Show off your musical instruments!

Discussion in 'Musicians and Instruments' started by The Alchemist, Oct 9, 2015.

  1. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    I thought I would create a thread for musicians and musical hobbyists to show/post their Musial instruments! You can even post if you're in a band, produce music professionally, or are simply a hobbyist!
     
  2. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

    Pyrate
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    This isn't my complete collection of instruments, but I will update this post later.

    Here is one of my guitars, it is my favorite one I own. It is The Ernie Ball MusicMan JP13 BFR John Petrucci Signature Model:

    [​IMG]

    And this is my Ernie Ball Slinky Endorsement. I use Ernie Ball Strings Exclusively. (And no this is not Photoshopped, you can go to ErnieBall.com and see me listed as a player on their website.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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  4. Maxvla

    Maxvla Friend

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    1981 Tauno Ekonen 16" Viola - currently using a full set of Thomastik Spirocore, and 1996 W. Seifert pernambuco bow needing my attention (rehair).

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2015
  5. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Beautiful!!
     
  6. knerian

    knerian Friend

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    1920s Hifiman & Sons model "A", rebuilt in the 1980s.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    That's lovely! Do you have a wider shot of the Piano?
     
  8. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Wow that is awesome! What a beautiful instrument!!
     
  9. knerian

    knerian Friend

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    IN 2007 I went to Musikmesse in Shanghai which is (I think) the world’s largest trade show for musical instruments. All of the big piano manufacturers are there, not just the Chinese ones, but Steinway, Fazioli, Bluthner, Bechstein, etc etc.

    Well I found a Chinese factory from the north of China that had a pretty nice 2.13 m (7 ft) grand and I had talked to the booth people about buying it at the end of the show. The owner of this factory used to be a designer/builder for Pearl River which was (still is?) China’s largest piano factory, and he was pretty proud of his designs. But he wasnt at the show, his son was, who’s heart was more into drinking and going to karaoke, so i was able to bargain him down to $6,000 USD for the piano! Even for a Chinese piano, that is a ridiculous price for a 7 ft grand. Can’t remember the name of the factory but they had an appropriately Western brand name on the piano of “JB Streicher”!!

    Problem was no piano movers, anything like that, at a trade show in China. So I had the vendor wrap up the piano in its box, and I was able to contract an entire big rig to take it down to my warehouse which was about a 6 hr drive. Once we got it home I had no place to put this thing, I was going to put it in my office, but no way to get it through the stairwells, we would have had to knock out a window and hoist it. I was going to put it in my apt, but no way to fit it in the elevators, just too much trouble.

    So I ended up making a tiny practice room for it in my warehouse with cinder blocks, about 15x25 ft, a rectangular cube basically. Once set up the reflections were god awful, just no way to play without going deaf or wearing earplugs. Had to keep the lid closed and stuff my ears with toilet paper, and my ears would still hurt. Went online and looked up DIY room treatment panels with the goal of deadening the entire room, found some instructions calling for mineral wool but couldnt find any at the local building supply markets. Ended up improvising and using fiberglass and cotton batting and made panels to cover the entire room, worked out pretty well and the piano can be played loudly with the lid open!! The room is ugly and unelegant but gets the job done.

    Also no factory/dealer after service obviously, so had to set it up ourselves, including taking out and untying the keyboard action, but it was quite the fun learning experience.

    [​IMG] q[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2015
  10. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Oh wow, what a sweet piano (Jealous)
     
  11. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    I have a nice little home studio (if you could call it that) - I will post some pics soon.
     
  12. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Yes I do all of my recording at home, and LFF has been mastering my songs.
     
  13. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Amazing piano, amazing story! :)
     
  14. No_One411

    No_One411 Fired by Jude

    Staff Member Pyrate
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    My baby, a 17" viola, "Guarneri" clone, shown with the flaming on the backside. She's a little bit on the warmer side, so I've been using Evah Pirazzis.

    The piano in the background is a Yamaha C7. viola1.JPG viola2.JPG
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2015
  15. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Wow that is gorgeous! I love the finish!
     
  16. Maxvla

    Maxvla Friend

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    Nice viola. Interesting that they say it's a Guarneri copy since it has the double purfling, fancy back purfling and ebony button cap (near neck) of a Maggini. Pirazzis are very nice, have you tried the new Pirazzi Gold? I've been playing almost entirely for myself lately so I went full Spirocore for a very focused sound. I prefer Obligato when with a group.
     
  17. No_One411

    No_One411 Fired by Jude

    Staff Member Pyrate
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    I've asked about labeling it a Guarneri before. He just likes the decorative purfling a la Gasparo da Salo or Maggini. To be honest, I've become quite attached to that styling as well.

    I've shamelessly sent a number of requests for free strings to numerous companies. The problem with "string rolling" is that they take some time for tension to settle and break in.

    I usually go with Larsen A for both solo and quartet/orchestral. Best A string I've used.

    I've tried the Spirocores before. Very nice and seem to last forever.

    With that said, I usually stick to Evah Pirazzis. The Golds are more expensive, don't last as long, and weren't a great tonal fit for my instrument. They actually seemed more like an upgraded Obligato with higher tension rather than their namesake.

    I'll never go with Olivs cause I don't hate myself.
     
  18. Dot

    Dot Friend

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    Here's a studio I set up a few years ago. I engineered, produced, and played all the instruments on a record for a client.

    [​IMG]
     
  19. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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  20. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

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    My "baby" is a 1972 Guild D-35. Yup, a real Westerly, Rhode Island Guild. I'm the original owner; shoveled ice cream at Baskin-Robbins for a year to pay for it.

    Picked up a little crack northwest of the sound hole about a year after I got it (checked baggage, yes I was an idiot when I was 19); it was filled and re-braced so it has a bit more sustain than stock D-35s. I use Martin Marquis light, and it sounds awesome.

    Will pull it out and take photos when I have a chance.
     

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