Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Got to hear yourself
If you need to know how you are sounding with your intonation, rhythm and feel, best way to go about it is to get a Zoom H2 Pro Flash recorder. You cannot go wrong with this device it sure packs a lot of features to improve on your repertoires! It has a couple of mic patterns and recording modes to choose from. You can record stereo or surround and whatever needs you have to pick up recording on just your instrument or with others you are playing with. Then it can download recorded files via the USB to computer! It even has tuner and metronome to boot!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Beware of how you purchase your instruments
Here is a paste and cut from my luthier's blog. This is something that every string player should be aware of when out on the market for a bowed string instrument:
Yes, we rent and sell Chinese violins. We’re not crazy about the idea, as I still feel that European instruments provide the best value long term in an instrument. That’s why in full size instruments we try to represent older European instruments whenever possible.
Things are changing however. The traditional violin making centers of Europe can no longer compete with the Chinese on price, and the quality of the Chinese instruments has continued to improve. Five years ago I’d have never dreamed of renting a Chinese instrument because of both poor quality and the fear that the instruments would self destruct within just a few years… after all, a few years ago they did exactly that. Now, especially in the smaller sizes, they have the best sound, and with instruments now being made to our specifications and dimensions, they now hold up well over time and clearly provide the best instrument for kids to learn on.
But what of the German instruments? Sadly, it appears many are no longer German themselves. Paul Prier is a European trained bow maker and is one of the owners of JonPaul Bows in Salt Lake City. His father, Peter Paul Prier, is a Mittenwald graduate and founder of the American School of Violin Making in Salt Lake City. Allen Gatchell is a graduate of Mittenwald and the owner of Gatchell Violins, a wholesale supplier to the trade. Over the last few weeks I’ve seen both of them and it’s led to interesting conversations about German law and how Asian instruments are now being sold as German.
Evidently for an instrument to be called German, it must be made in Germany “40% by value”. Instruments are being imported from Asia in a basic state, with pegs, fingerboard, bridges and other finishing touches being provided in Germany. Comparing German and Chinese labor rates means that it takes very little finishing for the instrument to exceed that 40% threshhold and miraculously become German.
According to Gatchell, virtually nothing in the lower price range in the way of German instruments are still made start to finish in Germany. Yet many shops still represent them as such.
The question is, do the shops selling what they advertise as inexpensive German instruments even know the truth? Probably not. They’ve been duped as much as they’re duping their own customers.
Yes, we rent and sell Chinese violins. We’re not crazy about the idea, as I still feel that European instruments provide the best value long term in an instrument. That’s why in full size instruments we try to represent older European instruments whenever possible.
Things are changing however. The traditional violin making centers of Europe can no longer compete with the Chinese on price, and the quality of the Chinese instruments has continued to improve. Five years ago I’d have never dreamed of renting a Chinese instrument because of both poor quality and the fear that the instruments would self destruct within just a few years… after all, a few years ago they did exactly that. Now, especially in the smaller sizes, they have the best sound, and with instruments now being made to our specifications and dimensions, they now hold up well over time and clearly provide the best instrument for kids to learn on.
But what of the German instruments? Sadly, it appears many are no longer German themselves. Paul Prier is a European trained bow maker and is one of the owners of JonPaul Bows in Salt Lake City. His father, Peter Paul Prier, is a Mittenwald graduate and founder of the American School of Violin Making in Salt Lake City. Allen Gatchell is a graduate of Mittenwald and the owner of Gatchell Violins, a wholesale supplier to the trade. Over the last few weeks I’ve seen both of them and it’s led to interesting conversations about German law and how Asian instruments are now being sold as German.
Evidently for an instrument to be called German, it must be made in Germany “40% by value”. Instruments are being imported from Asia in a basic state, with pegs, fingerboard, bridges and other finishing touches being provided in Germany. Comparing German and Chinese labor rates means that it takes very little finishing for the instrument to exceed that 40% threshhold and miraculously become German.
According to Gatchell, virtually nothing in the lower price range in the way of German instruments are still made start to finish in Germany. Yet many shops still represent them as such.
The question is, do the shops selling what they advertise as inexpensive German instruments even know the truth? Probably not. They’ve been duped as much as they’re duping their own customers.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
NS bass cello
Oh it's been sooo loong since I have posted anything on this blog. Some serious things have gone on-My 93 year old grandmother just passed away,I took up electric bass guitar and discoverd the oohs and aahs of wonder of Facebook! Got a lot of my friends and relatives on there! (Our world is getting smaller!)
Well that aside, lets look at what at what the world of strings has to offer. I have yet found another awsome thing on Youtube so far. The wonders of an electric cello bass!
Well that aside, lets look at what at what the world of strings has to offer. I have yet found another awsome thing on Youtube so far. The wonders of an electric cello bass!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Electric Violins they are a rockin
Take a look at this puppy! This the viper violin. It may take on the world of music (if not already) the music by storm! Electric string instruments are turning the classical music on it's head!
I wish I would have run into this before I bought any violin. I basically took up cello because I had such a hard time holding it. My neck isn't very long.
I wish I would have run into this before I bought any violin. I basically took up cello because I had such a hard time holding it. My neck isn't very long.
Monday, May 18, 2009
No longer boring string players!
I can now name a few of bowed string musicians that are straight out of coolness and not touching anything archaic! Jean Luc Ponty,Bond,Stringfever and now the new eScalas!
Not just one all four!
I am pricipally a budding cellist but now that there is a whole new world of music from all four of our beloved bowed string family, I thought that this blog would be more than appropriate!
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