You can call them versatile, or better...

You can call them versatile, or better yet, eclectic. But pigeonholing solo acoustic guitarists Chris Proctor and Harvey Reid, who will play at Caltech on Friday night, is not easy.

Both perform original works. In fact, Proctor estimates that he has written 85% of the music he plays.

Both are very focused on their craft, playing acoustic, six-and 12-string guitars--although Reid has played mandolin, banjo and Autoharp at other events.

“My (guitar) career is about 10 years behind where it ought to be, because I refuse to stick to any one thing,” said Reid, who has performed professionally for 19 years.

Proctor refuses to try labeling himself. His music, he said, “takes on a life of its own. I’m not really analyzing. I prefer other people to label me. I can learn from that. Wouldn’t you rather describe how someone else looks?”

They do not play together, “yet, Chris and I are close to being

brothers,” Reid said. “In solo guitar music, there are only a handful of us that know how to do it.”

Reid has noticed a surge of interest in acoustic music.

“All of a sudden it’s fashionable to be a skilled acoustic guitar player,” he said, compared to when he started playing in bars and had to compete with “PacMan” and “Asteroids” video games.

“All the rock stars are going unplugged,” he said.

For example, famed electric ax-man Eric Clapton is nominated for a Grammy this year for an album of unamplified music. Even Bob Dylan has shown signs of returning to his acoustic, 1960s roots.

The concert, sponsored by the Caltech Folk Music Society, begins at 8 p.m. in the Winnett Student Center on campus, 1201 E. California Blvd., Pasadena. Tickets: $9 for adults; $4 children. Caltech students can get a $4 discount.