Something a bit different this month. For all you singer/accompanists out there! 

I recently acquired a Dunlop D64 iPhone/iPod holder which can either be attached to your guitar top or to a table stand with the help of a rather powerful suction base and all of which comes with the package. I say iPhone/iPod but in fact I guess it will work with most similarly sized smart phones - my HTC Desire is a perfect fit.

Now I'm not suggesting you go and fit one of these things to your newly acquired custom-made classical guitar which cost you 000's of whatever you pay in, but for most regular guitars with factory finishes and/or a scratchplate it should be fine. 

First thing I noticed when I opened the mailbox was how well packaged and made the product is - and it works just like it says it does in the instructions. My only gripe might be that if you attach it to your scratchplate the hinged arms do not allow you to locate the phone far enough away from your right hand (for right-handed players that is) so perhaps the arms might have been a little longer. It seems okay for basic fingerstyle work though. Of course you can attach the base elsewhere to make strumming more comfortable and still be able to read the screen. 

So what is it for? Well, probably lots of things especially since it provide a really firm base from which to use your smart phone, but in this instance I am talking about using it to access the internet to display material from lyrics, tab and chord websites. One, in particular, Ultimate Guitar, has very low-cost apps for the iPhone/iPod and Android phones (visit UltimateGuitar.com) which provide good quality full-screen displays of the sort of material we have all grown used to from them, and just as it is accessing their site via a computer - it's all free. All you need is a decent connection, WIFI or other, and you are done. 

I had thought that the screen would be too small to be practical, but apart from potential reflective problems from strong sunlight or indoor lighting it is quite practical to use this combination of products to privately while away hours singing and playing or, no doubt, even during a performance. 

The Dunlop D65 is available from many sources, including direct from Dunlop in the US I believe. Full retail in the US is $49.98 but you can find it for less (The Music Zoo have it for less than $29.00 and will ship worldwide - which is how I got mine - and their service was excellent). In Europe there are a few dealers, but do shop around since some prices look high to me - even on eBay.