Show us your axe ?

[EllenJ2003]

When I saw Cassie's drum kit, I thought I'd add an image of one of the fun stages I've played at. This stage was setup out on private land in the Cascades mountains, and hosted a private music gathering. The sound was totally fabulous playing to the trees and meadow that day (and a couple of hundred music types). I played in several different line up's that day, we had a "build a band" round robin going. Everyone would sign up for a song and their instrument, then go up and "do it", it was a lot of fun....



C -

That "build a band" round robin sounds like a lot of fun Cynthia!  I wish we had that around here (the Milwaukee area).  Besides the fun aspect of playing with other people, it seems like it would be a great way informally network/get noticed by other musicians looking to add players to their bands.  All we have around here, are a few poorly advertised open jams, and they're mainly for the blooze.  The last time I went to one of those, was in college in the 80s, and it ended up being nothing more than a case of the "good 'ol boys network" jamming with each other, to the same old played to death Chicago style blues.  I ended up never even being called up to the stage to play, and wound up feeling pretty stupid sitting there with my guitar in its case, doing nothing.  No thanks!  I don't care to have that kind of experience again.

[cassiebythesea]

How do you like the shorter 25" scale of the ARZ307?  I'm so "mehed' out most of the time by Superstrats (even 7 & 8 string ones), that I'm always looking for alternatives.  The ARZ was on my list for a while, but I was concerned  about it having the typical Wizard profile neck that Ibby 7-strings have (and I can't stand Wizard necks - they feel like I'm playing a 2X4).  Does it have a wizard neck?

As for your 8-string - yeah, getting tuners (especially for an 8-string) are a real bear.  In some ways, it's on a par with me getting 8-string sets, due to my dermatitis issue.  As I've mentioned before, due to nickel and stainless steel allergies that give me serious dermatitis, I use Ernie Ball Cobalts.  Unfortunately, I can't get Cobalt 8-string sets.  I thought I could get around the issue by using a Cobalt bass string for the 8th string (along with Cobalt 7-string set), but both the responses to an inquiry thread I created on the Seven String Guitar Forum (my username there is EllenGtrGrl - short for Ellen Guitar Girl) and e-mail inquiry to Ernie Ball said that it really isn't a doable option, due to the fact that the core on a bass string is different than the core on a guitar string, and as a result the bass string has different tension than a comparable gauge guitar string, and would not fit right on the tuner for the 8th string.  Oh well, no 8-string guitar for me I guess.

I love my ARZ. I don't think it's an actual Wizard neck, but it is still pretty thin. The 8 string's neck is a straight up surfboard, though. Need a full stretch regiment before playing it.
The problem I have with the scale is more that all three of the guitars have such different lengths, it's hard to jump between them. The Gibson is 24 3/4, the ARZ is 25 (which feels longer compared to the V), and the eight is like 27 or something insane. And they're all in different tunings, so it gets plenty complicated switching between them.

Also I use heavy gauges on all the guitars (11's or go home), so the 8th string on the eight was actually too thick for the tuning head, so I had to carve a bit away to be able to feed it through enough to tune it. I'd honestly say eight strings aren't worth the effort unless it's absolutely necessary for your music.

[Maddie]

[CynthiaAnn]

Low notes on the low strings! I don't play much but that always seemed so wrong.  Love this thread and your semi daily one.  Your transition is amazing!  Have you ever considered gels rather then patches?  Its a daily thing and the levels seem to be even...  Or whatever the proper term is.

@JanePlain - awww thanks... When I was really getting serious about my bass playing some 40 years ago, my music friends warned me "don't go down this path", they told me having the low string on the bottom was "not the way to do things", yet I persisted, and now it's simply natural for me to think this way about the intervals (tonal relationships) between strings in this direction. For a 6 string guitar however I do prefer the "left strung" method as V M refers to, some chord fingerings are just easier that way. Yeah I switched to using E patches this year, from 6 + years of IM, and my levels were tested just last month and are fine (lower end of female normal), maybe E gel is an option to consider, I'll bring it up with Dr next time.

Have a rockin' day !

C -

[CynthiaAnn]

That "build a band" round robin sounds like a lot of fun Cynthia!  I wish we had that around here (the Milwaukee area).  Besides the fun aspect of playing with other people, it seems like it would be a great way informally network/get noticed by other musicians looking to add players to their bands.  All we have around here, are a few poorly advertised open jams, and they're mainly for the blooze.  The last time I went to one of those, was in college in the 80s, and it ended up being nothing more than a case of the "good 'ol boys network" jamming with each other, to the same old played to death Chicago style blues.  I ended up never even being called up to the stage to play, and wound up feeling pretty stupid sitting there with my guitar in its case, doing nothing.  No thanks!  I don't care to have that kind of experience again.

@EllenJ2003 - What made the "build a band" concept really work for this gathering, was the song choices/elections were posted online to the group ahead of time (several months). The players posted their instrument and song choices and they filled up the matrix of songs, so when the time came to actually go up and "do it", most if not all that signed up for song had their "wood working" done ahead of time and came prepared. It gelled surprisingly well and was a well organized event. One song I happened to sign up for was "Boots are made for walkin" by Nancy Sinatra, I just loved that sliding bass line in that song, and this girl came up and sang her heart out, it was cool.

Have a rockin' day !

C -

[Northern Star Girl]

      Posting Pictures on the Forums..... Instructions

For your information:  ..here is a LINK to INSTRUCTIONS that I posted on the Forums back on August 10, 2018.
      General Discussions>
              Frequently Asked Questions>
                          Trouble posting pictures???  HERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS
      https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,239999.msg2163429.html#msg2163429

Note: On imgur.com if you do not choose to sign up with a free account it is automatically set to private... but later  if you want to have later control of your uploaded photo then you should sign up for an account..

If you have any questions please let me know.

Best Wishes,
Danielle

[Northern Star Girl]

@CynthiaAnn
Dear Cynthia:
Whoops... I just saw your post from yesterday.... please know that I did not intend to duplicate your effort to tell @Maddie about the LINK that you posted about Picture Postings Instructions.  THANK YOU !!!! 

...I will leave up my last post with my "Pictures Instructions"  LINK to make certain that those that need it will find it easily.
Thank you again,
Hugs,
Danielle

Hi @Maddie, and thanks for chiming in here

Here are the instructions Danielle (thanks) put together that might help ya

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,239999.0.html

Have a rockin' day !

C - 

[CynthiaAnn]

@Alaskan Danielle 

Thanks again for the wonderful instructions it will help others !

Have a rockin' day !

C -

[Maddie]

Thanks for the help everyone. Pretty sure that my issue is due to me not being at a desktop computer.

Btw...
I'm impressed by all the "extra"-string axes here. 

[Northern Star Girl]

@Maddie:
Dear Maddie:

I just sent you another Private Message with more suggestions for you.

Hugs,
Danielle

Thanks for the help everyone. Pretty sure that my issue is due to me not being at a desktop computer.

Btw...
I'm impressed by all the "extra"-string axes here. 

[JanePlain]

@JanePlain - awww thanks... When I was really getting serious about my bass playing some 40 years ago, my music friends warned me "don't go down this path", they told me having the low string on the bottom was "not the way to do things", yet I persisted, and now it's simply natural for me to think this way about the intervals (tonal relationships) between strings in this direction. For a 6 string guitar however I do prefer the "left strung" method as V M refers to, some chord fingerings are just easier that way. Yeah I switched to using E patches this year, from 6 + years of IM, and my levels were tested just last month and are fine (lower end of female normal), maybe E gel is an option to consider, I'll bring it up with Dr next time.

Have a rockin' day !

C -

Your are rocking the cute blonde chick look so whatever your doing rock on!  I think your in the USA?  Don't worry I'm not going to try to be a groupie.  ha ha.  There are a couple non patch ways to go.  There is Estrogel which is a rub on.  Evamist which my insurance covers.  That one is a bit different.  You put this cup thing over your wrist and it sprays the transdermal on your skin.  The dose needed is typically more then they would use for a Ci$ girl in menopause.  I think they aim for lower numbers but its not difficult to go with more gel or spray to get the right amount.  Your doctor might have you dial up slowly and check the results but its easy to add to the morning routine.  Brush teeth, wash face, rub or spray on estrodial.  *and a low dose of testosterone to maintain libido.

[EllenJ2003]

I love my ARZ. I don't think it's an actual Wizard neck, but it is still pretty thin. The 8 string's neck is a straight up surfboard, though. Need a full stretch regiment before playing it.
The problem I have with the scale is more that all three of the guitars have such different lengths, it's hard to jump between them. The Gibson is 24 3/4, the ARZ is 25 (which feels longer compared to the V), and the eight is like 27 or something insane. And they're all in different tunings, so it gets plenty complicated switching between them.

Also I use heavy gauges on all the guitars (11's or go home), so the 8th string on the eight was actually too thick for the tuning head, so I had to carve a bit away to be able to feed it through enough to tune it. I'd honestly say eight strings aren't worth the effort unless it's absolutely necessary for your music.

Scale length changes aren't an issue with me.  The only time they've become an issue, is with 7- strings, due to the fact that I tune to Drop A, requiring me to use a heavier gauge 7th string to keep it from being too flabby feeling playing-wise.  Like you, I prefer heavier gauge strings.  I typically use 11s (even on 7-strings - you can get Ernie Ball Cobalts in 11s).

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you.  The few times I've played 8-strings, I've ended up bouncing back and forth between playing bass and guitar on the thing.  It's intriguing to me from a doing more with less people musically thing, because of the sonic range that extended range guitars offer.  The video below, where Rob Scallon plays a Schecter 9-string (oh yeah!) is a case in point.



Either way, while I'd like to get another 7-string, I'm in no hurry, and I'm going to be a bit pickier about what I get.  I think I'll opt out of the ARZ-307.  I'm really not a big fan of thin necks.

[EllenJ2003]

@EllenJ2003 - What made the "build a band" concept really work for this gathering, was the song choices/elections were posted online to the group ahead of time (several months). The players posted their instrument and song choices and they filled up the matrix of songs, so when the time came to actually go up and "do it", most if not all that signed up for song had their "wood working" done ahead of time and came prepared. It gelled surprisingly well and was a well organized event. One song I happened to sign up for was "Boots are made for walkin" by Nancy Sinatra, I just loved that sliding bass line in that song, and this girl came up and sang her heart out, it was cool.

Have a rockin' day !

C -

Cool! 

BTW, have you ever heard Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up"?  Bruce Thomas' bass playing pretty much makes the song!



Ellen - Plugging away at practicing on church music (I wish the music director wouldn't wait until Friday to get the song list out to everybody)

[Northern Star Girl]

Thanks for the help everyone. Pretty sure that my issue is due to me not being at a desktop computer.

Btw...
I'm impressed by all the "extra"-string axes here. 

@Maddie:   
Dear Maddie:
To clarify, it is the phones and pads that do not usually have the necessary button and cursor flexibility to be able to successfully follow the Imgur Photo Posting Instructions that I posted. 

Laptops and Desktop computers will work perfectly.

Hugs,
Danielle

[CynthiaAnn]

Cool! 

BTW, have you ever heard Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up"?  Bruce Thomas' bass playing pretty much makes the song!



Ellen - Plugging away at practicing on church music (I wish the music director wouldn't wait until Friday to get the song list out to everybody)

Thanks Ellen !! I am into Costello, you know how to cherry pick the era ! "watchin' the detectives", is playing in my head now....

I am glad to see/read the musical banter here, way to rock this thread Ellen and all !

C -

[EllenJ2003]

Thanks Ellen !! I am into Costello, you know how to cherry pick the era ! "watchin' the detectives", is playing in my head now....

I am glad to see/read the musical banter here, way to rock this thread Ellen and all !

C -

Yep, I like the "true king of rock & roll"  (Mr. McManus/Costello).  "Watching The Detectives" is also very cool.  I had a letdown, when Elvis went through that long period of time on the 80s & 90s, when he seemed like "all Burt Bacharach all the time" style-wise.  When he got the original Attractions back together (minus Bruce Thomas, who he hasn't gotten along with in some time), calling them the Imposters, and they released The Delivery Man, which I saw him perform songs from on Austin City Limits, it was "yeah, Elvis is back, and he's pissed again!"



Watching this vid, with Elvis making that tenor guitar version of the Gretsch 6120 snarl, is igniting my Gretsch GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) again.  Gretsch guitars are one of my "can't get over them guitars" - I may get rid of them, but sooner or later, I get another one.  Gretsches were a major part of my guitarsenal from 2002 (my first one was a cheapo bottom end Synchromatic) until 2018.  My Gretsch addiction - Country Clubs!  Believe me, they're capable of oh so much more than greaser style rockabilly, and Chet Atkins style country music.  The problem is, for me it's a Proline series (upper tier model line) with Dynasonic, or FilterTron pickups that do it for me (not the lower line models with mutant PAF humbuckers), and those things cost a bundle!  The only way I could afford one now, is if I did a pyrric trade (which means saying bye-bye to several of my cool, refretted guitars), or get one on payments from a place like Sweetwater or zZounds (not so sure I want that financial drain), so I think I'll wait a while - maybe the GAS will go away.

[Maddie]

Sting Ray     


Harmony       




[/quote]

[Northern Star Girl]

@Maddie
Dear Maddie:
I am so glad that you were able to get your pictures posted successfully.

You definitely look like a happy camper in your photos....
HUGS,
Danielle

[CynthiaAnn]

Very nice Maddie 

The Sting Ray is lovely !! I like the angle of your camera, produced a really cool image !

Have a rockin' day !!

C -

[Maddie]

Very nice Maddie 

The Sting Ray is lovely !! I like the angle of your camera, produced a really cool image !

Have a rockin' day !!

C -

thanks! Its an Ernie ball that I bought new in 199something. Played a ton with it, mostly before I started chasing the six-string thang