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Beloved Musical Instruments

69.250.187.254
Posted on May 13, 2017 at 10:28:37
jec01
Audiophile

Posts: 1462
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Joined: September 22, 2004
 The UPS man just delivered a set of new-to-me Gretsch USA Custom drums. I'm still getting them properly set up and dialed in, but I can already tell you that these are unbelievably good sounding instruments.

I bet I'm not the only inmate with an especially well-loved instrument. Please chime in with yours.

Happy listening,

Jim

"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno

 

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    ...
violin, posted on May 13, 2017 at 15:04:44
slapshot
Audiophile

Posts: 2248
Joined: January 9, 2006
 I don't own a violin, nor can I even play, but i have a fascination with the instrument. I recently listened to a revealing comparison of several Stradavari and Guaneri violins. As I get older, my interests in these instruments continues to grow. Having gone recently to a Lucia Micarelli concert (my favorite player), I was struck by how a live violin can be so much better sounding that what we hear in our listening rooms (and I consider myself to have a fairly high end system). No comparison between live and recorded violin in my mind.

 

6 string fretless bass , posted on May 13, 2017 at 16:30:53
bullethead



got into bass guitars because of Les Claypool of Primus fame.

 

Vintage Bundy Eb Clarinet, Bastardi Mouthpiece, Notono Reed. Only thing better is, posted on May 13, 2017 at 17:06:54
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 The Sound of Silence.
The Tune, or the Actual Silence...

 

Rickenbacker 4001 and Fender fretless Jazz basses [nt], posted on May 13, 2017 at 17:40:43
steve.ott@kctcs.edu
Audiophile

Posts: 795
Joined: January 16, 2009
 nt

 

Very cool!, posted on May 13, 2017 at 18:25:50
FenderLover
 Get a good workout, tonight!

8^)


Some of my favorite amps & one axe:


photo testing amps_zpscrddr4tw.jpg

 

RE: Beloved Musical Instruments, posted on May 13, 2017 at 19:22:22
Quadzilla
Audiophile

Posts: 4163
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Joined: July 31, 2003
 My favourite basses are a 1978 Fireglo Rickenbacker 4001 (owned since new) and a 2010 Tobacco Burst Gibson Thunderbird. My favourite guitars are a 1987 Guild Nightbird and a 2000 Taylor 310KCE, both natural spruce finish.







I am not allowed to have a signature line.

 

RE: Beloved Musical Instruments, posted on May 13, 2017 at 20:28:49
AudioSoul
Audiophile

Posts: 4594
Location: north central AZ
Joined: July 9, 2005

Eastman AC220, this is not a premium guitar by any means. It is a dreadnought guitar that has a laminated rosewood body with solid spruce top. I purchased this as a everyday guitar that I could leave out and not worry about humidifying. They say that laminate guitars don't improve their tone with age. I don't care this guitar sounds and plays great as is. I am very impressed with this guitar. Only $420 bucks....

 

RE: Beloved Musical Instruments, posted on May 13, 2017 at 21:25:19
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 Hamburg Steinway piano. Amati, Stradivarius, and Guarneri violins. Bach and Schilke trumpets. Powell flutes. Fender and Gibson electric guitars. Marshall guitar amps. Hammond B-3 organ. Ludwig, Gretsch, and Tama drums......

 

My voice, still., posted on May 13, 2017 at 21:39:39
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 Search Central and AA, under me and 'chorister'.

More? Unmodified 17C violins.

Viennese action fortepianos.

Natural trumpets.

......


Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger


 

RE: Beloved Musical Instruments, posted on May 13, 2017 at 21:41:15
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2199
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016
 My Guild D-55.




 

RE: violin, posted on May 14, 2017 at 00:02:50
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 A classical guitar custom made by Lance Litchfield who is an Australian guitar maker. It is a lattice braced guitar which means it has a very thin ceder top with carbon fiber impregnated wood bracing and heavy side and back wood. The side and back wood is an Australian blackwood. It was made in 2002 and was bought by me about 7 years ago. If you wanted to buy this guitar today it would take about two years and would run about 12 to 15 thousand dollars. I love this instrument
Alan

 

RE: My analogue modular synth.* , posted on May 14, 2017 at 05:35:19
b.l.zeebub
Audiophile

Posts: 9361
Location: 52deg 28'N,1deg56'W
Joined: April 17, 2006
 *

 

RE: Beloved Musical Instruments, posted on May 14, 2017 at 09:52:06
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001




An old picture of my 1975 Vistalites with Zyldjians
=========================
You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

Mas..., posted on May 14, 2017 at 10:05:53
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31879
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004



a
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

+1 nt, posted on May 14, 2017 at 15:19:51
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

Late 1930s Double Bass, 63 Jazz Bass fretless , posted on May 14, 2017 at 17:10:22
M-dB
Audiophile

Posts: 295
Location: Nor Cal
Joined: June 26, 2014
 I have a garage sale set of drums with decent dw hardware so Drummers don't have to shlep their kit which has worked out very well. People rarely consider drum construction and materials and the affect it has on the overall tone. Regardless, you now possess my absolute favorite drum tone.

ENJOY and see Brian Blade at every opportunity.

 

RE: My voice, still., posted on May 14, 2017 at 17:52:24
steve.ott@kctcs.edu
Audiophile

Posts: 795
Joined: January 16, 2009
 The human voice; the most beautiful of instruments.

 

"People rarely consider drum construction and materials and the affect it has on the overall tone", posted on May 14, 2017 at 18:48:11
jec01
Audiophile

Posts: 1462
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Joined: September 22, 2004
 By "people", you presumably mean "non-drummers". If so, you are absolutely correct.

Drummers, on the other hand, are obsessed with the species, thickness and number of plys of the wood in a drum's shells, the construction technique used in making the hoops, the configuration of the lugs, the number of wires on the snares and what they're made of, and what hardware configuration is used to hold the drum up. To say nothing of the type of heads, or the type of sticks. And let's not even talk about cymbals.

Happy listening,

Jim

"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno

 

By "people", you presumably mean "non-drummers". Or musicians..., posted on May 14, 2017 at 19:28:21
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31879
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 Drummer joke.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

Presumption affirmed nT, posted on May 15, 2017 at 08:50:45
M-dB
Audiophile

Posts: 295
Location: Nor Cal
Joined: June 26, 2014
 *

 

Except for:, posted on May 15, 2017 at 15:47:59
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 Florence Foster Jenkins, Sarah Brightman, Cher, Yoko Ono, Tom Waites,
among MANY others!
I'm glad Timbo has such a high opinion of his...
No shortage of Humility in the Music World, that's for sure!

 

It's the Vintage Plastic. The new stuff just doesn't cut it...!, posted on May 15, 2017 at 15:49:32
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 /

 

OK, I've got one, seriously., posted on May 15, 2017 at 15:52:23
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 Mid 1930s Conn Baritone Sax.
Just a little newer than Gerry Mulligan's, tho his was Gold Plated.
Mine was The Official Baritone Sax of the 1936 Olympics.
Or could have been.

 

At the age of 11 I was made a leader in a Royal School of Music choir., posted on May 17, 2017 at 02:15:42
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 And I do have perfect pitch. This means that I find equal temperament quite difficult. All the time.

I've been singing in Choirs since I was nine, that's 57 years ago. Not so much lately.

I don't actually have a high opinion of my voice, as I am severely aware of my several flaws, always have been, .... I just work at it, always have, once I was trained.

Lots of people tell me that I have a lovely singing voice. Particularly choirmasters.

I simply love singing.

You love taking the piss, I see!



Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger


 

The Thread is for "Beloved Musical Instruments.", posted on May 17, 2017 at 09:43:20
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 So, you tell me....
Anyway, I didn't mean to imply you aren't a good singer.

 

Perfect Pitch, posted on May 17, 2017 at 10:08:09
Inmate51
 "I do have perfect pitch."

Actually, there's no such thing as perfect pitch. I can present you with a tone, and you will not be able to identify its frequency nor its musical note. Although, with experience, you may come close. Similarly, I can ask you to sing a concert C, or a tone of 285 Hz, and you will not be able to do so without a reference tone.

There is, however, "nearly perfect relative pitch", which is probably what you mean. It's the ability to identify/produce a correct/natural interval ('just intonation', which is based on the harmonics of a tone) between two notes, as opposed to an interval which is a bit "off" (such as 'equal temperament').

While some people are better at this than others, much as some people are better at painting or math or whatever, it's largely a brain predisposition to readily learn the skill.

:)

 

Sorry, disagree., posted on May 17, 2017 at 10:13:27
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 I had a friend in college who could identify ANY note played on Alto Sax ( his Inst ),
Blind Testing.
Never missed.
George Duke transcribed Dolphin Dance ( Including Chord Symbols ) while listening to it on an LP, no piano used.
I've known lots of people w/Perfect Pitch.
They wouldn't agree with you either!

 

All classifications are arbitrary, no? ;-)! , posted on May 17, 2017 at 14:45:11
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 :-)


Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger


 

I know lots of people who are very good at relative pitch within 'equal temperament', posted on May 17, 2017 at 14:49:24
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 They tend to regard themselves as having perfect pitch.

I simply find equal temperament difficult to like. Sometimes very, mostly I cope.

Have to.

I do prefer HIPerformances.


Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger


 

RE: Sorry, disagree., posted on May 17, 2017 at 16:14:40
Inmate51
 "I've known lots of people w/Perfect Pitch."

Sorry, but, as a musician and audio engineer, I've never met anyone who could perfectly identify a tone's frequency/musical note without having a reference tone.

You'll have to prove your assertion, or agree that it's anecdotal and unsubstantiated.

:)

 

My Selmer VI Soprano, posted on May 17, 2017 at 17:21:48
Shaun E
Audiophile

Posts: 166
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: June 1, 2003



For most beloved saxophones it's tough to beat the legendary Selmer VI. In the sax community there's a great deal of spirited discussion over the legacy of iconic saxes; the Selmers, Kings, Conns, etc. But pound for pound I really don't think any of them have the same allure and legend of the VI. It's to the point now that collectors who have no otherwise interest in saxophones are snatching them up as investments. Because of this "reasonably" priced Selmer VIs are getting fewer and further between.

I'm lucky to own a later vintage VI soprano. It's not without its quirks, but really is a special horn.

That being said, for my personally most cherished horn I'd have to go with my tenor - a simple Selmer USA. I've had it since 1983. There's something special about it. I've tried other vintage tenors, a Conn Naked Lady, Selmer Balanced Action, VIs and VIIs (the VII is not as bad a horn as its reputation) as well as newer Keilwerths, Yamahas, Yanigasawas, but the sound and feel of my early production USA is home to me.

But any way you cut it - it's hard to beat any cherished musical instrument.

 

Well, I wouldn't respond with the name of my Real Estate Agent..., posted on May 17, 2017 at 18:51:53
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 Beloved tho they may be!

 

RE: My Selmer VI Soprano, posted on May 17, 2017 at 20:40:49
M-dB
Audiophile

Posts: 295
Location: Nor Cal
Joined: June 26, 2014
 ["But any way you cut it - it's hard to beat any cherished musical instrument."]

Very profound, I couldn't agree more.

I've had a few valuable and well respected instruments that easily exceeded their reputations. Oddly, its my low valued knock around instrument that I seem to use the most that I find I cherish the most. Recently it needed a major repair and I found a Luthier, new to me, give it a major going over costing more than its worth and the results are simply breathtaking to me.

Now, what's the story behind the photograph of that massive stand mounted contra baritone? What is it called and what's its low note?

 

RE: I know lots of people who are very good at relative pitch within 'equal temperament', posted on May 18, 2017 at 08:46:05
Inmate51
 "They tend to regard themselves as having perfect pitch."

Most of us tend to regard ourselves in some positive way or another, but that doesn't make it so.

Often, amateur and semi-professionals mistakenly assign/label a skill as this-or-that, when it is not. Such is the case with "perfect pitch". It is always relative to another tone. Who doesn't get that?

:)

 

Contra Bass Sax. As you can see,, posted on May 18, 2017 at 08:47:57
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 you stand to play it, on a stand, of course!
The key-spread and opening must be hard to navigate.
Low, Low Bb, Concert Ab, 3 leger lines below the Bass Clef Staff is the low note.
I only played regular Bass Sax once, Low Bb was easily twice as loud as any other Low note on it, an amazing Note!

 

Is that Anthony Braxton playing it?, posted on May 18, 2017 at 08:54:26
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 He used to teach here at Mills college.
Published a Multi Volume Set of Books, about exactly what I'm not sure.
Probably anyone who read any isn't either...!
Mostly a very avant guard player, played w/Chick Corea, but put out an album of Standards.
He should stick to the weird stuff, IMO!

 

RE: Contra Bass Sax. As you can see,, posted on May 18, 2017 at 09:50:49
Inmate51
 Ya gotta hear/see my good buddy Denis DiBlasio play bari sax.

Google Denis DiBlasio.

The guy does amazing scat on flute, too.

:)

 

RE: Is that Anthony Braxton playing it?, posted on May 18, 2017 at 10:45:07
Shaun E
Audiophile

Posts: 166
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: June 1, 2003
 That is indeed Braxton! It appears that I may have a more favorable opinion of his catalog, but "For Alto", "Six Monk's Compositions", and Circle's "Paris Concert" are stellar recordings essential for anyone interested in avant-garde jazz.

 

RE: Is that Anthony Braxton playing it?, posted on May 18, 2017 at 11:55:17
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 I don't dislike him, and anyone who played w/Chick has got to have something going on!
I just didn't think his Standards album was at the level of, say Phil Woods playing Standards.
But that's not really Anthony's thing.
I'll be getting the Paris Concert on Hi-res Download one of these days.
I heard Circle Live at the Both/And in SF, way back when...

 

RE: Contra Bass Sax. As you can see,, posted on May 18, 2017 at 11:56:32
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 And don't forget Gary Smulyan and Frank Basille.

 

BTW, notice my Moniker? nt, posted on May 18, 2017 at 12:06:45
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 /

 

RE: Beloved Musical Instruments, posted on May 18, 2017 at 14:15:30
Inmate51
 My Getzen Severinsen Eterna Bb trumpet, serial # 354, is a very nice horn, but I'm not in love with it. I am much more fond of my Getzen Eterna C trumpet. But it's not particularly special, either, although I'd rate it as an "8.5" on a scale of one to ten.

The instrument which really sticks in my head is my friend's violin. In 1974, she boarded a train to Cremona, Italy. There, she bought this awesome violin with a very pronounced "tiger stripe" wood grain on the back. She says it is still her favorite violin.

Ok, that's all I've got.

:)

 

RE: BTW, notice my Moniker? nt, posted on May 18, 2017 at 21:57:00
Shaun E
Audiophile

Posts: 166
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: June 1, 2003
 HA! I've been a lurker here for years and years, occasionally post/reply, and I've seen so many of your posts...

But I'm such a lazy reader I always thought your moniker was OldMike.

Man, I REALLY gotta start paying more attention to stuff. Welp, good to meet you Ol' Mike. :)

 

LOLOLOL!, posted on May 20, 2017 at 07:42:50
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 And it's ( Old ) Jim!

 

RE: LOLOLOL!, posted on May 20, 2017 at 07:58:20
Inmate51
 OK, I give up. What is "mkvi", beyond "Mark 6"?

:)

 

OK, it's Old Mark 6, posted on May 20, 2017 at 08:41:46
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10583
Joined: April 12, 2002
 which is what they All are now!

 

RE: OK, it's Old Mark 6, posted on May 20, 2017 at 08:55:18
Inmate51
 Yeah, yeah, old Mark 6. But What?

The last Revox A77 was MkIV (which I have).

What's a Mark 6?

:)

 

RE: OK, it's Old Mark 6, posted on May 20, 2017 at 11:35:31
Shaun E
Audiophile

Posts: 166
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: June 1, 2003
 What's a Mark 6? Well, it's only...

 

RE: LOLOLOL!, posted on May 20, 2017 at 11:38:14
Shaun E
Audiophile

Posts: 166
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: June 1, 2003
 Great to have an official introduction Ol' Jim! I'm Middle-Aged Shaun.

 

RE: OK, it's Old Mark 6, posted on May 20, 2017 at 13:56:05
Inmate51
 Hahahaha!

Great! Thanks!

:)

 

RE: Beloved Musical Instruments, posted on May 22, 2017 at 15:55:14
jsch3
Audiophile

Posts: 74
Location: New York
Joined: July 17, 2011



A nice topic!

I've owned many bassoons in my lifetime but now have only three; a Polisi, a Masi from Florence, and my latest acquisition, a Ducasse from Paris. This instrument is interesting in that it is a French bassoon with a German key system.

However, my pride and joy is Heckelphone #5021. As the story goes, Wagner wanted an instrument to bridge the gap between the oboe and bassoon and went to the famous Heckel firm near Wiesbaden to develop this. Wagner died before it was ready but Ricard Strauss among several others embraced the instrument.

There are about 100 of these in existence and mine is the last one to enter the U.S.
Heckel stopped making them last year as their bassoon back order list has gotten longer and longer.


 

RE: Beloved Musical Instruments, posted on May 23, 2017 at 12:26:13
krankkall
Audiophile

Posts: 296
Location: New Mexico
Joined: April 5, 2014
 1986 Westone MIJ Spectrum ST electric guitar.
I kept it all stock, and has THE most comfortable neck I have ever played with.

Now if only I wasn't such a third-rate hack...................................

Steve

 

More Drums (and Cymbals), posted on May 27, 2017 at 06:29:10
Jim Hodgson
Audiophile

Posts: 399
Location: New York City
Joined: March 9, 2006
 I have a set of Yamaha Recording Customs that belonged to Steve Gadd. They haven't been set up in a while -- but should be.

I also have about a dozen very thin Old Ks that I've been collecting since I was 15.

jec01 ... are you on Drum Forum?

 

RE: More Drums (and Cymbals), posted on May 29, 2017 at 14:58:26
Raymond Leggs
Audiophile

Posts: 748
Joined: November 25, 2007
 I tried to learn electric guitar, plan on moving on to bass or mandolin already play violin and a bit of keys! Starting on ukulele!

 

RE: More Drums (and Cymbals), posted on May 30, 2017 at 07:42:34
Inmate51
 That's excellent! Steve Gadd is one of my favorite drummers. The first time I saw him was in the early '70s in Atlanta at the Music Educators National Conference (MENC). He was the featured drummer with the Eastman Studio Orchestra under the direction of Chuck Mangione. The last time I saw him live was about 7-8 years ago when he was doing a clinic here in the area (I think for Yamaha - not sure anymore).

If you haven't already got it, you should check out Eric Clapton's "One More Car, One More Rider" DVD from 2001/2002. Very well-recorded, too. Steve Gadd was the drummer. Just awesome. There were parts of some tunes where he absolutely wailed on his drums! He was like a wild man. And then, he'd pull out the brushes and do the most laid back soft playing during "Over The Rainbow".

Another fave drummer is my acquaintance Stockton Helbing. Really nice guy. He lives here in the Dallas area, and was Maynard Ferguson's drummer and music director. More recently, he's played with Doc Severinsen's big band. He also has a few CDs of his own small jazz group. Check him out.

Ok, that's all I've got.

:)

 

another guitar, posted on May 31, 2017 at 16:01:32
Jack D II
Audiophile

Posts: 1535
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Joined: June 17, 2009
 After fighting a J$% adjustable bridge Gibson for 40+ years I finally got a Taylor 814 ce LTD and it's a blessing.

 

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