Conference mr1pst::music

    I'm thinking of purchasing a Howard (Baldwin?) baby grand piano circa
    1929 from Darrells in Nashua for $4100.00.
    
    Its been completly refurbushed, 3 yr bumper to bumper guarentee, price
    includes delivery and first tune.
    
    I'm a piano virgin, its for my wife.  any comments?
    
    Thanks,
    Jim
    
    Cross posted in CONSUMER. 

    
    First of all, the type of pianist that your wife is would make a great
    deal of difference in choosing a piano.  As a classical musician
    myself, I would never choose Baldwin but for casual or easy-listening
    type music, I suppose it would be ok.  For playing classical, I would
    choose Yamaha or Steinway & Sons.  However, without actually playing
    this instrument, it would be hard to make an acurate assessment.  Also,
    you might want to check out exactly what has been refurbished.  Does 
    this include strings, felts, hammers, etc.?  These would be questions
    that I'd ask.
    
    Susan
    
    

    My wife & hopefully children will be learning.  According to Darrell,
    all the above has been replaced.  I guess I'm seeking a comfort level
    on 2 points:

    	1. Has Darrell got a good (honest) reputation?

    	2. Is this a fair price or grossly out of line?

    I like the sound of the piano, and to my untrained ear it sounds
    healthy.  But being naturally suspicious in new territory I want to
    make sure I'm not being taken advantage of.

    My wife likes both the sound and appearance of the instrument.  She does
    sing and has a somewhat trained ear, so I trust her judgment.

    Thnx for the quick reply by the way.  I'm shooting for her birthday
    next week so time is somewhat important.

    Keep those cards and letters coming

    Jim

I've had some dealings with Darrell's (no purchases) and found them decent. I
also know of a charitable organization which enthusiastically praised them.

Bob

    
    I agree. Darrell's is quite reputable. The prices are also competitive.
    
    My concern would be whether the piano has been "refurbished" vs.
    "rebuilt". Most piano experts will tell you that the most common
    problem with old pianos is deterioration of the pin block. This is the 
    laminated block that the pins 'screw' into to allow tuning. The problem
    is that over years the block may dry out and crack. My guess is that
    based on the price, the block is original. If so, it's always a risk.
    
    Costs of "refurbished" pianos vary greatly, and are very competitive.
    Will the 3 year warranty include the block? If not, I'd pass, or offer
    a much lower price. As far as the piano itself, if it's the sound that 
    you like, that's mostly what counts!
    
    Rich

     
    
    I agree with the previous notes. Refurbished is one of those nebulous
    terms that can mean anything from thoroughly cleaned out, to action
    reconditioned and regulated, to restrung. But rebuilt (according to
    many technicians) applies only if it's been restrung and the
    soundboard's been refinished, the plate rebronzed, hammers and dampers
    replaced, pinblock replaced, or at least repinned.
    
    The safest thing to do is to bring a technician with you when you look
    at it. As reputable as the dealer might be, it always helps to have
    someone looking at it who has no interest in the sale other than to
    give you some objective input. They can also serve as interpreter.
    Many salespeople are neither technicians nor musicians and may use
    "sales language" that sounds impressive, but means nothing (i.e. "this
    piano has surgical steel tuning pins!" (who cares, I'm not going to be
    performing surgery, I'm just going to play the thing....))
    
    Anyhow, if you have any other questions, send mail.
    
    Scott
     

    
    Hi,
    Did you buy it? 
    I got my yamaha grand at Darrells after trading in my old grand. I feel
    they were completely on the up-and-up and also very knowledgeable.
    
    There is also a coupla good books in the library you can get to help
    you buy used piano's. They are worth investigating especially on this
    kind of purchase!  Let us know what happened!		N
    

    We are looking for a new flute for my daughter.
    We are leaning towards a Soild Silver Head, Open Hole model.
    My daughter is 15 years old and has been taking Her flute lessons
    very seriously, she has even only asked for a flute for XMAS.
    As my wife and I are not musicians I would like to get others
    thoughts on what type of flute to buy. We have based our thoughts
    thus far on what various music stores have told us.
    
    Your thoughts.
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    Dick Tusia
    
    P.S. We currently live in Munich  we would have my inlaws buy the
    flute in the US as the prices seem much cheaper.

Dick,

I am a flutist and the only way to find the best model is to have her try 
them out.  If she is used to a nickel or silver plated flute, then the solid
silver head will be a bit harder to blow at first but will give more beautiful
rounded purer tones in the end.  Try several types and especially solid bodies
also.  The next step up is keys in silver which I don't think brings that much.

I actually have a flute which is entirely silver which I bought in Munich about
10 years ago at Max Huber near the Dome Platz.  It is a special Max Huber 
model made by Matsu(mumble) the Japanese Mercedes of the flute business.  Things
to listen for are ease in playing high notes and octaves which sound correct.
Listen carefully also to the high E-flat which is often out of tune on cheaper
flutes.

Another thing to look for is the ease of assembly-disassembly for when main-
tenance has to be done.  The cloth used for cleaning the flute should not be
stored with the flute.

My silver flute replaced a silver plated Pearl flute which I had also purchased
from Max Huber.

I have also recently purchased a solid silver Yamaha piccolo.  It is the same
model that the flutist from the Royal Air Force Band is using and I like it
very much.  I bought this in the US where, indeed, instruments are much cheaper.
My old flute/oboe teacher in my hometown is now running a music store and he is 
recommending a brand of flute/piccolo which is American made.  Started with
an "E" but the name escapes me right now.

Cheryl

    
    	I'm also looking for a piano, kind of.  My sister wants an
    	electric piano, for practicing her piano lessons, and all
    	I can really find is $100 "100 rhythms and drum sounds" stuff
    	that is pretty useless.
    
    	I'd like to find a very basic electric piano, with 61 keys
    	and a "piano feel" when played on.
    
    	Daddy's in Shrewsbury has a Roland [something] with rec/play
    	and tempo adjustment for monitoring progress, and has maybe
    	5 different "sounds" [harpsichord, etc] for $800 with the
    	stand.  Is this a good deal?  And if not, where should I look
    	to find something equally as good?
    
    	Thanks for any info.
    
    							GTI

    Re -.1: I have a Roland U-20, which is a sample player, meaning it
    plays back digitally recorded samples.  There are 64 sounds on board,
    which is plenty for me.  The piano sound and the organ sounds are
    great. The keys are full size and there are 61 of them.  As for action,
    I thnk this is a line of departure in price: the weighted action
    keyboards are beaucoup dollars.  It does *not* include a sequencer,
    so there's no 'remember what I play and play it back' feature.
    
    So, I think the U-20 would meet most of your specs.  I paid $850 for
    mine at Wurly's about 15months ago.  I think Roland has replaced the
    U-20, but I expect the replacement to be slight performance and cost
    increase over the U-20.

    
    
    You know, this sort of thing is covered in COMMUSIC on IMDOWN:: pretty
    thoroughly.  Check it out!
    
    

    
    Yes indeed, piano purchase advise needed.
    
    Hi Everybody,
    
    I need your help. I am trying to buy a piano. In yesterday's paper,
    there was an ad. This is the info I got from the owner over the
    phone :
    
    It is MAY brand, German make. 12 years old. 9 years ago moved from
    Germany to Canada. Teak wood, yellowish brown (?). 
    103 cm in size (sorry, I don't know what that makes in inches),
    according to the owner it has a very good sound, grand action (whatever
    that means).
    The lady (owner) is a piano teacher and she just bought herself a
    grand piano, that's why she wants to sell this one. She is asking
    3500 Canadian dollars.
    
    Before I go and see the piano, I wanted to get your opinion first.
    
    What do the piano experts out there think about this one ? 
    
    Thanks
    
    Lale
    

    
    That is some serious money for a keyboard that only has one voice,
    takes up a lot of space, and weighs a ton.  I guess the nice thing
    about it is that it works even when the power's off...
    
    If your heart is set on an accoustic piano, then
    	good luck!
    else
    	check into the COMMUSIC conference (press kp7)
    end if
    

The only way to tell if it's worth it is to play it.

ccb

    I agree with .11.
    
    While it may seem unaesthetic, if I can't have a real Steinway,
    Bosendoerfer or Falcone, I'm not going to pay big bucks for a mediocre
    grand piano.
    
    I'd much rather buy a digital sampled piano that sounds like a
    Steinway.   It requires much less care, costs less, never needs tuning,
    moves easily, doesn't take as much space, has a headphone jack so
    I can play whenever/whatever I like, etc.
    
    Sure, in some ways it's not as good as a mediocre, but "real" piano.
    But the net difference isn't worth very much to me.  
    
    But your mileage may vary - I guess you could characterize my view
    as not having a middle ground.

    There are plenty of other makes of piano that, to my ear, sound every
    bit as good as the names you mentioned and are available at a far lower
    price.  I have a refurbished 1926 5'2" Baby Grand Knabe that is the
    sweetest sounding instrument I've ever heard -- and it "only" cost
    $8000.  

    Could you name some of the other readily available brands that sound
    every bit as good as Steinway, Bosendoerfer and Falcone?
    
    I'm curious.

    Some Knabe grand piano's have a very nice tone no question, and there
    are some Steinway's that sound harsh or bright sounding. My sister went
    looking for a piano and it took here close to 2 years to find the right
    one (for her and to her ears). She had one goal, find a piano that
    doesn't make her sound good. What I mean is find a piano that she can 
    make bright sounding when she wants to by her technique. At first I
    thought yeah right, but she picked up a reconditioned Steinway Model
    "A" (~1929) and she showed me what she meant. She really could make it
    sound brighter by her technique! I wouldn't have believed it if I
    didn't hear it myself! How much you ask? Only around $18k I think, but
    since music *is* her life and her only job...  she saw it as a good  
    investment.
    
    $18K is a bit extreme (and a special case), but it you play something
    that sounds right for you, (the tone you've been searching for) and it's 
    within your budget...  go for it, enjoy it and be happy! It isn't what
    we in this conference think that's important because you're the one
    who's going to live with it. My own opinion is play everything you can
    get your hands on and keep looking until you find *THE* piano! Place an
    extra support in the lower floor where the piano is going to be placed
    and enjoy it!
    
    
    Fred

    I agree with the last note.  My Knabe purchase was, believe it or not,
    an impulse buy.  I stopped in a store that restores old pianos, sat
    down and played the Knabe, and had to have it.  To this day, it is the
    best sounding piano I have every played -- including some that cost
    twice as much.  There are so many variables involved that each piano
    has its own individual sound.  
    
    Another thing that I've been told is, the more often you play a piano,
    the better it will sound.  I don't know the technical explanation for
    this, but experts in the business have told me that a frequently play
    instrument "gets hot" and stays hot (whatever than means).  Something
    about the molecules lining up or some such nonsense(?)

    Where are Knabe pianos sold in New England (particular Southern NH
    or Boston area)?

    
    
    I am so happy, I have to share it with you, fellow noters.
    
    I believe I bought the best piano my money could buy, the one that is
    the most appropriate for our talent, experience and budget. It sounds
    so sweet to our ears and it is so beautiful : YAMAHA, UF1, 47.5 inches,
    ebony. Brand new, we were the first ones to listen to it, to play it
    and to play with it.
    
    The list price was $6650 Canadian. A friend of ours had bought the same
    piano from the same place 6 months ago. The one he got was played in
    concerts and he bought it for $4900 Canadian. We offered the same price
    and got it. Including the %15 tax, we paid 5704 Canadian dollars.
    Fortunately most of it is funded by granpa.
    
    Right now, we have no time to play it, we are too busy dusting,
    shining, polishing it and monitoring the temperature and the humidity...
    (I wonder who will shine it 6 months from now ?)
    
    I am so happy, I love my Yamaha. I was reading a book on piano history,
    I learned that the technique of building a piano reached it's steady
    state around 1930. They have been using the same technique (with some
    minor improvements) ever since. Isn't that amazing ?
    
    ref. .19 : I liked your note (your sister's story) a lot. It warmed
    my heart. Thanks for posting it.
    
    Peaceful Holidays, Everbody
    
    Lale
    

    We bought a Yamaha many years ago on the recommendation of my wife's
    piano teacher.  The teacher noted that Indiana State University had
    bought 40 Yamahas (I believe they are the short upright model called a 
    console) which were shipped across the Pacific and then across the US
    to Terre Haute, IN, and then stored for two years while the new music
    building was being completed.  They were all in tune when they were
    rolled into the new building.

    Knabe's are no longer manufactured -- you'll need to find a store that
    refurbishes pianos.

    The other guitar player in my band doubles on fiddle.  He currently
    uses some kind of contact microphone that is attached (glued? magic?)
    to the body of the violin.  In general, this is a fairly lousy setup,
    since the fiddle and pickup have practically no tone...it's all
    screetch and edge, no warmth.  Also, it's difficult to get sufficient
    gain before feedback.
    
    Recognizing this, the other guitarist is interested in purchasing a 
    fiddle specifically made for playing in an electric setting.
    
    I've seen oddly shaped fiddles in wild colors used in bands on
    television.  They appeared to have little humbuckers and a conventional
    guitar cord input jack.  Anyone got any info on where we could test
    drive one of these?
    
    I've also seen Mark O'Connor on the American Music Shop use what
    appears to be a small condenser element on the end of a small flexible
    gooseneck.  It sounded great, but I think Mark O'. could make a cigar
    box and rubber bands sound great.  Anyone got info on these?
    
    Other input welcome.  Thanks.

    I heard "Free Your Mind" on the radio and liked it, so I picked up a
    copy of En Vogue's "Funky Divas" album, already named by another noter
    as one of his favorites for 1992.
    
    Generally I like this album, but one thing bugs me: a couple of the
    tracks seem quite out of tune.  What's especially irksome is that "Free
    Your Mind" is one of these - the instruments and voices, while in tune
    with themselves, are not in tune with each other.  It's too bad because
    otherwise it's a killer song.  Still, this is a promising album that
    will get some further listening.
    
    Anybody else care to comment on En Vogue in general, or this album in
    particular?

>     <<< Note 14.25 by LUNER::KELLYJ "Don't that sunrise look so pretty" >>>
>                             -< Electric fiddles >-

>    I've also seen Mark O'Connor on the American Music Shop use what
>    appears to be a small condenser element on the end of a small flexible
>    gooseneck.  It sounded great, but I think Mark O'. could make a cigar
>    box and rubber bands sound great.  Anyone got info on these?
    

Mark does use a condenser (or capacitor, as we're supposed to say now) mic.
I have a friend who performs a lot on fiddle and she's been through several
pickups amd mics.  She recently settled on a saxophone mic that was made to 
clip right on the horn.  It sounds pretty good and I'm thinking about getting 
one.  I don't remember the brand but I'll try to remember to check it out.

I've never seen one of those wierd electric fiddles in a shop.  It's 
definitely not a high (sales) volume item.  I usta subscribe to Strings 
magazine and saw lots of ads for different electric critters but never met one 
in person.

Bob

    Re: 25
    
    There are a couple of makes of electric fiddles out there.  One is Zeta
    Systems which is out in California, they make four and five string
    violins and cellos (!!!) with MIDI interfaces optional.  
    
    Barcus Berry used to sell violins with pickups installed.  Not sure if
    they still sell these, but they definitely still sell the bridges with
    integral pickups.
    
    Fender made an electric violin from about 1958 to 1972 or so, these are
    rare and usually pricey because of collector's value.  I would expect
    the sound to be poor as the pickup technology is dated.
    
    There's a guy named Barrett (??) who makes weird solid body violins. 
    Not sure how the heck you would find this guy, I have played with
    someone who owned one of his fiddles, it's sort of a Steinberger-ish
    concept, no body, just a neck, pickup and chin rest sort of affair.
    
    For that matter, Steinberger has shown prototypes of an electric violin
    but I have heard nothing about it going into production.
    
    As far as condensers, a poular one amongst Boston-area fiddlers is a
    Fender condenser (no longer sold by Fender) that was made my
    Panasonic/Ramsa.  Supposedly you can still order them from Panasonic
    but they are expensive, the Fenders were a hit because when CBS dropped
    the company the mics and other PA gear were blown out ultra-cheap. 
    These mics sound great but you still have to worry about feedback, get
    a good parametric EQ and hope for the best.
    
    Why not call up the Music Emporium in Cambridge and quiz them on what
    they know about the subject?
    
    							Brian

    
    re: the fiddle mike problem - make sure that it's isolated from the
    body of the instrument (so that the mike's vibration doesn't cancel out
    the low frequency components) and apply a little EQ.  Try subtracting
    top end before you start boosting the lows and mids.
    
    re: En Vogue - those women can *sing*!!!!  And they look great, too! 
    I've only seen them on TV, but I'll probably pick up the CD...
    

    RE: .25
    
    There are a few other electric violin makers (Jensen, Raad, Ithaca 
    Strings?) that have interesting looking violins - I haven't heard'em,
    so I can't say how they sound.  There are often ads from which you
    can get an address for more info in Strings magazine. Strings can be
    hard to find, but I've gotten it at Barnes and Noble a few times.
    
    I have a T.F.Barrett electric, which my wife calls "the anchor" because
    it does resemble a solid maple boat anchor. The question you (or your
    friend) has to answer is whether you want a true acoustic violin sound,
    or whether electric is "close enough." I haven't been tempted to use
    the Barrett in the bluegrass band I play in, though it has a passable
    electric-ish acoustic sound.  I've seen Zetas used in everything from
    jazz to country, but they still sound fairly electric to me.  Ned
    Steinberger is quoted as saying he doesn't intend his electric violin
    (which, BTW, resembles a black robot grasshopper) to sound like an
    acoustic - "why reinvent what already exists?" I believe the Zeta is
    also intended to create a 'purer tone' than what an acoustic would
    produce, so that it can more accurately be converted to MIDI.  This
    was discussed in an article about electric violins in Strings a few
    months back.
    
    If you want a true acoustic sound, a condensor mic is the way to go.
    I noticed recently that Mark O'Connor is shown as endorsing Baggs
    pickup systems, which I believe combine a small condensor with a piezo
    of some kind.  I tried a Barcus-Berry bridge pickup, and found LOTS of
    EQ is necessary to get a reasonable sound...  Also, make sure you have
    a suitable pre-amp. Plugging those right into the board will result in
    a very thin tone.
    
    Tom

    Re: .30
    
    The need for EQ with Barcus Berry and most piezo pickups is because
    they have a *very* high impedance output and if the input to the
    amp you use isn't on the order of a few *megohms* you lose all the low
    end (most guitar amps have input impedances of 47-100K ohms).  
    
    Preamps from Barcus Berry and Fishman can correct this.  Fishman
    also sells "the Blender" which couples a preamp for a piezo pickup with
    a mike input so you can mix the bridge signal with a mike.  They
    recommend if for all acoutic applications: guitars, upright bass,
    fiddle, etc.
    
    Tom, where did you find your Barrett?
    
    						Brian

re: .30, .31

The problem with the high-impedance piezo outputs sounding shrill when
plugged directly into a PA occurs with acoustice guitar pickups, as well.
One thing I've found that helps is to run th signal through a guitar
stomp box before going into the PA.  You don't have to turn the stomp
box on.  Apparently the stomp boxes are designed to handle high impedance
signals from guitar pickups.

-Hal

    I just happen to keep the annual Resource Directory from Strings
    magazine at my desk... Here's what's listed:
    
    	T. F. Barrett 802-722-9063 
    	Jensen Musical Instruments 206-782-3158
    	Ithaca Guitar Works 607-272-2602 (appear to be a dealer carrying
    		Aceto Violect violins)
    
    I recently called Barrett out of curiosity about his cellos. I believe
    he said that he manufactures violins in enough quantity to exhibit
    through dealers (not so for cellos, but he has a demo cello that he
    ships around) -- anyway, he could tell you which dealers to try.
    
    I bet if you called the transducer manufacturers they would point you
    to the instrument builders that use their transducers. I haven't tried
    this myself.
    
    	Fishman Transducers 617-938-8850
    	Barbera Transducer Systems 718-816-3025
    
    I don't see a listing for Zeta.
    
    There was a good article on electric violins in, I think, the
    July/August issue (I borrowed it from someone & don't have it any
    more).
    
    					Val

Rathole...

Saw L. Shankar perform recently.  He's a violinist known for playing Indian
classical music, and for his work with John McLaughlin and others.

He played a double-necked electric violin - a very strange-looking beast.
Each neck had five strings, tuned 1-5-1-5-1.  Both necks were the same 
length and seemed to have the same gauge of strings.  One neck played an
octave below the other - done electronically, I presume - giving it a
cello-like sound.  The bowing noise was much more prominent on the lower
neck, being pitch-shifted down an octave as well.

Catch this guy in concert if you can, he's quite amazing!

-Lance-

    RE: .31
    
    > Tom, where did you find your Barrett?
    
    I bought it via the Want-Ads from a guy in Boston. Never seen one in 
    a music store.
    
    Tom

    
    Today, I purchased an oriental, stringed instrument called SAZ. It has
    3 sets of double strings, 6 alltogether. It has a very long, skinny
    neck and a short, fat body. Unlike guitar, it does not have a hole on
    the body, under the strings, instead, it has a hole at the bottom of
    the body (when hold upright). The one I bought is 20 years old.
    
    I believe, Peter Gabriel used this instrument in the soundtrack of
    The Last Temptation of Christ.
    
    Lale
    

   I am the proud new owner of a beautifully restored (inside and out)
   Ivers and Pond upright piano.  I spent several months researching my
   options and speaking with  various piano technicians. I also looked at
   new pianos and I  couldn't be happier with my purchase. 
 
   If you are in the market for an older upright or grand piano, or have
   one you want restored, need tuning and/or repairs I highly recommend
   Yury Livshetz (617)661-4835 from Cambridge MA.  

   Calling him a piano technician doesn't do his work justice. He is really
   a superb craftsman and artist when it comes to repairing and restoring
   these old pianos.  His prices are exceedingly reasonable. I would have
   paid easily twice as much purchasing the same quality piano from someone
   else. 
              Jeannie

   BTW if anyone is in the market for completely restored 1898 rosewood
   Steinway upright Yury has one currently for sale that is a knockout. 
   Even if you are looking for a grand this piano is worth considering.  He
   also has a beautiful Poole upright (made by Ivers and Pond) that is
   almost finished.
    

    It depends on what you want, consumer or "pro". Technics and the Yamaha
    PSR series are aimed at the consumer market. They may sound OK, but
    rarely allow you to tweak the sounds or really dig in. I'd not even
    consider them, but your needs may be different.
    
    For 2000 punds, ($3500???) you can get real pro gear from Roland,
    Yamaha, Ensonig, Peavy or any of a number of other companies...
    
    Edd

    Hi there!
        
    	I wanted (read this as *need*) to know what TODAY'S going price for 
    a 1969 Fender Twin Reverb in totally MINT (and I mean like brand new, 
    never out of the box type of mint) condition. This model does *NOT* have 
    a master volume, has the original Fender drivers in it and has been 
    totally retubed!
    
    Anyone have an educated idea, or a "WantAds" on hand? $300? $400? $1000?
    
    	Many thanks in advance,
    			      Fred

    
    
    
    if it's really that good, it might be a $500 amp here in So CA.
    
    I'm selling a friend's twin, 70's, silver face, master volume,
    eminence speakers around that figure and getting just a few calls -- 
    which means his asking price is on the upper edge of the envelope.
    
    

	Fred,

	From the Want Ad , Nov 2-8 issue under musical accessories -

	RARE AMPS:

	1965 blackface super reverb,  $850.00
	1957 Tweed, Fender Deluxe, $950
	1964 Fender Tremolux ,cream tolex, $450

	Also

	Fender Twin Reverb, 1970's , mint $450.
	

	Thats all I see.
	
	Regards
	Shakey Steve
	
*******************************************************************************


                     <<< Note 14.40 by NOKNOK::ABATELLI >>>
              -< ** Need a price on a 1969 Fender Twin Reverb ** >-

    Hi there!
        
    	I wanted (read this as *need*) to know what TODAY'S going price for 
    a 1969 Fender Twin Reverb in totally MINT (and I mean like brand new, 
    never out of the box type of mint) condition. This model does *NOT* have 
    a master volume, has the original Fender drivers in it and has been 
    totally retubed!
    
    Anyone have an educated idea, or a "WantAds" on hand? $300? $400? $1000?
    
    	Many thanks in advance,
    			      Fred

>	Also

>	Fender Twin Reverb, 1970's , mint $450.
	
     There were also two others advertized, one for $425 and another
     for $450. If they're sold, I wonder how much cash exchanged
     hands. I bought a 70's Twin Reverb w/JBLs last spring for $425.
     He was asking $475. I think $500 is way high for any silverface
     Twin.

     Neal

    Someone oughta snarf that 64 Tremolux! I wish I could. Dems are great
    lil heads, 35 watt screamers. They're the only head that Fender made
    with a tube rectifier. They overdrive real nice.

    Re: .44
    
    BZZZZT....
    
    My Bassman head has a tube rectifier in it.....
    
    Still, a tremolux is a nice little head, low wattage means it can get
    wicked brown at reasonable volumes.
    
    							Brian

    Whoops. You mean that white one. Yes, I forgot that from '61 thru '63
    Bassmans had GZ34 rectifiers. Those baby's command a pretty steep price
    these days. When the Bassman went through revision in '64 they took out
    the GZ34. But I believe the Tremolux design retained the GZ34 until the
    amp was discontinued. Bandmasters and Showmans never used tube
    rectifiers. When they consolidated some of their 45 watt designs around
    '68, the Bandmaster Reverb inherited the Super Reverbs tube rectifier
    and middle control.

    Back in 1970, I played in a band with a guy that had a white Tremolux
    and it had goobs of smooth, lush, warm tone. But he had traded in a
    brown Deluxe for it!

    --Ron

    What is the name of the glass wind instrument that Linda Rondstat
    features on her new hit single "Heartbeats Acelarated"?
    
    I heard her discuss it on a radio station and it had a real interesting
    history.  Seems it was very popular in the 1700s and all who played it
    went crazy and had hair loss......back then they thought it was
    'cursed' but turns out the people who played it were getting lead
    poisoning from the glass.
    
    Thanks
    Jt 

    
    Without having heard either the tune or interview in question, I'd
    guess it's the glass harmonica, which is not a harmonica or wind
    instrument at all.  The instrument is based on the famous "rub the rim
    of a crystal goblet with a wet finger" effect.  I believe the actual
    instrument uses glass discs rather than goblets, and the discs are spun
    by a foot treadle contraption.
    
    You'd have to play it a lot to absorb enough lead, even from high lead
    content crystal, to get lead poisoning, unless you were always sucking
    your fingers...
    
    I wonder if the recording uses a real glass harmonica or a sampled or
    synthesized version thereof?  There's a fairly close approximation to
    the sound in my Roland SuperJupiter.
    
    I think I may have come across a rumor to the effect that Benjamin
    Franklin invented the glass harmonica, or maybe he only built one
    (or more).  I think no less than Beethoven wrote a piece for the
    instrument - I have a very old LP of glass harmonica music.
    
    len.
    

    I'll try and describe how this instrument looks and hopefully
    someone can name it. First, take a broom-stick handle and cut it to
    about 8 inches long. Second, attach a disc about the size of a 45 rpm
    to the end of the stick. Third, add rods about the diameter of a pencil
    around the outer perimeter of the disc. The rods change in size from
    about 1 inch to 6 inches in height around the disc. This instrument is
    held by the "broom-stick" handle and rotated clock-wise and counter
    clock-wise while being drawn by a violin style bow. I saw this on a
    recent acoustic video and had never seen anything like it before.
    
    cheers,
    		fred deady 

    >What is the name of the glass wind instrument that Linda Rondstat
    >features on her new hit single "Heartbeats Acelarated"?
    
    Is this the "Heartbeats accelerating" song written by one of
    the McGarrigle sisters (+title of their latest album)?
    
    Henrik

>>    Is this the "Heartbeats accelerating" song written by one of
>>    the McGarrigle sisters (+title of their latest album)?
    
Must be.  I heard "Heartbeats Accelerating" recently while sitting in the 
Friendly's at the Museum of Science and said "Hey, this isn't the McGarrigles!"
and thought in disgust that MUZAK had latched onto them.   I didn't listen hard
enough to figure out who was singing but I could believe it was Linda.  Knowing
the McGarrigles version it's not hard to imagine using a glass harmonica (or 
simulated one) on the song.  I think the McGarrigles use something synthesized 
for that part.

Walker

    Hi I'm new to this note.  I just picked up a couple of steel drums in 
    Key West this past month.  The problem is, they really need to be 
    tuned as they have been abused for quite some time.  Does anyone have
    any suggestions as to how/where I can get them tuned?  I live in the 
    Boston area.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Sorry if
    this note is in the wrong place.  Thanks in advance!
    
    Colleen L. Ritchie
    DTN: 275-3104
    outside: (508)474-3104
    Preferred:  wmois::ritchie
    

    I'm not sure whether this is the right place to ask about clarinets...
    if there's a more appropriate topic or conference, please let me know.
    
    The kids are getting into music, and for now we're renting (I know,
    big $$, but better that than get stuck if it doesn't work out) a
    clarinet made by Selmer.  The label on the case implies that it's
    made in USA.  When I asked the music store rep how much it would
    cost to buy this model new, he said $495.
    
    This seemed high compared to the $250 to $300 that other stores
    were quoting over the phone for their clarinets, but I don't know
    the makes and models of these others, so I may be comparing apples
    and oranges.
    
    I must admit that this Selmer clarinet plays very nicely (and much
    more smoothly and easily than my 32-year-old Sears Silvertone kiddie
    model ever did! :-)), so maybe it's simply a better instrument that's
    actually worth the money.
    
    Might anyone out there know anything about this particular manufacturer
    or any other pertinent information about clarinets, prices, and
    quality?
    
    Thanks,
    Chris

    Is it a Selmer Bundy (Selmer's student line), or a real Selmer? If it's
    the student model, that price is high, if it's not, that price is low.
    The stuff in the $300-$400 range might be used "real" Selmers, or a new
    Bundy. I doubt anyone is selling full-fledged Selmers at that price.
    
    Brian

    Brian,
    
    Thanks for the info.... I believe it's a Selmer Bundy (the mouthpiece
    says "Bundy"), and without knowing anything else, the price did seem
    high.  But it is a nice student clarinet, so when the rental's up,
    I'll probably shop around to buy one at a better price (assuming
    it "catches on" :-)).
    
    I'll probably check out the stores in Woburn, Wakefield, and maybe
    Hampshire Music in Nashua as well.
    
    Thanks,
    Chris

    >Where have I seen "Bundy" before?...
    
    Well, there's Ted Bundy of Florida State Fryolator fame...
    Or there's Al Bundy of Married With Children fame...
    Just about every woodwind of brass instrument in a school
    band will say Bundy on it... that's a few Bundys I can think of.
    
    Brian

    

      Hi,

       I've never stopped into this conference so forgive me if I break
    any conference rules. I have searched through the notes as well as
    executed various dir *.*/title=xxx searches. I have 2 questions:

        1. Does anyone know or have a finger chart for a Tin Whistle ?
           I have looked at my local library and music stores but have
           not been successful. I am looking for a finger chart similar to
           what you would find for a Recorder.

        2. Does anyone have or know the whereabouts for a shareware program
           for a DOS based PC or VMS system that will produced a postscript
           file of blank sheet music ?


    				Thanks,

    				  Jim Geoffrey

    
    	If tin whistles are made of tin, what do they make fog horns
    	out of?
    
    	[BOOM BOOM!!]
    
    							GTI

    >   1. Does anyone know or have a finger chart for a Tin Whistle ?
    >      I have looked at my local library and music stores but have
    >      not been successful. I am looking for a finger chart similar to
    >      what you would find for a Recorder.
    
    Tin whistles play in Diatonic scales, and one typically uses a whistle
    of the correct key. A typical set of tin whistles includes the
    following keys:
    			    Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
    
    The fingering steps up the scale from all fingers (low) to no fingers
    (hi). You can play chromatics by covering half of the hole above or
    below the desired note (depending on sharp or flat). To play in the
    lowest octave, blow softly, the middle octave a bit more vigorously,
    and you can even get a couple notes in the highest octave by blowing
    hard.
    
    I do have a chart that shows some simple tunes and fingering on the
    whistles around somewhere... I will try and find it and may enter it
    online if it's not too hard.
    
    
    I can't help with your second question.
    
    Brian

    Does anyone know what a "floor slide" is?
    
    Ry Cooder plays one on the new Chieftains "The Long Black Veil" 
    album and I'd like to understand something about the instrument.
    
    	db

Could someone give me a rough idea of the dollar value of the following 
accordian, or suggest a place in the Maynard area that could appraise
it?  I was given the accordian and have no idea of its value. I'd like
to trade it for an electric bass guitar if anyone's interested.

	"Enrico Roselli" accordian, "custom built expressly for Stancato School"
	Made in Italy
	6 rows of 20 buttons
	39 keys
	Green-grey finish with gold accents.  Red padded leather strap.
	Very clean, looks almost new.  
	Repair needed - some of the keys stick.

re .61

Call The Button Box at (413) 549-0171 in Amherst, MA.  They should be able 
to help you out.

Walker