Blog Comments

  1. JeffD's Avatar
    Great opportunity. I have been a fan of Simon Mayor since the Mandolin Moods album, some umpty ump years ago. Great player, great musician.
  2. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    I did indeed get a chance to chat with Simon. We shared a libation or two, as he did with anyone willing. Plus he made himself available for individual questions and/or technique help.

    I should think there will be one next year. So mark your calendar and keep and eye on the Halsway Manor website.

    It would be difficult to write how Simon gets those slides, it's about technique aided by a well set-up instrument. But if you come to Rochester for the Sweeps, I'll be happy to show you!
  3. Gelsenbury's Avatar
    Thank you so much, I've been looking forward to this all week. It sounds like a - naturally more detailed and extensive - development of the one-day format that I was lucky enough to experience in Lewes a year or two ago. 35 students is a great turnout. Did you have a chance to talk to Simon individually?

    If there is to be a repeat of this workshop, I'll do my best to attend too. I want to have a good look at Simon Mayor's hands when he plays those slides ... they sound so clear and delicate, nobody else plays them like that.
  4. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thank you Lorraine.
    The recording is done, but not the CD. Got lots left to do. Off to poke the graphic artist now!

    Daniel
  5. lorrainehornig's Avatar
    I enjoyed your blogs tremendously...congratulates on the completion of your cd.
  6. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thanks Tom!
  7. Tom Wright's Avatar
    Congratulations! Looking forward to hearing the songs and instrumentals.
  8. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thank you both!
  9. Dave Peters from the UK's Avatar
    Great blog, and you have more or less described an identical recording process as the one I normally - only my recordings sometimes span a much longer time start to finish ! I look forward to having a listen to your art.
  10. lorrainehornig's Avatar
    It sounds like the sessions were a huge success and you had great fun in the process. Great blog!
  11. JeffD's Avatar
    Orpington chickens, is all I know.
  12. swampstomper's Avatar
    In case you didn't figure it out, Rochester = Rock Castle. So it makes sense that there is a nice castle in Rochester (Kent, not NY, not MN). Chester (UK, PA...) just means "Castle" in vernacular Latin.
  13. Bill Lemerise's Avatar
    I went with an 8 string electric, and it is a joy to play. I use a Fishman loud box, which has reverb & chorus; I am looking for suggestions as to what affects I should be looking at. A guitarist freind said he recorded with an e -mando player who used tremolo...thats were I am at, fishing for ideas.
  14. Gelsenbury's Avatar
    Coincidentally, I also ended up "busking" (involuntarily) this August ... your post reminded me that I should write a blog entry about this!

    My last visit to Cambridge was a year ago. I wish I had caught your performance!
  15. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thanks Chinn!
    Looking forward to a lifetime of sharing music with my girl!
  16. Chinn's Avatar
    Too cute Daniel! My 8mo old son's face lights up every time I pull out a mando and play in front of him. He even pulls up in front of me and tries strumming at the strings. Can't wipe the smile off my face when he does that.
  17. JeffD's Avatar
    I am heartened that you are taking street musicianship seriously. Its an art form that, like most other endeavors of value, requires specific talents, and skills, and knowledge, as well as courage, tenacity, and showmanship.
  18. Paul Statman's Avatar
    Congratulations on the 'slip-up' (there are no accidents). Another successful Anglo-American alliance is sealed! I wish you all the best, and thanks for sharing, Daniel.
  19. Clement Barrera-Ng's Avatar
    Thanks for sharing this wonderful story and sounds like you have your partner have a wonderful adventure ahead of you. Best wishes!
  20. rgray's Avatar
    Absolute best wishes!
  21. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thanks everyone!
    I'm guessing you're right Santiago. :-)
  22. hank's Avatar
    A Hearty Ar Ar & Congratulations. Best of wishes.
  23. Elliot Luber's Avatar
    Of all your future productions, I bet the child shines far above all others. Congratulations to you both!
  24. Motley's Avatar
    Wow I was just passing through looking at Mandolin stuff. That is quite a story congrats! I find it nice when a stranger makes you smile like this so I just wanted to comment on it.

    Just one thing though, it's 'skirtingboard' not 'baseboard' :-), you are going to have to get used to a whole load of differences like that!
  25. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Tichenor
    Congratulations, Daniel. Cool story.
    Thanks Scott!
  26. Scott Tichenor's Avatar
    Congratulations, Daniel. Cool story.
  27. farmerjones's Avatar
    Great entry Daniel,
    I play violin/fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, and sing harmony. I look at it like, "Different rods, but still fishing." Music's between the ears and whatever's at hand is the vehicle.
    I guess i shouldn't dismiss the ability but to me it's more just an oportunity.
    I'm looking forward to reading more of your thoughts.
  28. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    And to you too Dan.
    Happy New Year!

    Daniel
  29. CommGuy's Avatar
    As a longtime performer and singer/songwriter, I can identify with just about everything in your post. I wrote extensively, and surrounded myself with talented folks to help bring each song to a new level of life.

    As I've gotten older, I've gotten further from the stage, and begun moving around in front of and behind it. I work in radio, and have talented children, so I still enjoy plenty of live music, but play less of it myself.

    Bluegrass is a true joy. I am routinely thrilled by the level of musicianship, and the warmth of the community. I miss plain old "jamming" - and look forward to the mandolin sparking a musical re-entry with no baggage.

    Best wishes on your endeavors.

    Dan
  30. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thank you DoubleG, it was indeed.
  31. DoubleG's Avatar
    Sounds like the perfect way to spend a weekend and get away from the world for awhile.
  32. TonyEarth's Avatar
    i definitely like electrics, as you may have seen from my posts. but like flatt, i don't know if i should go for 4 or 8.
  33. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thanks Steve!
    Doesn't anyone in the UK make gazebos?
    Plastic sheeting. Brilliant. If I had been on top of my game we would have done that too! There was a hardware store at the end of the parking lot!

    Daniel
  34. stevewise's Avatar
    this is such a good post. this is what they call 'paying your dues' - the only way to learn this stuff is go out there and do it - make the mistakes - and learn from them.

    we just did an outdoor gig in bakewell, derbyshire, UK. we had power, and a gazebo as protection from the weather - except that we bought the gazebo in NC and it was designed to keep out bugs, not derbyshire rain - so off we go to buy some plastic sheeting to keep the rain out. And we've been doing this for 10 years or more! being willing to adapt is the key - and having fun with it.

    I like your comment about eye-contact with the public. It's really important to connect with the audience - probably the most important thing, and the hardest to learn.

    I love the tips you get when you play - a friend and I busked in Asheville NC and were rewarded with 2 jars of jam from the vendor who was set up just across the street. Somehow it tastes better when you earn it like this!
  35. Greg Ashton's Avatar
    Daniel, That does sound good. I'm going to have to give it a try. I used to have an Alder #1 - it had maple back and sides. I thought that the # 1 just had simpler binding and finish than the #2.
  36. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    John,
    The model name of my 'dola is Alder. It's a #2 because it has a maple neck and maple body. The #1 uses mahogany in those places.

    Thanks for the kind words!
    Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, there'll be more soon!

    Daniel
  37. John Hill's Avatar
    Great playing & singing Daniel.

    So is this the 'dola (Bridger or Aspen?) with mando strings tuned to EBF#C#? Sounds good.

    John
  38. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thanks MC!
  39. mculliton123's Avatar
    Fantastic, great video great playing.

    mc
  40. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thanks! Yes, I was thinking less dirt, more fuzz. Though the recording has less dirt in it that the live air did. The mic probably took some upper end off the sound, and the 16 bit sample rate probably did too.

    Daniel
  41. Christian McKee's Avatar
    Cool! It's a little hard to give much constructive input on tone given the way it was recorded, I'd put a mic on the cabs for starters, and probably turn it up a bunch so the amps can speak some. But lack of details has never stopped me before... What do you mean by "smoother" exactly? What about a power sink of some kind to put more of the grit in the output tubes? Thought about a fuzz pedal of some kind with the tone controls rolled back? I use an SD1 in my rig, and I usually turn the drive up pretty high, at least 3/4 up, but that might be a different sound than you're after.
  42. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    David,
    Played through a small AER (Compact 60) amp, which was designed for "acoustic" instruments. There was no discernible drop in volume on the E string. But the choice of amp may make a big difference. Amps designed for acoustic instruments tend to have a greater frequency range and more headroom. So the upper register of an electric mandolin would be more audible through one of these than it would be through a standard electric guitar amp.

    Ted Eschliman (www.jazzmando.com) has the red 5 string in his hands right now and will be writing an review of the instrument soon.

    Daniel
  43. David Horovitz's Avatar
    Daniel,
    Good to hear about the low C string qualities on the JBovier 5-stringer. How about the E string. Any weakness when compared to the D and A in terms of volume? I have a Fender 5-stringer and the E string is quite weak sounding, even after fiddling with the pickup height. I suppose the pickup itself is the real culprit. What are the likely price ranges for the JBovier 5-strings or is this not yet known/public?

    Cheers,
    David
  44. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Thanks Jeff! Maybe I'm just watching different audiences than you are/were. At least here in Modesto, CA people are looking for something more pop-oriented: big hooks, personal confessions, etc. But it's nice to know I'm wrong about this somewhere!

    Daniel
  45. JeffD's Avatar
    In the second case, audiences get bored pretty quick with simple music that does not lyrically speak to their lives.
    I am not sure I know what you mean here, I might not agree with it.

    I ran a coffee house for many years, doing everything from booking the acts, to sweeping up.

    One of our most popular performers sang nothing but sea shanties. We got pretty good attendance most of the time, but this one performer would fill to the point I worried about occupancy laws. Few if any in the audience, had a boat.

    I don't think folks go out to hear live music to be told of their own lives, about paying bills and deciding which health insurance plan is best. I think they go to hear live music to hear great music, played well, that provides escape from their actual lives. Simple, evocative music, tied to interesting stories and universal themes.



    Respectfully submitted.
  46. Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    ooo. Nice calls!
    Adding them to the list.

    Daniel
  47. delsbrother's Avatar
    Eastwood e-tenor guitar.
  48. mando.player's Avatar
    VHT Special 6 Amp. I saw the initial press release, but nothing since.
  49. gregjones's Avatar
    I don't know of most on your list. I know that you hit the "nail on the head" with Sweet Baby James.

    That one and the first (acoustic) Hot Tuna album ruined my life. Just when I should have been studying and planning for a future in high school, I was slumped over a guitar. I might have survived that except that the dream lasted another 7 years while I earned a four year degree.

    A dozen years of fingerstyle guitar practice did not result in a marketable talent when Heavy Metal hit the scene.

    No regrets!!!
  50. gregjones's Avatar
    You've gone a lot further than I did. I bought new, not Fender, Mandocaster. I played it a few minutes and put it back in the case and sold it a few months later.

    Seems like I got it for a lot different reasons than you did!!
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