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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | I love the richer tone I get with them. A little concerned about the added pressure on my old acoustic legend, but I suspect it was originally made to be played with medium strings.
Norse(still in love)man1 |
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Location: Scotland | I have an old Legend I use for slide, I use custom heavy gauge strings (I.E. heavier than 13-56 medium gauge) It didn't even need a truss rod tweak when I moved up th that gauge & hasn't moved at all since. You shouldn't have a problem with mediums on a USA Ovation.
Paul |
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Location: Shelton, Washington, USA | Don't worry about the tension difference.... I use mediums on all five of my O's (ranging in age from new to 24 years old. None exhibit any issues with mediums.
BTW... I think O's ship (and shipped) from the factory with lights. |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | "sounds" good! Thanks for the replies. I was a little concerned due to some bowing already present between the saddle and sound hole, but the neck feels solid as a rock!
Norse(perhaps someday I'll be brave enough to try heavy)man1 |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Go For the Mediums Norse(you da)man1! |
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Location: Zion, Illinois | I switched to mediums this weekend on my Elite. Sounds great, but I'm getting groves in my fingertips.
Sounds great - ouch
Sounds great - ouch
You get the picture. Has anybody here tried Webstrings Bluegrass? They seem to be somewhere in between.
.012 .016 .025w .034 .045 .056
Low's seem medium, highs seem light. I'm trying them next.
Bradley :eek: (ouch) :eek:
BTW, I tried those acid proof Titaniums on my (pardon my language) Gibson. Don't like them at all for tone. |
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Location: SoCal | Here you guys are going to medium gauge strings and after all the crap I took cwktwo and others, I went to extra lights on all my guitars. My fingers now don't hurt at all because now my guitars sound like crap and I don't play them any more.
Seriously, mediums, I think, are the way to go. They really drive the top on Ovations and give the best sound.
By the way, I took the first steps today to track down an Adamas slothead that I remembered from 15 years ago in Fullerton CA. There's a good story on this involving a shooting and jail time. Once I have more of it, I'll pass it along. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Paul, I gave you a hard time about Mediums?? They do sound better but I don't use them either. I like the lites, the Adamas 1818 set (I haven't run out yet!) The Phosphor Bronze sound the best too, in my twisted opinion.
In talking to the guys at National they are saying that lites don't really make much of a difference (detract any) on their tricones. I had always heard that Nationals needed mediums to drive the cones properly.
I have had a few really old Martins that I used the Xtra lites on. They sounded good and were alot less prone to caving in on themselves. |
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Location: SoCal | Bill, in my line of work I don't consider that somebody's given me a hard time unless they are actively taking a swing at me. You were only teasing about the mediums.
Now that I've gone back to medium gauge strings and picks, I don't think I could go back to light gauge. I just like the fuller sound. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Actually I've gone back to medium picks from heavys. Since they bend easier it makes me pay closer attention to what I'm playing. My dog tells me I should do that anyway. The only heavy picks I use are the ones with stems for ball marks on the golf course. Dunlop makes them. |
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Location: Shelton, Washington, USA | yeah.... but can ya play a guitar with 'em? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | They work great. Slam the stem through your thumb so it won't slip out of your hand and you can play banjer all night long. |
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Location: NJ | cwk
your dog tells you what to do? Was your last name berkowitz at some point?
btw I went to a doctor one time named David Berkowitz and I was the only person who broke his stones about it . |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | cwktwo
You just slightly wrong here.
Banjo players use those roofing nails that you recommended to keep a roundback from sliding off the lap. They use them on both hands.
Banjo players don't have to worry about string gauge, They use five of whatever the other guys have to spare.
No dog would ever own a banjo player.
I hope those guys coming up my driveway carrying torches and pitchforks aren't what I think, but they seem to be playing foggy mountain breakdown in march tempo.
Bailey
Ps I've got some 20 year old Gibson flat wounds that I would sell for somebody who doesn't want their guitar to produce sound.
[ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: Bailey ]
[ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: Bailey ] |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | The dog and I have some very meaningful discussions. When we seriously disagree on something I'll practice my slide playing on a lap National. The dog runs to her bed and puts both paws over the ears. Must be trying to tell me something???? |
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Location: Pensacola,FL | Everybody makes fun of the "banjo players", but how many out there secretly have one of those 6-string Deerings hiding in a closet and play it when no one is around? Deering got his idea for
the "banjar"/6string banjo (that actually sounded 'good') from Glen Cambell :D Check it out here. |
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Location: NJ | I wouild like to publicly go on record and say that I hate Bela Fleck and although I appreciate his talent just don;t get it. |
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Location: Scotland | Sounds like a cue for some more Banjo jokes.............like, what's the difference between a banjo & a chainsaw? A chainsaw has a nicer tone & a wider dynamic range.
Any more? Accordian players & bass players are also fair game.
Apparantly the banjo is the only indigenous American instrument. What made you guys think that putting strings on a drum was a good idea?
Paul
[ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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Location: Shelton, Washington, USA | difference between banjoes and accordians?..... banjoes light quicker, but accordians burn longer. |
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Location: NJ | What do you do when there's a bass player at your door?
Pay him for the pizza.
..............................................
What's the differnce between a vacuum and a bass player?
When you unplug the vacuum it stops sucking. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | OGL1
Really interesting posting, and also currently relevant!
The Australian country player who introduces all the Glen Campbell videos, I think his name is Keith Urban, played a six string banjo flat picking style, on CMT's Flameworthy show. Very good banjo roll sound, I can't recall the song he played, but he just preceded Earl Scruggs and friends playing their award winning Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Now isn't that chutzpah, or had his mind been destroyed by that extra string on his banjo.
I played in a band in CA with a flat picking banjo player (an exceptional guitar player) and he could hold his own with anybody. He started working with finger picks and I think he lost some momentum. We played bluegrass at his outdoor wedding at the park where our club jammed.We all learned some breaks on Ode to Joy and did an extended version, followed by a super tempo Banjo Breakdown at the finish of the "I do's". One of our other banjo players could read music and was a classical music scholar in his real life.
Thats the first time I've seen anything about six string banjos, great information!
Bailey |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Paul
I think it was an attempt to imitate the people who attached flutes to a blacksmith's bellows and marched in skirts. Only all we had was drums and strings. We did steal a lot of their good music, and play it to this day on our indigenous instruments.
Bailey |
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Location: Pensacola,FL | Bailey
Thanks for your reply. As a luthier (my Hobby)
I can appreciate ALL the stringed instruments.
And to be honest, I fixem better than I play'em.
At one time I was a member of the CBA[CA], then moved and became a member of the ABA [AZ], moved again and now a member of the GCBMA [FL]. I enjoy
all types of music, but Bluegrass - "High Lonesome" to "Nickel Creek" is my favorite (must have something to do with that very first stereo Hi-Fi record I heard as a kid -Starday label *Bluegrass Special*). Before I was forced to retire (damned LUPUS anyway!) I worked in a high tech composites company that made everything from graphite wheelchairs to parts for the Space Shuttle, so I have a great interest in Ovations and how they are made. (Made me a graphite guitar once - acoustic/totally hollow inside including the neck - only piece of wood in it was inside the peghead{had to have something to screw the tuners to:-} it sounded great, AND you could row a boat with it or carry water in it). I digress...
Back to what I was saying...oh yeah... Thanks for the reply :) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | And the difference between a banjo and an onion? You don't cry cutting up a banjo
And there was this guy, got on the plane in First class and looked really nervous. The flight attendant asked if he'd like a drink and he accepted, bourbon double please. He slams it and asks for another. She brings it and he does the same. He sits quietly for a minute but is really nervous and starting to sweat. The flight attendant gets the purser who comes up to the guy and asks what's wrong? This poor guy is really shaking now and stands up, reaching in his pocket he pulls out a set of thumb and finger picks and hands them to the purser and says, "Could you hold these for me till we land. I play pedal steel guitar and I'm afraid the plane might go down. When they find my body they'll find those in the pocket and think I'm a banjo player. |
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Location: SoCal | I just read Paul's message above and he's right. The banjo is the only instrument invented here in the U.S. by our fore fathers. It amazed all four of them. |
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Location: Zion, Illinois | Hehe
Reminds me of the time when Jack Benny visited the White House.
As Jack approached the White House doors with his violin case in hand, the secret service agent appeared nerveous.
"I'm sorry Mr. Benny but I have to ask" said the SS agent. "What do you have in that case"
Jack Benny, never one to pass up a joke, replied, "Well if you must know, it's a machine gun"
The SS agent breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God! For a second I was afraid you brought your violin. You may pass"
Jack Benny ended up rolling on the White House lawn, laughing his head off...
Bradley |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | cwktwo
That one was a good one and a new one, I had to laugh out loud when I read it.
Bailey |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | OGL1
Some of the best stuff happens when you digress, we all benefit from knowing what others do as their life interest. That's what makes you what you are, and that's probably why you are here to rub elbows (figuratively) with others of the same interest.
If you work on instruments, that's important to us that play them. I'm a little hyper now because we are practicing for a gig next month, and the practice is going well, which always makes me nervous. Anyway, you fix them and we will play them, but we depend on you to play them first and see that they are OK.
Bailey |
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Location: Scotland | There's a band, consinsting of five-string banjo, tenor banjo, accordian, swannee whistle & musical saw, who get a last minute gig on New Years eve. The promoter is understandably nervous but, when they manage to get through the gig succsesfully, he offers them a return booking the following year. The Banjo player accepts and asks "is it OK if we leave the gear?" |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | And then there's the accordian player who has to use his wife's small car for a gig. He does the gig and driving home he is so hungry he has to stop. It's night and he's nervous about leaving his instrument in the car since it won't fit in the trunk so he picks a spot near the front under a light. He goes in and eats and coming out sees glass all over the ground around the car. Cautiously approaching he soon sees that his worst fears are realized. He looks in the car and sees two more accordians. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Gentlemen
Assume God is a banjo player, but you think you are safe because he loves Ovation 12 strings and will forgive your transgressions.
I went golfing monday with three men of the cloth, whose religions I won't reveal.
At each hole, one profane minister would shout as he whiffed, "G-- Dammit, I missed again!" and the other ministers would remonstrate at the taking of the Lord's name in vain, particularly by a man of the cloth.
This went on for 9 holes (during which the blasphemous minister shaved his score, took mulligans, and generally made us all disgusted with his lack of any moral rightousness.)
Suddenly--out of the clear sky, came a bolt of lightning that incinirated the nicest, meekest of the other two men of the cloth.
Followed by a thunderous voice from above:
MYSELF DAMMIT, I MISSED AGAIN!!!
Repent you banjo blasphemereners, the California appeals court has found you irrelevent.
Bailey
(I've found salvation, and it has six strings) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | blastfhemus banjos, hav a nice ring to it don't it pa? I'll have to tell Debanjo about this site! Already got a new name for his next album. |
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Location: Zion, Illinois | Talking about God and Golf....
Once apon a time there was a Catholic preist. One very fine Sunday morning he woke up seeing that it was just the finest mornings he could remember gave into temptation. He told everyone that he was terribly ill and was unable to perform today's mass.
And instead of doing God's work, he went out to play 18 holes of golf.
However his transgression did not go without notice. Saint Peter, looking down from heaven, saw what the priest was going and and called God.
"God" said Saint Peter, "look at that. That priest lied to his flock and is out playing golf rather that preaching Your good word. He should be punishished!"
God agreed.
The preist tee'ed up to the 6th hole, a par 5, 489 yard hole and swung
Just as he hit the ball, God waved his hand. The ball went into the air, bounce off a tree, hit a large rock, bounced off of the rock and landing on the back of a duck. The duck was startled and flew toward the hole, and just as the duck passed over the green the ball fell off its back and into rolled into hole! A 489 yard hole-in-one!!!!!!
Saint Peter was astonished! God, said Peter, I thought you were going to punish that priest.
I did, said God.
But God, said Peter, he just made the most fantastic golf shot of all times.
Yes, said God, BUT WHO CAN HE TELL?
Bradley |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Bradley
You just pointed out what is disconcerting about a good practice session.
All these songs played right, like holes in one, and (curses) nobody there to hear them.
Bailey |
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Medium gauge strings