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Pics of me using my guitar like a dulcimer...


Greg Bogoshian

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Posted

boggspen1.jpg

 

boggspen2.jpg

 

 

 

Actually, there is technique involved... I can hit individual strings or groups of them. I can also control the "bounce frequency" by how firmly I hold the pen and how long I direct it to the strings. I can also get a unique sound by moving the pen from low E to high E like a rub but doing so during a rapid bounce (like a drum roll). It's pretty remarkable how much control you have and how many different things you can do with it. Also, just as picking, it makes a difference in tone character and "bounce" where you hit the strings (closer to or away from the bridge). Thanks for the pics, TJ!

Also, I added a cathedral effect to the amp. Sustain is forever...

 

Used the technique this past Sunday to rave reviews from the congregation on a Celtic piece we did... I may look into designing, making, and marketing a multi-faceted device for this purpose to achieve different effects... Boggs

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It's not an uncommon (or at least unknown, kinda of like ebowing..."soundscapers" will use it for specia effect) technique among amplified guitarists (electric rock guitarists often will use a drumstick or someetimes a screwdriver)..I like old dental tools..they have metal hex handles that are scored and give you a way to scratch with a bowing motion

 

There is (was??, their website seems down) called the "Hammer Jammer" which has 6 button operated hammers...the tips were interchangible with tips of varying hardness for different sounds

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oh you mean like a hammered dulcimer.i thought it was gonna be laid in your lap like a mountain dulcimer.have you ever tried one of those cedar "hammers",that is used on a hammered dulcimer?might sound interesting.

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most probably, it is (was?) of moderate mechanical complexity (but for the reason of string to string control..it is/was more of a full on deal like the gizmotron or some such)

IIRC is was around $60-ish

abt $20-ish if you

 

 

Try the dental pick for fun/ideas -- the metal can give you a brighter sound, the ridges are fun for little scretchy spiccto-ish sounds, and the weight makes the press rolling effect quite nice

 

maybe a quasi-bow type surface, or even a "babycomb" type bowing surface a'la E Chapman's old plectrum deal

 

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My friend and bass player has a laptop with recording software and he told me he would try and make time to set up at the church and record some clips of it. I'm not sure when we will be able to get to do this, but we will try and capture it...

 

The C980 really is a great playing and remarkably responsive guitar... Mine's got to be about 3 years old or so now. Still love it like the day I got it.

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Originally posted by Greg Bogoshian

I may look into designing, making, and marketing a multi-faceted device for this purpose to achieve different effects... Boggs

Nylon tipped drum sticks. Whatever that type of nylon is on the tips, you may want to consider using it for your proto type. It has a nice bright attack on cymbals. I don't think it would be hard on strings at all. And I think it would last.

 

 

CLIPS!

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Originally posted by Greg Bogoshian

I definitely want it relatively easy on the strings. That rules out the raspy metal for me...

 

 

It's only "raspy" is you "bow" with it..and I really haven't found it to wear (you aren't raking that hard or really that much...think about how you use a horsehair bow -- the string actually slips off the tooth of the horsehair)

 

and you certainly don't HAVE to saw the strings (then it behaves pretty much just as a metal hammer - which gives an interesting tone)

 

give it a shot, you owe it to yourself in the product dev phase!

 

Hint : also try a few diferent weights, it changes the feel

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I fully intend to be able to "weight" them to a customer's wants or to have them be able to. One effect I use is to do a rapid bounce (think snare drum roll) while "sliding" from low E to high E strings while playing a chord. The knurl will not allow that.

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Posted

yup, the press roll we were talking abt earlier - try something the weight of an old dental tool feels good)

 

consider that you were talking abt different facets -- you don't Have to choose, you can do >1 (this could be the value add over th guita player finding his fav object..dental tool, pen, drumstick, thimbles, etc)

 

- dental tools are often hex, so I suppose one could even polish out a couple of the faces

[anyway, give it a try first, I've found it kinda nifty, you may too]

 

Yeah, with the knurling if you slide you get a bowing, so you tilt it like playing arco instruments (course, doesn't work on a classical guit ;) )...works better if you've got a smallish radius

 

I wonder if a softer toothed surface (lmaybe like that used by the pirhaha guitar bow thingy) would be of use

 

 

anyway, just some thoughts from stuff I've run into as you go through prod dev

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Originally posted by air guitar

Cool. Have you ever tried a violin bow? That's fun too.

 

 

I used an old practice cello bow (nastifying the string and the roundwounds catching hair a little)

 

Ever played with a viola da gamba? good fun for guitar players (the bowing's a bitch though)

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