Anyone who has ever attempted mastery of the guitar will be a little disappointed in “Andromeda.”

California Guitar Trio is a threesome of acoustic guitarists who know their stuff — but on their newest album, they let studio effects overshadow the beautiful simplicity of acoustic harmony.

The group is experienced in the world of music beyond just its instrument. After numerous television appearances, performances with John McLaughlin and Kaki King, and more than 20 years playing together, the members of California Guitar Trio have now released their thirteenth album.

California Guitar Trio - "Andromeda"

Perhaps these many years of straight acoustic guitar melodies have bored the members of California Guitar Trio, who will be playing The Melting Point at the end of the month.

But the addition of such overpowering studio perfections on top of the acoustic guitar sound, is a waste of sound.

I can’t help yearning for the beautiful simple harmonies of acoustic guitars when I am getting ready to listen to a guitarist’s album: this is the time I take to get away from all the commercial pop effects of radio music and reach down into the roots of the soul, accompanied by natural plucking.

Outside its pop convolutions, California Guitar Trio does keep the album interesting. And a “Andromeda” it its first album made up of completely original pieces, the album is not lacking in variety.

But the band nonetheless cheated purist guitarists, and disappointed hopeful admirers of guitarists.

Those searching for that humble rhythm of old-timey guitar can gather no excitement from the blanketed acoustics. Covered up with popular effects, the normal highs and lows of a simple guitar arrangement all blend together to create an endless shallow sound.

The musicians have given in to the pressures if the time, not even content with the sound of their own instruments anymore: they are blanketed by the monotony of modern times.