Hmm...I really didn't think this series of blog titles through, did I? I felt brassy?
The recycled-jumper-felt french horn was quite tricky to make. I'm sure the french horn is quite tricky to play too.
The trumpet was a little easier.
I played the trumpet in my high school band (very badly). When I left the school I nicked an old battered one from the music room cupboard. It still hangs on my wall - because even though my trumpet playing was unsuccessful, I've always remained fond of the instrument.
Here it is. The fender telecaster: The most hard working and versatile rock guitar in history. Here's a little history lesson...
Famously, when Bob Dylan "went electric” (46 years ago almost to the day,July 25th 1965)he played a 1958 black fender telecaster and how better to cast off the shackles of folk music than with a tele?
But they don’t just come in black.
A sparkly razzle dazzle telecaster was played by Don Rich of the Buckeroos...well it was country music in the sixties and it matched the suits. BLING! Here's a bit of toe-tapping Buck Owens the Buckeroos playing, "Satan's Got To Get Along Without Me."
Jimmy Paige wrote the infamous “Stairway to Heaven” riff (bane of every guitar shop worker world wide)on this hand painted psychedelic “dragon” telecaster ... well...it was the seventies...Check out those pants!
Chrissie Hynde had an electric blue one...well It was the eighties!
Merle Haggard is famous for playing one and these days so does Frank Black from the Pixies. We're in good company.
My all time favourite would have to be Bill Kirchen’s 1959 model with maplefretboard and Sunburst finish -all of which has been worn off by years of playing!
And you can see how he wore it off here.In this amazing performance Bill Kirchen conjures every guitar player and style imaginable.
Now that’s a hard working telecaster.
And for all you Buddy Holly Fender stratocaster fans.... here's a clasic red strat...
I’m off to try and make a sunburst telecaster....and a sparkly one...and a wood grain one...
One of my daughters toyed with learning the violin in her primary school years - I say "toyed" because she NEVER practised!
And if there is one instrument that you have to practise, it's the violin. The paradox being that it is hard to practise because it sounds really awful when you start - but forever remains awful if you don't start! My Hazel never quite got the paradox.
However, other Sister Outlaw children do play violin, and they even practise! Yay for Remy and Dan! Remy is studying hard for her theory exam which is coming up. This violin is for her. Hopefully it will be a good luck charm!
I used little beads for the fine tuners and scrolled the end of the neck. Need to find some smaller shank buttons for the pegs - the two big ones I put on look a bit funny!!
I have been tinkering with a range of bag tags to dangle from instrument cases....here's the first one. A mandolin.
front
back
not sure about the strings...
Mandolins are so lovely with their twirly swirly cow lick.
You don't get any better mandolin playing than Mr Bill Monroe - this is a clip with his Bluegrass Boys. And here, as a very old man, he plays a moving solo rendition of "My Last Days on Earth". Nothing like the mandolin to pull the heart strings taut to the point of breaking.
