John's Other Blog

My Travel Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:54:00 +0000

This is a Yamaha silent steel-string guitar; you listen with earphones while playing and it sounds wonderful. It is my hotel room companion when I'm in Egypt.

Road Hog Jimmy Capps

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:21:00 +0000

by Jimmy Capps, written by Jerry Smith

Gibson Girl

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Written by Billy Byrd (1920-2001) famous as guitarist with Ernest Tubb and the Texas Troubadors

Chattanoogie Bound

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:13:00 +0000

A tune composed by Jimmy Capps, a long-time Nashville session guitarist and Grand Ole Opry staff musician

iPod Touch 3rd Generation

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:50:00 +0000

I just bought one of these. I wanted a lightweight device for displaying thumbnail photos from my web page when I'm on a buying trip, so I can quickly determine whether I have an item or not when considering a purchase. My web site has over 2,000 different varieties of the items I expect to see on my next trip, so this will be a convenient reference in places where I know there will be no Internet access. This tool allows me to create a nice index of thumbnails that is exactly what I had in mind, so I'm pleased with it for that reason. There are other things I'm not that pleased about.

Right out of the box I'm hit with something I don't like because if I want to use my iPod Touch for any purpose whatsoever I have to use an iTunes interface on my desktop computer to load media onto it. To do that, just to install the iTunes application I have to give Apple a "payment method" IN ADVANCE before I can do anything else. Apple has already sold me a pricey piece of hardware, but now before I can even use it I have to set myself up for more payments by putting my pocketbook on the line with this "payment method." This portends some other nasty things.

There is nothing really objectionable about the way iTunes provides a channel for moving pictures from my web site to the iTouch. Still, I can't just use the iTouch as free hard drive space where I can name all the folders myself and move or remove image files with basic Windows commands. I have to use a new set of Apple applications, folders and commands with far fewer choices.

I compare this iTunes tool for capturing shoppers to other portable devices such as the ones Creative makes that just give you storage space with some simple media player functions. No iTunes! Apple should give users options for loading their media with or without iTunes, with or without providing Apple with a "payment method" and with or without using Apple's plan for organizing their media instead of their own. I know Apple is not open to suggestions like that (if it were the iPhone would be sold with an unlocked option) but it needs to be said anyway.

It amazes me people are willing to pay such high prices for Apple devices without getting for their money versatile and flexible tools they truly own themselves. This is what "style" mania does to people: put me in handcuffs, but make me look good! (I didn't have any of my own ideas anyway)

There is no reason why an iPod Touch can't access the internet using its USB connection, but for some reason Apple chose to make it wifi only. That makes it more difficult for me to prepare mine for a road trip with my home configuration, because I don't use wifi here for security reasons. For the price it should not have this limitation.

The audio department is where Apple gets most most egregiously meddlesome. In the big computer world one can take any mp3 file and put it in any directory with one's chosen directory name. Not with an "iTouch." Your mp3 files have a "media type" definition (which you don't even see--or need to see--in Windows or Unix) which can be audiobook, music, nothing and one or two other things. If your file's media type is "audiobook," it has to go into Apple's audiobook folder, like it or not. If your file's media type is "music," it has to go into Apple's music folder, too bad if you'd rather put it someplace else.

If the "media type" is undefined (nothing), the file goes into the music folder whether you like it or not because that's the default. There is no way to put such files where they belong if where they belong happens to be the audiobooks folder. If the media type is "music" or "audiobook" you can change it. For anyone with lots of of mp3 files this is a needless inconvenience, but at least it is an option. If the media type is undefined (which if frequently true of the audiobooks available on the librivox site), the file automatically goes into the music directory on an Apple iPod Touch and can't be moved somewhere else; this can't be changed without reloading or recreating the file from scratch.

If the mp3 files you are working with are audio book recordings with an undefined media type definition and you don't want them mixed with other music files, the only option on this iPod Touch device is to create a playlist named after the title of the book. They'll still be mixed with the music files, but as a playlist you'll be able to access them separately.

This scheme is unnecessarily rigid. The mp3 format designers probably had reasons why the mp3 media type definition is useful but if it is useful it should be used to optimize sound quality and access. It should not be used to prevent users from deciding what folders to use for their media. The inability to name folders is bad enough.

For now this is the only tool I know about that lets me make the kind of pocket photo index I want, but when I find something else that does the same thing but works more like a computer that belongs to me instead of someone else's selling platform and style widget I'll convert to that and drop this.

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

HanK Garland Sugarfoot Rag

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Julie Andrews By the Light of the Silvery Moon

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:13:00 +0000

From my record collection

Janet Tavakoli on Current Financial Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Tavakoli got her Iranian name through marriage. She's a major financial expert from Chicago. She talks here in simple engaging language about what is behind the current financial crisis.

Sabor a Mi

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:45:00 +0000

by Alvaro Carrillo

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:23:00 +0000

For me this hymn is a universal musician's prayer. The lyrics were written in 1757 by Robert Robinson, who was a Methodist minister, when he was 22 years of age. The music is an American public domain tune known as "Nettleton" written in the 19th century by Asahel Nettleton.

My 15 Guitars

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Epiphone Texan FT79N SN 34586 (1961)

I bought this one in second-hand in 1969 in Norman Oklahoma. It is one of my oldest possessions and still my favorite guitar. I replaced the original tuners and bridge very early on and the bracing on the top has been modified twice by a couple of different luthiers to give it a livelier sound. It has been through a lot with me and has plenty of wear and tear to show for it. It has a beautiful tone, but it is not loud enough to be heard unamplified over a lot of other instruments.

Suzuki SST-20CS SN YO801002507

I bought this one in Egypt in April 2008. I got it so I would have a guitar while there. I used it to make this unamplified YouTube video in my hotel room:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTny0WQgIqE

It was very cheap, but made by a company that has many years experience building guitars. It was made to look and sound like a Fender Stratocaster but at a small fraction of the cost. The action, tuning and setup with the rosewood fingerboard are perfect and it is a joy to play. This model is not sold in the US.

Yamaha Silent Guitar

I bought this one in Cairo too in 2009. It is a better travel guitar than the Suzuki because it breaks down better and weighs less. You listen with earphones while playing. I tried to make a midi pickup work with it but did not succeed.

Mexican Midi Stratocaster

My reason for buying this one was to use midi technology for making guitar tablature and sheet music. I haven't learned how to do that yet, but it is fun playing it with midi patches and making unlikely sounds with a guitar.

Nicholas Mushkin Classical Guitar 1973

This one came from a classified ad found in the early 80s after I moved to Michigan. I paid too much for it and have never played it that much although it has a beautiful rich tone.

Taylor 810 1986 SN 4475

I got this one at Elderly Instruments. I needed a louder guitar because I was playing at weekly public jam sessions in a bar where amplification was not allowed and all the fiddles, banjos and other guitars were drowning out the sound of my old Epiphone. This was in 1986, and the other guitarists had never heard of Taylor at that time, so a lot of people were curious about it. I have played it a lot and it has gotten pretty battered. It has a crack in the top caused by changes in humidity, which I have had closed and sealed.

Taylor Dan Crary 1997

I got this one at Elderly Instruments too. It is has a great sound with lots of volume. I have mainly used it at the same public jam session. The cutaway was my main reason for buying it and after I got this one I pretty much stopped using the 810. It also has a crack in the top caused by changes in the humidity, which I have also had closed and sealed.

Peerless Cremona 2008 SN0807649

I got this one because I wanted to have a guitar designed to play jazz. I am not good at playing jazz, but I wanted to have the right sound for it. The Cremona has a carved maple top and maple back and sides, with ebony fingerboard, tailpiece, tuner handles and pickguard. I played it in this YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvok2FZ0ST0

Peerless Tonemaster 2008 SN PE0603522

I got this one because it looks like a Gretsch, and in fact has most of the characteristics of a Gretsch 6120. Peerless makes guitars for Gretsch and uses the same build quality for its own guitars. This one has beautiful tone and plays very smoothly.

Peerless Renaissance 2007 SN PE0711445

Epiphone Casino VS 2004 R04H0577

The Peerless Renaissance and the Epiphone Casino are both made by Peerless and are essentially the same guitar with a few minor differences of detail, most noticeably the binding on the Peerless, which is more elaborate. They both have the same jack location on the top of the guitar, the same type of inlay on the neck and the same body shape and size. This guitar is made in the same shape and configuration as the old Gibson ES 330. An earlier Kalamazoo version of the Casino was made famous by the Beatles who used it on stage and in the studio.

Peerless Imperial 2009 PE0903240

The Peerless Imperial has a solid carved spruce top with maple back and sides, ebony fingerboard, tuner knobs, tailpiece and pickguard. It has a warmer sound than the Cremona and is also a little bit louder. The headstock on both the Imperial and the Cremona resembles the headstock design used by the late great American luthier Jimmy D'Aquisto, who worked for a time with Fender Guitars. I believe Peerless is still partly owned by Fender.

Eastman Oval Hole Archtop AR904 2008 SN2868

This guitar was made by the Eastman String Company in Beijing China. It has a warm sound that projects nicely. It has an arched solid carved spruce top, maple back and sides, ebony tuner handles, pickguard, fingerboard and tailpiece. I used it for this YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c7g2YB27fU

Eastman AR910CE 2008 SN 3847

This is the loudest of my archtop guitars and one that I really love to play. Like the AR904 it is made with a carved spruce top, maple back and sides, ebony tuner handles, pickguard, fingerboard and tailpiece.

Stars Fell on Alabama

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Playing My Peerless Cremona Guitar

Over the Rainbow / Donna Lee

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:34:00 +0000

Sayeh/Runaway

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:41:00 +0000

Two songs by Siavash Ghomeyshi and Del Shannon

Khayyam Quatrain with Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:32:00 +0000

12th Century Poetry from Iran

Drinking wine and being happy is my custom

Being far away from religion and unbelief is my religion

I asked the bride of time "what is your dowry?"

She said "my dowry is your happy heart."

Mississippi Mud Larry Hooper

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:12:00 +0000

From a 1958 Lawrence Welk Show

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

Marshall Royal I'm Beginning to See the Light

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:11:00 +0000

From a 1978 Lawrence Welk Show; song by Irving Berlin

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

Masti and Rye Whiskey (Hayedeh and Tex Ritter)

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:21:00 +0000

Two songs by two wonderful singers, both no longer with us

Just Another Broken Heart (Carter Family)

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Written by A.P. Carter, recorded by the Carter Family

Windin Boy

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Arranged by Iran Buchanan from Jelly Roll Morton

Bolivar Blues

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:09:00 +0000

A Tune by Thelonious Monk

I made this as a ringtone.

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

Donna Lee

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:56:00 +0000

a Song by Charlie Parker

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

Chords Gol-e Goldoon-e Man

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:47:00 +0000

Em B7 Em
gole goldoone man shekaste dar baad
Em B7 Em
to bia ta delam nakarde faryad
Em B7 Em
gole shabboo dige shabboo nemide
Em B7 Em
ki goole shabboo ro az shaakhe chide
Em Am D G C
goosheye asemoon, pore ranginkamoon
C B7 Em
man mese tariki, to mesle mahtab
Em Am D G C
age baad az sare, zolfe to nagzare
C B7 Em
man miram gom misham too jangale khaab
Em Am D G C
gole goldoone man, maahe eyvoone man
C B7 Em
az to tanha shodam, cho maahi az aab
Em Am D G C
gole har arezoo, rafte az rango boo
C B7 Em
man shodam roodkhoone, delam ye mordab
Em D
asemoon abi mishe, amma gole khorshid
D C B7
roo shaakhehaye bid, delesh migire
Em D
darre mahtabi mishe, amma gole mahtab
D C B7
az berkehaye khaab, bala nemire
Am Em
to ke das takoon midi, be setare joon midi
B7 Em
mishkofe gol az gole baagh
Am Em
vaghti cheshmaat ham miad, do setare kam miad
B7 Em B7
misooze shaghayegh az daagh
Em Am D G C
gole goldoone man, maahe eyvoone man
C B7 Em
az to tanha shodam, cho maahi az aab
Em Am D G C
gole har arezoo, rafte az rango boo
C B7 Em
man shodam roodkhoone, delam ye mordab

1954 Fender Stratocaster

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:26:00 +0000

From a September 2008 Antiques Road Show; Appraisal by David Bonsey

Anacani Guadalajara

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:54:00 +0000

John's Other Blog

My Travel Guitar

This is a Yamaha silent steel-string guitar; you listen with earphones while playing and it sounds wonderful. It is my hotel room companion when I'm in Egypt.

Road Hog Jimmy Capps

by Jimmy Capps, written by Jerry Smith

Gibson Girl

Written by Billy Byrd (1920-2001) famous as guitarist with Ernest Tubb and the Texas Troubadors

Chattanoogie Bound

A tune composed by Jimmy Capps, a long-time Nashville session guitarist and Grand Ole Opry staff musician

iPod Touch 3rd Generation

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

HanK Garland Sugarfoot Rag

Julie Andrews By the Light of the Silvery Moon

From my record collection

Janet Tavakoli on Current Financial Crisis

Tavakoli got her Iranian name through marriage. She's a major financial expert from Chicago. She talks here in simple engaging language about what is behind the current financial crisis.

Sabor a Mi

by Alvaro Carrillo

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

My 15 Guitars

Stars Fell on Alabama

Playing My Peerless Cremona Guitar

Over the Rainbow / Donna Lee

Sayeh/Runaway

Two songs by Siavash Ghomeyshi and Del Shannon

Khayyam Quatrain with Guitar

12th Century Poetry from Iran

Mississippi Mud Larry Hooper

From a 1958 Lawrence Welk Show

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

Marshall Royal I'm Beginning to See the Light

From a 1978 Lawrence Welk Show; song by Irving Berlin

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

Masti and Rye Whiskey (Hayedeh and Tex Ritter)

Two songs by two wonderful singers, both no longer with us

Just Another Broken Heart (Carter Family)

Written by A.P. Carter, recorded by the Carter Family

Windin Boy

Arranged by Iran Buchanan from Jelly Roll Morton

Bolivar Blues

A Tune by Thelonious Monk

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

Donna Lee

a Song by Charlie Parker

Visit the Movie Poster Page!

Chords Gol-e Goldoon-e Man

1954 Fender Stratocaster

From a September 2008 Antiques Road Show; Appraisal by David Bonsey

Anacani Guadalajara

From a 1975 Lawrence Welk Show