Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Laguna de Cuicocha
This is Laguna de Cuicocha, an inactive caldera situated at 10,070 feet above sea level, with the Cotacachi volcano overlooking at 16,220 feet. The lake is about fifteen minutes from the center of Cotacachi.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
João Pedro Grácio Bandolim
Many years ago a man in his 90's honored me with a renowned João Pedro Grácio Portuguese bandolim that was made between 1920 and 1950. I recently featured this stunning instrument in a TraqFreq product movie that was shot at lakes, mountains and above the clouds in the Andes. Below are some photographs and a rough recording of this gorgeous bandolim!
Thursday, October 6, 2016
1926 Hand-painted Royal Worcester China Set
Here is my rare and exquisite 58-piece Royal Worcester porcelain set, masterfully hand-painted by Ernest Phillips and Paul Stanley in 1926, the pinnacle of the Great Gatsby era. Each individual hand-painted bouquet of flowers is enveloped by an equally elaborate gold Renaissance revival rinceau pattern, fastidiously completed by a different Royal Worcester gold decorating artist.
Here is also a close-up video of this magnificent China:
Here is also a close-up video of this magnificent China:
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
The Uher Tapes
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Akai X-330
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Nothing
First there was nothing then came the "Big Bang", so they say. While ordinarily indicative of the theory of evolution, to me that term only agrees with the moment that everything was powerfully created as the Bible reveals.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Offshore Faith
I happened across this little test recording I made while setting up one of my project studios in 2002. This was my private musical retreat situated a safe distance away but still on the same premises as the Cancer hospital my mother and I ran for eighteen years. I laid down the instrumentation with wires coming out of everywhere, tracking the improvised guitar solo in one take while bending about 45 Degrees over the studio workstation. This is as close to "distortion" as any unplugged acoustic guitarist can get ;)
Process: Taylor 510 > AKG C 1000 S > Logic Audio > Nuendo, with
Timeworks ReverbX on the guitar and Waves TrueVerb on the drums > sampling and MIDI programming.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Martin 000X1 Review
[Updated November 2019]
In 2008 I chose a Brunner Outdoor Guitar Deluxe over the 000X1 for travel purposes, but I still maintain that this could be Martin's best fingerstyle guitar below $1k and even somewhat higher. Regardless of the HPL back and sides and absence of finery. To my ear it is very well balanced with sweet and substantial first and second strings, making it more ideal for fingerstyle. Strong fundamentals from these two strings with enough overtones are mandatory for me nowadays, and the primary reason I consider the 000-28EC, OM-42 and 00-28 to be the ultimate fingerstyle guitars in Martin's lineup. The updated 000X1AE also has a more comfortable 1 3/4" nut, as does the new 2020 000-X2E equivalent, with more refinements.
In 2008 I chose a Brunner Outdoor Guitar Deluxe over the 000X1 for travel purposes, but I still maintain that this could be Martin's best fingerstyle guitar below $1k and even somewhat higher. Regardless of the HPL back and sides and absence of finery. To my ear it is very well balanced with sweet and substantial first and second strings, making it more ideal for fingerstyle. Strong fundamentals from these two strings with enough overtones are mandatory for me nowadays, and the primary reason I consider the 000-28EC, OM-42 and 00-28 to be the ultimate fingerstyle guitars in Martin's lineup. The updated 000X1AE also has a more comfortable 1 3/4" nut, as does the new 2020 000-X2E equivalent, with more refinements.
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