Hi Vielle.
I haven't had to contend with woodworm yet. Be careful with them, if you get them they are a nightmare.
I'm quietly smug about how much of the last amp was recycled. The enclosure is a big chunk of the cost. There is a separate psu in a big cast alloy enclosure from a surplus shop in Liverpool. That sits out of sight so the appearance is of a tiny amp.
I have a modified playstation as a cd player, that still has the ten pound price sticker from the local pawnshop http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/Jblackburn_photos/DSCF0008.jpg
I love the steampunk stuff and have designs towards something in that vein soon. If you haven't seen it there's some here.. Datamancer.net - Technical Art and Steampunk Contraptions
I have a mate who works for one of the big demolition companies. They are knocking the dock buildings down ready for the Shanghai developments. He is on the lookout for mechanical things of interest for me. I can't pass a rubbish skip without checking out its contents and I come away from the tip with as much, sometimes more than I went with unless I am firm with myself.
It's like fishing, sometimes nothing and other times a piece of metal that if you grind the end off there, drill a hole, then bend it 3 ways it might come in useful one day. Something will turn up that triggers the "must build amp" response.
Did you find that when you left the city it was hard to sleep at night? A friends brother lives in a converted cow shed in the Yorkshire Dales which we stay at now and again.
It is that quiet there that you hear every last creak and spend all night thinking you have burglars. I would imagine your noise levels to be similar.
John
I haven't had to contend with woodworm yet. Be careful with them, if you get them they are a nightmare.
I'm quietly smug about how much of the last amp was recycled. The enclosure is a big chunk of the cost. There is a separate psu in a big cast alloy enclosure from a surplus shop in Liverpool. That sits out of sight so the appearance is of a tiny amp.
I have a modified playstation as a cd player, that still has the ten pound price sticker from the local pawnshop http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/Jblackburn_photos/DSCF0008.jpg
I love the steampunk stuff and have designs towards something in that vein soon. If you haven't seen it there's some here.. Datamancer.net - Technical Art and Steampunk Contraptions
I have a mate who works for one of the big demolition companies. They are knocking the dock buildings down ready for the Shanghai developments. He is on the lookout for mechanical things of interest for me. I can't pass a rubbish skip without checking out its contents and I come away from the tip with as much, sometimes more than I went with unless I am firm with myself.
It's like fishing, sometimes nothing and other times a piece of metal that if you grind the end off there, drill a hole, then bend it 3 ways it might come in useful one day. Something will turn up that triggers the "must build amp" response.
Did you find that when you left the city it was hard to sleep at night? A friends brother lives in a converted cow shed in the Yorkshire Dales which we stay at now and again.
It is that quiet there that you hear every last creak and spend all night thinking you have burglars. I would imagine your noise levels to be similar.
John
Hi John,
That smug feeling is part of the satisfaction you get from building your own projects; especially if you can recycle hardware and not simply assemble new parts. Your CD player from an old Playstation seems like a great example; the toy has been adapted to play music yet it still retains the Sony quality.
I hadn’t heard of ‘Steampunk’ but their ideas are interesting and very nicely done. It seems as though the creator is using a mixture of Art Nouveau and Victoriana as a façade for modern artefacts; computers, etc. If you can do this sort of stuff and find yourself a market then go for it!
Concerning the tranquillity of the countryside, well yes, at first it did strike me as being too quiet. The sound of the LA freeway and the London traffic was no longer there in the background; but neither was the pollution. After a few days I soon adjusted to the rural life and I could hear the wind in the trees and the birds singing. As I said, life here is calm; I can leave my car unlocked outside the village shops without fear of it being stolen; I can go out for a walk alone in the middle of the night; things I would never dream of doing in parts of LA or London.
vielle568
That smug feeling is part of the satisfaction you get from building your own projects; especially if you can recycle hardware and not simply assemble new parts. Your CD player from an old Playstation seems like a great example; the toy has been adapted to play music yet it still retains the Sony quality.
I hadn’t heard of ‘Steampunk’ but their ideas are interesting and very nicely done. It seems as though the creator is using a mixture of Art Nouveau and Victoriana as a façade for modern artefacts; computers, etc. If you can do this sort of stuff and find yourself a market then go for it!
Concerning the tranquillity of the countryside, well yes, at first it did strike me as being too quiet. The sound of the LA freeway and the London traffic was no longer there in the background; but neither was the pollution. After a few days I soon adjusted to the rural life and I could hear the wind in the trees and the birds singing. As I said, life here is calm; I can leave my car unlocked outside the village shops without fear of it being stolen; I can go out for a walk alone in the middle of the night; things I would never dream of doing in parts of LA or London.
vielle568
Hi Vielle.
I think the stuff you are doing is kind of anti steampunk, pickups on a medieval instrument.
When it gets done it would be purely for us, there isn't the market around here for expensive hifi.
Actually there is, among the footballer brigade but you need the name and more importantly the image. If it claims more watts in the magazine advert and cost more than the one your mate has, it must be better.
Enjoy the peace and quiet, I remember night time walks and unlocked cars.
John
I think the stuff you are doing is kind of anti steampunk, pickups on a medieval instrument.
When it gets done it would be purely for us, there isn't the market around here for expensive hifi.
Actually there is, among the footballer brigade but you need the name and more importantly the image. If it claims more watts in the magazine advert and cost more than the one your mate has, it must be better.
Enjoy the peace and quiet, I remember night time walks and unlocked cars.
John
Hi John,
Yes, our projects have a limited market. But how many of the French farm workers living around me are going to be interested in electric vielles? Not many. And then again how many could even consider purchasing such an instrument? Probably no one.
This is where we have to get realistic and display our merchandise to a far wider public; those who'd be more interested in what we're doing and who'd be more likely to buy our products. The best way by far is to create a web site to show off the work. Adding lots of relevant key words makes the site crop up frequently as people use the research motor. It brought in orders and repairs for my workshop even though I'm located way out in the sticks. I don't know if you've stuff you want to sell but if so you should try to create a site (if you use somewhere like 'My Space' the site will be free), add some of your excellent photos and put it in Google, Yahoo!, etc
Huh, I advise you to do this and my site is currently 'off-line' awaiting revision. Maybe I should get my priorities sorted out!
I put together a site recently for our group 'La Pastourelle'. We play traditional music for dances and animations. There's background sound so turn your sound system on. If you take a look you can see who you're talking to.
La Pastourelle; Musique Traditionnelle de Poitou-Charentes
vielle568
Yes, our projects have a limited market. But how many of the French farm workers living around me are going to be interested in electric vielles? Not many. And then again how many could even consider purchasing such an instrument? Probably no one.
This is where we have to get realistic and display our merchandise to a far wider public; those who'd be more interested in what we're doing and who'd be more likely to buy our products. The best way by far is to create a web site to show off the work. Adding lots of relevant key words makes the site crop up frequently as people use the research motor. It brought in orders and repairs for my workshop even though I'm located way out in the sticks. I don't know if you've stuff you want to sell but if so you should try to create a site (if you use somewhere like 'My Space' the site will be free), add some of your excellent photos and put it in Google, Yahoo!, etc
Huh, I advise you to do this and my site is currently 'off-line' awaiting revision. Maybe I should get my priorities sorted out!
I put together a site recently for our group 'La Pastourelle'. We play traditional music for dances and animations. There's background sound so turn your sound system on. If you take a look you can see who you're talking to.
La Pastourelle; Musique Traditionnelle de Poitou-Charentes
vielle568
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Hi Vielle.
That might be just the push needed to get the ball rolling!
I would like to sell a few, it would mean I got to try different things out.
I have an old Philips 78 player, with a speaker in the lid and a tiny little tube amp. The rubber drive roller has decayed beyond use so I think it is donor parts time. I need to find the tube number and see if I would be wasting my time but I think not. It sounds surprisingly good for what it is, and has a plenty of volume.
I see a little valve mono full range project on the horizon. I have never really listened to a mono setup, it may well be rather nice.
Thanks for the link to your site, I will have a listen to that shortly. We are watching this currently.
BBC iPlayer - Oil City Confidential: Dr Feelgood
I saw them many times and they never disappointed.
John
That might be just the push needed to get the ball rolling!
I would like to sell a few, it would mean I got to try different things out.
I have an old Philips 78 player, with a speaker in the lid and a tiny little tube amp. The rubber drive roller has decayed beyond use so I think it is donor parts time. I need to find the tube number and see if I would be wasting my time but I think not. It sounds surprisingly good for what it is, and has a plenty of volume.
I see a little valve mono full range project on the horizon. I have never really listened to a mono setup, it may well be rather nice.
Thanks for the link to your site, I will have a listen to that shortly. We are watching this currently.
BBC iPlayer - Oil City Confidential: Dr Feelgood
I saw them many times and they never disappointed.
John
Well there are several ways you could approach restoring the old Philips player:
1. Some people will like it as it is and accept it as a kind of antique, old and worn out showing its age.
2. If it's restored as it was when new with original components then it'll certainly have more value.
3. If you retain the original wooden case and install new modern hardware (a direct drive turntable and a powerful hi-fi tube amp) then you're going along the lines of 'steampunk' and repackaging modern equipment in an ancient style. This will arouse interest and since the projects are one-off you should find interested customers as long as you publicise well on the web. There's always someone out there looking for something original.
It seems as though you have the potential to achieve your objectives; why not give it a try? Don't think that money will suddenly fall from the sky but if you start to sell one or two items you'll begin to get a reputation and business will start to pick up.
vielle568
1. Some people will like it as it is and accept it as a kind of antique, old and worn out showing its age.
2. If it's restored as it was when new with original components then it'll certainly have more value.
3. If you retain the original wooden case and install new modern hardware (a direct drive turntable and a powerful hi-fi tube amp) then you're going along the lines of 'steampunk' and repackaging modern equipment in an ancient style. This will arouse interest and since the projects are one-off you should find interested customers as long as you publicise well on the web. There's always someone out there looking for something original.
It seems as though you have the potential to achieve your objectives; why not give it a try? Don't think that money will suddenly fall from the sky but if you start to sell one or two items you'll begin to get a reputation and business will start to pick up.
vielle568
Hi Vielle.
I was thinking of canibalising the amp and speaker from the philips rather than a restoration job. It isn't old enough to be old if you get my meaning.
I have this lot on the table currently so any new project has to wait for its turn.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/Jblackburn_photos/DX%20Amplifier/DSCF0011.jpg
It will be my first try at etching PCBs, it will be an adventure if nothing else.
John
I was thinking of canibalising the amp and speaker from the philips rather than a restoration job. It isn't old enough to be old if you get my meaning.
I have this lot on the table currently so any new project has to wait for its turn.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/Jblackburn_photos/DX%20Amplifier/DSCF0011.jpg
It will be my first try at etching PCBs, it will be an adventure if nothing else.
John
Hi John,
It looks as though you've certainly got enough parts on the table; do you have enough space left to work? Those caps look huge!
Good luck with the PCB. That's something I have never done so let me know how you get on because I too should start doing this for my circuits. I use stripboard; it's OK but it's not very professional.
Sorry I've been late replying but I've been busy building a set of bagpipes for a client.
When I'm on the lathe I'm off the computer.
Cheers, Vielle568
It looks as though you've certainly got enough parts on the table; do you have enough space left to work? Those caps look huge!
Good luck with the PCB. That's something I have never done so let me know how you get on because I too should start doing this for my circuits. I use stripboard; it's OK but it's not very professional.
Sorry I've been late replying but I've been busy building a set of bagpipes for a client.
When I'm on the lathe I'm off the computer.
Cheers, Vielle568
Hi Vielle.
There is no need to apologise for the delay, bag pipes wait for no man. How did you start with the Northumbrian pipes? Not an instrument I would associate with either Merseyside or America.
The caps are 10,000 and 4,700ufs. It is on the high side of what is needed, a stable power supply is good to have though. It is going to be the heaviest amp I have built, I will need to find a better class of enclosure for this one.
Bench space is at a premium until the big tidy up is forced. I need to clear some scrap and clutter, to make space for the build and for the safety of my floor boards.
The biggest problem I am having with the pcbs is getting the laser prints done for the toner transfer. Because I am using inkjet paper, no print shop will put it through their laser printer. I can't justify buying a printer to do it and can't find a used one for the right money. A mate is keeping an eye out for me on freecycle so until we get prints ready I am idle. I like to look at things a bit before starting anyway.
The power supply boards can be marked out with a sharpie and will provide an easy test for my etching procedure. I will be happier doing the amp boards after a practice run. It has been raining and grey today so not a day for standing in the back yard, maybe tomorrow will be better.
Strip board is wonderful stuff and my chip amps are done point to point, it would be handy to be able to make boards though.
John
There is no need to apologise for the delay, bag pipes wait for no man. How did you start with the Northumbrian pipes? Not an instrument I would associate with either Merseyside or America.
The caps are 10,000 and 4,700ufs. It is on the high side of what is needed, a stable power supply is good to have though. It is going to be the heaviest amp I have built, I will need to find a better class of enclosure for this one.
Bench space is at a premium until the big tidy up is forced. I need to clear some scrap and clutter, to make space for the build and for the safety of my floor boards.
The biggest problem I am having with the pcbs is getting the laser prints done for the toner transfer. Because I am using inkjet paper, no print shop will put it through their laser printer. I can't justify buying a printer to do it and can't find a used one for the right money. A mate is keeping an eye out for me on freecycle so until we get prints ready I am idle. I like to look at things a bit before starting anyway.
The power supply boards can be marked out with a sharpie and will provide an easy test for my etching procedure. I will be happier doing the amp boards after a practice run. It has been raining and grey today so not a day for standing in the back yard, maybe tomorrow will be better.
Strip board is wonderful stuff and my chip amps are done point to point, it would be handy to be able to make boards though.
John
Hi John,
With that capacitance your power supply won’t budge; how many watts is this new amp going to be turning out anyway? Is it all solid state or are you using valves?
My electric vielle needs some modification; addition of an ADSR circuit and a VCA to shape the rhythm signal. I also need to install a splitter/buffer in a couple of places to improve the signal path and then to replace the analogue switches with ‘clickless’ ones. It would probably be best to rebuild the whole board rather than try to modify the existing circuit; at least it works for the time being. The new version will certainly take several days to put together; I haven’t even received the new components yet so like you I am idle too for the moment on this project.
How did I get started on the Northumbrian pipes? Well, I taught maths in a school in the north east for a few years before I left the UK. The art teacher’s husband was a pipe maker and we became friends…
They are a nice civilized form of bagpipe.
Got to go; talk to you later,
Vielle568
With that capacitance your power supply won’t budge; how many watts is this new amp going to be turning out anyway? Is it all solid state or are you using valves?
My electric vielle needs some modification; addition of an ADSR circuit and a VCA to shape the rhythm signal. I also need to install a splitter/buffer in a couple of places to improve the signal path and then to replace the analogue switches with ‘clickless’ ones. It would probably be best to rebuild the whole board rather than try to modify the existing circuit; at least it works for the time being. The new version will certainly take several days to put together; I haven’t even received the new components yet so like you I am idle too for the moment on this project.
How did I get started on the Northumbrian pipes? Well, I taught maths in a school in the north east for a few years before I left the UK. The art teacher’s husband was a pipe maker and we became friends…
They are a nice civilized form of bagpipe.
Got to go; talk to you later,
Vielle568
Attachments
Hi Vielle.
Your CV must make for interesting reading!
The amp is only 50w into 8 ohms, it is all solid state. I etched the PSU boards yesterday. They are far from pretty, it was a permanent marker resist but they are functional.
Once I lay my hands on a laser printer it will all get much tidier, I hope so anyway.
Are you aware of this bloke? He plays a lot of music that I think you would like.
BBC - BBC Radio 2 Programmes - The Mike Harding Show
John
Your CV must make for interesting reading!
The amp is only 50w into 8 ohms, it is all solid state. I etched the PSU boards yesterday. They are far from pretty, it was a permanent marker resist but they are functional.
Once I lay my hands on a laser printer it will all get much tidier, I hope so anyway.
Are you aware of this bloke? He plays a lot of music that I think you would like.
BBC - BBC Radio 2 Programmes - The Mike Harding Show
John
Sounds like you made some progress; as you said, "they are functional". The next boards will be better as you learn from experience. Hmmm... maybe I'll stay with stripboard though for the time being. I keep on adding mods to my circuits and a PCB would make changes difficult.
No, I haven't heard of that musician, but I'll certainly listen to what he's playing, it might be interesting. Thanks for the link!
My CV? Well, there's several different jobs in there that's for sure, a doctorat too, but when I got to France the French employment office said I had no chance of obtaining work because I had too many qualifications, my last salary was too high and I was too old (40 years old!) Since then I've made my own living making instruments and playing music; I'm not rich but I'm not in the red either.
50W is more than enough power for any average sized room. My little practice amp turns out only 15W and it is bloody loud! Your new amp should be fine at that 50W rating.
Talk to you soon,
Vielle568
No, I haven't heard of that musician, but I'll certainly listen to what he's playing, it might be interesting. Thanks for the link!
My CV? Well, there's several different jobs in there that's for sure, a doctorat too, but when I got to France the French employment office said I had no chance of obtaining work because I had too many qualifications, my last salary was too high and I was too old (40 years old!) Since then I've made my own living making instruments and playing music; I'm not rich but I'm not in the red either.
50W is more than enough power for any average sized room. My little practice amp turns out only 15W and it is bloody loud! Your new amp should be fine at that 50W rating.
Talk to you soon,
Vielle568
Hi Vielle.
Mike Harding is a folk musician of some note in his own right but doesn't play his own stuff on his radio show. It is the most likely UK radio show to have pipes or other traditional instruments played. Sea shanties are having a renaissance in England seemingly.
If you get chance give it a listen, there might be something you like amongst it.
John
Mike Harding is a folk musician of some note in his own right but doesn't play his own stuff on his radio show. It is the most likely UK radio show to have pipes or other traditional instruments played. Sea shanties are having a renaissance in England seemingly.
If you get chance give it a listen, there might be something you like amongst it.
John
Hi John,
Thanks for the link to Mike Harding's site. I listened to quite a few of the tracks and there's music there that interests me. Thanks again for the address. I'm out of touch with the traditional music in the UK so it's good to find what's going on back home. I'm surprised that one of my friends in England didn't suggest the site. Oh well...
Please don't think that just because I play with a folk group that it's my only musical interest. I used to play bass in a punk band in the 70's before I left the UK and then I enjoyed the acid rock and the blues I found on the west coast of the USA. Captain Beefheart was (and still is) a favourite. I don't know what type of music you enjoy but it must be pretty loud otherwise you wouldn't be spending your time working on your amplifiers!
Any progress recently?
Vielle568
Thanks for the link to Mike Harding's site. I listened to quite a few of the tracks and there's music there that interests me. Thanks again for the address. I'm out of touch with the traditional music in the UK so it's good to find what's going on back home. I'm surprised that one of my friends in England didn't suggest the site. Oh well...
Please don't think that just because I play with a folk group that it's my only musical interest. I used to play bass in a punk band in the 70's before I left the UK and then I enjoyed the acid rock and the blues I found on the west coast of the USA. Captain Beefheart was (and still is) a favourite. I don't know what type of music you enjoy but it must be pretty loud otherwise you wouldn't be spending your time working on your amplifiers!
Any progress recently?
Vielle568
Hi Vielle.
Are you British born then? Just with you describing here as back home.
Mike Harding has this up for next weeks show "Mike Harding chats to Northumbrian composer and piper Kathryn Tickell" He couldn't have timed it better if he had tried.
I like pretty well anything musically, I have a big soft spot for Reggae but don't really get Jazz I'm afraid. These were the last band I saw live and they were really rather good.
Bellowhead the Official Website
I don't listen loud often, occasionally there has to be a protest hour of high volume if the neighbours are too noisy. There is something very wrong about being able to hear their Wailing Whitney Houston CD over the tunes playing in our house. There is a time for Motorhead, and that is it.
I have one PSU board almost finished, I need 4 resistors and that's that for them. I made some mistakes, the holes were drilled too big for one which made the soldering a bit tricky, it got there in the end.
I need to scavenge up one of the Dremel drill stands to go with the Dremel I was given. I can use the proper tiny carbide drills then. This has been drilled with a pin vice type of thing with a 1mm drill bit, or three 1mm drill bits if I am being honest.
John
Are you British born then? Just with you describing here as back home.
Mike Harding has this up for next weeks show "Mike Harding chats to Northumbrian composer and piper Kathryn Tickell" He couldn't have timed it better if he had tried.
I like pretty well anything musically, I have a big soft spot for Reggae but don't really get Jazz I'm afraid. These were the last band I saw live and they were really rather good.
Bellowhead the Official Website
I don't listen loud often, occasionally there has to be a protest hour of high volume if the neighbours are too noisy. There is something very wrong about being able to hear their Wailing Whitney Houston CD over the tunes playing in our house. There is a time for Motorhead, and that is it.
I have one PSU board almost finished, I need 4 resistors and that's that for them. I made some mistakes, the holes were drilled too big for one which made the soldering a bit tricky, it got there in the end.
I need to scavenge up one of the Dremel drill stands to go with the Dremel I was given. I can use the proper tiny carbide drills then. This has been drilled with a pin vice type of thing with a 1mm drill bit, or three 1mm drill bits if I am being honest.
John
Hi John,
Yeah, I saw that Kate Tickell was on Harding's show this week. She's a great player/composer; in fact we have a couple of her tunes in our repertoire for "La Pastourelle"; nothing too complicated but I'll leave her to play the virtuoso pieces.
I'll have to see if I can pick up Radio 2 over here and listen to the programme.
The group 'Bellowhead' sounds pretty impressive too. They certainly seem to have a range of different musical styles and quite a collection of instruments; they've won several awards for their originality too. I don't know if you have ever heard of a group called the 'Bonzo Dog Band' but they were around in the 70's and they were great musicians and comedians too; very funny stuff.
It happens to all of us; those 1mm drills are always fragile, even if you mount them in a proper collet type chuck and use a high drilling speed. The best bet is to buy then in a 10 pack just to be on the safe side.
Well, I was born near London but after I'd finished my higher education I got employed at LA working as a project engineer/manager on satellite test equipment. Most of the stuff was for NASA projects but some stuff was military so eventually I was asked to change my nationality; I became a US citizen. However, I had a French girlfriend and I didn't like living in California so I emigrated to France and got married; ten years later I was nationalized as a French citizen. There are three valid passports in my desk drawer, but I'm sure there's a conflict somewhere! Let's just say I'm European and leave it at that.
Au Revoir!
Vielle568
Yeah, I saw that Kate Tickell was on Harding's show this week. She's a great player/composer; in fact we have a couple of her tunes in our repertoire for "La Pastourelle"; nothing too complicated but I'll leave her to play the virtuoso pieces.
I'll have to see if I can pick up Radio 2 over here and listen to the programme.
The group 'Bellowhead' sounds pretty impressive too. They certainly seem to have a range of different musical styles and quite a collection of instruments; they've won several awards for their originality too. I don't know if you have ever heard of a group called the 'Bonzo Dog Band' but they were around in the 70's and they were great musicians and comedians too; very funny stuff.
It happens to all of us; those 1mm drills are always fragile, even if you mount them in a proper collet type chuck and use a high drilling speed. The best bet is to buy then in a 10 pack just to be on the safe side.
Well, I was born near London but after I'd finished my higher education I got employed at LA working as a project engineer/manager on satellite test equipment. Most of the stuff was for NASA projects but some stuff was military so eventually I was asked to change my nationality; I became a US citizen. However, I had a French girlfriend and I didn't like living in California so I emigrated to France and got married; ten years later I was nationalized as a French citizen. There are three valid passports in my desk drawer, but I'm sure there's a conflict somewhere! Let's just say I'm European and leave it at that.
Au Revoir!
Vielle568
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Hi Vielle.
Sorry if it sounded like an interrogation.
Take a look at the BBC iplayer, I think it works with real player. You can listen live over the internet or use the listen again feature for something like a week after broadcast. It has the TV channels too but all they show on British telly now are cheap to make cookery and "reality" shows.
BBC iPlayer - Home
We haven't owned a TV since returning to the UK, I would feel robbed if I was paying a license fee for the stuff that on. The amount of letters we have had telling us we haven't got a license is unreal. They can't believe that anyone doesn't mind not watching Celebrity Ice Skating or some such tripe.
I am well aware of the Bonzos, Hunting Tigers is one of the finest pieces of song writing ever. I also had Sir Henry at Rawlinson End on CD by Viv Stanshall, it was loaned out and never returned. Luckily I ripped it before it went.
Bellowhead were tremendous live, one or two songs got a bit "serious" folk for me but overall it was a 10/10 performance. They must be doing it for the joy, I think there were 11 on stage so the pay will be thin once split that many ways. They had instruments on stage I had never seen before, and an awful lot of gear to haul.
John
Sorry if it sounded like an interrogation.
Take a look at the BBC iplayer, I think it works with real player. You can listen live over the internet or use the listen again feature for something like a week after broadcast. It has the TV channels too but all they show on British telly now are cheap to make cookery and "reality" shows.
BBC iPlayer - Home
We haven't owned a TV since returning to the UK, I would feel robbed if I was paying a license fee for the stuff that on. The amount of letters we have had telling us we haven't got a license is unreal. They can't believe that anyone doesn't mind not watching Celebrity Ice Skating or some such tripe.
I am well aware of the Bonzos, Hunting Tigers is one of the finest pieces of song writing ever. I also had Sir Henry at Rawlinson End on CD by Viv Stanshall, it was loaned out and never returned. Luckily I ripped it before it went.
Bellowhead were tremendous live, one or two songs got a bit "serious" folk for me but overall it was a 10/10 performance. They must be doing it for the joy, I think there were 11 on stage so the pay will be thin once split that many ways. They had instruments on stage I had never seen before, and an awful lot of gear to haul.
John
Hi John,
Thanks for the link to the Beeb iPlayer; maybe I'll get to hearthe radio after all!
It seems as though we have a lot in commom. I too don't bother with a TV; the broadcasts are rarely worth watching and most channels are crammed full of publicity anyway; the general intellectual level for tv emmissions are for an 8 year old. I have sufficient interests and a social life to occupy my time; I certainly don't need to sit and stare at a TV. As you pointed out, why pay taxes for that kind of entertainment when it is not compulsory? I can get any information from the computer and the cookery and game shows don't interest me; neither does the sport.
So you do know of the Bonzos then! I too lost track of my copy of "Rawlinson's End" I bought the disc when it first came out (a 33 vinyl disc) but the same day happened to be a good friend's birthday. I quickly copied it onto a cassette and offered the disc as a gift. I've since bought a CD version; that poor old cassette had hardly any oxide left on the tape it had been played so much.
There was a band in the 70's called the "Incredible String Band". They were a small group, basically two musicians; Robin Williamson and Mike Heron, but they played with friends on stage to augment the group. It was folk style music and they achieved quite a bit of popularity in their time. When I was out in California in the 80's I got contacted one day by Robin Williamson's wife; they wanted a hurdy-gurdy player for the new disc! OK, why not.... I became friends with the guy and played on a couple of his CDs before I returned to Eurpoe. At this time he doing solo concerts and still riding on his past reputation; sadly he had become alcoholic.
I'll check out some "Bellowhead" tracks. There's so much in their group that I'm sure there'll be some ideas to boost "La Pastourelle". We just play music for dancing but there's no harm in giving it an original twist every now and again.
A couple called in today and ordered an instrument from me so I have a little more work to do now. I'm also trying to put my new web site together. You can check it out if you want but it is not yet complete and it is written in French:
Bryan Tolley <br> Site incomplet : en train de construction
Any comments or useful suggestions welcome. Thanks
I guess that's about all for the moment. Talk with you again soon,
Vielle568
Thanks for the link to the Beeb iPlayer; maybe I'll get to hearthe radio after all!
It seems as though we have a lot in commom. I too don't bother with a TV; the broadcasts are rarely worth watching and most channels are crammed full of publicity anyway; the general intellectual level for tv emmissions are for an 8 year old. I have sufficient interests and a social life to occupy my time; I certainly don't need to sit and stare at a TV. As you pointed out, why pay taxes for that kind of entertainment when it is not compulsory? I can get any information from the computer and the cookery and game shows don't interest me; neither does the sport.
So you do know of the Bonzos then! I too lost track of my copy of "Rawlinson's End" I bought the disc when it first came out (a 33 vinyl disc) but the same day happened to be a good friend's birthday. I quickly copied it onto a cassette and offered the disc as a gift. I've since bought a CD version; that poor old cassette had hardly any oxide left on the tape it had been played so much.
There was a band in the 70's called the "Incredible String Band". They were a small group, basically two musicians; Robin Williamson and Mike Heron, but they played with friends on stage to augment the group. It was folk style music and they achieved quite a bit of popularity in their time. When I was out in California in the 80's I got contacted one day by Robin Williamson's wife; they wanted a hurdy-gurdy player for the new disc! OK, why not.... I became friends with the guy and played on a couple of his CDs before I returned to Eurpoe. At this time he doing solo concerts and still riding on his past reputation; sadly he had become alcoholic.
I'll check out some "Bellowhead" tracks. There's so much in their group that I'm sure there'll be some ideas to boost "La Pastourelle". We just play music for dancing but there's no harm in giving it an original twist every now and again.
A couple called in today and ordered an instrument from me so I have a little more work to do now. I'm also trying to put my new web site together. You can check it out if you want but it is not yet complete and it is written in French:
Bryan Tolley <br> Site incomplet : en train de construction
Any comments or useful suggestions welcome. Thanks
I guess that's about all for the moment. Talk with you again soon,
Vielle568
Hi Vielle.
The Hedgehog Song, truly wonderful.
Good luck with the site and new build, shoot me a photo over when it is done if you would.
John
The Hedgehog Song, truly wonderful.
Good luck with the site and new build, shoot me a photo over when it is done if you would.
John
Hi John,
Yes, the whole album "Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" brings back such memories. Robin Williamson was a nice person; we got on well together. He was an excellect musician/writer and he deserved his fame. As I said, if you look on two of his recordings ("Winter's Turning" and "Songs for Children of all Ages") you'll find some hurdy-gurdy tracks. He put in some backing music and rhythm but basically he just wanted the sound of my instrument added to the recording.
The new order is for a symphony (or chiffonie). It is a medieval (11th to 13th century) form of the hurdy-gurdy; a kind of box like vielle but without the buzzing bridge that's found on the later models. I built one about a year ago for someone so you can see what it looks like. It's basically a dovetailed box made from walnut. The lid is decorated with boxwood chevrons and the sliding keys and pegtops are also made from box. I used mechanical tuners on this one instead of the usual tapered pegs. The crank is brass with roller bearings on the axle and needle bearings in the handle. No, it isn't authentic medieval hardware but it's a lot more practical for the player.
It isn't that complex to build, it just requires precision.
OK, back to creating that web site....
Cheers for now,
vielle568
Yes, the whole album "Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" brings back such memories. Robin Williamson was a nice person; we got on well together. He was an excellect musician/writer and he deserved his fame. As I said, if you look on two of his recordings ("Winter's Turning" and "Songs for Children of all Ages") you'll find some hurdy-gurdy tracks. He put in some backing music and rhythm but basically he just wanted the sound of my instrument added to the recording.
The new order is for a symphony (or chiffonie). It is a medieval (11th to 13th century) form of the hurdy-gurdy; a kind of box like vielle but without the buzzing bridge that's found on the later models. I built one about a year ago for someone so you can see what it looks like. It's basically a dovetailed box made from walnut. The lid is decorated with boxwood chevrons and the sliding keys and pegtops are also made from box. I used mechanical tuners on this one instead of the usual tapered pegs. The crank is brass with roller bearings on the axle and needle bearings in the handle. No, it isn't authentic medieval hardware but it's a lot more practical for the player.
It isn't that complex to build, it just requires precision.
OK, back to creating that web site....
Cheers for now,
vielle568
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