Violin sound.

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From the few that I've played, the Fender Squires, for a couple of hundred dollars new, are much better guitars than the Guyatone built Kent guitar that my dad bought me for $125 in the early 60s. They don't use the best parts but are serviceable, and with a bit of setup work and maybe a fretwork touchup, would be stage worthy. As a starter guitar, they are excellent.
 
Not sure what you know about guitars Colin, but as said above, they can be very rough on your finger. Setup is everything. Low action and lighter strings can make the initial learning curve much more pleasant if just pressing the strings down actual hurts.
 
Hi,

Many thanks Slouching Raymond for posting so much useful information and tips which I appreciate. I've only played the guitars a short while but used a pick and found the experience enjoyable; I played them again this morning experimenting with the Fender amp settings which at times suddenly cleared my ears; this Fender amp puts out lots of sound; I need to keep the volume and gain at low settings which is ample for my small studio. String bending is new to me but I can soon learn about it.

Thanks TalismanRich; both guitars sound very much alike to my untrained ears but to me both sound very good indeed; the Fender Squier has quite a few followers on YouTube which is encouraging. I don't mind adding both guitars; Fender amp; electronic rechargeable tuner etc were advertised on Gumtree at £300 or offers; I put in an offer at £250 and got the lot which pleased me; the seller is very experienced at guitar playing so these are set up ready to play.

Thanks Rob; I know extremely little about guitars but I'm sure I'll be learning as I'm doing with my violins. I used my new video camera for the first time today and found the video easy to export to my computer then to a memory stick; playing the memory stick on our TV it was hopelessly out of sync; I did the recording whilst playing my Yamaha violin through the Yamaha amp; the bow strokes were miles out of sync with the actual tune; it was a good learning curve though at least I've created a video even if it is poor.

Eventually I'll need new guitar strings; is there anything I need to know please also what strings are suggested for my two guitars.

I'm having a few spare minutes having got a fruit cake baking in the oven; I'm 77 tomorrow and don't mind baking a cake; I think I'll give it a layer of soft icing but won't be adding 77 candles or the fire brigade will be here.

I'm now finding more spare time to be in the studio but yesterday strimmed the middle wildflower meadow in the morning and after dinner strimmed the top wildflower meadow so with aching arms I didn't go into the studio.

Strimming 2024_0005.webp

The wildflowers were stunningly beautiful in full bloom; here they are now dropping their seeds.

Strimming 2024_0006.webp

Middle meadow strimmed with top meadow still to strim.

Strimming Aug 25_043.webp

Perhaps now I'll get more studio time before I rotavate the meadows; work never lets up living here but it keeps me fit.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Retired said:
Hi,

Many thanks Slouching Raymond for posting so much useful information and tips which I appreciate. I've only played the guitars a short while but used a pick and found the experience enjoyable; I played them again this morning experimenting with the Fender amp settings which at times suddenly cleared my ears; this Fender amp puts out lots of sound; I need to keep the volume and gain at low settings which is ample for my small studio. String bending is new to me but I can soon learn about it.

Thanks TalismanRich; both guitars sound very much alike to my untrained ears but to me both sound very good indeed; the Fender Squier has quite a few followers on YouTube which is encouraging. I don't mind adding both guitars; Fender amp; electronic rechargeable tuner etc were advertised on Gumtree at £300 or offers; I put in an offer at £250 and got the lot which pleased me; the seller is very experienced at guitar playing so these are set up ready to play.

Thanks Rob; I know extremely little about guitars but I'm sure I'll be learning as I'm doing with my violins. I used my new video camera for the first time today and found the video easy to export to my computer then to a memory stick; playing the memory stick on our TV it was hopelessly out of sync; I did the recording whilst playing my Yamaha violin through the Yamaha amp; the bow strokes were miles out of sync with the actual tune; it was a good learning curve though at least I've created a video even if it is poor.

Eventually I'll need new guitar strings; is there anything I need to know please also what strings are suggested for my two guitars.

I'm having a few spare minutes having got a fruit cake baking in the oven; I'm 77 tomorrow and don't mind baking a cake; I think I'll give it a layer of soft icing but won't be adding 77 candles or the fire brigade will be here.

I'm now finding more spare time to be in the studio but yesterday strimmed the middle wildflower meadow in the morning and after dinner strimmed the top wildflower meadow so with aching arms I didn't go into the studio.

View attachment 143255
The wildflowers were stunningly beautiful in full bloom; here they are now dropping their seeds.

View attachment 143257
Middle meadow strimmed with top meadow still to strim.

View attachment 143259
Perhaps now I'll get more studio time before I rotavate the meadows; work never lets up living here but it keeps me fit.

Kind regards, Col.
Click to expand...
Happy birthday tomorrow Colin
 
Happy Birthday, Colin!
The meadows are looking good.
Choice of guitar strings is a personal thing. They go from chunky thick strings down to ultra-light thin ones.
I buy half a dozen packs of strings at once, and use the same type accross all my electric guitars.
The ones I have are Rotosound Rotopinks Super Light, with sizes 42 32 24 16 11 9.
The 9 is the thinnist string, and I'm comfortable with it. I have tried 8 in the past, but found them just too thin, and they snap too readily.
With these sizes, the G string (16) is unwound, along with the B string (11) and top E string (9). This makes them good for string-bending.
After time, strings go dull and tarnished, but I don't bother much about that.
To save money, I don't usually replace a whole set, just the one that snapped or has broken windings. (First time you'd replace the whole set though).
It costs a bit buying several packs, but then you're set up for quite a few years, and you know a replacement string is going to fit in with the rest.
Prices of string brands vary a lot, so I'd avoid the priciest.
The pack in front of me has a price £5.50 on it, but that was about 10 years ago. They're still good.

I once bought an expensive pack of strings for my 12-string acoustic guitar, and said I'd replace them when one of the originals broke.
The guitar is awful, so i didn't play it much. One day I decided to fit those new strings, to freshen up the guitar.
I found they were 25 years old, and had gone rusty still in the pack.
 
Hi,

Thanks @BTStudio for your birthday wishes. I baked a mixed fruit cake yesterday evening but I think the fire brigade would be called out if I put the candles on it.

Many thanks @Slouching Raymond for the birthday wishes and special thanks for taking the time to let me have all the guitar string information; every bit helps to a complete novice like me so it's much appreciated. I've had a quick look on eBay and see there are lots of the Rotopinks for sale at various prices; choices between stainless; nickel & bronze. 25 year old guitar strings is pushing it a bit if use before best date. :LOL:

Yes the meadows looked wonderful in bloom; they now look tidy after strimming but I think I'll make a start on rotavating them today; I'm trying to spend more time in the studio mostly with the violins but the guitars I'm finding interesting too.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Happy birthday Collin. My wife bought me a 12 string in 1980. It still has the original strings as I rarely play it and for some strange reason when I do the strings saw through my finger tips as they’re rather rusty. Oddly they still sound ok!!
 
Hi,

Thank rob for your birthday wishes. I rotavated the middle meadow this morning; half way through I knocked off for a mug of tea and biscuit; resuming the job I wondered if I could make a video of it so I placed the camera on an upturned bucket hoping the strong wind wouldn't blow it off damaging it; the camera recorded three videos so I'm currently running "Merge" Cisdem Video Converter which has been running for well over two hours; I'm getting older whilst waiting for it to finish. I'm trying to get used the the video camera but am rather disappointed because the video's are poor being washed out; I hope I can edit them but it's all trial and error taking lots of time. I'd like to post the video onto YouTube because I've been using my 60+ year old Howard Bulldog rotavator I restored having bought it as scrap.

I'll wander into the studio later this evening for a violin practice; I'm keen to make a video.

How you rob and Raymond play twelve string guitars amazes me; I'll struggle with six strings. Be careful if playing with rusty strings you might end up needing a tetanus jab

Kind regards, Col.
 
Happy Birthday Colin. As they say, another trip around the sun.

RE: the strings, you've got Stratocaster style guitars, those are 25.5" scale length and I use 9-42 strings on my 25.5" guitars. Here in the states, we have D'addario, GHS, Fender, Ernie Ball and Elixer as the most common brands. You don't need fancy coated strings. You also don't want "phosphor bronze or 80/20 strings as they are for acoustic guitars.

I have a few different kinds and don't really feel or hear a lot of difference between brands, especially for just picking around the house. Ernie Ball Super Slinky, GHS Boomer Extra Light, or D'addario EXL120 super light all run about $6 US. I see Super Slinkys for under £5 on Ebay UK. D'Addario EXL120s are £7. Both of those work perfectly fine on a Stratocaster style guitar, and won't kill your fingers.

For just banging around in the basement, strings will last me a year or so. If I'm playing out somewhere or trying to do a real recording, then I'll change strings. I've had strings on so long that then I changed them they strings had grooves where the frets are.
 
You play a 12 string just like a 6 string. The strings are paired, mostly an octave apart. You stick your fingers on a pair as if it were one.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the explanation @Slouching Raymond as a novice I was puzzled how 12 strings would be fitted to a guitar; I learn a bit more each day. I've copied all the guitar string information so have it to fall back on when I buy strings.

I've now made quite a bit of progress learning how to use my new video camera. I've bought the camera with the intention of recording violin practices but not having the time to spend in the studio; I decided to try recording me rotavating our two wildflower meadows having already strimmed them; I initially tried recording rotavating the middle meadow but the result was disappointing the video looking rather washed out.

Yesterday I set up the camera on a small tripod at the top corner of the mountain; it's our rear garden but the video shows why we call it our mountain; our site is very steep indeed. I'm pleased with the result and have successfully posted 5 videos onto YouTube the first seen here;



All 5 videos are active. Video #5 shows more of our site and surrounding area; from our bungalow front window we have panoramic views all across and along the valley; our valley side drops down to the main Huddersfield/Sheffield road. The rotavator was bought in scrap condition and I restored it to fully working; I feel at home using it because it's almost as old as I am.

This is the first time I've recorded myself which is a real eye opener; looking from the inside out I still think I'm about 9 years old but looking from the outside in I realize I'm now a dinosaur but I'm still here and very active.

Now I understand how to create videos I'll try recording violin practices; I've been up since 5:50 this morning running around shopping and visiting the surgery now enjoying a welcome mug of tea; I've chores to do this morning and this afternoon we plan to visit a friend who lives twelve miles away; my lovely wife Bron (Bronwyn) is virtually housebound only visiting hospitals and the surgery for well over a year; just moving around is very painful for her but she's determined to make the journey today; our friend has a bungalow and we can park right outside her door involving only a few steps to walk. I bang on about how my life's responsibilities prevent me having much free time but the time I do spend in the studio means a lot to me; I have six music scores I play from and play these over and over; I can't concentrate learning to play more tunes at the moment but at least I won't quit and now I can also try playing the guitars I bought for Bron with their Fender amplifier.

Life is pretty good for me because I remain fit and able bodied so I'm not complaining; I'll never begrudge a minute I spend helping Bron and doing all the chores; we have better times ahead; Bron can't wait for her knee replacement operation then after recovery she'll be in much reduced pain and a lot more mobile; this will then release time for me to spend time in the studio. I did the laundry yesterday and dried it now I'd better get off my backside and do the ironing.

The next video hopefully will be of me in the studio. Thanks for your patience.

Kind regards, Col.
 
The video shows how high up the garden gets.
I had a look at all 5. They're all similar.
You could spice them up with music.
I added my own music recordings to some videos like this. The music carries the video, and the video carries the music.
 
Hi,

Thanks @Slouching Raymond for your useful suggestion. I'm still learning how to make videos which is going to take quite a while. On the video shown the Howard is singing if you turn the volume up. It's interesting listening to it popping away considering it's a mid fifties machine.

I managed to get into the studio this afternoon and enjoyed a nice practice; now I'm on top of the heavy work I hope to enjoy more such violin practices.

This week the Met Office forecast for us three consecutive afternoons heavy rain; then forecast a dry day and finally this morning forecast thunder storms; not enough rain fell all week to completely wet our patio.

Here we go again; will they get it right on fith attempt?

1725211388846.webp


Kind regards, Col.
 
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Not sure what you did Colin, but usually you upload, set it to public and push publish and it appears immediately (bar a few minutes) setting a later date is an extra feature most people don't use, and we have to wait. You can even publish the video, while it is still uploading and it goes live as soon as it's processed.
 
The link didn't work at 5.30 am on the 3rd, but the video is up at:
 
Hi,

Many thanks Rob. I only followed instructions and it was YouTube which stated it would be live at 12:00am today; I didn't request this also I did select public but when I tried it found it kept stating Private. I fully accept I need more practice and problems will be down to me however I'm learning all the time. I feel forever under constant pressure having little control of my life with it's daily demands on my time. Next video I add to YouTube I'll take screen shots then I don't lose the information. I was determined to add the video yesterday however it turned out; I'm just fed up of fighting for bits of studio time. Should I bother continuing to learn to play a violin; of course I should; I'm no quitter.

This is good of you @Slouching Raymond Thanks for putting up the video; I'm just pleased it works; seeing myself for the first time on this video was quite a shock. I now want to move on a bit and learn more tunes to play; at the moment I'm only playing the first page of each music score but it's getting me used to recognizing the note positions on the scores; it's difficult but not impossible and I doubt I'd enjoy it as much if it was easy. I've achieved my first video even if it's taken forever.

Thanks again Rob & Raymond for your continuing help and suggestions I do truly appreciate it.

Now I've got a video up and running it's time to move on and make progress. My violin is in tune having been adjusted to an electronic tuner so if it sounds out of tune then it's me; I find differences using the bow; sometimes it plays well and pleases me other times I have trouble; when I apply fresh rosin it sounds rather harsh until it settles down; I don't go mad applying lots of rosin to end up with cloud; before putting the violin away I wipe the strings with a microfiber cloth also I give the bow a wipe. I've tried four lots of rosin including one anti allergy but there seems little difference.

Listening to my video I'd welcome any suggestions/criticisms regarding the sound.

This is my Yamaha THR10 amp;

Yamaha THR amp._0002.webp

I like this amp; it's plenty powerful for my small studio. The settings are shown and I play on Crunch.

This is my Yamaha YEV104 violin.

Studio kit_0002.webp

I have four violins but this is my favourite; it has a Fishman pickup;

1725353490037.webp


Also connected is my Beringer U-PHORIA UMC 404 HD

Studio kit_0001.webp

The Beringer is also connected to my RODE NT2 mic it having phantom power.

I also have a bit more kit to play with but need to practice more playing the violin.

Studio kit_0003.webp


I've got the kit all I need is time to use it.

Kind regards, Col.
 
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Due to your absence from your playing, you’ve forgotten something Colin. Do you remember when we talked about key signatures? “Only fools rush in” you have notes for oh, nly, fools rush in, but fools is a semi-tone (one letter name) up, NOT a full tone up. You are playing the note on the stave, without reference to the sharps or flats in the key signature. Remember, as an example, if the key is G Major, then there will be the little hash type symbol on the F note in the key signature. So every time you see F, you play F sharp. If you play in the key of F Major, there is a flat sign, the strange b shape symbol, on the middle B line, and every time you play a B, you play a Bb. You did do this last year I am sure, but in your recording, there are lots of notes you are playing that are actually wrong. Very easy to do, but you need to fix this or you will get into a terrible mess and your progress will slow. I think we mentioned that a scale of C Major uses all the white notes on a piano, but move to F or G Major and one black one will be needed or it will sound wrong. Let us know if this makes sense. If you don’t follow the sharps and flats indicated next to the clef, you wont be playing the right notes at all. Us Brits play scales by going tone, tone, tone, semi-tone, tone, tone, tone, semi-tone. our american friends tend to do it by steps and half steps, but its the same thing, different names.
 
Hi,

Thanks very much Rob; you are so right; I've forgotten a great deal and I need to back track and start over; I was doing OK at one point but it seems so long ago; my life is just a blur and I'm trying to learn too much at once in the bits of time I have spare. I certainly appreciate it takes you time to reply and I'm grateful for it. Sorry; it doesn't make sense at the moment; I'm unable to concentrate but eventually it will make sense.

I did achieve one ambition; I succeeded in learning to use the video camera and get the video onto YouTube which in itself was a real struggle; now I know how to do this I can spend time learning over how to correctly play my violins. Bron's already got three hospital appointments this month; she's housebound apart from hospital visits; visiting the bathroom is incredibly painful for her and with her also having Parkinson's Disease I daren't be far away from her; she's been in A&E twice having suffered nasty tumbles; all this is impacting on me as I spend so much time looking after her worrying about her and doing endless chores whilst trying to keep on top of home maintenance; not an excuse but why I'm having so much difficulty learning to play my violins.

I need to stop and gather myself because I don't know what planet I'm on. Yesterday I managed three brief violin practices but it was rare. I'll spend less time on the forum but I'll still keep practicing whenever I can and once my playing improves I'll be back again. I'm no longer a complete novice but I've a great deal to learn yet. I need to get off my backside I've a busy day again today.

Thanks once again Rob it's kind and generous of you.

Kind regards, Col.
 
It's no bother Colin - I'm just concerned you don't learn 'wrong' - breaking recently learned techniques and re-learning them is so hard, so always a good move to make sure you sort them out the simplest way.
 
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