Mandolin Ant - Posted - 02/15/2012:  10:45:56

Ha! I hear ya. I hate getting a song stuck in my head when I really don't like it. Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup" comes to mind....

Song writing is officially D E A D ! 

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Hedgehog - Posted - 02/17/2012:  13:12:36

I just got done renovating my new/old house, a forced migration due to divorce. Haven't played my mandolin in 3 weeks. I haven't had the energy to pick it up. Divorce is hard on mandolin playing.......

Hey hey now, red solo cup is fun song writing at it's best .......... "Red solo cup, you are my friend"

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/17/2012:  13:27:37

Sorry about the divorce. Mandolin playing is often a cause for divorce any way. Being a musician in general,especially a gigging musician is really hard on a marriage. Maybe you'll be able to play more now that you have the house done. I find very noisy machinery, like circular saws and beating your hands up with hammers and anything that has to do with drywall making me not really feel like playing at the end of that day. Then of course your remodeling a house your living in and your on your own? Do you find yourself working 20 hours at a clip?
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Hedgehog - Posted - 02/17/2012:  13:57:16

It was more the banjo playing that was hard on the marriage, but can't really blame that for the divorce, was married for 29 years, most of it was misery for her I guess. I can only wish to consider myself any kind of musician, I do love it though. The mandolin has been taking over my banjo playing, it's such a small and easy instrument to grab up and play compared to the banjo. It's also much easier to play quietly..... Still love'em both though.   .........and ..... Have any of you seen my banjo picks around anywhere, lost'em somewhere in the move, love those picks.....



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Edited by - Hedgehog on 02/17/2012 14:01:09

TSSN - Posted - 02/18/2012:  05:14:29

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hedgehog

Have any of you seen my banjo picks around anywhere /

Lost'em somewhere in the move

 

---

 Now, those are lyrics.

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TSSN - Posted - 02/20/2012:  10:47:05

If this is really a bar, it's time there was a brawl. 

I have tried Blue Chip picks several times.  I'm only an amateur player.  Even so, I just don't get the hubbub.  Or the price tag.  But I must be wrong, since I am in the minority. 

So, why am I wrong?

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Tomm - Posted - 02/20/2012:  11:24:30

You aren't necessarily wrong, but here is why I have been using ONE for three years. I played Clayton Ultem picks for years. Love the way they play, they're tone etc. Couldn't hold on to one to save my life. Also playing the thickest one offered at the time (1.2) they started to flex after 5-6 hrs of playing and it was shot. So with a dozen every couple of months and deal of gorilla snot to go with them, when I was asked to try a one, after I got accustomed to a little change in tone, I was hooked. Play great, sound great, even basically sticks to you fingers. Spent $30 three years ago, haven't spent a penny on picks or snot since :)

Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/20/2012:  13:08:12

In my case it comes down to grip. I think that the reason they refer to a person "losing his grip" when they get older is because you lose your grip! A little arthritis here, a little loss of muscle mass there, a little extra dryness in your hands and holding on to a pick gets more challenging. I was talking to Frank Wakefield and he has that complaint. He lathers up with Vaseline before he plays. The Bluechip is very easy to grip. It's stupid expensive agreed but they're using some kind of NASA high tech plastic that's really manufactured for super high heat situations. Rockets and jet fighters, nuclear reactors, Lamborginis, maybe. I actually priced the stuff in the raw and there is only one distributor and a 12" square sheet was $1300 if I recall. For an additional charge they'll machine it into anything you want. "O" rings for example--Remember NASA and the "O" rings? My guess is that you can maybe squeak 144 picks out of a 1 foot square piece.--- so the cost of material is about $10 a pick. Additional marketing and overhead another 10 bucks. There is a living there making those things but no one is getting rich. Other materials can make great tone but if the pick slips and turns in your hand then you can kiss off great tone! Gorilla snot is kind of disgusting , I've used it and I don't like it.

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TSSN - Posted - 02/20/2012:  19:29:32

Okay.  You have my attention.  And I probably have fewer years ahead of me than behind, so grip may well become important.  Right now, it isn't (and other picks don't do so bad at that).

I haven't yet heard that it makes the music better.  Can anyone speak to that?

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/20/2012:  21:13:37

Of course a pick doesn't make the music better. The music is in your head, it's ideas and that's where it gets better. Maybe a little coordination and skill helps and good equipment can make it sound better but people like Kenny G and Yanni have skills aplenty and the best stuff but is it music? I'd rather listen to a scratchy Tom Waits or Fugs (who could almost not play at all) and find way,way more music there. Miles Davis is probably a long way from the best trumpet player you'll ever hear but he is almost my favorite because of the content. Louie takes first place cause he had the best ideas and all the skill in one package. No piece of equipment is going to do that for you all it's going to possibly do is make what you do a little better bit better.
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TSSN - Posted - 02/21/2012:  05:04:46

Ben, you're not exactly helping the BC cause here...

And for as much as I like Louie, Davis'  "Flamenco Sketches" is a favorite.

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/21/2012:  08:33:19

I've been listening to "Porgy and Bess" lately.
The BC cause? Is that the necessity of justifying spending 10 times --(20 times what Jethro used) for a pick? Do people need to justify buying a bottle of Chateau de Rothchild's or a Bentley or a Gilchrist? I make my living as a lowly woodworker and have a string of very rich clients that bought me my house on the beach, my Givens and sent my kids through college.[ I still have really raggy rolling stock--or are they classics?( "67 Ford Truck and a 64 Falcon in unrestored condition ,you tell me)] Thankfully they don't feel the need to justify what they spend. My BC was a gift or I probably wouldn't know anything about them. I was pretty happy with my Dunlop Ultex picks. The BC is better for me,but you have to watch it like a hawk. No longer do I have picks laying all over the place and picks in my pocket. Someone wants to try it and you feel like they should maybe give you their watch as collateral!
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TSSN - Posted - 02/23/2012:  10:50:36

So, it's sounding like it boils down to personal choice...

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/23/2012:  12:23:20

What else would it be? There's no rule. You find something you like then you stick to it, I think so anyway. Something new comes along then maybe you give it a try and if that works better then maybe you change up. That goes for picks, strings, mandolins etc. Frank Wakefield recommended to me to always use the same (type) pick. He didn't say what type to use.

TSSN - Posted - 02/23/2012:  14:29:33

Not much of a bar brawl when we agree, Ben...

mandolin boy - Posted - 02/23/2012:  17:31:43

If u raise your voice one more time your gona gone! I'm the bouncer. Lol


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TSSN - Posted - 02/23/2012:  17:49:58

"And I always forget to count..." he whispered...

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/23/2012:  20:42:37

A good bar brawl --yah-- I could go for one of those right now . I had a young guy working for me and he went completely offski on me so I sent him packing today. Too bad, if he could stay focused he has the potential to be a really good craftsman, really potentially better than me in time. If he doesn't get his head together though he's not going anywhere. So I have a dead line,no help, and a whole lot to do ----maybe I should get drunk. Bartender pour me a good Isley Scotch would you? Someone say something outrageous, please!
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bcameron - Posted - 02/24/2012:  02:47:12

Yup, always use the same kind until you find a type you like better....

"My wife ran off with my best friend and my banjo picks and I sure do miss them..." (just kidding)

TSSN - Posted - 02/24/2012:  04:55:36

That was kind of outrageous, bcameron.  And still a touch funny...

Sorry about the firing Ben.  I've had to do that only once.  It stinks.  Good news: he had no potential in my field---bad news: he got a job immediately.  I'll have two fingers of Tullamore Dew.

Outrageous.  Hmmm...  Outrageous.  Okay:  How about "Balsa makes the *best* headstock wood."?

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Edited by - TSSN on 02/24/2012 04:58:49

Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/24/2012:  08:07:20

It's light and it helps keep the mandolin in the an upright position. For all those that play the mandolin in a "Kiss" retro band that is a big plus. It's soft and therefore easy to inlay as well. For all other reasons though only a damn fool would suggest it and anyone that disagrees with me I'll meet you out in the parking lot! Pour me another one,please!
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mojohand40 - Posted - 02/24/2012:  08:20:33

Some would argue that the string tension would snap a Balsa wood head stock off. I personally wouldn't worry as lately I've been playing stringless and pursuing the mandolin as a purely percussive instrument the way it was intended to be played. Adding strings to the mandolin came about much, much later in the instruments' development.

Stringless mandolin, is after all, the only pure mandolin style. Why Monroe decided to keep all EIGHT strings on and ruin the loud percussive snap that can be had by striking the back of the mandolin with a tortoise capped hammer is beyond me. The rhythmic clatter of dragging a pure ivory carved spoon back and forth over the frets is much more soothing and musically appropriate to ensemble playing than anything that can be done with "picking" tensioned wire "strings".

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/24/2012:  22:17:17

You may be on to something there --finally a use for all those Banjolins that keep showing up on ebay--convert them to Tamberlins.The head stock ,balsa or otherwise, would make a nifty handle for beating it against your thigh.

Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/24/2012:  22:17:51

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TSSN - Posted - 02/25/2012:  05:23:50

What have I shtarted here?  You guys are hyshter*hic*al.  Funny shtuff...  I was thinking of using balsa drum sticks and attaching a Zildjan cymbal to my mando, too...

I need Whiskey Before Breakfast...

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Edited by - TSSN on 02/25/2012 05:28:18

Mandolin Ant - Posted - 02/27/2012:  05:36:53

Good Morning and Happy Monday! Not really, I hate Mondays!

Great to see this thread still going. I'll check back later and catch up on the conversation.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 02/27/2012:  05:47:59

Did I mention I hate Mondays?

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Hedgehog - Posted - 02/27/2012:  14:37:20

I love Mondays, Mondays is the very best day of the week. That is if your still a working man like me. There is so much potential for accomplishment on a Monday, Friday, well on Friday it's over and you stop making money and start spending it for a couple days. I enjoy reminding folks, without Monday (a symbolic day for the beginning of the work week), there's no payday......

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 02/28/2012:  06:47:38

Agreed Hedgehog, but I do so enjoy NOT working and spending the hard earned fruits of my labor!

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 02/29/2012:  11:46:11

Looks like activity has picked up a bit on this site. Good. I like it here. Everyone have a drink on me!

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mandolin boy - Posted - 02/29/2012:  13:06:39

I'd like whisky wait I'm only 16 o well. (Plz don't tell)

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TSSN - Posted - 03/01/2012:  10:49:48

Thanks for the round, Ant.  *hic*

I have stopped progress for a little while and am simply going back through my catalog.  Anyone else every do that?

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 03/01/2012:  12:28:32

Your secret is safe with me mandolin boy!

TSSN, if you mean going back and covering songs/scales/chords you learned before, then yes, absolutely. I do it all the time. I tend to forget things if I don't use them often so I'm constantly trying to re-hash scales and such.

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mandolin boy - Posted - 03/01/2012:  18:38:51

O MAN I have school tomorow and my new mando is comeing in the mail. That will be so dreadfully long.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 03/02/2012:  13:51:54

Love getting new instruments!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Keep on Pickin'

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TSSN - Posted - 03/04/2012:  04:53:44

Ant:  No, like when you stop working on something new, and just go back through your mental (or written?) catalog of songs you know (or used to know).  I am doing scales and chords all the time, though a new song with a funky chord always helps me learn that better.  I try to work on something new all the time.  Lately, I have been revisiting known stuff, largely at the expense of the new....

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 03/04/2012:  10:52:09

I've probably forgotten more fiddle tunes than I know---or I'll start with the A part of one and find myself playing the B part of another. Every so often I go back to my old lists and try and dust them off. Unfortunately I'm not very organized when it comes to that. Song lists with the names,no lyrics, or instrumental pieces without charts or tab. Some are just lost, I have the name but just can't remember the tune. That's too bad in some cases. I had a period of time when Franklin George was my neighbor and we would get together regularly, particularly on a Saturday night when we would go to this place and eat fried chicken and play music. He is an encyclopedia of obscure old tunes, many of which he showed me. Most of those were never written down. I had a girl friend back then that played, we had a little act and a lot of that we had worked into what we did and quite a bit of that got recorded and I will dig that stuff up from time to time. (Back in the 70's it was not an easy task to be able to record something, especially with any kind of sound quality. You had these little cassette recorders that were terrible and anything that could give you a decent quality recording was expensive and pretty rare,especially in the Appalachian mountains.) We had gotten a job working for the Natl' Park Service , they did these night time campfire things and we'd travel to different Parks and play traditional music for those,Nice little gig, crummy pay but they put you up nice and we were kind of kids,so it was way cool!. Someone at some point thought that maybe it was worth while getting that on audio tape and that's why it exists at all. I'll find a good one from time to time that I had forgotten about completely. When I do have that stuff written it's loose pieces of dogeared paper stuffed inside the piano seat or jammed into boxes. A lot of tunes have morphed, tunes that I still play I'll find some old recording of myself or find the original arrangement and realize that what I play now compared to where I started out are quite different. That's not necessarily a bad thing it's just a interesting thing that happens. I went through a heavy improv period and I do tend to not ever play anything exactly the same way anyway. I start out straight and then it goes where it goes and as long I don't make any terribly bad decisions on the way ( and if you do you can always get that little "There" look on your face as if you had totally intentionally planned to hit that clunker) if I arrive at the station at the right time and place I figure I'm good to go. Some

traditionalists can sometimes find objection in that and I try to keep a cap on it if I play with people like that now.

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Edited by - Ben Venuti on 03/04/2012 10:53:42

Mandolin Ant - Posted - 03/05/2012:  08:34:06

Happy Monday. I Hope everyone had a great weekend.

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mandolin boy - Posted - 03/05/2012:  12:36:02

Got me one of them fancy ivory bridge tops for my mando. Wonder how she will sound with that.

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TSSN - Posted - 03/09/2012:  04:50:34

quote:

---

Originally posted by mandolin boy



Got me one of them fancy ivory bridge tops for my mando. Wonder how she will sound with that.



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---

So, how does it sound?

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mandolin boy - Posted - 03/09/2012:  05:46:29

I don't have it yet the fella I sent the money to had to wait to ship this sat. But I will let u no.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 03/09/2012:  09:18:48

I don't have it yet the fella I sent the money to had to wait to ship this sat. But I will let u no.



**************

Yes please do let us know.

Happy Friday Everyone!

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 03/12/2012:  07:41:19

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Lots of Basketball this time of year. College ball is my Favorite!

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 03/12/2012:  07:43:24

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Hedgehog - Posted - 03/12/2012:  10:56:01

Hey, is there a way to get your kid off the computer and engaged in the life that's pass her by? I've got a 21 year old that does essentially nothing, but sleep, and play on the computer while she's still in bed. She thinks it's stupid to come to the table and eat with the family and while she had a free ride to college, she's one smart cookie, she has dropped most of her classes this semester and will have to make them up this summer, but she hasn't signed up for summer classes yet.......... discouraged doesn't even cover what I'm feeling right now.



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Edited by - Hedgehog on 03/12/2012 10:57:08

Ben Venuti - Posted - 03/12/2012:  11:43:03

It's a plague around here, it's called "marijuana" where I live in Northern California. I don't know what they call it in Arizona. Had(have?) one kid that has gone that route but I'm lucking out it seems. He did stay in college,not glorious marks but pulled it off and is now working and back at home and also doing classes. Good girl friends are a plus I've found. Keeps him away from the old buds that haven't gotten off the couch since high school. He cycles them through pretty quickly and goes for exotic. Last week there was this Indian girl and last night he showed up with this girl from Sweden. I think that as discouraged as you are there are lots of reasons for 20 somethings to be discouraged. So they go to college--what's that get them? Better lunchtime banter while they wait tables or park cars? All that for thousands of dollars --or 10's of thousands of dollars of school debt? My wife who is in the dental business was talking about a young dental student who has been spending time at the office. He'll will have over $300,000 in college debt by the time he's done. Add that to having to buy into a practice and he'll owe close to a million bucks before he gets paid to fill his first tooth--and he's considered one of the lucky ones!
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TSSN - Posted - 03/12/2012:  13:28:09

Hey there Hedgehog.  I'd say charge her rent.  I have a son who is also 21, and he decided last year that college wasn't for him.  I told him he could come back home, but he would pay me rent.  He had to get a job.

He said he would get a job and pay his own rent, thanks.  So he did.  Lives on his own.  But now he is also knee-deep in food service jobs, and some kind of miserable.  College looks really good to him now.  For the moment, he stays enrolled in the proverbial College of Hard Knocks.  It's as fascinating to watch as it is painful.

I wish you luck with your daughter.

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mandolin boy - Posted - 03/12/2012:  13:46:45

That ivory husky bridge came it sounds good it will clean a rough sound.

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 03/12/2012:  14:28:20

What she needs to figure out is even if you having problems with finding ambition that there is always CREATIVE leisure. Learn an instrument and join a band or conversely join a band then learn the instrument. Crew on a boat and see the South Pacific, go to Mexico on Spring Break and forget to come back. I pretty much spent my 20's doing stuff like that. My eldest son kind of followed in my footsteps as far as that goes. He can't sit still and is always moving and doing something. Fix an ancient motorcycle and take a 2000 mile ride, hooked up with a semi famous girl from movie land for a couple of years and hung out with people that you read about in magazines-- at places like Sundance He ended up the only person that I know ,or know of that never went to college and became a school teacher. Now he's married,to an English girl and has a kid,lives in NY but they have a flat in Amsterdam and Summer in Europe. They're now talking about tossing in the towel and starting again in California. At first I thought. " Are they crazy?" Blowing off good jobs to do they know not what ,but then they've done it before and it worked. You have to figure out how to get the kid off the couch,most important, college not so important. I was having a conversation with a coach,just yesterday in fact. He said something interesting. " Boys need to play well to feel good about themselves--girls need to feel good about themselves to play."

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Edited by - Ben Venuti on 03/12/2012 14:28:56