Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/16/2014:  05:11:41

Bill,

Come on down!!!

Paul,

Thanks, sometime when I go up to Aurora to visit Bill I'll make sure and make that a planned stop.

Ian,

Thanks

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/16/2014:  05:26:19

Dan

When your making the loop from Paris to Chicago, and Aurora, you would be welcome to take a travel break at my house.

Kaelri - Posted - 04/16/2014:  06:14:49

Yes, indeed, then after you are rested up from Dave's house, you can come past my 100-plus yr old house in Southern Michigan and help my husband finish up that long awaited bathroom ! 

Oh yes......and if you need someplace to store all those "too many" banjos you might have in Paris, then, you can drop some off here for safe-keeping. 

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/16/2014:  09:23:06

Dan

I won't need your able assistance on any projects, just picking, beverage, and a break from miles and miles.

And I also would be willing to "store" some of those extra banjos that are cluttering up your space.          

Edited by - Dave1climber on 04/16/2014 09:25:27

Kaelri - Posted - 04/16/2014:  12:30:33

Dave! You used more  than I did! Not fair! Are you trying to sway Dan to leave more "extra" banjos at your house??? huh? Are ya???

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/16/2014:  12:38:08

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kaelri

Dave! You used more  than I did! Not fair! Are you trying to sway Dan to leave more "extra" banjos at your house??? huh? Are ya???

 

---

NOOOO,       well maybe             

Kaelri - Posted - 04/16/2014:  18:46:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dave1climber

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kaelri

Dave! You used more  than I did! Not fair! Are you trying to sway Dan to leave more "extra" banjos at your house??? huh? Are ya???

 

---

NOOOO,       well maybe             

---

AH HA! I knew it! hahahaha

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/16/2014:  19:36:19

Alright kids,

behave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I get up anywhere near y'all I'll stop by!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/16/2014:  19:47:26

DOTTIN'

Today I made a bunch more dots for the pointillist style banjo. It is not a difficult job, just time consuming.

This is how I do it.

First I make several small hardboard panels (these are 4'X4').

Next I choose material from which I will make dots...

And glue it to the panels...

This is one of the core drills I've customized for my dot making...

And drill them out.

MORE SOON!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/18/2014:  05:40:57

INVENTORY DAY

Another busy day past and another one expected for today.

Thursday;

2 bridge pulls & re-glues

1 set up with new bone saddle (shop made)

Dot inventory

preparation for re-gluing a loose brace in an an F-5 style mandolin

Band practice... just before which I learned that our guitar player had an accident at work with burns on his leg and foot.

Today;

Post on BHO (doing it now)

Dotting fingerboard on dotted neck

2 setups

call Mark

clean up and stringing of the new bridge glues.

color spray on Les Paul neck repair

order more dots

clean shop.

Eat sushi

Work on booking

Post on BHO...

I suppose the above list is as much for me as it is for anyone... it reminds me of just what I need to accomplish today!

I did make a photo of my current dot inventory...

More soon!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/18/2014:  05:53:58

Dan

Your list of things done, and to do is impressive as is that inventory of dots.  Thanks for all of your posts,and don't forget to drink the coffee.

Dave

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/18/2014:  06:03:07

Dave, 

I'm on my second cup!

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 04/18/2014:  06:06:22

Sorry to read about the accident.  Hope the burns are minor.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/18/2014:  20:37:56

Kirk,

They are second degree burns on one leg and foot. We are not sure how long it will keep him down yet.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/18/2014:  20:54:34

FRIDAY

BACK AT THE FARM

Well folks I got most of my to do list completed including helping make and eat a bunch of sushi for dinner tonight. Our neighbors across the street Jim & Fiona Jackson, Eagen Snow and our grandson Chandan joined us for the party. We made so much that although everyone ate their fill, there were a few rolls left over. So with a still full tummy I am attempting to compose this missive...

Tis drillin' and installin' dots is becoming obsessive! I walk into the shop and all I wish to do is drill, glue & dot, drill, glue & dot!

My grandson came by to give me a lesson on sanding! He really is a good helper!

After a bunch more dots the land mass to the right and the blue is finally beginning to take shape....

Here is an interesting brace jack I had to come up with to be able to reglue the treble brace on this mandolin. It is a hinged cam affair which allowed me to put the brace under pressure. Push down on the handle and the bas rotates to apply pressure .One c-clamp and this jack held the brace in place as the glue dried.

More soon!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/19/2014:  07:56:50

That fingerboard is starting to really glow...very nice. Won't ask how many dots...!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/19/2014:  15:11:40

Doug,

Ask away...

I have no idea...

and I don't really want to know.

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 04/19/2014 15:12:01

Dan Drabek - Posted - 04/19/2014:  15:41:53

Hey Dan, Judging by counting the number of dots in a central fret and multiplying by the number of frets--I 'd guess you'll be inlaying at least 1500 dots. Not for the weak of heart.

Maybe you could have a contest, to guess the number of inlays. Like naming the jelly beans in the jar. 

DD

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/19/2014:  22:29:42

Oh Goodness Dave if I did that I'd have to count the dots first! 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/20/2014:  08:32:20

SATURDAY

BACK AT THE FARM

Today I'm getting a late start.

I met one of my prize students Jon Eaton at the Holladay, Tennessee Banjo Fiddle contest. We had a great time. Jon entered his first banjo contest, did great playing Bela's Big Country and my Peking in on You and came in 4th. If he only knew how many times early in my contesting I would scratch! I am very proud of him!

I've been meaning to post a photo of this thimble that I received from John Ellington. It is sterling silver and is as fine a pick as I have ever used.

Years ago I would turn a steel finger pick backwards (like Grandpa Jones did), the tone was a bit brash and harsh. Then I moved to gluing on fake fingernails, the tone was better but they would last no time at all. Next I started forming Fender heavy tortoise shell picks into a fingernail shape and gluing them on, this black looking nail created quite a stir every time some one saw it. Then nearly twenty years ago Mark Johnson suggested going to a nail tech and having acrylic nails applied, the tone is like a natural nail but it sure lasts a lot longer for me.

Recently though John Ellington sent me a set of his silver picks. I now carry these with me all the time. For the 3-finger (bluegrass) tunes I use his standard finger picks. When I want a bit more of an edge or cut for clawhammer I'll cover my nail with one of his thimbles. They are way more comfortable than using a steel pick and the tone is much more pleasing. I am still using my nails for the classical pieces and the more intimate clawhammer tunes but these picks have become a valuable tool.

Saturday at Ye Ole' Lutherie Shop Kevin and I are laying out a spruce board for braces.

Most of the brace wood we use comes from a local lumber  yard (Paris Building Supply or Lakeway Lumber). It takes a lot of searching to find usable lumber but for me the search is part of the enjoyment of this trade.

After the piece is laid out for cutting, pieces are cut from the board then hand split into brace blanks. The blanks are planed into usable sizes and tested for stiffness. Often times at this point we find that the bracewood that we have worked so hard on is only usable for kindling. This turned out to be true for much of this board.

Today Jason shaped the splining ( the wood that joins the two halves of a guitar back), then glued braces to his guitar back, cut out his top and sanded it to thickness...All in all a great morning.

I realize it may appear that I only work these boys, but here the truth is told... My grandsons Keaton and Braden outside on a marvelous spring day with their water squirting tools!

More soon!

Nels - Posted - 04/20/2014:  18:12:32

Now if those boys would fill those 'water squirting' tools with white wash and do the fence!!  I bet they could get the whole neighborhood involved and be done in no time!

Shades of TomSawyer!

steveh_2o - Posted - 04/21/2014:  08:19:50

Dan,

Thanks for taking a look at my tin can Saturday at Holladay. It made my night when you and Rob Pearcy managed to get some music out of it!


Steve

jeaton12 - Posted - 04/22/2014:  07:39:19

I wanted to thank Dan for helping me get through my 1st banjo competition. We had a good time

Here is the video of our clawhammer version of Bela's "Big Country" if anyone would like to see:

youtube.com/watch?v=gYtwqIDxdUs

Nels - Posted - 04/22/2014:  10:23:29

youtube.com/watch?v=gYtwqIDxdUs

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/22/2014:  18:36:44

Nels,

If I had been out earlier I'd have caught all of the neighborhood kids carryin' on havin' a BIG TIME!

Steve,

It was great to see you and your dad at the contest. Your Tin Can Cutie is too much!

Jon,

Thanks for posting that clip. It reiterated to me just how well your truly played!

Nels,

Thanks for posting that link, you made my life much easier.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/22/2014:  18:58:51

GETTIN' READY FER THE RIBBER

Early, early, early tomorrow morning Eddie and I head out for Vicksburg to climb on the Queen of the Mississippi.

This week has flashed by...

Spending time with Deborah, shop working, practicing, fooling with grandkids, sewing buttons on britches, learning (again) to tie a bow tie, yard working and sleeping... all is packed and now it's time to head out again.

Monday my daughter Amy came over and trimmed my tresses!

She did a great job considering what she had to work with...

 Here is"Fast EDDIE" and me loading the van tonight.

By the way, "Fast Eddie" is the name the guests on the last cruise crowned him with, justifiably! He can be one of the faster bass players I've ever worked with. I think the name is a sticker!

Now it's time to hit the hay and try to get some shut eye the 2:30 alarm is already sounding in my mind. I'm glad we are loaded and ready to travel.  

I am looking forward to this trip.

Tomorrow From the Mississippi river....

if we have internet...

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 04/22/2014 19:02:15

steveh_2o - Posted - 04/22/2014:  20:36:13

quote:

---

Originally posted by jeaton12

I wanted to thank Dan for helping me get through my 1st banjo competition. We had a good time



Here is the video of our clawhammer version of Bela's "Big Country" if anyone would like to see:



youtube.com/watch?v=gYtwqIDxdUs

---

I caught you playing from a bit of a different angle. 

holladaybluegrass.com/vid14.php#joneaton

Thanks for coming out to our contest!

Steve

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 04/23/2014:  02:24:53

Amy and you have the same smile....

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/23/2014:  04:46:40

More bare footed deck walking!  What a gig!     

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/25/2014:  05:02:32

Good Morning from room 305 on the QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI!

We just pulled into Memphis, Tennessee. I see the double humped interstate 40 bridge across Mud Island just outside my window.. The boat is rocking slightly as we are being tied up.

This has been a wonderful trip so far. We have been performing for a tour group from Australia. These folks sure know how to have fun! And that is an understatement. Usually shows end by 9:30 or so. but these folks just don't quit clapping! 10:30 and they were still raring to go. Last night Eddie and I  were joined by a fine piano player from Florida, Steve Fingers (he says that is his real name) and we deove it clean out of the ball park. Great fun!

I'll try to run up into downtown today, find a nice fast internet connection and post a few photos.

See you soon!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/25/2014:  09:17:04

Steve,

Thanks for posting the video! I'll check it out when I get home.

MEMPHIS IN APRIL

Friday sitting here on the sky deck talking with the mate about moonshine production in Connecticut. He has a friend who makes the stuff. Oddly I have known several folks who made it but they were all down here... not up north. Very interesting...

Well we got on the Queen Wednesday after a very nice trip down the Blues Highway (Mississippi St.Hwy 61). We have found that this road is the quickest for us when we travel to Vicksburg. The river was up when we arrived at the landing in Vicksburg.

The river wall here in Vicksburg has some of the nicest murals that I have seen on the river. Many of the river towns we stop at have murals but these are some of the nicest.

We have had a wonderful group of folks on this trip, mostly from Australia. They certainly know how to enjoy themselves! Everyone who came to my banjo class got it! Maybe soon we will have some new BHO members from the Land Down Under.

Last night as we were around Helena, Arkansas we experienced one of the most wonderful lightning storms. I stood out on the top (Texas) deck and shot photo after photo trying to catch some and only got this one, no lightning, but beautiful in its own way...

More very soon!

DEmery - Posted - 04/25/2014:  11:19:54

Hey there Dan. Those were fine photos and it looks like the weather has been cooperative this spring. Glad that old ebony banjo is doing well. I always watch in your photos to see what  you are using these days. David E.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/25/2014:  11:33:00

Dan great pictures and wishing you a great time, picking and grinning!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/25/2014:  12:43:55

Dan

All of the Aussie's that I have met know how to have a good time.  Its got to be a joy to be introducing all these people to the magic of the banjo.  I can't tell from the photo if your bare footing or not,  walking on the Texas deck, taking in the river, it doesn't get much better.  Thanks for the photos, and the up date.

Dave

Edited by - Dave1climber on 04/25/2014 12:45:43

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/28/2014:  18:17:42

David,

It has been a beautiful spring with wonderful weather until yesterday. Saturday we were forced by the oncoming weather to make a hard dash to Vicksburg. The port on the Yazoo river is one of the safest places to be if there was a tornado. I just heard that there was one south of Jackson, Mississippi this evening. I texted the Queen and was told that all is well with just hard rain.

Both the Ebony and the Pharaoh will be in for their annual truss-rod adjustments this week. When you play with as close as an action as I use  a slight backwards move in the neck causes buzzes. It is a regular thing at least once a year especially when I am traveling.

Doug,

Thanks so much!

Dave,

I'm not only going barefoot on the Texas deck, but I've started painting pictures up there, I've also begun helping with the garbage take out and a few other chores!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/28/2014:  18:30:10

HOME AGAIN!

"THE AIR IS SO MUCH SWEETER

THE QUAINT OLD SOUTH SIDE SCENERY

IS QUAINT ONCE MORE"

It's funny how that snatch of a Randy Newman song always goes through my head every time I come home from a trip. And I did just got home a bit ago. It is so good to be here.

What does ole' Dan do on the Queen? He paints and here is the proof. Up on the Texas deck (on this boat it is called the sky deck) painting on a small canvas.I should have made a photo of the finished work. Perhaps when I go back I can borrow it from its new owner for long enough for a shoot.

Sam and I in Memphis. He just bought a new pair of stage shoes... black and white's, just like his old man.

Another group of banjo learners and another great group they were!

The church in Nitta Yuma, Mississippi.

MORE SOON!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/28/2014:  19:41:59

Its so good to be in the old home place!!     Its also good to get out on the road (river) and have some fun!!  

Kaelri - Posted - 04/28/2014:  20:43:16

I was curious; how far north do these river cruises usually go? How many miles does the average riverboat cruise usually entail? 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/29/2014:  07:39:25

Yep Dave, it is great to be home!

Ellen,

The Queen of the Mississippi travels from as far south on the Mississippi river as New Orleans to as far north as St. Paul. Currently she goes up the Ohio to Cincinnati and up the Cumberland to Nashville. Gossip points to possible trips in the future on the Tennessee river to Chattanooga, the Arkansas & Illinois rivers.

This answer to your question about mileage may be a bit confusing but I'll try and make it work anyway.

Memphis Mud Island or the Beale St. Landing is at mile marker 735.8  above the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, Vicksburg (where the Mississippi river passes the Yazoo river, is at river mile marker  437, Natchez 363, New Orleans at the Julia St. wharf is 90.1 making it a trip of 645.7 river miles. 

This means an average daily mileage of 106 river miles (although this varies day to day) at around 9 miles an hour or about 11 hours of river traveling per day.

This time of traveling is of course quite changeable depending on the distances between ports. We left Memphis around 12 noon on Saturday and arrived in  Vicksburg around 9 AM, 21 hours, around 300 river miles, at an average speed of 14 MPH.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/29/2014:  10:24:12

In answer to a request...

More of Nitta Yuma...

Kaelri - Posted - 04/29/2014:  18:26:31

Thanks for the info Dan. I wondered how far north they ran since I don't ever recall  hearing about these boats in the Mississippi north of KY. But, then, maybe there are river anatomy issues that prevent that? And I am a bit removed from that mighty river also.  I had no idea the boat ran at speeds that slow, but always wondered about it. And it does seem like these river boats do cover a fair bit of river mileage during a day's run. Thanks again!

Edited by - Kaelri on 04/29/2014 18:27:40

bornold - Posted - 04/29/2014:  18:36:47

Shoot ya came to Mississippi and i missed it!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/30/2014:  04:50:54

Ellen, 

Last year I didn't go any higher on the Mississippi than Alton, Illinois, although the boat did make it to Saint Paul a couple of times.

Canaan,

I should be back in Vicksburg for another cruise a leaving out week from today (on a Wednesday) and returning to Vicksburg on Sunday. Holler at me, and come on by the boat, I'll take you for a tour! 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/30/2014:  04:59:55

Canaan,

I just looked at Google maps to see where Hernando, Mississippi is, so I'd like to annotate my invitation, I'll be on the Queen in Memphis a week from Friday in the afternoon and evening. If you'd like to get together, just give me a shout out.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/30/2014:  18:32:36

WEDNESDAY

Here it is proof that this is a banjo post! Last time I was on the Queen of the Mississippi a lady named Susan gave me this banjo pin. I was told that she found it on the street somewhere and just happened to bring it on the boat.She figured it must be karma for me to have it. I'll be mounting it on one of my straps.

One of the things that I do when I'm on the boat is teach a class I call RED NECK COFFEE ROASTING.

I'm wanting to prepare a handout to go with the class. This will involve information about where to get the green beans, what type of tools are required and how it's done. I'll be putting together both photos and text.

So after I got home from the shop I grabbed up the roasting equipment and asked my grandson Chandan to shoot the photos...

Here goes.

For those of you who haven't seen this in the past this is all that I use to roast coffee; a modified heat gun from Harbor Freight, a modified stainless steel carafe (it has a long maple handle) and a bag of coffee beans.

In go about 1 to 2 cups of green beans...

The heat is applied and the beans are agitated. I'd be agitated too if I was being roasted!

After a bit the beans kick out a bunch of chaff and then begin to smoke (I'm getting real close)...

Out of the carafe the beans are pored to cool on a plate...

Here are the roasted beans. I did not intend for this to be an even roast.

These Guatemalan beans have a more interesting and complex flavor when the roasting points are varied greatly. At least that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

More veri Soon!!!

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 04/30/2014:  20:03:02

That's it.  I might not be able to play or build a banjo, might get horribly motion sick on a cruise but I think I can roast some coffee beans.  If I can do this I can tell everybody that I'm just like the great luthier Dan Knowles.

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/30/2014:  20:38:56

Dan

I dare not show this post to my wife, she weighs the coffee beans to the nearest gram.  By the way, I have not had a bad cup of coffee since she has been doing this, its excellent.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/01/2014:  17:20:30

Kirk,

You are like me... you are here!

David,

Congrats, perhaps someday I can have some of your wife's excellent coffee!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/01/2014:  17:44:35

THURSDAY

What a nice evening! I'm sitting here doing the post listening and watching (sort of) a live Mark Knopfler concert in London. What an immensely musical man. What a great writer. And such a fine guitarist!

Today my student Ben Scarborough brought in this banjo, it was owned by his great-grandfather. He wants to restore it. Notice the "he wants to restore it". I've agreed to help him in his quest. This ought to be quite fun and rewarding. Ben at 16 is a great student with a great potential.

Here we are discussing the various things that need to be done to get this late 19th. century Buckbee back in business.

The dot banjo neck became more dotted today. The large dots are to form a background color for the small dots to burst forth from. This is very like how I paint.

Here I'm drillin' and a drillin'.

In go some 1/4" dots. I hammer them flush to the surface of the fingerboard..

Here is a close up of progress...

I headed two banjo rims today (with skins). These are for piccolo banjos. the rims are made from 8" solid brass bearings. I'm hoping that they will make nice sounding instruments.

I will be making a couple of quick necks so I can use these on the Queen for my banjo classes. If they turn out to have a quality tone I will make a couple of proper necks for them and do something different...

SEE YOU SOON!