 After a bit of a slow beginning in 2021, our Colorado winter has come on strong to start 2022. With February being one of our snowiest months on record, I’ve had plenty of time lately to hunker down in the shop to reflect on Winters past present and future. BEYOND BOUNDARIEs Late in the Winter of 2020/21 I was asked to be featured in a film series called “Beyond Boundaries - Road Trip” presented by SNOWBOARDER MAGAZINE. As a Colorado native, and lifetime outdoors enthusiast, SNOWBOARDER MAGAZINE reached out to me with their interest in featuring DWP Guitars for an episode of “Beyond Boundaries” in which they highlight creative people who are dedicated to pushing boundaries both at work and recreationally.  The outdoors have always been an important part of my life, and are a big reason why I choose to live in Denver. To me; mountains are a place of inspiration, a place to reflect, and a powerful reminder of exactly who I am at home and in this world. Living in Denver gives me direct access to those places while still being close to everything the city has to offer.
As a guitar tech, I take a lot of pride in being able to assist the artists I work for in realizing their creative vision. Additionally; being a guitar builder allows me to connect deeper with the guitar players I work for, as well as with my own creative passion. Having spent over 20 years working in the music industry and now just over 10 years building guitars; I have been fortunate enough to see those two passions combined in ways I would never have imagined. I’m humbled every time I step foot into the mountains and I’m humbled every time a guitar player puts their confidence in me and/or my guitars. Whether I’m on stage right during a show, in my shop building guitars, or on my snowboard picking a line down a mountain; I’m constantly searching for that creative “flow state”. To me “flow state” is all about freedom and a sense of self. “Beyond Boundaries” provides a glimpse into what that means for me, and I’m humbled to have been a part of it. MUSIC FOR MARSHALL TELE At the end of 2021, Boulder County was hit by the most destructive wildfire in Colorado History. What started as a grass fire in Boulder county open space was quickly spread by hurricane force winds and soon ripped through the densely populated areas of Louisville and Superior, CO. Over night 900+ homes were destroyed, 30,000+ people were displaced, and entire neighborhoods reduced to smoldering rubble. Having spent a large portion of my childhood in the Louisville / Superior area, and with a growing number of friends from my adult life having made the move there, this tragedy couldn’t have hit any closer to home.
On February 4th, 2022 the DRUNKEN HEARTS hosted a Boulder County Fire Benefit show called “Music For Marshall” at the BOULDER THEATER featuring an array of guest musicians from the Colorado Music community. Along with the show; CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE held a silent auction to raise funds in benefit of those effected by the fires.
I was honored to be able to donate a guitar to be included in the silent auction, and I picked a truly one of a kind, custom Tele, featuring a very unique Chechen Rosewood Top and a set of RONIN Gold Foil pickups made with 24kt gold foil. The “Music For Marshall Tele” saw a little action during the show and then was signed by artists that played, before being auctioned off. I couldn’t be more grateful for the $1250 it raised to benefit those who lost so much. THE "DA-Rel bari" With the 2022 calendar beginning to fill up with concerts, this seems like a good time to highlight this custom Baritone I built for BON IVER. We use the “Da-Rel Bari” for a number of songs in the live BON IVER catalog, but it’s the song “Minnesota, WI” that dictated exactly what we needed from this instrument. We tune the “Da-Rel Bari” all the way down to G Standard, a full 1-2 steps down from the standard Baritone tuning. In order to accomplish this on the Baritone we used previously; we had to string it up with pretty thick strings. Between the thicker gauge strings and the resulting tension on the neck, our previous Baritone eventually became difficult to play and we decided it was time to build something custom. We needed a Baritone that could be tuned all the way down to G Standard, but feel more like a guitar than a bass. So with that in mind; I began the process of comparing the variables of Scale Length, String Gauge, and String Tension to determine what we needed to accomplish our goal. Ultimately; it all came down to finding a way to achieve the ideal string tension. String Tension is a combination of 3 variables; String Gauge (thickness of the string), Pitch (note the string is tuned to), and Scale Length (distance between the nut and the bridge). With the Pitch already established (G Standard), I needed to determine what our ideal string tension would be and from there; I could establish what the ideal scale length would be.  Operating on the basis that we needed the “Da-Rel Bari” to feel more like a guitar than a bass; I set a goal of roughly 19-20 lbs of string tension for each string. Using the formula to calculate string tension I was able to compare different variables of scale length and string gauge. Through my calculations, it became clear to me that a longer scale length is what we needed. I concluded that a 30in scale length would allow me to use thinner strings and still be able to maintain the ideal string tension when tuned down in pitch to G Standard. With the design specs nailed down there was just one more decision to make. Since this was to be a fully custom instrument; it needed an equally custom set of pickups.
The tone we aim for on “Minnesota, WI” is a gritty, dark, and rumbling tone. Achieved in part from the low tuned Baritone, but also translated through just the right pickups, and ARCANE INC provided just what we needed. The “Da-Rel Bari” features a set of two “Tele Bridge” Pickups custom wound by ARCANE INC. The neck pickup is made from Alnico 5 magnets and wound to 6.24k resistance while the the Bridge is made from Alnico 3 magnets and wound to 10.54k resistance. These pickups are gritty, bold and raw when we need them to be (like on “Minnesota, WI”), and balanced, warm and full for other songs (like “Holocene” and “We”). This is truly a one of a kind instrument and has become a staple in the BON IVER live show. Perfectly suited for everything we need of it. LOOKING FORwardWith spring around the corner, the Music Industry as a whole, is gearing up for one of the busiest outdoor concert seasons we’ve ever seen, certainly in the last couple years at least. The last couple winters have seen us all mostly separated, and provided plenty of uncertainty about the future. This winter seems different though. In the spring we will gather together again, and hopefully by next winter the challenges of the last couple years will officially be behind us. I couldn't be more excited to get back out there on Stage Right and I can’t wait to see you there. 
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 Fall is in the air and life is starting to feel a little more like normal these days. The Summer of 2021 saw live music return to Amphitheaters, Festivals, and various outdoor venues across the US. This Fall; Stadiums, Arenas, and indoor venues are filled with fans of Music and Sports as indoor capacity limits are lifted around the country, and we begin to gather together again. As a Colorado native, Fall has always been a favorite time of the year for me, although it never feels like it lasts long enough. This year, Fall has proved to be a big one though, and I have a lot to fill you in on. david shaw and a "da-rel" jr
In August, I once again proudly partnered with the Boulder based Charity CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE. This time with a little help from David Shaw of THE REVIVALISTS. David Shaw was invited to play with the Conscious Alliance Allstars at the flagship Conscious Alliance Charity Event held annually at the MacMillan Estate in Denver, CO. During his set at the event David played a very unique DWP Guitars “Da-Rel” JR which was then signed by everyone who played, and auctioned off. I’m still a little in disbelief that this guitar raised an incredible $7500 to benefit Conscious Alliance! If you’re curious to check out photos from the CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE ALLSTARS Event; please follow the link below: The colorado avalanche and dwp guitars The changing of seasons from Summer to Fall means only one thing when you’re a hockey fan; HOCKEY IS BACK! And this year; it was uniquely special for DWP Guitars. Thanks entirely to the dedication and belief in DWP Guitars by Anna Smith; I was given the opportunity to design, build, and donate two Avalanche themed DWP Guitars to the COLORADO AVALANCHE heading into the 2021/22 NHL Season. Unbeknownst to me at the time; Anna was able to get in touch with the Kronke Sports and Entertainment Community Relations Department to propose the idea during the off season, and excitingly; they said Yes! That turned out to be just the beginning though… Not long before this season started, my new friends at Kronke Sports reached out with another idea. In addition to the guitars being signed by Avalanche players and then auctioned off to benefit KRONKE SPORTS CHARITIES; they wanted to promote the auction and DWP Guitars on opening night of the COLORADO AVALANCHE season!
With a full capacity crowd in attendance for the first time since the Spring of 2020; I was interviewed about the guitars during the first intermission and DWP Guitars was promoted on the big screen at BALL ARENA in Denver, CO. I am honored, humbled, and beyond grateful that DWP Guitars could play such a special role, in such a special night. I believe there’s an old adage about “Do what you love, and the rest will follow…” right? Well this was definitely proof of that. The life long Avalanche fan inside me loves seeing DWP Guitars along side my favorite hockey team, and the guitar builder in me couldn’t be more proud to be able to make a bigger impact through DWP Guitars. "sincerely grateful" |
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On March 22nd, 2021 Boulder, CO was changed forever when 10 lives were needlessly taken in an act of violence the likes of which Boulder has never seen before. Having spent most of my life in the safety and serenity of the”Boulder Bubble”, this one definitely hit close to home.
The Boulder Music community is as tight knit as it gets, and DWP Guitars is proudly still based in Boulder. With that in mind, I found it necessary to contribute however I could. To that end, this Cigar Box Amp featuring custom “BOULDER STRONG” Artwork was donated on behalf of the families and friends that tragically lost a loved one that day.
The “BOULDER STRONG” Cigar Box Amp was auctioned off in the “LOVE FOR LONNA” auction which benefited the family of Lonna Bartkowiak. Lonna was a staple of the Boulder Community and tragically passed that day. Not only did the amp raise $300 for Lonna’s family, but it also found the perfect new home with a good friend of DWP Guitars, and another fixture in the Boulder music community.
The Boulder Music community is as tight knit as it gets, and DWP Guitars is proudly still based in Boulder. With that in mind, I found it necessary to contribute however I could. To that end, this Cigar Box Amp featuring custom “BOULDER STRONG” Artwork was donated on behalf of the families and friends that tragically lost a loved one that day.
The “BOULDER STRONG” Cigar Box Amp was auctioned off in the “LOVE FOR LONNA” auction which benefited the family of Lonna Bartkowiak. Lonna was a staple of the Boulder Community and tragically passed that day. Not only did the amp raise $300 for Lonna’s family, but it also found the perfect new home with a good friend of DWP Guitars, and another fixture in the Boulder music community.
7th ANNUAl conscious alliance all-stars event
Summer 2021 provided an exciting opportunity to collaborate with the Boulder based charity Conscious Alliance. This “Da-Rel” JR Guitar features a striking combination of a Douglass Fir Body and Claro Walnut Top, and will be donated for the 7th Annual Conscious Alliance All-Stars event, being held in Denver in August.
This guitar has an exciting future ahead of it, but you’ll have to attend the the event to find out just what that is. And you may even be able to take this one of a kind rocker home with you…
This guitar has an exciting future ahead of it, but you’ll have to attend the the event to find out just what that is. And you may even be able to take this one of a kind rocker home with you…
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7th annual conscious alliance all-stars event
An Evening in Support of Conscious Alliance hosted by the MacMillan Family featuring the Conscious Alliance All-Stars: An All Female Supergroup starring Drin Elliott, Jennifer Hartswick, Judith Hill, Karina Rykman, Kim Dawson, Natalie Cressman, Nikki Glaspie and Mimi Naja with special performance by David Shaw of The Revivalists.
AUGUST 22nd, 2021 - Cherry Hills Village, CO
GUITAR BUILDING CLASSES
Guitar building classes in the DWP Guitars shop have also been rocking this summer with a couple very successful builds from two new builders.
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If you’re interested in learning to build guitars, I would love to help you get started on that journey. The “Guitar Building Basics” class from DWP Guitars is 5 days of private instruction with me, and you’ll go home with your first guitar handcrafted entirely by you. Additionally, you’ll also take home a build notebook, and a set of routing templates so you’ll have everything you need to repeat the process on your own.
Classes are scheduled individually, and can be scheduled any time. Please feel free to reach out for more info!
Classes are scheduled individually, and can be scheduled any time. Please feel free to reach out for more info!
LOOKING FORWARD
Summer is usually the busiest time of the year for those of us in the touring industry. However this summer much like the one before has provided more time to focus on other things. I miss the energy and excitement of live shows as its clear that so many other people do too. For now; I’ve been re-focusing that energy into DWP Guitars and preparing for when it all comes back.
Things are looking up for the Fall though, so lets hope it all keeps moving in the right direction. I’m very much looking forward to being able to share space with you again in a Theatre, Arena, Amphitheatre, or on a Festival stage somewhere. I’ll be standing on Stage Right, and I can’t wait to see you there.
Things are looking up for the Fall though, so lets hope it all keeps moving in the right direction. I’m very much looking forward to being able to share space with you again in a Theatre, Arena, Amphitheatre, or on a Festival stage somewhere. I’ll be standing on Stage Right, and I can’t wait to see you there.
It's officially Spring of 2021. A time to reflect, a time to start fresh, and a time of re-growth. As we move beyond 12 months into the COVID-19 Pandemic, it feels appropriate to take a moment to reflect on the past year, as well as look forward to the future, for DWP Guitars.
2020 began with a tour of Asia in January with Bon Iver. Although the “Corona Virus” was something we were hearing about as we made our way through South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan; it wasn’t until we got home that everything changed. On March 6th, we played M3F Festival in Arizona, which was unexpectedly my last time on Stage Right for 2020. The world came to a halt a week later and took the music industry with it.
While much of the past year has been spent social distancing and wondering when life will "get back to normal", I think its important to focus on the silver linings. 2020 was a difficult year in many ways, however it did provide an opportunity for some exciting movement in the world of DWP Guitars, as well as some important lessons along the way.
2020 began with a tour of Asia in January with Bon Iver. Although the “Corona Virus” was something we were hearing about as we made our way through South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan; it wasn’t until we got home that everything changed. On March 6th, we played M3F Festival in Arizona, which was unexpectedly my last time on Stage Right for 2020. The world came to a halt a week later and took the music industry with it.
While much of the past year has been spent social distancing and wondering when life will "get back to normal", I think its important to focus on the silver linings. 2020 was a difficult year in many ways, however it did provide an opportunity for some exciting movement in the world of DWP Guitars, as well as some important lessons along the way.
DONATIONS
Spring and Summer of 2020 pulled back the curtain on cultural and societal inequalities that exist in our society today. While millions of people saw their industries shuttered due to the Pandemic, we were all once again witness to racial injustices that pervade our everyday life.
With a belief that music creates and builds community, it’s important to me that DWP Guitars contribute to communities in need. In keeping with that belief, I couldn’t have been prouder to have been able to make donations through DWP Guitars in support of COVID-19 Relief, and the Social Justice Movement.
With a belief that music creates and builds community, it’s important to me that DWP Guitars contribute to communities in need. In keeping with that belief, I couldn’t have been prouder to have been able to make donations through DWP Guitars in support of COVID-19 Relief, and the Social Justice Movement.
COVID-19 RELIEF TELE
This custom Tele was signed by the incomparable BRITTANY HOWARD and auctioned off, raising $3250, to benefit The COVID-19 Relief Fund organized by SWEET RELIEF MUSICIANS FUND.
”Artists, and those that support them, are facing unprecedented hardships right now. Aware of the enormous medical and financial burden that COVID-19 is having on the music community; Sweet Relief is actively taking steps to provide assistance where it’s needed the most.”
”Artists, and those that support them, are facing unprecedented hardships right now. Aware of the enormous medical and financial burden that COVID-19 is having on the music community; Sweet Relief is actively taking steps to provide assistance where it’s needed the most.”
BUILDING FOR CHANGE UKULELE
This "Da-Rel" MINI Electric Ukulele featuring a piece of locally sourced Beetle Kill Pine, was donated to benefit Social Justice. This beautiful piece of Colorado found a new home in Wisconsin, and raised $1000 in support of COLOR OF CHANGE.
”Color of Change’s campaigns and initiatives win changes that matter. By designing strategies powerful enough to fight racism and injustice – in politics and culture, in the workplace and the economy, in criminal justice and community life, and wherever they exist – they are changing both the written and unwritten rules of society. Mobilizing their members to end practices and systems that unfairly hold Black people back, and champion solutions that move us all forward.”
”Color of Change’s campaigns and initiatives win changes that matter. By designing strategies powerful enough to fight racism and injustice – in politics and culture, in the workplace and the economy, in criminal justice and community life, and wherever they exist – they are changing both the written and unwritten rules of society. Mobilizing their members to end practices and systems that unfairly hold Black people back, and champion solutions that move us all forward.”
DWP GUITARS IN STORES
By the Fall of 2020 life had taken on a “new normal” and stores were allowed to re-open with COVID-19 safety protocols in place. Additionally; without a Fall tour to be on, there was extra time to pursue retail outlets for DWP Guitars. As a result, I’m very eager to announce that if you find yourself in the Denver area, there are now a couple stores where you can check out product from DWP Guitars.
GUITAR BUILDING CLASSES!
Winter of 2020 provided one more unexpected and exciting opportunity. Ryan, (owner of BROWN NOTE PRODUCTIONS) like so many of us in the music industry, found himself with an unexpected amount of free time while we wait for concerts to return. Seizing the opportunity to pursue some long overdue personal projects, Ryan reached out to see if I could help him get started in guitar building. I couldn’t have been more honored to help, and together we built the first “Brown Note Custom Shop” guitar.
With the success of Ryan’s first guitar build in the books, I am excited to announce that DWP Guitars will now officially be offering guitar building classes in 2021 and beyond!
GUITAR BUILDING BASICS CLASS
"Guitar Building Basics" will be the first guitar building class offered through DWP Guitars. A 5-day class, in which you'll learn about the fundamentals of guitar building, while building your own solid body electric guitar.
Each student will learn about neck construction, fret installation, body construction, guitar electronics, and final set-up, as well as using the tools necessary to complete each task. At the end of the five days, you’ll have a fully playable guitar you built yourself that’s ready for finish (finishing is not included in the class).
In addition to a guitar you built yourself, you will also go home with everything you need to do it again!
Each student will learn about neck construction, fret installation, body construction, guitar electronics, and final set-up, as well as using the tools necessary to complete each task. At the end of the five days, you’ll have a fully playable guitar you built yourself that’s ready for finish (finishing is not included in the class).
In addition to a guitar you built yourself, you will also go home with everything you need to do it again!
 | SUPPLIESEach student will receive a Build Schedule notebook and a set of templates which will enable you to repeat the process on your own. |
MATERIALSWe'll start from a body blank, neck blank, and fingerboard blank, dimensioned properly to get you headed in the right direction from day one. |  |
If you’re interested in getting started with guitar building too, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to reach out via email or any of my social media channels (all linked below) for more details.
LOOKING FORWARD
2020 was a year unlike any other, and while 2021 has started much the same way; life does seem like its turning the corner toward resuming as we knew it before. We will all take lessons away from the past year, but I’m confident that we all have a lot to look forward to.
I know I can’t wait to be on Stage Right again, but I’m also excited about what the future has in store for DWP Guitars. Stay tuned to “Memoirs from Stage Right” for more current updates in the world of DWP Guitars, and I can’t wait till I can see you in person at show, hopefully sooner than later!
I know I can’t wait to be on Stage Right again, but I’m also excited about what the future has in store for DWP Guitars. Stay tuned to “Memoirs from Stage Right” for more current updates in the world of DWP Guitars, and I can’t wait till I can see you in person at show, hopefully sooner than later!
Author
DARRELL PLAMPIN
DWP Guitars
Owner / Builder.
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