Tag: Cirrus Guitars

Categories
Bluegrass Music

Cirrus Jam/Bluegrass in Superclass/Craigslist

I don’t usually attend open jam sessions, as being a songwriter, I tend to lean more toward writing and co-writing original material instead of playing covers, especially with other musicians of varying competence and choice of songs. However, I did want to attend a particular one held this past Thursday by Mike Frank, the gentleman who built my Cirrus acoustic guitar. The jam session was held in a small waiting room/lounge attached to his workshop, and was co-organized by his assistant Steve.

Mike and Steve were extremely welcoming to everyone there, which totaled eight jammers including myself and those two. Mike provided refreshments and was more than willing to show everyone around the shop and the guitars they are working on. Mike showed me a list of bluegrass musicians he has orders from, so his reputation for a solid guitar at an affordable price is getting around.

Two hours were spent playing covers of bluegrass, folk, and Celtic songs, with an abundance of acoustic guitars, although Steve did pull out his banjo and mandolin, and there was another banjo player there. While I would have liked to have done more classic bluegrass songs, it was good to hear what others liked to perform. The doors opened at 5:30 in the evening, the jam started at 6:00, and wrapped up a little after 8:00. Being once per month makes it something to easily fit into my schedule without growing tired, so I will definitely be attending again. Many thanks to Mike and Steve.

I took Friday off of work to get my windshield replaced, and afterward took a trip to Toledo (actually, suburban Oregon, OH) to attend the second day of the three-day Bluegrass in Superclass festival at the Maumee Bay Lodge. Google sent me on a crazy route to get there, and the wind advisory all day that was tossing my subcompact care around didn’t help. The lodge is a really nice place to be sure, and they had a hall set up for the performances with ample seating.

The big reason I went down is that the Kody Norris Show was headlining. The band is definitely one of my favorite live shows, it’s no wonder that they keep winning SPBGMA awards every year. As I was walking around the hall, Kody spotted me and came over to say hello. Soon the rest of the band came along and were happy to see me as well. I was able to spend a few minutes talking to fiddler Rachel Norris about some original material as well as getting more press for the band. She actually inspired me to consider doing an online magazine dedicated to bluegrass musicians and instrument manufacturers, eyeing the musicians themselves as the potential readers.

Of course, they put on a fantastic show. I video recorded one of the band’s songs to send to a co-worker. I won’t post it here, as the room as not well lit and it came out grainy. Unfortunately, I was not able to stick around for the second set, but we made an agreement to get together for some writing at SPBGMA in two weeks.

As for the festival, it makes a great getaway for those of us in the area needing a bluegrass fix in the middle of winter without having to drive 12 hours to a festival down south. I do plan on keeping this one in my calendar for next year, even if only for a day. I also found a much better way to get there without Google’s help.

So as far as my music stuff listed on Craigslist, I got a real doozie of an email last week. I decided to put up that Dean Playmate bass up for sale, and listed it for $70.00, knowing full well that I would probably accept a lower offer and lose a few dollars on the overall deal. Well, I got an offer that has made me and everyone I have told about it just scratch their heads and laugh.

Someone emailed me to offer a trade on the bass for a 2025 Nike hat with adjustable headband. Really? A Nike hat isn’t worth more than $20.00 brand new (I’m sure his was worn). Not even a music-related hat, just a Nike. And he never said if it was limited edition or if someone like Tom Brady autographed it. It was such a joke of an offer that I only responded “No thank you,” as I usually reply with an explanation. That offer didn’t even require an explanation, it was embarrassing. Obviously the guy didn’t get the hint of “get lost,” as he has to write band saying “well, then I will pass on the offer.” Uh, I didn’t make a counter offer, but I let him have his last word.

This incident was almost worse than the exchange I got a few months ago. I have a made in Mexico Fender Stratocaster on CL for $500.00. One guy wrote me that he would take it for $225.00 CASH (his emphasis, not mine). Oooh, like I would consider being paid by Venmo or PayPal and I was that desperate for cash. Similarly, I wrote back a no-thank you reply, but did give him a little explanation.

Chew on it and comment.

Categories
Home Recording Lutherie Songwriting

My 2025 in Review

Taking a look back at 2025, there are a few things that I learned about what I do related to music, both positive and negative. Here are some thoughts:

Freelance writing – I pretty much confirmed earlier this year that my last regular freelance writing gig dissolved. Fiddler Magazine hasn’t published online in over a year, and the print version left us about two years ago. I still have not heard back from the editor/publisher regarding what has happened, and I received a Christmas card form the former editor Mary Larsen checking in, which I truly appreciated. I am not sure how much more I will keep freelancing, as it is extremely difficult to find paying gigs thanks to AI. So many publications are folding, going online, or just keep their few contributing writers on. I loved writing, interviewing artists, reviewing releases, and networking. However, that outlet is drying up fast, and there is little motivation to pursue it further. This blog will at least keep my writing chops up.

Cirrus Guitars – After 40+ years of playing guitar, bass, and a few other instruments as a hobby and live on stage, it was exciting to have a guitar specially built for me. While my specifications were not elaborate, I loved the fact that it was my choice of what went into that acoustic guitar. The wait of three months was well worth it. Mike Frank at Cirrus was such a great person to work with, keeping me updated on the progress. My Martin D-28 is still my wife, but playing the shorter-scale Cirrus acoustic has got me playing bluegrass flatpicking leads a little easier.

Lutherie – While I’ve always done a lot of basic maintenance on my guitars, and have done simple modifications throughout the years, this year, I did a lot more hands-on work with repairs and building. It started with a major repair to a mandolin late last year that worked out well, and now getting DIY guitar kits that I could finish on my own. My first kit taught me a lot, especially with finishes and knowing that it takes a lot of time to get a good look. I have a few more kits that I got good deals on, including a P-bass kit that I plan to do a pickup modification. Another positive experience from this work is that I motivated a co-worker to get into the guitar-building hobby. She has done previous woodworking, but was so impressed with my last job that she has jumped right in. I got her a simple Tele-style kit, and within days, she was already staining the body. It does my heart good.

Suno.com – Now that I am recording my song demos on an 8-track digital recorder, I can do a lot more instrumental and vocal layering. When I was talking to Brent Baxter from SongwritingPro.com during my last trip to Nashville, he was praising Suno for its AI embellishing simple demos to sound like a studio recording. I joined Suno at their basic $10/month rate. This only allows you to upload a song and do basic editing of length. I decided to go for the Premium Studio rate at $200/year. Well, I downloaded a basic guitar/vocal song, and was not happy with with the results. First off, if you don’t have the most up-to-date computer (you cannot use it on a phone app), you cannot get into the Studio application. Next, it uploaded the lyrics it sensed, which were incorrect in a few places, but there was no way to correct them. Finally, this song is a fast-paced bluegrass number, but the Studio application (when I was able to get in) turned it into a mid-tempo pop-country number. I am totally disappointed with this program, and I am out $200 unless I get a better computer, which isn’t likely for a while. In short, Suno seems to be set up for people who write lyrics and need a ready-made studio band to put music on his/her words.
For 2026, I plan to do more guitar-kit building, songwriting and recording, hopefully more co-writing, and as a non-related goal, find another full-time job that is not as stressful as my current one.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and that 2026 will be prosperous for all. Chew on it and comment.

Categories
Acoustic Guitars

My Cirrus Guitar is Here!

Well, here she is! My new Cirrus guitar, and she is ALL MINE! It is the model CD Dreadnought, basically standard features except that I ordered it to have a slightly shorter 24.9-inch scale fretboard.

She sounds great to be sure, a heavy lower midrange that will cut through as a rhythm guitar during a bluegrass jam without being too boomy. The shorter scale seems to fit perfectly with my smaller hands, as I was playing “Wildwood Flower” without any fretting difficulty. The finish is the way that I like it – semi-gloss, so it’s not too shiny but not dull matte looking either.

It was so worth the 3+ month wait for it, as I know that it is truly my personal guitar, not one that I bought either used or off the rack at a store. I cannot wait to start taking her out for jams. I already have three people at my workplace asking me to bring it in so that they can try it out.

Mike Franks, the owner of Cirrus Guitars, has his shop here in suburban Detroit, so it was great that I could go directly and pick it up instead of waiting for shipment. I have talked about his shop in a previous blog (https://luegra.design.blog/2025/03/29/i-ordered-a-cirrus-guitar/), and he is a big bluegrass fan. He’s made guitars for the Grascals, the Rhonda Vincent Band, and a few other acts. He is also contracting with Gallagher Guitars in making some of their fretboards.

It is great to see a fantastic luthier here in my backyard, so to speak. I will definitely be promoting his work whenever and wherever I can. I plan on taking this guitar to the SPBGMA conference in January. Hopefully I can get some of the artists there to try it out and take an interest.

I’m keeping this one short, as I want to get back to playing my new love. Now I just need to give her a name (all of my other regularly played acoustics have names, all women that have meant a lot to me). I highly recommend you check out Cirrus Guitars at http://www.cirrusguitars.com/ .

Chew on it and comment.

Categories
Bluegrass Music Musical Instruments

US-12 Yard Sale 2025/SEMBMA Picnic 2025/Misc.

This weekend was the US-12 Heritage Longest Yard Sale, so I took Friday off from work and did the drive. This year, I started driving west from Dearborn, but as expected, the set-ups really weren’t available until I reached Saline. I went as far as Allen, Michigan and turned around. Of course, I had to hit Randy’s BBQ in Brooklyn, MI for the famous Godzilla Sandwich (Google it!).

I didn’t get many bargains, as there was not a lot offered as far a music-related stuff. I got a gig bag and an empty Gibson hardshell acoustic guitar case, but the only real bargain (maybe) was a Dean electric bass.

I purchased it on the way back home and didn’t really look at it closely. For what I paid ($60.00), just about any cheap bass would be a decent buy. Once I got it home, I took a better look. The neck, body, and hardware are definitely a Dean model, but it looks like the pickguard and pickup were replaced with a generic setup, which doesn’t properly fit the body. I’ll most likely patch it up in places (like removing some stickers on the back of the body) and sell it off.

The Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Music Association had its annual picnic and Hall of Honor ceremony Saturday. Not much to talk about here, only that we are still in need of young pickers to receive scholarships. Two current recipients showed up for the afternoon jam session, along with a few older members. I have never been much of a jamming enthusiast for myself, but I know how others enjoy it.

I received a nice email from my friend Sister Clare Marie of the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word convent in Alabama (https://luegra.design.blog/2020/08/07/nuns-performing-bluegrass-and-diversity/). It seems that they are in need of some more material. Looks like I need to get finished with some of my incomplete bluegrass gospel songs.

This morning I got the new Billy Strings/Bryan Sutton live CD. I cannot wait to throw it on the player and give a review, which will come probably next week. Also, I got the call that my Cirrus guitar is finished, so I’ll be picking it up next weekend.

Short and sweet for this week, Chew on it and comment.

Categories
Acoustic Guitars Bluegrass Music

I Ordered a Cirrus Guitar!

I can mark off another item on my bucket list. This morning, I went to the Cirrus Guitars shop and ordered myself an acoustic guitar made to my specifications!

I had blogged about Cirrus Guitars previously (https://luegra.design.blog/2023/10/28/cirrus-guitars/), and have been thinking about getting a guitar from there ever since. With money that could have spent on a bigger TV or some other item that does not really strike my fancy, I love guitars so much that it was what I wanted to treat myself to. I contacted Mike Franks, owner/luthier for Cirrus, a few weeks back, we scheduled a meeting this morning, and I went to the shop in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Mike was extremely friendly, and was grateful that I paid for the guitar in full rather than just a down payment. The shop is Heaven if you are a guitar enthusiast like me. Acoustic guitars in every stage of construction line the walls and workbenches. He has a special paint booth, and the whole shop is well ventilated and humidified. He also has a room set up for taking photos of his finished guitars, and a space where he holds small house concerts.

The best part of his tour was seeing some of the guitars that he is making for bluegrass artists. One guitar is a special left-handed model under his M.J. Franks brand of guitars for Jamie Johnson of The Grascals. He is also making a custom dreadnaught for John Bryan of The Grascals as well.

He related a great story of how he once heard an Osborne Brothers tune on the radio that moved him deeply, then fast forward two decades, and Joe Miller of Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top Xpress requested a guitar made for him. When it was finished, Franks took it to Nashville to present it to Miller at the Grand Ole Opry. He was then sitting on stage at the Opry when Miller performed with the band, and had that song dedicated to him that evening.

Franks knows how special bluegrass artists are, not only with the care and concern they have with acoustic instruments, but how much they appreciate the people around them, be they fans, promoters, or luthiers. You can see in all of the work he puts in every guitar that his respect goes equally back to the artist.

My guitar should be ready in about three months, and I am in no big rush. I know that I will fall in love with the guitar, simply because I see the quality work that goes into Cirrus guitars. Franks has stated that I should stop by the shop in a few weeks to see the progress. Despite the rainy weather going on today, the day was fantastic for me!

http://www.cirrusguitars.com/

Chew on it and comment.

Categories
Acoustic Guitars

Cirrus Guitars

There is a new acoustic guitar company opening up – and it is near my house!!!

Well, it is about an hour drive from where I live, to be honest. However, this is great news to see another luthier starting up in the Detroit area. Cirrus Guitar (https://www.cirrusguitars.com/) is the partnership of Mike Franks (of M.J. Franks Guitars) and Tobin McGlassion (of McGlassion Guitars) that will make high-quality, hand-made acoustic guitars at an affordable price.

They have opened up shop in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and from the looks at their website, they have a good idea of what is needed in the acoustic guitar market. As of now, they are making three models: a Dreadnaught, an OO body, and a OOO 14-fret version. All will have basic features, with options available at additional costs. Prices for these guitars (with case) will start at $2,150.00.

What caught my attention was that they will offer two scale lengths at no additional cost. There will be the standard 25.4-inch scale, as well as the shorter 24.9-inch scale. Because of my smaller hands and slight arthritis, I have always wanted a shorter scale fretboard on a Dreadnaught body. Martin has offered such models, but the price has been way out of reach for me. This looks like it would be a great alternative.

The guitars will be built in the same shop as M.J. Franks Guitars, but with a different attitude. Of course, they are looking at getting these guitars into a players’ market. A M.J. Franks guitar starts at $3,850.00. At nearly half the price, a Cirrus guitar is a great alternative to the more boutique guitars.

In an interview with Bluegrass Today, Franks states that for Cirrus, he will be buying wood in bulk, and wood that may have some minor blemishes that would not be found on his Franks guitars. Personally, a small blemish can be ignored if the guitar has a great tone and feels comfortable at the same time.

Franks’ bluegrass connection comes from building one of his first guitars for Bobby Osborne’s guitarist Joe Miller, and being good friends with songwriter Pete Goble, who also lived in the Detroit area before passing away in 2018.

I will be checking out this Cirrus over the next few weeks, and seriously considering getting myself that Dreadnaught with a short-scale neck.

Chew on it and comment.

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