a thoughtful web.
Good ideas and conversation. No ads, no tracking.   Login or Take a Tour!
comment by JakobVirgil
JakobVirgil  ·  3884 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: For e.m. cadwaladr (1st piece in my Hubski Suite)

an Alvarez 12 string-with 5 strings by myself

Jim is bowing a banjo

Jared is playing a home-made electro-acoustic string instrument of his invention played with hammers.





user-inactivated  ·  3884 days ago  ·  link  ·  

That's interesting. I have two instrument restoration / modification projects in progress. One is a 50's vintage Vega Baritone Uke for my stepdaughter. The other is a 1939 Harmony Stella I've decide to restring as a tenor guitar. Ask your friend Jared if he's read Bart Hopkin's "Musical Instrument Design" -- great book.

JakobVirgil  ·  3883 days ago  ·  link  ·  

By tenor guitar do you mean a 4-string tuned like a banjo?

the baritone uke is kinda a step that way in the other direction.

I myself love 4 stringed instruments my Alvarez is tuned like a 4-string banjo plus a high drone.

I will ask him but I am sure Jared has read everything.

user-inactivated  ·  3883 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I had intended to tune DGBE but might change my mind. I might even put a buzzing bridge on it like a sitar. I am not a musician and it's not and expensive guitar -- just an old one. It should be a unique instrument by the time I'm done with it though. As for the uke, my step daughter plays a soprano now, which is pretty limiting. I would like to give her something with some dignity. Also, being me, I've made ebony and olivewood decorations, an ivory bridge as nut, etc. I'll post a photo or two when it's done.

JakobVirgil  ·  3883 days ago  ·  link  ·  

D g b d is my favorite it has easy chords in all positions an a major and minor barres that do not require sobriety.

user-inactivated  ·  3882 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I had actually meant to say EBGD. Like a guitar minus two base strings. Isn't the tuning you are talking about basically a banjo tuning?

JakobVirgil  ·  3881 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yep do you how to tell if a bluegrass stage is level.

The banjo player drools out of both sides of his mouth.

user-inactivated  ·  3876 days ago  ·  link  ·  

We have some bluegrass up here (Ohio) but it is rather more popular in Kentucky (big surprise, I'm sure...). I enjoy it in small doses. I hate new country with considerable enthusiasm. Every time I pick up a banjo (something that doesn't happen often) I think to myself -- "This thing would make a pretty decent murder weapon, but I'd like a little more sustain to cover up my lack of dexterity." My stepdaughter wants one, but I don't think she'd be strong enough to lift it.

Ever see one of these?

I'm selling mine.