Chestnuts have been freezing...
Ah, a few moments in front of the computer wife-free, kid-free, responsibility-free... Moments like this are few and far between these days... Kailyn's hanging out with some 'grown-up' friends as they're going shopping, Z's asleep, and Stacey's filling in for a shift up at the Wal - of - greens. I might even be able to squeeze in some much-needed naptime in a few minutes...
So far, December has turned out like every other month, just much colder. But cold is good...we need an occasional sharp contrast to the crazy-hot summers here in Alabama.
Church this morning was awesome. Amber sang the worship set with us for the first time in a while, and...holy smokes...that girl can sing. Her talent and energy really added a great dynamic of energy and musical 'quality' to the set this morning.
Last Saturday, I purchased a new koa-top Taylor T5 up at Guitar Center in Nashville. Though I may be eating Ramen for the next 5 years, I think it will be a great addition to the wall of guitars at my house. Spent this last week tinkering with it and getting used to its versatility. With two humbuckers (one hidden under the fretboard) and a 'body-sensor,' I can sound like an acoustic guitar or scream like an electric one. It was nice just hitting an A/B switch this morning to switch from an acoustic sound to an electric one without having to change instruments. I'll have to snap some pictures of my new toy and post them...
I hate the expense of musical gear. If there's one constant in the universe it's that GOOD musical gear is expensive. The only exception I've found to this rule is the sub $400 Washburn 5-string bass I bought last summer. That thing is great. But generally, you have to spend too much to get something that sounds good.
For example: Years ago (in college when I had little money for anything), I scrounged up $200 to buy my first Alvarez acoustic guitar. I loved it. I was happy with it. It was all I needed. Until...I played my friend's $700 (new in 1996) Guild, which I eventually purchased for $300 from him because it sounded so much better than my Alvarez. Not too shabby...until it was inadvertantly destroyed by a well-intentioned middle school kid (at my old church ) who was simply moving it and dropped it. Nothing like seeing the neck snap off a guitar. Ouch. So I went shopping for a replacement. I played a few within the Guild price-range. Then I played a Taylor 410. Suddenly, my other guitars didn't even seem like real guitars. So...one Saturday (one week after I got married), I bought one. My point? Is there a point? Am I caught in a consumeristic/materialistic trap? I don't think so... Taylor makes many instruments that cost thousands more than my 410 did. But why spend what I did? The Taylor is light years ahead of many cheaper guitars in tone, playability, and even 'collectibility.' I like it so much that I almost literally hate playing any other acoustic guitar. Maybe that makes me a guitar snob. Or maybe I've just seen the difference something's that's truly well-made can do for your music.
So, in an effort to sound good and (thus) craft the best-sounding worship service we can, sometimes you have to splurge. So I splurged in buying the Taylor T5, though I did luck out on buying it during a nice surprise sale event at Guitar Center. What's worse about all this, though, is that before some big changes happen in our church, I may be splurging some more before this is all over with. Yikes.
Anyone have any Ramen recipes they can share with me? Heh...
So far, December has turned out like every other month, just much colder. But cold is good...we need an occasional sharp contrast to the crazy-hot summers here in Alabama.
Church this morning was awesome. Amber sang the worship set with us for the first time in a while, and...holy smokes...that girl can sing. Her talent and energy really added a great dynamic of energy and musical 'quality' to the set this morning.
Last Saturday, I purchased a new koa-top Taylor T5 up at Guitar Center in Nashville. Though I may be eating Ramen for the next 5 years, I think it will be a great addition to the wall of guitars at my house. Spent this last week tinkering with it and getting used to its versatility. With two humbuckers (one hidden under the fretboard) and a 'body-sensor,' I can sound like an acoustic guitar or scream like an electric one. It was nice just hitting an A/B switch this morning to switch from an acoustic sound to an electric one without having to change instruments. I'll have to snap some pictures of my new toy and post them...
I hate the expense of musical gear. If there's one constant in the universe it's that GOOD musical gear is expensive. The only exception I've found to this rule is the sub $400 Washburn 5-string bass I bought last summer. That thing is great. But generally, you have to spend too much to get something that sounds good.
For example: Years ago (in college when I had little money for anything), I scrounged up $200 to buy my first Alvarez acoustic guitar. I loved it. I was happy with it. It was all I needed. Until...I played my friend's $700 (new in 1996) Guild, which I eventually purchased for $300 from him because it sounded so much better than my Alvarez. Not too shabby...until it was inadvertantly destroyed by a well-intentioned middle school kid (at my old church ) who was simply moving it and dropped it. Nothing like seeing the neck snap off a guitar. Ouch. So I went shopping for a replacement. I played a few within the Guild price-range. Then I played a Taylor 410. Suddenly, my other guitars didn't even seem like real guitars. So...one Saturday (one week after I got married), I bought one. My point? Is there a point? Am I caught in a consumeristic/materialistic trap? I don't think so... Taylor makes many instruments that cost thousands more than my 410 did. But why spend what I did? The Taylor is light years ahead of many cheaper guitars in tone, playability, and even 'collectibility.' I like it so much that I almost literally hate playing any other acoustic guitar. Maybe that makes me a guitar snob. Or maybe I've just seen the difference something's that's truly well-made can do for your music.
So, in an effort to sound good and (thus) craft the best-sounding worship service we can, sometimes you have to splurge. So I splurged in buying the Taylor T5, though I did luck out on buying it during a nice surprise sale event at Guitar Center. What's worse about all this, though, is that before some big changes happen in our church, I may be splurging some more before this is all over with. Yikes.
Anyone have any Ramen recipes they can share with me? Heh...
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