View Full Version : 1980 Frets
bsimmers
Jan-31-2006, 8:20am
I had an old Frets issue out last night. There was an article about Skaggs. They had a picture of him plaing one of those 2-point jazz mandolins like Jethro played. I never new Ricky to have one of those. Also, there was a picture of he and Doyle playing twin fiddles with the country gents. It was a great magazine. Great bathroom reading material.
The old Frets make for great reading. Skaggs was on the cover at least once, the one I have is he's picking an Ellis mandolin. Inside that issue is a transcription of his jazzy solo to Highway 40 Blues, noted by none other than Dawg hisownself.
bsimmers
Jan-31-2006, 2:47pm
I have that one, too. But the one I'm talking about is before Highway 40 Blues. It's 1980. He's not on the cover. I'll check the month this evening.
Kevin K
Jan-31-2006, 3:49pm
Was that transcription of the H-way 40 blues solo for mandolin by chance?
bsimmers
Feb-01-2006, 10:13am
The Frets article I originally wrote about was August 1980.
Yes, Highway 40 Blues was tabbed for mandolin by Grisman in a later Frets issue, and it was right on the money. Very syncopated. Just like the record. Skaggs performed on the CMA awards back the '80's when he was hot. I still remember that his break was just like the record.
jim simpson
Feb-01-2006, 5:56pm
I was bummed when Frets was shut down. I remember Guitar Player offering to credit the remainder of the year's subscription to my GP subscription. It has been reintroduced but is a shell of it's former self (IMHO). I sure miss the old Frets. I still re-read them.
patmando
Feb-01-2006, 10:12pm
Funny that this came up. I was moving some boxes a couple of weeks ago and came across all my old frets mags. I think I have all but a couple. This issue was on top and I was leafing through it and thought I'd give that tune a try. I haven't heard Ricky's recording. I need to check it out. I didn't play mandolin back then only guitar. I bet there is a lot of good stuff to go through for mandolin.
You bet there is. Grisman did a somewhat regular teaching column, as did Tony Rice, Alan Munde Berline, etc. Grisman transcribed solos by Jethro, Tiny Moore, gypsy stuff, he did nice transcription of Joy Spring, both parts, spanning two months, whiich I have in a book. Jethro called that one a 'bear'.