RF Generation Message Board

I was just wondering if any RF Gen members are also musicians. I don't mean professional players, although that's always cool, but hobbyist musicians.

I play the bass. My current rig consists of a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, a Moon fretless, and Rickenbacker 4001 from 1976. To get some sound of these monsters I have a Markbass Little Mark II and matching 2x10 cabinet.

So, if you play an instrument chime in. Let us know about your set up, maybe even show a picture. Maybe if there are enough of us who play we can start up some kind of RF Gen House Band.

My wife used to be in band (played percussion and clarinet) and owns 2 different guitars...

I can play the violin. I'm quite good at it, the thing with me is that I'm an audible learner and can play any music I hear without the use of music sheets.

My music teachers always wondered why I never looked at the notes on the sheet while I played. They never understood that I could memorize music instantly.

But my violin that I have currently is an Antonio Stradivarius violin from the late 1800's. It was my great grand fathers violin he purchased in Europe before he came to the states. Now it's in my possession. 

That's pretty cool! Did they ever make any recordings?

@Razor, I wish I could play by ear. I just go by the key and general feel of the piece. And wow, a Strad... You're one lucky guy.

I do some occasional work as a singer/songwriter. I recorded a single last year at a really nice studio. It was a rather surreal experience, but it turned out great. You can listen to it here (http://soundcloud.com/eriknelsonmusic/sets/new-skin-single/). I played everything except for the fiddle on 'Hard Times'.

I used to play guitar years ago.  I started off with a Squire Strat and then moved to an Ibanez that I never really liked.  I now realize that I should have just bought that Jackson I was looking at, because my dislike of the Ibanez is what made me stop playing.

That's too bad, blcklblskt. You should have have traded in that Ibanez to get the Jackson you always wanted. Any thoughts of picking up the guitar again?

Maybe.  I've always loved the guitar, but I don't have time for it anymore as it is.

Have 4 guitars - 2 acoustic, 2 electric (Fender Strat & Silvertone Les Paul).  Play drums a little.  

I'm lead vocals and rhythm guitar in our band, No More Nevermind.  I also play hand percussion and dabble in electronica and techno.  My main axe switches often; I was using an Epiphone for awhile, but our lead guitarist picked us up an electric-acoustic LAG, some relatively new French series that has a surprisingly rich tone for what it is.  When I solo I play around on my beloved's Ovation or my family heirloom Martin, if I want to destroy my fingertips. :P  We have a decent Strata-copy for more jazzy riffs or harder, pedal driven stuff.

I gotta get back into our practice room...

Play a mean zorbit.

I, uh, I had to look that up.  And now I know that if we are the only two people in the room, I do not want you to demonstrate your talents. :/

Prefer to do it in front of a crowd?

Interesting. But how can that be a "real" Stradivarius? He died in 1737 according to wikipedia. Just wondering.

Antonio Stradivarius is the name of the company based on the founder Antonio Stradivari. Just cause the founder dies doesn't mean the company goes with it.

Heres the origanal leather case. As you can see the sheer age of over 120 years has got to it.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/RazorKnuckles/vionon001.jpg[/img]

This has always been a restoration project that I never seem to get around to. But early next year I will get a bridge and four strings installed on it along with a horse hair replaicment to the original bow.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/RazorKnuckles/vionon008.jpg[/img]

Got a half-assed picture of the inside. Camera doesn't like to focus on the lettering very well. Been a while since I looked inside. Says Antonius Stradivarius, maybe the name is pronounced differently in other countries.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/RazorKnuckles/anti035.jpg[/img]

Hmmm, it's certainly an old violin and of great emotional value to you considering your great-grandfather used to own it. But I don't think there is such thing as the "Antonius Stradivarius" company. Because he was so famous, even during his own lifetime, copies started being made from the 19th century onwards. All with a similar label that Antonio Stradivari used. These copies range from good to poor quality and there are hundreds of thousands of them. Yours probably is one too. But that doesn't make it a bad violin, don't get me wrong. It's just a little misguided to call it a Stradivarius, as if it was made by the man himself. If that were the case, your violin could easily be worth 2-3 millions.

Interesting reads: http://www.holeintheweb.com/drp/bhd/StradivariusViolins.htm and http://artiquesroadshow.com/Stradivarius_Violins.htm

Yeah I never had it appraised so I don't know the exact details of it myself. But it's a interesting piece to have in my possession. I have no plans on selling it, I just want to fix it up and play it. I don't really care for it monetary value, the sentimental value alone is cool enough for me.

If that's an authentic Strad then it's worth BIG money, even in its current condition. I agree that this instrument has significant sentimental value to you. That's great. You can't a price on that.

Having said that, I'd still look into having it authenticated/appraised.

I feel the same about my '76 Rickenbacker. I bought it from a music store employee, who bought it from someone else. It's got some history. The pickgaurd is cracked, the finish has chipped away in certain areas, the back has beautiful buckle rash. It's great!

^ I'm sure it's a copy/replica based on his original design.as Sirgin stated. I'm no professional at telling who exactly made it but it feels very well built and I'm sure it's hand made given the age. Their is a name carved into the neck which isn't anybody I know from my family. Maybe it's from the person that made it?  

Either that or a previous owner. I've never heard of luthiers engraving their mark/name into the neck. Those pieces of info are usually found on the inside of the body. Any pictures?

Inside the body is very hard to take a picture of other than the one I posted earlier, the camera wants to focus on the outside wood more than the label.  half the sticker label inside is deteriorated. As far as the name on the neck I can't quite make it out as it's like a doctors signature and hard to read, almost looks like it says Edna.

[img width=700 height=525]http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/RazorKnuckles/name017.jpg[/img]

Let me start off by saying that's a great looking violin. It's got character and it's fantastic that's it has stayed within the family for so long.

Having a name etched into the fingerboard is weird. My guess is that's a previous owner (student maybe?). But that doesn't change the sentimental value this instrument must have for you.

I'd suggest getting that baby a new new bridge and restringing it as soon as possible. Let me know when that happens and thanks for sharing those pictures.

Yeah I'll get it up and running in the next few months.  I don't want to refinish it as I like the beat up look from it's age. I'm sure it will cost me around $200 to get it playing again.