Guns Guitars and Cars

[oneyeopn]

It seems that a lot of members of this forum are into multiples of the title, guns, guitars and cars. I just have to share my new guitars. We recently lost my grandfather. he had a band that played all around southwest Kansas for years and I was the only grandchild that played music with him. I didnt live here all that time, I was off playing music all over the country but when I came home I always had to play music with him and I loved it.
Anyway my Uncle gave me grandpa's stage double neck Fender Steel, a 1947 Silvertone Electric Lap Steel and a 47' Silvertone Archtop Electric 6 string. I was so honored so I thought I would share some pics with you all!!!

He had some really nice guns but to me these are way cooler.

 

[venomballistics]

that might have been fun. My grandfather played banjo and harmonica .. however Long before I could play anything at all, he went stone deaf and I was robbed of the multi generational family jam sessions.

 

[oneyeopn]

Sorry bout that venom...it is something that can be missed. Now to tie in the rest of the title. he taught me to drive in a 1967 Chevy Pickup with a 283 with 327 heads and a 4 barrel. Plus he started me on the road to mechanicing on the farm working on tractors, trucks, combines and everything else under the sun!!!!!God Rest His Soul!! he and my grandma had a band and they played in community centers and hospitals and nursing homes for over 40 years. they used to make jokes in their later years about they were older than the audience they were playing for!!! LOL

 

[venomballistics]

I can kinda relate to what they joked about.
working with teens in a church choir, if ever there is a choice between a modern interpretation of a piece or an interpretation out of the late 70's through the 80's .. the snerts pick the "vintage" interpretation every time.
My grandfather was a carpenter. I still use a good portion of those wood working skills he gave me, starting on a loudspeaker project that outgrew my parents basement and tooling at the concept stage.
I can recall my grandfather wandering into the shop within the first 20 minutes to see what I'd be breaking that day. the drivers, to include a pair of 15" earthquake inducing woofers gave him an immediate idea as to why the scope of the project had to involve his shop.
He loved music, and probably missed being able to hear it more than anyone knew, or he'd admit to. I couldn't have kept his hands out of the build if I wanted to. we taught each other through that one Him teaching me more than I teaching him of course. Having never worked with audio equipment of any real magnitude as it was yet to be invented before things fell mostly silent for him, he did question the internal bracing I built into the cabs. didnt need such things in his day where 100+ watt amps were for new york city music halls. none the less he stuck around to the test run. My Uncle had showed up just in time with an old component turn table, while my grandmother just happened to discover an old Glen Miller album ... might have been a youngin, wet behind the ears and dense as lead, but I figured that out.
this might have been his last time to hear anything at all. I'm not sure he did or not, I think so though. but the bass from the set was astonishing and certainly gave him a sense of the music which helped fill in what his ears missed while he turned his eyes to the heavens in astonished wonder. after the sound check he finally admitted that the internal bracing we had argued about early on, probably wasn't unnecessary overkill

 

[RightArm]

Sounds like your grandpa's instruments went to the right place. I hate seeing people on Pawn Stars selling their heirlooms. They were passed on to you to look after and enjoy. I think you will take great care of the guitars, and they will bring you much enoyment. If Grandpa's looking down on you, he's happy that you're honored.

 

[DeathGrip]

Your Grandfather had good taste. That Fender looks like a lot of fun.

I have my Great Uncle's violin. I can't get past tuning it before I reach for a guitar. Maybe one day I can retire and get in to it seriously.

Maybe my Grand Niece can use it one day. My Nephew would love to have my guitars. He plays pretty well from what I've been told.

 

[jaykellogg]

I have my Great Uncle's violin. I can't get past tuning it before I reach for a guitar. Maybe one day I can retire and get in to it seriously.

It will take a while. I had a professional tell me it took two years before he would play the violin in public.

I have a couple of guitars, one is a Beard Vintage R resophonic and the other is a baritone Weissenborn (hollowneck). I was using an eyedrop for glaucoma that slowed my heartrate down to 56. I couldn't get anything done around the house, so I set the Beard aside (mistake). I am rusty now and I have neuropathy in my hands and feet from the chemotherapy. I bought the Weissenborn just before I set the Beard aside, I have never played it or learned to play it.

 

[captorquewrench]

Strings pedagogy is the only time I was banned from practicing any instrument at home--even percussion!

The only thing I could make work on the violin was the music from the shower scene in Psycho, and even then, I could mess that up.

 

[DeathGrip]

Strings pedagogy is the only time I was banned from practicing any instrument at home--even percussion!

The only thing I could make work on the violin was the music from the shower scene in Psycho, and even then, I could mess that up.

Good stuff.

My issue is the angle. I'm used to being square (in relation to my guitar) so my fingers don't want to reach. Add just tuning to the mix and I'm not so sure it will ever work. Plus the old beat up hands ain't getting any younger.

 

[venomballistics]

tell me about it ... while I do have one heck of an impressive reach, I can't do it every day and sometimes it take a few hours to knock the fungus out of these fingers before I can even do an E minor chord clean.
Violin ... yeah I wish I could, Im not even going to try though ... the short scale demands precision I haven't had since before I smashed and lacerated my hands on various engines out of necessity.

 

[captorquewrench]

Good stuff.

My issue is the angle. I'm used to being square (in relation to my guitar) so my fingers don't want to reach.

Square? Are you referring to playing position or the fingerboard?

 

[DeathGrip]

Square? Are you referring to playing position or the fingerboard?

I guess that wasn't the best description. My left hand is usually perpendicular to the fretboard. On the violin every note seems to be a reach. I can't get my fingers to do that. Maybe with time and practice but I have my doubts.

 

[captorquewrench]

Ah. Violin fingerboard is smaller, no frets, arched, held in a different place, and has a different number of strings. Heck yes it's going to be a reach, even though it's smaller. And not as forgiving if you stop the strings int he wrong place.

My props to anyone who plays anything with strings. I simply can't seem to make it work for me. I have the basics, and I can teach the beginners, and conduct them. But play strings with any degree of musicianship? No, that's why I buy concert tickets.

 

[DeathGrip]

Ah. Violin fingerboard is smaller, no frets, arched, held in a different place, and has a different number of strings. Heck yes it's going to be a reach, even though it's smaller. And not as forgiving if you stop the strings in the wrong place.

That is called "just tuning", Like your voice or a trombone.

Frets make it "fixed tuning". Like a piano or a trumpet.

That all goes out the window on a guitar with bending notes or playing with a slide.

As far as the playing position goes I'd probably do better with a Cello or Bass. But I ain't gonna spend the money on one to find out.

 

[captorquewrench]

That is called "just tuning", Like your voice or a trombone.

Frets make it "fixed tuning". Like a piano or a trumpet.

That all goes out the window on a guitar with bending notes or playing with a slide.

As far as the playing position goes I'd probably do better with a Cello or Bass. But I ain't gonna spend the money on one to find out.

Yes, a larger instrument would be easier.

The people who I have the least amount of forgiveness and tolerance for bad pitch are string players and trombonists--so easy for them to listen and adjust on the fly.

Pianists, percussionists, and double reeds have my sympathy, as pretty much they play the note and get what they get.

 

[DeathGrip]

Yes, a larger instrument would be easier.

To me it's all about the playing position. I wasn't thinking about the size. Good point.

(kinda sounds perverted)

 

[captorquewrench]

To me it's all about the playing position. I wasn't thinking about the size. Good point.

(kinda sounds perverted)

Music always sounds perverted.

Blow harder, F holes, F around the room, tongue stop, tonguing, finger holes, slide out/in,...

some kid was playing under the piano messing with the pedals and I yelled at him to get out from under there and leave my damper pedals alone, and he, as well as the rest of the class, thought I had cussed him out.

"baby, if I'da cussed you there would be no doubt in your mind, you'd still be embarrassed when you turned 30" is what I wanted to say. Anatomy lesson, abbreviated version, of the piano is what I calmly explained.



I didn't say so earlier, but I really do like the OP's guitar pics. Love vintage instruments.

 

[DeathGrip]

Funny stuff Cap.

I wasn't trying to be a pervert but it just came across that way and I had to point it out before someone thought differently.

AND YES, Vintage instruments do have a soul.

 

[oneyeopn]

See it sounds like for the most parts we have worked as mechanics, I was a german car mechanic before my disability from my time in the USMC got the best of me....Love those little 1.8ltr Turbo Multivalve Engines...money makers to say the least. For the most time while I was playing professionally I kept the day job, unless you are very lucky you cannot make a great living at it, and it is not talent it is luck. I took a strings class in college and wasnt the biggest fan of the violin either...LOL