[Bill_Brown]

Hi @Greg_F_Lee , I’m currently using Martin – Lifespan 2.0 Treated – Phosphor Bronze – Custom Light (11-52). I prefer the light gauge strings because I can bend notes and do other things much more easily than standard gauge strings. I put this current set on in October of ’21, and with occasional cleaning (every 3 months), they still sound good. I purchased them at my local music shop for $12.99. I mention price because a set of Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension strings are around $18.99? plus shipping (for me, around $5.00 added). I have 2 sets of these strings, but have yet to put them on either of my guitars, because I’m waiting for the Lifespan strings to go sour. Anyways, I hear great things about the Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension strings, that’s why I decided to buy them. They come in 2 varieties (although I believe they added a 3rd), Low Tension & Mid Tension. Santa Cruz recommends that the low tension strings are for short scale guitars (less than 25.4 inches scale length), and the mid tension strings are for full scale guitars. Scale length is measured from the nut to the “bone” (where the strings rest on the bridge). I have the low tension and hope that when I do put them on my guitar, I’ll be able to bend notes easily, if not, I’ll be disappointed in my decision regardless of sound.

Good luck with your decision Greg.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by  Bill_Brown.

[Bill_Brown]

3 cheers @WAMGOC on celebrating your 1st TACiversary🍾🎂🥂 I wish you many more👍

[Bill_Brown]

Hey @GerryB56 , I feel what you’re saying. Many of us have been there (looking at the bricks in the wall -LOL). What I want to say is that this is a journey, each of us are on our separate path, but looking for the same “ends”. But the journey that we’re on doesn’t end, unless we vier off to complacency😱 and by that I mean we let things overwhelm us and quit – does that make any sense to you? I want you to know that the whole TAC Family is here for you (and every one here) to stand behind you and help you to continue on this journey 🤘🎸😎

[Bill_Brown]

Maybe this will help you to identify the model class @MiRu

https://chasingguitars.com/gretsch-history/https://chasingguitars.com/gretsch-history/

[Bill_Brown]

Now that’s what I call an awesome performance @Kitman 👏👏👏😘 Your tempo, playing and vocals were really smooth👍🎸 And your friend’s mandolin playing was spectacular too🤩 Isn’t it nice to play live with someone else joining in🤔 How old is that video and did you make it before you joined TAC?

Thank you so much for posting it here🙏 I really enjoyed listening to it – makes me want to down a pint and pick up my guitar and sing😱

[Bill_Brown]

Completely outside of the box @charlie_d 😱, but none the less, beautifully done👏👏👏😘🎸 I enjoyed listening, thanks so much for posting👍

[Bill_Brown]

“IZ LIVES” in all that have heard him play and watched the few video performances available😇

I too play his version of Over The Rainbow to my grandchildren👍

[Bill_Brown]

Hi again @MiRu , I can’t help you with the ‘Slice and Dice” improv that you’re talking about, but as I commented to you in yesterday’s Daily Challenge, there is 1 Goldberg Improv video available to watch now, and more will be coming. Perhaps you can use this improv as a platform to begin to see what others are doing with this particular scale and technique, since you’ve already tried it yourself. As I alluded to you yesterday, some will do things “outside of the box” to get something that is satisfying to them. To do these Wednesday improvs, you don’t always have to adhere to the techniques and scale patterns as presented in the lessons.

Best of luck to you on your guitar journey🎸

[Bill_Brown]

That was a nice improv @Kitman 👏👏👏 You did a nice job of creating a melody from basically a 1 octave scale🤩 Did I hear/see you sneak in some double stops too😱🤘

[Bill_Brown]

I’m glad you enjoyed my noodling over your instrumental🤩 @Marty69 👍 This is the kind of thing I’ve been doing all along, except this time I tried to plan it out somewhat because I knew I had to post (I felt no pressure – LOL 🤣). After listening to the improv a couple times, I realized that there were 1 or 2 things I could/should have done differently, but that’s the nature of an improv – right?🤔

About the next one, I wasn’t familiar with the particular Santana tune that you mentioned, but I did some research and found the chords, so I have an idea of what’s coming😱🎸 I see that the chords/notes fit perfectly with the G major pentatonic scale, so I’ll have to learn the “boxes” to have something going over top of the chord progression(s). We’ll see how long it takes me to post something – I’d like to think I could play close to Carlos someday, but it won’t be happening anytime soon (LOL).

Anyways, thanks again Marty for giving me the opportunity to jam with you, I thoroughly enjoyed it and had lots of fun too. Looking forward to your next post😎🎸🤘

[Bill_Brown]

Hey @Kitman , I’m all in LOL 😂

[Bill_Brown]

No apologies needed here ever @MiRu 👍 I see that you’ve already commented on some of the improv videos, so now you get what I was talking about. Improvs are way harder to do (and sound good) than it appears on the surface. Be patient with yourself and don’t give up trying. Eventually things will click for you.

[Bill_Brown]

👍👏👏👍 🙏

[Bill_Brown]

Thanks for taking the time to listen @Solargal 🙏👍 Love your new “profile pic” by the way – looks great🤩

[Bill_Brown]

@Kitman , I commented on the double stops because I liked how you were thinking outside of the box to add a little flair to the improv – so no apology required.

When I was watching your video late last night, at the end where YT shows other vids, I saw (and listened) your “At Albert” performance with your friend playing the mandolin. I thought that was spectacular and I really enjoyed listening to that. Any chance of seeing a version here🤔 This guitar geek would love to see/hear it!