Hippo, birdie, two ewes...

... to brmj and willowisp !!! Hope it's a great one!!

Travels with Plink: random (musical) notes

I finally figured out how to capo Plink (and by extension any other guitar) without detuning her very much: position the (Kyser) capo on the previous fret, a little bit off-center toward the fret you need to capo up to. The rubber flexes just enough to push the strings down onto the next fret, but not enough to noticably affect the tuning.

Many thanks to Joyce for taking Plink into Gryphon last Tuesday to have her re-strung, re-batteried, and re-grounded. Worked like a dream. I'll have to stop using Martin strings on her, though; the silk wrap at the end insulates them from the grounding wire. :(

Next time I record a practice session I ought to put the H2 directly between the performers and record in 2-channel surround mode (two hemispherical patterns back to back).

"Landscapes" works for Callie in G; I probably need it down a whole step. Playing it in E or F is not an option. Use a 12-string? Tune Plink down? Can certainly do one or the other for a local con; it's impractical if I ever need to play "The Book Speaks" or QV (both capo 5) on the same guitar. Actually D would work; the necessary F#m is actually easier than the Bm it already uses. The 12-string option is tempting if I want to play QV with C fingerings, but it would mean not fingerpicking Landscapes. Can't win.

I really need to make an attachment for the tripod that lets me use it as a songbook stand. Wouldn't do for stand-up use on stage, but it would work for circles. May not need more than a shelf and a couple of clamps.

QOTD that says a lot

$coworker: How are you?

me: (pause) OK.

$coworker: Just OK?

me: (pause) Believe me, "just barely OK" is a big improvement.