2006 - Violin - Going Electric

 A few years back, I decided it was time to get a little more serious about playing violin in band settings. 

The church I was attending at the time, like most others, was transitioning away from traditional orchestras and choirs, and embracing the newer trend in more compact 'worship bands' utilizing the standard rock band instruments: electric guitars, basses, keyboards, and full drum kits. Church music took a dramatic swing away from traditional organ and piano dominated hymns to contemporary rock-style music. 

I quickly found that if I was to continue being involved in the music ministry at church, I would have to update as well. An acoustic violin just couldn't cut being heard in the mix with all of those other amplified instruments. Playing up next to a mic was OK but proved impractical for me because I tend to move around a lot while I'm playing.

The solution: spring for an electric violin.

After assessing my budget and exploring the Wonderful World Wide Web for a suitable instrument, I landed on this:

This violin is a Hohner four-string solid body with a peizo pickup, a standard quarter-inch cable jack, volume control, and tone control.

At the beginning, I played this through the only amplifier I had at the time, the small Line6 Spyder. The amp didn't have a line-out to plug directly into the church's house system so it had to be mic'd.

One thing that I quickly learned with the electric was how shrill the higher strings sounded. This was a product of the peizo being played through a high-gain amp. I was able to fix the situation by turning the violin's tone control all the way down and turning the amp's treble knob way down. 

I also let the people running the sound boards know to drop the treble EQ on my channel on that end, too.

Once these things were in place, the instrument sounded sweet!

Since the Line6 amp was a modeling variety, it came with a number of effects that could be dialed in. After experimenting with various reverbs, delays, chorus, etc. I found a pretty cool sound to stick with. One delightful thing I discovered was the heavy distortion setting. With this dialed in, I could play double-stops (playing two strings at once) with a bouncing bow stroke that created a growl that rivaled the sound of an overdriven electric guitar!

This violin, along with the later addition of a proper acoustic-instrument amplifier, and a full-sized effects processor, has now become my go-to fiddle!

Irrefutable Proof That I Am A Geek!

 My soon-to-be new son-in-law gave me a very unique birthday present. 

We are both huge Star Wars fans, so we share in common a healthy dose of nerdiness.

One of his hobby interests consists of purchasing Star Wars full-sized helmets, light sabers, and blasters, then re-finishing them to render that used, battle-worn, realistic look.

This particular helmet is the Hasbro Mandalorian helmet.

Various metallic paints were used  to surface the helmet, after which wear and battle damage marks were applied. 

The symbol decals he made were done with a laser printer. The helmet also has an added touch of built-in electronics consisting of various lighting effects. 

This helmet will likely be utilized as my standard head-gear when engaged in the epic Nerf gun battles that erupt in the basement whenever my grand-kids visit.

Other than that, I'm not sure where else I would use this apparel. 

Maybe while doing yard work? 

That would certainly raise a few eyebrows around the neighborhood.

Or, perhaps using it as my Covid-19 mask whenever I go out on grocery shopping trips with the missus.

"Don't even think about it !!", quoth she.

No worries, I'll figure it out...

A Very Cool Music Practice Device

 Last week I celebrated the completion of my sixty-sixth journey around the sun.

One of my daughters gifted me with a very neat musical gift:

This is a Fender Mustang Micro practice amp.

The tiny little device plugs straight into the 1/4 inch jack of any electric instrument. The output is through a standard mini stereo headphone jack. 

Once a guitar is plugged up, any of a number of presets can be selected. There are around a dozen vintage amplifier models to choose from, many of which include overdrive and compression. Another button allows the selection of pedal effect models such as reverb, delay, chorus, tremelo, and flangers. Each of these effects can, via a 3rd button, be adjusted for the effect's level.

All of the amps and effects are well modeled, and sound pretty amazing in the headphones.

One of the amp presets is titled "studio preamp" which is just that - a clean preamplifier head.  This is the go-to setting for use with a bass guitar or acoustic-electric guitars.  I've also found it useful for my electric violin and mandolin.

The large center knob on the unit is for output volume level.

This compact little device is absolutely perfect for plopping down with a guitar anywhere in the house to practice relatively quietly without the hassle of setting up external amps, pedal boards, and cables.

The unit also comes with a couple of added features. The addition of a C-type USB cable allows it to be connected to a PC for recording with one's favorite DAW software.

The Micro is equipped with Bluetooth capabilities, so one can practice along with favorite tunes.

I would highly recommend this little baby to anyone who plays guitar and cannot practice at high volume levels with normal amps.

Ideal for the apartment dweller!

Cheers!

Confessions of a Former Mountain Dew Addict.

Yep, I used to be one of those. 

Back in the day,  between 1980 through the early 2000s, I would drink at least two cans a day, relying on the stuff in the same way that coffee drinkers do. 

The big morning pick-me-up.

I would often refer to the beverage as the "iridescent, effervescent fluid of life", maintaining that it contained three important major food groups: 

Caffeine, Sugar, and Yellow #5

Now, because of warnings from the doc, I have cut down to one a week, with sometimes an occasional extra if I'm driving on an out-of-town trip.

Songs about Mountain Dew...

There are a few songs out there that the lyrics can easily be changed to reflect an MD spin:

The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" becomes "A  Dew Run Run", sung while driving to the store to pick up a 12-pack.

Or how about Olivia Newton John's "Xanadu"?   That one becomes "Can o' Dew".

My favorite is sung to the tune of "Zippity-Do-Da":

"Double -dee-do-da, double-dee-ay! 

My, oh, my, it's a double-Dew-day!

Plenty of caffeine, comin' my way!

Double-dee-do-da, Double-Dew-Day"!

The day I walked to New York for a Mountain Dew...

Back in 1995, the employer I worked for sent me on a five-day business trip to Mahwah, New Jersey for a training course on some high end intercom systems.  The hotel I was put up in was in nearby Ramsey, just south if the NJ/NY state line.

The first morning of my stay, I went looking for a soft drink vending machine for my customary morning Dew. All I could find was the products of that "other" major soda company. DRAT!!

Thinking I could find a nearby convenience store, I set out walking north along the highway.

I didn't find one until I had gone about one mile and crossed the state line into New York!

It was a pleasent walk back to New Jersey in the brisk morning air and my favorite carbonated beverage in hand.