk with Dominic Adelbert of DA Musical Radio in Berlin today for a live stream interview where we look at all sorts of different things from inspiration from non-guitarists, modern luthiery and sustainability, and…
Read moreMar 19 2020
Backstage with Tommy Emmanuel and Jerry Douglas
It was a joy to catch up with two giants of the acoustic music scene Tommy Emmanuel and Jerry Douglas at Royal Festival Hall in London. The guys were in town for the Transatlantic Sessions concert and I was dispatched…
Read moreFeb 27 2020
Archtops for the Fingerstyle Guitarist - With Sean McGowan
Throughout my life as a player the archtop guitar has held a brooding and slightly intimidating mystique. Now, as I'm learning how to appreciate the subtleties and nuances of these beautiful instruments - built with an intent and technique far…
Read moreFeb 21 2020
Catching Up With Rosie Heydenrych - Turnstone Guitars
One of the joys of a visit to the Turnstone Guitars workshop is a cup of tea and a chat with Rosie Heydenrych, the luthier behind all these beautiful instruments.
This time we filmed it (it's been a while!) as…
Read moreFeb 10 2020
Cypress with Rosie - Some beautiful new Turnstone Guitars!
It's always a pleasure to visit Rosie Heydenrych of Turnstone Guitars - all the more so because I can be pretty sure that due to her constant explorations of English woods she'll have something for me to play that I've…
Read more