In case it's not already on folks' radar. Ken Burns documentary. Looks like it will be fun:
https://www.pbs.org/show/big-family-...hYCTlnesBAquhA
In case it's not already on folks' radar. Ken Burns documentary. Looks like it will be fun:
https://www.pbs.org/show/big-family-...hYCTlnesBAquhA
2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
2015 Heiden F Artist
2019 Ruhland F5 #35
Evan, how does your Ruhland F5 compare to your Sullivan, Heiden, and Duff?
John A. Karsemeyer
You should be able to stream it. If you must watch a TV, here - https://www.opb.org/television/progr...uegrass-music/
Evan, your link takes me to the PBS trailers on a bluegrass documentary produced by Kentucky Public Broadcasting, which I will surely watch next week. But Ken Burns' documentary on country music doesn't air until mid September and I will also be glued to the tube for that one (all 16 hours of it).
Thanks for the heads up and link!
New to mando? Click this link -->Newbies to join us at the Newbies Social Group.
Just send an email to rob.meldrum@gmail.com with "mandolin setup" in the subject line and he will email you a copy of his ebook for free (free to all mandolincafe members).
My website and blog: honketyhank.com
To clarify: The much-anticipated new documentary from Ken Burns, scheduled to air on PBS, starting September 15 (check your local listings for times; these are different in different places), is called "Country Music."
It will be in 8 parts and run for 16 hours. Contrary to this thread's title, "Country Music" is not a documentary on the history of bluegrass music, per se, but rather about the history of American country music, in general. That includes folk roots from Appalachia, Western Swing, honky-tonk music, and a lot more. Not just bluegrass. That said, you can be sure it will include plenty of mention of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys and other bluegrass performers.
Not to be missed!
P.S. There is also a companion book to be released, called "Country Music: An Illustrated History," being released on Sept. 10. (NFI).
Last edited by sblock; Aug-22-2019 at 4:06pm.
I'm looking forward to both, but the Burns one in September will most likely be the bigger production by far. I think the KET one, about bluegrass specifically, was timed to be released near the "big" larger country music one to help with exposure.
Scott
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/scott-rucker-202243268
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_R...e_polymer=true
There will be a different show on PBS, airing (and streaming) on August 30 about bluegrass music, called Big Family. This is not to be confused with the upcoming Ken Burns documentary on September 15, called Country Music!
You can watch a video preview of the bluegrass program here:
https://www.pbs.org/video/bluegrass-...semble-yorhar/
not to be missed, either!
Whoops sorry for the misinformation. I thought it was part of the Ken Burns country music doc
2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
2015 Heiden F Artist
2019 Ruhland F5 #35
Wow that’s a big question. I don’t want to take up too much space or cop out of the question so I’ll say a word about each for now. The Duff (which you can hear for yourself in Forrest O’Conner’s Mandolin Mondays) is a powerhouse with a deep, woody “thunk” or maybe I mean “pop”, the Sullivan is very sweet and not very bassy. Andrew Marlin played it back stage at a show in Seattle (I got to play his Sullivan “Ella” at that time) and he described my Sullivan as “buttery”. A very warm and treble dominant tone. My Ruhland is new and settling in but has an amazing voice like a much older instrument with a traditional bluegrass voice. Loud as heck and really well balanced. Very fun to play - crisp clean note articulation even when played really hard. The Heiden has incredible tone. It’s a masterpiece of an instrument. Every string is a standout and the voice is rich. It’s all subjective of course but it’s fun to try put words to the experience.
2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
2015 Heiden F Artist
2019 Ruhland F5 #35
I think the Ken Burns documentary on country music airs on September 15th
And somebody already posted that and I missed it. I'm looking forward to it.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Friendly reminder that this airs on PBS tonight.
I was looking forward to seeing this. Had the DVR set to record the show well in advance. Got the family gathered around this morning to watch it right after breakfast. Pushed the 'Play' button and heard the announcer say...
"Up next on WVIZ... Big Family: The Story of Bluegrass Music"
And then they aired some thrill-a-minute show about Britain's amateur bakers.
I can't say if this was the case in all areas, but in the Cleveland market, that's how it went. The eggheads at our local PBS have done it again.
"I play BG so that's what I can talk intelligently about." A line I loved and pirated from Mandoplumb
Watched it. It was great! Maybe more on Japanese bluegrass than needed, but very did a great job of following the branches from Bill. Great interviews with so many influential players as well as those who were influenced.
Well, it did air on Twin Cities Public Television last night. Not a bad overview. Lots of good clips, although many folks that have been around will have seen them before. My only quibbles with it were a lack of identification on some of the players. (Personal gripe - they didn't mention Doc Watson during the Circle session and that's what really put him on the map for most folks.)
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
https://www.lauluaika.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
I watched the Bluegrass program last night and thought it was a very good documentary. I noticed a photo of Bill Monroe with his Loar and it had engraved Handel tuners on it. Another photo of a young Sam Bush playing an A model with real fancy inlays.
Great documentary. and well worth watching....except perhaps for Mr. Skaggs' endearing reference to ardent fans of Rounder 044, J.D. Crowe and the New South's game-changing first album, as "geeks".
Last edited by Bogle; Aug-31-2019 at 10:19pm.
Heads up for PDX OPB watchers:
This is on the schedule for Sunday Sep 29 at noon til 2.
If you missed it you can stream it on PBS.org.
Being right is overrated. Doing right is what matters.
Northfield F5S Blacktop
Pono MND-20H
I also thought the show was wonderful. I'm not really a bluegrass fan- kind of like it for a bit, but not a steady diet. But I learned so much history from the program, as well as much behind the scenes stuff. It was definitely worth a watch.
Chief. Way up North. Gibson 1917 A model with pickup. JL Smith 5 string electric. 1929 National Triolian resonator mandolin with pickup. National RM 1 with pickup. Ovation Applause. Fender FM- 60 E 5 string electric (with juiced pickups). 1950's Gibson EM-200 electric mandolin. 1954 Gibson EM-150 electric mandolin. Custom made "Jett Pink" 5 string electric- Bo Diddley slab style. Jay Roberts Tiny Moore model 5 string electric.
I watched the "big family" bluegrass doc..I thought it was good,,but with so much Monroe coverage I thought they should cover bluegrass mandolin much more in depth,,they covered the banjo pretty good though.
Bookmarks