Dr. Ralph on Letterman

feeds@yuku.com (Carped35) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:56:14 GMT

My son called me from the road on Friday evening to report that Ralph Stanley would be appearing on the Letterman show that evening. I recorded the show to DVR, expecting the witty, urbane and self absorbed host to interview the self described "backwards one," who is promoting his new autobiography. What I got was Ralph and the CMB performing "Room at the Top of the Stairs" to close the show, with Letterman delivering hand shakes all around. Did anyone else see this...

Enthusiasm for musical endeavors

feeds@yuku.com (geeterpicker) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:35:27 GMT

I'm pretty much taking any gig I can get these days, but they are not equal when it comes to fun. I have a band that gives me a great deal of satisfaction to play in. The music and instrumentation is more intricate, the singing very versatile. I can play duo gigs with any of those guys and feel quite good about what we do.
I'm in another band where the music is loud and raw. I don't dislike the music, but it wears me out. The satisfaction from playing is just not the same....

Ever been annoyed by anachronistic lyrics?

feeds@yuku.com (tener6) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:03:03 GMT

This line from Richie Havens' Handsome Johnny has always annoyed me:

Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of Gettysburg?
It looks like Handsome Johnny with a flintlock in his hand,
Marching to the Gettysburg war, hey marching to the Gettysburg war.

Do we have any Civil War experts on the forum? I would like to know the...

your favourite lyric

feeds@yuku.com (aadvark) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:50:02 GMT

Dylan, 'Mr Tambourine Man'.

And if you hear vague traces of skippin' reels of rhyme

To your tambourine in time, it's just a ragged clown behind,

I wouldn't pay it any mind, it's just a shadow you're

Anyone else in Columbus OH drop by Whole foods today?

feeds@yuku.com (HellaciousG) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:53:25 GMT

And see Jorma and Barry playing to support their new herbal tea? I happened to be in town on business and dropped by. Pretty cool. They chatted with everyone, then played about 6 or 7 songs to a couple of dozen fans in the middle of the store. Jorma was playing his brand new custom M. It looked and sounded smoov and sweet. Just like the tea! I bought a few tins and got them signed. They are great musicians and just regular guys. I don't think many people knew who was playing, most...

I'm Lost.

feeds@yuku.com (Jack Reacher) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:23:06 GMT

I've been playing and taking lessons for roughly four months. Playing guitar is something I always wanted to do and now I'm doing it and love it. My problem is I work close to seventy hours a week and my work schedule changed to where my lesson is on a work day right before I have to go to work. Going for my lesson used to be one of the highlights of my week but now it seems like work and I'm not enjoying them at all. I think it's because I feel so rushed afterwards because I...

Are good deals on the horizon?

feeds@yuku.com (d18dc) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:41:41 GMT

I have been noticing some price reductions and stock not moving from many dealers. Has anyone else noticed this? Will 2010 be good for guitar deals, or do you think prices will hold?

Mike

Posting an Avatar

feeds@yuku.com (Old poi dog) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:02:16 GMT

Could someone instruct me as to how I can post my Avatar? My hosting site is Photobucket, if that helps. Thanks.

Are you any good?

feeds@yuku.com (gags) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:35:57 GMT

I have been playing for 20 yrs, have never read a guitar book and do not have time for tab.

When I was 18 I hung out with some older players to learn. I was told I was great.

I'm not of course..But I guess I am unique,as I'm self taught.

I went to Glastonbury and strangers liked what I played.

Do you think you are Good?

Hank Williams - The Unreleased Recordings

feeds@yuku.com (MartinBigot) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:28:11 GMT

Caution: I'm an unabashed Hank Williams Sr fan....and here's my review of the 3 CD set of his unrelased recordings.

Background:
I'm 52 years old and was raised on Hank Sr music. I can vividly remember standing on a chair at 3 years old or so so I could look down at the 78 RPM record with the MGM label playing Your Cheating Heart or Kawliga or Mansion on a Hill (or many others). My dad had a ton of Hank Williams records and I was listening to them...

Jackson Browne's band 1979 - no Kortchmar, no Sklar?

feeds@yuku.com (MauryOM28V) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:24:27 GMT

I like to think I'm up on most of Jackson Browne's stuff - he's one of my biggest musical influences. 1977's Running on Empty is an album I'm guilty of overplaying, and that band included Leland Sklar on bass & Danny Kortchmar on guitar. There are lots of 1979 videos floating around YouTube but they seem to feature a different bassist (Bob Glaub?) and no Danny Kortchmar (no replacement). Anyone in the know, know where were these two guys in '79?

How many guitars is too many?

feeds@yuku.com (gags) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:51:10 GMT

I now own seven,

When does it become vulgar?

Best

gags

Who Would I Be If I Didn't Sing?

feeds@yuku.com (BigMamaJ40) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:14:25 GMT

How important is singing to the pleasure you get from playing the guitar?

For me, playing the guitar has always been inextricably linked to singing. I love the magic of vocal harmonies and how an artful melody and well-written lyric can make playing even 3 chords satisfying. As much as I admire hot leads and intricate instrumentals, I have always gotten great personal joy from just playing rhythm and singing along.

Almost 3 weeks ago, I had the left...

It's a small world ... after all.

feeds@yuku.com (Porky Pig) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:10:23 GMT

I was getting my teeth cleaned the other day when my dentist came in to check me out and noticed my Martin t-shirt.

"Do you play?" he asked.

"Sure do."

"My father builds dobros in Nashville," he replied.

"Really? Who's your father?'

"Tim Scheerhorn," he said.

A site NOT to use as reliable online information...

feeds@yuku.com (kydave) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:10:18 GMT

A site called "QandA: Answers From Sources You Trust" popped up while searching for something related to Martin guitars this morning. Their overall question which they were responding to was "What are the best Martin acoustic guitar brands?" which should have been a red flag immediately.

But this part of the answer caught my eye:
"Almost always, rosewood is used for the backs and sides of Martin acoustic guitars. It's so dense that it provides a...

Practice guitars?

feeds@yuku.com (freddairy) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:08:33 GMT

I've reached a dilema and I'd like some of your input. I've been an electric guitar gigging musician for many years and have had up to 5 or 6 electrics at the same time that I use for gigging. Some actually being exact copies of my #1. I'm learning I may ave developed some type of psychological issue where I'm more content knowing I have a backup or spare guitar. Now that I'm playing acoustic I'm able to afford only a Martin D-18 GE and a Stanford PSD10....

Serial Numbers and eBay

feeds@yuku.com (d28wannabe) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:15:15 GMT

I've been bidding on a few HD-28Vs on eBay lately and I just came across a seller that refused to provide me the full serial number. Other than a guitar being stolen, is there any reason to withhold this information?

Late Actor Patrick Swayze's Martin M36

feeds@yuku.com (WCRefLib) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:02:55 GMT

Before watching the Blu-ray DVD edition of Dirty Dancing (1987) last night, I had no idea that the late actor Patrick Swayze was an accomplished fingerstyle guitarist, much less the owner of a mid-1980s Martin M36. Apparently he composed the hit song "She's Like The Wind" on the M36 shown in the featurette. Another entertainer for CFM to add to their wall of notable Martin players.

General Musical Topics

Wood You?

Russ Barenberg Trio in Westminster, MD