Mandolin Cafe Blog
I don't mean to cause any trouble, but...
by , Mar-05-2011 at 11:01am (15742 Views)
Random thoughts on a Saturday. Now, I really don't mean to cause any trouble here, but...
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Curious why The Loar company didn't subscribe to a numbering system that identically matched the original Loars from the 20s. Seems that would have been in the spirit of some of their efforts to get under the skin of Gibson's owner. We think they missed a golden opportunity. #1 The Loar could have been #73987 (Monroe's box).
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Ever notice that forum members that start a thread with an apology almost always end up creating the exact response they claim they don't intend to make? "I don't mean to be critical, but...", "I don't mean to step on any toes, but..." and our favorite, "I'm not trying to cause trouble, but..." Why not just state your business and dispense with the apology? Anything you have to apologize for in advance usually means you should probably think it over a little better.
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No need to get overly critical of the upcoming Bill Monroe movie before an actor utters a single word on camera. This one is guaranteed to make a segment of the bluegrass community angry no matter how good (or bad) it turns out. However, hold on until the contracts are actually signed. The movie industry can and will turn on a dime. What we're hearing is that a lot of changes may be in store before tape rolls. As Jethro said, "no reason to get all lathered up if ya ain't gonna shave."
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We like old mandolin playing dudes, the legends. There's something to learn from these cats, for sure, including some great tidbits from our coming Jesse McReynolds interview. Here's (exaggerated a bit) an example of answers from some interviews we've done that crack us up. Draw you own conclusion:
Question: what kind of pick and strings do you use?
Typical star: "Elixir Nanoweb coated mediums, 80/20 bronze wound, .11, .16 (substituted for typical .15), .26 and .40, but for recording I'll substitute a .39 on the bass and swap the .15 back in for the .16. For a pick, on stage I'll use a Blue Chip CT55 with a right-hand bevel but then drill three small circular holes in the middle to remove some added weight. In the studio I'll switch to an STP50 with right-hand bevel, no holes drilled due to a more relaxed environment."
Old legend's answer: "Strings, mediums, or whatever's available. Pick, medium or whatever's available."
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Every forum has an annoying figure (or two) that talks way too much or more specifically, starts inane threads. Here's a novel idea: ignore them. In tennis, if the ball is never batted back there's never a game.
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Be nice.
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