HOWDY FOLKS!
Well, it’s the time of year for things to start warming up around these parts. Love seeing the flowers popping up and the trees in bloom, and Bette says it’s time for another update on what is going on at the Fiddle Shop and Music Hall.

The Berline band had a good trip to California and New Mexico last month ---- we had some great crowds and it’s always fun to see old friends from our years in those parts.

The band is doing several nearby festivals this June that you might enjoy attending: O. K. Mozart June 14 in Bartlesville with our good friend Mason Williams, Chandler’s Ice Cream Fest June 16, and a wonderful bluegrass festival in Skiatook June 23rd.

I would also like to thank you for welcoming our Polish luthier, Lucas, to Guthrie and to our shop. He has been here only 5 months but has endeared himself to many of you and especially to me. He has enhanced many of my violins, all the while building two beautiful instruments of his own. He has to return to Poland the beginning of May as his tourist visa expires, but we are hoping he will be able to secure a work visa quickly and return soon to us. In case some of you enjoy live theater, Lucas is appearing in the Pollard’s current production of Ragtime as an immigrant. (Fancy that!) He’s good at that, too.

We have already passed the early bird deadline for OIBF tickets, but you can still purchase them at a reduced rate until the week of the festival. Call 405-282-4446 or go to www.oibf.com to order them online. Two of last year’s favorites, Alasdair Frasier and John Jorgensen’s band are returning, along with perennial favorites, the Kruger Brothers. Don’t miss it!

WESTERN SWING

We are once again scheduling our “dance” night, a repeat of our Western Swing show at the Logan Co. Fairgrounds on May 12th. The ever-popular Leon Rausch is returning to sing all your favorite swing tunes, along with Smiley Weaver on steel and Billy Joe Foster joining Greg and me on fiddles. We’ll all be there for your listening and dancing pleasure. There’s plenty of room so bring your friends!

DISCOUNT TICKETS

We are continuing the offer for bargain tickets, 8 shows for $66.00 ($132 per couple). That’s $8.00 per show ($10 for the Western Swing) May thru August and the privilege of selecting your reserved seat. The schedule on the reverse lists these eight shows with an asterix. The tickets will be ready to buy by the time you read this. Remember it is first-come first-served for the seat selection, and we hold your seat for you only until show time.

WEBSITE NEWS

For those who can’t make it to all of our shows at the Music Hall, or can’t make any at all, we are bringing our shows live to everyone through our website www.doublestop.com. Yes, live streaming shows on your computer right from the Double Stop Music Hall. We are really very excited about this new feature and know quite a few of you will be too. Archived shows will be available to view if you aren’t home to see them live, and you can request to have your favorite shows on DVD. We have so many things planned for our website over the next few months including special photo galleries and comments on all the shows, etc. Check it often!

LESSONS

Jim Garling continues to teach beginning and intermediate fiddle and guitar students. He can be reached at 405-306-4182. John Hickman works with banjo students and Greg Burgess teaches advanced fiddle students. Call for information: 405-282-6646

INSTRUMENTS

Guitars: I’ve got some dandies! A 1973 D-18 Martin ($1499) that plays and sounds really good; a Martin D-15 custom for $995; a 1967 Gibson Hummingbird in very good condition; a Collings D2H which is everyone’s favorite; and a Crafters of Tenn flattop with an excellent tone. There are all kinds of entry-level guitars from Blueridge, Johnson, Cort, Alvarez and Takamini and resophonic guitars from Regal and Gold Tone. Come in and play one a while. You’ll see!


Mandolins: Seems like I get really good sounding mandolins in all the time. If you are looking for a nice instrument be sure to come in a take a look at our Weber, Gibsons, Collings, Kristufek plus all kind of excellent entry-level mandolins for the beginner.

Violins, Violas, Bows: We think we have the best selection of violins in this part of the country, as there are too many to mention. I love to trade, and really acquire some nice fiddles this way. You must come in and try out Lucas Wronski’s new violins. They share great workmanship and tone from a wonderful Polish maker. I still have several German, French, Italian and American fiddles also; just about anything you could want. Stop by if you are looking for a good deal in a fiddle or bow, cases and all violin accessories.

Banjos: I still have some Gibsons, a Deering Goodtime, avery nice Ridge banjo made in Norman, an Ome, Saga, Gold Tone and Alvarez. Come in and check out the old Gibson tenor TB-3 1925 instrument.

Misc: don’t forget we have other string instruments such as ukuleles, violas, cellos, basses and a 3 ½ octave folk harp.

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