STRINGS, what did you think I meant?
If, like me, you are not 'gigging' every other day or just playing for your own enjoyment (and frustration) your strings have a tendency to be forgotten. I got quite a surprise at the weekend when I was giving 'Nellie' (my tenor banjo) a good seeing to. While introducing her to a new jig to take to festivals she sounded a touch under the weather. G & D were very dull, the plain strings were not quite so bad, but poor performances all round. I even recorded a snippet on my phone and it was terrible! Now just to back track a wee bit. I am so 'anal' that I jot down in my diary when I change strings and oil fingerboards etc. And you guessed it, it was seven months since my last new set! A quick tip to new string players. Always change the full set. It can be very expensive if your a fiddle player but it's worth it in the long run. I also change them about a week or so before a session or festival. It gives them time to settle down. And never forget the spare set. It's 'sods-law' one will break in Whitby, nearest music shop Scarborough! Make a note of when you changed them also if you liked the make and gauge etc. If you can manage it, buy them in batches of ten and ask for a discount, that way you end up with a free set, always handy. Tommy a good guitaring friend of mine is known as Mr Tight, Tight Cottage, The Village of Tight, Tightshire. He says (I cannot vouch for this or encourage it in any way) that if you boil the wound strings for ten to fifteen mins with a drop of wash-up it brings then back to life!! If you fancy trying this please do not trim your strings when you fit them, or you will never get them back on after treatment. To be honest it's not worth it, is it?
Well, that's strings for you. Bet you never thought they would be so interesting did ya?
I have some ***David Hope News***
He (www.davidhope.ie) is joining The Henry Girls (http://thehenrygirls.com) for a couple of dates over on his home turf.
Thurs 16th Feb at 9pm, Monroes, Galway.
Sun 26th Feb at 8.30pm, The Half Moon Theatre, @ The Cork Opera House, Cork
If, like me, you are not 'gigging' every other day or just playing for your own enjoyment (and frustration) your strings have a tendency to be forgotten. I got quite a surprise at the weekend when I was giving 'Nellie' (my tenor banjo) a good seeing to. While introducing her to a new jig to take to festivals she sounded a touch under the weather. G & D were very dull, the plain strings were not quite so bad, but poor performances all round. I even recorded a snippet on my phone and it was terrible! Now just to back track a wee bit. I am so 'anal' that I jot down in my diary when I change strings and oil fingerboards etc. And you guessed it, it was seven months since my last new set! A quick tip to new string players. Always change the full set. It can be very expensive if your a fiddle player but it's worth it in the long run. I also change them about a week or so before a session or festival. It gives them time to settle down. And never forget the spare set. It's 'sods-law' one will break in Whitby, nearest music shop Scarborough! Make a note of when you changed them also if you liked the make and gauge etc. If you can manage it, buy them in batches of ten and ask for a discount, that way you end up with a free set, always handy. Tommy a good guitaring friend of mine is known as Mr Tight, Tight Cottage, The Village of Tight, Tightshire. He says (I cannot vouch for this or encourage it in any way) that if you boil the wound strings for ten to fifteen mins with a drop of wash-up it brings then back to life!! If you fancy trying this please do not trim your strings when you fit them, or you will never get them back on after treatment. To be honest it's not worth it, is it?
Well, that's strings for you. Bet you never thought they would be so interesting did ya?
I have some ***David Hope News***
He (www.davidhope.ie) is joining The Henry Girls (http://thehenrygirls.com) for a couple of dates over on his home turf.
Thurs 16th Feb at 9pm, Monroes, Galway.
Sun 26th Feb at 8.30pm, The Half Moon Theatre, @ The Cork Opera House, Cork
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