Been away from this site for some time. The reason I am back is purely selfish , I want to ask members if they have driven from Las Vegas to Yellowstone in August? where are the good places to stop etc and can it be done in one hop with no overnight stays. Reason for this is, my daughter and husband are flying out to Vegas and on to the Yellowstone region somewhere to see the total Eclipse. I do not know the exact location as they have just booked the flights etc.
Any ideas please.
P.S. My son in law plays Irish whistle - so if there is a session en route that's an added bonus.
I think this post should be on the Continuing Thread bit.
No, we didn't break down at all this year, just had an over-solicitous new german van that evacuates all the water from the boiler as soon as the temperature gets down towards zero - which it did twice in the last 3 days! So no hot showers in the morning as we curse and fill the van up all over again...
Sorry we didn't have much chance to chat. Looked as though you were going well this past weekend. And yes, discovering a new, mint Sobell is almost worth the trek on its own!
Enjoy the playing. We'll see you soon. Oh and keep watching the site - a whole lot more to put on shortly....
All the best.
Geoff
08/14/14 01:39:53PM @robin-thompson:
Newcastleton and the music fest sound delightful, David!My hometown is about 20 miles south of Columbus. The industrial boom of the post- WWII era brought many people here to Ohio.
Getting late here too! Yes, the "Gondola" is the one I bought from Germany. It's OK but not as playable or as nice sounding as either of yours. I will have to experiment with string gauges etc.
It was good to see you - and hear your dulcimers - in person. Really glad you could make it.
Sorry if I looked a bit distracted that day, but it hardly stopped, what with tuning people's dulcimers, selling picks, strings and capos...oh yes and learning some pretty tricky pieces!
I loved the pieces you played on your own, so not sure about practice being required, but learning a difficult piece in 20 minutes or so is asking a lot of even hardened players like yourself!
Yes, we got back fine despite electrical gremlins which decided to empty our vehicle battery when it was innocently sitting outside Deneholme minding its own business.
Anyway, keep in touch and hope to see you again before too long.
Thanks for giving the website a test drive David! Glad you liked it. let me know if there's anything you would want to know that isn't on there and we'll grow it gradually.
As for the weather, not too bad with us, though we lost a willow that appeared behind me in all the publicity shots!
Sorry we won't see you at Deneholme - would be nice to meet there. But as you say, at least it's now snowing....yet!
Glad to hear you're stable again...when playing the Heron that is!
I (and several other players) use a strap which goes round legs rather than waist. Looks odd until you try it - v comfortable and stable...until you decide to get up to stretch your legs of course!
Try it...
Just come back from Cambridge FF - great weather and pretty good music most of the time. Take care.
Hi David - I've not tried using the Zoom with my camera. I just have a simple compact camera that takes video as well and use the sound from that for my videos (it is not very good at all). I don't have the video editing sofware or skills to edit video and add an external sound source. I'm sure I could manage it if I looked into how to do it but I'd probably need to get some good video editing software. I use a Zoom H2 or Zoom H4 for recording. Both give great results. I record in .wav 44.1 kHz 16 bit and then transfer that to .mp3 256 kpbs in Audacity. I take the card out of the Zoom after recording and just plug it into my laptop. I find that Audacity is good for mastering the files.
First report on the Sobell after my holiday - it arrived as we were leaving, but we delayed long enough to tear off the wrapping paper!
It's in one piece, but currently unplayable and has been somewhat abused. Looks like a typical gigging musician's instrument - scars on the top where it's been strummed and bridge fashioned from matchstick and slap of wood glue!
Key starter question: I love 6 strings as you know, but their one downside is that they are all strung differently! This is currently in 3 courses with an octave pair on the bass course - .023w/.009 .012/.012 .009/.009 which seems reasonable. How's yours strung and what guages do you use?
Also has a three piece back which I didn't notice in the eBay pics. And doesn't quite seem like mahogany, more rosewood... Will email Stefan himself I think to confirm...
Have written to Liz about Terry's death...but also subsequently about the Sobell. I'll not be offended is she has other higher priorities at the moment...
Geoff
07/14/13 08:33:44PM @robin-thompson:
Yes, David, one of the cajon box drums was what I was referring to. I've heard some players get really good sound out of them.
07/13/13 09:38:43AM @robin-thompson:
David, I'd wondered whether the box was a of the sort you described. Here in the US, I've also begun seeing wooden amplified boxes used to play percussion-- the player sits on the wood box while playing it.You give great festival reports-- enjoyable to read!
07/09/13 06:01:34AM @geoff-black:
Hi Dave'fraid it was me who blinked and bought the Sobell - but at much less than the original asking price.Needs work, but tuners look original. Does your early one have gold enclosed guitar tuners?Off on my hols for a few days. Will report back!
Hello Dave. The possum boards I have are made from 3/8" birch ply (just 'cos I had some' ex HD making),cut to the shape of the instrument, a block of the same glued to the baseboard at each end, and then two 'upstands' to form U shaped saddles, all of same material, with a couple of 1" long 'bearers' positioned at the 'edges' of the widest part of the board/instrument. (I think I play in rather a heavy handed fashion?). This gives a 3/8" gap beneath Dulc. Never really sure if they do make a difference, so I might be doing it all wrong !!!
Are you working that period from choice (more money!) or because your 'duties?' call for it.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had it a couple of days and just about played it to bits, just love the dialect (brings back memories of Terry and Liz). Have decided not to play it when the vicar comes to visit !!!
Been away from this site for some time. The reason I am back is purely selfish , I want to ask members if they have driven from Las Vegas to Yellowstone in August? where are the good places to stop etc and can it be done in one hop with no overnight stays. Reason for this is, my daughter and husband are flying out to Vegas and on to the Yellowstone region somewhere to see the total Eclipse. I do not know the exact location as they have just booked the flights etc.
Any ideas please.
P.S. My son in law plays Irish whistle - so if there is a session en route that's an added bonus.
I think this post should be on the Continuing Thread bit.
Hi David
No, we didn't break down at all this year, just had an over-solicitous new german van that evacuates all the water from the boiler as soon as the temperature gets down towards zero - which it did twice in the last 3 days! So no hot showers in the morning as we curse and fill the van up all over again...
Sorry we didn't have much chance to chat. Looked as though you were going well this past weekend. And yes, discovering a new, mint Sobell is almost worth the trek on its own!
Enjoy the playing. We'll see you soon. Oh and keep watching the site - a whole lot more to put on shortly....
All the best.
Geoff
Newcastleton and the music fest sound delightful, David!My hometown is about 20 miles south of Columbus. The industrial boom of the post- WWII era brought many people here to Ohio.
Hi David
Getting late here too! Yes, the "Gondola" is the one I bought from Germany. It's OK but not as playable or as nice sounding as either of yours. I will have to experiment with string gauges etc.
Must get back to practising...!
All the best. Geoff
Hi David
It was good to see you - and hear your dulcimers - in person. Really glad you could make it.
Sorry if I looked a bit distracted that day, but it hardly stopped, what with tuning people's dulcimers, selling picks, strings and capos...oh yes and learning some pretty tricky pieces!
I loved the pieces you played on your own, so not sure about practice being required, but learning a difficult piece in 20 minutes or so is asking a lot of even hardened players like yourself!
Yes, we got back fine despite electrical gremlins which decided to empty our vehicle battery when it was innocently sitting outside Deneholme minding its own business.
Anyway, keep in touch and hope to see you again before too long.
All the best.
Geoff
Hi David
It would be great if you could make Deneholme. We're all looking forward to it and it would be great to meet you.
Yes I shall be bringing a few "spare" dulcimers and a box of paraphernalia including strings, capos and picks....and business cards naturally!
Hope to see you there.
Thanks for giving the website a test drive David! Glad you liked it. let me know if there's anything you would want to know that isn't on there and we'll grow it gradually.
As for the weather, not too bad with us, though we lost a willow that appeared behind me in all the publicity shots!
Sorry we won't see you at Deneholme - would be nice to meet there. But as you say, at least it's now snowing....yet!
All the best. Geoff
Glad to hear you're stable again...when playing the Heron that is!
I (and several other players) use a strap which goes round legs rather than waist. Looks odd until you try it - v comfortable and stable...until you decide to get up to stretch your legs of course!
Try it...
Just come back from Cambridge FF - great weather and pretty good music most of the time. Take care.
Geoff
Hi David - I've not tried using the Zoom with my camera. I just have a simple compact camera that takes video as well and use the sound from that for my videos (it is not very good at all). I don't have the video editing sofware or skills to edit video and add an external sound source. I'm sure I could manage it if I looked into how to do it but I'd probably need to get some good video editing software. I use a Zoom H2 or Zoom H4 for recording. Both give great results. I record in .wav 44.1 kHz 16 bit and then transfer that to .mp3 256 kpbs in Audacity. I take the card out of the Zoom after recording and just plug it into my laptop. I find that Audacity is good for mastering the files.
David
First report on the Sobell after my holiday - it arrived as we were leaving, but we delayed long enough to tear off the wrapping paper!
It's in one piece, but currently unplayable and has been somewhat abused. Looks like a typical gigging musician's instrument - scars on the top where it's been strummed and bridge fashioned from matchstick and slap of wood glue!
Key starter question: I love 6 strings as you know, but their one downside is that they are all strung differently! This is currently in 3 courses with an octave pair on the bass course - .023w/.009 .012/.012 .009/.009 which seems reasonable. How's yours strung and what guages do you use?
Also has a three piece back which I didn't notice in the eBay pics. And doesn't quite seem like mahogany, more rosewood... Will email Stefan himself I think to confirm...
Have written to Liz about Terry's death...but also subsequently about the Sobell. I'll not be offended is she has other higher priorities at the moment...
Geoff
Yes, David, one of the cajon box drums was what I was referring to. I've heard some players get really good sound out of them.
David, I'd wondered whether the box was a of the sort you described. Here in the US, I've also begun seeing wooden amplified boxes used to play percussion-- the player sits on the wood box while playing it.You give great festival reports-- enjoyable to read!
Hi Dave'fraid it was me who blinked and bought the Sobell - but at much less than the original asking price.Needs work, but tuners look original. Does your early one have gold enclosed guitar tuners?Off on my hols for a few days. Will report back!
Dave I have taken a liberty and uloaded your picture.
If you want me to remove it I will.
We are off to B.C. and will be in Campbell River until early July so will miss Newcastelton again!
Enjoy!
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/group/traditional-irish-music-and-song-group
Val's group is the quickest way to him!
Hello Dave. The possum boards I have are made from 3/8" birch ply (just 'cos I had some' ex HD making),cut to the shape of the instrument, a block of the same glued to the baseboard at each end, and then two 'upstands' to form U shaped saddles, all of same material, with a couple of 1" long 'bearers' positioned at the 'edges' of the widest part of the board/instrument. (I think I play in rather a heavy handed fashion?). This gives a 3/8" gap beneath Dulc. Never really sure if they do make a difference, so I might be doing it all wrong !!!
Are you working that period from choice (more money!) or because your 'duties?' call for it.
best wishes, and thanks again
John
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had it a couple of days and just about played it to bits, just love the dialect (brings back memories of Terry and Liz). Have decided not to play it when the vicar comes to visit !!!
thank you Dave,
John
Mark Gilston has a video on here and Utube of Fairies and it is on
http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/pub-session-tunes/005682.HTM
as a medium speed midi for free along with the dots but the only tab I found [.tef] wont open with tef viewer from tabledit
I left a comment for Dana
In total not a bad set of cicumstances for our initial 'coming together', lol
be safe Dave
John
Thanks David I do have 1 1/2 frets on my dulcimers. I'm going to try and learn it by ear... wish me luck I'll need a lot of it.:)