Lester DeVoe Roseete

I just love the way these look Lester is so very talented.

Cover for Metro Guitar Case 59.00

I just ordered this cover from Musicians Friend for 59.00 what a deal. It insolates the guitar so the tempature does not hit the guitar when you go from warm to cold and vis versa. it also will add a bit more padding. I have seen the same cover go for 100.00

I just recived my Metro Humi Case vs. Accord Guitar Case - 2

Accord Guitar Case - 2
Originally uploaded by o2ma.

This is a picture of the guitar case that Ottmar uses I belive. I just recived my case from Guitar Salon in Santa Barbra CA for 169.00 its called a humi case. The case Ottmar used is from Acord and cost anywhere from 900.00-1400.00+ My looks cool. I think it would not be good for flight check in but would be good for local and travel if not being checked in.


Lightweight and durable, this modern yet classy handcrafted case features a convenient climatic protection system to protect your investment with great style. Notable features include a soft velour padded interior with accessory compartment, well-padded neck and body support, sturdy hinges and latches (2 of the 6 latches are lockable), and adjustable shouder strap.
Specifications:
Overall Length: 40"
Body Length: 20"
Body Depth: 4 1/2"
Lower Bout: 15 1/2"
Upper Bout: 12"
Weight: 10 lbs.
Includes:
- Two custom-designed compact humidification units specially adapted for installation in your own guitar case.
- Bottle of specially formulated HumiCase Activation Solution for use in the humidification units.

My New Love with my older Flamenco Negra # 104101

This was my frist purchase of a Flamenco Negra Gutar for Berklee Music. I have had this guitar in its case for over 6 months and recienlty I took it out and have played it for a few people. I have also recored a few songs with this guitar. People have liked the sound that they have herd so I am going to keep experment playing with this guitar. Its a bit narrower at the neck 52mm- vs the 52+ which I like a bit more. Lester Devoe is thinking of makeing a biger nut at the neck for me something in the relm of 55+60mm we will be meeting sometime this summer to discuss this mesurment. For now I will stick with my two negras from Berklee Music Center in Berklee CA.. the Motalvo gutiar from Gerorge Motalvo at Berklee Music Center.

B Band UST

The B-Band UST (Under-Saddle Transducer)* still stands as the first transducer that alone, sounds better than many pickup / microphone combinations. An instrument equipped with a B-Band UST has enhanced countless productions, in the studio and in live performance, by being able to produce a great acoustic tone quickly.

Designated as the "4th Gen UST", the new 2002 UST has been stiffened for better string balance qualities, higher output, greater durability and even lower background noise. Evolution of the revolutionary B-Band UST has been prompted by the many knowledgeable and fantastic artists that B-Band works with. This significantly updated UST is a testament to that spirit.

Even though these changes have been made, the UST remains very thin - only 0.4 mm / .015" - and usually does not require a new string saddle or adjustment to saddle cavity. Since the UST is all one piece - i.e: not segmented - positioning for string spacing is a thing of the past. The UST is a flexible, rugged and constant structure all the way to the preamp. Connection to the preamp is an easy "plug in" without soldering.

Schug Wine

What an outstaing wine i give it a 92 Schug Pinot Noir Carneos 2004 I higly recomend you tase and enjoy a bottle. This is my new fav pino.

Robert Fripps Diary

Robert Fripp's Diary
In the world of music, (it appears to us that) the musician creates the music. It is more accurate to say that music creates the musician. For a musician, it is not a 'temptation' to be present & involved when music becomes available to enter the phenomenal world: it is a matter of being & doing who & what we are. A musician who undertakes the professional life enters a life of grief and pain: what has value is accorded a price. But when a musician believes that music is a commodity, music has just died in them.
Yes, all true. The question is, as professional musicians do we spend more time making music than we would be able to if we had another job and music was our special 'hobby'. Or are we bogged down by business decissions we have to make.

This reminds me of our ListeningLounge. Download purchases per song unfortunately are in the hundreds, not the thousands. The cost of creating the LL and of running it are currently higher than the returns. This raises the question what am I willing to do to promote the LL and myself. Not much actually. If you, the listener, enjoy the LL you will tell others.

Read on and don't miss this gem, a letter to Fripp from a Japanese fan:
’Cold’ means a highest state of performance of total objectivity, no intension of trying to express something personal after an endless discipline. In other words, ’It is Just there’ I suppose.
And toward the end Fripp talks about recording splashes for Windows. I thought he'd be mad that somebody video-taped the session, but he does not mention that.


posted by Ottmar @ 07:29  

Reunion with a Friend

Well this is my old frind Regina B. She used to be my music agent. We took some time to get away from the bussness. Now we just are are working on our friendship. I think there is a place for friends to be in the buss that we work but at the same time busneess and frindship dont always work.

Jonathan Ive

1.5.06: San Francisco: Apple / Ive
Melanie from Wired arranged for Danielle and me to visit Apple and have a chat/lunch with Jonathan Ive.



From Wikipedia:

Ive's team designed the original iMac and its successors, the original iBook and its successors, the Power Mac starting with the Blue and White Power Mac G3, the Power Mac G4 Cube, the PowerBook starting with the Titanium PowerBook G4 (or possibly earlier), the eMac, the Mac mini, the Xserve and Xserve RAID, the iPod family, the AirPort base station family, and the Apple Cinema Display and some later Studio Displays.

Whew, no wonder he has been winning lots of design awards. Jonathan showed us the inside of an aluminum PowerBook — he seemed as proud of the intricate foldings and stampings of the invisible stuff as most would be of the outside. The point was that the design goes clear through — it’s not an appliqué merely stuck on the outside to make it all seem groovy, but extends to stuff most of us will never ever see.

I mentioned that I was in the midst of a collaboration with Fatboy Slim and Jonathan said he was having dinner that night with his friend John Digweed, one of the world’s top electronic DJs and a pal of Norman’s.

Maybe that gives as much insight into where he’s coming from as anything.

John Digweed:

Harry Caray

I love what Will Farell did with this on SNL

Made it through another week

I made it through another week at work. I must say I have found that my supervisor has been someone who listens to issues and I am glad about that and I just like that things are able to be voiced. My department has been going through some tough changes but it looks like in the long run they will be for the better. I am very happy with the people that I work with on the overnight. We get our work done and support each other to help things get done not a tit for tat way. I think the best part is that we can be ourselves there are time when one of us is a bit out of sorts and yet we still support each other. I am looking forward to connecting with my former agent tomorrow for lunch and just catching up hopefully we will drink some good wine too. Well that it for now.

Ordered some new books to read

I order 2 new books that I am looking forward to reading, The Third Ear, and a book on Buddhism. They should arrive sometime in early Feb.

New Foot Stool

Should be in NJ in less than a week.

Selfless

Selfless


David Byrne Journal
What if there is no self? No such thing as being the unique personalities we think we are? What if, and this is very convoluted, there are even parts of our brains that have evolved to convince us that each of us is unique - as a cover up or mask for the awful truth? The truth that parts of our brains deceive other parts of our brains. And that this trickery evolved because it's useful.
Sounds buddhist, but David Byrne is actually following a different angle. Interesting read

Free Counseling

Victor Tarassov (Teaching Profile on Guitar Salon)

Victor Tarassov

Email: victortarassov@mac.com
City: Princeton Junction
State/Province: NJ
Country: USA

Day phone: 609-937-0912
Evening phone: 609-937-0912

Lessons given at: Home, Will Travel, Music Store


Skill levels taught: Beginners
Intermediate
Advanced


Styles taught: Classical
Flamenco
Pop/Rock
Early Music
Fingerstyle

Years teaching: 20

Rate: 65.00 per 45min

Educational background: Berklee College of Music, Mercer County Music, Studied with Harrolid Morris, Tomas Muchaid, Steve Kaun. Various group lessions

Teaching
experience/philosophy: I beive that we need to set our goals and expecations up front and then take steps thrugh excersises and coaching to achive those goals. I am a coach and want to help others achive there goals. I am also able to travel to your home for a reasonable cost PA and NJ. I also like to record our lession if you find that helpfull as well as aditional materials cd/ dvd

Current projects: Building a record label and studio. Recording a new cd.

Comments: please feel free to contact meto ask if you have any questions what so ever.

Lester Devoe (Why can't every one be like him?)

A quick note from Lester Devoe “Hello Victor,
Yes, it would be nice to meet you and talk about your guitar. I do have to go to Europe sometime in the Spring or early in the Fall, but no plans yet. Contact me again when the date is closer. You are most welcome to visit!
Regards,
Lester”

I wish people would be able to interact this way with everyone. Lester is such a nice man to deal with and I so look forward to my DeVoe in two years. Thanks Lester.

Travel Pratice Guitar for Flamenco & Classical

Got this on ebay called " Reinalda Rivera Virtuoso"

Cool drum photo

Would not have to lug this around to pratice or set this one up and mic it. but I bet it sound wonderfull.

A look inside the Shure KSM 44 (this is one I use)

This is the mic I use most of the time on recording either into the Line 6 UX1 or Prosonus Fire Box. I do some times still use the AT 4040. I am looking forward to getting the Universal Audio 610 and seeing what it does with the sound. I have put up pictures of the Shure KSM 44, Audo Tech 4040, Prosonus Firebox (Fire Wire), Line 6 UX 1 Tone Port, and Univeral Audio Solo 610 Tube Pre Amp.

Sad Disturbing Day

The other day I was at my favorite coffee shop in HIllsborough and a good friend and I were sitting at a coffee table and having a good conversation when all of a sudden a few women started to come close they moved our stuff coffee and books and just plopped down. Now this was weird but it gets better. (There were only 3 at this time) in about 10 min there were 8-10 of them and literally one of the older women sat 2-3 inches from my friend she was about 50-60 years old and obnoxious as could be here shirt came untoucked . What was so suprizing was that this area that the coffee shop is in is a very nice are and people do respect one another or so I thought. These women that took over our little space were group leaders for these 8-10 women and were clueless and just rude, and seemed to think that they were intitiled to take over our space? What do you think? I just put a picture of some of the folks in the group.

Accord Guitar Case - 2

Accord Guitar Case - 2
Originally uploaded by o2ma.

Beautiful Case 1000.00 or 169.00 for the Humi Metro. Well I think for my guitar I am going to have to use the Metro for now. Someday I hop to get one of these I will get on for my Lester Devo.

Raxxess HH-1

I just ordered two of these from Sweetwater. They are used to keep my headphones from falling on the ground and just keep things neet and near the main control area of Palm Studios. They screw on to the rack gear and are only 6.00 from Sweetwater.

The Gear Cab.

From Top Left Shure KSM 44, Audio Tech 4040, Shure KSM 141, 2 Shure SM 57, vairous other mics, naile glue, 2 Chanel Art Phantom Power, Various Plug Cup (holds all types of converter plugs 1/4-1/2 plugs RCA to 1/2 or 1/4 plug String Box I use Dadario EJ 45 C and Dean Markly Blue Steal 10., Transaport in box, All cd for music studo, 2nd shelf Foxtex X 4 Track, various cables mic, guitar, midi, rca, usb, fire wire, head phones, I use sony , Bottom shelf Former rack, pedals, usb small printer, cd, dvd disks and some small percussion gear.

Palm Studio Cleaned and Re Set Up

New Guitar Case for Negra Flamenco

I bought this case to travel with for my Flamenco Negra guitar from Guitar Salon International. I hope to start using this case when I travel and especally when I go to CA later in this year to record.

What True Psycho Bable Sounds Like

Some Southern Hospital Hospitality?

CALL THIS NUMBER AND LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE- DON'T HANG UP IT GETS BETTER
AND BETTER…U GONNA BE ROLLIN..
( 706 )477-9905

Liquid Groves (Just ordered from Sweetwater)

Liquid Grooves
Unique Acoustic Remix Grooves
One-of-a-kind Acoustic Drum & Percussion Grooves
Highly Creative Sound, Feel & Style
Ethnic grooves with unique processing
Newly developed Multi patches take full advantage of new S.A.G.E.™ (Spectrasonics Advanced Groove Engine) technology with multitrack grooves which show the full potential of Liquid Grooves with Stylus RMX.
Korg Wavedrum grooves and Remixes
Useful Styles that work across the whole musical spectrum
Multitrack style elements ideal for remixing
Unprecedented Control with SAGE-based Groove Control
Special Bonus Section includes grooves from Bizarre Guitar, Vocal Planet, Distorted Reality and more!
Quite possibly the most versatile Xpander ever! The critically-acclaimed Liquid Grooves with SAGE technology provides an endless amount of possibilities that will be inspiring for years to come. Fluid rhythms forged by a synthesis propelling live drum grooves, unusual, organic live percussion loops and unique ethnic sources. Works extremely well with Chaos Designer! The new Multis have to be heard to be believed!

The featured players include:
Bob Wilson (Backbeat, George Benson, The Crusaders)
Eric Boseman (Backbeat, James Newton-Howard)

An inspiring, one-of-a-kind collection from producer Eric Persing.

UA Audio Solo 110 and 610 (Hope to get one soon)

This is a picture of Univeral Audio's 2 new single pre amps, the 610 is tube and the 110 is class a solid state. Not sure which one to go with but it would be used for the Shure KSM 44 and the Audo Tech 4040 mics while recording the Negra Flamenco Guitar. I had thoght about getting the Avalon mic pre or chanel strip but that gose for 1500.00 for the pre and 2000.00 for the strip while the UA solo goes for 799.00? Hum wich way to go.

Some info on this series:
Webzine reporters on duty at Bocci's Cellar (a favorite tavern here in Santa Cruz) recently observed a conversation between the lead designers of the SOLO series mic pre and DI boxes, and a curious, young, aspiring recording engineer and local hero, Johnny Cogswell, a.k.a. D.J. Cogs. This is a transcript of what was said.

Cogs: What does it take to fit all that 610/110 into a little box like that?

Professor Vacuum Tube: Well, we chose the depth of the box to accommodate the PCB length we needed for the 610 tube circuits. We then laid out the tubes and components in a classic in-line front-to-back configuration that follows the signal flow. The power supply doesn't need the capacity required in a LA610 or 2-610, so it can be smaller and fit ever so nicely on the board.

Mister Transitor: Yeah, yeah, we had tons of room on the PCB. We used the same size PCB as the old guys got after plopping the tubes down on theirs. We used the same layout for each circuit section as in the 8110, and then just moved 'em around to cool places.

Cogs: Was ripping the EQ out of the 610 design pretty easy, or what were the challenges?

Professor Vacuum Tube: My goodness, we don't "rip things out." Rather carefully, we removed a few components around the output stage that typically provide EQ in the 2-610, leaving only a low cut. Cost is reduced by not having the EQ controls and components found on the LA610 and 2-610.

Mister Transitor- Geeze, what's the deal? We already had a low cut-circuit in the 8110 and just used that. No ripping needed; I was in the bar by 5 o'clock that day.

Cogs: Are they really like their big brothers? Did you cheap out on anything? C'mon- you must have!

Professor Vacuum Tube: Now, now son, we didn't cheap out anything. The signal path, circuits and components are exactly those of the 2-610. We repackaged the input transformer to be PCB-mounted. Eliminating a line input and the EQ, reducing the power supply to suit a single-channel mic pre, and going to a package without a rackable front panel was what let us produce this fine unit at a low price.

Mister Transitor: Nope. It's got the same circuits and components as in the 8110. We use a smaller supply since there's one channel. It costs less, you pay less.

Cogs: What about the shape switch on the 8110 and 4110- am I missing that if I get a SOLO/110?

Professor Vacuum Tube: Ah, yes, the shape switch. We in the land of great glowing triodes get our smooth tonal qualities from the soft saturation of the tubes themselves. You get complete control of this by a combination of settings of the gain and level controls.

Mister Transitor: There's no shape switch on the Solo/110. We hard-wired it to the middle position shape setting on the 4110/8110. This is called "vintage" mode, and is the most popular setting for the shape switch on the 4110/8110.

Cogs: On the boxes of the two units, one says the power supply is a switcher, and one is linear. Is that like one can bat right or left, and one can only hit line drives, or what?

Professor Vacuum Tube: Oh my, you are ready for spring baseball to start. Go Red Sox. Well, we use a linear supply in the Solo-610 because its soft rail so nicely complements the overdrive distortion character of the triodes. You can change over to 220-Volt operation by moving a jumper if you're on holiday in Europe.

Mister Transitor: Dude, any line voltage any time is what you get with the multi-stage switching supply. It's outputs go through additional linear regulators, so it's really a hybrid supply. I don't know about the baseball/bisexual mixed metaphor. Get a grip.

Cogs: What's about this DI business that is not on the big brothers, that allows me to hook up my amp while recording direct, too? Will it sound just like I'm plugging into my amp with my bass?

Professor Vacuum Tube: Well we do have a DI on the other units, but no "Thru Jack" to loop out to your amplifier. On the Solo-610, the Thru and DI are wired in parallel so your bass goes onto the amp as it would normally. You can both mic your amp and take the Solo line output over to the console, giving two channel inputs for your mix.

Mister Transitor: Wow, the Old Geezer got it right. Mixing the signals of a high-quality pre' and a miked cabinet gives you great sound options in your mix.

Cogs: If I buy both units and turn the handles around sideways, would they make good snowshoes?

Professor Vacuum Tube: Uh, I'm confused. Up here in Vermont you'd be eaten by woodchucks if you wore a Solo-610 in the snow. Consider the surface area over the snow and the resultant PSI load on the snowshoe, then try some Tubbs.

Mister Transitor: Dude, what you smoking?

Cogs: Can the Solos be used for smuggling when I'm on tour?

Professor Vacuum Tube: Well, when I'm on holiday, I have my gardener look after my lawn. I used to have a weed problem, but the farmer down the road gave me some white dust to sprinkle around and I haven't thought about weed since.

Mister Transitor: Okay, that explains the snowshoe stuff. I got one word for you: FedEx.

Portland Aladdin Theater - 4

Portland Aladdin Theater - 4
Originally uploaded by o2ma.

Fans Commit on 2 U now

Tonight I came home and listened to your new song 2 You Now. I've been stressed the past couple of days. I sat on the couch, closed my eyes and listened to the song. It was nice to hear just you playing the guitar without any background. It's amazing to me that a song can take me from feeling stressed to feeling relaxed and recharged in a matter of minutes. My mood changed almost instantly. My favorite place to go to in the world is the ocean. It is where I get my strength. I couldn't go to the ocean tonight, but this song gave me that same calming, renewed feeling. I hope to hear many more songs like this one.

Small Portable Notebooks Mesciline

Evocative

Evocative


What makes a pot useful is the hollowness inside that can be filled. What makes a song useful is the emotional response a listener can fill it with. However impressive and well made a vessel or song is, without that hollowness it is not useful.

What is that quality in a song? Evocativeness?

Evocative - tending to bring a memory, mood, or image subtly or indirectly to mind. Yes, that's it.

I also like redolent - serving to bring to mind. But it also means emitting fragrance, aromatic or, to use a lovely German word, duftend. And that's misleading, because I am not talking about the emotions of the musician, or even about the piece of music itself, I am talking about the emotions of the listener.

Now, as a musician I have to ask myself which part of my piece of music is useful, or which part can be filled by the listener. In other words, if a musician loses the ability to listen like his audience, he loses the ability to evoke their emotions. At that point one might get so carried away that the pot is closed at the top, with no place to pour anything into...

For me a song (music with lyrics and vocals) isn't be as receptive a vessel as an instrumental piece can be, since it is already half-filled with emotion/words.

PS: I had this thought last night before falling asleep but since I learned from my grandfather to always keep a notebook in my night table (I have two, actually - one for drawings the other for writing down thoughts) I jotted it down before forgetting.


posted by Ottmar @ 07:24

Travel Pratice Guitar for Flamenco & Classical

First think of all the places you cannot practice. Now, think of all the places you can practice - with Virtuoso Finger Trainer
If you are a pupil sitting in the school bus, in a train or metro or a businessman on an airplane: the new finger trainer allows you to practice wherever you are! All the places, where you can not take your guitar because it is too big or it disturbs other people because of the sound, you could not play before now! The Guitar-trainer changes , let's you practice just about Anywhere!
The finger trainer features 6 full classical guitar frets with rosewood fingerboard and mahogany construction. The real nylon strings have with adjustable tension for realistic feel. The plate, which you can fold in and out, is especially for Flamenco-players. Now, even Flamenco-guitarist can make their percussion-exercises.

It doesn't matter, if you just started to play guitar, if you are an advanced player or if you are even a professional. With the Virtuoso you will improve your finger picking style on your right hand and the flexibility of your left hand. The Virtuoso comes with a black gig-bag and sax type neck strap.

Practice Excercises, Picado, Strumming,Alzapua, Arpegio's,...Whenever, Wherever you don't have your Guitar! Portable Picking practice.
Build picking hand Skills, Improve speed, Touch, Timing, Strength, Endurance.
Extremely Portable, comes with Storage-Carry Bag & Neck Strap. Trainer is very light also= 12 oz. Mahogany body.
String tension is Adjustable, easy to replace strings too. This Trainer is for practice, Not to play Music.
Limited supply, Buy your trainer now! makes a great Gift for Guitar player!
No reserve Auction!
Please email or call 954-522-5477 for further Questions.
US 48 State Shipping, 1st Class Mail, Insured = $6.95, HI, VI, PR, AK, Canada = $10.95, Most Europe & Asia= $22.95

The Complete Prisoner 10 DVD Set (My favorite)

This is something I did for myself. I have always loved this show and decided that I would get the complete set. I used to watch this when I was much younger and thought it was so very cool. Well now I own it. I like that this show even thought is almost 40 years old makes you think when you watch it. It came out in the summer of 1968. One of the famious lines is "I am not a number, I am a free man" Patrick McGoohan is the main actor in this series. I hope you can check it out. "...a slice of time with its oh-so-Sixties elements (dig those lava lamps!) and a timeless classic of speculative fiction."--Jesse Shanks, Digitally Obsessed
All 17 episodes, digitally re-mastered and restored for the ultimate in fidelity and clarity.
Extensive bonus features including ultra-rare original footage of the 1966 location filming, the only footage of the original mechanical rover, an alternate version of the episode "The Chimes of Big Ben," cast and crew interviews and more.
The definitive set of THE PRISONER, featuring every minute of Patrick McGoohan's landmark series.
One of the most challenging and thought-provoking television series of all time, THE PRISONER is the strange saga of a former government operative (Patrick McGoohan) sent to a twisted prison called "the village." Known only as No. 6, he engages in a battle of wills with the powers that be (represented by the nefarious and constantly changing No. 2 and a bizarre, chilling presence called "the Rover") that wish to extract his secrets and break his spirit. Digitally re-mastered and presented in its original order, this set includes all seventeen episodes of the unforgettable series that introduced a whole new type of hero to the TV world.

This ultimate collector's edition of THE PRISONER includes a complete bonus disc with a host of extra material, including the rarely seen "Foreign File Cabinet" footage and "textless" intro and outro, original broadcast trailers; original series promotional trailer, a gallery of original production and promotional materials, production stills gallery, interactive map of "The Village" and more.

The Holy Grail Electro Harmonix Pedal Reverb

This pedal with the Fender 67 Princeton amp using the Fender 78 Strat sounds so lush. I will put some sounds up later. This is the best sounding reverb. You can get them at gutiar center new for under 100.00 the new ones have direct bypass as well. It has its own 9v wall wort. there are three settings Spring, Plate, and Fluber the setting are simple and then there is one knob to control the intensity. I have used the roland and was disapointed with the spring setting, I know DOD make a pedal but I am not a fan of there pedals. This is the one to get if you want a out bord pedal for your pedal board. I run a Ernie Ball volume pedal befor the reverb and then a disortion pedal currntly the Boss DS1 I hope to soon upgrade to a tube screemer and a rat pedal.

Velo City Idea

VeloCity

Happiness

Dr. Jonathan Haidt is a professor at the University of Virginia:
'Happiness has a very weak relation to the events in our lives,' Haidt says. 'Your happiness level is determined mostly by the structure in your brain - not by whether good or bad things happen to you. Negative events hurt or feel bad, but they are not usually as bad as we think and don't last as long as we think.'
That rings true. But that brain structure is not pre-determined. It has been shown that long-term meditation practices alter the structure in your brain.

How YOU DOIN