The Steel Guitar Forum

Well, I twisted a knee last week so this is giving me time to heal. All of our gigs are cancelled and I just bought a new amp to mess with.

Where is the "like" button? Of course, then there would have to be an angry button.

Catching up on some reading.

My job is still running like normal (we may get sent home in a few days though) so if that happens I have the lap steel strings stocked up and ready and 3 lap steels to keep me very busy. Wishing all of you the best during this time, staying home is hard but luckily for us musicians we usually can find something to keep us busy.

Trying to learn some new material for my solo gigs, if and when they ever resume...

Just offered some free downloads of backing tracks and 2 of my CDs. Help yourself, enjoy, and remember to wash your hands.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=355640

Ian Rae wrote:I forecast a bumper crop of C6 players in a few months' time

Looks like I'm busted!

Thinking of taking up the clarinet.

Jim Cohen, that #7 is a bear!

Barry Blackwood wrote:Jim Cohen, that #7 is a bear!

I know! But truly, has there ever been a better time?

Jim Cohen wrote:Just offered some free downloads of backing tracks and 2 of my CDs. Help yourself, enjoy, and remember to wash your hands.

Are the downloads dirty ?

Truthfully... I've been sitting around feeling depressed. I have been practicing my steel guitar more, but it seems pointless... when are the restrictions and quarantines going to end?

I had a great business going playing at Nursing Homes, Senior Residences, Assisted Living and Memory care facilities. But now they are all closed to outside entertainment. Not to mention that the old folks are the ones at greatest risk, so they will be the last places to open back up.

SO: I built a puzzle, mowed the lawn, now I am building a rock wall in the back yard for the grandkids...

Some advice for clean and safe hands. I keep a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol in it in my car. When I have to go out anywhere I spray both my hands with it when I get back in my car. I also use "NeilMed Sinus Rinse". I thoroughly rinse both sides of my nose. You will be flushing both sides of your sinus with pure saline. (salt water) Do this when you get back home from being out. The point of entery of any bad virus is through your sinus. The saline solution will kill it. I have been doing this for years. Almost everyday through the winter or flu season. MOST IMPORTANT, KEEP UP YOUR AMUNE SYSTEM. If you do the sinus flush, you will want to do it over a sink. It will clean it out for sure.

Spending some time finishing up a baritone 6 string standard guitar I've modded.

It's a Squier '51. I found a 27" scale neck down under from Pitbull guitars. Did the "bubba" mod on the stock bridge/added comp saddles, added a zero glide nut, a 'D' drop on the 6th string. Finished the neck in Tru Oil.

Fun little axe tuned in B. Great sounding guit for the low, mean stuff. With vintage amp tremolo and nice echo, it's the sound I like.

Looking to add a B5 Bigsby wang bar when things get back to normal.

Here's a few pics:





Since I don't own a steel presently, I'm spending time trying to improve my proficiency on other instruments.

Otherwise, just getting yard maintenance equipment ready for use, counting my bullets, straightened my underwear drawer, trying to keep my mind busy. Not much different since I've been "retired" since 2008.

Dom Franco wrote:Truthfully... I've been sitting around feeling depressed. I have been practicing my steel guitar more, but it seems pointless... when are the restrictions and quarantines going to end?

It's tough to stay positive. It's much easier to practise for a gig than just practise. But I have to do that on trombone, where the gigs are few and far between but you have to stay match fit for when they do come along, and I'm not ready to give it up yet as I've been playing it since I was 14. I've only been playing pedal steel for six years, but I'm not ready to give that up either for the opposite reason!

So try to take the long view. Having said that, this is not a simple jail sentence, and the uncertainty of how long it will last is known to be causing problems for those folks who are prone to anxiety.

I have plenty of outdoor jobs waiting, but this week is way colder and wetter than it should be at this time of year. Maybe next week

I picked up a Red Book hymnal and am busy tabbing out some shaped notes hymns.
I'm busy making a joyful noise unto the Lord!
When all else fails, pray.
Erv

I'm waiting for the ground to thaw out so I can go outside and dig some worms to eat.

Bill L. Wilson wrote:I just bought a new amp to mess with.

Me too. But it's 200 miles away over several mountain passes and it's snowing. Woe is me... So I'm perusing this Forum (among others) to while away the hours.

Finished the Rock Wall... now I need to find another project to keep from going stir crazy.

Crossing gigs off my calendar and getting serious about playing the dobro.

My day job has been work-from-home since December, so not much has changed for me. Saving money from eating out and not as guilty about skipping the gym.

Even now I'm not practicing as much as I should. As time goes on my self-discipline has gotten sloppier.

I've been working on projects that have been sitting for a while. First priority is getting my home office updated as I'll be in it for weeks or months. This is a circa 1910 piano, rescued from a house due to be demolished, converted to a stealth workstation this last weekend.

Made from leftover copper plumbing.

HEY JAMES!!! DID IT LEAK!!!!