Search:

Type: Posts; User: Steve Finlay

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

Search: Search took 0.00 seconds.

  1. Re: Looking for a good mid-level octave mandolin..

    My Sawchyn Beavertail fits the need -- but I'm keeping it. Sawchyn has retired, so if you see anyone who is unwise enough to sell theirs, grab it.
  2. Replies
    50
    Views
    2,678

    Re: Thoughts on keys.

    Playing in keys that allow more open strings is easier for me, especially now when I am able to use only the ring and pinky fingers of my left hand, but I agree with learning to play in all keys.
    ...
  3. Replies
    33
    Views
    5,600

    Re: Thoughts on tremolo

    I think it is like most choices in music: One, the fact that you can doesn’t automatically make it a good idea. Two, it depends.

    Because we are a mandolin orchestra, all the people in the same...
  4. Re: Opinions on the Thomann (or other cheap) mandocellos?

    My APC has a reasonable but not great sound. The C string is a bit tubby when fretted, despite the long scale length. Tuning is very stable, in spite of a slight cave-in of the top under the bridge....
  5. Replies
    49
    Views
    4,560

    Re: Non-mando question - singing

    I’m no singing expert. But from what I’ve observed, Simon, I think your range is fairly typical for a man. I suspect you can add a note or two on each end when you warm up well.

    Doing warmup...
  6. Replies
    49
    Views
    4,560

    Re: Non-mando question - singing

    Thanks for posting that, Simon. I listen to that video quite often.

    For Russian oktavists, The Legend of the Twelve Thieves is like Orange Blossom Special for American fiddlers: They HAVE to sing...
  7. Replies
    49
    Views
    4,560

    Re: Non-mando question - singing

    I'm not a fan of the high screechy sound. In fact, my favourite singer is the late Vladimir Pasyukov.

    But as many have said, the right key is the one that is good for whoever the singer is,...
  8. Re: Do you know the name of this instrument from a shop i Paragua

    Recently someone advertised a "14 string mandolin" on Craigslist here in Vancouver. The poster said that he honestly didn't know much about the instrument. It clearly wasn't a mandolin; it had one...
  9. Replies
    27
    Views
    3,051

    Re: Tunes that lend themselves to tremolo

    Many Russian songs, such as Odnozvuchno Gremit Kolokolchik.
  10. Re: Is it true that Frank Wakefield can talk backwards?

    This has nothing to do with mandolins, but there's even more difficulty in talking backward than you might think. If you taped Tom Hulce's "backward" phrase in Amadeus and played the tape backwards,...
  11. Replies
    17
    Views
    2,820

    Re: Playing in Position

    Unless my left index and middle fingers heal quite a bit more over time, I won’t really have “positions”. After my self-inflicted injury (I Fought The Saw And The Saw Won), I have only the ring...
  12. Replies
    35
    Views
    11,267

    Re: Harp guitars.....

    As others have noted, the idea behind the harp guitar also gave us the medieval theorbo. The concept may have reached its (il)logical limit with the Ukrainian torban, which more or less combines a...
  13. Could this be the last Beavertail OM?

    I bought my Sawchyn Beavertail OM (serial number 0784) in March 2022, and Peter Sawchyn retired just over a year later. Now I'm wondering: Octave mandolins aren't as popular as mandolins. Did he...
  14. Replies
    7
    Views
    972

    Re: 1920 Calace Bowlback Mandolin

    Judging from the pictures, it appears that you put the new strings on already. Did the seller tell you that these are very light gauge strings? If NOT, you should probably take them off, find the...
  15. Replies
    9
    Views
    1,196

    Re: Mandocello

    It would be easier with a narrower neck. But I feel that I get some benefit from the technical challenge. I play in a mandolin orchestra, so my job is almost always basic bass lines, not many rapid...
  16. Replies
    9
    Views
    1,196

    Re: Mandocello

    They certainly come in different nut widths. Mine is 1 3/4, which is huge.
  17. Not a mandolin at all, but interesting!

    I have no connection to the seller and won't be buying it -- but if you've wanted a ragmakamtar all your life, there's one available.
    ...
  18. Replies
    12
    Views
    1,487

    Re: Getting Another

    From everything I've read about them, Big Muddy instruments seem to punch way above their weight, if you define weight as price.
  19. Replies
    16
    Views
    1,583

    Re: The long road back begins at last

    Thank you so much, everyone! This encouragement and support is inspiring and truly beautiful. Music for the love of music creates community, and this Cafe certainly is one.

    Zookster, I failed to...
  20. Replies
    16
    Views
    1,583

    The long road back begins at last

    In late September last year, I nearly chopped off the index and middle fingers of my left hand with my table saw. The blade cut cleanly through the tendons, bone and nerves,leaving only some skin and...
  21. Re: Anyone Never Get Past the 'Speed Plateau'?

    I feel like Kenny - speed has less attraction now.

    The mentions of 112 bpm and 120 bpm for contra dancing piqued my curiosity. I learned New England contra in the 1970s from Ralph Page, who almost...
  22. Replies
    9
    Views
    2,748

    Re: Double Stop melody run

    I agree with Mark - it's not a rule. Consider the fact that in barbershop harmony, the tenor sings a harmony note that is above the lead's melody note about 98% of the time.

    You do want to pay...
  23. Replies
    26
    Views
    3,183

    Re: Which Mandolin Should I Get?

    Big Muddy mandolins are in your price range, and they're hand made.
  24. Re: AI chat for music, is it any good? ChatGPT?

    Better check that list of books. ChatGPT has a track record of producing lists of articles or books that look completely plausible, but don't exist. These are examples of what are now called AI...
  25. Replies
    15
    Views
    2,383

    Re: Recommendation for an OM?

    My Sawchyn Beavertail OM is a superb instrument, and it cost $1200 Cdn. Unfortunately the scale is 23 1/2, and Peter Sawchyn has retired. Anyone who has one of these is not likely to let go of it.
Results 1 to 25 of 83
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4