An instrumental recorded about the same time as 'Empires And Dust' - free download from the music pages.

Buying an acoustic guitar is very easy. There are thousands of them on offer from budget to crazy prices.

So which one do you buy?

Here's some basic advice - one which sounds nice.

Most of the generic models made in the far east are very much the same. Most of them are pretty well made these days - but that doesn't mean they are any good. They might have a solid top, and boast 'name' tuners - but you still get a box with strings. So you really have to play them. It's amazing how sometimes a guitar costing 150 quid can sound 10 times as good as one costing 2 or 3 times as much. The main difference is that the 150 quid guitar is all brand new, so it needs 4-6 months of playing and care to find its sound - which is hardly a chore if you're a musician!

Electro-acoustic guitars specifically designed for plugging in usually sound rubbish unplugged. Buy a nice sounding guitar which just happens to have electrics in it.

Cedar topped guitars mature quicker, sound warmer, and have a much better dynamic response than all but the best (and by best, I don't mean most expensive - it's all to do with the flexibility and maturity of the top) spruce topped guitar. They do have a more compressed mid-range - so if you like light chiming guitar, go for spruce.

(Having said that, I like the chiming sound of a nice spruce flat-top - all acoustic sounds have value!)

Laminated guitars are just braced boxes. Solid tops are a actually a soundboard - in other words, it has 'acoustic' qualities.

Never buy a guitar because it looks nice. Take it from me, this is not a valid way to choose a musical instrument!

Solid backs and sides on a guitar will alter its tonality. This does not mean it is necessarily better! Well made wood laminate is strong and does not easily warp - cheap new solid tonewoods (mahogany, rosewood etc) may not offer the same guarantee.

And finally - don't be fooled by brands.

You can now buy all three CDs from CDBaby for a collective price of $15 - the MP3 downloads are also very nicely priced too! ;) - click below...

My head is filled with ideas, and some tunes have been recorded - although not yet finished! Plenty of ideas and lyrics - but the attraction of walking the Mourne Mountains through sunshine and rain has just proved too much! Still, it clears the head, and the place is full of sights and sounds; inspiration comes from all around, so who knows?