I use these two guitars when I busk. No need for amplifiers, these are plenty loud enough.
Because it's so hard playing solo, I use a Roland SD-35 MIDI Player/Sound module to help me out with the accompaniment, usually drums and bass. Computer multi-media speakers including a sub-woofer deliver the sound. I use lead acid batteries to power all the electronics, so I'm not tied to mains power. I can perform anywhere.
The guitar on the left is a square
neck made by Bryan De Gruchy of Adelaide, South Australia
The guitar is tuned to open G (G B D G B D) and I use it as a lap slide
instrument.
The guitar on the right is a round neck 'Lily of the
Valley' Dobro which I purchased at Revolver in Prahran, a suburb of Melbourne.
The guitar is tuned E A D G B E, standard tuning.
The picture was taken at the 1999 Tyers Art Festival outside the now defunct Supper room.
The supper room is where the Gippsland Acoustic Music Club held their regular monthly meetings on the first Sunday of every month. I'm going to miss that little room. The acoustics were perfect for un-amplified music.
After Pyramid disbanded, I decided to get back to basics and find a new path in my musical career. I was after a fairly low profile, low pressure gig that would allow me plenty of room to experiment. I also wanted to get away from playing in bands, a solo career looked like a promising direction.
The Calignee Sunday Market ran once a month and was a formative event in developing my solo career. I originally started playing close to stall holders but was encouraged to move up on the stage which was situated under the old oak tree where this picture was taken.
The children would harass me to play 'Old Time Rock and Roll'. When I finally relented they would all sing along. Happy stuff indeed.
I had a wondeful time there full of very satisfying memories.