Collecting Antique Maps - A Beginner's GuideWritten by Neil Street
California wasn’t always attached to west coast of North American continent. It used to be an island. At least, that’s what mapmakers, mostly European, believed for about 100 years, from around 1650 to 1750. So that’s how they drew it on their maps. The “Island of California,” as it is commonly called, is just one of innumerable collecting niches that are possible in increasingly popular field of antique map collecting.Antique map collecting is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years, which is perhaps one reason why there is such an enormous amount of material, from affordable to prohibitively expensive, in circulation today. Two reasons for popularity of antique map collecting are that antique maps appeal to a broad spectrum of people (for a variety of reasons) and they make very attractive framed pieces that can be enjoyed by many. The wide range of antique maps available today means that a novice can easily enter field, although hopefully armed with a little caution and common sense. The best place to begin is with some reading. Two excellent books for beginning collector are Collecting Old Maps by Francis J. Manasek, and Collecting Antique Maps: An Introduction to History of Cartography, by Jonathan Potter. Both are available by visiting VintageMaps.Com at http://www.vintagemaps.com
| | Buying the Right GuitarWritten by Michael Setz
Buying Right Guitar By Michael Setz www.guitars-on-line.comBuying right guitar can be a lot more difficult than it seems. That's because there are a lot of them to choose from; electric, acoustic, classical, folk, hollow body, semi-hollow body, solid body, 12-string, and 7 string just to name more common ones. Which one is right for you? First, it will be important for you to know type of music you are interested in playing. If you are only interested in screaming solos, you could probably just focus on an electric guitar. If you like playing folk music, a steel string acoustic would be an excellent choice. What about Classical and finger picking? A Classical guitar is definitely what you need. In any case, know music you want to play and that will also help you choose right guitar. When choosing your guitar, there are several factors to consider: ·Price ·Playability ·Sound ·Looks. Which is most important? They are ALL important in their own way! Play Guitar in 7 Days Guaranteed. Go to www.guitars-on-line.com to learn more! In no particular order of merit, here are reasons: 1. If you are on a budget, then obviously price you intend to pay is important! Most of us have wallets with limits! This is self-explanatory. 2. The playability of a guitar (how EASY it is to play) is important. Are strings close to fret board? Is neck a comfortable fit for your hand size? Is body shape comfortable to hold? This will also make a big impact on your progress as a guitar player. Anything that hinders your progress can be disheartening and should be eliminated. 3. Sound; Do notes ring out on guitar and sustain (last long before dying out)? Does guitar sound fat and full, or bright and thin? What sort of tone do you want? For example - Rock and Metal players often favor fat, full sounding guitars. 4. Are looks important? You bet! You want to look at your guitar and think it's cool. Playing something that looks like a dog will not inspire you! Also, look of a guitar can be important for image associated with a certain type of music. Like we mentioned earlier, Telecaster shaped guitars are often associated with traditional blues and country playing - Les Paul-shaped guitars are often associated with classic rock, Flying V guitars are usually associated with heavy metal. With that said first place to start is whether to buy new or used. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, but generally primary difference would be your budget. Stay flexible here and be on lookout for good deals. It is important to note however, that guitars do tend to hold their value over time as long as they are well cared for and have no significant dings, dents or other damage. You can check out some excellent guitars at my website www.guitars-on-line.com. There is also a section for auctions, so go take a look. Nonetheless, you can usually expect to pay slightly less for a used guitar versus a new and comparable guitar. The downside to buying used is that there will undoubtedly be wear on necks, frets, fingerboards, and pick guards, and there could also be hidden or less noticeable damage. You can find multitudes of places on Internet as well as in newspapers, and magazines for used guitars. However, one often overlooked place where great deals can be found is at pawnshops, flea markets, and swap meets. Keep this in mind when you begin your shopping. I have found some of very best deals at local pawnshop. There are many affordable new guitars on market today as well, and these should not be overlooked. Despite slightly higher price, buying new is usually less risky when it comes to quality. But that is not to say all new guitars are good. One advantage to buying new is you will get a warranty. So it's worth comparing new guitars in your price range to used ones. You can often get a decent new acoustic guitar worthy of a beginner for right around $100 and no more than $150. I would expect to pay about 10-20% less for a comparable used instrument. Check out some excellent guitars at my website www.guitars-on-line.com and you may also consider some of package deals for an extra value.
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