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Post by NikGnashers on May 2, 2024 17:00:09 GMT
If you want a genuinely nice and welcoming, very much hands-on, "Guitar Shop" experience, it's well worth arranging a visit to Richards Guitars in Stratford upon Avon. (appointment neccessary). Expect to be sorely tempted. I bought my Lowden from him. It's a shame he decided to not stock the brand any longer, because I am in the market for another. I did get pretty good service though, seems like a genuinely decent bloke.
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Post by NikGnashers on May 2, 2024 16:56:03 GMT
I think some people will never listen to this, because they have already decided anything T E does, is simply too flashy, all about showmanship, speed, impact, and trying to wow the audience at any opportunity. But, for those who take every performance on it's own merits, here is a wonderful, beautiful piece, played with dynamics, expression, and subtlety.
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 29, 2024 5:21:16 GMT
This experience seems typical of any shop in todays era. I am slightly over critical, as I trained in customer service, for the motor trade (parts/service advisor), and gained master customer service advisor qualifications. So, every obvious mistake a salesperson displays, makes me cringe. Unfortunately, I think it is a sign of the times, where sales staff are just employed as minimum wage employees, especially in large 'chain stores', and even if they do have some 'specialist knowledge' in the area of sales they work, everything is about small profit margins and selling products in numbers. I doubt the shop manager cares he is selling guitars and other musical items, they could be fridges or televisions for all he cares, it's just about numbers. Surprisingly a chain store in Lincoln (Music Cabin) did actually have some great staff in, who were willing to chat and go into detail about products, but that has closed down last year ! The only place in Lincs I have found that not only specialises in vintage guitars, but also has fantastic customer service (and even a guitar museum too), is a place in Horncastle called 'Old Hat Guitars'. Well worth checking out (think they only have a facebook page at the moment, their main website is being redesigned).
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 29, 2024 5:01:36 GMT
I do keep forcing myself to play at open mics, in fact I am going tonight to 'the Horseshoes' at Silk Willougby near Sleaford in Lincs. I keep going in the hope that it will become normal to play in front of people, because when I play to myself alone, I seem to be reaching a decent (to my ears anyway) standard, and it's just a matter of doing the same thing in front of others. Busking regularly was the only thing that completely cured my horrendous stage fright. I can recommend the little doorway alcove on the side of the Magna Carta at the top of Steep Hill as a low-pressure place to play. I don't know if the Hub in Sleaford still does the open mic/acoustic nights, but that is/was another very friendly supportive place to play with a "gig-like" setting. I think Sleaford Live starts today, there will be loads of extra sessions etc. to take part in. I used to love the Sunday sessions at The Horseshoes! I hope it went well Thank you for the reply, Some of the ppl who play at the Horseshoes are playing on stage at Sleaford live next weekend. I am going to try and get over to watch. Last night was great, I played 5 songs, the first two (Bert Jansch - On For Jo, and Noel Harrison - Windmills Of Your Mind) went very well only a couple of slight mistakes nobody would have really noticed. I messed the 3rd one up lol, Bert Jansch - Moonshine, but the 4th I absolutely nailed (Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind). I played Moon River at the end, and asked another lady to sing, which was great. It's difficult getting out to busk, as I work full time, so naturally weekends are a bit busy, but I am going to try my best this summer, thank you for the advice. When I listened to you a couple of times at the Drill Hall Cafe on a Saturday, you seemed very confident, and I admired that.
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 28, 2024 5:13:24 GMT
Apart from one weekend in September I only ever play for my own enjoyment. I've not been paid to play since I was 22 - 40 years ago. I'm okay with that. I am in awe of anyone who has the chutzpah to play in front of strangers. I won't even play in front of a camera. I am very similar Leo, I get performance anxiety so badly that I can hear my own voice quivering. When I try to think about singing, I forget the guitar parts. I do keep forcing myself to play at open mics, in fact I am going tonight to 'the Horseshoes' at Silk Willougby near Sleaford in Lincs. I keep going in the hope that it will become normal to play in front of people, because when I play to myself alone, I seem to be reaching a decent (to my ears anyway) standard, and it's just a matter of doing the same thing in front of others. Having a camera recording me is just the same, I go to bits. I have never been paid to play (aside from a couple of rare times I went busking), and can only imagine people paying me to stop ! Some of the people who post on plucky duck are just amazing to me, I absolutely love visiting the forum to hear.
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 28, 2024 4:53:24 GMT
I always assumed Jelly Babies played Wee Lowdens ?
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 28, 2024 4:39:34 GMT
I thought this was brilliant, and if it wasn't past my skill level I'd buy the music and have a go at learning it myself !
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 22, 2024 16:38:55 GMT
Yes I saw this pop up as I'm a subscriber to his channel. really good cover, wonderful talent isn't he.
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 19, 2024 17:02:13 GMT
Yes I'm a massive fan too. Obviously 'Stagefright' is the ultimate in difficulty, but I really like Keep me From the Cold, and Now Is The Time.
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 18, 2024 16:48:56 GMT
I had 3 fake packs of Elixir from Ebay. I only buy from a proper shop website now.
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 15, 2024 16:57:36 GMT
Syd Barrett Davey Graham Jackson C Frank Bert Jansch
Few pints of real ale, at some scruffy Folk jam session.
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 7, 2024 16:50:46 GMT
Aside from the aesthetics, I would have thought it was something to do with stability of tension or somesuch. Things are generally done with easiness in mind, and I would have thought it'd be far more easy to consistently make guitars in a box shape as one could simply reuse the ratio of the dimensions in a more straightforward manner than with the standard curved guitar. Therefore I'm thinking if it's ostensibly easier to make square guitars then there must be some good reason, and not just because it looks nicer, not to. The explanations in the videos, basically say ... The amount of wood for a rectangular guitar is a lot less than a normal curved one. A dreadnaught sides are something like 36", and the rectangle sides only 22", so they can use wood which is not long enough and would be discarded or used for something else. Also, because a curved guitar needs the wood heating and bending to shape it has to be very thin. For a straight top/bottom, it can be thicker, and thus transmit more of the vibrations to the back, making it vibrate more and thus push more sound out of the hole. And a rectangle has more air in, and more surface area to vibrate as it doesn't have the corners curved off like a normal guitar. It all makes sense, but listening to the audio in the video I posted above, although it does sound pretty good, I can't hear anything special over and above a normal shaped guitar. I just found it interesting, and wanted to share
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 7, 2024 4:51:31 GMT
Yes, and Dave actually made that guitar himself too.
This is a better video, which demonstrates the sound :
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 6, 2024 15:14:53 GMT
Yes I saw this yesterday myself, and thought wow. He really is a fantastic guitarist, and has a lovely soft voice too. I also urge everyone who hasn't heard him, to have a dig though his videos on YT, he is genuinely very good.
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 6, 2024 15:10:31 GMT
I have had to actually choose songs for my late stepfathers funeral, recently (his funeral is on 29th of this month). He loved Eva Cassidy, so I know it's a bit rinsed, but had to have songbird, as he did love the song. He also loved Kate Rusby, so I chose 'all god's angels' to be played. As a final song, to accompany his coffin going behind the curtain and us leaving, he loved the Hollies, so I have chosen an upbeat song 'Carrie Anne' so that it's not such a sad exit.
Personally speaking, for my own, it would be impossible as I love a very wide range of music, from Prog Rock, to Folk, through Reggae (more dub, dancehall, and soca, than traditional roots), and having been a DJ since 1980, I love electronic music too. I honestly could fill a week with funeral songs.
Edit : This is why I haven't been around on the forum for a few months, as he was steadily on the decline, and eventually I found him sadly passed away when I visited. He was only 75, but a long time alcoholic, which I fear did not help his longevity.
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