Actually, the Armstrong has better tone than the Selmer.
Plus, I've had the Selmer so many years now, the silver plating is coming off.
The nastiest looking instruments get played in the salt spray. Except for the guitar, since I only have one good one.
I'm on the other side of the dune from the ocean. The venue is covered with a canvas cover, and we are on the east end with the dune to our back. On windy days, the salt covers everything.
We do this 3 days a week, and the owner keeps us all summer, even though the business is not very good that time of the year. His philosophy is that if he wants great entertainment in the winter tourist season, he needs to keep them all summer when it's slow. He does that with the cooks, bartenders and wait staff, too.
So if the instruments turn to rust, they are paid for.
I bought a used sax for this purpose. I got the used Armstrong to play outdoors, but since it has better tone than the Selmer flute, I decided to make it the indoor flute.
We also play twice a month at a huge, outdoor RV Resort. It's outdoors too, but about 3 miles west of the ocean, so there is no salt spray. But I use the outdoor instruments anyway.
Playing in a place like this, Caig DeOxit Red and Caig DeOxit Gold are staples of life. They keep the connections working, but not the finish on the instruments.
The picture is at low tide, you can see how high the water comes by the change of sand color.
Thanks for the explanation. I’m surprised the Armstrong sounds better than the Selmer but now your choice makes sense. Actually I’ve never played a Selmer flute so it was just an assumption based on saxes. I had a Mark V tenor. And I’m very familiar with the Atlantic coast from Ponte Vedra. It certainly adds a challenge for you.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
I traded it in for a Mark VII which in the shop sounded great. The problem was I play pop music, and I couldn't overblow the VII. It had nice tone, a little brighter than the VI which was good for rock and blues, but it had only one tone. So I went back to the shop on Monday to buy my old VI back, but they sold it already.
I traded the VII for a Couf Superba, and I liked that even better than the VI and the VII. The problem with that was it had a lot of copper in the brass, and shops don't relacquer anymore. It eventually turned green with a surface that had the texture of a cantaloupe skin.
A few more horns, and I got the MacSax. I did a custom job and had it plated with silver colored nickel. It's a Taiwan horn, and I found out from a couple of manufacturers, that other than ornaments, all the Taiwan horns are the same. The body and parts are farmed out to different factories, so the working parts are all interchangeable. MacSax only makes mouthpieces now.
The guy I had overhaul both flutes told me he has never been impressed with Selmer flutes, but he said mine was an exceptionally nice Selmer. He thought the Armstrong sounded better too.
I'm not really a flute player, just a doubler. I wouldn't take a gig playing nothing but flute. But I do a Jethro Tull tune, a Herbie Man tune, and a few others. It's fun to have that voice.
Ha; I'm a flute doubler at best, also. I see the quizzical looks when someone glances up and says, wait a minute - the trumpet player took that flute solo?
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
I'm on the other side of the dune from the ocean. The venue is covered with a canvas cover, and we are on the east end with the dune to our back. On windy days, the salt covers everything.
Playing in a place like this, Caig DeOxit Red and Caig DeOxit Gold are staples of life. They keep the connections working, but not the finish on the instruments.
Notes ♫
Yep...everything at the ocean is going to be covered in the salt mist. Between the humidity, the wind, the sand, and the salt spray, that is one harsh environment.
Walking down the beach it looks like smoke/mist coming off the ocean.
One of the pickups on my SG... the bridge pickup, is missing all of it's chrome plating. Not from playing at the ocean, but from the salt in my sweat from countless nights on stage. We did, over the course of time, play several indoor nightclubs that were at the beach. They used huge fans for ventilation which pulled in the salt spray and the marsh mosquitos. Might as well have been outside. It was a case of wipe them down after the sets, and then go home and clean the guitars fully.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Ha; I'm a flute doubler at best, also. I see the quizzical looks when someone glances up and says, wait a minute - the trumpet player took that flute solo?
My brother-in-law does that. He is both a great trumpet player and a great flute player. It's a rare combination. He plays flute better than I do. Sadly, there isn't a lot of work for trumpet players around here, so he teaches school too.
On stage in my current duo, I play tenor sax, flute, wind synth, and I sing. I get the "How many instruments DO you play?" Question a lot. It's good for show biz appeal.
I used to bring a keyboard and not the guitar, but as we started playing fewer standards and more rock, the guitar became more important. It has better stage appeal, too.
In bands, I've been in through the years, I learned from the other guys in the band to play bass, some keys, and rhythm guitar (barre chords only). I've also doubled on drums (my first instrument). Not every song has a sax part, so it was good to learn other instruments. In one band, the drummer was a good singer, so I'd get behind the kit for a few songs and let him get out front (the girls loved it).
It's show biz, so switching instruments gets people talking about you, and that generates more audience members, which means more gigs.
During the psychedelic years, I played bass, as nobody wanted to hire a sax player. I had a Fender P Bass and a used Ampeg amp. Heavy stuff to tote around and hang on your shoulder, but I was much younger then.
Playing notes on the bass taught me how to find my way around the fretboard, so in my 60s, when I decided to buy a guitar and learn lead, I progressed quickly.
I like playing different instruments, as they require different forms of expression. You don't play the instrument, you let the instrument play you.
I also like playing different genres of music for the same reason. It's all fun.
1 Thrown together parts 50's P Bass knock off (I hand made the pickguard) 2 Takamine Acoustic 3 Fender MIM Jazz Bass Squier Series (Check the headstock & pickguard - I still don't quite know what this is) 4 Fender MIM Jazz V 5 String 5 Mini I don't know P Bass knockoff - 5 bucks at a pawn shop 6 Fender MIA Jazz (used to be my favorite to play) 7 Fender MIJ '62 Precision Reissue - My current favorite 8 Fender MIM Jazz with some cool upgraded pickups 9 Squier Bronco Bass - $15 at a yard sale . . . Fender Bassman 4x0 / 1X15 Combo with a Genz Benz Amp
Custom strap by Cody Hixon at Great Point Custom Leather
Guitars Martin Acoustic Custom Built Tele Fender "Waylon Jennings" leather covered Tele Fender Acoustic Boss Katana 2x12 MK II Amp Johnson Mandolin
I have a lot more guitars but those are my "go too"
Last edited by Sawmill Music; 06/22/2307:24 AM.
Don't ever try and be like anybody else and don't be afraid to take risks. -Waylon Jennings
Hah! I bet! I think I'll keep them where they are for now . . . my grandson (at 18 months) has already taken a liking to them LOL - Counting on him being MUCH better at this music thing then his old granddad
Don't ever try and be like anybody else and don't be afraid to take risks. -Waylon Jennings
THIS collector would still rather be playing but the physical ability left the building like Elvis. So now, like me in my younger days, all that matters is that they are pretty to look at.
Some days I just cant wait to see how you are going to fit in your flex and boast about how much you work and how rich and famous you are. You manage to do it on 4 of every 5 posts you make. (Even though nobody asks are cares.)
What HAS been lacking is your bragging about the expensive world destination vacations. You're slipping, ol' timer!!!
Hey everyone. I mostly hang around on uke territory, but I see so many guitar folks here, I figured I’d drop in. I switched to ukulele partly because I wanted something lighter and less gear-intensive. Now and then I’ll grab a song off Ukulele Tabs Ukulele Tabs, but mostly I just like how simple and relaxing the uke is. It’s been a fun way to mix things up without stepping away from guitar completely.
Before my stroke, anything with strings, keyboards, percussion, voice, conducting.
Since my stroke, I record some fretted instruments through tuning and capos, play bass live by tapping on the glass of an iPad, keys with my right hand only, conduct, sing—did some opera a few weeks ago, oldies band that’s gigs now and then, folk music.
BIAB 2026 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 & M5 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScore/Notion/Overture
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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Norton Music
Hah! I bet! I think I'll keep them where they are for now . . . my grandson (at 18 months) has already taken a liking to them LOL - Counting on him being MUCH better at this music thing then his old granddad
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