What do you get if you cross a canoe with a violin?

 an appalachian dulcimer.... Undeterred by its strange shape, tuning and fret positions Carl couldn't resist the unconventional charms of this strange beast and annoyingly within a day he managed to turn out this.

New Arrivals and a Repreive

Ashbury AB-65T Tenor Banjo 4 string, maple rim & resonator, rolled brass tone ring, presto style tailpiece.

I've been thinking about getting a tenor banjo for a wee while and this week the banjo lust wass too much to resist. So, I bravely soldiered out in the teeth of the storm (not - I live oop north and was only a light breeze for us) with my brother to Hobgoblin Music in Leeds. I'd played a  couple of Ashbury tenors at the Wadebridge shop and was really inpressed with the 45, 55 and 65 range £300-£600. I'd set my sights on a 55 open back which would have set me back £400+ so I was prepared to trade in my Windsor Popular to make a it a bit more digestible for Mrs NBB. I know one had gone on ebay recently for £250.

Carl was disgusted that I would even consider trading in an instrument as its an emotional thing for him. He like to hang on to his babies and he clearly likes an instrument in every room. Not that he's precious, I've never seen so many bin bags arrive at a gig before concealing mandolins, guitars and bass. 

Anyway the guys at hobgoblin where great. Not sniffy or stand-offish in anyway in fact they were very honest and open about their stock, and happy to chat. They were also really up front about the trade-in value they could offer for the Windsor and what you'd have to spend on a new banjo to get the same sound ie £600. I didn't need much encouragement to hang on to it and as they did have any AB-55s in stock I gave the 65T a whirl and loved its sound. Its a resonator model tuned CGDA at the moment but it just felt right straight away. Brighter than the Goodtimes that they had in and at £299.00 inside the price I'd planned to spend with the trade-in.

So I've now got a instrument stand that includes a new AB65T alongside the Windsor and Rutherford. The new a strange world of playing with a pick is something that I'm trying to get used to, so I'll post some sound when I'm happier with a bit of plastic between my fingers. Carl managed to come home with a mountain Dulcimer which is a bit like a violin crossed with a canoe - I think I got away lucky.

The Black Sheep Recordings EP

The CD EP of the Black Sheep Recordings is winging its way to us as I write and will definitely be ready for the Doc Brown's gig on 7th Nov! Get 'em while they hot! (we only got 50 made).

Harvest Home

First run through of a new tune 'Harvest Home' no vocals yet and the lyrics are a bit bawdy!

The Alice Charmers on iTunes!

Hi folks we are now officially on iTunes. So if you'd like to have the Charmers with you all the time, click on the picture or the link and find us on t'interweb.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-black-shep-recordings-ep/id720802372

Alice Charmers live at HM Bark Endeavour

Here's a wee clip of us playing on board the HM Bark Endeavour recently
supporting John and the Rag Men and Coco and the Butterfields.