Karaoke Forums

Ah, a man after my own heart.

Yeah, it's amazing how an instrument can become such a part of yourself. I once (once.. never again) went on a camping trip and left my guitar at home. Hubby was insistent on taking WAY too much camping gear, so I decided rather than cram it in back of the Suburban, I'd leave it home that time. Well, as the first night fell, you'd have sworn I was up there with no food, I was so pizzed that I hadn't brought it.

Camping is not the same when you can't grab the guitar to play at night by the campfire, or down by the lake. It's not a nice feeling at all when you suddenly get in the mood to grab the guitar and sing a song or two... and it's not there.

I'm not even a grand guitar player... never played in any kind of band for money or anything like that. But I've played one most of my life, it's a big part of who I am, and when you form that bond, yeah... it's like losing a pal to have it taken away.

Thanks Mike.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

You folks think your bad ? Some of my 50's and 60's vintage guitars don't leave the case because I'm so anal about scratches and cracks... Some are for playing, some are investments I suppose... Since I'm not croaking, they aren't going anywhere.

Yeah, my ebony and rosewood bridges always seemed to crack at the E string too.. I wonder if it's because the string slices into the grain and over time stresses it. Never thought've way this is, likely cuts thru the grain..

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Where I'm bad is picking ONE to be my favorite. I have more, and treat them all decently, but I just get used to one guitar. And one fiddle. And one mandolin. Then all the others collect dust. I used to always play that blue guitar I've posted pics of.. since I got the Ibanez, I've laid that one aside and played it maybe twice. Can't play my older fiddle, cause my hands are just adjusted to my newest one. I play my F style mandolin cause the A style feels odd now.



It's a conspiracy Steven. They refuse to make them out of tougher stuff. Nah, I guess if it were not such a flexible wood, it would muck up the resonation of the strings or something. Atleast fiddle bridges are not too awfully expensive.

Speaking of, my dad just 2 weeks ago brought over a fiddle he picked up at an estate sale for $100. I don't know HOW he does it, he always finds the good deals. It's a strad copy, awesomely flamed, plays like a charm, and looks alot like the one I won a few years back... which was more like $1800.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Have you done research on either violin ? Just curious. I have a few downstairs but they aren't worth much. A Strad copy too (3/4 size) that I similarly picked up at an auction about 15 years ago, yet Strad copies (depending on degree of workmanship) are very common. Depending on the violin maker, type of wood and tone for a decent violin that's a pretty good price. Any idea how old it is ? I always enjoy researching stuff like this.



We're talking about the tailpiece aren't we ? Not the bridge. My tailpieces have often cracked but I usually have to put something between the bridge and the E string so the notching doesn't dampen string vibration. Sometimes a small piece of paper or tiny piece of rubber.. The birdge itself is an extremely soft wood. The tailpiece although thicker gets very brittle with age and becomes vulnerable at the grain.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Nope, no idea on what this fiddle may be worth or it's history. My dad's not the type to give a hoot about "value", especially if he paid next to nothing for it- if it plays well and has a good, strong tone, that's all he cares about. I know that generally, the more flamed the wood is, the more you're going to pay for the instrument. Try buying the bare wood for making your own- it's true there too, the well flamed wood is more expensive. Just a good deal he came across, and it happens to be an awesome sounding fiddle. Most all of the fiddles we own are strad copies, they are for sure the most common. Dad's older fiddle is a Hopf, pretty nice one but doesn't play near as well as this newer one. Funny, the nicest one I've ever played, as far as ease of playing and good sound- are the ones a local friend of ours makes and sells within the fiddling organization here. No fancy name brand, but their awesome fiddles. I've never purchased one from him- but a lot of the other members buy theirs from him- so I've played about 4 of them. (a couple of his 5 strings too)



I was talking about the nut.

I was originally talking about the tailpiece, then I thought YOU switched over to talking about the bridge... and so my last blah-blah was about bridges. It was my tailpiece that just broke- I've never had one break in that manner- maybe because I always use 4 fine tuners. Bridges, on the other hand, well... yeah, you know how often those have to be replaced. That's what I talking about when I said I wanted to try the kind with an ebony insert for the E string... the bridge.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Well, I got my guitar back today;)

He polished it, put a new set of strings on it, and only charged me $9.95, cause he wants me
to quote his business & personal insurance policies.

I can't help but think this is a win-win situation for me. Gawd, but I love these guys
at this new music store in town- they're awesome.

Anyhow, the back of the neck still has a battle scar, but he smoothed it out so there's nothing
rough there that you'll feel while playing it. Seems to be back to normal, but I'll know
better when I get home and play it tonight.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Awesome; I’m glad it all worked out.

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Hate is like taking poison, hoping the other guy gets sick

Good deal C! I bet you'll keep it in a safe place now.

Thanks you guys. I'm home now, warming up my fingers;)

Hah, J- I've always kept it in a safe place- my music room. My new rule is to keep idjit guests OUT of there.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

I know the idjits, they come over quiet often.

Glad you got your "baby" back OK Charmin! Hope it's at least perfectly playable again even if it isn't cosmetically perfect. $9.95 is a heckuva bargain! I've been negligent and still haven't stopped in the local Canby Music store. Sheesh, I'd be kicked off of the local welcome wagon for sure! Sounds like they're great guys!

Yup. Just gotta make them keep their beer and clumsiness on the back patio from now on. (rain or shine, Lol)



You still haven't been in there? They're great guys. I know Brian best, but Matt is cool too..... you need to stop IN there already. They've got good prices on everything too, plus they're doing guitar and bass lessons... and working on throwing acts together for the local fairs. (Brian's on the state fair board) They host the wednesday night open jam at Connection Central too. The guy I told you about that plays the guitorgan was there last week- cool place to meet some local musicians/singers. (the non-karaoke ones, Lol)

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

That's good that Canby finally has a weekly open mic/jam session going on! I will check that out for sure. Any idea what hours? Wasn't that guitorgan player the person who was playing at the American Legion Hall several months back?

Sounds like Matt and Brian are really trying to support and promote the local musicians and musical activities around here. 'Bout time somebody did after all these years!

Hey Mandi I'm glad you got your baby back and with just a
little scar. Hope it sounds the same.

Lone Wolf

Get a part time job there ! Work for credit. Heck, wish there were music stores around here that survived the internet mail-order guitar and band instrument competition. I'd love to be back in a music store. They couldn't survive though unless they were local school band instrument rental places that did little else but recork, reseat pads, repad, overhaul woodwinds, fix violins, violas, celli (Is that the plural ? Forgot)...


ADDED IN: Nope, plural is cellos. Had this orchestra conductor once who always referred to the cello section as "celli", I know they are cellists, but is there a term Celli or was this guy the Don King of chamber orchestras ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Yes they must be counting on band instrument business for the local schools; that and selling guitars to kids that haven't found out about Musician's Friend and American Musical Supply. I always thought multiple cellos was referred to as celli too. But two spell checkers say nooooooo! Well, customer service in a store definitely wouldn't be my strong suite. Maybe inventory and guitar polisher!

I can imagine myself getting fired from G. Gruhn after two hours of being hired to polish guitars.

"Steve, there are other guitars in here that need polishing besides the D'Angelico New Yorker you've just been sitting drooling on for the past two hours"

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Hell, I'd love to work there... I'd do it for free bass lessons. Heck, I do it for free guitar pics. (truth be told, I'm sure I'd just do it for free)

I like consorting with other people who are into playing instuments, writing songs, and singing... it would be fun to have a (even part time) job working with that kind of thing.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Thank you . I've only played with it a bit so far, haven't had much free time lately. But it seems to be the same ol' guitar, just has that little scratched area on back of the neck. I'll just have to keep it out of harms way from now on. Thanks....

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥