Re: What other hobbies?

ElectricTony Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:08 am

My hobbies include building & flying radio controlled planes...Too many to list. Let's put it this way, my DX8 transmitter holds 30 planes - it's full & I still have more planes, not to mention the quad copters. Time to start saving for a DX9.

I also have a few telescopes. When I want to go "Deep Sky" I use either my Discovery 8" f/5 or my home made 8" f/7 reflector on an Orion Atlas mount with an Orion 80mm ED APO refractor guide scope.
My "Grab & Go" scope is an Orion 102mm ED APO refractor on a hypertuned Meade LXD-50 EQ mount.

I also have an older bike...a 1978 KZ 650 Sr (650 Model D) Quick little runner for her age...

All of my model railroading stuff is boxed up in the attic, no time, money or free space at the time...remember all those planes I told you about? Flying

I'm so lucky to have an understanding, tolerant wife. Warm

Regards,
Tony

rsv1cox Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:36 am

Gear up for the Pluto flyby in a day or two. Images Wednesday.

Me too, planes, trains, and automobiles.........

TopBannana Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:42 am

Oh geese, well Right now i am working on a 1948 ford 8n tractor the engine needs to be freed (A lot harder than freeing a cox engine lol!

) but i also ride a Yz250f in which I love alot , I also love racing of any form. (Mostly dirt racing)
I also play a little bass guitar to Very Happy

.

ElectricTony Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:59 am

rsv1cox wrote:Gear up for the Pluto flyby in a day or two. Images Wednesday.

Me too, planes, trains, and automobiles.........

There is a CD on board with a list of names...Mine's on it so in more than one way I'm "Out There" lol!

rsv1cox Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:48 am

ElectricTony wrote:
rsv1cox wrote:Gear up for the Pluto flyby in a day or two. Images Wednesday.

Me too, planes, trains, and automobiles.........

There is a CD on board with a list of names...Mine's on it so in more than one way I'm "Out There"

Well interesting. Your in good company, there is a vial of Clyde Tombaugh's (The "discoverer" of Pluto) ashes on board too.

Balsa to Foam Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:29 pm

ive got a Kawasaki kdx 200 dirt bike and ride around with my cousin's. I'm also an amature machienist and mountain biker.

David S Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:32 pm

I enjoy hunting,fishing and target shooting.I also collect model steam engines and hot air engines. I have vintage British motorcycles,68 441 BSA Victor,two 74 Triumph Trophy Trails,74 Triumph TR5MX,71 Rickman Metisse/Zundapp MX and a 1940 Plymouth coupe,1941 Chrysler Royal sedan,1970 Buick Riviera.A collection of pre-war american Flyer O gauge and wide gauge trains plus N-scale trains and HO slotcars.And to top it all off I have a metel lathe and 2 milling machines.And last but not lest my Cox Shrike's,Dragster,2 tether cars and a few c/l airplanes,Cox,Wenmac,balsa wood kits.

David S

Balsa to Foam Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:38 pm

David if we lived closer i think wee would make really good freinds Beer Cheers

Marleysky Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:59 pm

Balsa to Foam wrote:David if we lived closer i think wee would make really good freinds

Well, you betcha! Anybody who enjoys ALL those engines, bikes, cars, trains, slot-cars, balsa, Cox WENMac, and has a lath and 2 milling machine....we'd be like....BFF's for sure... bounce

and if we got bored we could go fishing!

m

David S Tue Jul 14, 2015 4:43 pm

Marleysky wrote:
Balsa to Foam wrote:David if we lived closer i think wee would make really good freinds

Well, you betcha! Anybody who enjoys ALL those engines, bikes, cars, trains, slot-cars, balsa, Cox WENMac, and has a lath and 2 milling machine....we'd be like....BFF's for sure... and if we got bored we could go fishing! m

Thanks guys! I am glad too see that there are more people with the same interests as me.I can never seem too collect one item....more just follow me home! And I wonder where my money goes!

David S

GallopingGhostler Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:15 pm

Somewhere here, can't recall what thread I was asked if I could provide a recording of my playing saxophone. I finally got a camera capable of taking decent video. Sound lacks compared with a more precise digital recorder as it has auto gain control, so dynamics are less pronounced, but here it is.

I'm playing from Hal Leonard's Play Along Jazz, Big Band Era, Tuxedo Junction on my Chinese made Venus tenor sax, appears to be a Yamaha clone. Solo is mine.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7T9-FMCHtgJRTZ0a3UtSm9rV2c/view?usp=sharing
Link opens a new window or tab in your browser to play a video. Enjoy! Leaves

Marleysky Fri Oct 30, 2015 7:43 am

BRAVO! VERY GOOD George. That is a wonderful kind of "other hobby" one that not only do you enjoy, but it gives others enjoyment too! Thanks for the video.

getback Fri Oct 30, 2015 9:07 am

COOL STUFF GEORGE , Sounds Great !!! Thank You for Sharing , how long you been playing ? Very smooth and relaxing . Eric sunny

GallopingGhostler Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:13 am

You're welcome, Marleysky and Eric. Been playing since 1965, when my Dad bought me a Leblanc Vito plastic clarinet for 6th grade music class. Started playing alto sax in high school in 1968 for stage band. After graduating spent 3 years in the Army as a 02J Clarinet Player with 02L Sax secondary with 264th Army Band in Honolulu then 25th Infantry Division Band in Schofield Barracks, HI after the 264th was deactivated, then with reserves for about 12 years. Occasionally I play for charitable events, done meal time music at several Christian Motorcyclists Association and Salvation Army events, churches and a few others.
It's a lot of fun. Leaves

rsv1cox Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:41 am

Team up with Billy Clinton George and tour as a duet. Smile

It must be nice to have a musical talent. I would love to learn piano, but I have no gift. I took trumpet in Jr. high. Instructor told me to "blow a C" or maybe it was a G, I don't remember. I blew a note, great he said. It could have been anything. I dropped out the next day.

Bob

akjgardner Fri Oct 30, 2015 4:07 pm

Very Nice Sound George

roddie Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:12 pm

GallopingGhostler wrote:Somewhere here, can't recall what thread I was asked if I could provide a recording of my playing saxophone. I finally got a camera capable of taking decent video. Sound lacks compared with a more precise digital recorder as it has auto gain control, so dynamics are less pronounced, but here it is.

I'm playing from Hal Leonard's Play Along Jazz, Big Band Era, Tuxedo Junction on my Chinese made Venus tenor sax, appears to be a Yamaha clone. Solo is mine.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7T9-FMCHtgJRTZ0a3UtSm9rV2c/view?usp=sharing
Link opens a new window or tab in your browser to play a video. Enjoy!

Nice! You know; I think the sound was great George. The "live" element is a cool vibe. I was smilin' through the whole number!

Bob mentioned an attempt at trumpet as a youngster, that was unencouraged. That's a shame.. but it's never too late to learn how to "feel" (play) a musical instrument. Many of us are better equipped now; later on in life.. because we actually "want" to learn.. if we thought there was a chance we could do it.

I would recommend to anyone wanting to learn; to purchase a digital piano. I bought my first one (a Technics) back in 1993.. and it's still my favorite piano. A digital piano can be bought new for less than $500. It will store under a bed and never needs tuning. You can use headphones. Most have built-in songs/rhythms and a recorder for playing along and saving your work. It's a wonderful thing to have in the home, for when children come to visit.

I had to buy a new "road-piano" last week. I bought the same brand/model piano as I had been using for the last five years. For me; it's a hard working tool that I use in a Southern Rock cover band.. so it takes a POUNDING. I have a hard-driving rhythm style that's particularly tough on the lower-middle region of the key-bed. A few notes in that region are loosing their "touch-sensitivity". These piano(s) are Casio/Previa PX-300-series. They retail for $699.00 and weigh a scant 25 lbs. Cost of ownership was less than $150/yr. which one gig pretty much covers. I could spend 4x the $$ on a portable piano.. but it doesn't make sense to me. The Previa is a workhorse.. and has stood up to my aggressive playing style.

Here's a couple of my band's (StilBurnin') clips that are fairly new from last Summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcKi5pUT9JE

"Can't You See" (Marshall Tucker) I use a Kurzweil micro-Piano module; a 1/2-rack-space "box" that gives me extra sounds via a midi-cable. "Midi" is an acronym for musical instrument digital interface. "All" modern electronic musical instruments use midi to communicate with each other. I use the Kurzweil module to layer-in strings/violins with the piano on this tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k454WbRd-5M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEpXMMmZbbY

GallopingGhostler Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:34 pm

You're welcome, Bob and akjgardner.

Thanks for sharing, Rod, nice. Two years ago, I played my other tenor, a Leblanc Vito of the 1970s with Mitch Gray's Blues Militia Band at the Clovis Community Center. We were the entertainment at the New Mexico State county supervisor's dinner and dance.

Lately haven't been practicing as much and so am a little rusty, but hey, it is fun, and that is the most important.

Nice thing about improvising is there are no rules. I've had times when I've missed solo exit, just keep playing, the audience doesn't know the difference. Another band member misses his entrance? No problem, just fill in. That first video of yours, could see where a sax solo would fit during your instrumental interlude.

A little impromptu on a Christmas favorite:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7T9-FMCHtgJY2RKOXgzNWdKdTA/view?usp=sharing

I just posted a video on our CMA web page for my chapter that I am currently the president of:

Facebook: Blackwater Draw Gospel Riders #1280

Video:

https://www.facebook.com/george.hostler.1/videos/10203668485311487/

It was impromptu (live), missed my cue for solo but kept going. Getting ready to support the Salvation Army by Christmas bell ringing with a capella sax and traditional carols.

roddie Sat Oct 31, 2015 8:12 am

Nice solo George! Christmas tunes are fun.. but I only know a few that I can play. I don't play the piano at home nearly as much as I used to. If I did.. I'd be a better player. My Grandfather played the sax.. and my brother has it now. It's an alto I think. He doesn't play it though.. never has. Our Grandfather was alive when he gave it to him.. because he wanted to learn how to play it. He's an awesome drummer.. but hasn't played in over ten years! He has two young children.. and these days; if you have two young children.. you're busy! When my kids were little, I didn't play gigs either.. but I played the piano at home all the time. My ex-wife hated it.. and would interrupt my piano-playing during parties by turning on the stereo.. Laughing

Ah.. the memories.

Performing and playing with other musicians is what I really like.. as I'm sure you do too. The more often.. the better. I like to compare it to a good day of fishing! Leaves

GallopingGhostler Sat Oct 31, 2015 8:59 am

roddie wrote:Nice solo George! Christmas tunes are fun.. but I only know a few that I can play.

You're welcome, Rod. still learning, I've learned to play all sorts of genres to include rock, swing, jazz, hip hop, blues, etc. I used to play a bunch of different instruments, but then decided on the sax. I also play a little keyboard, a Roland GW7 workstation for karaoke backgrounds for congregation worship in church services.

I don't play the piano at home nearly as much as I used to. If I did.. I'd be a better player. My Grandfather played the sax.. and my brother has it now. It's an alto I think. He doesn't play it though.. never has. Our Grandfather was alive when he gave it to him, because he wanted to learn how to play it. He's an awesome drummer.. but hasn't played in over ten years! He has two young children.. and these days; if you have two young children.. you're busy! When my kids were little, I didn't play gigs either.. but I played the piano at home all the time. My ex-wife hated it.. and would interrupt my piano-playing during parties by turning on the stereo.. Ah.. the memories.

That interest in introducing your brother to performing music with the sax must have paid dividends for him to continue as a drummer, which is awesome.

I did the same with kids growing up. A keyboard plugged into an amp can be played with headphones if needed, doesn't disturb the family. I've put down the horns for a period and picked them up again. I had only a clarinet and alto sax for a time besides the keyboards and digital piano. It was only when nearing retirement 5 years ago that I picked up the other horns, bari, soprano, tenor saxes, flute, Eb sopranino clarinet.

Performing and playing with other musicians is what I really like.. as I'm sure you do too. The more often.. the better. I like to compare it to a good day of fishing!

Rod, that is true. I've done the solo karaoke thing with my saxes, sound system and jazz books in nursing homes and other events, but it is so much more fun to do with a live band.
Leaves

GallopingGhostler Sun Nov 01, 2015 5:35 pm

rsv1cox wrote:Team up with Billy Clinton George and tour as a duet. It must be nice to have a musical talent. I would love to learn piano, but I have no gift. I took trumpet in Jr. high. Instructor told me to "blow a C" or maybe it was a G, I don't remember. I blew a note, great he said. It could have been anything. I dropped out the next day. Bob

Bob, of course you have gifts. They may not be musical, but everyone has at least one talent, which is something they can do better than anyone else. A gift is something that one doesn't mind doing, even when they are tired.

Those who work in a job where they can do what they do best have the best job. For some, they are gifted leaders. They know how to motivate a team toward a common goal or objective. Others have an extra ordinary amount of patience and can do tasks that would drive others crazy, because they are tedious and complex or delicate. Some have an extra strong back and can haul rolls of roofing tar paper up and down scaffolds and ladders all day without tiring. Some are gifted troubleshooters and can nail down a problem in short order. Some are gifted counsellors, and can tactfully pin point an issue and help that person move toward resolution.

These are only a few, and I certainly don't have but a tiny subset of all out there.

GallopingGhostler Fri Nov 13, 2015 10:41 pm

Following is my playable restoration of a 1950's LeBlanc Vito baritone saxophone purchased in 2011. I bought it off E-Bay for $315. Label on the first photo collage of its condition incorrectly states 1970, it is of an earlier vintage. It's left pinky keys are typical of earlier LeBlanc Beaugnier factory saxes made in France. These along with mine were hand made instruments. The factory stopped making them by 1970 as they could not compete with modern machined instruments.

It has a mellow darker sound of the swing era saxes.

What other hobbies? - Page 3 Vito_b10

As you can see, it was battered, had many professional and amateur repairs to it. Saving grace to it is good pads. It played very badly out of tune. I removed the bad corrosion with brass polish, straightened the badly bent key racks, removed dents, straightened the lower pad guards, did selective sweat soldering of detached foot pads, installed missing bumper corks, adjust pad heights for intonation (playing in tune). The last 2 pictures are the results.

This is a quick video I put together on how it plays, a little impromptu Dixieland.

Video link: Google Drive: George playing Wolverine Blues on Bari

It is my analogy in life, of how someone who has been battered in life and not worth much can be restored by the touch of a master's hand, and be made useful again. Now, I believe the worth of the sax is about $900 - $1,000. With further repairs and relaquering, it would easily be double that. It plays as well as a new professional sax costing $7,000 - $8,000. As a result it has become my favorite instrument.

**Cribbs74** Fri Nov 13, 2015 11:19 pm

Nice job on the cleanup and great playing George.

My grandfather who passed away in 1959 was a bandsman and a Sax player. Wish I had some recordings of him playing. I never met him (obviously) but one thing I do have is a very old Hohner Chromatic harmonica that used to be his.

That Sax sounds wonderful.

Oldenginerod Fri Nov 13, 2015 11:43 pm

Cribbs74 wrote:
That Sax sounds wonderful.

Any sax sounds wonderful, but it has to be in the right hands (such as George's). The greatest sax in the world can sound as annoying as a kid's recorder in the hands of someone who "thinks" they can play. Hitting the right notes at the right time is but a small part of sax playing. (I've played with a few of "both" types). The trick is all in the tone created by the tongue/reed combination, shape of the mouth, and a number af variables that probably can't really be explained.

**RknRusty** Fri Nov 13, 2015 11:48 pm

GallopingGhostler wrote:Following is my playable restoration of a 1950's LeBlanc Vito baritone saxophone purchased in 2011. I bought it off E-Bay for $315. Label on the first photo collage of its condition incorrectly states 1970, it is of an earlier vintage. It's left pinky keys are typical of earlier LeBlanc Beaugnier factory saxes made in France. These along with mine were hand made instruments. The factory stopped making them by 1970 as they could not compete with modern machined instruments.

It has a mellow darker sound of the swing era saxes....

This is a quick video I put together on how it plays, a little impromptu Dixieland.

Video link: Google Drive: George playing Wolverine Blues on Bari

It is my analogy in life, of how someone who has been battered in life and not worth much can be restored by the touch of a master's hand, and be made useful again. Now, I believe the worth of the sax is about $900 - $1,000. With further repairs and relaquering, it would easily be double that. It plays as well as a new professional sax costing $7,000 - $8,000. As a result it has become my favorite instrument.

That was quite enjoyable, George. Thanks for posting it.
Rusty

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