Monthly Recap and News for November 2025
| Greetings guitar fans, Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting and upcoming guitar-related events, including a special message about the Michael Partington concert this Friday, November 21. A message from Michael Partington Michael was kind enough to send us a video greeting leading up to his concert on Friday, November 21 at the SOU Recital Hall. In it, he mentions that he was here 21 years ago as part of our inaugural concert season. He also mentions some of his upcoming concert program, which will include a wonderful mix of classic and modern compositions:Michael Partington’s greeting to Southern OregonBuy tickets here!  The Monthly MeetingLast Thursday’s meeting was cozy and full of good music. PROGRAM John Swinnerton – First Flight (original) Francie Buckley and Grant Ruiz – Theme from Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin Francie – As Tears Go By by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Andrew Loog Oldham Grant – Estudio Sencillo #6 by Leo Brouwer, Spain by Chick Corea, Panaderos by Esteban de Sanlúcar ~ Intermission ~ Matt Dorris – Levantine Suite and Mysterious Habitats by Dusan Bogdanovic Mark Turnbull – Buckeyed Jim (original), The Devil is Afraid of Music by Willard Robison Brian Parris – Who’ll Stop The Rain, Have You Ever Seen The Rain by John Fogerty |
| AnnouncementsToday, November 16, Canto Sol (Dan Fellman and Grant Ruiz) will play at the Paschal Winery happy hour from at 3:30 to 5:30 PM. On Tuesday, November 25, they will play at Mountain Meadows Retirement Community in Ashland from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and on Sunday, November 30, they will play at the Lithia Artisans Market Ashland Armory Christmas Faire from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Ashland Historic Armory, 208 Oak St. On Saturday, November 29, Grant will play solo guitar at Belle Fiore Winery at 100 Belle Fiore Lane in Ashland from 5:00 to 7:00pm. Mark Turnbull will perform at the Jacksonville Community Center on Thursday, December 11 from 6 to 7:30pm.Guitars for saleSOU professor Derek Keller is selling a number of his guitars with a wide variety of prices. Please contact him at kellerd@sou.edu for inquiries and photos: 2011 Yulong Guo Chamber Concert no. 50 – $4,500. This has been my primary concert instrument since 2013. It has been a fantastic guitar! It is in near mint condition; but alas, there is one blemish: the high E string slipped out of its knot and struck the top just behind the bridge plate. Otherwise, the guitar is near perfect. Do not pass this up, for it is a great guitar:Double top with Nomex core: features two very thin layers of wood (in this case, spruce) with a layer of Nomex, a honeycomb-like material, sandwiched between them. This results in a lighter, more resonant soundboard.Lattice bracing: provides exceptional volume, projection, and balance.‘Violin back’: The back and sides are made of solid Indian rosewood, with a the back constructed in an arched shape (often referred to as a “violin back”). This design eliminates the need for internal bracing, which significantly enhances the guitar’s projection and volume.Enhanced playability: A raised fingerboard (or sloped shoulders) makes it easier to access notes in the higher register. Other features include a rosewood armrest for comfort and a sound port that directs more sound towards the player. Side wall tear drop sound hole – you ‘hear’ the guitar as it sounds from the front.Superb CraftsmanshipOriginal PamphletOriginal ‘fitted’ Case – to accommodate violin back. Also features a little ‘seat belt’ so that it does not fall out if the case is not buckled down properly._______1980s era Asturias John Mills JM20 S classical guitar – $1,500 – this instrument carried me all the way through my undergrad, masters and doctoral program, and my professional carrier until I purchased the Guo. While it sounds great, It is in ‘good’ condition aesthetically. There are cracks, all of which have been fixed professionally before I acquired it in 1990. Some of the dings and wear are mine (music stands, flamenco, etc.). BUT the SOUND of this guitar is lovely and well balanced – a fantastic entry level concert level instrument. It would be a significant step up from Takamine, Cordoba, or similar standard instruments. It is currently set up with Savarez 500 AJ (Corum basses, Alliance trebles):Top: Solid spruceBack and sides: RosewoodNeck: MahoganyFingerboard: EbonyBridge: RosewoodNut width: 52mmScale length: 650mmFinish: Gloss naturalHardware: tuners replaced, with wood handles – very coolOrigin: Made in JapanComes with a hard shell (beat up) case and carrying sleeve (more extra protection for shipping than functional).______Beautifully refinished vintage 1966 Giannini 901 from Brazil – $750. Porous satin (re)finished spruce top, rose wood fretboard & bridge plate, with laminated sides. Original brass fretwork. New tuners, reset bridge, new saddle, and new nut. Set up with Savarez high Tension 500AJ (Alliance trebles, Corum basses). ‘Classic’ warm folk sound. Perfect for gentle Bossa Nova! Also great as a first classical guitar, which it was for me when I was 15. No cracks, and due to being refinished, no dings.Top: Solid spruceFretboard and bridge: Brazilian rosewoodBody and sides: Vintage Giannini guitars from this era typically featured laminated—or ply-body—construction for the body and sides, which are known to be durable and tonally consistent.GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGON |
Monthly Recap and News for October 2025
AnnouncementsCanto Sol (Dan Fe Greetings guitar fans, Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting and upcoming guitar-related events.  The Monthly Meeting Last Thursday’s meeting was well attended. We had a handful of local artists and a remarkable, unique performance by Brazilian guitarist Álvaro Henrique. PROGRAM John Swinnerton – Hummingbird (original) Michael Van Ausdall – Stuck on You (original), Summertime by George Gershwin, Down in Costa (original) Brian Parris – I Can’t Tell You Why by Timothy Schmidt, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, Softly and Tenderly by Will Lamartine Thompson Grant Ruiz – Raindrops by Neno Mutinic, Soleares modernos (flamenco) Mark Turnbull – The Leaves Are Changing, You Can’t Go Home Again (originals) ~ Intermission ~ Álvaro Henrique, currently pursuing his doctorate in Minneapolis, played a set of regional Brazilian music by composers such as Dilermando Reis and César Guerra-Peixe, as well as a Bach prelude from BWV 995. If you were not fortunate enough to get one of his CDs, you can hear him on Spotify and YouTube.  Announcements Canto Sol (Dan Fellman and Grant) will play an intimate house concert on Saturday, November 8. Please email Grant Ruiz to get more information and to make a reservation. The guitar society will host the extraordinary Welsh guitarist Michael Partington at the SOU Recital Hall on Friday, November 21 at 7:00pm. Michael was part of our first concert series back in 2004! We will send more details in the near future. GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGON The GSSO is grateful to receive support from the following organizations:  |
