Hobby Thread - August 23, 2025 [Crafty Rex]

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. We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) a spin and it landed on musical instruments.

I have faith that you can either find something in the content that resonates or contribute your own hobbying interests.

You might be tempted to say "I have no hobbies or interests." Bah. Dig around in the content and soak in the comments. Be curious. Glad you're here.

[Top photo: Blues Sax by polynikes (10x20 oil) ]

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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. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Pants are optional. Puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice. Don't be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

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Last week's Hobby Thread led to a discussion of musical instruments. So here we are... TRex has zero musical ability. At best, I'd bang on the drums all day. A small brain and short arms is not conducive to making music out of random sounds. If there was a dinosaur orchestra, they'd ask me to stay out of the way and sell popcorn in the lobby.

Many among the Horde, however, are more musically blessed. This thread is for you. Even if you're not musically inclined, there is knowledge in the construction and care of musical instruments.

This is not a music thread. There are other times and places for that. Let's focus on the instruments themselves. After all, every instrument tells a story...

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What musical instrument do or did you play?

Can you play multiple instruments? If so, what is your weapon of choice?

What is the most unusual instrument you can play (no, the armpit fart engine does not qualify)?

Where and how did you obtain your instruments?

Have you ever built an instrument from scratch?

Have you restored an instrument?

What instrument do you wish you knew how to play?

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I am a sucker for YouTube videos (1) showing people making cool stuff out of pallets and (2) without voiceovers. Even better if both.

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English Manufacturing in the 1960s:

The voice over is gold. Electric Guitars for the first two minutes ("All this to make a bedlam of adolescent noise," "No wonder, the guitar boys have to pay so much for their guitars that they have no money left for a haircut."). Harps at 8:24. Watch the whole thing to see how the Brits made wall paper, spectacles, cricket bats, wedgewood pottery, parking meters, spoon and model cars.

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Good uses for newspaper:

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Good, but long video. Save for later.

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Making saxophones in Paris:

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I love that YouTube and the interwebs provide space for people with passion like Olaf the Violin maker. I also love this because it gets deep into wood and what makes good wood for violins. Some guy named Stradivarius shopped in the same forest a few years earlier.

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Something can only be original once: State of Being: Restoration or Conservation?

Most musicians in the early-music world play on reproductions, modern instruments that have been carefully patterned on originals from past centuries. The reasons are simple.
First, in most families of Baroque instrument, extant originals are hard to find, excessively fragile, wildly expensive, or all of the above
Second, original instruments come with all kinds of inherent issues that can be big hurdles for professional musicians who need a high level of dependability and have to play a vast range of early music with multiple ensembles.
Third, there are more skilled instrument makers than ever before, and the quality of the resulting instruments is better than ever, making them a more enticing option.
Fourth, playing an original instrument can be detrimental, maybe even irresponsible.

More interesting nuggets in the article. Read the whole thing as the blogfather would say.

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Randomly spotted in our local Hobby Lobby:

20250823-IMG_20250823_114117705_HDR~3.jpg

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

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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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Would TRex include a mystery click behind every single photo in a Hobby Thread? You betcha. If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute your hobbying. We will feature a different theme next time. What are you hobbying? We love showing off Horde hobbying. 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 August 23, 2025 05:31 PM (+qU29)

2 I thought KT's thread was the Hobby Thread. And I was gonna sock Mrs. Slocumbe....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 23, 2025 05:31 PM (0eaVi)

3 I played, or tried to play clarinet in elementary school, it's a sad part of my life

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 05:32 PM (+qU29)

4 Kid just started orchestra Playing cello. I know nothing about it, except you'd better put that thing under your chin, there are ladies present.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 23, 2025 05:32 PM (0eaVi)

5
Does eating Baked Beans count?

Posted by: Soothsayer at August 23, 2025 05:33 PM (ss9OF)

6 Does eating Baked Beans count?
Posted by: Soothsayer at August 23, 2025 05:33 PM (ss9OF)

He said it's not a music thread.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 23, 2025 05:36 PM (0eaVi)

7 There is a launch soon

Rocket Lab - Electron - Live, Laugh, Launch
LS-1 - Mähia, NZ - Space Affairs Live
Launch Date: August 24
Launch Time: 10:42 NZDT, 00:42 CEST (August 23, 2242 UTC)
Going live: 6:15 PM EDT

https://youtu.be/asTCN3IblAw

Posted by: Joyenz at August 23, 2025 05:37 PM (sPQoU)

8 I can play a couple of instruments and read music but only enough to appreciate those who are actually good at it.

I can also annoy the hell out of you with a harmonica. Scare your cats, make your dogs howl, your flowers wilt. It's just for me.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 05:39 PM (vFG9F)

9 6 Does eating Baked Beans count?
Posted by: Soothsayer at August 23, 2025 05:33 PM (ss9OF)

He said it's not a music thread.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 23, 2025 05:36 PM
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And I'd really rather not think too much about the instrument involved.

Posted by: TRex at August 23, 2025 05:41 PM (cCn4/)

10 Just want to point out that the painting was done solely with a palette knife.

I play the Sax though I don’t play it very well. I just like to get sheet music of familiar songs and see if I can at least recognize them when I play .

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 05:43 PM (EYmYM)

11 I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I sure enjoy listening to those who can.

Posted by: Eromero at August 23, 2025 05:43 PM (LHPAg)

12 I still have my 60's vintage Conn Trumpet and take it our every once in a while so it doesn't turn green.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 05:43 PM (vFG9F)

13 I have four dulcimers, with a new one on they way soon. Many years ago, there was a company with inexpensive kits and I built my own dulcimer. I told my husband about it, and since we were considering a move to TN, he encouraged me to find another. I bought a Dulcimer Factory one off FB Marketplace. It had a few issues, and I found a McSpadden kit put together in the 70s. It is playable and has been well loved. Then I bought a black walnut one from Ron Gibsom, a luthier in Ohio. It's such a wonderful instrument! I recently bought a Folkcraft off Ebay, but I'm not fond of it. New one will be a six string dulcimette from Ron Ewing.

Dulcimers are interesting as they aren't really standardized. Typically nowadays, they are four strings (the two high ones tuned to the same note). They were originally played noter style, strings used as drones with the melody played out using a stick as a slide. They are one of the simpliest instruments to play. The dulcimette I'm getting is six stringed, with pairs tuned to the same note. This will sound a bit like a mandolin, which is four pairs. It satisfies my need to mess around with an instrument and I'm okay with being a beginner.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 23, 2025 05:44 PM (kUxzU)

14 And I'd really rather not think too much about the instrument involved.
Posted by: TRex at August 23, 2025 05:41 PM (cCn4/)

It really stinks trying to tune it.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 23, 2025 05:44 PM (0eaVi)

15 5
Does eating Baked Beans count?
Posted by: Soothsayer at August 23, 2025 05:33 PM (ss9OF)
I'm eating baked beans right now!

Posted by: Eromero at August 23, 2025 05:45 PM (LHPAg)

16 12 I still have my 60's vintage Conn Trumpet and take it our every once in a while so it doesn't turn green.
Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 05:43 PM (vFG9F)

I had a Conn sax at one time . Now I have an inexpensive alto sax I bought at the Guitar store.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 05:45 PM (EYmYM)

17 I always like a little sax before reading the thread.

Posted by: Diogenes at August 23, 2025 05:48 PM (2WIwB)

18 There was a time when this was my life...started with piano, graduated to French Horn which I played from middle school thru high school. Seriously considered making it my career, then that money thing got in the way. I can read music and even dabbled in writing music. Still sing, mostly in Church these days. I look forward to our TN home, where there will be a piano and I can start dabbling again...

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 05:48 PM (cCn4/)

19 Lets see, I played flute in band in junior high. Tried learning the guitar a few times. I once rented a saxophone for a month. That was fun! I messed around a bit with the mandolin. I have a penny whistle here, but I no longer have enough wind to play a wind instrument. I may set a dulcimer up as a baritone(which just means heavier strings and tuned differently). I took a three day class with Stephen Siefert in Portland and I use his online lessons.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 23, 2025 05:49 PM (kUxzU)

20 >>>Third, there are more skilled instrument makers than ever before, and the quality of the resulting instruments is better than ever, making them a more enticing option.
---------------------

School auditorium received a new Yamaha baby grand. After
un-crating the man came to tune it. He had a problem. It was in tune.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2025 05:49 PM (DS3M8)

21 Played sax for six years and was pretty good at it. Then I stopped. Had to sell it my senior year of college because I needed the money. I have a harmonica now but wished I had taken up piano. The guy who can walk into a setting, sit down and start playing a piano racks up massive cool points.

Posted by: Diogenes at August 23, 2025 05:51 PM (2WIwB)

22 I have a penny whistle here, but I no longer have enough wind to play a wind instrument.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 23, 2025 05:49 PM (kUxzU)

See Soothsayer for tips on that.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 23, 2025 05:52 PM (0eaVi)

23 I own a lot of different musical instruments, very few of which I can play. Oh, I can make noises with them, and that's good enough. I have a bit of ability on the synthesizer and I know some guitar chords. Otherwise, it's "Where does this noise fit in the current project."

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 23, 2025 05:52 PM (CHHv1)

24 Bought a 1968 King flute, looked it up, at the pawn shop for $25. Wanted a trumpet but they didn't have one. Flute's weird and takes a lot of wind. It's in it's case.
I'll expend my wind here.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2025 05:54 PM (DS3M8)

25 One of the coolest things I first did when I lived in NYC was visit Macy’s and rode the escalator to the top floor which was their piano sales floor. It felt more like a warehouse where they stored pianos. The cool thing was the last two or three floor the escalator was wooden and probably original to the store.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 05:54 PM (EYmYM)

26 "Have you restored an instrument?"

Not completely but I did fix up a Hammond organ for Mrs fd. It's an analog relic from the 60s, with spinning "tone wheels" and coils that generate the frequencies. I fixed some broken wires and connections, cleaned some controls, replaced a couple of tubes, and it works great.

I can't do anything but mess around on it though. Mrs fd can really play it.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 05:55 PM (vFG9F)

27 Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2025 05:54 PM (DS3M

You got to buy some Jethro Tull sheet music and give it a whirl.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 05:55 PM (EYmYM)

28 I play guitar in a band, consider myself an intermediate-level player. I wish I could play drums.

Posted by: Dr. Fausti - I WAS The Science at August 23, 2025 05:55 PM (8hxDK)

29

Come and smell my music!

Posted by: Le P�tomane, Flatulist at August 23, 2025 05:56 PM (xzAzL)

30 The cool thing was the last two or three floor the escalator was wooden and probably original to the store.
Posted by: polynikes
**********
Absolutely the original wood...rode those every year on the way to visit Santa in Santa land! Would still do so if I were still in NYC....

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 05:57 PM (cCn4/)

31

Come and smell my music! It will enchant you!

Posted by: Le P�tomane, Flatulist at August 23, 2025 05:57 PM (xzAzL)

32 At one point I could play the armpit. I'm seriously out of practice, though.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at August 23, 2025 05:58 PM (S/Y4j)

33 Not a hobby. But as these things on the web are listening or connected, guess what pops up.on my YouTube?

Dead body on Everest

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 05:58 PM (+qU29)

34 I don't play an instrument and am only good at listening to music, but this hobby thread, like all the previous ones, will occupy me for hours watching the amazing links and reading all the more talented Morons comments. Thank you TRex!!

Posted by: jayhawkone at August 23, 2025 05:59 PM (9rPx3)

35 Posted by: Diogenes at August 23, 2025 05:51 PM (2WIw

Hah you sound just like me except I gave up the sax in High School to concentrate on sports. I think the scene in No Hard Feelings where the nerd walks up to the piano in the restaurant to play a song for Jennifer Lawrence was really good.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 05:59 PM (EYmYM)

36 34 Thank you TRex!!

Posted by: jayhawkone at August 23, 2025 05:59 PM
***
Thank YOU! and thanks for being here.

Posted by: TRex - slightly out of tune at August 23, 2025 06:02 PM (cCn4/)

37 I started guitar in early teens. Like everyone else back then, I wanted to play lead. Alas, I'm not coordinated or fast enough for that but I was a pretty good rhythm guitarist. My hands are big and I could stretch for even the weirder chords. Mostly traditional folk music, sea shanties, and folk rock like the Mamas and the Papas or Paul Simon. For fun, I picked up some basic bass riffs. Think Day Tripper.

Senior year of high school we put together a jazz band. Think Ellington or Buddy Rich. Damn! It was enjoyable. And playing guitar as part of a large instrumental group was very different from folk music.

I still take out the guitar now and then just for kicks. Haven't played in public for over 50 years.

Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 06:03 PM (yTvNw)

38 33 Dead body on Everest

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 05:58 PM
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The algorithms are strange and mysterious.

Posted by: TRex - hope it wasn't a dead dino at August 23, 2025 06:03 PM (cCn4/)

39 Told on a few hobby threads, my grandmother played piano as long as I ever knew, took lessons often but never played a song at speed it should be. But she enjoyed it and played Avery often.

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 06:04 PM (+qU29)

40 Not the first time conversations here showed up elsewhere

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 06:05 PM (+qU29)

41 "Just as if they were real musical instruments."

LOL!

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 23, 2025 06:06 PM (qpyNK)

42 First, in most families of Baroque instrument, extant originals are hard to find, excessively fragile, wildly expensive, or all of the above

Yep. They say my authentic Mycenean kithara is worth a lot of lute.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at August 23, 2025 06:06 PM (muwun)

43 I played flute, my sisters played clarinet and trumpet, through high school. Band even played at the Lion's Thanksgiving Day game once. My kids played oboe and trumpet; daughter's HS band went to the Paris Air show one year. My grandchildren are just starting. Grandson plays the trombone well enough even in 7th grade that he plays with a small group for preludes at church. Granddaughter is just starting with the clarinet but she's very enthusiastic!

Band is great for kids; the events and the places they can go are incredibly enriching.

Posted by: Lirio100 at August 23, 2025 06:07 PM (ky7/T)

44 Playing Bach on a Banjo:

https://is.gd/bY8aPn

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at August 23, 2025 06:07 PM (PiwSw)

45 Hi TRex.

I played clarinet in high school, as did my sister. My brothers played trombone and trumpet. We were all in the marching band (2 different schools over a decade—same director). My parents went to Friday night football games just to watch their kids at half time.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 06:08 PM (fveCG)

46 Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 06:05 PM (+qU29

I remember you sharing that before.

I don’t think you ever shared how your war gaming miniatures convention went or did I miss it?

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:08 PM (EYmYM)

47 > Does eating Baked Beans count?
Posted by: Soothsayer at August 23, 2025 05:33 PM (ss9OF)

Beans, beans,
The musical fruit.
The more you eat,
The more you toot.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 23, 2025 06:09 PM (qpyNK)

48 One time at band camp………

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:09 PM (EYmYM)

49 Also, for awhile as a young adult, I played in my church’s worship band. I got pretty good at transposing on the fly. That was way back before I turned 29.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 06:09 PM (fveCG)

50

I play a mean skin flute...

Posted by: Jenna Jameson at August 23, 2025 06:10 PM (xzAzL)

51 In a cruel twist of fate, as much as I love music I can't play or sing. It's a damn shame because I have white boy overbite down cold.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 06:10 PM (viF8m)

52 Self-taught (and it shows) on the 88's. Liked to play on Mom's baby grand as a kid, picking out tunes by ear. So they made me take lessons, which I didn't do well at so they quit making me and I quit playing.

Until decades later I bought an old rinky-tinky upright for $100 and started trying to play the tunes that went with the lyrics in my head.

I also have tried guitar, really the wife's instrument, and while I could pass on simple tunes, I never got good at it. The fingers preferred piano.

After Mom died, we got her baby grand, but it went into storage for a couple of years until we got the new house built. The baby grand looks great in the main room, but, but, besides being out of practice by then, I also had arthritic hands, including a crumpled-up little finger on my right hand. Have been trying to re-learn playing with nine fingers, but it's never going to be the same. Watching vids of me playing just a few years ago leaves me wistful. Oh well.

🎶 🎹 amateur hour again

Gave My Life Away
When you finally give it all up, that's when you start to get it all
Link in nic. Should play from 12:25 to 17:15 in the vid.
A cut from Mindful Webworkshop #1, 2016 Aug 12

🌅

Posted by: mindful webworker - can't snap my fingers anymore, either at August 23, 2025 06:12 PM (i1iCx)

53 Polynikes after seeing several of your works I must say I am very impressed. I especially like this piece. As always color and its uses matter most to me and this is wonderful use of colors.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 23, 2025 06:13 PM (RIvkX)

54 Joe Walsh shared on Live from Daryl’s House that he was a band nerd and started off playing a lot of instruments including the clarinet and trombone. He eventually decided he needed to learn an instrument where he could use to write music and his mouth was free so he learned the guitar.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:13 PM (EYmYM)

55 What musical instrument do or did you play?

[after 2-3 months of lessons]

Piano Teacher: "Mr. & Mrs. Hammer, I'm afraid that little Mikey is never going to be a piano player"

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at August 23, 2025 06:14 PM (XeU6L)

56 I really wanted to play violin as I love the sound of bowed strings, but there were a few problems:
- the chin rest slid on my beard
- I'm a bit muscle bound and positioning my arms was difficult
- my hands are big and thick, not suited for precise placement on such a small instrument. Viola, though bigger than a violin, wasn't any better.

Wish I had tried cello.

I did pick up a bowed psaltery not long ago. I should get that out.

Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 06:14 PM (yTvNw)

57 I usually put up a picture often when still at tje convention. Another coming up in November in Lancaster

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 06:14 PM (+qU29)

58 I've played guitar for 55 years, strictly rhythm and pretty much only country. Once you get past five chords in a song, including 7ths, I think what the hell are you doing and why do you need so many chords. I play by ear, like my daddy taught me.

Posted by: huerfano at August 23, 2025 06:15 PM (98kQX)

59 Posted by: Lirio100

I marched in the Dayton-Hudson (Target) Thanksgiving Day parade in Detroit and the Electric Light Parade at Disney World.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 06:15 PM (fveCG)

60 Instruments? I played the violin in high school. I could still do it again if I needed to. I still have the muscle memory, and bit of musical aptitude. Although I don't have the necessary callouses on my fingertips, so it would hurt like hell if I played for more than five minutes...

I took it pretty seriously, for a high schooler. So my parents bought me a pretty good violin. Probably worth a bit of money. Oh, and my bow had a little bit of snakeskin wrapping, just to give me a little bit of 'western' flair! Alas, playing in an orchestra didn't fit into my adult life, the violin is currently sitting in my parents' closet, waiting for some niece or nephew to need it...

Posted by: Castle Guy at August 23, 2025 06:18 PM (Lhaco)

61 FUN FACT: The professional player of the kithara is called a kitharode.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at August 23, 2025 06:19 PM (muwun)

62 Polynikes after seeing several of your works I must say I am very impressed. I especially like this piece. As always color and its uses matter most to me and this is wonderful use of colors.
Posted by: San Franpsycho
-----

The other night I was listening to a YouTube tune, and as it finished it cycled on to another. The next tune was Don McLeans's 'Starry Night' I had forgotten how terribly poignant it is.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at August 23, 2025 06:19 PM (XeU6L)

63 There was a group of 5 of us that did everything together, one afternoon I got a call, "meet us at the music store, we are starting a band'........I arrived last and was informed I was on bass! Well, like gedfy says "the bass chooses you" and here 45 years later I'm the only one still playing. Mostly with myself

Posted by: Easter weekend at August 23, 2025 06:19 PM (LOZbR)

64 Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 23, 2025 06:13 PM (RIvkX)

Thanks a lot SF. If you missed my earlier comment, this was done with only a palette knife. I have a series of paintings using only a knife that I started because I didn’t want to waste the daily left over paint I was using for my main work. Instead I started spreading it on a separate canvas and see what it started to look like. From there I picked a subject and made it into a painting.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:20 PM (EYmYM)

65 A year or so back, my parents pulled out my old violin (see comment 60) during a family gathering. The first thing I did: figure out how to play the Rohan theme (from the Lord of the Rings movies) Took me a minute or two, but Igot it down! I've still got the ear! Although not the skill to really excel... Oh, well, it's still cool to fiddle out a cool theme song on a whim...

Posted by: Castle Guy at August 23, 2025 06:21 PM (Lhaco)

66 Not my hobby, but Hud #2 and Hud #3 play clarinet and stand-up bass, respectively. #3 is short like me, so it's pretty comical seeing him carry his bass around.

Posted by: tRusty Hudson at August 23, 2025 06:22 PM (gVp8h)

67 >>Wish I had tried cello

When I was a kid my next door neighbor and good friend played the cello. His mom played the harp. Not kidding. She was also quite good. So was he. When he got older they played some stuff together in a band or whatever the proper name is for mostly stringed instruments.

He was a good football player. Way better cellist.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 06:22 PM (viF8m)

68 Posted by: huerfano at August 23, 2025 06:15 PM (98kQX)

That’s cool because that means you can spontaneously jam. Something I couldn’t do in a million years. That’s why I love to watch Daryl’s House so much. I love that kind of talent.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:22 PM (EYmYM)

69 "One time at band camp………
Posted by: polynikes"

I went to band camp. Three times. Marching and playing for a week.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 06:22 PM (vFG9F)

70 64 I started spreading it on a separate canvas and see what it started to look like. From there I picked a subject and made it into a painting.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:20 PM
***
I like this thought. Similar to a sculpture hidden inside a piece of marble waiting to be freed as opposed to a sculptor imposing their will on the rock.

Posted by: TRex - marbles are completely different at August 23, 2025 06:23 PM (cCn4/)

71 4 Kid just started orchestra Playing cello. I know nothing about it, except you'd better put that thing under your chin, there are ladies present.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 23, 2025 05:32 PM (0eaVi)

(raises eyebrow)
Um, violins and violas go under your chin. Cellos, on the other hand, go between your legs. You can add whatever inuendo you choose to that...

Posted by: Castle Guy at August 23, 2025 06:24 PM (Lhaco)

72 I play harmonica a bit, slowly. Love the sound but have a problem with the breath control. Gentle melodies like 'Shenandoah' are more my speed. I'll leave the train chuffing to others.

Like all my instrument playing these days, it's all for my enjoyment. The only one who hears it is Mrs. JTB and she is both tolerant and easily amused.

Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 06:25 PM (yTvNw)

73

Mr. B Natural told me I'd be cool if I learned to play trumpet.

https://youtu.be/NdCrV14l658

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 23, 2025 06:27 PM (63Dwl)

74

Organ grinder...

Posted by: Jenna Jameson at August 23, 2025 06:27 PM (xzAzL)

75 There was a war game convention in Nashville last week, they are all over the country at various times and places.

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 06:28 PM (+qU29)

76 Hudson's was an institution and sponsored that parade for decades. It was sad when they closed down, the building isn't even there anymore. Not just the parade but their store windows during the Christmas season were famous.

Posted by: Lirio100 at August 23, 2025 06:29 PM (ky7/T)

77 Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 06:25 PM (yTvNw)

I like listening to John Popper ( Blues Traveler) play harmonica. By the way Joe Walsh also played the harmonica on Daryl’s House. Had it set up like Dylan.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:29 PM (EYmYM)

78 There was a war game convention in Nashville last week, they are all over the country at various times and places.
Posted by: Skip
----

No one told me...

Posted by: The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy at August 23, 2025 06:30 PM (XeU6L)

79 78 comments and not one about the big TX MoMe...I really hope to meet some of you at this year's happenings...and yes, MoMes can be a hobby, a most enjoyable one...

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:32 PM (cCn4/)

80 Old GF mom mentioned a family relation who could be found drunk under harp. A Vanderbilt.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at August 23, 2025 06:33 PM (+fKou)

81 Kid just started orchestra Playing cello. I know nothing about it, except you'd better put that thing under your chin, there are ladies present.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 23, 2025 05:32 PM (0eaVi)

(raises eyebrow)
Um, violins and violas go under your chin. Cellos, on the other hand, go between your legs. You can add whatever inuendo you choose to that...
Posted by: Castle Guy at August 23, 2025 06:24 PM (Lhaco)

Oh yeah?
https://tinyurl.com/234mc4r9

Posted by: Evil Roy Slade at August 23, 2025 06:33 PM (0eaVi)

82
Oldest grandson, 11 years old, is a musical genius. He has such talent for instruments. None of us can figure out where that talent came from. No one in several generations has had musical talent, most of us are tone deaf, lol.

Posted by: fourseasons at August 23, 2025 06:35 PM (3ek7K)

83 The Cello was a hilarious subject of a lot of episodes of Wings.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:35 PM (EYmYM)

84 I have zero musical ability, in spite of a father who played piano by ear and a grandfather who played the violin and piano, and led a dance band in the '20s. That being said, I am learning to play the ukulele to be part of a group at my church. I'm pretty solid on six chords!

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at August 23, 2025 06:38 PM (dyL4B)

85 As the joke goes... What's the difference between an onion and an accordion? No one cries when you cut up an accordion.

Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder at August 23, 2025 06:39 PM (MZ+PY)

86 I'm Pro-Accordion, and I Vote!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 23, 2025 06:41 PM (RIvkX)

87 I went to band camp. Three times. Marching and playing for a week.
Posted by: fd

Went to drum major camp three times. Marching to recorded John Philip Sousa marches.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 06:41 PM (fveCG)

88 I did two SOTA hikes this week. Thursday's was the best I've ever done - band conditions were perfect and I was hitting coast-to-coast. This morning the sun decided to barf out a bunch of interference, so I barely got enough contacts to qualify. Also, there were several fresh piles of bear poop along the trail, which made me just a wee bit apprehensive.

Posted by: PabloD at August 23, 2025 06:43 PM (nTf9j)

89 In one of my other hobbies, golf , I won closest to the pin in last week’s scramble tournament.

It was nice but it actually prevented me from my first hole in one. The previous closest was a foot away and is marked by a thin steel rod. My shot hit in front of it and was rolling straight to the hole when it glanced of the rod and deflected left of the hole 6 inches away. Good Luck, Bad Luck.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:43 PM (EYmYM)

90 >>No one cries when you cut up an accordion.

IrishEi will hurt you.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 06:43 PM (viF8m)

91 Hudson's was an institution and sponsored that parade for decades. It was sad when they closed down, the building isn't even there anymore. Not just the parade but their store windows during the Christmas season were famous.
Posted by: Lirio100

Just as our busses pulled away from the start of the route, big heavy snow started falling. The only way to our ride home was to march the route. We were one of the only bands that continued playing — much to the enjoyment of the crowds.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 06:44 PM (fveCG)

92 >>> 79 78 comments and not one about the big TX MoMe...I really hope to meet some of you at this year's happenings...and yes, MoMes can be a hobby, a most enjoyable one...
Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:32 PM (cCn4/)

There will be bacon.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at August 23, 2025 06:44 PM (ULPxl)

93 78 comments and not one about the big TX MoMe...I really hope to meet some of you at this year's happenings...and yes, MoMes can be a hobby, a most enjoyable one...
Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:32 PM (cCn4/)
There will be bacon.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket
***********
And your world famous brownies? Yes?

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:45 PM (cCn4/)

94 I might have pursued playing instruments more but I was always a better singer so that's where I put the effort. I was a boy soprano in grade school. After a couple of years of voice changing I became a bass. (Not a baritone.) There aren't many full basses in junior or high school, or even college so my voice range was in demand for chorales and opera. And yes, I do a pretty good tuba and string bass impression. I loved the opening riffs of the theme for the Barney Miller TV show.

It turns out that I have near perfect pitch which surprised me. I thought everyone could just always hit the right note.

Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 06:47 PM (yTvNw)

95 I grew up with an accordion and a washboard being played at a lot of parties. All seems right in the world when Zydeco is being played and you’re drinking beer and eating crawfish.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 06:47 PM (EYmYM)

96 It turns out that I have near perfect pitch which surprised me. I thought everyone could just always hit the right note.
Posted by: JTB
**********
That is a gift, one I definitely don't have.

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:49 PM (cCn4/)

97 comments and not one about the big TX MoMe...I really hope to meet some of you at this year's happenings...and yes, MoMes can be a hobby, a most enjoyable one...
Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:32 PM (cCn4/)
There will be bacon.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket
***********
And your world famous brownies? Yes?
Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:45 PM (cCn4/)
------------
I'll bring my concertina.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at August 23, 2025 06:51 PM (WvZaB)

98 79 78 comments and not one about the big TX MoMe...I really hope to meet some of you at this year's happenings...and yes, MoMes can be a hobby, a most enjoyable one...
Posted by: The Grateful at August

Sometimes it’s nice to not constantly push in the faces of folks who either cannot go or have decided for, whatever reason, not to.

Posted by: Sometimes at August 23, 2025 06:51 PM (KXcAp)

99 Polynikes, love your art. Another awesome Hobby Thread, TRex

Posted by: scampydog at August 23, 2025 06:52 PM (7SbDV)

100 I grew up with an accordion and a washboard being played at a lot of parties. All seems right in the world when Zydeco is being played and you’re drinking beer and eating crawfish.
Posted by: polynikes
*********
I grew up in the NYC Irish bars and gatherings. An older cousin once taught me how to play the spoons, and it was fun...but it's been awhile and wonder if I could still do that...

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:53 PM (cCn4/)

101 Sometimes it's nice to shut up & just keep scrolling

Posted by: JQ at August 23, 2025 06:54 PM (rdVOm)

102 Guitar since I was 7. Built them, restored them, bought the living shit out of them, collected them, horded them, hunted them, drooled over them, and yeah, slept with them.

Did play drums for 6 years, but figured it was a distraction from guitar.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 23, 2025 06:54 PM (snZF9)

103 I noodled on guitar for some years, but simply did not have the passion for it, even though I love music. I can sing pretty well. Sang tenor in my Dad's Barbershop Chorus for a few years. As I got older my range dropped to bass.

My friend was an amazing guitarist, playing mostly metal and hard rock. But he developed nerve damage in his left hand, then had a stroke, and lost his ability to play more than a few phrases without having to pause to remember the next phrases. Really sad. He was truly gifted. I have two of his axes, a '78 Gibson SG, and a '88 BC Rich Gunslinger. I noodle around some, but mostly just keep them in good condition.

Posted by: Mikey Alpha Kilo at August 23, 2025 06:55 PM (0aYVJ)

104 99 Polynikes, love your art. Another awesome Hobby Thread, TRex

Posted by: scampydog at August 23, 2025 06:52 PM
***
Thanks Doggo!!

Posted by: TRex - Doggo detected! at August 23, 2025 06:55 PM (cCn4/)

105 I tried (and failed) at both piano and cello.

The notes on paper just *would not* make it back out to my fingers.

Posted by: JQ at August 23, 2025 06:56 PM (rdVOm)

106 BTW, there was a drawback to my perfect pitch. It hindered learning to read music. Also, it might be the right note but seldom the same octave.

Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 06:57 PM (yTvNw)

107 >>I grew up with an accordion and a washboard being played at a lot of parties. All seems right in the world when Zydeco is being played and you’re drinking beer and eating crawfish.

I know this is a commercial thing but I still like it. New Orleans is or at least was when I was visiting dangerously fun.

https://tinyurl.com/mtjx8t2s

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 06:57 PM (viF8m)

108 JQ - don't forget to check behind the bar tonight. You may find a few Club ONT restroom tokens with your name on them. Look behind the Twizzlers if you're having trouble finding them.

Posted by: TRex - bonus tokens at August 23, 2025 07:01 PM (cCn4/)

109 "Went to drum major camp three times. Marching to recorded John Philip Sousa marches.
Posted by: QED Texan"

That's what we were playing at band camp. That and 40s swing music. The band director's favorite.

I hated marching band. It's impossible to march and play well at the same time. Mostly it's one or the other.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:01 PM (vFG9F)

110 2nd daughter chose oboe when band sign ups were going on, and stuck with it until she went off to college.
I was very fortunate she usually chose to practice before I got home from work.
A chi can make some ungodly sounds on an oboe.

Posted by: From about That Time at August 23, 2025 07:01 PM (Mf0wV)

111 BTW, there was a drawback to my perfect pitch. It hindered learning to read music. Also, it might be the right note but seldom the same octave.
Posted by: JTB
********
OK, I didn't have that connection...thanks for the info

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 07:01 PM (cCn4/)

112 109 It's impossible to march and play well at the same time. Mostly it's one or the other.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:01 PM
***
The beatings will continue until both are done at the same time.

Posted by: TRex - morale improvement specialist at August 23, 2025 07:03 PM (cCn4/)

113 I tried (and failed) at both piano and cello.

The notes on paper just *would not* make it back out to my fingers.

Posted by: JQ at August 23, 2025 06:56 PM (rdVOm)

I'm one of those assholes if given enough time can play just about anything. I learned the peanuts theme on the piano, and I'm not a piano player. We had a piano in the house, but Mrs figured it took up too much room to just play peanuts on it once in a while. I was sad to let it go. I had a cello that I restored. The most I did with that is squeak out a decent the game of thrones theme. Then the metal side of my brain woke up and said Dude, WTF are you doing? I gave it away to somebody who needed it. I still got a pile of violins that I restored. Not even going there. I learned while restoring them there are only 2 levels of violin playing, master, and 2 cats fucking.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 23, 2025 07:04 PM (snZF9)

114

Squeeze Box.

Posted by: Jenna Jameson at August 23, 2025 07:04 PM (xzAzL)

115 In USAF a few guys had guitars, tried often but couldn't hold strings tight enough

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 07:05 PM (+qU29)

116 Posted by: TRex - bonus tokens
--------

WooHoo! Thank you, Dino!

Yeah, the Twizzlers...wth? And all that Mtn. Dew? (It's still there, of course.)

Posted by: JQ at August 23, 2025 07:05 PM (rdVOm)

117 I started out in Jr High band as a drummer, but there were 24 other drummers and a deficit of trumpet players so I switched. Standing around waiting to ding my triangle was not gonna get me any chicks.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:05 PM (vFG9F)

118 Tommy Lee from Motley Crue had a short reality show . I’m surprised he approved one of the episodes where he was going to play the drums in a college marching band. It was kind of embarrassing for him how bad he was at it.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:06 PM (EYmYM)

119 Not sure if this is appropriate, but I think at least some here would approve of this research.

A Texas brewery finished an experiment on the ISS, to see if it's possible to brew beer in space, and grow barley in Martian soil.

https://is.gd/viDfu2

When Elon gets to Mars, someone is planning on selling beer!

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at August 23, 2025 07:06 PM (S/Y4j)

120 >>Guitar since I was 7. Built them, restored them, bought the living shit out of them, collected them, horded them, hunted them, drooled over them, and yeah, slept with them.

You're a bit more than a hobbyist. You're a pro.

That last bit was troubling.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 07:07 PM (viF8m)

121 Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 23, 2025 07:04 PM

To.me being able to play multiple instruments tells me you have some natural talent, doesn't mean you can't learn something new but you have something many dont.

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2025 07:07 PM (+qU29)

122 113 I learned while restoring them there are only 2 levels of violin playing, master, and 2 cats fucking.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 23, 2025 07:04 PM
***
I suspect this may come back in next week's Hobby Thread as a notable comment.

Posted by: TRex - stray cat strut at August 23, 2025 07:08 PM (cCn4/)

123 Drums a little

Tenor sort of

Used to not like Barbershop...but these guys make a good case for lovin' it now...

https://tinyurl.com/ma9h86at

Posted by: ju at August 23, 2025 07:09 PM (vgX6l)

124 I learned while restoring them there are only 2 levels of violin playing, master, and 2 cats fucking.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 23, 2025 07:04 PM (snZF9)

Thinking about it and that sounds accurate …I’m sure it’s not that difficult to get a few screeches even if you’re half way competent.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:10 PM (EYmYM)

125 TRex brought up period instruments. I've mentioned this on various music threads: I love the sound of period correct instruments. Reproductions, of course, but with the same materials. I find the tone is usually warmer, intimate and often gentle compared to modern versions. The music written for those materials wasn't trying to deafen the audience in a huge hall. (It was called chamber music for a reason.) I also like that music, Rennaissance, Baroque, and similar because they relied less on volume and more on the interplay of notes and tones. That same sense is why I like traditional folk music so much. Think Peter, Paul and Mary.

Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 07:11 PM (yTvNw)

126 I took guitar lessons a couple of times but it went nowhere really. Then later in my bachelor life a friend's band needed a bass player so I noodled around and learned to play by ear. After a while I got to where I learned their songs and could keep up with them. If you need a bass player for "You've Got Another Thing Coming", I'm your guy.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:12 PM (vFG9F)

127 >>Guitar since I was 7. Built them, restored them, bought the living shit out of them, collected them, horded them, hunted them, drooled over them, and yeah, slept with them.

You're a bit more than a hobbyist. You're a pro.

That last bit was troubling.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 07:07 PM (viF8m)

You spend enough late hours recording, practicing, and playing, you will eventually pass out with a guitar in your hand. At that point you have slept with it. I have done it here more than I can count. Reading the comments, playing guitar, and then *poof*...darkness.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 23, 2025 07:12 PM (snZF9)

128 It's impossible to march and play well at the same time. Mostly it's one or the other.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:01 PM
***
The beatings will continue until both are done at the same time.
Posted by: TRex - morale improvement specialist

Our high school marching band was one of (maybe only?) the bands that could do both well. Our director was a stickler.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 07:13 PM (fveCG)

129 Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 07:11 PM (yTvNw)
***
Make sure you read the article in the content on restoring and conserving musical instruments. Right up your alley for your comments.

Posted by: TRex - old stuff is good stuff at August 23, 2025 07:15 PM (cCn4/)

130 TRex,

Great topic for the hobby thread. Thanks.

Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 07:15 PM (yTvNw)

131 General question. Taking piano lessons was fairly common for Boomers and certainly before. Is it still as popular?

Posted by: JTB at August 23, 2025 07:17 PM (yTvNw)

132 Anybody gotten into golf? I played with high school friends and then in college the local course had a discount, so we played a fair amount, but then after graduation, work, marriage, and kids, I didn't play for like 15 years. I recently went to the range with work colleagues and I got the bug big time to get back into it. I think it's a combination of wanting a competitive sport to be involved in again, the challenge to practice and see improvement, and in my current line of work, it doesn't hurt to be able to play with work acquaintances.

Posted by: Mainah at August 23, 2025 07:17 PM (LFd6j)

133 Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 23, 2025 07:12 PM (snZF9)

I just watched a documentary on Richard Turner, a card mechanic ( deck of cards manipulator) who practiced his craft 16 hours a day. What’s amazing is he went completely blind in his 20’s.

Obsession can produce amazing talent.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:17 PM (EYmYM)

134 Our high school marching band was one of (maybe only?) the bands that could do both well. Our director was a stickler.
Posted by: QED Texan

We high-stepped marching (NOT goose stepping) and did three-quarter turns. Those were fun.

There was one guy who couldn’t march. It wasn’t that he was on the wrong foot—left when should be right, etc.—he managed to be marching between the beats.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 07:18 PM (fveCG)

135 Oh, and Hud #1 plays the slide whistle and single-string 'can-jo'

Posted by: tRusty Hudson at August 23, 2025 07:18 PM (gVp8h)

136 Posted by: Mainah at August 23, 2025 07:17 PM (LFd

Lot of golfers at aos.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:18 PM (EYmYM)

137 >>You spend enough late hours recording, practicing, and playing, you will eventually pass out with a guitar in your hand. At that point you have slept with it. I have done it here more than I can count. Reading the comments, playing guitar, and then *poof*...darkness.

Freshman in college me home for a weekend. My mom asks if I'd like to go to dinher with them and some friends. You can imagine how excited I was. She asked me if I'd ever heard of the J. Geils Band. This was the late 70's in Boston. That was their friends.

His basement was a guitar museum/shrine but they all played. I would've loved to have the talent but I get the passion.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 07:19 PM (viF8m)

138 It takes real dedication to play well. There may be talent but you gotta practice. A lot. You have to get past the point where you are thinking about the mechanics and are just playing the notes. Then you can start getting serious about it.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:19 PM (vFG9F)

139 Polynikes, I like the painting up top. Nicely done.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 07:19 PM (fveCG)

140 "Our high school marching band was one of (maybe only?) the bands that could do both well. Our director was a stickler.
Posted by: QED Texan"

It is possible for a marching band to sound good. Mostly by playing Sousa. I maintain though, that any marching band will sound better standing still than they will while marching.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:22 PM (vFG9F)

141 >>>He was a good football player. Way better cellist.
Posted by: JackStraw
---

Look at the size of Segovia and Perlman's fingers, how do or did they do it?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2025 07:22 PM (DS3M8)

142 Maybe not refurbished but more like repurposed. My oldest daughter’s roommate during law school had a clarinet lamp—her dad made it from her high school instrument. It was pretty neat.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 07:22 PM (fveCG)

143 Freshman in college me home for a weekend. My mom asks if I'd like to go to dinher with them and some friends. You can imagine how excited I was. She asked me if I'd ever heard of the J. Geils Band. This was the late 70's in Boston. That was their friends.
Posted by: JackStraw
************
Great story. Note to self: remember this to discuss with parents when we meet in the heavenly waiting room...

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 07:23 PM (cCn4/)

144 It is possible for a marching band to sound good. Mostly by playing Sousa. I maintain though, that any marching band will sound better standing still than they will while marching.
Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:22 PM (vFG9F)

I don’t think anybody listened to the music when the Grambling or Southern marching bands played,

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:23 PM (EYmYM)

145 Posted by: Mainah at August 23, 2025 07:17 PM (LFd6j)
-----------
Day one of club championship today around these parts. Fun stuff.

Posted by: scampydog at August 23, 2025 07:24 PM (7SbDV)

146 142 My oldest daughter’s roommate during law school had a clarinet lamp—her dad made it from her high school instrument.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 07:22 PM
***
Was it cut to prevent her from playing it further or did he wait until after she was done with it?

Posted by: TRex - timing is everything at August 23, 2025 07:24 PM (cCn4/)

147 Anybody gotten into golf? I

For over sixty years now. Ex caddy, so a stickler for correct scoring. Have played once a week for last twenty years or so.
Still suck. Hit my peak at fifteen, then a big growth spurt left me dysfunctional.

Posted by: From about That Time at August 23, 2025 07:25 PM (Mf0wV)

148 It is possible for a marching band to sound good. Mostly by playing Sousa. I maintain though, that any marching band will sound better standing still than they will while marching.
Posted by: fd

I’ll grant you that. We weren’t always marching. But we could play while marching from one formation to another one. And Sousa is the music to play in a marching band! Whether marching or standing still.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 07:25 PM (fveCG)

149 Time to say thank you and good night before the next act takes the Ace of Spades stage. As always, thanks for being here. What should we talk about next week? Stay tuned...

See y'all in Club ONT later tonight.

Posted by: TRex - extra twizzlers for hobby threaders in Club ONT at August 23, 2025 07:26 PM (cCn4/)

150
I have no hobbies or interests.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 23, 2025 07:26 PM (kkTda)

151 I knew a guy who knew a guy who turned his high school sax into a bong.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:26 PM (vFG9F)

152 Look at the size of Segovia and Perlman's fingers, how do or did they do it?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2025 07:22 PM (DS3M

It's not the size its how you use it?

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at August 23, 2025 07:26 PM (xcxpd)

153 Posted by: Mainah at August 23, 2025 07:17 PM (LFd6j)
-----------
Day one of club championship today around these parts. Fun stuff.
Posted by: scampydog at August 23, 2025 07:24 PM (7SbDV)

Going to play another scramble tournament on Tuesday at the course they play the Houston Open now. Memorial Park . Haven’t played it since they ruined it with the redesign.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:27 PM (EYmYM)

154 Was it cut to prevent her from playing it further or did he wait until after she was done with it?
Posted by: TRex - timing is everything

LOL. I’m pretty sure she had stopped playing.

Posted by: QED Texan at August 23, 2025 07:27 PM (fveCG)

155 I've been converting old games from Trash-80 to run on C#.

Posted by: gKWVE at August 23, 2025 07:29 PM (gKWVE)

156 I do have some HS band stories I will not relate here. Suffice to say, I guess it was worth it.

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:29 PM (vFG9F)

157 >> A Texas brewery finished an experiment on the ISS, to see if it's possible to brew beer in space, and grow barley in Martian soil.

We were disappointed to learn that Peroni, which used to be a good lighter beer was moving some brewing to Milwaukee in the US. In the process they shrunk the bottle to 12 ounces and started adding corn syrup to the brew. Honestly, who does that? If I wanted Old Tyme, I would buy it.

Unless I can find the import, I won’t drink it.

Posted by: Vengeance at August 23, 2025 07:29 PM (B9BeB)

158 >>Great story. Note to self: remember this to discuss with parents when we meet in the heavenly waiting room...

J was a Jersey guy just like Berserker. Very smart and a really nice guy. His ex-wife is one of my mom's BFFs.

He was a much better blues guitarist than a rocker. Even better mechanic. Great guy.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 07:30 PM (viF8m)

159 Their fingers are big enough to cover two strings at one time.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2025 07:30 PM (DS3M8)

160 Berserker I still think you’re Jersey John from the American Pickers show. 😀

If not you guys would probably be best friends.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:30 PM (EYmYM)

161 158 He was a much better blues guitarist than a rocker. Even better mechanic. Great guy.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 07:30 PM
***
Crossed paths at the fall Lime rock vintage races.

Posted by: TRex - zoom zoom zoom! at August 23, 2025 07:31 PM (cCn4/)

162 I have a Steinway. Wonderful beast. Got it in an interesting way. The NYT used to have a Piano category in their classifieds. Steinways each have a number, so you can call Steinway, and they will tell you the history of that piano.

Mine had been purchased at an auction, but it was too big for the buyer's house! So his wife insisted he sell it. He put it up in the Times. My husband and I brought a tuner--also a pianist--to see if it was worth the price. Yup.

It's rosewood mahogany, claw and ball feet. My tuner here in MT trained with Steinway, and he could tell me its age (over a hundred years) and even the name of the tuner who had "set the tone".

Posted by: Wenda at August 23, 2025 07:31 PM (sz3LH)

163 114

Squeeze Box.
Posted by: Jenna Jameson at August 23, 2025 07:04 PM (xzAzL)

Yeah, bomb ass pussy but you ruined your body with tats.

Just like Janine.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at August 23, 2025 07:31 PM (xcxpd)

164 ""Third, there are more skilled instrument makers than ever before, and the quality of the resulting instruments is better than ever, making them a more enticing option.

Fourth, playing an original instrument can be detrimental, maybe even irresponsible.""

Not sure I agree with that. He was talking flutes, and with those maybe he's right. Not with stringed instruments. They go to shit if you don't play them. There most likely isn't a single strad out there being regularly played that wasn't renecked and haven't been apart a shitload of times. This is why they are loaned out to players, because they need to be played. Strads started out as baroque violins, they had no neck angle, and were held against the players chest. The angle on the neck came from what was a wedge shaped fingerboard. Problem with that is it got thicker as you got down to the body. The virtuosos and luthiers figured out of you reset the neck on an angle you can use a fingerboard that was the same thickness keeping it the same thickness all the way to the body. Much faster to play. Because people played them instead of parking them we get to hear them.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 23, 2025 07:31 PM (snZF9)

165 He was a much better blues guitarist than a rocker. Even better mechanic. Great guy.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 07:30 PM (viF8m)

Centerfold cemented his place in history.

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:32 PM (EYmYM)

166 Mom refinished a grand piano. I helped her strip the old varnish off its case.

She hired a technician to repair the action, restring & tune it.

Beautiful piece, same design as this one (except Mom never had the matching bench):

tinyurl.com/msjpmwzk+

Posted by: JQ at August 23, 2025 07:32 PM (rdVOm)

167 I've been converting old games from Trash-80 to run on C#.
Posted by: gKWVE
-----------
That's fun. Wish I still had my Trash-80.

Posted by: scampydog at August 23, 2025 07:32 PM (7SbDV)

168 Wow Wenda, what a find!

Posted by: fd at August 23, 2025 07:32 PM (vFG9F)

169 J was a Jersey guy just like Berserker. Very smart and a really nice guy. His ex-wife is one of my mom's BFFs.

He was a much better blues guitarist than a rocker. Even better mechanic. Great guy.
Posted by: JackStraw
*******
Have always loved their music, although I would have appreciated hear him play blues.

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 07:33 PM (cCn4/)

170 Just like Janine.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at August 23, 2025 07:31 PM (xcxpd)

Speaking of Motley Crue

Posted by: polynikes at August 23, 2025 07:33 PM (EYmYM)

171 scampydog: xroar is good for emulation. you have to find some BASIC or DRAGON ROM, but those aren't hard to find.
Emulation is for when you're trying to remember which color-set is meant by "SCREEN 1,1" or "PMODE 2,1" or whatever.

Posted by: gKWVE at August 23, 2025 07:34 PM (gKWVE)

172 I play drums quite a bit. I have an electric set in the grandkids room that I bash away on about an hour or so a day. It's nice to have a drum set with a volume, especially when the grands are here.
I've tried guitar, bass, piano and played alto sax in 5th and 6th grade.
Been in two bands. One on bass and one on rythm guitar.
Never got stage worthy good on anything. That practice thing is probably a factor.
I've restored 2 guitars. A San Dimas Charvell star body and a Gibson Les Paul standard. Both victims of guitar players.

Posted by: Reforger at August 23, 2025 07:34 PM (I0Uo2)

173 oh, and there's a movie nood.

Posted by: gKWVE at August 23, 2025 07:34 PM (gKWVE)

174 Love the MoMe picture !! Thank You. I am so looking forward to seeing all of you.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 23, 2025 07:35 PM (dxWFK)

175 114

Squeeze Box.
Posted by: Jenna Jameson
----------
Had a couple of beers with Jenna at Jilly's in Scottsdale, AZ back in the day.

Posted by: scampydog at August 23, 2025 07:36 PM (7SbDV)

176 150
I have no hobbies or interests.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

You breed dogs. And haven't been caught!

Posted by: Don Lemonparty at August 23, 2025 07:36 PM (xzAzL)

177 Emulation is for when you're trying to remember which color-set is meant by "SCREEN 1,1" or "PMODE 2,1" or whatever.
Posted by: gKWVE
----------
Wow. Knocking the rust off some corners of my brain! Thanks - smiling here.

Posted by: scampydog at August 23, 2025 07:38 PM (7SbDV)

178 Crossed paths at the fall Lime rock vintage races.
Posted by: TRex - zoom zoom zoom! at August 23, 2025 07:31 PM (cCn4/)

Love Lime Rock. Got to do a day of Formula 4 racing there.

Posted by: Mainah at August 23, 2025 07:38 PM (LFd6j)

179 (except Mom never had the matching bench):

tinyurl.com/msjpmwzk+
Posted by: JQ
------------

hrumph, I have four round, swivel, eagle claw, piano stools.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2025 07:39 PM (DS3M8)

180 >>Crossed paths at the fall Lime rock vintage races.

His passion, other than music, was vintage Ferraris. Kept doing side work for friends, apparently wealthy ones, on their cars and eventually bought a garage to do it more professionally.

I might have been his pit crew when you did. And by pit crew I mean he was nice enough to take me along.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 23, 2025 07:39 PM (viF8m)

181 fd: Wasn't it? I like possessions to have a story. I have a set of Centennial (as in 1876) dining chairs that have a similar story. Perhaps there will be a hobby thread for them one day.

Posted by: Wenda at August 23, 2025 07:40 PM (sz3LH)

182 Brave says this tab is using extra resources. It wants to fix it.
You know how techs fix things? They delete problems. Deleted problems are no longer there, therefore they are fixed.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2025 07:43 PM (DS3M8)

183 55 What musical instrument do or did you play?

[after 2-3 months of lessons]

Piano Teacher: "Mr. & Mrs. Hammer, I'm afraid that little Mikey is never going to be a piano player"
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at August 23, 2025 06:14 PM (
My piano teacher would pinch that leader on the side of my neck (not hard) but it was distracting. The instrument I most wanted to play is the guitar.

Posted by: Eromero at August 23, 2025 07:50 PM (LHPAg)

184 Liked the guitars up top. I'm somewhat of guitar player myself. And by that I mean somewhat bad.

Other hobby stuff. Used a Johnson 4120 as a parts donor to fix a 4140 today. The "flex" ribbon for the channel selector had delaminated. Stole the equivalent from the junker and the 4140 is working again.

Now working on restoring a Sidebander IV.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at August 23, 2025 08:21 PM (lUFok)

185 Not particularly interested in movies, so I will hang out here. Made some real progress on the motor mounts for the Suburban. Got the "old" ones completely out of the vehicle, both the "clam shell" rubbers and the cups that bolt to the engine block. That was a struggle; there just isn't enough room.

The new mounts will go back in the boxes, and I will see if NAPA will exchange them. If not, I will try selling them locally.

I had an NOS pair of '63-'82 Chebby motor mounts in a box. They fit the block perfectly. And Made in USA, not Chy-nah. Took the old busted motor mounts, and separated the halves of the "clam shell" and discarded the roached rubber. Hammered flat the raised bumps on the base plate. Made pedestals for the new mounts out of 3" square steel tubing, drilled them for the through bolt, and welded in a piece of steel tubing to prevent the through bolt from crushing them, Welded on flat steel caps where the pedestals meet the insulators. Done for the day.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2025 08:54 PM (uR5MM)

186 I really wish I had half your knowledge and skill at all this...my grandfather would have loved your skills and knowledge.

Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 08:59 PM (cCn4/)

187 I really wish I had half your knowledge and skill at all this...my grandfather would have loved your skills and knowledge.
Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 08:59 PM (cCn4/)

Well, the original motor mounts were bad, and the engine was sagging on the left side. So, put in new ones, right? I did that, a real beeyotch of a job, too. Result? Engine sagging on the left side. I wasted 90 bucks and untold hours of my time. So the new mounts I fabricated don't have the pedestals yet welded to the base plates. Plan is to bolt 'em up to the engine, just let the engine rest on the pedestals, and shift the engine side to side until it sits level, and tack-weld the pedestals in place, remove, and finish the welds. If engine sits too high in front, shorten the pedestals; if it sits too low, add steel plate shims. I figure the assembled height of these new mounts will be from a quarter inch to a half inch less than the originals, which should gain me a little more clearance back at the transfer case.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2025 09:21 PM (uR5MM)

188 Mandolin and guitar, but mostly mandolin. First mandolin was a StewMac kit that I built, that taught me that I needed to buy one that someone who knew what they were doing had built.

Posted by: JustaBill at August 23, 2025 09:28 PM (ZbJPb)

189 I grew up with an accordion and a washboard being played at a lot of parties. All seems right in the world when Zydeco is being played and you’re drinking beer and eating crawfish.
Posted by: polynikes
*********
I grew up in the NYC Irish bars and gatherings. An older cousin once taught me how to play the spoons, and it was fun...but it's been awhile and wonder if I could still do that...
Posted by: The Grateful at August 23, 2025 06:53 PM (cCn4/)
~~~~~

These are my people!

Posted by: IrishEi at August 23, 2025 09:29 PM (3ImbR)

190 You ask about musical instruments, so: I play the flute, both the modern silver flute and an antique, 19th-century wooden instrument. The modern, silver flute is excellent for modern music, and for Bach and Mozart (since they valued even tempering). The wooden instrument is great for baroque and Irish music, though it sounds great when I play Haydn on it.

I also play recorders. I have a full consort, from sopranino to bass, and play in an ensemble. Much fun!

The most unusual instruments I play, though not well, are the Japanese sakuhachi and the Peruvian kana. I wish I could play them better, especially the kana.

Posted by: Nemo at August 23, 2025 09:31 PM (4RPgu)

191
I'm happy just keeping my hand in with my natural talent of playing the radio.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at August 23, 2025 10:15 PM (hKoQL)

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