3,426

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

Cool! Please make sure when you plug it in, to use a very low voltage circuit ... safety first!

3,427

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

That's a beautiful looking instrument, NELA, and I'm sure it's aged to perfection ... full, warm sound. May you have lots of happy hours together.

3,428

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

My favorite song to play on 12-string is Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bD9t44J … feature=kp

It sounds okay played on a 6-string, but is way better on 12. Some other good 12-string songs of theirs are:

Ramble On (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW5ZLyY9w0Y)

The Rain Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4v-_p5dU34)

Battle of Evermore (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-21AtiWV3TE)

Gallows Pole (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kBX0K9nxPc)

Friends (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teR_9JPbv_Y)

Whew! Nothing a little song search for motivation; time to sign off and go play.

3,429

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

Is there any chance that one of your tuning pegs at A or D has a sharp edge on it? Is that the breaking point of the strings?

3,430

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

Just noticed that Mr. Kazuo Yairi passed away on March 5, 2014. Here's an interesting splash on the Alvarez home page, paying tribute to him:

http://alvarezguitars.com/master-luthie … s-aged-81/

3,431

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

Congrats on your new 12-String, NELA!

Found some pics on the web, and really like Mr. Yairi's embossed signature on the lower bout ... understated, elegant, and just plain classy. You've got a terrific instrument, and for sure an asset that should increase in value. Nicely done, man!

3,432

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

Hey NELA ... hope you get the beauty you want at the price you like!

I've also been mulling over getting a 12-string for a year or more. Songs like "Over the Hills and Far Away" (Led Zeppelin) and "Wish You Were Here" (Pink Floyd) just sound way better on a 12-string. I'd like to get a top o' the line unit, but reality is I'll probably stay well below the $1,000 mark, and settle for a solid top with laminate sides. Some finalists on my list are:

1) Seagull Coastline S12 Cedar
http://www.long-mcquade.com/17572/Guita … dar_QI.htm

2) Takamine G-Series
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Takamine-G- … 3235205.gc

3) Ovation Elite TX (coolest looking one!)
http://www.long-mcquade.com/26976/Guita … _Black.htm

4) Ibanez EW (the absolute most beautiful)
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_ag_p … color=CL01

I've only played the first 2, but will have to close my eyes when playing the next 2. Looks are important, but don't want to blind my ears.

3,433

(11 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Anther option might be to have a vinyl decal created. These guys can design anything you want on a computer, and use the exact measurements of your guitar as the border so it'll fit. Once it's applied, a clear coat of Varathane Diamond Finish will keep the edges from peeling up.

Now ... if you're doing this to an acoustic, you could very well kill the resonance of the top. A body wrap style of decal would probably only be best for a solid body electric.

Welcome to Chordie, Len!

Here's a link to the "Guitar Fetish" parts section for Gibson bridges. Perhaps you'll score one here:

https://guitarfetish.3dcartstores.com/G … _c_36.html

Happy hunting!

3,435

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

Beamer ... I agree that the "Celebration Day" performance is one of the greatest reunion concerts of this century!

As you mentioned Plant's voice, it's consistent that most singers with a high upper register lose some of it with age. Roger Daltry, Ian Gillan, Ian Anderson ... the list goes on. Jason's drumming is very good, although not as smooth as his dad's was. The real treat for me was watching John Paul Johns with his bass licks; I never truly realized just how exceptional he is. And Page ... well, he is still Jimmy Page!

(R.I.P. John Bonham)

3,436

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

On the drummer / sci-fi theme, I recall scene from one of the Star Wars movies, where one of the Ewoks was wacking out some percussion on a row of Imperial Storm Trooper's helmets. So the band is set ... when's the gig?

3,437

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

Hopefully the professional instruction will not inspire you to new heights with your music, but also increase your enjoyment & sense of accomplishment on the way. Nothing like learning something brand new to boost one's morale.

3,438

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

Very cool looking instruments, Roger. The J.G. Winder has a very medieval look to it ... nice acquisitions!

3,439

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

Zurf ... for a moment there, I thought the pic was of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek. Musta spaced-out for a moment.

3,440

(9 replies, posted in Acoustic)

That's a real beauty, Jack! Congratulations, and Happy NGD. I'm a real fan of Ibanez gear, and they've gone from their "knock off" status back in the 60's and early 70's, to being makers of some real fine gear. I hope you get many years of enjoyment from your new unit.

3,441

(7 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Happy NGD and "Unselfish Gift Day".

Zurf ... too funny!

3,442

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

Amazing! So is that a hot tub where the sound hole is?

3,443

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

That's a great shot, Graham! It would also make a cool lazer cut on a piece of metal or glass.

3,444

(9 replies, posted in Electric)

Epiphone did a limited run of ACE's "Budokan" LP a year or two ago, but I don't know if anyone still has any to sell or not:

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Pa … utfit.aspx

According to several online sources, it sold for under $1000.

A word about coil-tapping: My LP came with the 4-wire EPI ProBucker pickups, which are coil-tapped via push-pull volume knobs. They work very well, and really do give the guitar the single-coil or humbucker sounds. It really is two guitars in one.

3,445

(9 replies, posted in Electric)

I was just looking at my LP, and I don't think I'd try to do the routing and stuff you're thinking about ... but that's just me. The advantage of Fender-style guitars has to do with access, since the pickguard on top opens to the whole electronic shmozzle underneath. The only access on the LP is a small back hatch under the vol / tone controls, and a smaller hatch under the pickup switch. Are you thnking of a 3-pickup design like their "Black Beauty" ? (Peter Frampton's fav):

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Pa … uty-3.aspx

Sounds like an ambitious project, Beamer ... I hope it all goes well.

3,446

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

I've never used the Auto Scroll either, but often want the whole song in one window. If you just hold down CTRL on your keyboard, and then roll your mouse wheel back towards you, this will decrease the "zoom" size on your computer. Works fine, unless the song is too long ... the font will then get too small to read.

3,447

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

Congrats & thanks to all vets, for their service and sacrifices!

Our Canadian "Remembrance Day" is on November 11, and I had the privilege of listening to my next-door neighbor (Balkans, Afghanistan) share some of his stories from time spent overseas. Some of it is horrifying, and the rest of us "civvies" can't imagine what kinds of nightmares these folk carry with them. Protecting people from tyranny, and attempting to help worn-torn countries rebuild from atrocities ... tax dollars well spent!

My hat is off to you all.

3,448

(1 replies, posted in Electric)

Just put a set of these on my Les Paul last evening, and have to give them a rave review:

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDetai … ght__10_46

Wheee! If you're a string bender, you're going to love these. They broke in very quickly, and hold tune with as much bending and tremolo action as I can give them. When I picked it up again this morning, they were almost perfectly in tune, which isn't the norm for new strings. They have a really bright tone (but not "tinny") which is typical of nickel-wound steel alloys.

Had to let y'all know.

3,449

(4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

This one isn't bad either:   http://www.guitarjamtracks.com/

3,450

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

When damp weather is causing my arthritis to flare up, I rub on a product called Voltaren ... works very well. What I don't know is if you have something like it in New Zealand, but here's a medical review about it that gives a good look. I can certainly corroborate that it does work well on the hands and knees.

http://saveyourself.ca/articles/voltaren-gel.php

I've noticed that guitarist Steve Howe appears to have quite swollen knuckles on his hands. He doesn't seem to have the fretting speed he once had, but also seems to have found a more efficient playing style that requires less bending of the joints. His fingers look to be flatter on the fretboard than they were when he was younger.