D. Anson Brody's Blogs

D. Anson Brody's Blogs http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm Wed, 16 May 2012 02:48:13 GMT http://bandzoogle.com My Best Friends http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=2082082 I know a wise man who was a fool for a girl He wasn't what she pictured but he'd do anything for her She drove him down to the gates of hell nearly threw him in the fire but she saw the truth in his eyes saw all the other ones were liars So they decided to get married have children of their own she said "I'm sorry that I hurt you you know I come from a bad home" Things were so beautiful all chocolate and wine They were so in love they'd laugh and sing into the night Till early one morning watching the sunrise in the park she decided to go swimming but then she swam out way too far He jumped into the lake Screaming please hold on but he got there just too late all that was her was gone and he cried NO no no no no no.... Now I know a shadow of a man who loved a girl and every night he dreams of the breaking of his world and no matter how hard he tries he can't drink away the pain every morning comes with him screaming out her name Cause they were going to be married have children of their own she said "I'm sorry that I hurt you you know I come from a bad home" They were going to be married have children of their own she said "I'm sorry, I do love you you know I come from a bad home" who was a fool for a girl
He wasn't what she pictured
but he'd do anything for her
She drove him down to the gates of hell
nearly threw him in the fire
but she saw the truth in his eyes
saw all the other ones were liars

So they decided to get married
have children of their own
she said "I'm sorry that I hurt you
you know I come from a bad home"

Things were so beautiful
all chocolate and wine
They were so in love
they'd laugh and sing into the night
Till early one morning watching the sunrise in the park
she decided to go swimming
but then she swam out way too far

He jumped into the lake
Screaming please hold on
but he got there just too late
all that was her was gone
and he cried
NO no no no no no....

Now I know a shadow of a man who loved a girl
and every night he dreams
of the breaking of his world
and no matter how hard he tries
he can't drink away the pain
every morning comes with him screaming out her name

Cause they were going to be married
have children of their own
she said "I'm sorry that I hurt you
you know I come from a bad home"
They were going to be married
have children of their own
she said "I'm sorry, I do love you
you know I come from a bad home"

]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 02:48:13 GMT 79958E82205193434B117A8E10AD56C3 I Got It Bad http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1952740 (Chorus)  I got it bad, for you babe got bad, for you babe I got it so bad And this is the only way I know to sooth it (Verse 1)This guitar is the only one I can hold The amplifier keeps me warm Electrified, so I can sing it loud! (Chorus) (Verse 2)The dank clubs are callin the whiskey is pourin Check the microphone, Turn it louder! (Chorus) (Bridge) I Love the people But they ain't you since you been gone all I sing is the blues They say "you gotta move on" But they don't know the truth (Chorus) got bad, for you babe
I got it so bad
And this is the only way I know to sooth it

(Verse 1)This guitar is the only one I can hold
The amplifier keeps me warm
Electrified, so I can sing it loud!

(Chorus)

(Verse 2)The dank clubs are callin
the whiskey is pourin
Check the microphone, Turn it louder!

(Chorus)

(Bridge) I Love the people
But they ain't you
since you been gone
all I sing is the blues
They say "you gotta move on"
But they don't know the truth

(Chorus)
]]> Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:30:00 GMT 79DD07D81C413AE30DC5EB336922BFFB Beloved http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1951004 David means beloved. Love is the price paid for the virtues found in another. Bluebirds are a symbol of spring joy and happiness. Art is how we all truely learn to know each other.
Love is the price paid for the virtues found in another.

Bluebirds are a symbol of spring joy and happiness.

Art is how we all truely learn to know each other.
]]> Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:20:00 GMT 25861E0895CE75FC36418037A824F595 Triumph http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1950923 Yes, I knew Yes, it hurts Yes, still, with all my heart No, I won't forget No, I won't get over it No, I don't hold onto hope I cannot forget how I was forged, and I will not let go of the triumph of my life. Yes, it hurts
Yes, still, with all my heart

No, I won't forget
No, I won't get over it
No, I don't hold onto hope

I cannot forget how I was forged,
and I will not let go of the triumph of my life.

]]> Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:10:00 GMT 633E7E98A0D1DCDA88C58A9C2EECBA91 My Day http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1932179 I can feel the stress poisoning my blood. I can hear the demon saying "give in", and asking for a mercy exchange while he has me by the throat I've tasted the flame of eternity and do not want it nor this life, that celebrates the trite and rewards the cruel. Walking the violent streets of my neighborhood, spring's green triumph peppered with poverty and abuse. I love life too much to kill myself. I hate the values of culture too much to join them. I love a women who is vibrant in my heart. And as I think of her the hate begins to melt stress replaced by sadness. Calm now, I'm just wondering what's next. I can hear the demon saying "give in",
and asking for a mercy exchange while he has me by the throat
I've tasted the flame of eternity and do not want it
nor this life, that celebrates the trite and rewards the cruel.
Walking the violent streets of my neighborhood,
spring's green triumph peppered with poverty and abuse.
I love life too much to kill myself.
I hate the values of culture too much to join them.
I love a women who is vibrant in my heart.
And as I think of her the hate begins to melt
stress replaced by sadness.
Calm now, I'm just wondering what's next.
]]> Sat, 31 Mar 2012 05:40:00 GMT 39C8DE2A3B2E77EC3782DFFB6A53DFBC Uke Complications http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1923774 Hey everyone,       Well, I thought I was finished with the uke but now I've hit a major setback. Firstly the Misi preamp failed inside the instrument and when I tried to install another one it failed also. This tells me that this product is not going to work.  In theory it's perfect. I even designed the instrument around this preamp. In practice though it's next to worthless. This is a major stumbling block because there is nothing else on the market, that I've found anyway, that will work as a replacement. This means that I'm going to have to design a preamp from scratch, pay for and build a prototype, and pay for a small production run. Hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of investment.   I just don't have it and I'm running out of patience. I may just figure out a simple, one off, electronics design to use, reroute the control cavity and never build another one. I'm very frustrated, and for now need to focus my intentions elsewhere.   The up side to all of this is that I can work out little mistakes that I made in the finish and I have the opportunity to add a magnetic pickup if I want. The biggest problem is that I no longer have access to a shop and I don't have tools at home to really do a great job. I'm discouraged but not defeated, I'll work something out. Well, I thought I was finished with the uke but now I've hit a major setback. Firstly the Misi preamp failed inside the instrument and when I tried to install another one it failed also. This tells me that this product is not going to work. In theory it's perfect. I even designed the instrument around this preamp. In practice though it's next to worthless. This is a major stumbling block because there is nothing else on the market, that I've found anyway, that will work as a replacement. This means that I'm going to have to design a preamp from scratch, pay for and build a prototype, and pay for a small production run. Hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of investment. I just don't have it and I'm running out of patience. I may just figure out a simple, one off, electronics design to use, reroute the control cavity and never build another one. I'm very frustrated, and for now need to focus my intentions elsewhere. The up side to all of this is that I can work out little mistakes that I made in the finish and I have the opportunity to add a magnetic pickup if I want. The biggest problem is that I no longer have access to a shop and I don't have tools at home to really do a great job. I'm discouraged but not defeated, I'll work something out.

]]> Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:25:41 GMT DF67064424F7B850B65011A1211ACFEB Finished the First Bluebird http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1802589 So, after nearly 5 months, I've finished the first bluebird uke. It's beautiful and has a very organic sound. The wood combination and the <a target="_new" href="http://mi-si.com/products/">Misi Align preamp really make it sound like an acoustic when amplified with the added bonus of being able to run effects without feedback. Another unexpected bonus is that I can use nylon or steel strings without any problem. There is nothing like this instrument out there and I think building them is worth pursuing as a part time buisness.  I'm working on a kickstarter campaign to get some seed money to get my shop setup. I had to build this one out of other people's shops which was a burden to them because they couldn't work at the same time. I'm thankful for the knowledge they imparted, their shop time, and the materials that they generously donated. A special thanks to Phillip Morris of <a target="_new" href="http://www.spankyukes.com/">Spanky Ukes for opening his shop and for helping me get things right the first time. Here are the final specs on the instrument. Mahogany body core w/purpleheart laminate Burled madrone top and headcap Flame maple neck Macassar ebony fingerboard and bridge Bone nut and saddle 20 3/4 " scale length Gotoh 510 mini tuners Misi align preamp with volume, bass, and treble controls Turquosie inlays and backplate Set neck construction I currently have it tuned in 5ths with two wound and two plain nylon strings.  It's tuned AEBF#.  The tuning is more like a tenor guitar and it technically is a tenor guitar scale but it could just as easily be tuned as a baritone ukulele.   Built with love to honor love.

So, after nearly 5 months, I've finished the first bluebird uke. It's beautiful and has a very organic sound. The wood combination and the Misi Align preamp really make it sound like an acoustic when amplified with the added bonus of being able to run effects without feedback. Another unexpected bonus is that I can use nylon or steel strings without any problem. There is nothing like this instrument out there and I think building them is worth pursuing as a part time buisness. I'm working on a kickstarter campaign to get some seed money to get my shop setup. I had to build this one out of other people's shops which was a burden to them because they couldn't work at the same time. I'm thankful for the knowledge they imparted, their shop time, and the materials that they generously donated. A special thanks to Phillip Morris of Spanky Ukes for opening his shop and for helping me get things right the first time.

Here are the final specs on the instrument.

Mahogany body core w/purpleheart laminate
Burled madrone top and headcap
Flame maple neck
Macassar ebony fingerboard and bridge
Bone nut and saddle
20 3/4 " scale length
Gotoh 510 mini tuners
Misi align preamp with volume, bass, and treble controls
Turquosie inlays and backplate
Set neck construction

I currently have it tuned in 5ths with two wound and two plain nylon strings. It's tuned AEBF#. The tuning is more like a tenor guitar and it technically is a tenor guitar scale but it could just as easily be tuned as a baritone ukulele.

Built with love to honor love.

]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:20:00 GMT 35CD2DEEEBA757EC5800D5B1CD3D01E8 Barely a Man http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1760261 I am a better man and a terrible man. I am a genius and a fool. I am compassionate and disconnected. I am warm. I am cold. I am kind. I am cruel. I am mentally sound while howling at the moon. I am societies disease and cure. I am the culture's most despised and most endeared. I am everything wrapped in nothing. I want to live forever, I want to die tonight. In peace, and in pieces. I've known the breath of eternity that never existed I've known the terrible torment of everlasting love. I've broken into tears of defeat and triumph simultaneously. My face in my hands, I tell you now what you've already known. In a way, I'm barely a piece of the man I once was. In another, I'm a thousand times the man I once was. and a terrible man.
I am a genius
and a fool.
I am compassionate
and disconnected.
I am warm.
I am cold.
I am kind.
I am cruel.
I am mentally sound
while howling at the moon.
I am societies disease and cure.
I am the culture's most despised and most endeared.
I am everything wrapped in nothing.
I want to live forever,
I want to die tonight.
In peace, and in pieces.

I've known the breath of eternity that never existed
I've known the terrible torment of everlasting love.
I've broken into tears
of defeat and triumph simultaneously.
My face in my hands, I tell you now
what you've already known.

In a way, I'm barely a piece of the man I once was.
In another, I'm a thousand times the man I once was.
]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:15:28 GMT ACD65719826980F569283DE29AB16A59 Groundhog Day Edits http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1756831     Today I listened through all of the tracks I'd already recorded.  Some where recorded in a professional studio and some where recorded in a mansion with a portable setup.  Many of them need new vocal tracks and others are complete trash but I was thrilled that many (about 7) of the performances came out perfect and really didn't need much of anything, other than some minor dynamics and eq  tweeks.  About 5 others could have been saved but I really just wasn't feeling the performances so I'm going to use what was good and redo the mediocre stuff.   You just know when it's right.   Listeners know too, it just hits you.    Some stuff I've really got to practice though before I re-record.  For instance "Poison" looses feeling with a metronome and is way to wobbley without it.  I'm just going to have to really hit that one in my practice time.    I also had time to go through some old drum tracks, and I found the raw un-effected files.   I'll be working with them from scratch to do the few songs of mine that really need drums.     Here's my song by song "to do" list for the record.  Obviously I'll eventually have to widdle this list down but right now I'm working on all of these tracks for the album.  There are 20 on the list and the album will likely only be 12-13 of them.  Some favorites may get left off just so they don't stick out so much or because monetarily it just didn't work out.  Start Again-             Done!  It's awsome, one take, live in the mansion, great performance.  Do need to paste in the intro though. Weeping Demon-  Done!  Great little minute-minute and a half long song. Bluebird-                  Done! The best performance of this song ever!  May need violin I actually threw up after singing it in the studio because it was so emotionally wrenching to sing. Dead Mans Boots  Done!  The only cover on the album.  Written by Andrew Delaney Cedar Trees-           Done!  one tiny edit, and maybe some electric violin Old Time Love-       Needs new vocal track, and backup vocal Poison-                    Needs some time in the practice room before recording.  Starting over from scratch.  Zuriel on Violin This Is My Voice-      Needs Better Vocal Take and electric violin.  The vocal track I've got is good but not great. In the name of...-      Needs new vocal tracks.  This is a duet with Daniel KatsuK, Great Escape-          Need to relearn this one and record it with co writer Andrew Delaney   Haven't even started Still Believe-             Sometimes I want drums and sometimes I don't.  Drums are recorded, we'll see what happens. The Entropy-             The version I have might be savable, we'll see.  Still needs electric violin, either way this is my favorite song to play live. Never Too Late-        I've just got un-edited drums right now.  It's Alright-                  Same as above Joe the Snappin Turtle-   I've got two versions I'm working on.  I'll pick the best one.  This one requires a bit more money than the others. FireBreather-              Needs new vocals Meadow's Clean Room Lulaby -  It's recorded, but it's also my first choice to cut Untitled-                     This is a new song that may or may not fit on the record.  I posted the lyrics to it a week or two ago. Nowhere-                   Done!  Much nicer than the live version I released. My Baby Shines       Just waiting for my ukulele to be finished so I can record this one with it. You can always support the album by clicking the donate button on my home page,  Thanks for stopping in.  Stay Tuned! Peace, D. Anson
Some stuff I've really got to practice though before I re-record. For instance "Poison" looses feeling with a metronome and is way to wobbley without it. I'm just going to have to really hit that one in my practice time.    I also had time to go through some old drum tracks, and I found the raw un-effected files. I'll be working with them from scratch to do the few songs of mine that really need drums.

    Here's my song by song "to do" list for the record. Obviously I'll eventually have to widdle this list down but right now I'm working on all of these tracks for the album. There are 20 on the list and the album will likely only be 12-13 of them. Some favorites may get left off just so they don't stick out so much or because monetarily it just didn't work out.

Start Again-             Done! It's awsome, one take, live in the mansion, great performance. Do need to paste in the intro though.

Weeping Demon- Done! Great little minute-minute and a half long song.

Bluebird-                Done! The best performance of this song ever! May need violin I actually threw up after singing it in the studio because it was so emotionally wrenching to sing.

Dead Mans Boots Done! The only cover on the album. Written by Andrew Delaney

Cedar Trees-           Done! one tiny edit, and maybe some electric violin

Old Time Love-       Needs new vocal track, and backup vocal

Poison-                    Needs some time in the practice room before recording. Starting over from scratch. Zuriel on Violin

This Is My Voice-      Needs Better Vocal Take and electric violin. The vocal track I've got is good but not great.

In the name of...-      Needs new vocal tracks. This is a duet with Daniel KatsuK,

Great Escape-          Need to relearn this one and record it with co writer Andrew Delaney   Haven't even started

Still Believe-             Sometimes I want drums and sometimes I don't. Drums are recorded, we'll see what happens.

The Entropy-             The version I have might be savable, we'll see. Still needs electric violin, either way this is my favorite song to play live.

Never Too Late-        I've just got un-edited drums right now.

It's Alright-                  Same as above

Joe the Snappin Turtle- I've got two versions I'm working on. I'll pick the best one. This one requires a bit more money than the others.

FireBreather-              Needs new vocals

Meadow's Clean Room Lulaby - It's recorded, but it's also my first choice to cut

Untitled-                     This is a new song that may or may not fit on the record. I posted the lyrics to it a week or two ago.

Nowhere-                   Done! Much nicer than the live version I released.

My Baby Shines       Just waiting for my ukulele to be finished so I can record this one with it.

You can always support the album by clicking the donate button on my home page, Thanks for stopping in. Stay Tuned!

Peace,
D. Anson

]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:55:00 GMT 67670EBA2F5B9740744A659556B39664 Finally Making Some Headway http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1754859     I'm diving head first into Apple's audio program Logic. It's mostly trial and error with an excellent resource at my disposal (producer Jeff Dahgren) for when I get stuck. He's helped me pick out the plug ins I want to use and now I'm learning, again by trial and error, how to edit and organize the audio. Yesterday I bounced out mixes to three songs.  I like having control and taking my time. So far Jeff has been impressed with my mixes and admits that most people don't get that it's an art of subtlety. I imagine he means that most people over effect and over EQ.  I'm working in the studio's downtime so I'm not taking away from time being spent on the new KatsüK record.  All of us in the KatsuK house are working hard on the record, and live show.  Today we had a pow wow to discuss which tracks will make the album and which ones have to be cut, some tough choices. Me and Jeff also watched a video of our last show and talked about where and how we can improve.  This is all very new to me. I've never worked liked this but I can already tell that it'll be the way I work in the future. I've been looking into what it would cost to build a home studio for myself so that I can at least preproduce and mix myself. There are too many experts in the field and no two say the same thing. I guess, like always, I'll have to educate myself with my own ears.  Stay tuned and if you get a chance check out <a href="http://www.katsuk.com" target="_new">www.katsuk.com www.katsuk.com

]]> Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:10:05 GMT E745AFAA7B9076F81380B4ABE3946348 Solid Body Uke Project - Part #8 http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1744855   Here is my nearly finished uke.  It's getting some coats of a good oil finish. Here's it hanging outside to dry.   Here are a couple of the back, the finish is still drying in these shots.  Check out the copper sheilding.  Check out how those lines come together, beautiful!   Here are the inlay shots.  These make me happy.  The love inlay makes me think Beatles and the bluebird makes me think of happiness.    Damn!  That grain really pops in the sunlight! Getting real close now stay tuned. 
Here is my nearly finished uke. It's getting some coats of a good oil finish. Here's it hanging outside to dry.

Here are a couple of the back, the finish is still drying in these shots. Check out the copper sheilding. Check out how those lines come together, beautiful!

Here are the inlay shots. These make me happy. The love inlay makes me think Beatles and the bluebird makes me think of happiness.

Damn! That grain really pops in the sunlight!

Getting real close now stay tuned.
]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:30:04 GMT 138FD655A8E3F990DBD55D3FFB556D99 Me as AQAL in My Band Project KatsüK http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1719773 I play bass in a band called Katsuk (<a target="_new" href="http://www.katsuk.com">www.katsuk.com)  We're just about ready to release our new album and it is by far the best thing that we've ever done.  For artistic separation I wear a mask, I use three different ones currently, and go under a different name in this group.  I'm a silent character named AQAL.  Click the link under the video to see rewards and support this project.    Please share with your friends and family through word of mouth and through social media like facebook.  Thanks, D.  Anson www.katsuk.com) We're just about ready to release our new album and it is by far the best thing that we've ever done. For artistic separation I wear a mask, I use three different ones currently, and go under a different name in this group. I'm a silent character named AQAL.

Click the link under the video to see rewards and support this project. Please share with your friends and family through word of mouth and through social media like facebook.

Thanks,
D. Anson

]]> Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:30:00 GMT D003EA7598BECAA1423AB7855C530C81 New Box Elder Burl Top http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1711334 Here is a piece of box elder burl I plan on using for an electric bass ukulele.   Beautiful!

]]> Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:17:54 GMT F4058E6F35BC676C53712541D0BFC392 New Song Tenative Lyrics http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1671129 Currently Untitled There was a time when we loved each other Was a time when I called you mine But it's been a while now since you've gone away and it first it was hard but now it's just bittersweet Baby, I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok, yeah I'll be alright It's just them dreams still get to me sometimes Baby I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok yeah I'll be alright I know that you worry bout me sometimes I wish I could say that I'm happy,  you know I try But if you're happy babe then I refuse to cry All my life, everyday I only wish you the best babe Baby, I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok, yeah I'll be alright It's just them dreams still get to me sometimes Baby I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok yeah I'll be alright I know that you worry bout me sometimes There just one thing that i ask babe no, just one thing that I need Please I'm begging you girl please........don't regret me don't regret me please don't regret me Baby, I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok, yeah I'll be alright It's just them dreams still get to me sometimes Baby I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok yeah I'll be alright I know that you worry bout me sometimes Currently Untitled

There was a time when we loved each other
Was a time when I called you mine
But it's been a while now since you've gone away
and it first it was hard but now it's just bittersweet

Baby, I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok,
yeah I'll be alright
It's just them dreams still get to me sometimes
Baby I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok
yeah I'll be alright
I know that you worry bout me sometimes

I wish I could say that I'm happy,
you know I try
But if you're happy babe then I refuse to cry
All my life,
everyday
I only wish you the best babe

Baby, I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok,
yeah I'll be alright
It's just them dreams still get to me sometimes
Baby I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok
yeah I'll be alright
I know that you worry bout me sometimes

There just one thing that i ask babe
no, just one thing that I need
Please I'm begging you girl
please........don't regret me
don't regret me
please don't regret me

Baby, I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok,
yeah I'll be alright
It's just them dreams still get to me sometimes
Baby I'm just writing to say hey I'll be Ok
yeah I'll be alright
I know that you worry bout me sometimes

]]> Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:03:59 GMT 32FC7FE85A69CCCA1E32BADDEEB453B5 Solid Body Uke Project - Part #7 http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1642902   I have sort of lost interest in doing a full step by step photo montage.  Mostly because I've had trouble with my camera, and I've already forgotten to photograph several steps.  But here are a few more in process pics.  This is the headstock shape I chose.     Here's one of the neck all carved.    Here I'm getting ready to route the cavity for the electronics. Using an inlay router because I'm doing this freehand and I want as much control as possible.  Here is the pickup cavity all routed out and wired up.  That is a <a href="http://mi-si.com/products/" target="_new">Mi Si Align preamp.  Couple of notes on this one.  I did'nt leave enough room for the back plate holes so I had to glue a couple of dowels for the covers screws.  Also this preamp is very green as it does not use batteries.  You charge it for 60 seconds to get 8 hours of play time.   Not having to route for a battery saves time, and money.  It also alows me to have a very thin body @ 15/16" Here is a shot of the flush mounted 1/4" jack.  99% of the jacks out there would not fit this instrument again because the body is so thin.  This barrel jack does the trick.  I made three different back plates trying to get the look I wanted.  I made one to match the burled top, I made one that matched the Striped ebony fingerboard and I made one that matched the inlays.  If I were to make these in production I would never use this material because it cracks to easily.  But since this instrument is for me and it's artitsticaly the most satsfying I chose the torquosie.  pretty huh. Here it is places over the electronics cavity.  A nice fit for a hand mad instrument.  Black pickguard screws match the tuners.  I would have been nice to find a black barrel jack so that all of the hardware matched but alas no luck. Here is the bride I made, complete with a roughed in saddle.  The bride is mad of striped ebony and the saddle is made of bone.  These will both be adjusted slighly when I string this baby up for the first time.  The knobs that came with the <a href="http://mi-si.com/products/" target="_new">Misi preamp were just black with red dots.  This didn't play into my Colorado torquise theme.  So I inlayed the tops with some torquise dots.  Turned out great!  Now I've just gotta incorparate a little bit of red elsewhere in the instrument.  hmmm. Here are the torquise inlays.  If you sight down the neck you'll see that one of the dots is slightly off center.  This was done on purpose.  Here is a simple inlay expressing my Love in a playful font.    Don't know what that mark is by the E in this picture but it's not there now.  Here is the head stock with the tuners installed for mock up.  You can also see the torquise bluebird I inlaid, and the roughed in bone nut. I think I found a way to incorparate a little bit of red so that the red line on the knobs won't seem out of place.   Here is a red heart I carved out of a piece of red coral.  It's tiny and the coral was a real pain to work with because it kept chipping.  After a few hours, and some trial and error I got a piece that I like.  It's shown with a dime for scale.  hmm 1991 p,  what was I even doing in 1991.  I was in the 3rd grade, the year I had my first girlfriend.  Kinda funny having the heart and thinking of that year.  Well funny to me anyways.  Moving on. This whole instrument has been designed, built and decorated in honor of my Love and muse.  Her nickname is Bluebird.  She loves Colorado so I chose the torquise, and I've written a love song, to be played on this instrument when it is finished.   Also a Beatles cover because that is her favorite band.  Full shot of the body all mocked up.   I'm waiting on a teeny tiny router bit to finish that headstock inlay but otherwise this is ready for finish.  I'll have to disassemble everything so that I get a nice even finish then glue the bridge on (yes after finish), fret it, set it up, and plug this baby in.   Hopefully by the 1st of the year.

I have sort of lost interest in doing a full step by step photo montage. Mostly because I've had trouble with my camera, and I've already forgotten to photograph several steps. But here are a few more in process pics. This is the headstock shape I chose.

Here's one of the neck all carved.

Here I'm getting ready to route the cavity for the electronics.

Using an inlay router because I'm doing this freehand and I want as much control as possible.

Here is the pickup cavity all routed out and wired up. That is a Mi Si Align preamp. Couple of notes on this one. I did'nt leave enough room for the back plate holes so I had to glue a couple of dowels for the covers screws. Also this preamp is very green as it does not use batteries. You charge it for 60 seconds to get 8 hours of play time. Not having to route for a battery saves time, and money. It also alows me to have a very thin body @ 15/16"

Here is a shot of the flush mounted 1/4" jack. 99% of the jacks out there would not fit this instrument again because the body is so thin. This barrel jack does the trick.

I made three different back plates trying to get the look I wanted. I made one to match the burled top, I made one that matched the Striped ebony fingerboard and I made one that matched the inlays. If I were to make these in production I would never use this material because it cracks to easily. But since this instrument is for me and it's artitsticaly the most satsfying I chose the torquosie. pretty huh.

Here it is places over the electronics cavity. A nice fit for a hand mad instrument. Black pickguard screws match the tuners. I would have been nice to find a black barrel jack so that all of the hardware matched but alas no luck.

Here is the bride I made, complete with a roughed in saddle. The bride is mad of striped ebony and the saddle is made of bone. These will both be adjusted slighly when I string this baby up for the first time.

The knobs that came with the Misi preamp were just black with red dots. This didn't play into my Colorado torquise theme. So I inlayed the tops with some torquise dots. Turned out great! Now I've just gotta incorparate a little bit of red elsewhere in the instrument. hmmm.

Here are the torquise inlays. If you sight down the neck you'll see that one of the dots is slightly off center. This was done on purpose.

Here is a simple inlay expressing my Love in a playful font. Don't know what that mark is by the E in this picture but it's not there now.

Here is the head stock with the tuners installed for mock up. You can also see the torquise bluebird I inlaid, and the roughed in bone nut.

I think I found a way to incorparate a little bit of red so that the red line on the knobs won't seem out of place. Here is a red heart I carved out of a piece of red coral. It's tiny and the coral was a real pain to work with because it kept chipping. After a few hours, and some trial and error I got a piece that I like. It's shown with a dime for scale. hmm 1991 p, what was I even doing in 1991. I was in the 3rd grade, the year I had my first girlfriend. Kinda funny having the heart and thinking of that year. Well funny to me anyways. Moving on.

This whole instrument has been designed, built and decorated in honor of my Love and muse. Her nickname is Bluebird. She loves Colorado so I chose the torquise, and I've written a love song, to be played on this instrument when it is finished. Also a Beatles cover because that is her favorite band.

Full shot of the body all mocked up.   I'm waiting on a teeny tiny router bit to finish that headstock inlay but otherwise this is ready for finish. I'll have to disassemble everything so that I get a nice even finish then glue the bridge on (yes after finish), fret it, set it up, and plug this baby in.   Hopefully by the 1st of the year.
]]> Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:25:00 GMT 3771C15CBF2FAC5DBC996F4F9F672A53 Reason and Madness http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1621390 I think that Love is a reasonable madness. How awful life must be without a reason for madness. I did not forget, celebrate tomorrow but today is reason enough without it. How awful life must be without a reason for madness.
I did not forget, celebrate tomorrow
but today is reason enough without it.

]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:10:26 GMT D3DF6757D95A5351227EA97C0F7EB481 Taylor 8 String Baritone Bridge Repair http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1515077     I pulled my guitar out of the case to jam with my friend Andrew Delaney and I imediatly noticed that the bridge on my 6 month old guitar was comming up, I mean bad!  I've seen this happen to alot of instruments over the years.  Usually it's from letting the guitar get to hot in the summer months.  Hell, I worked on a couple a week when I was working as a guitar repairman.  I didn't freak out because I knew it was a rather simple repair.  I decided to repair this myself because I have a gig this weekend, I don't want to send it to taylor to fix because it would take to long and because I can do a better job.  I could have sent this in for warranty seeing as there was very little glue in this joint, but why?  Just look at how stingey there were.  Ther bridge came right off.  Usually you have to heat up the glue and separate the joint with a painters spatula.  But the problem wasn't that I'd left it out in the heat because I haven't.  The glue didn't slowly heat up and get pried off.  The problem was just a lack of glue.  Under roughly 600 lbs of string tension this joint just failed.      Some very very interesting things to notice with this bridge.  Notice the rout along the outer edge. This means that the outer edges aren't actually glued direcly to the wood like it normally would be.  From a fit and finish point of view this is BRILLIANT!  Because A.  There is more room for error when chiselling off the finish.  Because see the bridge goes on after it's gone through the whole finishing process.  B.  It means that the finish will be less likely to crack around the bridge as the guitar ages and bellies.  And C it just makes for a tighter looking joint when the guitar is brand new and under extreme scrutinty by potential customers.  I will difinetely be bringing a large photo of this to the next luthiers meeting.  Also notice the three locator pins located on either side of the bridge pin holes and in front and center.  Not dowels just locator pins to help place the bridge and to help keep it from slipping while clamped up.  Again brilliant design.  Also notice the toothing done to the top.  This helps give the glue more to bite onto.  Well, when there is glue! I decided to make some improvements while I had the bridge off.  Basically I pulled out the nylon locator pins I flattened the bottom of the bridge, no more cool micro rout.  Scored the shape of the full bridge into the finish, Scapped off the finish that was around the edges of the joint.  Cleaned off the old glue from both surfaces, Upgraded glues from a pv glue(titebond/or elmers wood glue) to hide glue.* I then reset the nylon locator pins And clamped the freshly glued joint.  (it takes an acoustic guitar specific clamp) *_On a side note hide glue has been used for centuries on everything from violins to ukuleles. It requires a few extra steps to work with and it has a relatively short shelf life in it's raw granulated form. Hide glue also only gives you a few minutes to clamp up, but it is sonically and structurally superior to other glues because it doesn't take in moisture from the air, it suctions as it dries and it dries hard like glass instead of plastic-y like other glues. If you want to know more, google instrument making with hide glue. Here is a link to a site that shows the basic process. <a target="_new" href="http://fingerlakesguitarrepair.com/pages/repair-descriptions/bridge/bridge-reglue/taylor-410-bridge-reglue.php">http://fingerlakesguitarrepair.com/pages/repair-descriptions/bridge/bridge-reglue/taylor-410-bridge-reglue.php Turned out great.  Sounds good!

    I pulled my guitar out of the case to jam with my friend Andrew Delaney and I imediatly noticed that the bridge on my 6 month old guitar was comming up, I mean bad! I've seen this happen to alot of instruments over the years. Usually it's from letting the guitar get to hot in the summer months. Hell, I worked on a couple a week when I was working as a guitar repairman. I didn't freak out because I knew it was a rather simple repair. I decided to repair this myself because I have a gig this weekend, I don't want to send it to taylor to fix because it would take to long and because I can do a better job. I could have sent this in for warranty seeing as there was very little glue in this joint, but why? Just look at how stingey there were. Ther bridge came right off. Usually you have to heat up the glue and separate the joint with a painters spatula. But the problem wasn't that I'd left it out in the heat because I haven't. The glue didn't slowly heat up and get pried off. The problem was just a lack of glue. Under roughly 600 lbs of string tension this joint just failed.

   Some very very interesting things to notice with this bridge. Notice the rout along the outer edge. This means that the outer edges aren't actually glued direcly to the wood like it normally would be. From a fit and finish point of view this is BRILLIANT! Because A. There is more room for error when chiselling off the finish. Because see the bridge goes on after it's gone through the whole finishing process. B. It means that the finish will be less likely to crack around the bridge as the guitar ages and bellies. And C it just makes for a tighter looking joint when the guitar is brand new and under extreme scrutinty by potential customers. I will difinetely be bringing a large photo of this to the next luthiers meeting. Also notice the three locator pins located on either side of the bridge pin holes and in front and center. Not dowels just locator pins to help place the bridge and to help keep it from slipping while clamped up. Again brilliant design. Also notice the toothing done to the top. This helps give the glue more to bite onto. Well, when there is glue!

I decided to make some improvements while I had the bridge off. Basically
I pulled out the nylon locator pins
I flattened the bottom of the bridge, no more cool micro rout.
Scored the shape of the full bridge into the finish,
Scapped off the finish that was around the edges of the joint.
Cleaned off the old glue from both surfaces,
Upgraded glues from a pv glue(titebond/or elmers wood glue) to hide glue.*
I then reset the nylon locator pins
And clamped the freshly glued joint. (it takes an acoustic guitar specific clamp)

*_On a side note hide glue has been used for centuries on everything from violins to ukuleles. It requires a few extra steps to work with and it has a relatively short shelf life in it's raw granulated form. Hide glue also only gives you a few minutes to clamp up, but it is sonically and structurally superior to other glues because it doesn't take in moisture from the air, it suctions as it dries and it dries hard like glass instead of plastic-y like other glues. If you want to know more, google instrument making with hide glue.

Here is a link to a site that shows the basic process.
http://fingerlakesguitarrepair.com/pages/repair-descriptions/bridge/bridge-reglue/taylor-410-bridge-reglue.php

Turned out great. Sounds good!

]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT AC50F30AE6FDA67AAF790A46EC43E6F1 Be Real For Fuck's Sake http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1508265 The Love is slipping. The desire is leaving. Eveywhere I go it's meaningless Simple nothing paid in gold Same old licks Same old beat Ripped off tone and style Same trite melodies More copy cat than creation Lackluster passion or simple mindedness I hate it Show me something real Bleed it out on the guitar the mic the drums the accordian hell just give me something because I'm loosing it Loosing Love Loosing inspiration and perspiration. I just want something real. Please just give me something real. Keep your God Damn Stevie Ray guitar Or nirvana lead vocal Or Metallica guitar crap Keep your R&B Circle jerk Keep your regurgitated Jazz your Rockabilly fashion and disjointed songwriting I DON'T BELIEVE YOU Try something new Try something a little weird Try being honest Try being Real Just try Spend the time Fucking TRY Because the Love is slipping. The desire is leaving. Everywhere I go it's meaningless Simple nothing paid in gold. The desire is leaving.
Eveywhere I go it's meaningless
Simple nothing paid in gold

Same old licks
Same old beat
Ripped off tone and style
Same trite melodies
More copy cat than creation
Lackluster passion
or simple mindedness
I hate it
Show me something real
Bleed it out on the guitar
the mic
the drums
the accordian hell
just give me something
because I'm loosing it
Loosing Love
Loosing inspiration
and perspiration.
I just want something real.
Please just give me something real.

Keep your God Damn Stevie Ray guitar
Or nirvana lead vocal
Or Metallica guitar crap
Keep your R&B Circle jerk
Keep your regurgitated Jazz
your Rockabilly fashion
and disjointed songwriting
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU
Try something new
Try something a little weird
Try being honest
Try being Real
Just try
Spend the time
Fucking TRY

Because the Love is slipping.
The desire is leaving.
Everywhere I go it's meaningless
Simple nothing paid in gold.

]]> Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:40:00 GMT A3C1479E1755AE5B479825F75BBAB594 How Can I Forget? http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1499756 How can I forget when I play with children. How can I forget when I hold a friend's baby. How can I forget how you opened these places in my heart. How can I forget when I feel fuller and more empty at the same time. How can forget? when my dreams shake my soul. Dreams of souls and bodies entwined, your motherly glow your belly and all of the Love that this world can hold. It's supposed to be wrong you're taken that's it. Someone else then? Love someone else then? I try, I do but how can I forget? Honesty won't let me, and even when I lie to myself my dreams remind me. when I play with children.
How can I forget
when I hold a friend's baby.
How can I forget
how you opened these places in my heart.
How can I forget
when I feel fuller and more empty at the same time.

How can forget?
when my dreams shake my soul.
Dreams of souls and bodies entwined,
your motherly glow
your belly
and all of the Love that this world can hold.

It's supposed to be wrong
you're taken
that's it.
Someone else then?
Love someone else then?
I try, I do
but how can I forget?
Honesty won't let me,
and even when I lie to myself
my dreams remind me.

]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:34:48 GMT 6969798A745C5CAB2E4F9438DC8AD2F2 We'll Watch http://dansonbrody.com/blog.cfm?feature=1279796&postid=1493782 You are the wind and I am solid fire. Together, we'll watch the world burn. You are the sweet light of divinity and I keep the porch light of our soul. Together, we'll watch the darkness beg for mercy. You are marvelous. I am passionate. Together, the heavens are suspended in awe. Acending bird of Love, risen from the ashes of haste. You are the keeper of fate and the filler of my soul. You are the wind and I am solid fire Together, we"ll watch this world burn. We'll watch the world burn. and I am solid fire.
Together,
we'll watch the world burn.

You are the sweet light of divinity
and I keep the porch light of our soul.
Together,
we'll watch the darkness beg for mercy.

You are marvelous.
I am passionate.
Together,
the heavens are suspended in awe.

Acending bird of Love,
risen from the ashes of haste.
You are the keeper of fate
and the filler of my soul.

You are the wind
and I am solid fire
Together,
we"ll watch this world burn.
We'll watch the world burn.

]]> Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:15:00 GMT 17C3AA6A434EA572622F5571D4687307