Author Topic: Ch ch ch ch changes..... (Read 243 times)

hollis · « **on:** August 01, 2005, 03:03:17 PM »

Hi folks!

I'm back in the Pacific Northwest again, and it's great to be back on line with you all.

I've got way too much to catch up on here, but over time I'm sure I'll get a chance to see all the beautiful instruments that those lucky ones (you know who you are) have acquired.

Much has transpired since last we spoke;

My parents are doing very well, and are able to go forward without their little baby son (me)watching after their every move..... Life is so cool!

As a result of the amount of time I needed to spend with my folks, I've parted ways with my oh so womb-like employer. This is allowing me time to devote to my music. So, as of now, I am a full time musician once again! It's a little scary, but this really is the direction I've been headed all my life, wish me good ju ju.

My unbelievably understanding and supportive spouse has been nothing but completely behind this decision.... What can I say, I'm a very lucky fellow.

Since we last spoke, I've been playing the Hell out of my Spoiler 5 string..... What a sweet instrument.

Of course, the Skylark, and the Persuader have also been singing very sweetly for me.... These instruments..... soooooo fine......Many thanks to the very kind Alembic folks for producing such amazing tools for all of us to better express our music.

I'm so happy to finally be able to get back to this site, I've missed you all very much. All the good thoughts and positive wishes have done wonders for my family, thanks again.

I've also been working on the mandolin, and find that I'm gaining a seemless approach from low B to very high E and above.....

If only Alembic made Mandolins............

Anyway, it's good to be back!

sfnic · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2005, 03:17:41 PM »

I'm pretty sure I've seen an Alembic mandolin, way back in the Series I days...

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2005, 03:18:04 PM »

Welcome back Hollis! Sounds like life is good!

I'm thinking a neck through mandolin in the K body shape; Maple neck, Maple body, Coco Bolo top, crown headstock, Skylark electronics.

bob · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2005, 03:22:59 PM »

We've missed you too, Hollis. Nice to have you back, and great to hear things are going so well for you and your family.

tom_z · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2005, 05:49:37 PM »

Welcome back Hollis. Glad to have you back. It's great to hear your news regarding your return to full-time music - that's very exciting. It's even better to hear that your folks are dong well. Mandolin? Time to pull out the Grisman material and those old Jethro Burns records.

Tom

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2005, 08:28:10 PM »

Heeey, Hollis
Glad to see you're back. I'll add my voice to the chorus.. we missed you.
Mike

hollis · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2005, 09:20:28 PM »

Thanks guys,

The music plays the band.....

David Grisman has always been a huge influence on my mandolin playing, and Jethro Burns....Whew!

It's a very fun instrument to play, and once I figured out that it's tuning was upside down (high to low: mandolin 1st-8th as opposed to low to high: guitar 6th-3rd strings), it's been coming to me amazingly easy.....

I guess it makes sense that it's easy for me when I look at it sideways......

As far as an Alembic Mandolin in my near future? I'm sure it would require more than a few pairs of stockings to pull the finances on a custom like that. Although the K body shape w/coco bolo top and Skylark electronics is a lot how I would imagine it to be... Holy crap! It sure doesn't take long before the fever hits again! I guess ours must be a progressive disease......

jacko · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2005, 04:31:55 AM »

Hey, welcome back Hollis. It's good to hear your folks are fine. Also good to hear you're career is heading in the direction you want. I'd give anything to give up work and take off as a full time musician.

Graeme

dela217 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2005, 06:45:56 AM »

Hollis - Welcome back indeed!

SFnic - I have not seen an Alembic mandolin yet, but I do have a pic of a Stars one somewhere. It looked like a cool instrument and you probably remember it. I will forward it to you when I find it.

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2005, 07:39:58 AM »

Welcome back Hollis.

Good to hear your parents are doing well. Hmmmmmm, an Alembic mandolin?

- the mind wanders! The bass player in my band plays mando and I play a little. The guitar player we're considering to add also plays mandolin. I'm thinking of a 3-mando rendition of Spinal Taps' Big Bottom!

You may have been away, but it's still as strange around here as always. You've been missed.

Bill, tgo

(Message edited by lbpesq on August 02, 2005)

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2005, 07:45:17 AM »

Ooops, double post.

Bill, tgo

(Message edited by lbpesq on August 02, 2005)

the_mule · « **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2005, 08:21:58 AM »

Hi Hollis, nice to have you back. Good to hear your folks are allright!

Wilfred

bracheen · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2005, 09:00:17 AM »

Hello Hollis, welcome home. That's great news about your folks. You sure sound pumped about the career move. All the best with that. If all your decisions are as good as the one to marry Mrs. Hollis you'll be just fine.

Sam

billy_v · « **Reply #13 on:** August 03, 2005, 03:59:27 PM »

Jethro, yeeeeeees. And Tiny! (I see Elderly has the newly-reissued Back To Back CD available, with additional material!) I got into mandolin because of seeing Tiny on some PBS show with Merle and Willie and Jackie King back around '84--he sounded like Jerry! Who could resist? A few years later, I ordered from Tiny one of his Roberts Bigsby-copy 5-stings. It didn't help me sound anything like him! (Ha!) My autographed copy of Tiny Moore Music is one of my treasures.