socks

Interesting story, dmiller. I was talking with my daughter about the progression of my first 3 guitars, "good" guitars - 1963 - a Fender Tele. 1968, a Les Paul gold top. Traded that in the late 70's for a Gibson 335. That got lost in O'Hare Airport about a year later. Today, I'd settle very nicely for the Tele. Thus, she has her motto - "we want to ADD to the collection, not TAKE from the collection". Man, it's been hot here lately. Wif' is home tomorrow and not a day too soon. Cat's been acting very bored lately, I think she's part timing at the craft store in town, just to get some extra dough and be in an air conditioned building. The glue gun's out and I sure haven't been using it, and there's beads all over the floor in the back bedroom. I also have noticed last few days, the Cat Bowl hasn't been emptying out at it's usual rate, and there's Pizza boxes I haven't ordered in the garbage. When the cat starts doing takeout it's time for some action. If your ears are available: "Waiting"....needs more ice, for proper chillin'....this pup has voice on chorus...sooner or later....

Tom, my bruthuh, 'sall good. For the gang - Here's a link to good things - Vintage Guitar, online - Fretprints - some cool samples too.

Bluzeman, so what's doing in Warsaw? I can relate to Farmer's Markets. Food that looks like food. I like fresh stuff, and our local store has lots of it, so once they get finished I'll take some time and map it out. But I'll buy frozen or canned too, non-seasonal stuff. Safeway's had about a several shelves of peaches. If I need peaches that was the my stop. But there was hardly anything else, fruit-wise, in a can. It's summer here so most stuff's cheap(er) but to me, nothing beats a can of mixed fruit for 69 cents. None of those around anymore. Jennifer Anniston, yeah, i'm worried about what's going on with her now. Maybe Oprah can help. But that guitar flop! Glad your trusty Alvarez is alive and kicking, they do sound nice! Chatty, if my experiences can help even one person, somehwo, someday, someway, it was worth it. Chas, the survey thing I got resembled what I picture's happening when I read about Homeland Security and government invasion into personal privacy. I hear ya. Not being in the "desirable" 18-25 male demographics usually translates to "just let us know how many Tums you take a day and if you're using Depends yet". Which is weird, because while that young group is full of first-time buyers, they're at the start of their earning curve. Anyhoo- speaking of demographics - it's interesting that the after-market for guitar equipment is so huge. Whether it's strings, slides, tuners, stands, whatever. There's a huge market for that stuff now.

Oh, you have no idea, CK! Our local grocery store changed owners after many years and it's really messed me up. I took the time to learn the layout and for the most part the employees were very nice. I could go there now and then and move about freely without sweating it. Cereal was always in the same place, garlic, always the same place. It didn't make sense where they were but that's not as important as just knowing how to get to them. Now it's all changing and I'm not going till I've got a guide who can track in the wild. So Safeway was a sink or swim kind of thing. They're open 24 hours here, so it's like a non-stop carnival in there, but without the prizes unless you count the "Club Card" deal they accost you with at the checkout section. Speaking of checkouts, I did get to do some reading while waiting my turn. Is it me, why do the checkouts remind me of going through Airport security? At one point I was actually concerned if I'd worn clean underwear and if this was going to go well or if I was going to get denied release. There's a lot of chatter that goes on at the checkout, questions, queries, way beyond cordial exchanges like "how are you today?" Way off the chart. Anyway, somehow I ended up with a Safeway Club Card and a form I have to fill out now and drop back "the next time I'm in", which won't be in any year with 2 zeros in it, I can promise you that. It's not right - go shopping for food and end up with paperwork? I had a fistful of receipts, coupons and forms by the time I was leaving. It's not right. Maybe she'll do it for me. I'm not going back anytime soon. Don't even ask about the canned fruit or the frozen vegetables. Whatever. It seems like a dream now. But I did get caught up on some reading and I'm really concerned now about Jennifer Anniston. She's not with Brad Pitt anymore? I wish I could do something to help but I can't think of anything that would do any good. I really hope things work out for her though.

Speaking of learning - my wife is out of town for a week and a half and being the wonderful wif' she is, she shopped and made sure there was food in the fridge. But I had to go out tonight for some items and no one was around to go with me, so I went alone. Although this isn't guitar oriented, I had some questions... I went to "Safeway", (it's not) which I hadn't been to in quite awhile. Food is pretty expensive....it seems. I knew that, but it was scarey seeing the prices when actually buying the stuff. Specifically - Onions - I bought a "Yellow onion", about the size of a softball, maybe a little smaller, for 99 cents. That seemed expensive. Is it, anyone know? Eggs - very weird. I'd checked what we had, but when I was looking at the egg section, there's all kinds of eggs - A, AA, AAA, Large, Extra Large, Grain Fed, Free Range, "Fresh". Aren't all eggs "fresh"? The prices ranged from about 2 bucks for a dozen up to about 4 bucks. It was brutal. I got the Large AA, for 2. 35. Is that normal? Milk - I didn't see what we usually have, as we don't drink that much but I'm doing breakfast for my son tomorrow, and wanted some. There was about 5 different colors associated with various types of fat-non-fat-1/2 per cent, you name it. I'm not sure what happened there, I got the gallon jug with the pink cap which seemed garish, but it was getting late. It was about 3.49. I'm just curious and I'll have to go over all this with my wife, as I'm sure she knows, but it all seemed really expensive. :blink: I don't like to grocery shop, and I'm reminded of why, the whole experience is very strange.

Hey, here it is! Sorry, been busy this week. Your husband's gig sounds like it went well Chas! Blues - what's it paying? There's quite a few blues bands in this area and a couple local clubs that host it now and then. It's always nice to go into a place and hear a group you've never heard before, doing good stuff. :) I tuned 'er down for a test and it sounds interesting. Fuller, to be sure. I'm playing around with it. Reading music is something I've always done, I got 2 semesters of harmony theory under my belt, and one each of composition and orchestration. I got away from it after the first couple years, most of the music I was writing or playing was for the standard rock rhythm section - guitar, piano, bass, drums, etc. So for a few years when I was first playing I mostly had to learn to transpose quickly, doing a lot of the same songs in different bands, but different keys to accomodate the singer. As a teenager when I was playing a lot that got me a lot of calls, as I could slip in and play tunes without a lot of rehearsal, do a little of my own thing with it and it all worked out. And a lot of it was pretty simple, then as now. I mean, once you know "Mustang Sally" in G, you pretty much know it in every key, y'know? Later it was the same, in different contexts. Way Productions had a lot of variety and styles to accomodate and I learned a lot with it. The tendency of guitarists to not read is probably due to how guitarists usually learn, on their own or with limited instruction. But if a musician is going to approach more complex stuff they have to have a very good ear to learn it without reading it and they won't be able to work in ensembles that work off of the written music where musicians are expected to produce a servicable rendition fairly guickly, so it's limiting in that way. But it just depends on what a person wants to learn and play. Some stuff doesn't require it, so it's no biggie.

Bluzeman - you've got the strap thing going. I need better straps, I've really only got one I use all the time, and I'd like to invest in some snappier straps. They're expensive! I like the blue color though, that's a nice look. I used to have one I made out of a horse saddle harness thing i found at a flea market. I cut it so that it would fit over the shoulder and to get the right widths. It really took the weight of the Les Paul I had at that time.

Chatty, glad you enjoyed it. It's somewhere between nappy-time and quetly mellow. Restful, maybe. It's the kind of thing that ministers to the soul at the right time, is what I had in mind when I first heard it in my head. Funny thing, I played it in the BRC at summer school, in 70 think it was, and the VPster never heard my arrangement of it, our band had a few songs we did acoustic, so we pulled that one out and he figured, fine, Song Book tune, right? So when we played it I looked over at him and his look was like "watz THAT???'. But he liked it, just took him by surprise, and he was interested in how I'd come up with that idea to do that. T-Bone, yeah, the original arrangement is kind of bland. Not that this is exactly wild and crazy. It struck me as poignant. It could be taken as sort of a hiney-dragger, and that's where the music trips me up. I've done it several different ways and 'live' there's room for pauses and silence, but that's hard to arrange with a band or more musicians. Solo, it's easier, if people are in the right frame of mind. I used to do it where the music would drop off, and people would be sort of humming and toodling along iwth it and it would on rare occasion get this kind of silent groove going, with the waltz beat waltzing along in everyone's head and then I'd bring the guitar back in. Kind of fun, sort of self-discovery-in-performance. Or something. I have always liked it, and while the lyric seems weird - "I just live from day to day"....in context the meaning is clear.Er. Chas, I've got two remixed versions below, if you all are up to listening to them. One has <ak> siniging, although the vocal line really needs a voice strong enough to carry the melody I have, which is short blues-style lines, with limited movement. I pulled it out of the first post, as it's not that good, but it gives an idea of how it goes, if you can stand it. :blink: It's in "E", I originally did it in "G" when my range was a little higher, and in 3-part harmony. D would probably be right but I'd have to tune down. Might sound interesting though, I'll have to play with it. I'd really like to get a fuller acoustic sound, but I ended up starting this awhile back on my Takamine, so it's all flat-wound strings, not ideal and i'll probably trade out a couple acoutic parts later for a fuller sound. Glad you liked it! Thanks. Voice No voice He - he. Joe Perry, no shirt? Sounds boring. But if he's got one of those Vintage Paul's of his.... that's a cool strap, Chas. Looks comfortable. That must take a lot of the weight off.

Well, Happy 4th! I've been messing with a song that I've had in my bag for many years, a version of the song "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow". This is an instrumental version I've been testing, that I'll redo and will have voice singing the melody after I get it together. It's nothing like the original music, but it's pretty much what I wrote in 1969, what hit me when I first heard it. It seemed timeless, suspended in a moment. I've never quite gotten that feeling in the music completely, in fact it seems to have moments where silence would do better and the listener could make the music themselves. Dunno. Compared to what I heard that first time it seems so clumsy, but it's what I got. :) Again, hogs'a and all. I hope you enjoy it for a second or two. I Know Who Holds Tomorrow The lyrics struck me as "blues", in feeling. "Joys" I like to call them. :) I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day. I can't borrow from it's sunshine. For it's skies may turn to gray. I don't worry o'er the future. For I know what Jesus said. And today He lives inside me. And He knows what is ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand. Now every step is getting brighter As the golden stairs I climb. Every burden's getting lighter Every cloud is silver lined. There, the sun is always shining. There, no tear will dim my eye. At the ending of the rainbow. Where the mountains touch the sky. Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand.

Strap time?! Oh, strap time. He he... Cool strap Chatty. My main strap is black suede, with strap locks. I also have a "JN" strap, natural leather, with a white dove embossed. And an embroidered covered strap, both were gifts.

Glad you like it! Yes, it's in "G".

Me neither, Chatty. Dagnabit.

Thanks, Chatty. It's just a collection of blues riffs, with a few twists here and there. T-Bone, it's a Fender Telecaster (dimarzio split coil p-ups) and a Jackson preamp. Time for a lullabye? Sure! Clams and all - wrote this for my kidlings awhile back when they were wee-ones. I'm Right Here - The Theme of Life

Oh yeah - ! Acoustic Alchemy - highly recommended! Have an early CD around here somewhere.

Blues toonz? Did someone say Blooz toonz? No? I worked up a piece for lesson material, titled it "Blueser". It's sort of every Blueser Riff and a couple Tweezer Riffs. Various well known tones. Assorted flotsam, some jetsam. What was that dance - the Stroll? A shuffle stroll. Blueser

Nice music, Mr. Tom. I've not followed Steve Howe closely but alway liked what I've heard. Warm, here these days....whooo!

TomS: Plane- Vaughn- Next to...? Would love to hear what that was like - say on, please!

Ala's jesting. Guitars never sleep, they just rest comfortably. Oil man, are you thinking a nylon string, as a wide neck guitar? I'm not very familiar with current nylon strings, if so but there's quite a few at http://www.musiciansfriend.com if you check it out. I'll browse around a bit and see what I can rustle up. I recently bought a Yamaha acoustic steel string for my daughter, has a nice neck, not too small or too big and acccomodates different styles and we're very happy with it at this point for quality of sound, playability and overall tone and volume. The Yamaha site is here, and they also have a nylon string line - YAMAHA GUITARS If I was dropping a dime on a Gibson, I'd pick up the Hummingbird, a very sweet instrument. Their SJ200's a classic too - HERE -played by many. NIce big full sound. HERES THE ONE WE BOUGHT IN THE FG SERIES, FOR ABOUT 300 BUCKS, WITH CASE. tOM, THAT'S ALL great information on SRV! Thanks, always more to learn. It's amazing!

I'm heading for ChoreVille, myself! Sounds like a good Saturday ChattyKathy! Have some sweet music on in the background!

Excellent choices Kathy! thanks!

I betya ChattyKathy's got a tune or three, dmiller.... That Kramer headstock is distinctive T-Bone! Are you playing through an amp, these days? What have you used? I have to say, the Jaco Bassological Method is interesting, and I'm not a bass player by any means, but I like that thunk. The basics of soul, or "funk" are built on the downbeat, the "1". Where you have a little more room to spread than rock, which hits on the 2 and the 4, splitting the measure. When you have a 4 beat measure or two 4's you can write a longer line. Jaco would write these hel-ashusly long lines, often spreading across the measures, as on "Come On Come Over" where he started on the downbeat of the 4, but then always hitting the first beat of each measure in his line. Nice stuff.

"The Birthday Concert"....now we're talkin' T-Bone! I've heard the rendition of Happy Birthday from it, pretty cool tune. I've only heard good things about Kramer, basses, in general that the necks are very true and the sound has a lot of range throughout the models. Aaaah. That's a musician talkin, there, sir. Damm glad to meEt ya! :) This thread's all good. Speaking of bass players, Tommy Shannon, Double Trouble. Not too shabby.

Chatty, it would have been interesting to see SRV develop his music over the years. He has some very admirable qualities - he was always "on", I've read there aren't very many recordings of his playing that're clunkers. He had his sound, he was a master of it, no question about that. It would have been great to hear more!

T-Bone, you could go a couple different ways with your strings - flat wound "ribbon" strings or roundwound. Rotosound makes a well known line of the round wound. Fender makes a well know line of the flat/ribbon. Right now my son has a fretless Fender Jazz with Fender flats on it and it has a really nice warm, smooth sound. The Jazz has light tan lines where the frets would be - as you say, much easier to be in key. It has a sound like you're describing I think but will get some funky thump going too. I've grown to like them although I do have to really concentrate or I slip and slide. The round wounds on a fretless will add a brighter and louder tone, as I'm sure you know. Musicians Friend sells quite a few - buy the short, medium or long scale, "based" on your need. :) Jaco Pastorius used the Rotosounds on his fretless Jazz bass, and got a very smooth sweet tone and a very funky bright tone out of them. I've read that Joe Zawinal of Weather Report thought JP played double bass when he first heard a tape of him, prior to JP joining Weather Report. Apparently he was surprised when he showed up with an electric bass but dug that Jaco sound.

That's going to be Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chatty, known for that year Strat. Hendrix played a right-handed Strat, left handed, etc. but never tuned a 1/2 step lower till later in his career or used heavy gauge strings, regularly . (SRV went up to .013's I've read). That's "heavy".