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We recently posted this Instructable describing how to install a Cortado balanced-out pickup in a banjolele. This pickup runs into a little circuit that balances the signal and matches the impedance to a mixing console -- similar to a preamp or active DI. The instrument plugs straight into a mic line. (The console has to provide phantom power to the circuit.) This provides much wider bandwidth and higher signal-to-noise than you usually get from a piezo pickup.

In short, we simply removed the sound board, stuck the piezo to the head below the bridge, stuck the shielded circuit to the inside of the instrument with Velcro, stuck the mic jack to the outside, and replaced the sound board.

Second time is the charm.  :)

Last night was my second open mic at the iconic Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs.  It was largely the same crowd of seasoned and extremely talented blues musicians as last month and I was tremendously better prepared for the scene.  And I didn't let the intimidation factor get to me like last time. You know, the guys who can play more notes than I can hear, the sideways glances that say, "he brought guitar again,"  and the pictures of Bob Dylan on the stage over my shoulder.  This month, I took the stage as a student who had practiced with focused intent for the prior month and put on a show instead of thinking I could just show up and play a couple songs I fool around with in the basement.  What a difference.

My first song was Hungry Blues on my Sawzall box dobro.  The lyrics were given to me by Ron "Oily" Sprague and I did a speaking version of the song.  I set the crowd up for a few laughs before starting.  I got a few laughs where I wanted them and good round of applause afterward.  It is a great, funny song.  I was prepared with my lyrics sheet in case I choked, but didn't need it.

My second song, I pulled out my garbage guitar and played "Baby Please Don't Go" with a bourbon bottle.  The whole thing.  It sounds intentionally pretty bad, as if I'm a sad, miserable drunk lamenting the loss of his woman.  I've changed the end of the song to suit.  It is a little funny-sad.  

I had enough self-depreciating comments and humorous quips mix in that I felt like I had the crowd on an upnote, especially those who saw my first performance last month, which was an unqualified mess.  They are set up.

I wanted to tear them down.  I did my version of "Goin' Down Slow" which is a perfect song about my experience before, during and after having cancer at 29 years old.  I spent all day in a local public school working with different teachers including an awesome group of students with autism and an 11th Grade English class.  The English students were reading from "Death of a Salesman" and I picked up a new line to add to the song since it fit perfect.

You know, when you break a deposit bottle, you can't get your nickel back.

I had my eyes closed the whole time and I wish I could have seen the crowd.  I almost cried when I got the round of applause and cheers at the end.  I felt like I did what I wanted to do.

If you are interested, pics of the Sawzall box dobro, garbage guitar and videos of all three songs are here on my page, although none are from last night - only previous versions.  I'm going to have to get someone to do video for me in the future.

Other highlights from last night:

I thought I'd be the only one on stage with heavy metal, but a local musician brought his tuba and a former opera singer to do two great songs.  The vocals were incredible and the tuba was perfectly matched.  I loved it.  This woman can sing.  Incredible.  Absolutely incredible.  It felt really great when she saw me after my set and offered her honest compliments.

I also met fellow (new) CBN member Ronald Whitford last night and he brought his CB Ukulele.  I was pretty amped up after my set so I wasn't giving him the attention I wanted for his three songs, but what I heard was excellent.  It felt great to have a fellow CBN member there last night.

Price of admission was $5.  Value for your money right there.

alrighty - hello everyone 

    j - bone here - The 2 Knights have been out stirrin up some fans about town-

 here is a quick review of this past weeks open mics - 

#16,monday sept. 26th Salt Creek Wine Bar - 8900 Fairview, Brookfield, Il. 

#17 monday sept. 26th The Store - 2002 n. halsted - chicago, il

#18 monday sept. 26th Tonic - 2447 n. halsted - chicago, il

Our first time at Salt Creek Wine Bar - very nice place - brought my 2 uncle crow style cbgs i had built last week to play - the host / house band played a bit - we played third - got a good response and sold the Corina cbg for $50 - sweet - 

 Then we headed to the city to play the Store open mic - got a nice middle spot there - hung out for a few, played & sold a cd - then headed down the block to Tonic

 Tonic has a great host and they go late over there - we got a list spot - threw down our jams - hung out for a bit, then called it a night -

#19 tuesday sept. 27th Phyllis' Musical Inn 1800 w. division - chicago, il

#20 tuesday sept. 27th FitzGeralds - 6615 W. Roosevelt rd. - berwyn, il -

 We headed to Phyllis' - we had been there once before and got a good response - a few people who had seen us the previous time were there again - we played our songs and got a good response & sold a cd - mingled around abit - the owner gave me his card & offered us a weeknight show possibility - 

 Then we split to Fitzgeralds - we have been here several times and have gotten a good response each time - this time was much the same - got a good list spot - the host is a good guy and we like to play there - we played our songs, went over well - we sold a cd to a really cool guy - we sell our cds for $5 o.b.o - and this guy gives me a $20 and says "keep the change - i really like what you guys are doing" - well thank you sir 

#21 wednesday sept. 28th Stage Bar {formerly Memories} 4358 n. cicero ave. - chicago, il -

#22 wednesday sept. 28th Friendlys Tap 6733 roosevelt rd. berwyn, il - 

 Went to Stage Bar - we had played the open mic / jam here once before and we went over quite well - so we hit it up again - some people remembered us from the last time and were excited to see us play again - i played my Tinderbox cbg -  we played our tunes -

 I broke my high g string at the end of the 1st song finished the set on 2 strings with giving notice to the broken string and got a great response - mingled abit - talked for awhile with a couple of the guitar players who had interest in the cbgs construction and whatnot - then headed to Friendlys Tap

 Got to Friendlys Tap around 12:20 and they close at 1:00 - this was our first time here, its right down the block from Fitzgeralds and we thought they were open until 2:00 - also, no sign up sheet - talked to the guy runnin' things and he said we could play 1 song - so that was cool - also a couple people who knew us from Fitzgeralds were there - a person played 1 song before us - we played our song - got a good response - then headed home 

#23 thursday sept. 29th Red Line Tap 7006 n. glenwood - chicago, il 

 We have been to the Red Line Tap several times, but have only played once - the list fills up very quickly, so you really have to get there early - which we did and we got a nice middle spot - we played and got a good response - i brought the "Demons" plate reso. i built during the day to play and maybe sell - i did play it & i did sell it for $60 as well as selling a cd - hung around for a while - then headed home

 We were invited to play a short opening set for a local band Purebred Stems on saturday oct. 1st @ Gallery Cabaret - this will be our first "show" - as in - not an open mic -

 We also received an invitation to play an opening set for local band Grody Hunt on thursday oct. 13th @ The Mutiny in chicago - so we are looking forward to that as well as next weeks run of open mics -

 alrighty then - thats about it for now -                      jbone               

hello everyone - 

 j bone here - for the last few weeks the 2NITES have been hittin the open mic scene in the chicagoland area pretty hard and we have been having a hella rad time - 

i have been playing the open mics with my 3 string "big box" & king charles plays snare with brushes

here is a run down of where we have played so far -

#1 - thursday - july 28th 2011 - Gallery Cabaret 2002 n. oakley ave in chicago, il - it was hella awsome - very friendly host, the list was already quite full when we got there, but he gave us a great 1st timers slot - we played 3 quick songs just snare and my 3string "big box" git 

went off killer - got a good response - sold 2 cds @ 5$ each - got bought a couple drinks - and got smoked out & invited back by the host garret -

after our set - dude bought me a beer and ask about my git - talked with him for a bit about cbgs, tunings and slide and what not - then he ask me to sit in on a tune of theirs - 12 bar blues thing in A - i said hells yeah! - so that was rad - 

#2 & #3 thursday - august 11th - Redline Tap 7006 n. glenwood - chicago, il - Gallery Cabaret 2002 n. oakley - chicago, il

we got to the Redline Tap around 10pm - sign up sheet went out at like 8pm - so by the time we got there the only open spots were 1st and last - we sighed up for the first spot and played - we got a really good response - 

we hung out at Redline Tap for a couple acts after we played then we headed to the Gallery Cabaret to see if we could get another set off over there - we got to the Gallery got on the list and kicked out a second set for the night - again got a great response - 

#4 - monday - august 29th - The Store  2002 n. halsted - chicago, il

only a hand full of performers at this one - watched a couple acts - then we played - this drunk dude with an acoustic wanted to sit in with us - i said "cool man - we do 12 bar in G"  - he said "alright i'll follow along - could i by you guys a drink" - i said "yes sir - thanks"

the sound man records everyones set at this place and gives you a cd of your set when you are done for free - thats pretty cool - 

#5 tuesday - august 30th - Phyllis' Musical Inn 1800 w. division - chicago, il 

this one was really cool - when we arrived there was a blues duo {guitar & upright bass} playing some covers - we played after a couple acts & i asked the stand up bass player if he would sit in with us -

i don't think he really wanted to until he saw my 3 string "big box" and my slide come out - then he was in - i said "12 bar in G  lets go" - we did 2 originals, on the road again, and a short free jam 

we got a really good response - it was rad jammin with a stand up bass - 

#6 - wednesday - august 31st - Memories 4358 n. cicero ave. - chicago, il - 

this was an open jam more than an open mic - full backline & drum kit - hosted by a house band - played our 3 song set, then we were asked to play one more, so we did a short improve blues - i played my 3 string "big box" - again got a really great response and had a blast -

#7 - thursday - sept.1st - Gallery Cabaret 

we set out to play at the Redline, but by the time we got there the list was full - so we headed over to the Gallery Cabaret - got on the list and we played close to last - at the Gallery they give you a beer for performing - so thats pretty cool - took the law dog out to play this evening

#8 - monday - sept. 5th - Tonic Room - 2447 n. halsted - chicago, il

we had planned to play 2 places -the Store & Tonic room - the store did not have open mic going because of the holiday - so we headed down the street to Tonic room -

this place was kinda like a hip hop bar - we signed up to play - watched a rapper do his thing - we played our set - got a good response - watched another rap act then we hit the road - 

#9 -  tuesday - sept. 6th FitzGeralds - 6615 W. Roosevelt rd. - berwyn, il - 

this place is a somewhat well known roadhouse - lots of blues and folk types - played my 3 string "big box" - we got a great response and sold a couple cds 

the guy who runs the open mics plays harmonica and invited us back saying he would like to sit in with us next time - all in all went really well and got a really great response

#10 - wednesday - sept. 7th - Miss Kittys Saloon 634 E Ogden Ave
Naperville, IL - 

this place was cool - more of an open jam than open mic - signed up in a good position - watched a few acts before we played - we got a great response and were asked to play 1 more - so we did - 

made a couple good contacts at this show as well - some opening act / support gigs possibly  - we will see where it goes - 

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So, following my break/holiday it was back to work for a fortnight of difficult (and long) shifts.

However, I did manage to fit in a couple of open mic sessions. One was the monthly 'jam night' at the Plough where, having arrived late after a long shift, I played my cigar box fiddle performing (for those that know or care) "Lincolnshire Lads", "Fanny power" and and a tune of my own, "Gipple docks" Went O.K. although the people there were hardly expecting fiddle music.

On Thursday last, several members of the orchestra in which I play were attending a folk open mic session at the George hotel in Leadenham. As the place says it sells 600 different  whiskies, the sessions are known as the 600 whiskies sessions. Very logical these locals.

As I had instruments with me I was asked if I wanted to play and, never one to      

It all seemed to go down well with the obligatory discussions about the instruments and an invite to return another time and play some more.