Back at you.
5,002 2009-11-24 12:26:59
Re: I fell in love with a Tacoma cedar guitar at a shop over the weekend (11 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Some songs just sound better on a twelve string. Peace Train and Wild Rover for instance.
5,003 2009-11-24 00:48:52
Re: I fell in love with a Tacoma cedar guitar at a shop over the weekend (11 replies, posted in Acoustic)
This one was a bit more expensive, but it sure sounded nice. I've seen a few 12 strings for around $200. Mitchell has one that I think is a good value.
5,004 2009-11-23 20:28:38
Re: I fell in love with a Tacoma cedar guitar at a shop over the weekend (11 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I didn't jot down a model number or year. The particular shop sells both used and new guitars. It looked new, but then again it could have been owned by someone who was real particular or who never played it.
There was an Alvarez 12 string AE too.
What's the hold-up? I want an AE. However, I'm thinking that's not as important as I once did. Mic'ing a guitar worked fine for James Taylor and Neil Young and any number of 70's acoustic artists. Why not me? Besides lack of talent on my part, I mean.
And, the money. $500 is a wad of cash no matter how you look at it, even if it is a good value for the guitar in particular. Also, the action was just a little high (but I'm sure that can be corrected).
They had a Seagull S6 for sale as well. The strings were so nasty I washed my hands after playing it. I was surprised it made it to the floor in that condition because the guy runs a good, clean shop. Must have been there on concession rather than as a trade. If it had been traded in, I'm sure it would have been cleaned up, new strings, etc. before hitting the floor. It looked to me like the neck was warped, but I didn't have a laser or other means of making a reasonable check. The action above the seventh fret was ridiculous. If someone was trying to play it with those nasty strings and horrible action, I can see why they'd have wanted to sell the thing. Too bad, because those are good guitars in good shape.
- Zurf
5,005 2009-11-23 18:40:19
Topic: I fell in love with a Tacoma cedar guitar at a shop over the weekend (11 replies, posted in Acoustic)
It was $500, which sounded reasonable for the guitar, but I had never heard of Tacoma. When I got home and saw what they generally sell for, I was disappointed in myself for not picking it up. The projection was incredible! Also, beautiful well-rounded and full tones. I really enjoyed playing it.
- Zurf
5,006 2009-11-22 03:57:25
Topic: Scatalogical humor (5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
My youngest daughter is of an age where she still needs some help with "the paperwork" when she "takes care of business." After a particularly productive business meeting, she asked me for some help with the paperwork. So, after we had her cleaned up and flushed, we watched things go away, as for some reason we must do when she's concluded her business. Anyway, there was a streak left on the bowl after the flush and she pointed and shouted, "Poop art!"
Gross. But funny.
Could be a song in it.
- Zurf
5,007 2009-11-20 19:12:55
Re: Going on 3 years... (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Happy Anniversary.
As far as goals, I try not to set them for things that I do for fun. No need to set myself up for frustration or failure relative to my entertainment. I may identify areas where I need to work or identify something as a "stretch song", but I don't set a time by which I have to reach the accomplishments, and if there's something that tickles my fancy before I reach it, I permit myself the distraction.
That said, each year with my fishing I set the goal of "catch a fish." I accomplished that this year.
- Zurf
5,008 2009-11-20 13:05:04
Re: MY MISTRESS CHESS (20 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Russell_Harding wrote:
Thank you Zurf us mutants are all geeks
I'm glad you knew I was teasing. I was actually president of my high school chess club my junior and senior years. I haven't played in decades, though. No way I'd play you. I think we both already know very well who would win that match.
- Zurf
5,009 2009-11-20 13:02:13
Re: Recent discovery (4 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
If there's a university near you, go to their library. If there isn't a university near you, contact a large library that is near you. Many large libraries, and especially university libraries have librarians who specialize in archival work. They will surely be able to advise you, and being librarians, they're probably pretty cool people.
- Zurf
5,010 2009-11-20 02:30:29
Re: New Guitar Day! (33 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Topdown - Come on up to Virginia. We'll make you feel welcome. At least until bedtime when I have to set up a tent in the backyard because my guest space is currently undergoing demolition.
- Zurf
5,011 2009-11-20 02:22:29
Re: MY MISTRESS CHESS (20 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
It takes a special kind of geek to watch chess on the internet.
- Zurf
5,012 2009-11-19 17:52:39
Re: FBI raids Gibson today for illegally imported tone woods!! (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I choose to wait until the investigation has concluded. My sister-in-law is a Federal law enforcement officer. I am well aware that raids are conducted on SUSPICION of illegality so that evidence can be collected and investigated without tipping off the company and giving them an opportunity to tamper with the records. A raid is not equal to guilt. A raid is equal to suspicion. Not all suspicions prove out as expected. There is every possibility that Gibson does have adequate records proving a legal market chain of custody of their wood stocks. There is the possibility they don't. I choose to wait and see.
- Zurf
5,013 2009-11-19 14:54:00
Re: Singing (14 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I sang a little backup on the chorus, but that was Jets60 singing lead.
Thanks. Rustic. I like it.
- Zurf
5,014 2009-11-19 01:56:03
Re: Who, Why? (3 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Here's the one that craccked me up the most. I had been playing "Drift Away" by Dobie Gillis fairly often. The person who had done the chords for it apparently complained to the Chordie leadership, and it was taken down. Now, I think that Per did the right thing taking it down. He's running a site for fun and doesn't need the headaches of a copyright battle. That's not the funny part. The funny part is that the person who had put up the chords listed the song as Drift Away by UNKNOWN! Unknown! He's taking offense at someone reposting all his effort at pulling together a four chord song AND HE DIDN'T EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO GOOGLE THE GUY WHO PERFORMED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. Sometimes, you've just got to shake your head ruefully and chuckle under your breath.
- Zurf
5,015 2009-11-18 16:01:50
Re: Singing (14 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
mekidsmom wrote:
Zurf... go back to the quote in your sig... "If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome!" - you MUST need MORE BEER! LMAO!
Now see, that's the sort of practical advice I need. 
- Zurf
5,016 2009-11-18 02:19:32
Topic: Singing (14 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Not good. I didn't know how bad I was until recently, when I got the new computer and recorded myself. And what I heard from me stunk out loud.
Any recommendations for web sites on technique.
My biggest problems are weakness of voice and holding pitch. I'm working on remembering how to use my diaphragm from my trumpet and tuba days. That was a long, long time ago and I have killed many brain cells since then (and the remaining few aren't on speaking terms).
- Zurf
5,017 2009-11-18 01:56:01
Re: GRannies new intentions (3 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
The only intentions I recall from my Granny in the 60's involved the Board of Education (and I'm not talking the school board).
- Zurf
5,018 2009-11-18 01:53:22
Re: New Guitar Day! (33 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Man. I completely sidetracked myself. I forgot to congratulate Cameron on his new purchase. Congratulations Cameron. You've got a keeper. And I'm not talking about the guitar on that one.
- Zurf
In the meantime, I have been thinking about a Stagg twelve string that's been hanging at my local shop...
Dang guitars. They're as bad as boats. Man, it sucks having a bad case of B.A.S. and G.A.S. at the same time. I need to win the lottery.
5,019 2009-11-18 01:50:40
Re: New Guitar Day! (33 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I want a Martin too. I tried to convince myself for some reason for a while that I wanted a Taylor. I guess because I like James Taylor or something. I do like Taylors. They've got a sweet sound, especially fingerpicked which is how I usually play. But Taylor sounds like a really good guitar. A Martin always sounds like a Martin. Just like a Gibson always sounds like a Gibson. If what you want is a Martin, nothing else - even something as good and well made and beautiful sounding as Taylor - will do.
I got a bonus this year. I wasn't expecting one. It's not a big one. But after I pay some bills and support a few charities that are near to my heart, perhaps there will be enough left over to consider a Martin. Or that Taylor I like so well. Dangit, why do there have to be so many great sounding guitars?!?
Oh, and there's this Seagull...
- Zurf
5,020 2009-11-16 22:08:46
Re: New computer (22 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
From what I hear, it is. But I don't know squat about Vista. I do know that there's not a lot of driver software for Windows 7 64 bit right now and that's causing me a little trouble getting my printers to work on my home network. Then again, it could be that I set up my own wireless home network without knowing the first thing about setting up wireless home networks.
- Zurf
5,021 2009-11-14 13:06:44
Re: New computer (22 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I was using XP. I scrupulously avoided Vista. So far 7 seems to fine, but it's only been one evening. The thing with 7 is that it takes pretty much an entire processer to run it, so if you want any reasonable speed pop for the Pentium Duo processor. That gives a processer to run the operating system and a processer to run everything else. The dual core has two processers but only one communication bus to the motherboard, so the two processers have to share the bus. The duo gives you two buses. Right now it probably doesn't make much difference, but as software becomes more robust and power hungry, it will matter. I also went with 4GB of memory and the most cache memory on processor I could afford. Each of our computers have Pentium T6600 processers. With the 64bit version, which is 7 Home Premium, it will handle a ridiculously high amount of memory. Probably far more than the motherboard's BIOS files will address.
With a little planning of this sort, we should get a better life out of the computer. Seven years has been a good run for the current computer. I could make it live longer if I put a new higher capacity hard drive in, but I've already got two extra hard drives hanging off of it. It was time to stop rigging and just upgrade for us.
- Zurf
5,022 2009-11-14 03:00:03
Re: New computer (22 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Well, I have both computer set up now. I checked out the Audacity site and it appears that they have not got a tested version for Windows 7 yet, so I went with Wavepad. Wavepad does have a Windows 7 version, and it is as easy as pie to use. I recorded one song, which was so bad that I erased it immediately, and then recorded another song. It was also bad, but I had had a second beer by then and so was less inclined to be hard on myself. I have no way of sharing anything with y'all though. Perhaps I should finally break down and get a mySpace page. I e-mailed a copy of it to Russell so that he can play it and get a laugh when he's feeling low.
- Zurf
5,023 2009-11-14 01:22:20
Re: New computer (22 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
You guys don't understand how fortunate you are that I haven't been able to post songs. I ain't no Russell Harding or all1song, that's for sure.
- Zurf
5,024 2009-11-13 23:56:10
Re: Quote of the week thread. (91 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
tubatooter1940 wrote:
There was a band playing with two guitarists - one playing lead and the other playing rhythm.
An audience member walked up to the stage and asked the rhythm player, "Why are the other guitar player's hands moving up and down the neck while your hands stay pretty much in the same place?"
The rhythm player replied, "He's looking for it. I already found it."
Don't screw with the rhythm section. Except the drummer. By all means, screw with him.
- Zurf
5,025 2009-11-13 23:13:26
Topic: New computer (22 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Well, my seven year old Dell that is still rock solid stable is just maxed out. I can't do with it what I want any more, so it's going to go to the kids. My wife and I find ourselves frequently overlapping or waiting for one another, so we bought ourselves each a laptop computer for our anniversary (22 years on the 28th of the month).
I bought a Sony VAIO for myself and a Toshiba somethingorother for her. The VAIO has a web cam and will soon be getting a USB microphone. So, I may finally, finally, finally be able to record a song or two and playback to hear what I need to do for improving and refining my style and so-called arrangements.
What's that software Russell evangelizes? Is it Audacity? I use that for the voiceover work I do for training classes. Will it work for music too? Do I need two different inputs, one for the guitar and one for voice? How do I keep the mics from bleeding into one another? Maybe this should be in the Recording forum. Aww heck. It's mostly about bragging about the new computer so I'll leave it here. A moderator can move it if it needs moving, though.