John's Blog

Tuning the Filipino Banduria

John McCann — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:11:04 +0000

Here’s a short & simple tuning reference for the 14 string Filipino Banduria.

John Prine’s Classic, ‘Paradise’

John McCann — Sun, 29 May 2011 04:22:06 +0000

Jackie DeShannon, Lynn Anderson, John Denver… all covered this great folk tune penned by John Prine.

Here’s my humble tribute (left-click to play, right-click to download):
CLICK>>Paradise_2<

CHORUS:
Daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it a-way

A Gene Clark Classic, ‘I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better’ – 1965

John McCann — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:47:28 +0000

Gotta love Facebook! I’ve recently reunited, on FB, with my garage band buddies from junior high school. Here’s my rendition of a Gene Clark (The Byrds) tune that we loved back then… and still do! ‘Left-click’ to play. ‘Right-click’ to download the MP3 file:
I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better
Enjoy!

Christmas is for Pickin’ and Singin’!

John McCann — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 02:00:56 +0000

Here are 2 PDF files you can download for your Holiday get-togethers. Right-click ‘Save Target as:’ to download the PDFs to your computer for printing out.

CHORDS AND LYRICS: finished guitar book (This file contains lyrics and guitar chords.)
LYRIC SHEETS: christmas lyrics book (This file contains lyrics only).
Merry, Merry Christmas!

O.C. Bandilla banduria

John McCann — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:28:06 +0000

Here’s a second Filipino banduria… this one’s from Manila. Palochina top, rosewood back and sides. Bright sounding with very good projection.
I contacted Ollie Bandilla via Facebook. I believe she is the builder’s daughter. Good communication and good service. The banduria was well-packaged and arrived in 2 1/2 weeks (Manila to Ohio USA). Great price, great value. Couldn’t be more pleased.

Filipino Banduria

John McCann — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:36:43 +0000

Our Aunt Fannie was kind enough to shop for a Filipino banduria during her most-recent stay in Cebu Province, The Philippines. This is the 14-string Filipino banduria adapted from 12-string Spanish banduria. Tunes: G, D, A, E, B, F#. Plays 2 octaves up from spanish guitar in a rondalla (filipino string ensemble). I’ve had the instrument for two months and have recorded 3 tunes to date. I’m putting MP3 files of those tunes, here, for anyone wishing to give a listen or download. Also, I’m putting up lyric sheets and links to ‘video karaokes’ over on YouTube.

MP3 FILES (right-click to ‘Save Target As’ download/save)
Amazing Grace
Come, Christians, Join to Sing (aka ‘Carmen Ohio’)
The Water is Wide

LYRIC SHEETS (click to download/save)
Amazing Grace Lyric Sheet
Come, Christians, Join to Sing Lyric Sheet
The Water is Wide Lyric Sheet

YOUTUBE KARAOKE
Amazing Grace
Come, Christians, Join to Sing
The Water is Wide

15 Watts of Classic Sound- Fender Super Champ XD

John McCann — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:11:22 +0000

Amplifier manufacturers embraced solid state technology/ circuitry back in the 60′s and very few vacuum tube designs survived. It was a cost consideration… so much less expensive to produce solid state amps. But tube amps have had a diehard following over the years and those with the financial resources continued to pay premium price for all-tube gear. A few years ago, Fender introduced a little 15 watt tube amp, the Super Champ XD. Although it has solid state tone/overdrive presets and digital effects, the ‘guts’ of this amp is classic vacuum tube. Equally nice is that the amp is downright affordable with an unheard of street price of $300! Guitarist, Don Anderson, has a wonderful demo video of the Super Champ XD amp. I’m sharing it here.

My $100 Ebay Find- Hohner OSC Electric

John McCann — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:41:22 +0000

The Hohner Company of Germany is famous for its harmonicas and accordions. Over the years, it has ‘dabbled’ in the marketing of guitars- both electric and acoustic. Asian in origin, Hohner guitars have run the quality gamut from ‘not-so-good’ to ‘unappreciated gems’. The Hohner model OSC is a Chinese-made guitar that attempts to combine features from 2 classic Fender electrics- the Stratocaster and the Telecaster. And it does a pretty good job of it. The guitar has 3, good sounding single-coil pickups. a top-bound solid ash body and a nice, fat maple neck. I would rate fit-and-finish as ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’. The model OSC no longer appears in Hohner literature or on its web site leading me to believe that it was a short-lived offering (as many Hohner models have been). The little cherry red guitar you see pictured was an Ebay find. Opening bid was just $100.00 US! So I bid $100.00 and assumed my bid would be bettered long before auction’s end. Well, it wasn’t! And I became the proud owner of this versatile, easy-playing, great sounding ‘rock-n-roll’ electric.

JangleBox Compressor Effect

John McCann — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:52:35 +0000

I’ve loved the sounds of 1960′s recordings since the days I first heard them. Most were accomplished by the application of great recording technique and- less so- the application of technology. Today, the consumer musician market is awash with killer gear that earlier musicians only dreamed of. One resourceful amateur guitarist from Virginia, Steve Lasko, spent much time trying to assemble equipment that could produce the great, chiming guitar sounds he heard as a young person in the 60′s. Frustrated, he commissioned audio engineers to develop the electronic circuitry needed to emulate the sound. The result is the JangleBox Compressor (the black box in the center of photograph): www.janglebox.com . Available for several years, the JangleBox has gained a loyal following of pro and amateur guitarists, particularly, those who, like me, play electric 12 string guitar. This song made heavy use of the Janglebox The JangleBox web site has a library of sound clips as well.

Must-see Talent

John McCann — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:34:18 +0000

Re-edit of a video shot at November 2009 Hilliard Davidson Talent Show.
Jessie Johnson-Piano and Vocals
Nikki Puccetti-Guitar and Vocals
Claire Busic-Viola
Evan Sites-Drums
Ben Thompson-Bass Guitar