Hobby Thread - May 30, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. For this week, the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) decided on a music logistics theme for this Hobby Thread.

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What are you hobbying?

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. We have a theme, but no need to stick with the theme. Even if the theme does not speak to you, find something else or offer something else relating to hobbying. Leave politics and religion to threads elsewhere (unless your hobby is building or restoring a church). Pants are optional. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

I am otherwise occupied with our own hobbying activity, so unlikely to be very visible and active in the comments tonight. Please don't make a mess of the place.

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Your dino host couldn't carry a tune, even if it was wrapped securely and carried in a basket with handles. Reading music is a jumbled mystery of sharps, flats, circles, and squiggles. Your dino host is also unfamiliar with rigging, lights, sound boards, and pyro (but willing to learn more about the pyro). Dino has hidden rhythm that sneaks out from time to time, but we don't mention that in polite company.

The mechanics of music are fascinating. What does it take to make music? How does it all come together? What is the "click track" that musicians talk about? How do different instruments work? How are instruments made? How do acoustics work?

Looking for a lot of help in the gray boxes for this one. Rather than trying to describe further, the content should give you a better sense of the theme.

If you're saying "I can't keep a beat, I don't play music, I've never helped a musician, I don't know anything about instruments, I don't understand the logistics of putting on a show, and I have no interest in learning," feel free to turn this into a general music thread and seek professional help.

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Please stand for opening ceremonies.

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This is gibberish to me but apparently makes sense to people with knowledge of such things.

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Tried to find a good video that explains what musicians hear in their earpieces when playing a concert. Much harder than I thought it would be. Ended up with drummers and click tracks. Short answer - many bands use a digital metronome that plays a "click" to a set a steady tempo. Only the drummer (or sometimes others in the band) hear the click. Playing along with the click keeps the tempo steady for everyone. It can also keep the band in time with backing tracks and stage effects. (Every wonder how the lighting and pyro is timed to the music? A click track and a laptop allows pre-programming.) It isn't for everyone. Some bands improvise and the variability is part of the charm of playing live (looking at you Foo Fighters).

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Rick Beato seems to think this Abbey Road studio is a big deal.

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In 1976, Boston released one of the most iconic debut singles in rock history, but Boston wasn’t really a band. As Music Mongoose breaks down in their viral video essay, "More Than A Feeling" was almost entirely the work of one man, MIT-educated engineer Tom Scholz, who spent five years building the track in his basement, played most of the instruments himself, and convinced Epic Records they were signing a full group. Brad Delp's soaring vocals completed the illusion, and the result became one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history. It's one of rock's great origin stories.

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How does the Blue Man Group make their instruments?

Blue Man Group making use of their fancy instruments.

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Playing glassware (rather than drinking from them as God intended):

Can you break a glass with sound? Learn more here.

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Gotta have lots of bells to play something like this:

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Making cymbals:

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Doesn't everyone love a violin rescue story?

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Making sound:

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8000 pipes!

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Behind the scenes at a European dance festival:

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The Absurd Logistics of Concert Tours

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Time lapse from setting up a Rammstein show in Dresden:

Rammstein tours are a major project. Even if you're not a Rammstein fan but you like seeing the logistics of how a big tour is organized, you might like this documentary. Among other things, I learned they simulate the acoustics in each stadium and adjust the speakers to optimize the sound and avoid unwanted echoes.

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a color theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute your own. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at May 30, 2026 05:30 PM (Ia/+0)

2 Crap! I'm not musical or logical!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 05:31 PM (1Ff7Z)

3 I cannot play a note of music.

I can however, discern a song (that I've heard at least once) with about 3 notes. My wife hates me because I even know some of her "girlie" hits that she used to listen to but can't remember the name of.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 30, 2026 05:34 PM (jehhT)

4 3rdish?

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian Who Lives In The Thawed Out Tundra at May 30, 2026 05:35 PM (CkDaS)

5 I can however, discern a song (that I've heard at least once) with about 3 notes. My wife hates me because I even know some of her "girlie" hits that she used to listen to but can't remember the name of.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 30, 2026 05:34 PM (jehhT)

Sounds like a good idea for a game show!!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 05:35 PM (1Ff7Z)

6 Mostly this week signed up for Historicon, got 3 games of 5 I wanted due to games are filling up quick.
Have 2 Napoleonic, 1 America Revolution and a WW1 flying game.

Posted by: Skip at May 30, 2026 05:36 PM (Ia/+0)

7 My dad played upright bass in weekend gigs with a band. That is as close as I ever got to having any musical talent.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:36 PM (5P5DO)

8 My dad played upright bass in weekend gigs with a band. That is as close as I ever got to having any musical talent.
Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:36 PM (5P5DO)

Kid plays the cello at school. Never able to understand string instruments.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 05:37 PM (1Ff7Z)

9 7 My dad played upright bass in weekend gigs with a band. That is as close as I ever got to having any musical talent.
Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:36 PM (5P5DO)

Throckmorton idolizes your father.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian Who Lives In The Thawed Out Tundra at May 30, 2026 05:38 PM (CkDaS)

10 This all makes me want to go to YooToob and call up videos of Celtic Woman, with that little barefoot blonde playing the violin as she capers across the stage.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 05:38 PM (wzUl9)

11 Not about hobbies, but an article on why the TRex might have had such short arms:

https://tinyurl.com/yaxw9p9h

From "New York Post"

Thanks for all your work on the hobby thread, TRex.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 30, 2026 05:39 PM (PFs9e)

12 Willowed, if a little OT: Wolfus, will Miss Linda be coming with you on the move? Or is that prying too much?
Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at May 30, 2026

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Teresa, it's still . . . up in the air.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 05:40 PM (wzUl9)

13 This all makes me want to go to YooToob and call up videos of Celtic Woman, with that little barefoot blonde playing the violin as she capers across the stage.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 05:38 PM (wzUl9)

Did the ice cream work?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 05:40 PM (1Ff7Z)

14 I'm going to regert this comment. String instruments are all about the fingering and stroking.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:40 PM (5P5DO)

15 I started out in elementary school trying to lesrn to play a clarinet. Really don't want to remember that horrible episode in my life.

Posted by: Skip at May 30, 2026 05:40 PM (Ia/+0)

16 I play the sax though only well enough that you can recognize the song.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 05:40 PM (WNOcj)

17 IIRC Shibumi had been a roadie.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 30, 2026 05:42 PM (rbvCR)

18 My music education was in jr. high and the second year of high school, when I learned to my chagrin that like TRex I cannot lug a tune anywhere. I *think* I'm hitting the notes when I sing along with, say, Bobby Darin on "Mack the Knife," but apparently I am not.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 05:43 PM (wzUl9)

19 I'm going to regert this comment. String instruments are all about the fingering and stroking.
Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:40 PM (5P5DO)

Just think about how to play the piano. Tickling the Ivories and the Ebonys. Sorta like that AI Jazz vid from earlier.

I could tell it was AI because no man would be dancing at that time wearing his hat.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 05:43 PM (1Ff7Z)

20 I thought maybecI watched that video on Boston before bit seeing some its different. How Boston was really a 1 man band but a 1 man band can't play concerts so they had to get a few more players.

Posted by: Skip at May 30, 2026 05:45 PM (Ia/+0)

21 I own a number of instruments and a lot of music software. But I still end up using Audacity for the most part.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 30, 2026 05:45 PM (CHHv1)

22 Les Luthiers was an Argentine comedy musical troupe. They pulled their group name from the French term for instrument or stringed instrument makers. Theirs were made of a lot of different things, but clear acrylic was one major element. They moved away from odd instruments and went to doing odd pun-based comedy, which in Spanish is harder.
It was a lot of "spoken word" or tone poems, and narrations on top of Benny Hill type musical numbers.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 30, 2026 05:46 PM (rbvCR)

23 Did the ice cream work?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026

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Maybe tonight. The wine she wanted worked better.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 05:49 PM (wzUl9)

24 I find the creation of musical instruments fascinating. Beating on a dead log has come a long way.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:50 PM (5P5DO)

25 Cymbals in the first image. All those cymbals are useless, you can't hear them. Go to a live presentation and they are an important part of the music. Listen to a reproduction and they are not there.
You make thank the recording engineers and the producers.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 30, 2026 05:50 PM (cr9uY)

26 I have rescued small pile of violins that people were going to toss, old ones no less. Its good and bad. Good because they came out great, bad because they're here, and I don't play violin.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 05:51 PM (snZF9)

27 Anybody following the Fender cease and desist brouhaha? Apparently after 70 years or so of other companies making Stratocaster clones, they're now trying to stop it.

Posted by: Oddbob at May 30, 2026 05:52 PM (vTZFs)

28 BeckoningChasm you haven't had anything knew in awhile

Posted by: Skip at May 30, 2026 05:53 PM (Ia/+0)

29 Violin strings. More than one cat may have been sacrificed in this endeavor.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:54 PM (5P5DO)

30 I find the creation of musical instruments fascinating. Beating on a dead log has come a long way.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:50 PM (5P5DO)

Yeah, I was fascinated by the evolution of guitar over the centuries.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 05:54 PM (snZF9)

31 with that little barefoot blonde playing the violin as she capers across the stage.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 05:38 PM (wzUl9)

Isn't that Lindsey Stirling? Might be a different wee blonde.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 30, 2026 05:55 PM (zZu0s)

32 Bers, some music teacher would love to hear from you.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:55 PM (5P5DO)

33 with that little barefoot blonde playing the violin as she capers across the stage.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026
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Isn't that Lindsey Stirling? Might be a different wee blonde.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 30, 2026

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I had to look her up. Mairead Nesbitt is the one I'm thinking of. Though she is just one of an entire crew of beautiful and talented women.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 05:58 PM (wzUl9)

34 Scott Uhl is one 'GuitarTuber' who is an actual working musician; most seem to either have a day job or be full-time 'Influencers' now. In addition to a multi-media narrative solo project, he's in multiple cover bands of different sizes -- so one might have a bass player, while another uses the bass 'stem' on their backing tracks -- and was also the tour guitarist for a metal band.

youtube.com/@ScottUhlMusic

So, in addition to the usual reviews of home wireless gear that anyone can do, he also gives in-depth breakdowns of how to set up in-ears with routing of different mixes for specific band members. I'm certainly not going to need the pro tips any time soon, but I think if you're daunted by the jump from playing local bars to "silent stage" venues like casinos, you could do a lot worse than his how-tos.

Posted by: SciVo at May 30, 2026 05:58 PM (Sy6m/)

35 Even if you don't like the music Tom Scholtz is definitely a genius.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 05:58 PM (WNOcj)

36 26 I have rescued small pile of violins that people were going to toss, old ones no less. Its good and bad. Good because they came out great, bad because they're here, and I don't play violin.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 05:51 PM (snZF9)

Sounds like a beautiful opportunity!

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian Who Lives In The Thawed Out Tundra at May 30, 2026 05:59 PM (CkDaS)

37 10 ... "This all makes me want to go to YooToob and call up videos of Celtic Woman, with that little barefoot blonde playing the violin as she capers across the stage."

She is adorable and talented. I refer to her as the Elf. Lovely smile as she capers.

Posted by: JTB at May 30, 2026 05:59 PM (yTvNw)

38 * waves to Mis Hum and The Fabulous *

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:01 PM (5P5DO)

39 XH bought a little synthesizer from a buddy what needed money. I 'won' it in the divorce... too bad it's only monophonic, or I would've (maybe) tried harder to re-learn piano/keyboard.

Posted by: JQ at May 30, 2026 06:02 PM (rdVOm)

40 Without drums and bass rock music would be lost. Or so I believe.

Dated a bass player (upright then electric) til years later I met an acoustic player and married him (not his main job).He's a math genius and software/systems architect.

We learned with sons that music is good for math skills when they were in junior high and in bands. Must be some truth to it.

I can play the piano and sing. Their father can play the piano and guitar by ear. Our sons did not get musical genes from me.

It's frustrating for those who endured halitosis and a wicked woman whacking your fingers with a wooden ruler for years. To see him hear a tune and sit down and play it perfectly.

One fine day I will contribute to the hobby thread, as I have many. Hobbies went to the side of life over seven years ago when I became a Nana. Soon. My ambition and energy are lacking other than in the gardens these days. The month of May is a blur.

I admire people who are consistent and organized and normal. My life is basically Montesorri on brown acid in an asylum. Not good.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at May 30, 2026 06:03 PM (WONhk)

41
Oboe: the ill wind no one blows good.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 30, 2026 06:03 PM (HdYcL)

42 Anybody following the Fender cease and desist brouhaha? Apparently after 70 years or so of other companies making Stratocaster clones, they're now trying to stop it.

Posted by: Oddbob at May 30, 2026 05:52 PM (vTZFs)

I loosely followed it. There are many guitars out there that are somewhat strat shaped, but not even remotely like a fender. I'm curious if its the body shape or headstock shape that seals the deal.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 06:04 PM (snZF9)

43 I have a good friend that wanted to learn to play the saxophone. So he went out and bought an alto from a pawn shop and began to teach himself by ear.

He would play for me when we talked on the phone (he had moved to CA from FL).

I went out to visit him after a while and he was all excited to play for me for the first time. He puts his sax together and walks in the kitchen where i am sitting and he plays some easy bebop head and I am completely flipped out.

NOT because he's playing so well or so badly, I am freaking because he is playing UPSIDE DOWN.

He had taught himself to play with the reed at the top of the mouthpiece.

It was one of the most heartbreaking things I ever had to do was to tell him that he was doing it wrong.

Posted by: pawn at May 30, 2026 06:04 PM (+rSJz)

44 I taught myself how to play guitar and read music while in grade school. Never got good at it -- just enough to play and sing folk music. I played French horn and trumpet in high school and a couple years of college. Not great at that either, but I did learn about timing. It's been so.long ago that I can't read a note today.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin at May 30, 2026 06:05 PM (DK5Sh)

45 I have rescued small pile of violins that people were going to toss, old ones no less. Its good and bad. Good because they came out great, bad because they're here, and I don't play violin.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 05:51 PM (snZF9)

Sounds like a beautiful opportunity!

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian Who Lives In The Thawed Out Tundra at May 30, 2026 05:59 PM (CkDaS)

Uh...no. There are 2 levels of violin players. Master, and 2 cats fucking. I don't have enough decades left for that.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 06:06 PM (snZF9)

46 Posted by: pawn at May 30, 2026 06:04 PM (+rSJz)

I'm trying to imagine how that would sound and about to pull my sax out to try it . Hah.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:07 PM (WNOcj)

47 Last weekend there was a young lady busking on the street corner playing a violin. She was playing for food for her kids and sick grandmother.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:07 PM (5P5DO)

48 Bers, some music teacher would love to hear from you.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:55 PM (5P5DO)

I'm not sure I'm following. Hear from me why, and about what?

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 06:09 PM (snZF9)

49 ***
Maybe tonight. The wine she wanted worked better.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius,
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If your realtor tells you she doesn't know the answer to your question, you mentioned this was a repetitive response, she's lying. She knows the answer or it's a negative answer to the sale that she doesn't want to know.
Bottom line, 'I don't know, is a big red flag.

please excuse the interruption, I've been chasing Wolfus on this

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 30, 2026 06:09 PM (cr9uY)

50 I'm curious if its the body shape or headstock shape that seals the deal.

Must be the body shape because they've (allegedly) sent a C&D to PRS.

Posted by: Oddbob at May 30, 2026 06:09 PM (vTZFs)

51 Last weekend there was a young lady busking on the street corner playing a violin. She was playing for food for her kids and sick grandmother.
Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:07 PM (5P5DO)

She should find out what hotel they're having a starving artist sale and go play there. ( do they still have those now that we have the internet?)

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:10 PM (WNOcj)

52 I'm going to regert this comment. String instruments are all about the fingering and stroking.
Posted by: Ben Had

Once you're playing, yeah. But you've gotta have good wood to start with.

Posted by: mikeski plays along at May 30, 2026 06:10 PM (VHUov)

53 Bers, for you to donate all of those violins.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:10 PM (5P5DO)

54 (Every wonder how the lighting and pyro is timed to the music? A click track and a laptop allows pre-programming.)

Lighting, projection, lasers, big-ass tv screens, pyro, etc. It's always fun, but it locks the band into that setlist.

People used to follow bands around on tour to see different songs every night. Now that it all has to match the movie being played behind them, same set the whole tour.

Posted by: mikeski at May 30, 2026 06:12 PM (VHUov)

55 I'm going to regert this comment. String instruments are all about the fingering and stroking.
Posted by: Ben Had

Once you're playing, yeah. But you've gotta have good wood to start with.
Posted by: mikeski plays along at May 30, 2026 06:10 PM (VHUov)

And the tempo can't be too fast.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:13 PM (WNOcj)

56 polynikes, she definitely picked the wrong corner. There is a guy that has staked out the corner by the post office. This poor fellow needs to find a job because musician/singer is not his long suit.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:13 PM (5P5DO)

57 Last weekend there was a young lady busking on the street corner playing a violin. She was playing for food for her kids and sick grandmother.
Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:07 PM (5P5DO)

She should find out what hotel they're having a starving artist sale and go play there. ( do they still have those now that we have the internet?)
Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:10 PM (WNOcj)

I've seen people doing that in the parking lot of a store. Speakers and microphone. Never see anyone giving money. They don't show up more than once or twice before disappearing.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 06:14 PM (1Ff7Z)

58
Uh...no. There are 2 levels of violin players. Master, and 2 cats fucking. I don't have enough decades left for that.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 06:06 PM (snZF9)
********************
As a child I had the opportunity to learn violin from a concert violinist friend of my aunt's. Sadly I chose piano. In later decades I wish I had chosen the violin. I still want a Celtic harp and may bug my dude about it.

Son and wives are musicians. All played in bands. One DIL is also a singer. Eldest son, the PITA, is a professional musician and software engineer. He still teaches sax to HS/college kids privately. He had to learn all the woodwinds and was nationally recruited for old jazz bands on tours (Glenn Miller, etc).

His wicked parents told him to please, for the love of God,get a degree as he had only one year left.

This was after he toured the USA in an off broadway musical (the best of Ray Charles). At least got that out of his system, living on a tour bus. Older dancers were after my boy and glared at me when he introduced me to them. One of the main singers told me he was a good boy on tour (they were a decade or more older than him and his friend).

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at May 30, 2026 06:15 PM (WONhk)

59 I wonder if there are people with "perfect rhythm" like people with perfect pitch. That they have an internal metronome that keeps them in time? I certainly don't I will start going fast or slow without someone keeping time. I have whiteboy rhythm.

I do have perfect pitch however. Something I've had my whole life. It does not mean I can always play or sing in a perfect pitch. It does mean I have a model of tones in my head, somewhere, and I always know exactly how much myself or others are off. And I can combine and mix music in my head and it is exactly the way it sounds in real life. I cannot explain how it works. Basically there is stuff inside me that can perfectly model systems like music and I can run the model and query it and so forth. The best I can explain it is it's like gears meshing or not meshing and grinding instead.

Posted by: banana Dream at May 30, 2026 06:15 PM (3uBP9)

60 THe upside sax sounded OK for a beginner but Gary immediately flipped the mouthpiece over and it sounded like shit.

It took a rater large amount of alcohol to over come the disappointment of his first performance.

Posted by: pawn at May 30, 2026 06:16 PM (+rSJz)

61 If your realtor tells you she doesn't know the answer to your question, you mentioned this was a repetitive response, she's lying. She knows the answer or it's a negative answer to the sale that she doesn't want to know.
Bottom line, 'I don't know, is a big red flag.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 30, 2026

***
It's not the realtor, Braenyard.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 06:16 PM (wzUl9)

62 I saw Boston play at the Garden after their release of their self-titled first album. One of the worst concerts I've ever been too.

They all came out with headphones and basically faced each other while they played. The music was perfectly reproduced but it had zero soul. It was boring as hell.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 30, 2026 06:17 PM (viF8m)

63 Posted by: banana Dream at May 30, 2026 06:15 PM (3uBP9)

This is why I love watching Live From Daryl's House. Daryl and most of his guests have both.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:17 PM (WNOcj)

64 I would throw a sawbuck at the street kids with the 5 gallon buckets and drum sticks.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:19 PM (5P5DO)

65 Posted by: pawn at May 30, 2026 06:16 PM (+rSJz)

Poor Gary. I imagine he had to start from the beginning learning to play.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:19 PM (WNOcj)

66 >>> I've seen people doing that in the parking lot of a store. Speakers and microphone. Never see anyone giving money. They don't show up more than once or twice before disappearing.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 06:14 PM (1Ff7Z)

People don't carry money anymore. The street musicians will have those checkered code thingies, not bar code but the square thing, I forget the name, and when you hold your phone up at it will have a link to send them money through one of the common money sending apps.

Posted by: banana Dream at May 30, 2026 06:21 PM (3uBP9)

67 Les Luthiers was an Argentine comedy musical troupe. They pulled their group name from the French term for instrument or stringed instrument makers.
Posted by: Kindltot

"Luthier" is a valid English word, too.

If only because Anglifying it completely to "Luter" would confuse people as to your profession, or lack thereof.

Posted by: mikeski at May 30, 2026 06:21 PM (VHUov)

68 Posted by: JackStraw at May 30, 2026 06:17 PM (viF8m)

It's an engineer giving a concert. Exactly what one would expect. I do love that album though.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:21 PM (WNOcj)

69 not bar code but the square thing, I forget the name

QR code.

Pointing your phone at random QR codes on the street sounds like a good way to get a phone virus, though.

Posted by: mikeski at May 30, 2026 06:22 PM (VHUov)

70 >>>People used to follow bands around on tour to see different songs every night. Now that it all has to match the movie being played behind them, same set the whole tour.
Posted by: mikeski
---

and the light man is out of a job.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 30, 2026 06:22 PM (cr9uY)

71 JackStraw, did you hear the boom ?

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:22 PM (5P5DO)

72 >>> I saw Boston play at the Garden after their release of their self-titled first album. One of the worst concerts I've ever been too.

They all came out with headphones and basically faced each other while they played. The music was perfectly reproduced but it had zero soul. It was boring as hell.
Posted by: JackStraw at May 30, 2026 06:17 PM (viF8m)

I saw the Third Stage concert, their third album, a decade later. That album didn't do great but the concert was good. They played some old stuff too. But it was kind of a rock opera album so there was a lot of theatrics and lasers and wotnot.

Posted by: banana Dream at May 30, 2026 06:24 PM (3uBP9)

73 I always think I won't have anything to learn or to contribute to the Hobby Thread, but then I spend hours looking, listening, and learning as soon as it is posted each Saturday. Thank you for furthering my education on so many different subjects!

Posted by: jayhawkone at May 30, 2026 06:24 PM (QSaoA)

74 I did not Ben Had. But it was really windy and rainy here today.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 30, 2026 06:24 PM (viF8m)

75 Gene Wilder in Silver Streak from the '70s is on Movies! I did not know there were so many other familiar faces in it -- Richard Pryor, of course, but also Ned Beatty, Patrick McGoohan, and Jill Clayburgh.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 06:25 PM (wzUl9)

76 >>> It's an engineer giving a concert. Exactly what one would expect. I do love that album though.
Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:21 PM (WNOcj)

I have a feeling that Tim was as into designing the organ as he was playing the music. Maybe more so.

Posted by: banana Dream at May 30, 2026 06:26 PM (3uBP9)

77 People don't carry money anymore. The street musicians will have those checkered code thingies, not bar code but the square thing, I forget the name, and when you hold your phone up at it will have a link to send them money through one of the common money sending apps.
Posted by: banana Dream at May 30, 2026 06:21 PM (3uBP9)

No chance o that from me! I also think the management tells them to move along.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 06:26 PM (1Ff7Z)

78 "Luthier" is a valid English word, too.

If only because Anglifying it completely to "Luter" would confuse people as to your profession, or lack thereof.
Posted by: mikeski at May 30, 2026

***
I had to look that up. New word added to vocabulary, check!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 30, 2026 06:26 PM (wzUl9)

79 I’ve been on a tear 3D printing busts.

I’ve arrayed them on monitor shelves behind my work computers so now I have Marcus Aurelius, Plato, Hayao Miyazaki glaring at me.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 30, 2026 06:27 PM (XV/Pl)

80 @28 I've been working on stuff, it always takes forever if there's any complexity involved. I have to invent several wheels and then re-invent them when they don't work.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 30, 2026 06:27 PM (CHHv1)

81 thunderbird, 400w Reeves, 1 15 inch cab and 1 w\4 12s

Posted by: I weep for humanity at May 30, 2026 06:27 PM (jrgJz)

82 They all came out with headphones and basically faced each other while they played. The music was perfectly reproduced but it had zero soul. It was boring as hell.
Posted by: JackStraw at May 30, 2026 06:17 PM (viF8m)
**********************
I had to wade in to prevent an uncivil music war in my college party house once over Boston. Wall to wall people listening to '70's rock or stuff like Marshall Tucker in every room, drinking beer, all was well.

Things took a turn and became hostile when uninvited guys invited themselves in and put Boston on my turntable. My bf knew one of them, a ski bum and general jackass. Don't know how they knew of the kegger but invaded.

I had forgotten, but my husband said I calmly took the album off my stereo, handed it to them, and pointed to the door and they left without a single fist flung or bad words spoken...but it was close.My guy friend posse were not happy and I sensed why.

I was both hostess and bouncer as a multi talented supermodel. No idea where my roommate was at the time as it was her party as well.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at May 30, 2026 06:28 PM (WONhk)

83 I’ve been on a tear 3D printing busts.

I’ve arrayed them on monitor shelves behind my work computers so now I have Marcus Aurelius, Plato, Hayao Miyazaki glaring at me.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 30, 2026 06:27 PM (XV/Pl)

No Sweeney bust?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 30, 2026 06:28 PM (1Ff7Z)

84 I lent an acquaintance some money so he could buy the Boston 8 track and he was going to pay me back in a week. That was 50 years ago and unfortunately he died 15 years ago so I'm out a few bucks.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:29 PM (WNOcj)

85 14 I'm going to regert this comment. String instruments are all about the fingering and stroking.
Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 05:40 PM (5P5DO)

They're also all about math. The length of the vibrating part of the string (from bridge to nut/capo/finger/slide) relates directly to the length of the sound wave, which relates directly to the tone produced.

Since the speed of sound is a constant (at your temperature and pressure), the wavelength is inversely related to the frequency: the more waves per second, the shorter they must be, and vice-versa. This also applies to light and electro-magnetic fields in general, including the frequency of alternating current which produces mains hum.

That frequency is arbitrary; in the U.S. and most of the world it's 60 cycles per second, whereas in Europe it's 50 Hz. So, that bass note coming from your speakers when everything is quiet is roughly a B-flat in America, but more of a G in Europe, since it's caused by the EMF generated by the building's wiring.

Fingering, stroking, and math. Obviously, this means that all AC electrical must be torn out and replaced with a frequency chosen for its pleasant tone and harmonics!

Posted by: SciVo at May 30, 2026 06:29 PM (Sy6m/)

86 I'm too old to be running all of that fucking cable, but I'll run your generators and automate your show.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 30, 2026 06:29 PM (D1E+2)

87 >>> I’ve been on a tear 3D printing busts.

I’ve arrayed them on monitor shelves behind my work computers so now I have Marcus Aurelius, Plato, Hayao Miyazaki glaring at me.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 30, 2026 06:27 PM (XV/Pl)

I was thinking of a different kind of bust.

Posted by: Lt. banana Drebin Dream at May 30, 2026 06:30 PM (3uBP9)

88 popcorn song on a moog synth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FawJuXhYxFI

Posted by: I weep for humanity at May 30, 2026 06:32 PM (jrgJz)

89 The original "click track" was a guy with a hand held hole puncher that made holes in the actual film. The tempo was indicated by however many sprocket holes were skipped. The sound thru headphones was god awful. Only the conductor heard those.
Today you can tell which pop songs use click tracks (which is just about all of them). The ones that don't have slight variations in tempo, which normal humans find pleasant.
Click tracks stimulate the reptilian cortex of the brain.

Posted by: Casual observer at May 30, 2026 06:33 PM (7Q+Zd)

90 Never got into the big light show concerts. I was interested in the music, not the 'concert experience'. The lasers and other fancy effects are distracting. I saw some of the biggest acts in the sixties but so long ago the Beatles and Stones still wore ties and jackets on stage. By the time the light shows became a regular thing I had pretty much stopped following rock music.

Posted by: JTB at May 30, 2026 06:33 PM (yTvNw)

91 @42

>> I'm curious if its the body shape or headstock shape that seals the deal.

You cannot trademark the shape of a guitar.

What Fender did was take a Chinese company to court in Europe, the Chinese company did not show up, so Fender got a default judgment, not on the merits, they are now taking that default judgment, which has no force against anyone and trying to bully other companies to knuckle under.

And especially has no force against American companies.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 30, 2026 06:33 PM (XV/Pl)

92 In the mid-70s I used to play trombone on Court St. in Athens, OH (Home of OU) for beer money.

I met so many people.

Posted by: pawn at May 30, 2026 06:34 PM (+rSJz)

93 I’ve arrayed them on monitor shelves behind my work computers so now I have Marcus Aurelius, Plato, Hayao Miyazaki glaring at me.
Posted by: Thomas Bender

====

A lot of those guys don't post here any more.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at May 30, 2026 06:34 PM (LyEzZ)

94
A man walks into a bank with a violin case. People scream and run because they think he has a machine gun.

A man walks into a bank with a viola case. People scream and run because they think he has a viola.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 30, 2026 06:35 PM (HdYcL)

95 I wasn't a Kiss fan when I was a teen but I got free tickets to a Kiss concert at our civic center. One of the most entertaining concerts I've been to.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:36 PM (WNOcj)

96 *Tim

Posted by: banana Dream at May 30, 2026 06:37 PM (3uBP9)

97 *Tom

Posted by: banana Dream at May 30, 2026 06:37 PM (3uBP9)

98 Some of you might be familiar with the dancing bear caricature that has long been associated with the Grateful Dead. The bear was inspired by the sound engineer/chemist for the Dead at the time, Owsley "Bear" Stanley.

He was pretty fanatical about the sound and by the mid-70s the Dead were drawing huge crowds and so he wanted to design a system that brought out the best sound for huge stadium shows. In 1974 he created the Dead's Wall of Sound.

It was enormous and the sound was great. But it was so expensive to truck around and assemble they only used it for part of the '74 tour. Some of the most legendary shows the Dead ever did.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 30, 2026 06:38 PM (viF8m)

99 I’ve arrayed them on monitor shelves behind my work computers so now I have Marcus Aurelius, Plato, Hayao Miyazaki glaring at me.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 30, 2026 06:27 PM (XV/Pl)

Do Pallas next, and then a Raven to perch on it.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 30, 2026 06:39 PM (rbvCR)

100 Bers, in your experience did audience participation make a difference?

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:39 PM (5P5DO)

101 A man walks into a bank with a viola case. People scream and run because they think he has a viola.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 30, 2026 06:35 PM (HdYcL)

The difference between a viola and a trampoline is that you take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline

Posted by: Kindltot at May 30, 2026 06:40 PM (rbvCR)

102 My piano is solid rosewood and 150yrs old. The solid cast iron "harp" is now cracked from moving from MS to FL to out West. It takes 4 men straining to move it, it dents wooden floors, and I don't, at this point, want to pay to have it fixed. It still plays for a year when tuned.

My uncle refinished the piano and it is a lovely piece with ivory keys.

The piano I wish I had saved for musician son was a black Steinway that stayed in tune for decades.

Unfortunately he was a crazy college kid when she died and a former friend bought it for much less that what it was worth. We have not spoken in over 20yrs so it will remain in her house unless she croaks before I do. I would pay to give it to him now.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at May 30, 2026 06:40 PM (WONhk)

103
Q: Are violas larger than violins?

A: No, violists' heads are just smaller.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 30, 2026 06:44 PM (HdYcL)

104 I have a happy music story. I have a Steinway 7 foot grand, a lordly beast of rosewood mahogany. My tuner who trained at Steinway even knew the name of the man who "set the tone."

I have had nightmares of what would happen to it if my kids had to find a home for it and having it end up at the college as a practice piano. So I asked my tuner to help me find a new owner.

He told me it could take years. I said, then we better start. And 3 weeks later I got a phone call! A woman who had just moved here and wanted to resume serious study. She plays beautifully, better than I ever did, so the next chapter of my piano's life will be even better than this one.

Posted by: Wenda at May 30, 2026 06:45 PM (5xS0b)

105 I took piano lessons but we did not have a piano at that time. The lovely lady down the street volunteered to let me practice at her house. I was much more interested in her stories about Winston Churchill than playing the piano. She gave me a longbow that came from his collection.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 06:45 PM (5P5DO)

106 42 Anybody following the Fender cease and desist brouhaha? Apparently after 70 years or so of other companies making Stratocaster clones, they're now trying to stop it.

Posted by: Oddbob at May 30, 2026 05:52 PM (vTZFs)

I loosely followed it. There are many guitars out there that are somewhat strat shaped, but not even remotely like a fender. I'm curious if its the body shape or headstock shape that seals the deal.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at May 30, 2026 06:04 PM (snZF9)

They already had the headstock, they're trying to get the Strat body shape. Since "blues lawyers" are a thing, I waiting for one to weigh in on it, and this is a really good breakdown that made me feel like I had a solid understanding:

A Lawyer explains the Fender Strat situation...
https://youtu.be/NOdaTPZROM0

Now, I have not watched the sequel yet, but apparently Fender went and did the really stupid thing (involving PRS) that he dared them to do in the first video, since it would doom the whole project:

A Lawyer explains how Fender just did the dumbest thing possible...
https://youtu.be/vUIRZz5BbUY

Posted by: SciVo at May 30, 2026 06:45 PM (Sy6m/)

107 the perfect pitch in music is when you toss an accordian in the dumpster and it hits a banjo

Posted by: I weep for humanity at May 30, 2026 06:45 PM (jrgJz)

108 "I've seen people doing that in the parking lot of a store. Speakers and microphone. Never see anyone giving money."

That comment reminded me of when we were visiting Boston about 20 years ago and were at Harvard Square when there was a band. They were pretty good but then the guitarist started up "Voodoo Child." Husband and I exchanged an "uh-oh" look---but the guy nailed it!! And it wasn't just a Hendrix cover either. Anyway, shortly after that we found $20 on the ground and put it in the case where the band was collecting money. A very fond memory.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at May 30, 2026 06:46 PM (FEVMW)

109 Posted by: Wenda at May 30, 2026 06:45 PM (5xS0b

That's a great story.

Posted by: polynikes at May 30, 2026 06:47 PM (WNOcj)

110
Les Luthiers was an Argentine comedy musical troupe.

And an avowed enemy of Superman.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 30, 2026 06:51 PM (Cqx++)

111 I restored a Hammond organ to working order for Mrs fd but she doesn't play it anymore because she says it bothers the cats.

THAT has never been a consideration of mine about anything other than maybe letting the dog inside. That's mostly just to prevent mayhem though.

Posted by: fd at May 30, 2026 06:54 PM (vFG9F)

112 Speaking of Guitars, with the guitar talk, I checked Guitar Garden and Firefly is selling an acoustic baritone for 259.00.

Acoustic Baritones typically sell out instantly from any manufacturer, so if you want to experiment with an acoustic baritone, now’s the time to do it for cheap.

An Orangewood equivalent going for 800 bucks sold out in a couple of days.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 30, 2026 06:56 PM (XV/Pl)

113 I’ve been on a tear 3D printing busts.

I’ve arrayed them on monitor shelves behind my work computers so now I have Marcus Aurelius, Plato, Hayao Miyazaki glaring at me.
Posted by: Thomas Bender

No Sweeney bust?
Posted by: OrangeEnt

Why do you think they're glaring at him?

Posted by: mikeski at May 30, 2026 06:57 PM (VHUov)

114 In classical education, certainly in the Middle Ages and probably going back to ancient Greece, mathematics was used as a means of understanding the world, scientifically and philosophically. Da Vinci believed it was the best way to understand God's creation. And music was a large part of that. It took the theories of math, harmony, balance, and rhythm, and gave it a way to experience that through the senses. That's why madrigal or Gregorian Chant harmonies and cadences are recognizable, why instrument strings are certain lengths and thicknesses were established. The materials available over time, from gut to nylon to steel, vary but the basics remain.

Posted by: JTB at May 30, 2026 06:58 PM (yTvNw)

115 Sometimes I play a harmonica JUST TO bother the cats.

Posted by: fd at May 30, 2026 06:58 PM (vFG9F)

116 polynikes,

Isn't it? I'm so grateful.

Posted by: Wenda at May 30, 2026 06:58 PM (5xS0b)

117 I started out in elementary school trying to learn to play a clarinet. Really don't want to remember that horrible episode in my life.
Posted by: Skip

Word

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at May 30, 2026 07:00 PM (W5mpo)

118 "I started out in elementary school trying to learn to play a clarinet. Really don't want to remember that horrible episode in my life.
Posted by: Skip"

I picked trumpet because there are only 3 valves. How hard can it be?

Posted by: fd at May 30, 2026 07:02 PM (vFG9F)

119 Grew up with a piano in the house. Older sister took lessons for about a year, and was getting good. Still remember her with the sheet music to "Yesterday" in front of her. Younger sister took lessons. Two, in fact.

Piano then sat for almost two decades. I was finally allowed to take guitar lessons after years of begging. Funny how the folks never thought to offer piano lessons to me. Never crossed my mind or theirs.

Senior year of college, I took piano. By then, I could read music, so all I needed was the finger exercises and I was off to the races. By then, the folks had gotten rid of our piano, so my ability to practice was compromised, and I only managed a C for the course. Would have made cum laude if I aced the class, which was achievable with a bit more practice. Le sigh....

Posted by: Joe Kidd at May 30, 2026 07:02 PM (nbLIj)

120 "Luthier" is a valid English word, too.

If only because Anglifying it completely to "Luter" would confuse people as to your profession, or lack thereof.
Posted by: mikeski at May 30, 2026 06:21 PM (VHUov)

There is a joke(?) that 'luthier' means "crazy person". You may enjoy working with wood and making handmade, one-of-a-kind, bespoke guitars, but that doesn't mean that it would pay better per hour than washing dishes.

Posted by: SciVo at May 30, 2026 07:04 PM (Sy6m/)

121 I actually played trumpet in middle school and one year of high school. As an instrument, I think I would have preferred a violin.

On the other hand, the trumpet taught me a lot of techniques useful for public speaking. The way you 'project' your voice is pretty much identical to belting out notes on the trumpet.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 30, 2026 07:05 PM (zZu0s)

122 IMO sometimes a person could be very good at something they didn't know they might because they never got to try it

Posted by: Skip at May 30, 2026 07:06 PM (Ia/+0)

123 >>I started out in elementary school trying to learn to play a clarinet. Really don't want to remember that horrible episode in my life.

In my elementary school the gave instruction on string instruments a year before you could try horns and fun stuff. So I ended up trying the violin.

I might have been the only kid whose father told him not to practice. I was many levels below bad.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 30, 2026 07:07 PM (viF8m)

124 JackStraw, hahahahaha.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2026 07:11 PM (5P5DO)

125
Six million Carnival Cruise passengers info stolen in hack.

Sad violin.

Posted by: four seasons at May 30, 2026 07:11 PM (3ek7K)

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