226

(19 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

My problem is when I do something stupid it usually leads to me doing something even stupider.  For example, a couple years ago the "Foothills Folk Society"  group I belong to was putting on a benefit show at a local campground/canoe livery to raise money for the local food bank.  As I write a lot of songs about paddling rivers and camping, I was asked to be one of the featured performers which meant I needed to do about a 30 minute set.  I arrived the evening before with my guitar and camping gear, set up my tent and joined some folks sitting around picking and singing.  It was getting dark and someone said we needed to build a fire.  I had a flashlight, some matches and fire-starter in my cook bucket sitting on a picnic table so i reached in the bucket to retrieve them.  A filet knife had come out of its sheath and sliced the tip of the middle finger of my left hand - right where a guitar string would get in the wound while playing. After finally stopping the bleeding I taped it tightly and tried to play but the bandage kept deadening the adjacent strings.

The next morning I thought I would have to bow out of the evening performance when I remembered I had a tube of super glue in the glove box of my truck. Glue was used to close wounds during the Vietnam War and I figured it would work on my finger. I retrieved the glue but the cap was stuck. I bit down on the cap and tried to twist it off it wouldn't budge. I twisted harder and broke off a tooth instead.  I finally got the cap off with pliers and applied glue to the end of my middle finger. A couple drops had fallen on my ring finger and before my brain kicked in, I licked off the glue only to stick my tongue to the roof of my mouth.  Now I had to pry my tongue loose which resulted in some skin ripping off from my tongue and blood coming from the corners of my mouth like in some horror movie. I played that night although some of the lyrics had a slight lisp to them. During the last song the glue came loose and I had blood running down my hand but finally got through it.  Later I was talking to some folks in the audience and they thought it was all part of the act. hmm

The next morning  i woke up with a sore finger, sore tongue and missing tooth.  At least the  crowd was generous and we raised a good bit of money and food for the food bank.

DE

I'd take  Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers back in time to meet J.S. Bach. I think that he'd be thrilled that a group known for playing a style of music unknown to him (bluegrass) enjoy  playing his music on their instruments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcZDI63yO1c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BThkTCHBH4

DE

228

(24 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Bass Viking wrote:

Ok, thanks to the wonderful work of moderator MKM, I am resurrected on Chordie once again as Bass Viking.  She was able to get me restored and get all my info back, so goodbye to Riverjenks and hello again Bass Viking.  Good people doing good things for each other and with music is one of the reasons why this site is so special.  Thanks Amy.  I will try to share something soon with the group as it has been awhile.

Good to see ya posting again Jimbo. How are things on Big Darby Cteek?

DE

229

(21 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Whew! Rolled in last night after a 13 hour drive, ending 2400 miles and 8 days on the road.  I left with 35 degrees and snow at my house, drove through a snow storm in WV, and spent the night at a motel in Columbia SC before arriving at Jeff's house Thursday afternoon. He was off picking up Zurf at the airport but I was greeted by Paul and Jeff's son and soon had a cold drink in my hand. Jeff and Zurf arrived shortly after, sleeping arrangements were figured out, some other misfits arrived (and Robert and Keith bringing more instruments) and a jam session  soon began which lasted until after 2 AM.

If you've never attended Chordiestock, let me say that Topdown throws one hell of a party and is a fantastic host. Friday and Saturday was highlighted by jam sessions that lasted into the wee hours, lots of great food, adult beverages and interesting stories and conversations (mixed in with a trip to the aquarium so Zurf could see some fishies). At times the porch jams got so loud I had to retreat to the yard or another room but the talent of the folks who sit in the "circle" and play is amazing.  Sunday was much more subdued as we did a little jammnig then hit a local watering hole for lunch, came back to Jeff's for another jam session then ended the evening going to watch Southpaw play at a local restaurant and watch some of our Chordians take the stage during the open mic.

It was great to meet Baldguitardude/Joe and his family. As they say in KY "that boy knows how to mash then wires", plus he has a great voice. I hadn't seen Paul for several years and he hasn't lost his touch with the "twelver".  Also it had  been a while since I heard Beamer belt out some tunes and it was good to see him again. As always, getting a chance to sit in the "circle" and jam with Jeff, Zurf, JJJ, Topdawg, Cowboy Keith and all of Jeff's talented friends is a treasure. And getting a chance to pick some of the guitars in Jeff's collection is something I look forward to.

I left Monday and drove to the Pensacola area to visit my oldest daughter and family and got the chance to play guitar again along with my oldest grandson who graduates from high school in a couple months. My plan was to return to Ohio on Tuesday but my wife called and said snow storms were expected so I suffered in the 70 degree weather a couple extra days before returning home and waking up to 25 degrees F this morning.

230

(40 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

I remember thinking  "Wow! We could roast a Brontosaurus on that fire!"

DE

231

(24 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

OK, Topdown:

Blueridge 63A ( 000, rosewood/Adirondack)
Ohio Valley OV-100 (dread-naught, mahogany/sitka - from Kent Ohio, remembered because of events May 4 1970)
Bristol BF-15 ( small, mahogany laminate set up with Nashville tuning)
Devil's Cut (bourbon).  smile

DE

232

(24 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Every time I read the word bourbon, I begin to lick my lips and start salivating. I'm bringing a bottle of my favorite course, but can't wait to sample some new treats.  tongue

DE .

233

(40 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

July 21st I'll probably be on the road returning from a week-long float on the John Day River in Oregon. August would work better for me.

DE

That's a good'un Peatle. Thanks for posting it. My favorite cowboy poet is Baxter Black, but my all-time favorite cowboy poem is "Reincarnation" by Wallace McRae:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnGNXoNX0Ag

I plan on bringing a Nashville-tuned travel guitar Zurf, but I'm just trying to figure out whether the other guitar should be my Martin or Blueridge  that have pickups installed or just one of my campfire guitars that have already been baptized with adult beverages and sand. smile

joeyjoeyjoey wrote:

Now I have to figure out what guitar I am bringing. My original plan was killed yesterday when my LG 2 ended up in the guitar hospital. I`m open to suggestions. It doesn`t mean I will follow them. Just open to ideas.

As said before JJJ, there will be plenty of extra guitars laying around if you choose not to bring one. 

BTW Jeff, will we just be playing at your house?  Will we also do a "beach" jam or play at one of the local watering holes as in years past?  Like JJJ I'm trying to decide which guitar(s) to bring.

DE

237

(11 replies, posted in Acoustic)

My requirements depend on how I plan to use it.  Sound used to be my primary focus but since I've gotten older and an beginning to have arthritis issues, neck shape and width are more important for playing ease and comfort.  For guitars I use to write songs or to play solo gigs I prefer 00/concert or 000/auditorium body sizes with  a shallow C shaped neck 1.75 inches wide. I like the sound of different wood combos.  Some of my acoustics are rosewood/sitka, rosewood/adirondack, mahogany/sitka, mahogany/cedar.  Solid wood tops/backs are preferred.  For guitars I use to play bluegrass with friends, a dreadnaught body shape has more "boom"  as long as the guitar has the right neck shape/width, but shoulder issues I've developed from my whitewater kayaking days makes the larger body shapes a little uncomfortable for me to play.

I don't buy expensive guitars as I'm not a very good picker and it would be like putting a $100 saddle on a $10 horse (to quote something I heard in a cowboy movie long ago).  I keep a couple decent ones for playing out and also some cheap ones to play around campfires when camping.

I recently bought a small all-laminate guitar to take along on overnight  and multi-day river trips.  The sound isn't great but the body size fits into a dry bag and the laminate hopefully will hold up better in the wet environment and the heat/humidity inside a dry bag while riding in a raft all day.

DE

238

(10 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

I just looked in my pick box.  I've toyed with a bunch of different types and thicknesses but it seems I always go back to Martin .60 Delrins, Dunlop .60 Ultex or Dunlop .73 nylon. I noticed a pick from Australia that I kept when the "picks around the world" package passed through my hands.  Does anyone know what happened to the package or who had it last?

239

(5 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Interesting and sounds great on the video but I could install four K&K Minis for the price of one of the "pro" Meridian models.  I wonder if the mic can also pick up vocals while playing.

I've installed 3 minis in my guitars over the years. The instructions for the last one I installed recommended a different position for the pickup on the treble side.  This has resulted in too much treble (for my ears).  Has anyone else had this problem?

DE

240

(15 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Amy,

Did you get it at the GC in Syracuse?  I stopped by the GC in Columbus last week while visiting my son.. I really wasn't looking for anything but one guitar just "spoke" to me.  It was an Ibanez AV4CE.  Maybe it was the "torrified", top or just the strings they had on it but now I have a case of GAS. I checked online and the Syracuse store has one.  Tell Jim to give it a try if you're over that way. I'm curious what he thinks about it.  BTW, Musicians Friend has it on sale at 25% off. If I could sell one of my acoustics (even my Martin) I'd jump on it.

DE

My pals and I watched the Red Green Show almost every week.

"If the women don't find you handsome they should at least find you handy"

However, due to my whitewater paddling addiction, I carried a roll of duct tape in my vehicles long before watching Red work miracles with it. A few Chordians have heard my story about being "duct tape drunk".

Well my schedule has become somewhat clearer and my recreation director has granted permission for me to be away from home a few days, sooooo............ there is now about a 98.37562% chance that a degenerate Buckeye sometimes referred to as  D.E. Howard will arriving sometime Thursday afternoon.

I usually wear a hat when playing for others so the reflection from the top of my head doesn't blind them. Also ear plugs or ear muffs are a good option for the audience to be wearing.

Friday I'm playing in the annual Foothill Folk Society concert at Ohio University  Chillicothe  campus.  The theme is "Campfire Songs and Stories" so we'll be on stage dressed as "campers" telling stories and singing songs around a fire, surrounded by tents, rafts, canoes, kayaks, paddles coolers, etc as stage props. I haven't decided what "special clothing'  I'll wear.

DE

Eat a raw deer heart ? hahahahahahahahahahah............. but then of course there's the rookie obligation to buy a round of adult beverages. smile

245

(15 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Sounds like the pipes are still in good shape girl. Congrats on the new guitar. Looking forward to hearing you play it live this fall.

Many of the guitar stores  in my area carry Seagulls TF.  I've played several and like the sound of the cedar/cherry combo.  As for the neck width, I find wider necks a lot more comfortable to play.

I've never heard of it, but the Guild seems to be a legitimate organization. The dues are much cheaper than the $200 USD annual ($225 first year) dues for the Nashville Songwriters Association International here in the US.

247

(16 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Congrats on the big milestone.

After 7-1/2 years I only have 765 posts.  At that rate it'll be 22 years before I hit 3000.  maybe I'll make it by my 90th birthday.

DE

248

(16 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Classical Guitar wrote:
Baldguitardude wrote:
Strummerboy Bill wrote:

Well, I thought "shredding" is when someone plays their electric so hard and fast it shreds their hand, and there'd be blood flying all over the stage and the front row of the audience where the young ladies sit and scream, and one of them gets covered with James Hetfields blood and she goes home screaming to her Mom and Dad that she will never again wash her face and hair, but next day at school, she's forgotten all ABOUT that and she and her friends scrape the dried blood off the face and hair, put it into a test tube to see if they can clone ol' James. THAT"S what I thought "shredding" meant.

LOL! This is the best definition I have ever read.

I think Bill needs to start an online slang dictionary!

If he does, I want a copy of it. I would well be worth it.


The girls find out their mothers were also groupies when they were young, attended a concert and were invited backstage afterward. 

When the DNA in the test tube is checked, two of the girls find out they are Jame's illegitimate daughters.

249

(16 replies, posted in Acoustic)

In whitewater paddling circles a shredder is a small two-person paddle raft.  Here's a vid of some "shredding" on the Gauley River in West Virginia .

"Long Time Gone" by Darrell Scott and Tim O'brien.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IS66WDyzg0

DE

250

(22 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Excellent song Trevor. Very emotional. Thanks for sharing.

I wrote one a few years ago about my great-grandfather who was ambushed and killed January 12, 1865, while returning from the battle of Saltville in southwest Virginia.  He was the last battle casualty of the 39th KY mounted infantry before the American Civil War ended. He left my great-grandmother Joanna alone with 4 children to care for.

Peatle,  " In Flander's Fields" is a poem every grade school kid had to memorize back when I was young. After 60 years I can still recite it. Thanks for jogging my memory.

DE