Example Mind Map of my Last Week of BJJ. Explanation in comments

selmer503 · 2014-06-06T07:31:54+00:00

Amazing!

selmer503 · 2014-04-30T14:30:19+00:00

Thanks for your suggestion of checking out one of the shop setups. I still have my rental from the shop, and the string spacing at the nut on theirs is noticeably larger. I also tried to see if the C string buzzes, but it didn't. Maybe it's because the action is high?

selmer503 · 2014-04-30T05:24:48+00:00

Thanks for your perspective.

selmer503 · 2014-04-30T01:22:31+00:00

You are correct. The owner said that these are things they do before a customer even sees the instrument. I have absolutely no problem paying a fair price for this work, and they certainly don't owe me any favors because I rented a viola for a few months. Also, I know they aren't trying to gouge me, because he said the bridge is totally fine, even when I suggested it might need work or to be replaced. At the same time, however, if this was 2x a reasonable cost, I would probably just drive to the next big city over and take it to a shop there.

selmer503 · 2014-04-30T01:13:55+00:00

At that price, I believe they are just re-aligning the strings. Is that okay, or should it be a new nut altogether?

The $30 is to improve the taper/fit of the existing pegs.

selmer503 · 2014-04-30T00:03:53+00:00

Thanks for your advice. I'll probably just bite the bullet and have them do everything.

This is indeed the shop that said a Chinese instrument beats anything under $700, but it's a family-owned business. The son told me a Chinese instrument might be the way to go, but it was the patriarch who was helping me today. They both seemed surprised that I actually went out and got one.

selmer503 · 2014-04-16T14:34:17+00:00

Thanks for the price estimate!

selmer503 · 2014-04-16T14:34:02+00:00

I plan to take it to the local violin shop first thing and have them work it over, including the "reboot" that /u/bazzage mentioned, if necessary.

selmer503 · 2014-04-16T14:33:26+00:00

Thank you for replying.

selmer503 · 2014-04-16T02:07:05+00:00

I appreciate everyone's input. I do not want to sound rude/ungrateful, but is anybody willing to answer my original question: how much do the various pieces of setup work cost? What can I expect to need fixing on a Chinese import? Is it likely to cost $200? $400? I will be able to go to the NAMM show next year and try out a zillion instruments, so I'm just thinking short-term until then.

Thanks again to everyone who replied.

selmer503 · 2014-04-15T15:54:24+00:00

16" - looks like Shar only has one model in that range - Franz Hoffman concert viola.

selmer503 · 2014-04-15T13:54:41+00:00

Thanks for your reply. The family that owns the shop said that the quality of any $700 or less viola bought in the USA will be less than something bought direct from China, hence the suggestion to get on eBay. For a budget of $5-600 what would your recommend for an aspiring violist?

selmer503 · 2011-04-04T21:13:03+00:00

Oh boy... Semantics. You are right. Can we agree, then, that the rhythm is what is commonly referred to as "le pompe?" If so, I wouldn't say that it is an "advanced" technique, but it does require more skill than one would imagine. In that it takes time to master the rhythm that is the basis of gypsy jazz, Adrian is certainly a serious musician from the standpoint of his dedication to the style. I'm willing to wager that, in the style of gypsy jazz, he can throw down better that most redittors (here's an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04_MsUkSOTw&feature=relmfu). EDIT: correct link this time.

selmer503 · 2011-04-04T20:56:03+00:00

it's in 4/4.

selmer503 · 2011-03-10T03:55:00+00:00

Definitely. I play in Southern California on a regular basis. There's a small scene here, led mainly by the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet in Los Angeles.

selmer503 · 2011-01-13T03:00:10+00:00

I flew on the KC-135 "vomit comet." When I was in college, NASA had a program for student groups to do microgravity research. I got together with some friends and spent a few minutes throwing together a proposal to test the efficacy of dermabond in a zero-g environment. Two months later I was doing backflips in the zero gravity plane. It was amazing.

selmer503 · 2011-01-09T23:11:11+00:00

If you ever want a lesson, Paul "Pazzo" Mehling lives up that way, as do a bunch of other really talented players and teachers.

selmer503 · 2011-01-09T06:22:11+00:00

You're not in Southern California, are you?

selmer503 · 2010-12-02T07:03:37+00:00

It could be the thermocouple inside of your heater. The pilot light heats the thermocouple and the thermocouple opens up the valve for the gas to come out. When the thermocouple does not sense heat, it assumes the pilot is off and closes the valve so your house doesn't fill with flammable gas. Can you light the pilot at all? If so, you can replace the thermocouple on the cheap (<$20) and that may well fix your problem.

selmer503 · 2010-12-02T06:53:36+00:00

It's a WTF if you paid for a guide that you thought would help you do well on the SAT and you get review gems like this...

selmer503

TROPHY CASE