Local Music Gear Event Coverage
Written By: Dan O'Donnell
On August 11, more than two
dozen aspiring guitarists showed up at the first ever Local Music Gear Magazine acoustic guitarist SoLo Search, hoping to win more than $2,000 in prizes from the event sponsors that included Fishman,
Seymour Duncan Pickups, Cleartone Strings, LuteHole Soundhole Covers, and Graphtech, among others including Supreme Sound Studios, of Woodland, NJ, who awarded recording sessions to the winner, and runner-up.
Written By: Dan O'Donnell
On August 11, more than two
dozen aspiring guitarists showed up at the first ever Local Music Gear Magazine acoustic guitarist SoLo Search, hoping to win more than $2,000 in prizes from the event sponsors that included Fishman,
Seymour Duncan Pickups, Cleartone Strings, LuteHole Soundhole Covers, and Graphtech, among others including Supreme Sound Studios, of Woodland, NJ, who awarded recording sessions to the winner, and runner-up.
Solo Search 2012, held at Crossroads in
Garwood, NJ, the show produced a lot of buzz not only because of the prize, but
also because of the caliber of musicians who appeared.
Members of Garden State Line and Becoming the Ghost, two bands active in the NJ/NYC music scene, and a number of session players came out hoping to win the Grand Prize—a Fishman Loudbox Artist amp, sessions to record at Supreme Sound Studios, a 12-month supply of Cleartone phosphor-bronze .012 strings, a handcarved LuteHole sound hole cover (as used by stars including Taylor Swift and Kenny Rogers), a set of Tusq bridge pins and a Spider Capo.
The runner-up (and it was a
close contest; one judge said only a quarter of a point separated the top three
performers) received a six-month
supply of Cleartone Phosphor-Bronze strings and recording time at Supreme Sound Studios.
The performer who received the best audience response was rewarded with a Seymour Duncan Woody soundhole pickup and a six-month’s supply of Cleartone Phosphor-Bronze strings.
While the judging was close, the music was widely varied, ranging from slide blues played on a classical guitar to experimental electronic jazz and from laid back originals to hard driving rock and roll covers.
When the smoke cleared and the judges tallied up their votes, they announced a unanimous decision—that Junior Bradford, from Piscataway, NJ, a session and touring blues musician who has played internationally, was the winner. Bradford was happy with his winnings, he said a few days after the show. “I put a set of those Cleartones on and it was just amazing,” Bradford said. “I used to use Martins because I didn’t like the coatings on there, but so far these Cleartones sound really nice.” He also had high praise for the Fishman amp, saying that it’s good for stage or studio.
“It’s got a lot of power for such a small amp. A couple of my friends have (Fender) Acoustasonics but I like the versatility of the Fishman,” Bradford said. “If you’re doing rock-a-billy you’ve got the slapback (reverb) for it, plus you can put two guitars into it. The crazy thing is, the sixty watt would probably be just fine—I wouldn’t think twice about playing a little bit of electric through this, even at a club.”
Bradford, with his shock of
white hair under a panama hat and his white beard sticking out defiantly over
his guitar, captured the honors not only because of his songs, but because his
musicianship and talent at explaining a situation.
“His songs just told a story,” one judge said. “He’s a very good guitar player and he plays with feeling.”
Brian Csencsits, owner of Supreme Sound Studios and also a judge, said it wasn’t an easy choice to make. "It was really hard to judge this competition. There was so much great talent at the SoLo Search,” Csencsits said. “I look forward to working with Junior in the studio.”
Honorable mention went to John Busse, of Basking Ridge, NJ. Busse
works with the group The Do Rights, and is a familiar sight on the stages of
central New Jersey clubs.
“After seeing him perform and seeing something interesting in (Busse’s) song and performance, I look forward to working with him as well,” Csencsits said.
Best Audience response went to Jim Williams, of Rochelle Park, NJ, who despite problems with his guitar was able to finish off his set with a guitar provided by Local Music Gear Magazine and MacPherson Guitar Works.
“I’m glad I could be part of the event,” Brian Csencsits owner of Supreme Sound Studios, who holds clinics on guitar repair, recording studio basics and tube amp technology at his studio in New Jersey and throughout the northeast coast, said, “and meet a bunch of cool musicians."
Posted 8/2012
Photography by : Daniel Dzurilla E-mail for reprints mmandizz0929@gmail.com
Members of Garden State Line and Becoming the Ghost, two bands active in the NJ/NYC music scene, and a number of session players came out hoping to win the Grand Prize—a Fishman Loudbox Artist amp, sessions to record at Supreme Sound Studios, a 12-month supply of Cleartone phosphor-bronze .012 strings, a handcarved LuteHole sound hole cover (as used by stars including Taylor Swift and Kenny Rogers), a set of Tusq bridge pins and a Spider Capo.
The performer who received the best audience response was rewarded with a Seymour Duncan Woody soundhole pickup and a six-month’s supply of Cleartone Phosphor-Bronze strings.
While the judging was close, the music was widely varied, ranging from slide blues played on a classical guitar to experimental electronic jazz and from laid back originals to hard driving rock and roll covers.
When the smoke cleared and the judges tallied up their votes, they announced a unanimous decision—that Junior Bradford, from Piscataway, NJ, a session and touring blues musician who has played internationally, was the winner. Bradford was happy with his winnings, he said a few days after the show. “I put a set of those Cleartones on and it was just amazing,” Bradford said. “I used to use Martins because I didn’t like the coatings on there, but so far these Cleartones sound really nice.” He also had high praise for the Fishman amp, saying that it’s good for stage or studio.
“It’s got a lot of power for such a small amp. A couple of my friends have (Fender) Acoustasonics but I like the versatility of the Fishman,” Bradford said. “If you’re doing rock-a-billy you’ve got the slapback (reverb) for it, plus you can put two guitars into it. The crazy thing is, the sixty watt would probably be just fine—I wouldn’t think twice about playing a little bit of electric through this, even at a club.”
 |
| Junior Bradford |
“His songs just told a story,” one judge said. “He’s a very good guitar player and he plays with feeling.”
Brian Csencsits, owner of Supreme Sound Studios and also a judge, said it wasn’t an easy choice to make. "It was really hard to judge this competition. There was so much great talent at the SoLo Search,” Csencsits said. “I look forward to working with Junior in the studio.”
 |
| (Left) John Busse - (Right) Jim Williams |
“After seeing him perform and seeing something interesting in (Busse’s) song and performance, I look forward to working with him as well,” Csencsits said.
Best Audience response went to Jim Williams, of Rochelle Park, NJ, who despite problems with his guitar was able to finish off his set with a guitar provided by Local Music Gear Magazine and MacPherson Guitar Works.
“I’m glad I could be part of the event,” Brian Csencsits owner of Supreme Sound Studios, who holds clinics on guitar repair, recording studio basics and tube amp technology at his studio in New Jersey and throughout the northeast coast, said, “and meet a bunch of cool musicians."
Posted 8/2012
Photography by : Daniel Dzurilla E-mail for reprints mmandizz0929@gmail.com
