151

(6 replies, posted in My local band and me)

Great song Wayne, soon as I watched the clip I picked up my guitar and started learning it.
I agree with Tops, Willie would make a hit with this one.
All the best
Bushy

Wayne, good on you mate. Gotta pay the bills and take care of family so if that means working away from, thats what you do. I have been working away most of my working life and still doing it.
Congrats on the job, sounds like it may not be all that bad with the picking and strumming taking care of free time after hours.
All the best
Bushy

153

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

Welcome bk, this a great site full of great people that will help you out no end. Stay with us and stick with the lessons.
Love to see fellow Aussies joining up.
All the best
Bushy

154

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

Thanks folks for your vote of confidence, however I am embarrased by the attention I have recieved from fellow Chordians. Any accolades need to be directed to the good people that made up the working party of volunteers. I shall make sure this happens.
On a lighter note, I did not reveal all. My guitar playing and singing collected a few dollars for the townsfolk of Condamine but I, and many other budding guitar gurus were completely overshadowed by a young girl, Melissa, maybe 15 or 16 years old. This lass could sing, yodel and play like you would not believe. At the end of the night, her guitar case was overflowing while mine still had plenty of room left for my guitar. I feel there is a message here but I choose to ignore it. As it turns out, Mellisa's father works for the same company that I do and I know him quite well but was unaware of his daughters talent. I have been invited to their home, some 100klm away, for a jam when I can make it. Not sure I am brave enough though.
Anyhow, I still get goosebumps when I reflect on that special weekend. "Amazing" just does not seem to do the people justice.

All the best
Bushy

155

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

Hello all, back home after a long stint in the bush (6 weeks) and would like to share a remarkable experience with you.
Over the weekend I went to a small town called Condamine in S.E. Queensland. Condamine has a population of around 600 and I doubt that any native born Aussies have not heard of it as it is steeped in Australian history. This small town was inundated by the floods earlier this year and was almost wiped out. The reason for my going there was to take part in a promoted working party to help the locals clean up and assist in any way we could. Can you believe that over 2000 helpers turned up with trailers loaded up with donations like fridges, washers, lounge suites, T.V.s, beds, kids swings, etc, you name it, it showed up. Saturday, everybody pitched in and cleaned, shoveled, picked up ruined stuff and took to the dump. Very emotional for the owners but handled very kindly by the volunteers. Saturday night, out came the guitars and the beers. What a party. At midnight fireworks were set off and "auld lang sine" was sung to celebrate the new year because the local people did not get to celebrate on Jan.1. During the Sat night, all guitar cases were open and $22.000 was donated to the local community by the volunteers as well as the goods we had brought with us. Due to myself representing the Company I work for and having arranged for tip trucks, Bobcats and excavators to be on hand, I was given the "keys to the city" by the unofficial mayor amidst much laughter and joking and an instruction to return for free beer when the pub again opens, an order I will comply with easily.
The locals were extremely humbled by the turn up of people, most of whom were total strangers to them and more than once over the weekend I heard "it makes ya proud to be an Aussie" voiced. Sure does.
All the best
Bushy

156

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

Thanks Lara for your thoughts and best wishes. As you may have read in prior posts, my family and home was spared but any kind donations will be gratefully accepted by those that have lost everything and in some cases, family.
Makes me proud to be an Aussie knowing that all our countrymen and women can suffer so much and still get back on top of the situation with a bit of a leg up.
I am pleased to be your first Aussie on this site. It is a great place to hang out with great folks from all around the globe. Come back often.
All the best
Bushy

Great stuff Toots, I was grinning the whole way through. Young Casey is a champ.
Cheers
Bushy

158

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

I agree Toots, living is sweet. Sure beats the alternative.
Cheers
Bushy

159

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

Hello Cam,Thanks again for your kind words
          I have been spared once again. The cyclone hit Queensland some 1200 klms north of my home and apart from some heavy rain at times, no problems to speak of. The harshness of nature gives cause for reflection in these times and makes me wonder why we contribute so much to our own problems. We are still building and living in cyclone/flood/bushfire prone areas.
Over your way, we hear of and see footage of tornadoes, blizzards and bushfires but all those that survive seem to rebuild and move on with whatever is left of their lives. The human is a tough animal. (or stupid?)
Anyway, enough reflection for one day, it is giving me a headache.
Cheers for now
All the best
Bushy

160

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

G'day Mike, good to hear from you again. Thanks for your kind words. We here in Queensland are all in recovery mode now, cleaning up, rebuilding and dealing with health issues that are attributable to the floods, but we are a hardy bunch down here derived from mostly good convict stock. (wink)
Good to know you are still working on that crazy poem, I still can't get it.
Anyhow, cheers for now.
All the best
Bushy

161

(2 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Just had a look at this. Are there only 11 tuning pegs on the guitar? Doesn't really matter, very good guitarist all the same.

162

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

Hi Kelly
          It is hard to describe because it is hard to believe.
I have a small property between Marybourough and Gympie but I work on the gas fields out west of Dalby.
How did you fare in Brisbane?

Cheers
Bushy

163

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

Thank you very much folks for your kind words and blessings.
All the best
Bushy

164

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

I have recieved several e-mails from Chordie members asking after my well being as a result of the floods here in Queensland.
To all folk that enquired, I thank you for your concern. My family and home have been spared and suffered very little compared to many others. Some 3/4 (500.000 square kilometers) of the state has been declared a disaster zone and the damage caused and number of lives lost is almost unbelievable. The grief shown by people that have lost everything, including family members, is heart wrenching.
I ask all Chordians, when they have a moment, to spare a thought for these folks that have suffered so greatly.
All the best
Bushy

165

(14 replies, posted in Other string instruments)

Hello deadstring, yes the mando arrived. Sure is a lot of fun, I learnt a few 2 finger chords quickly and have been having a ball with this little instrument playing some of the tunes in my songbook. I am not sure where I will end up with the mando but the enjoyment level at the moment is high.
How are you progressing with yours?

Bushy

166

(4 replies, posted in Other string instruments)

I have heard New Zealanders say they have strung unstruments   (tongue firmly in cheek)

All the best
Bushy

167

(3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Alvee,
        The g-dec is not an accoustic amp. I did have one, didn't like it so went and bought an Ibanez TA 35 accoustic amp and sold the g-dec. I have had the TA 35 for about 3 years now and have no plans to let it go.
Check out other past posts on g-dec in these forums.

All the best
Bushy

may you all have a safe and happy Xmas with family and friends. A big thank you to the moderators and regular contributors of the forums, all your advice and inspiration has been a great help to me.
I received my new, second hand mandolin as a Xmas present, learned a few chords and have been busy entertaining grand kids with Christmas carols. Having a blast.
2010 has been a tough year for a lot of people, I hope everything turns out for the better in 2011.
All the best
Bushy

169

(14 replies, posted in Other string instruments)

My Mrs. has said for years that I was mad. Since I bought this mandolin, her opinion of me has been upgraded to completely nuts.
Thanks folks for all the encouragement, (wink)- sore fingers, impossible to play, Mandolin in Italian means out of tune, got one hanging in the office.
Can't wait for it to arrive.
All the best
Bushy

170

(14 replies, posted in Other string instruments)

Hello all,   like deadstring, I have had a brain snap and gone and bought a mandolin, and again like deadstring, I don't know where this all will lead to. I have never played one before except to have a bash in music shops but I think there is a lot of fun to be had trying to get my big fingers around these tiny things.
I have sent the money and waiting anxiously now for the mando to be delivered.  Ho Ho Ho to me.
All the best
Bushy

171

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

Awesome stuff. I would love to be involved in one of these jams. Unfortunately, North Carolina is not just up the road from here.
All the best
Bushy

Pix
     To answer your question, I have owned an 808 now for approx 6 years and although it is a basic model, I love it. There are available several different models with different types of wood used in the making, and of course the price of these intruments reflects this. I am a Maton fan so may be biased somewhat,  I have 3 Matons all up. I agree with you that some Matons may sound thin at times when played unplugged but they all come out with Elixers and this seems to make them sound bright. Other Matons made to be played unplugged such as the CW80 sound great, but this one is a full dread and may not suit your requirements.
If I can be of further help, let me know
Cheers
Bushy

Pix,
    Have a look at Maton BG808. There are several different models in this range from standard through to top end. Tommy Emmanuel plays the 808 so I would imagine that it might be OK for you too. LOL
Cheers
Bushy

174

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

Topdown
             Great to see a photo of the contents in the package. I included the two blue CDs when I had the package, and so that there is not too much of a mistery surrounding them, they are all Aussie entertainers. I thought that folks in other parts might like to hear some of our local musicians. Sorry, I can't remember which entertainers I put on the CDs, but they would of all been country-ish.
Hope all enjoy
Cheers
Bushy

175

(16 replies, posted in Electric)

Hello Gundecker, I have a Boss SD 1 super overdrive pedal and also play a semi hollow body with HB's through it. The road to finding a pedal you like will be a long and bumpy one. I have been down it and settled on the Boss. I could not be happier.
Cheers
Bushy