which will be held in Bradford. 2006.
Please help us spread the word to members of your organizations and at
your events.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to participate in
instructional workshops. and open jam sessions featuring old
time. and World folk
music. An amazing lineup of talent. including Simple Gifts. Kendra Ward
and Bob Bence. The Doerfel Family Bluegrass Band. Sterl
Van Arsdale. The Allegheny Mountain Dulcimers. and Curt Osgood will
perform concerts and present workshops.
Activities will kick off on Friday night with a concert featuring
workshop instructors followed by a contra dance. Saturday's events
will consist of workshops in the morning and afternoon. Open jam
sessions will take place throughout the day. Saturday night will
feature a concert and contra dance. and several additional workshops
will be offered on Sunday. More information about activities.

Guitar Lesson

Bette and I will be heading to CA for a preemptory look-see for a
possible move. She's a medical lab tech at Johns Hopkins and can get a gig
pretty much anywhere.
I'd be looking for a market where I could do studio audio (music and
commercials) location audio for film and video shoots. and AFTRA/SAG voice
work.
I plan to relocate my studio. There aren't a lot of basements in which to put
a studio. but that can be solved somehow or somewhere else.
San Diego has the weather and is cheaper than San Francisco and less nuts
than LA. but has less business than LA.
I hear rumors about earthquakes. but the real estate people don't seem to
know anything about them!
San Diego's Rose Canyon has the most noticeable fault line in the
populated areas if memory serves but. there have not been any shakes of
consequence since I've been here (late 1960s).

California is a crowded. seismically unstable and
mal-governed place with the largest collection of big populations of
immigrants ever to assemble in one area in human history. There are
far more cars than people in California. and Los Angeles Country is the
tail that wags the whole dog politically: 1/3rd of California's
population lives there. There is no rational reason to live here. But
a great many people want to. passionately. Why? are a few reasons. What I generally
tell people about the San Francisco area is this: you wouldn't find it
hard to understand that you'd have to make some sacrifices to live in
New York City. but there are reasons why living there might be worth
those sacrifices. San Francisco is actually the same way. but for
somewhat different reasons. (Same for LA.) You have to REALLY want to
be here for reasons other than affordable housing.
earnings-to-lifestyle ratios. in the case of San Francisco and San
Diego. the movie business. Everything you've heard is true: do you
have another reason for being here?
You may still be surprised at housing prices in San Diego. Prices have
started to stabilize and go down a little in places. but they are very
HIGH.

PS - I live close to Loma Linda & that might be a good place for your
wife to work. You would basically be 60 miles from LA and the housing
prices. are much less than further west.

<<< I recommend staying out of the SF Valley for sure. >>
Well. there's the Valley. & then there's the Valley. If one ends up on
the flatlands over by the Burbank Airport one will wish for a quick
death. OTOH I know people in the hills south of Ventura Blvd who are
living in fat city. Parts of the Valley are like Bel Air. >>>
Burbank is the center of the media world. NBC/Universal. etc. Others right next door in Glendale.There are
certainly better places to live (as well as worse) but its a great place
to have a media production studio. if you don`t mind lots of
competition. If your quality level is good your reputation will get you
business.
My Friend Del Casher. a great guitar player who has played with everyone
from Gene Autry to Frank Zappa. owns a nice studio in Burbank. His
studio does mostly voice over work . dubbing for Japanese anime. etc.
and is usually quite busy. He lives up in Beverly Hills somewhere. I
think he got in before the real estate prices climbed to the insane
levels they have recently achieved. Everyone is waiting for the bubble
to burst. but if or when it does. nobody expects prices to subside very
much. There is a great website (I forget the name) that shows aerial
views of a given area and superimposed prices over each property.
There are lots of studios all over Studio City. Van Nuys as well as Santa Clarita up to the north (hot
up there all summer. worse than the SFV).
Like everywhere else. There are good and bad areas. Most of us lock our
doors. L.A. is such a mobile community that you could randomly get hit
anywhere. This is simply a sad fact of modern society. I was close to
the epicenters of both the Northridge and Sylmar quakes. but will take
that risk over living somewhere under risk of Hurricanes. but my hands are on fire " - Bob Dylan


Guitar Lesson

but I am also
interested in guitar building/construction.
I think the Pavan are probably made by a company that makes a lot of
"factory" guitars in Spain and Tom does the quality control. I wonder
about fan bracing and stuff like that. Everyone says they sounds great
(like a $2000/$3000 guitar). but I would like to know more about their
contruction.
What is an "Individual Artisans"? what is a guitar made by
an Individual Artisans. is that one step up from a "factory" guitar?
Looks like a great value in an inexpensive instrument. Call Tom at the
toll free number and ask him the questions you posed to the group. I've
never seen or played one.

and could not be happier. it's got a cedar top.
and it sounds lovely. the best person to answer your questions is the
man himself-tom prisloe. he's very kind and generous with his
knowledge---
i shopped (and shopped) for a nice classical. as the story goes. beer pocketbook. once you get into the higher end. the
high end goes UP real quick! through in a good case and shipping. and i stayed
well below my budget. you need to realize that a grand is but a drop
in the bucket....wish i had 6 or 7 grand to spend!
i shopped (and shopped) for a nice classical. as the story goes. beer pocketbook. once you get into the higher end. through in a good case and shipping.
so I'l do my best to explain everything.


Guitar Lesson

when I file my nails for playing I always file the RH
fingernails high on the thumb side. which is the string contact point.
and low on the pinky side.
As the nails grow. the pinky side grows
faster than the thumb side. so that in a week the nails are level
across the top again.
I assume that the action of filing encourages nail growth. a bit like
pruning roses. the harder you prune them the more vigorous the growth.


Guitar Lesson

but the backlog of "stuff what I gotta say to rmmga"
is getting larger and larger.
I got a new guitar! one of Harv's Voyage-air gems. serial
number VGB-42. it's awesome and wonderful and rings in my head forever
and is everything I wished and a few things I didn't dare wish but got
anyway
I installed pickup that lasted just long enough to record a single track
and mail it off (I got it partially working again tonight. Thursday I left to attend Fur Peace Ranch. but stopped by my kid's place
to play music and eat and catch a night's sleep
then my kid had her kid. in the night/Fryday morning early. no sleep
for *any* of us :-) (I was late for the music camp - duh! then I came home to a flooded basement. and have been cleaning and
carrying and meeting with adjustor and cleanup people
and we (rmmga) also gave away another guitar to a Katrina victim -
supposedly a pic or two will surface someday. but it went to a wonderful
recipient
so I have LOTS of stories to tell. but all you get today is the
condensed version. I have pics of guitar and kid. but they are on the laptop -when I can
focus I'll dump them somewhere world-readable

You'll have to post something about Fur Peace. I've always wanted to go.
especially since it's fairly close. but never had the time or $ to do it.
Got to be a very cool experience. Another Katrina Guitar! I still think this is one of the greatest things
ever to come out of RMMGA. I know you've been one of the prime movers in
this project. You should be very proud of what you've helped accomplish!
That's not a full weekend. Crazy. Hope things
settle down a bit. Our youngest's house flooded a couple of weeks ago
when the hot water heater broke. I know it's no fun. Good luck with
that and congratulations on the grandson.

there is more opportunity



(Not on the flood... or even on the guitar.

Guitar Lesson

I am a youth worship leader at church and found myself having to change
the chords of tabs for different singers all the time. So. I created a
new tool to change the tone/key of tab chords automatically.

I know what you mean about having to transpose songs
manually! I finished a simple version of the standalone that loads
songs. and lets you save the transposed results. I
figured I'd make it free and leave it up to folks to leave a little
donation if they find it helpful! Might not make anything. but I guess
it's my little way of giving back. :)
You can install it now from the website. but if it doesn't work. will check for updates and install them upon
your consent. So. if you can do that one. you'll always have the latest
version.
Thanks again for your encouragement! It's actually my first real world
program! I look forward to improving on it. and working on others!

Guitar Lesson

a 17-year-old (born 1989) Australian acoustic guitarist
of extraordinary dexterity and rhythm. already composing instrumentals
for virtuoso guitar to show off his ability. Has been studying with
Tommy Emmanuel.
Saw him at the Blue Festival this year (though he's not a blues player;
think Leo Kottke) and he had my complete attention. Great dynamics;
keeps you interested.


Guitar Lesson

Those of you who made the deadline for CD-IV -- check Jim's listing to
see who you are -- look and make sure you have submitted liner notes.
I expect most of you have gotten your notes in. but if you haven't. it
might slow things down. so better early and off your plate. You don't
want to be the last person holding up the party with everybody glaring
in your direction ...
The form is simple -- you want to tell us what you were playing and how
you got the sound from the guitar into the submission. You can offer
the key or tuning. what kinds of strings you used. any interesting
tidbits about maybe where you did the recording and how. even a little
about the song and why you chose (or wrote it. Keep in mind these need to be brief. Even though they will be posted
online. soliloquies fit for Hamlet are hereby discouraged. What you
send will be trimmed if it is overlong. so there's no point in wasting
your words (and Jennifer's time).
The liner notes were posted alphabetically on the two previous
collections. artist or band name. and while I haven't asked Jennifer
about it. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them done that way this
time out. The online posting will parenthetically show the song's
writer. and the disc and track where the cut is to be
found next to that.


Guitar Lesson

Martin OM-21 guitar in very good condition. Honey Sitka top and nicely
figured solid Rosewood back and sides. Also a professionally installed
Fishman pickup under the saddle. This guitar sounds and plays like a
dream. It comes with the original hardshell case also in excellent
condition. The OM-21 is a great guitar for all styles of music. This
guitar retails for $2.
It is NOT a vintage instrument - About 4 old if memory serves me
correct - Recently gone over by my Luthier so there are absolutely no
issues - Looks good. plays good sounds good - Hard to beat the quality
at this price

Tony - Thanks for the explanation - I am enlightened - I'd be happy to
share with everyone - Bottom line is I'd much rather play guitars. or
talk about guitars. or buy guitars then sell them
My situation is I just have to many OM's and it's time to thin the
heard - I've been very happy with this guitar and now someone else is
going have a great new friend - Doesn't somebody want to take this lady
home?
Thanks for the kind words - Now doesn't somebody want to take this OM21
and make some great music? If I hadn't stumbled across the Froggy it
wouldn't be up up for sale - but I did and it is


Guitar Lesson

Hristo sent me a DVD of his pictures about a month ago....unfortunately. college and high school graduations. and lots of work kept
me from doing anything about it until now.
I started to put captions on them. but just ran out of time. You can add
comments if you like by clicking on the "add comment" button (duh!
<<<SPAM TRAP: To email me at this address. include RMMGA anywhere in the subject!

Guitar Lesson

I gave myself a present recently and decided to spend some of my social
security check to attend steve kaufman's guitar kamp this summer. I went
a bit overboard I am afraid and signed up for the whole nine yards. two
weeks of living. breathing and sleeping(sometime I hope) guitar
and mandolin. I wonder if anyone else here is also attending the kamp in
merryville tenn? I'll be leaving virginia saturday 10 june . I am
concerned my hands will fall off! I will just have to pace myself I guess

I am not too concerned about the fingers. more so about the wrists and
the hands in general. I think I am feeling the effects of too much
playing. carpal tunnel or the like. I will try a lotto of stretching
exercises and try not to overdue it every day.

And the local music store is out of hard shell cases. hard to believe a
store would run out of such a fundamental item. guess I will go to GC LOL


Guitar Lesson

I got the new undersaddle. but I broke it - need to buy a new one or
discuss repair - tried email and phone. maybe this will work?
maybe this will work?
Don
Would the "not" broken PUTW be an under saddle? If so I had a weird
experience with one and worked thru it with David's help. I'll share the fix
if that's what it was.


Guitar Lesson

I haven't blocked anyone...I'm really not that computer savvy. of course you
are the third person today to say that so maybe there is something to it. I
was just out there figuring out the whole "White List" thing so I'll add you
to that.
Email me and see if it works now...


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In case anybody in San Francisco feels like going. I'm playing two sets
of ragtime and related (turn-of-the-century) music tonight at the Rite
Spot. which is located at 17th and Folsom (Mission district).
Thanks. Craig


Unless you happen to have a time machine and know where to find Arthur
Blake.

Guitar Lesson

What a busy morning. I recieved files from 21 people this weekend.
and the mail hasn't gotten here yet. I expect several more to arrive
in the next few days.
Here is a list of the people I have recieved files from as of this
morning. I f you sent me something. and you aren't on this list.
please contact me immediately.

These CD sets are real treasures. and will always be a reminder (should
I ever be unable to post) of the great times and great people here.

and served it to the group:


Guitar Lesson

I'm curious if anyone has experience with the all solid wood Blueridge
(like the spruce/mahog BR-140 dreadnaught) and how they compare to the
cheaper laminated back/sides models (like the BR-40)...
and was impressed. especially
for the price. I thought it beat out all the other low end guitars they
carried. and they had a lot.

Solid wood guitars tend to continue to age or 'break in' for virtually all
their working life. whereas ply models tend to improve a little in the
first few weeks of life then maintain that level of performance for the rest
of their existence. Just one of many differences.
There is an explosion of good. solid wood guitars coming out of the east
these days. I'm very surprised at how fast some of these new outfits are
coming on stream and how quickly they are improving their products.
At the moment I'm involved in doing some product development and redesign
work for a company in San Diego. They are having very good solid wood
guitars built offshore under my old product name;
'Timberline'. So far I think they have about 50 US dealers. and that is
growing quickly.
I've recently redesigned the bracing system being used. and have shipped
off prototype tops as examples to the manufacturer in the hope that he can
have the new samples on the water in time for the big show in Texas.

Thanks for your comments about solid woods vs. laminates. I've only
played a couple of BR-40s (laminated) - they were very impressive for
the price. It makes sense that the solid wood models wood be even
better - just wanted that confirmed by those that own or have played
them.
I played a bunch of new Gibsons in their traveling exhibit truck a few
years ago - nothing sounded as good as the Blueridge (to my ears).
Scary.

You would think that the guitars in the Gibson mega exhibit trailer
would be the best of the best. tweaked to perfection.

tweaked to perfection.

tweaked to perfection.




Guitar Lesson