Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Thanks very Hank! and Tad!
Well, they’re 6 and 8. Rémy prefers dance to anything else so far and Gisèle is a D I V A. Maybe when Rémy gets a bit older he’ll see something interesting about the technical side of things. But right now he’s about moving his body and she’s about dramatic singing. The more dramatic the better.
(No I have not introduced her to Whitney Houston. I think I’ll try to let that happen on it’s own… AND I eeee I WILL ALaWAYS LuuVE YOU oooo I WILL ALaWAYS LuuVE YOUOOOOOOOOOO…..)
Seriously though, I’ll start by putting the H4 a bit closer and a bit higher. See of that works. 🙂
Daniel
Thanks gents!
Tad, I’m using the stereo pair on a Zoom H-4. It’s set back about 5 feet to allow my voice to be heard more clearly over the instrument, which is pretty directionally loud.
A proper mixer and a high quality mic would help, as would an engineer who knows how to make this stuff work properly.
Happy to take recommendations!
Daniel
Here’s the current single-set list drawn mostly from the new CD, but grabs a couple form each of the other two:
White Flower intro C (5 string mando)
Vacant Chair F (5 string mando)
Wayfaring Stranger Dm (5 string mando)
Unexpectedly C (5 string mando or mandolele)
Going to the West Dm (5 string mando)
After All F (5 string mando)
A Winter’s Night G (octave mandolin or guitar)
Take Us as We Are A (octave mandolin)
White Flower Waltz C (octave mandolin)New material is in its infancy, but I am working up a version of “John Barleycorn Must Die.”
Daniel
The 1 and 3/4″ nut width was standard on Martins for a long time, and then at some point they switched to 1 and 11/16″. No one batted an eyelid when they did.
Then along came the Internet and discussion of finer points among the general interested population. Also acoustic music was making a massive comeback at the same moment. Fingerstyle guitar became a thing. The combination of the two events meant that 1 and 3/4″ came roaring back with a vengeance. Now they are easier to find than 1 and 11/16″ nuts. (Rainsong doesn’t make guitars with necks that have 1 and 11/16″ nuts)
I have tried to like 1 3/4″ nuts, but I never get the sound I am looking for from them. I also find chording more difficult.
(Suite Judy Blue Eyes cannot be played properly on a guitar that has a 1 and 3/4″ nut width. But it’s a bit easier to play 4+20 on one.)
I maintain, perhaps self-interestedly, that 99% of players could go with a 1 and 11/16″ nut width. They just need slight improvements to technique and a little more time practicing.
Daniel
I hesitate to say anything… It’s blue and cloudless here today with a temperature of 91f (33c). Fecking hot.
I usually feel a sense of something like survivor’s guilt for watching from afar what you guys are going through.
We have had a really dry summer for northern Europe. I’ve got no grass left in the yard and the garden needs daily watering. It ain’t just the tomatoes, pumpkins, and beets. There are a few shrubs we use for screening that have started to wilt, and I water them now too.
Point is, I’m happy to be here away from the smoke. But in truth I believe you guys are going through now what we will be going through in a few short years.
Stay well!
Daniel
It has probably been a full year since I un-cased my ‘1942 Bluegrass D’. I did today. Dropped the low E to D and sang Going to California. The guitar sounded huge (after an hour of banging on it to wake up the Adi top) and beautiful.
Thinking of everyone in harm’s way. California deserves better than it’s getting right now.
Stay safe everyone, and here’s hoping the fires die out as soon as possible.
Daniel
My Gary Vessel F5 mandolin has a Sycamore back. It’s also called English maple, though in England they cal them Plain trees.
The sound is somewhere to the maple side of a spectrum between maple and mahogany.
I hope that helps!
Daniel
I haven’t looked closely, but it could simply be undyed ebony.
My Weber mandola has an undyed ebony headstock that closely resembles rosewood.
Daniel
