From My Mouth (keyboard??) to God's Ear

It seems like every time I think that I've settled into what works, change rears it's ugly head. I just finished writing about where I am at with tone, and then I go changing everything around.

As mentioned, I just bought a new Roland AC-60 Acoustic amplifier. Listening to my guitars through the amp at close range revealed the need to tweak the placement of the iBeam pick-ups in some of my guitars. That was yesterdays little project. One of the things that I like about the iBeam (other than the sound) is that you can move the thing around as needed, and without major surgery. It fastens in place with 3M double-stick tape.

I have a 1992 Taylor 555 and 3 Lowden 12-strings. The iBeam comes with a jig for installing it in the proper location on guitars with a pin bridge, like the Taylor. I don't use the jig. I have a better method, but that is another story for another day. None-pin bridges, like on the Lowdens require you to drill a tiny pilot hole through the saddle slot to help you locate the ideal location.

I had initially installed the pick-ups a little further back to get some body into the sound. But through the amp, it sounded rather tubby and hollow. Moving the pick-up a little further forward, directly under the saddle gives a little more snap to the sound, but without the "quack" associated with under saddle pick-ups. On three of the guitars, that change came off without a hitch. But on one of the Lowdens, it would seem that the X-braces are a little further back than on the others. Of course, it is the guitar that I use live most of the time.





The picture doesn't tell the entire tale, but the iBeam is right up against the X-brace, and still not directly under the saddle. Other than going with a different pick-up like a McIntyre or K&K, I don't have an immediate solution.

The other changes are still up in the air, and much more easily reversed. Since I can get all of the volume that I could want through the amp, and since I already had one broken nail, I clipped them all short, revisiting the all flesh approach. And since the all flesh approach generally requires a softer attack, I de-tuned an additional half step, putting my D all the way down to B♭.

We'll see how long this lasts.

Tone: Where I'm at Now

Lately, I've been writing more about "Life" and not so much about "Acoustic Music." Things have been busy on both fronts, nonetheless. This past weekend, I played with the band. I've also been playing at my church on weeks when I am not running the soundboard or away.

In my two part article on tone last January [part 1 & part 2] I talked about string gauge, nail care, and a few other tidbits. Most of what I said then still remains the same, but I've settled on a few things that are worth looking at.

I'm staying 3 half-steps down, even in band situations. When I play with others, I find myself using a capo quite a bit. I have found that if I put a capo on the 12-string, I have to tweak the tuning a little bit. I can then move it up or down without having to make many adjustments. If I remove the capo, I again need to tweak the tuning. So I have found that if I leave the capo on, in various positions for the entire show, I have two advantages:

1. I do not have to tweak the tuning as much
2. I always know where the capo is

I have also settled on a slightly lighter string set-up:

1. .013 .013
2. .017 .017
3. .010 .026
4. .014 .035
5. .023 .045
6. .030 .056

Amplifying an acoustic guitar is a complicated issue, and the correct way to do it depends on who you ask. Everyone has their own set-up and their own reasons for using it. I don't really think that there is a right or wrong way to do it. Truthfully, if I were doing mine over, there are things that I would do differently. But my set-up is simple and it suits me.

I use a contact pick-up inside of the guitar. Mine is an LR Baggs iBeam. I also occasionally use an LR Baggs M1 Magnetic pick-up if I have a second channel available. I run each pick-up through an LR Baggs PADI direct box. If I bring my own sound system, I use a Roland AC-60 amplifier which is lightweight, but gets the job done.

As for the nails, I still use them and they still annoy me. I broke one this week, predictably two days before the show. I have my thumbnail grown out, but I seem to use a thumbpick most of the time.

Until next time, here is my latest tune:

Ubuntu 9.10

When 9.04 came out, my plan was to try out Xubuntu and see if it's reported lighter memory footprint gave me a noticeable improvement in speed. It didn't even last a week. Perhaps it was all of the Gnome applications used in Xubuntu. Or, it could be that my computers are too fast to "notice" the difference. Either way, the trade offs were not worth it.

A couple of years ago, I was fascinated with the idea of tweaking the computer and the OS for optimal performance. My thinking was that in the process, I would learn a few things. But with each recent release of Ubuntu, the performance has been improving without any help from me.

I also had to step back and take a look at what I use the computer for, and at time management. Does it really make sense to spend a couple of hours trying to eek a couple of nanoseconds of extra performance from a computer. These days, all that I use the computer for is to surf the web, check my e-mail, and upload an occasional video to my YouTube page. Oh, and to write the occasional blog entry.

I'm running 8.10 on my own laptop, and 9.04 on my wife's. I did a clean install when we got my wife a newer laptop for home, and relegated her old one for use at school. I never got around to upgrading my own. With the soon release of 9.10, I decided to wait it out.

What I am really looking forward to is the next LTS. When that comes out, I will probably stay put for a while.

Eight Years Later

I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was traveling on Interstate 80 from Ohio to New York City. I had overslept and now I was going to have to deal with rush hour traffic going into the city. I decided to make a detour into the Vince Lombardi Service Plaza on the NJ Turnpike before I headed into the city. As I was parking, I noticed the time - 8:45 AM. At that same moment, American Airlines Flight 11 was slamming into the North Tower.

You could see the top half of the Twin Towers from there. As I was walking across the parking lot, I looked up and noticed that one of the Towers was on fire. Over the next few minutes as I, along with a number of others watched, I wound up in a conversation with another traveler. I wondered aloud what could have caused such a massive fire. Just then, someone else walked by and responded that a plane had struck the tower.

I remember thinking that the pilot must have lost complete control of the aircraft in order for that to happen. At this point, I was thinking that it was some sort of horrible accident. Only a few moments later, as we watched United Airlines Flight 175 crashing into the South Tower - it was then that I realized that we were under attack.




There is a lot more that I remember, but I will leave it at this. All these years later, the memories are still vivid. The emotions are still raw.

As I said a year ago, never forget. I know that I won't.

Beautiful Northern Vermont

As I write this, my wife and I are on vacation at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT. It was a long drive up here, but well worth it. Of course, the week that we finally get something resembling a heat wave, we are staying at a place that doesn't have air conditioning. The nights here are cool enough that it isn't unbearable, though.



The scenery is everything you would expect from Wheythafugobin, VT.


Ben & Jerry's Entrance:


On Tuesday we visited - among other places - the world famous Ben & Jerry's. We took a tour of the factory, and sampled the flavor of the day. You can buy the ice cream for the same price in the local grocery store as at the company store. Since we had other places that we wanted to check out, we bought a pint of Peanut Butter Cup later on.


Cowmobile:


From the Ben & Jerry's website:

In 1986, Ben & Jerry's launched its "Cowmobile," a modified mobile home used to distribute free scoops of Ben & Jerry's ice cream in a unique, cross-country "marketing drive" -- driven and served by Ben and Jerry themselves. The "Cowmobile" burned to the ground outside of Cleveland four months later, but there were no injuries. Ben said it looked like "the world's largest baked Alaska."

Next stop was the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. We sampled some of their Apple Cider, and bought a dozen "Legendary Cider Donuts." Good thing we only do something like this once a year.

We also checked out Ziemke Glassblowing Studio. Watching these artisans work in a studio that was 130°F, you really begin to appreciate the passion and dedication that goes into each unique piece.

Wednesday night, we went on an "Herbal Walk." Elyse, a local herbalist, took us around the grounds pointing out various herbs, and some of their medicinal uses. She recommended a book by herbalist Matthew Wood called "The Book of Herbal Wisdom" which looks like a good read.

First stop on Thursday was Green Mountain Harley-Davidson. I am not a huge believer in paying somebody to advertise their product. For some reason though, I like picking up a shirt from the various places that I visit.

Advance Music Center, which advertises itself as Vermont's largest music store was next. I wanted to try out an effect pedal - a Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb. They didn't have one in stock to sell me, but they were very accommodating nonetheless. The only 12-string they had was a Taylor 454ce, which sounded HUGE with this pedal.

Magic Hat Brewery offers free tours of the brewery as well as free samples of their various brews. Free is good. Their brews have very creative names like Feast of Fools (Stout), Wacko (Beet Red Summer Beer) or Roxy Rolles (Autumn Ale).

We head home on Friday. The week went fast. I wish work weeks went this quickly.



For more pictures, check out my Flickr page, as well as my wife's.

I Still Do

Twenty-four years ago today, my wife and I met at the front of a tiny, small town church in front of friends and family, and we said "I do."

Two states, three houses, and four dogs later, I still do.





My wife and our dog, playing in the snow after an end of season storm last March.

Covered Bridge Tour

We took another motorcycle trip this weekend. This time we went East into Lancaster County to check out some of the covered bridges in the area. My wife found the "Pequea Creek Covered Bridge Tour" on the Lancaster County Website.

After checking out the Eshelman's Mill Bridge and the Herr's Mill Bridge, we stopped for ice cream in Strasburg at the Strasburg Country Store & Creamery. Then we rode over the Neff's Mill Bridge.

We stopped at the next one to take some pictures. Below is the Lime Valley Bridge:



Next stop was the Baumgardner's Mill Bridge, followed by the Colemanville Bridge pictured below:









The Colemanville Bridge crosses over the Pequea Creek. There were folks tubing, kayaking, fishing, you name it. There is also a campground about a mile from the bridge. This calls for further investigation and more than likely, a trip back with the camper.



The last bridge that we checked out was the Kurtz's Mill Bridge. There is one more bridge on the tour, but we decided to save that for another day. We gassed up and started the journey back. Everyone was getting hungry as well, so we stopped at a restaurant in Lancaster. After a day of riding, we couldn't help but be amused by one of the signs hanging on the wall.



They must have known we were coming.

Gettysburg Bike Week

"...now that riding season is half over."




My winter bike project took way too long to finish. My work schedule prevents me from getting much done during the week.




I had to relocate the turn signals several times before I found a spot that was aesthetically pleasing while at the same time, not trying to occupy the same space as the saddlebags.

After I stripped down the saddle bags, I took them to *FM, my paint guy. The paint job was delayed because halfway into the job, he had some equipment problems. Still, the bags came out great.

I spent the next four weekends chasing after parts that I would suddenly discover that I needed.

There is still a lot more to do. New seat. Stainless steel braided brake lines, shorter throttle cable, shorter clutch cable. I used to have taller handlebars. I switched to shorter bars because my shoulder was starting to bother me. But it's riding season, and all of this can wait.

So today is the last day of Gettysburg Bike Week. My wife and I hooked up with our friends *J&C and braved rain and weekend tourists to get there. Our first stop was Battlefield Harley-Davidson. Good thing we stopped. Five minutes later, the sky opened up. It rained buckets.

After the rain cleared, we rode west to the Museum and Visitor Center. One of the things that I love about this area of PA is that it is so rich in history.

We intended to check out a few other things, but they were setting up for a parade through the middle of town. We didn't want to get stuck in that mess, so we headed back east. We stopped for dinner on the way home.

The day was over too soon.




*I don't do real names.

Making Healthy Choices

My wife and I have always watched our weight. We have always done some form of exercise. Like most people, that was about the extent of what we regarded as a "healthy lifestyle."

A few years ago, we made the decision to eat entirely all natural and organic foods. My Father-In-Law encouraged that decision for years. The final straw for me though, was my previous job.

Prior to our move to Pennsylvania, I worked at a chemical company. That company serviced a number of industries including the food industry. All I will say is that you would be alarmed, if not shocked at what goes into some of the food that you eat.

As far as exercise, I have always been more interested in body-weight exercises than in weight-lifting. My present job involves a fair amount of travel and I don't always have access to a gym, so it is easier to maintain a routine this way. I have a long term goal of doing 100 push-ups, 200 sit-ups, 200 squats, and 50 chin-ups. There isn't a website for that last one, at least not yet.

Lastly, we recently took up yoga. My wife is in college and one of her requirements was to take a phys-ed class. She chose yoga. She did well in the class, and I decided to continue on with her once the class ended. At 40+, I don't know if I'll ever be as limber as these folks, but at least I have something to aim for.

That One Good Note

I first read about him in "Fingerstyle Guitar" magazine (May/June 1995) in an article called "The Art & Artistry of the 12-string Guitar." His name is Michael Gulezian. I was intrigued by some of his ideas and thoughts on the 12-string guitar, but researching things in the days prior to the Internet required more leg work. I heard his name occasionally over the next few years.

Interestingly, the first tune of his that I heard was on the 6-string guitar. It was a tune posted on YouTube called Mile High Country. It was beautiful, and Michael played it with fire and passion. The very first note had this sense of longing. Shortly after that, I purchased two of his cd's.

I recently had the opportunity to meet Michael. We had arranged to do a house concert here in my home. Somehow, the dates got mixed up. He was already in route when we discovered the mistake and the concert had to be canceled. We both felt awful about it, but we made the best of it and spent some time playing and talking about guitars, travel, and the music business.

Michael plays with the passion and skill of a classical player, but his music is all his own. He uses a number of different tunings. He finds his way around in each one as if it were the only tuning that he used. He uses a two-handed tapping style for some of his pieces as well. Unlike a lot of the imitators out there, Michael creates pieces with melody, mood, even a certain spiritual quality. His use of tunings, rhythmic techniques and even electronic effects are all an integral part of the music that he creates.

I listen to "Concert at St. Olaf College" quite a bit on my MP3 player. It opens with "Mile High Country." I love that first note, and each one that follows it.

Here is a tune that Michael plays on the 12-string guitar. It is called "Whale in the Sky." The tuning is D, G, D, F#, G/A, D/E. The tuning is lowered by at least a full step. The two highest pairs of strings - which are normally tuned in unison - are tuned a step apart. It shouldn't work but Michael makes it work, and very well.



Safe travels, my friend.