Dave1climber - Posted - 10/11/2016:  14:27:48

Where is DAN!









?





 

Edited by - Dave1climber on 10/11/2016 14:28:11

Mike Rowe - Posted - 10/12/2016:  04:05:41

Kaelri, I thought that was funny.

kwl - Posted - 10/12/2016:  05:28:48

Me, too. We all miss Dan's almost daily posts. I trust that is all is well with him.

Nels - Posted - 10/12/2016:  08:41:57

quote:

---

Originally posted by kwl

 

Me, too. We all miss Dan's almost daily posts. I trust that is all is well with him.

---

Me too,  me too.......

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/14/2016:  09:20:47

Hay Folks,

All is well here, I have just  taken a break from the internet and social media for a time. Almost off the grid. But now I am here. Thank you for all of your kind thoughts. I am sorry for not keeping y'all in the loop and making y'all worry.

Your Frin',

Dan

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/14/2016:  09:33:39

A LITTLE CHECK IN FROM THE MISSISSIPPI

I'm sitting in the corner of the 4th. deck Sky Lounge on the America in harbor in Memphis, TN. It is a rainy day and so I won't be out walkin' around much today. So here we go.

Wednesday Eddie and I headed down to Vicksburg, Mississippi for a Vicksburg to Memphis to Vicksburg tour on the AMERICA. We should get home on Monday. We played the last two shows for a great bunch of folks! They hung with us all the way through.

Yesterday we did another BANJO 102 class here on board. There was 25 or so of our guests who Came, Counted & Conquered! It's great when we have such great folks!

I can't let a rive shot pass, I do love this old river!

See Y'all Soon!

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 10/14/2016:  09:49:52

Welcome back Dan!

Stephen45710 - Posted - 10/14/2016:  10:01:11

Glad your back!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/14/2016:  10:17:03

So now I can stop worrying.  

casinojack - Posted - 10/14/2016:  10:39:47

Welcome home old friend.

kwl - Posted - 10/14/2016:  12:03:18

It's good to have you posting again, Dan.

Nels - Posted - 10/14/2016:  17:06:39

Wonderful!! 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/14/2016:  21:45:42

Thanks everyone!

I dropped in on my friend Jimmy Ogle, who is now the new Memphis Peabody Hotel DUCK MASTER! Jimmy for years was the manager of the Beale Street Landing. Now he's gone up in the world! I'm gonna miss him at the landing though.

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/15/2016:  06:18:25

What a wonderful job!!  When first I heard of the Peabody hotel ducks, I thought it was someone pulling my leg.   And now a friend of a friend is the Duck Master!! Congratulations!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/16/2016:  15:05:37

SUNDAY MORNING

on the (and in)

AMERICA

This has been a oh so nice past couple of days out on the Riverboat AMERICA.We left out yesterday about noon from Memphis heading south. The first day of a trip is so relaxing, nobody knows Dan the Banjo Man (yet) and I get to hang out as if I was a guest... well for a few hours anyway, And that is nice, being able to hide in plain sight.

Sunsets on the Mississippi are some of my favorites...

As are sunrises. This one captured by Eddie...

And one from just a bit later...

One of our favorite things is when we get to do the BANJO 102 (beginners) class. He it's Eddie handing out banjos!

And now the October 15

AMERICA

BANJO 102 

GRADUATES!!!

More soon!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/18/2016:  05:49:09

Well folks I'm home drinking coffee, preparing to have some breakfast and writing this post. Soon I'll head over to the shop to teach today. But before I do I thought I'd post this photo of my recent home away from home the Riverboat AMERICA.

Also this Saturday at 6PM.my shop will host a art show by two very talented artists, Brice and Eagen Snow... 

Come join us if y'all are in town!

Here is one of Brice's pieces titled AROUND THE WORLD.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 10/18/2016:  07:50:28

Dan..that is one mighty fine home away from home!! Scenery doesn't get much prettier!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/18/2016:  13:52:34

Dan

It is good to see that you are still having your paid vacations on the river!!​ 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/25/2016:  19:27:34

Here at Knowles String Instruments we held our first ever Art Event (3 hour art show) Saturday evening. It was put on by two great friends of mine Eagen & Brice Snow. You who have followed this post for some time have seen them, visiting the shop, riding bikes and hangng out. Yes they are twins. Yes they are the same age. Yes they are hard to tell apart and yes they worked their tails off mounting this show. 

They brought all of this rig in and set it up in the front of the shop...and I'm glad they did!

This was one of my favorites. I don't remember the name but I think of it as Sunset on Cannery Row...

Orange Moon...

And the house was filled with folks! And a bunch of art found new homes!

See Y'all Soon!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/26/2016:  05:01:55

A large gathering of interesting art, attended by interested people.

Lots of hard work goes into doing an installation such as this, wish I had been there.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/26/2016:  06:07:49

Dave,

Fortunately I didn't have to do much but supply the space and enjoy the gathering.

Brice & Eagen came up with the idea.

The front of my shop has been set for gallery space  since I bought the building 10+ years or so ago. Because full time gallerys don't do well here in Paris (with a name like that you'd think that they would!), I've never really pursued the Art Angle other than displaying my own work here. As long as I can find quality art work I think we will promote these Art events on a  sort of simi- monthly basis and see if the interest continues and grows.

Our buddy Tom Burgan just sent me this link to a video of Rev. Robert Jones playing a gourd banjo that was built by Tommy Ogle and me. 

youtube.com/watch?v=EZyknH-EgP...=youtu.be

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/26/2016:  06:26:18

Dan

Thanks for posting the link.  An interesting song and an interesting four string banjo.  

Tom Berghan - Posted - 10/26/2016:  06:48:24

All you Dan-Fans,

Here is a gourd banjo that the Maestro made a couple of years ago. Pretty Cool!

youtu.be/EZyknH-EgPs

dr4dpet - Posted - 10/26/2016:  19:01:47

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dan Knowles

 

Dave,

The front of my shop has been set for gallery space  since I bought the building 10+ years or so ago. Because full time gallerys don't do well here in Paris (with a name like that you'd think that they would!), I've never really pursued the Art Angle other than displaying my own work here. As long as I can find quality art work I think we will promote these Art events on a  sort of simi- monthly basis and see if the interest continues and grows.

---

If it works out you might consider renaming the neighborhood Montmartre and designate the gallery portion of your shop as Galerie de Paris. 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/29/2016:  05:26:11

Tom,

Thanks for that post. I am currently hunting up a bottle gourd for you.

JW

​Great idea!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/29/2016:  05:36:00

WHITE OAK GUITAR

David Emery received his Burlison (the white oak guitar this week. Here are some photos, I guess these would be the "glamor" shots and a comment of his...

And one last shot of me working on it...

Crusty - Posted - 10/29/2016:  07:15:23

Maybe this is useful info.

Tom Berghan - Posted - 10/29/2016:  07:43:30

Dan, the White Oak guitar is phenomenal. As you know I live close to where the Guild of American Luthiers have their convention every three years, and over the years I have seen a lot of beautiful guitars. But this guitar is very special. I know the GAL members would love to see this instrument! Just fantastic!  Lucky David!

jbalch - Posted - 10/29/2016:  09:21:31

Dan:

I spent a while with David via Skype this morning.  We discussed at some length the details of this guitar.  I'm quite familiar with the other awesome guitars that David owns.  Frankly, he has some of the best I've ever played.  Now hearing David describe how the white oak guitar compares to the others, it is obvious to me that this is a truly SPECIAL instrument.  I can't wait to play it myself. 

kvdkieft - Posted - 10/29/2016:  10:25:04

Congrats Dan! Awesome looking pictures of your guitar! I would love to drape my hands over that axe!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/31/2016:  10:41:19

Crusty, 

That would save me a lot of time & enjoyment.

Tom, David & Kenny,

Thanks!!!

Here is a new painting just in time for Halloween.

It's titled Belief.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/31/2016:  10:47:56

And a GHOST STORY video to celebrate the day...

facebook.com/dan.knowles.581/v...07226267/

DEmery - Posted - 11/01/2016:  09:27:46

Dan I am pleased that you posted the photos. Your work be it banjo or guitar (and actually we did a mandolin a few years back) is always top shelf. I have spent a lot of time with the guitar; and I do think as good as it is now - it will mature into an outstanding guitar. Thanks. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/01/2016:  19:23:21

David,

You are so welcome!

Here is a little video a student of mine shot today. t's a tune I wrote called Peking in on You...

youtu.be/ZPan4sfsSEs

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/02/2016:  08:21:46

Paddle faster, I hear Banjos.......................Hurry, get closer, great playing!!  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/03/2016:  04:48:12

Dave,

Thanks! Just for that, here is some more abuse!!

Kate's Folly with my old pal Mark McWherter

youtube.com/watch?v=CbS1R743NE0

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/03/2016:  06:51:23

Dan

You two certainly are "paddling faster" playing Kate's Folly.  Great tune!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/04/2016:  19:22:00

Another Video,

This time live on the Queen of the Mississippi. Miss Virginis Mayfield & the B.C.

Hope ya enjoy it!

youtu.be/Zu-LAsYjoDw

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/08/2016:  06:26:33

Yesterday afternoon I had a large time giving a talk about my painting work for the Tennessee River Fine Arts League. There were a whole bunch of interested folks there who kept me yacking for over an hour about stretching canvas, dotting, guilding,and how my crazy mind works (or doesn't). This was in preparation & I suppose promotion for some Master classes that I'll be teaching this winter at the Lee Academy for the Arts.

I carried a whole bunch of artwork to illustrate the talk. 

Here is another video that I hope you might enjoy. Somewhere over the Rainbow. It was made using Tom Berghan's Orpheus, the 9 string Banjo d'Amore that I built for him a couple of years ago.

youtube.com/watch?v=kD4MxXN8ogY

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/08/2016:  14:19:18

A luthiers life has many twists and turns, now towards the painting road.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/11/2016:  07:57:20

OUT ON THE QUEEN

Eddie and I are out for our final trip of the season. This will be a two weeker, Vicksburg to Memphis to Vicksburg to Memphis to Vicksburg then home and back in the shop.

The river is down (as is fitting for this time of year) and we are out with a great group of folks from the tour company Noble Caledonia from the UK and are they ever GREAT!!! We have had two absolutely smashing shows with them and a fantastic banjo class. 

Meanwhile here is what the Vicksburg landing looked like. All that mud...

Here is a real view ....

Eddie playing a real guitar in our room!

It's one I built perhaps 20 years ago...

Nothing like Mississippi river sunsets... and this one was spectacular!!!

This Banjo 102 class was exceptional! They all got it!!!

See Y'all soon!!!!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/11/2016 07:57:50

Will1717 - Posted - 11/11/2016:  08:20:53

Dan:

You need to remember that measure twice and cut once rule. That guitar that you built? Sound hole should be just below the fingerboard or just above the bridge! That way the strings stop all kinds of garbage from falling into the guitar body.

Bill Rickard 

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/11/2016:  14:09:45

Dan

Had you put the sound hole in the upper bout it could be used for a drink holder!   Looks like good times on the river!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/13/2016:  16:23:51

Bill & Dave,

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/13/2016:  16:27:01

Todays GREAT QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI Banjo 102 class.... And they all got it too!!!!

Here is the Queen in port tonight in Vicksburg. Got a big show tonight!

kvdkieft - Posted - 11/13/2016:  16:31:04

Knock em dead Daniel! You are amazing!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/13/2016:  17:02:25

Dan

I must admit to a small amount of envy of your working vacations.  They are well deserved in your case.

dr4dpet - Posted - 11/13/2016:  17:49:46

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dan Knowles

 

OUT ON THE QUEEN

 

 

---

That must be a picture of Messie, the Mississippi River cousin of the Loch Ness monster.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/17/2016:  14:04:11

Our final trip of this season has begun aboard the riverboat AMERICA. This is the larger of the two boats that we work on, the Queen of the Mississippi carrying 148 and the America 184 guests.

Here is a view of the QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI in Vicksburg.

And the America, in Natchez...

Preparing to stop the America as she comes into Natchez!

Both the America and the Queen of the Mississippi docked in Natchez....

Last night we performed for the happy hour and this morning did our Banjo 102 class. This was an AMAZING BUNCH!!! THEY ALL GOT IT!

Oh by the way I got this photo from home...a deer attacked our Prius. Fortunately no one was hurt... even the deer!

​Sunrise on the Mississippi in Natchez, the Queen of the Mississippi in the foreground...

Tonight we will perform an evening show... it'll be FUN!!!