CUSTOM SHOP GUITAR NEWS!
| 9/27/09 - Saturday also went well though it
was a long day of playing. Huge numbers of people were
out and about and we even got a few colorful characters
happening by. As well as having my band play, my brother
Fred also sat in and played for a few hours. It looks as if we will do this again (maybe only for a few hours this time) this coming Saturday (Oct. 3rd). At this point Art Prize will be in the 2nd phase of voting and there won't be the pressure for everyone to get around to see everything (though that's still a good idea). More folks might feel like sitting and listening to us play this way. I will post an update here about Saturday and what time we'll be playing...and where....so far at Independent Bank but we may also take it over to Rosa Parks Circle....not real sure yet so check back.  |
| 9/24/09 - Well, the opening of Art Prize '09
last night went great! We played for a few hours and lots
of people came through and got to see my guitars up close
for a change. This art event is big and promises to be a
fun couple of weeks so if you are in the area then stop
by and see for yourself. It looks like we'll be playing some more throughout the day on Saturday (Sept. 26th). About 1-3pm and 5-10pm at the Independent Bank venue so come down and listen to some music and see a ton of art. More live music dates during the next 2 weeks to be posted as we go so check back!
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| 9/16/09 - Ok, the first day I'll be playing
at the venue will be on opening night, Sept. 23rd from
6pm - 10pm. There will be a catered reception for all at the Independent Bank venue so come on down and have some fun with us! Independent Bank Monroe Center
banking office |
| 8/8/09 - I will be showing several of my
art guitars in the Art Prize show in downtown Grand
Rapids, MI This massive art show will run from Sept. 23-Oct. 10 and I will be displaying at Independent Bank on Monroe St. I will need some "help" from anyone in the area as all the artist's pieces will be judged by the public via online votes. This is new and a very unusual art show and may be one of the biggest in the world. If you are ever looking for something to get out and do then this mark your calendar. I will be playing music outside the venue that I am showing at and will post here exactly when I'll be doing that. I expect to get some of the best players in town to also participate. More details to come so stay tuned!
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| 6/5/09 - A new video is posted on the video page. It's a local guitar teacher playing a modified Dynasty 7 string that I built for him. |
| 3/30/09 - New pics are up in the gallery and
more additions to the players gallery soon as well. We're also working to get some videos up on youtube (and here) so you can see and hear some of my instruments in action in a more controlled setting (not a live gig). I've also have plenty of CDs of my music if you're interested. This a really great way to hear the instruments at their best in a studio recording...just go to the CD page and order it from there. |
| 9/23/08 - I've made the Colbert Campaign
Song available for download on my MySpace page. We've also put up some new videos on YouTube from gigs this summer. You can view them here on my site at the "Videos" page. Just wanted to mention that Johnny DeGennaro will be spending the year in Nashville for recording school (starting September) so if anyone is in that area and wants to see, hear, and play a DeGennaro Guitar he will have a couple of his with him. Email me and I can connect you with him. |
| 5/5/08 - I just wanted to let everyone know
that I'm recovering slowly but steadily from having four
stints put in my heart last month. I had 3 small heart
attacks the last of which sent me to the hospital. It seemed to come out of nowhere but after getting "fixed up" I feel better than I have in years (even though I still fatigue easily). What I've learned is to listen to your body and if you are feeling generally bad (lack of energy, allergies get worse, body aches, etc.) or have specific red flags like left arm pain, then get it checked out and don't take an answer from your doctor like "you seem to be ok". Also, I will be taking my diet more seriously by trying to eat healthier and by reading labels on foods. So, I am still taking orders on custom guitars and am doing guitar repairs/mods and I also have several guitars on the site here that are available for purchase along with CDs and t-shirts......I need to make some money to pay for my hospital bill so if you were wanting your dream guitar then there is no time like the present. |
| 1/29/08 - I've posted my campaign song for
Stephen Colbert on my myspace page and made all the songs
posted there available for free downloading (My Little
Angel, I Get Up, Oil Wells, Stephen Colbert campaign
song). I still have plenty of CDs available for those who like what they hear (buy here or through many online retailers). |
| 7/31/07- We'll be playing a short show with
a couple of other bands on Aug. 19th (Sunday) in Grand
Rapids, MI. It's a club called McFaddens near the Van Andel Arena downtown. It starts at 8:00pm and is for those 21&over. Here are some pics from the gig:
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| 7/23/06 - It was a great
show with tons of bands and two stages. The temp was in
the 90's so it was pretty warm but everybody made it
through.
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| 7/3/06 - We will be
displaying guitars Sat. July 15th at Club Soda in
Kalamazoo, MI for the Summer of Mayhem 2006 show. There
will be 14 bands playing all day and night starting at
2pm. There won't be a set up to try out the guitars/mandolins and it will be loud there (except for the acoustics which can be played outside) but you can see them up close if you've only been able to see them on the site. For directions visit the club's site: http://www.theclubsoda.com/ |
| 6/13/06 - Yesterday we
displayed our guitars at a CD release show for a young
local band here in Grand Rapids named Unaltered. We
should be doing more of this soon so if you're in the
area and want to see these up close then keep checking
this site. We also used this as a chance to deliver a customer's new 5 string custom bass (2nd from left). Pskyogreen from the band Ultrathrash ordered this and got to see it finished for the first time and then took it home. (pics later)  |
4/6/06
-
We'll be playing one more time again this Sunday evening
(April 9th) at Pour Arthurs doing an acoustic show
featuring the songs on my CD followed by some great
classic rock covers with a few other players. |
3/24/06
- We'll be
playing again at Pour Arthur's on Sunday night (March
26), 6pm. Come out and enjoy some music and food. It has
been turning into a jamsession/covertunes after I finish
playing my original material.
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| 3/11/06 - If you are in the area, I'll be
playing with my band Sunday night March 11th at Pour
Arthur's. This is going to be an acoustic show and I'll be playing the songs off of my CD. Starts at 7pm. |
| 1/1/06 - Happy New Year! I've added pics of my new Thunder King super custom fretless bass to the site("Mardi Gras Bass"). And, of course, it plays and sounds as good as it looks! More pics have been added to the gallery and more are on the way. Still plenty of CDs and t-shirts available for purchase and as always you can check my Ebay link to see what used guitars I'm selling. I will be putting some on the site too. Several of the most desirable custom are still listed for sale including the new fretless. The prices will be raised this year as I have been offering them at an underpriced level and if you can email me before it's changed on the site then I'll give it to you at that price. Material costs have risen as well as my own cost of living (and it's not because one of those makers out there buying a new boat), I'm just trying to make a living while building the best instruments you can buy. I've also become aware over the past few years that what I craft is better in design, construction, playability and sound than most other similiar products being offered to the consumer and is currrently priced below their actual value. But I'm still glad to work with the customer when it comes to payment arrangements. |
| 11/17/05 - If you know about "myspace.com" and haven't been by my page yet then here is the address: http://myspace.com/degennaro |
| 10/14/05 - Just a note: If you have had some
trouble accessing this site it's because the domain name
provider is located in downtown New Orleans and they have
quite a story to tell about trying to keep their client's
websites all over the world active through the hurricane
and the aftermath. Check
the "available guitar" pages as there are
several guitars and mandolins available. We've been busy
with some orders for Dynasty guitars and there should be
some new pics going up in the next few weeks including
the fretless show bass we unveiled at the Summer NAMM
show. It looks like we will not be at the 2006 Winter NAMM show this year. We are looking at a few guitar shows a little closer to home, stay tuned for any details. If you haven't purchased your own copy of the CD then I'd have to say that you are missing out and should get one right away. We have them for sale here on the site and ALL over the internet. |
| 7/25/05 - Made it through another NAMM show, here are the pics. |
| 7/2/05 - I'm just finishing a brand new art bass guitar that I will be unveiling at the NAMM show so if you want to see some more cool stuff then stop by my booth and be the first to see it! |
| 6/14/05 - Just to keep you
up to date, the CD "Some People" is availabe in
local (Grand Rapids) retail stores like Aris' Disc Shop,
Schuller Books and RIT Music Central. Next month it will
be showing up in all the major online retailers worldwide
for song downloads or CD purchase. The local community radio station in Grand Rapids (WYCE.org) which plays a wide range of music from known and unknown musicians from all over the world and makes a big deal about how they play local music has refused play any songs off of this CD for some reason. I know they won't play music that is even remotely heavy but most of our songs couldn't come close to fitting in that category so I'm at a loss about why especially since a portion of the material they play sounds marginal in talent. I am a BMI affiliated musician so any stations that want to play my music are good to go and any retailers who want to stock my music can contact me to get supplied. |
| 5/7/05 - Guitar Player Magazine has the
DeGennaro Hand Guitar as one of the featured products in
it's '05 NAMM show report this month (June issue out in
May). Stay tuned for more cool guitars that we will be making and showing! On that note, we will have a booth at the July NAMM show in Indianapolis, IN (July 22-24). Stop by and say hi, you can try out the guitars and mandolins if you like. |
| 2/1/05
- Well, we made it through
another L.A. NAMM show and though there was some problems
with reserved booth assignment we had much better
exposure than last year. People were constantly stopping
and freaking out over the "Hand" guitar. The
JazzCat also got an outstanding response and lots of
great players told us how much they enjoyed playing it.
The giveaway guitar drawing went off without a hitch but
it was odd that half of the people we mentioned it to
expressed a no intrest in winning a free handmade guitar.
Many people went home with the new CD so we are hoping to
hear some feedback. If you can pass the word on to people
you know that would help us greatly as we are not under a
large record label and have to foot the bills by
ourselves. HERE ARE PICS AND VIDEO FROM THE SHOW: We are planning to be at the summer show in Indianapolis which promises to be much bigger than Nashville with all of the booths on the same floor. There is also going to be a midwest battle of the bands going on at the same time so my guess is that it will be one crazy show that you may want to attend. We are putting in a bid for a live performance during the show so if we get it would be great to see you there. Remember, you can try out the guitars at the shows. If you are going to be in the Grand Rapids area and are intrested in seeing how our guitars play then set up an appointment via email and we will do our best to accomodate you. |
| 1/14/05 - The guitars have are on
their way to the Namm show! Hope to see some of you
there. We have some very cool new instruments to show
that sound even better than they look (that is the
important part anyway). The release date of the new CD is January 20th. You will be able to order CDs here on the website and purchase them at the show. It turned out great! |
We will be at the 2005 Namm Show in
L.A. in January, be sure and stop by booth #1266! |
TIme to announce the !!! Pictures from the '04 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim. Pictures from the
'03 Summer NAMM show in Nashville. |
