All Strings Considered

Welcome to All Strings Considered - Elderly Instruments’ blog taking you behind-the-scenes of our showroom, staff, instruments and more - we’re glad you are here. On the blog we’ll give you a closer look at some of our favorite instruments, share messages from our team, and provide you with educational tips on how to better your own musical instruments and performance. Come back to the blog often for updates and be sure to stop by our music store in Lansing, MI!

A special anniversary message from Stan & Lily Werbin

Happy birthday to us! Elderly Instruments opened its doors for the first time on July 5th, 1972. Here's a special anniversary message for all of ou...

Recent Arrivals — June 21, 2019

We've got a trio of cool instrumental demos to help you get through your Friday. First up, Jeffrey Renton checks out a gently used Fender Limited E...

The Only Known Pre-War Left-Handed Martin D-28

A unique Martin guitar, this 1941 D-28SL is the only pre-war left-handed Martin D-28 known to exist. It was special ordered by singer and guitarist...

Farida OT-65 X Wide and OT-25 NA Demonstration

James DePrato from Acoustic Guitar Magazine test drives two new offerings from Farida’s Old Town Series, which marries classic American designs wit...

Side by Side Comparison: Pono Flat-Top Octave Mandolins

A great option for guitarists or mandolinists who are looking for some new sounds, these Pono Flat-Top Octave Mandolins are finely crafted instrume...

What do Dobro and Kleenex have in common?

When most people hear the word “dobro,” they likely think of a resonator acoustic guitar, probably situated horizontally and played with a slide. B...

6 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Mandolin

So you’re thinking about buying your first mandolin. Maybe you’re a guitarist looking to add some new sounds to your repertoire. Or maybe you went ...

What is a Size 5 Guitar?

Every once in a while we get a vintage Martin guitar that looks like this one: You’re looking at a 1956 Martin 5-18. This is a size 5, or terz, gu...

7 Questions to Ask Before Buying an Acoustic Guitar

So you’ve decided to buy your first acoustic guitar. That’s great! But picking out a new guitar can be a daunting task for seasoned professionals, ...

5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Banjo

So you’re thinking about buying a banjo. Fantastic. So what should you be looking for? We have over 200 banjos in stock, with new instruments arriv...

The Word on the PRS Birds

One of the most recognizable features on many PRS guitars is the trademark bird inlays on the fretboard, like on this beautiful PRS Custom 24 Piezo...

Why Are Large Guitars Called Dreadnoughts?

When C.F. Martin & Co. built their innovative large-body guitars in the early 1900s, they wanted to give them a name synonymous with enormity. ...