Just my 2 cents, Beamer my Douglass totally screams in the treble position the tone is sharp and clean with tons of sustain in my honest opinion no third pickup is needed I am running it through my Boss ME-50 if I want a strat sound I use one of my strats 
1,251 2014-06-03 14:54:33
Re: Douglas V/S monoprice (9 replies, posted in Electric)
1,252 2014-05-29 22:32:42
Re: chordie vets/Memorial day (9 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Airforce many yrs. ago thank you
1,253 2014-05-29 22:27:12
Re: The Rapture in C major (9 replies, posted in Songwriting)
dino48 wrote:
I enjoyed that Russell,rhanks for the share.
your welcome dino I am pleased you enjoyed it
1,254 2014-05-29 22:25:49
Re: The Rapture in C major (9 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Doug_Smith wrote:
Sounds really good Russell. But I think I missed the guitar part, and the vocals? Missing tracks by some chance? Nah, you just haven't gotten around to adding those yet.... but you've got your backing tracks for sure!
Keep making music Buddy!
Take Care;
Doug
Thanks Doug I have this recorded with vocals and guitar on a compilation of songs I just wanted to feature my friend Gary for his birthday
1,255 2014-05-29 13:26:41
Re: The Rapture in C major (9 replies, posted in Songwriting)
jets60 wrote:
Just heard a little but I enjoyed it. I'm very fond of piano music and how much more it can put out as compared to other instruments. Sounds like your friend really did it justice...I'll listen to the rest later (job interview coming up in about an hour).
Thanks Jeff and good luck with the interview
1,256 2014-05-29 05:23:50
Topic: The Rapture in C major (9 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I initially wrote this with lyrics it was part of my Christian rock opera for a church I was attending there were 15 songs in all I played it for a friend who is a gifted piano player he asked me if he could record it and we cut two tracks in one take which is normal for him I just put a quick video together with the sound track for his birthday today.
1,257 2014-05-29 05:17:21
Re: SPECIAL LOVE (15 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Simple lyrics that you put nicely together well done
1,258 2014-05-28 13:47:24
Re: Arthritis in the fingers (13 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I have been dealing with severe arthritis in both hands for over 10 years my fingers curl up and stiffen very painful I use an over the counter product "Icy Hot" ointment or a generic equivalent Equate smells like menthol for a bit but it loosens the muscles and lasts quite a while and its not just my hands but feet and legs aah the joys of ageing 
1,259 2014-05-27 04:37:27
Re: For the gearheads and photography buffs (2 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
That was interesting and cool don't know if I would have the patience to take that many photos
1,260 2014-05-22 13:37:14
Re: Iconic Guitars (14 replies, posted in Electric)
I choose mine(all of them)
1,261 2014-05-21 22:13:33
Re: How to determine key from sheet music for vocals (9 replies, posted in Music theory)
dianalynnhoward wrote:
All I have are chords and lyrics. I know that most of the time the very first chord of a song or of a chorus, generally determines its key. The chords for the song I am playing are as follows:
Verse: D7 - G - D7 - G - C - G - D7 - G
Chorus: D7 - G - C - G - Am - D7 - G - D7 - G - C - G - D7 - G
I am inclined to think it could be Key of G. I don't want to be embarrassed and be wrong if I tell the band to play in G. What key is my song in? My email is dlsongbird@yahoo.com. Please reply asap. Thank you!
G
1,262 2014-05-20 01:16:27
Re: Did Jimmy Page steal Stairway To Heaven? (14 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
dino48 wrote:
George Harrisons My Sweet lord was a great song and he did it with some easy chords that flow toghter. He was Sued by the Chiffons for A million dollars and they won,claimed that he stole it from there music on the song He's so fine. That happened in the sixties. I think at the time he could have won if he wanted too fight it but he was too busy with the Beatles.
He would have lost because he did rip it no doubt in my mind same thing with the theme for the movie Ghost Busters they ripped Huey Lewis's song "I want a new drug" and they admitted it and wound up paying for it.
1,263 2014-05-19 01:42:50
Re: Is a Stradivarius Just a Violin? (13 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
zguitar wrote:
It's just the name. I'm sure in the hands of a skilled player, a cheaper instrument can be made to sing as well as any other.
Yep "a good worker never blames his tools" true the high end name brands are quality to be sure but what ultimately counts is the skill and knowledge of the musician and his creativity
1,264 2014-05-17 14:10:23
Re: DAGGER (36 replies, posted in Songwriting)
arkady wrote:
Hey Russ
Nearly missed this one a bit different from simmer
Another good job... rock on
ark
Hi Ark yes it is a bit different I just follow what feels good musically to me thank you for the nice comment
1,265 2014-05-17 14:06:33
Re: DAGGER (36 replies, posted in Songwriting)
getfiddle wrote:
Great song Russell! Looked like the video could've been produced a little better or maybe it was my VLC player, not sure which! Everything was a little behind in the video! Not trying to be an ass cause I doubt I could do any better just sayin' it looked a little behind. But other than that I enjoyed watching and listening to your song. It is a great blues song!
You are correct I lip synced the vocal the lyrics were still fresh and i had not yet memorized them so I was reading them during the filming, this was videotaped with a HD Nikon but the file was almost a gigabyte and I had to covert it to WMV or it would have taken forever to upload I am taking a new approach to filming to improve the quality glad you enjoyed the song thanks for taking a look and for your comments
1,266 2014-05-14 13:59:12
Re: REFLECTIONS(DREAM ON) (40 replies, posted in Songwriting)
hummin n strummin wrote:
Russ,you know as I get a little older I seem to look deeper into the lyrics of songs. You are a master at writing something others can feel. You and some others on this site truly inspire me. This is another example of your wonderful craftmanship. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Dave
Thank you Dave made my day
1,267 2014-05-14 13:57:32
Re: REFLECTIONS(DREAM ON) (40 replies, posted in Songwriting)
jets60 wrote:
hummin n strummin wrote:Russ,you know as I get a little older I seem to look deeper into the lyrics of songs. You are a master at writing something others can feel. You and some others on this site truly inspire me. This is another example of your wonderful craftmanship. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Dave
I echo what Dave many others have said....I came back after my initial listen and upon reflection, your song is now firmly fixed atop my covers.
I am grateful others like this and covering it is the sincerest form of praise thank you!
1,268 2014-05-14 13:52:47
Re: New Strat build (41 replies, posted in Electric)
bluejeep wrote:
It's beautiful!
I appreciate your comment and for taking a look Russell
1,269 2014-05-14 13:51:20
Re: New Strat build (41 replies, posted in Electric)
TIGLJK wrote:
Russell
What an amazing job - fantastic. All of your hard work paid off - quality effort = superb product ! Definitely the Beauty Queen of the guitar shop !
Congratulations!
Jim
Thanks Jim its a joy to play this is what it sounds like just a tune that came to me late last night so I video tapped it so I wouldn't forget it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLKNkGifctc
1,270 2014-05-13 15:10:43
Re: New Strat build (41 replies, posted in Electric)
jackde wrote:
Wow!!!
Russel, you need to start a custom shop.
Glad you like it thanks if I were a little younger a custom shop would be a possibility I devote most of my time to composing and recording and practice the guitars I build are for personal use at this time
1,271 2014-05-13 15:06:23
Re: New Strat build (41 replies, posted in Electric)
Tenement Funster wrote:
Again, Russel ... amazing work.
The gold hardware looks fantastic with the ivory color ... very classy. So now I'm picturing you performing somewhere in a shiny white satin tux, with a gold vest & tie like Boston Bruin's anthem singer, Rene Rancourt:
http://www.goldandorsmith.com/rene-ranc … fist-pump/
Russel Harding: Dressed to Kill !!!
I sent my white tux out to be cleaned thanks TM the gold and ivory really do have a classy look it came out the way I pictured it and the hot coils give it a unique sound tons of sustain and subtle flavors its fun to play
1,272 2014-05-12 08:03:48
Re: New Strat build (41 replies, posted in Electric)
dino48 wrote:
Wow it came out great russell!
Thanks dino I did have to do some additional tweeking namely the pickups bottomed out and the pickguard was not fitting well I used a screw driver and small hammer to chizle out a 1/4 inch in three places about two inches wide they fit now this was causing me problems becsuse the low E was ringing on the front pickup also i had to use thicker screws to mount the neck the body is old only one other minor fix in wiring i switched the front pickup and solddered it to the middle this was because the selector switch in the middle was the front pickup not the middle still have to mask off the hardware and spray some of the marks on the finish I may yet use a poly to give it more hardness and protection but it really sounds fantastic so all is well
1,273 2014-05-11 19:49:06
Re: New Strat build (41 replies, posted in Electric)
done
I dropped some hot solder behind the tremolo I will mask it off and touch it up later
1,274 2014-05-11 14:18:30
Re: New Strat build (41 replies, posted in Electric)
Doug_Smith wrote:
Man Russell, when you said that you had to strip it after the "accident".... I cringed. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a good chemical stripper, it's just that the slightest residue (and the wood can absorb stuff that is tough to get out) will raise havoc with your coatings. I've literally scrubbed things with acetone and mineral spirits, and the best thing I found is lots of good hot water and soap. You know, just the kind of cleaner that can do nasty things to wood if left too wet for too long. Lots of drying time and then a good sanding and then some kind of sealer. I used to use RM HP100 for a sealer because it would go over darn near anything including silicone, and was a fast dry waterborne product. Not for anything except solid colors though because it ain't clear.
Satin should look really good, and seems trendy these days in guitar finishes. Looking forward to seeing the finished axe... and of course hearing your results.
Take Care;
Doug
Yes it was a nightmare not once but 5 times I did scrub it with mineral spirits after each strip and then soap and water and sanded it before applying the next primer coat it is dry and I am going to sand it with 1500 grit and finish with 000 steel wool and wipe it clean and leave it no polyurethane if it starts to look bad enough to paint again I will toss it in a burn pile and order a new body enough is enough I should have it back together later today strung and ready for action and i will post photos and provide a link to a new instrumental song I am writing and I will feature all my guitars,bass and rhythm no name yet but i will think of something. I am typing this on my old xp so far so good no virus attacks regards Russ
1,275 2014-05-10 18:47:43
Re: New Strat build (41 replies, posted in Electric)
Very nice work Tig on that guitar I hope it was easier then mine