Winter Studio

Winter Studio
Originally uploaded by mikemilton

Click on the picture to see this in Flickr (where there are notes on each item)

We moved south yesterday (yes, I know, we punted but it looked like the lake was icing over)

At lease there is more room to organize music and computing here

Komplete

I've been using the Komtakt player and Guitar Rig4 (which cam with my Gibson) for some time and decided it was time to 'Komplete' the suite.

It is delivered on 12 dual layer DVDs. So it will be interesting to explore all that content.

O'Brien Set

O'Brien Set
Originally uploaded by mikemilton

This lovely set of O'Brien Whistles sounds as good as it looks.

One fipple end-piece and 3 2-piece lower sections (D, C, Eb)

The fit is superb and the wood is well crafted. A variety of woods are available

Republic Reso GBDGBD

Republic Reso GBDGBD
Originally uploaded by mikemilton

I'm waiting (not so patiently) for my Gibson Squareneck Dobro and wanted to work on 'standard' tuning but GBDGBD is a bit much for a round neck.

Here is my trusty National with a nut extender and a Dobro capo. It is actually tuned to FACFAC but the capo nicely makes this what I want.

The capo has a metal bar that sits over the fret and under the strings. It can be rotated to accommodate higher string heights. A rubber-covered bar sits slightly to the head-side of the lower bar pressing the strings down and dampening any sound from the upper portion of the strings.

I'm busy practicing a bunch of Christmas songs for the holidays. They are an interesting thing to play on reso.

SX Lap Steel

So, Having ordered the square neck Dobro, I needed something to practice on while waiting for it to arrive.

This little lap steel was an obvious answer. It was incredibly inexpensive, came with a nice case and sounds amazingly good all things considered.

It was immediately tuned to GBDGBD and both Cath and I are quickly working on our first songs.

By the way, I can heartily recommend Lessons with Troy,  as a source for good instruction at reasonable cost. His videos are great.

Celebration Day

Yesterday was our annual celebration day with a family we know. It is easier to pick one day than deal with birthdays and other events and it makes for a great day.

This year I got everyone some ethnic instruments such as a Digeridoo, rain sticks, queros, shakers, thumb pianos, etc.

It was at least a novel idea.

Perhaps a Digeridoo is a good complement to the Alpha?

New Guitar on Order

I'd be much more excited if it was not for the fact that it might take a year to be built and delivered. It seems they only make them as they are ordered.