About

JAMES FILKINS

Instrumental Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar

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James Filkins is a fingerstyle acoustic guitar player using primarily alternate tunings. With a style that is a bit new age, a bit Celtic and a bit just plain hard to describe but ALL acoustic! The acoustic guitar has been a part of his life for over 35 years. Somewhere around the turn of the century he began to dabble with alternative tunings and quickly found himself headed down the path that resulted in the CD Borderline Normal. The tunes on his debut CD evolved over several years and were recorded in his home in various rooms; A homegrown project from start to finish with the exception of mastering by Bill Wolf in Virginia and art work by Glenn Wolff in Traverse City, where James also resides. He played his handmade McIlroy AJ25cx for most of the tracks. A few tracks also feature guitar accompainment of Matt Harting (Absinthe & The Dirty Floors) and acoustic percussion featuring the talents of Jon Tornga, Marc Alderman and Michito Sanchez.

James continues to write and record instrumental acoustic guitar music and has developed an archive of tunes over the past few years. He is currently working on a new CD with an open eye and ear for new projects in film, documentary, television and marketing, or any other medium that meshes well with the sonic tapestry his guitar creates.
Up coming plans include:

The release of a second CD sometime in 2010.

Several new tunes will appear on a compilation CD to be released by the Acoustic Guitar Forum featuring original music and handmade boutique guitars crafted by renowned luthiers.

Several tunes will be featured on an upcoming documentary for a Community Mental Health organization.

GUITARS, GUITARS & GUITARS:
It’s all about guitars... isn’t it? James’ primary guitar is an AJ25cx made in Ireland by Dermot McIlroy in 2002. It is #111 and features a Celtic trinity knot fretboard pattern that was designed specifically for this guitar and has since become Dermot’s custom inlay. This guitar also features a black abalone raven inlay on the headstock which has earned it the nickname of “The Raven.” The cedar top and English walnut back and sides on this mini-jumbo make an earthy sound that resonates through the CD Borderline Normal. On this page you will find a few pictures of “The Raven” and several other guitars James’ has been lucky enough to play over the past few years.
McIlroy AJ25cx
Avalon L320
David Webber Round Body
Brook Tamar
Simon Fay OM Proto Type
Breedlove SC22
Steve Patience Concert Cutaway
Goodall CJ
Larrivee LV05, LSV-05, OMV-05, L03K, C-09
Martin 00016, SP00016R, OM21, SPJC16RE
Lakewood M-32, New Century
James Patrick Eggle- Linville
Collings SJ
Alvarez Bicentennial dread., Classical 2002
Taylor 514CE, XXV

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