wow.  i was browsing http://www.elynx.nl today for fun, and saw an ad for a cello w/ case & stand, 50euros, and a never-used electric flamenco guitar, 25euros.  🙂  so i called.  and went over.  and bought them.  and the following cds, at 1eu/piece:

• marvin gaye – what’s going on
• ray charles – genius loves company
• marianne faithfull – the very best of
• nina simone – my baby just cares for me
• james brown ok records collection – 2 cds
• billy idol – rebel yell

i took everything home, and looked up which notes to tune them to.  the guitar tuned right up no trouble – lovely sound to it (not that i can play), but the cello’s pegs kept slipping.  eventually i got it to keep.  the bow’s hairs are really greasy, and so i’ve been giving it lots of rosin, which seems to improve the sound very much.  i’m suspecting, however, in my brief experimentation of the evening, that i may need to find a beginner’s book to help me with the differences between it and a violin.  i can’t seem to work out the proper finger spacings.  maybe the pinkie finger isn’t supposed to reach the same note as the next open string?  it works that way on the violin.  cello players out there… recommendations?

anyway, then i called dick to come over, and he did, and was really excited by the guitar.  played on it a whole bunch.  i think the sound is actually much better than on his own acoustic guitar.  i’ve never heard him on his electric.  i wanted to post some pics of both instruments, but i seem to have left my camera cables at work.  oops.  maybe i’ll remember later.  maybe not.  🙂