Here's an all-purpose blog update entry:
1. DULCIMERS:
Remember what I said about friction pegs? Well, do as I say, not as I do. Bought a Fred Martin (older brother of Edsel Martin, of the famous Martin woodcarving family of Swannanoa, NC) dulcimer on eBay for a steal. Seeing as how it's handcarved, handbuilt and quite traditional, it has those infamous friction pegs. I have learned that you tune them to where THEY feel happy holding a given pitch, so this one will be purely for my own playing pleasure, not performing. It's teardrop-shaped, made of paulownia wood (a very lightweight blond hardwood native to Japan and now to the SE US) with a hand-carved Indian head on the headstock--the headstock, tail block, fretboard and endpin are walnut; the friction pegs and string anchors are maple. The nut and saddle (which appear to be Delrin) are notched for 4 equidistant strings (learning new chord possibilities). May add some slots for more conventional stringing patterns (my standard-strung dulcimers have the extra slots for equidistant strings, after all). Here's a link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-FRED-MARTIN-....#ht_2799wt_1167
Scroll down to see the photo, alternate views, and a blurb about it, with links to more about the "whittling Martins" and their instruments.
2. RECORDING:
Stephen & I finished all the tracking on the 14 songs for the next Andina & Rich CD (all the bass and most of the solo overdubs have been tracked too!) and Gary has done a marvelous job. Can't wait to hear the interim mixes, which promise to be exquisite! Will keep you posted on the progress and expected release date.
3. FARM:
Still over two weeks out and we already have 90 registrants--way ahead of previous years! Hotel block rate guaranteed only through this Thursday; and so far 36 ten-minute pre-scheduled Performing Lane slots have been filled: get 'em while they're hot, folks--when they're gone, they're gone. We have a far greater DJ and venue presence than ever before; there will be a welcome reception and Concerts In Your Home showcase (with, inter alia, Claudia Schmidt and Joe Jencks) Thurs. night, hands-on workshops Fri. and more panels Sat., and official juried showcases Fri. & Sat. nights and a "tri-centric" Performing Lane before & after the showcase. Of course, jamming after that till you drop. Pool and hot tub too!
4. LAST-MINUTE GIG:
Andina & Rich will once again feed the ears and souls of diners doing the Edgewater Dinner Crawl, Thurs. Sep. 24 from 6-9 pm (music till 8). 18 restaurants (trust me, that's LOTS of food!!!) showing off their best stuff along W. Granville, N. B'way as far south as Rosedale, and W. Thorndale. Get your "passports" ($25/$35 at the door) at the lobby of the Claro Vista (that big new building with the Aldi in it on the cor. of B'way & Granville), 1140 W. Granville. Will Tweet as to which restaurant will be hosting our music, so watch Twitter on your computers & mobile devices.