Hi all! Keep up the good boneing out there in this nefarious & glorious world. I shook ‘em at several concerts during John Denver week in Aspen CO, October 6-12 (Jim Connor in Concert on Friday, October 9th). I pick bones a time or two in each of my concerts nowadays.
I hand over my heart in memory of having Ted Goon on my paper route in Gadsden, AL when just a kid and yet had enough sense to listen and learn direct from the master! I still have a couple sets of ‘Mr Goon’ bones that he gave to me, and l would not take a million bucks for one of those sets!!!
By the way, who is making the best, or most usable, style of bones these days? And are they affordable? Years ago some one told me that the nicest sound and balance are made from the shin of an Ox. I have bone bones and wood bones and all and each provide distinctive soundings and rhythms. I have some aged bone from Midwest bison, but l have not made any bison ones as yet. I’d love to hear from other ‘bone’ folk about their variety of bone material and styles and their interpretations of sound and feel and ease of use. My rock maple ones are rich sounding, I also regularly use some persimmon ones and cow rib ones, occasionally. l leave my original ‘TED GOON‘ stamped sets at home.
By the way, my composition ‘Grandma’s Feather Bed’ (a hit by John Denver) is a good un’ to do rhythm bones with…naturally! Love. Jim Connor
[In addition to performing on banjo with John Denver in concert, Jim was also a member of the New Kingston Trio. Jim attended Bones Fest VIII. For information about Ted Goon, go to our website and search for Ted Goon.