Mobius MegaBlog

Want to give a Christmas Present to the whole world?

We at Mobius Megatar suggest a donation to http://wikipedia.org.

Us Mobius folks donated, for the good of the whole world.

Maybe you would consider donating, for the good of the whole world.

Wikipedia is the fifth most-read site on the net … because we all use it … the whole world uses it. They have no advertising. The Wikipedia Foundation and the world-wide community of volunteers continue to provide this service, based on donations.

Read what Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales says BY CLICKING HERE.

Until December 31, 2009, we’re hosting the Meg-Millennium celebration, and you can save $300-$700 with special pricing … which will *never* be seen again. Offer ends (forever) on December 31, 2009. Details –

– THIS POST REVISED ON 11/10/2009 –

I read recently an article claiming that layaway is making a comeback, and googling ‘layaway making a comeback’ shows a lot of articles on the subject. Here are some excerpts –

• “I think a lot of people are watching their money, they’re trying to avoid the high interest rates on their credit cards,” says Tampa Kmart store manager Mark Swafford.
• Layaway is a shopping strategy that University of South Florida marketing professor, Carol Osbourne says helps consumers learn to budget. “Rather than swiping a credit cards; because that’s like funny money,” Osbourne says.
• Osbourne believes people will still spend this holiday season, but will adapt their shopping habits to the economy. “People were spending and spending and living beyond their means so layaway is actually a good alternative,” Osbourne says.
• This season, Kmart is heavily marketing their layaway program. But, it’s available at a variety of other stores including Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Burlington Coat Factory. Sears and Walmart also offer layaway on fine jewelry.
• Ms. Kasanthian Austin says she primarily uses it to buy toys and clothes and Megatar musical instruments for her kids, making a happy holiday an affordable one. “I can get my bills paid and still try and get things done for Christmas for my kids,” Austin says.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WOULD A LAYAWAY PLAN HELP YOU TO GET YOUR MEGATAR?

Here’s what I’m imagining (though we’re open to hearing about other ideas) …

• To start up a Layaway Plan for yourself, you’d choose a model, with any of our custom features that you wish us to build. (All instruments are built to order, like always.)
• You would initially invest 30% or $400 whichever is larger to start the plan. (“Initial Payment”)
• You would send 4% or $60 whichever is larger each month. (’Standard payment’)
• You would make a monthly commitment; because making that commitment is what makes it happen.
• Committment is what actually causes you to get the Megatar that you want.
• You would agree to send the same amount each month. (This is like paying off a credit-card, except that there are no big interest charges, because *all* your money goes toward your Megatar.)
• Whenever you wish, you can send any additional funds.
• We ask only that we don’t have to chase you, that you honor your commitment each month.
• You will probably discover that, once you start, and *intend* to have the Megatar you want, new opportunities will appear, and you’ll probably close out the deal earlier, and start playing music quicker than you’d thought possible.
• What would the monthly fee be for a typical instrument?
• At current prices (Nov 2009, on Millennium promo pricing),  TrueTapper Eclipse, Dragon, or Storm would be only $60 per month.
• At current prices (Nov 2009, on Millennium promo pricing), a MaxTapper would be $64/month, or a ToneWeaver only $80/month.
• NOTE: The Meg-Millennium special pricing Ends on December 31, 2009 at Midnight pacific time. Pricing then returns to standard prices as shown on pricelist, and these monthly amounts will then change to reflect standard pricing instead of promo pricing.
• Along the way, you can pay ahead any time you wish, and you can pay it off whenever you like.
• You can send funds via personal check, cashier’s check, or money order.
• Or you can transfer funds using paypal.
• Or you can use your credit or debit card over the phone or through our secure server.
• When the balance is 90% paid, we’ll put the job order into the shop queue for building and setting up your instrument.
• Generally that means that when your balance is paid up, we can ship immediately.
• As long as the schedule is maintained, your price is locked in, even if we have increased any prices in the meantime.
• If you simply send a check each month, there’s no credit-card interest to pay, which at 12% or even 18%, this can be a substantial savings for you.
• We will not charge any interest, nor add any fee.  In fact …
• As a bonus, we’ll pay *you*, like getting interest on your money …
• Assuming you’ve been on the plan at least six months, and as long as the schedule is maintained, your last standard payment, will be … free

WOULD THIS HELP YOU TO GET A MEGATAR?

And do you have any suggestions that might make the proposed plan more flexible or useful for you?

Or do you have any questions about what is being sketched here?

Is it adequately clear? Does it sound useful?

WHEN DO YOU WISH US TO SHIP YOUR MEGATAR?

Of course, we’re still happy to accept your order the usual way, and credit-cards are still welcome.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR OPINION AND SUGGESTIONS

If the Comment Box isn’t visible just below, please click the Comment Link.

And in the Comment Box, please enter your thoughts.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

It’s a fact. The bird just loves Ray Charles. See for yourself –

If you like the video, use the “Send to a Friend” link that appears below the video (after the video is playing)! I think this bird is a hoot. Maybe your friends will like it, too!

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Just added to the Megatar ‘Freebie’ section …

Check out the ‘Megatar Time’ homepage for your favorite web browser –

Megatar Time

Answers Found

Custom Search

http://megatar.com

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See it full size, and use it for your browser’s home page –

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Click Here to hear superb soundtrack:

Stick and Megatar player Darrell Havard has a friend who raises a special kind of crayfish, a species called Marmokrebs,  as  well as seahorses and pet shrimp (with different colors!).

These crayfish are unusual creatures, for they are all born female, identical even down to the DNA, and their reproduction is a natural-world form of cloning. This kind of crayfish is called the Marbled Crayfish.

Darrell’s friend asked him to edit a video for his Marmokreb website, and to create a soundtrack as well. This was Darrell’s first opportunity to bring his Megatar into his home studio.

Usually, Darrell’s work shows a strong and powerful rhythm, but he  saw this  soundtrack as a chance to do something different. He typically rehearses (and re-rehearses), and arranges (and re-arranges) a tune “until Judgement Day,” but in this case he wanted the fresh feeling of just sitting down and playing something for the project, and had the inspiration to feature the bass  side for the melody for a unique sound instead of using the melody side for melody.

Visit Darrell at http://www.darrellhavard.com/ and on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/darrellhavard … but first …

CLICK HERE, and a new tab will open, where you can hear the lovely, floating sound of Megatar in the watery world of the Marmokrebs!

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[ ... please use the 'forward video to a friend' link to share this video ... ]

[ ... and please add comments below! ... ]

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Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo! Check it out!

Oh, no wait. That’s not my style. I’m way too distinguished to be talking that way.

That’s right. Pirate talk is better for Traktor.

Yo, ho, ho, ho, ho! Arrrgh! Matey, be sharp and keep a sea-eye out. Rumor be that-

Oh, never mind.

New Megatar Touchstyle Podcast

Let’s just say that we have a new Podcast Channel on the Mobius Megatar website. You should see the little blue button on the upper right on the main website.

The Podcast Channel will have more and more songs and videos, including –

• Performance Videos from two-handed Mega-Tappers around the world
• How-To Videos on subjects of interest to touchstyle players
• Songs showing off two-handed touchstyle play
• Interviews with touchstyle musicians

Please join us on the Megatar Touchstyle Podcast.

Also available through the Apple iTunes system.

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If you miss this event you’re going to KICK yourself!

When: Monday 20 to Sunday 26, July 2009
Where : the town of Libramont in Belgium
Organisers: Académie d’été de Wallonie and Clic Music

Here Daniel Schell demonstrates his Clear and Logical ‘MySpace’ method, just a part of what you get at the ETap Seminar …
…

2009 Tap-Guitar Teachers

• Adam Fulara
• Mathias Sorof
• Wolfgang Daiss
• Daniel Schell

Check out this Report on the 2006 Seminar!

ETap 2006

Get the Full Details and Grab Your Place Quick!

The European Tap-Guitar Seminar Site

Are you an Absolute Beginner?

You’re an absolute beginner. You can’t read and you can’t play…

No problem. The beginners class can accept people from various backgrounds. You might find absolute beginners in music but also trained readers on another instrument who begin the tap-guitar, or t-g virtuoso who cannot read and wish to do it, and so on. After say, 2 days in the beginners class you may ask to go to the intermediate class. There are also special afternoon classes and private tuition available to satisfy your individual needs.

You play the Brand X tap-guitar, you’re tuned in the Y way, and you play only Z music.

Welcome! The Seminar is open. It aims to to teach general techniques of playing, reading, and understanding music for the tap-guitar. Your options will be respected and the methods you will learn are general and adaptable to all situations.

You don’t have a tap-guitar …

No problem. You can bring a simple electric guitar if you wish. The E-Tap, Brussels school, can by special arrangement also lend you a tap-guitar for the week.

The classes are all equipped with a mix desk and a small PA. There are also some guitar amps. Therefore those who come by plane or train do not need to bring an amp. Those who come by car might as well bring an amp if they wish to have their own sound, or just help the seminar.

However it would be best to bring your own personal practice amp to use in between the courses or in the evening. This might be a small mini- or a batery driven micro-amp. There are also some devices with headphones, which you can carry on your belt and which are very handy.

For more info and to reserve your place today, go to
the European Tap-Guitar Seminar Site.

Don’t Miss It!

Enrollment is filling up fast. Sign up and grab your spot. If you act quickly you’ll avoid disappointment.

[A note from Traktor ... This is about the most fun seminar I've ever attended in my life. You'll have fun meeting tappers from many different countries, and it's really cool to have all different kinds of tapping instruments in a spirit of learning and growing together. Plus, let's be frank here. Belgium has some of the best beer in the universe. Nuff said.]

Those who receive the free MegaTapper Newsletter know that we’ve been working on video systems for a couple of months now — specifically videos about guitars and tapping instruments — and it’s starting to pay off.

IF YOU WANT MORE TAPPING VIDEOS …

Then we need to see your comments, votes, and ideas below in a comment you add to this post, if you please, thank you very much!

We did a little survey, and folks taking the survey said that generally they find getting new music info, two-handed tapping info, and general guitar info in the form of VIDEO to be the easiest to use.

Good enough.

Video it is.

A LIST FOR NEW VIDEOS. PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT

Here is a small (and incomplete) list of subjects that might be useful, taken from the list of questions that people frequently ask when they call us …

• • Where can I test-play a tapping instrument?
  • What amps work best for two-handed touchstyle?
  • Twelve strings versus 8 strings?
  • Bassbottom versus inverted fifths
  • Mirror fourths versus parallel fourths
  • Crossed and uncrossed
  • Strengths and Weaknesses of BassBottom and Inverted-Fifths tunings?
  • How does the differing construction of tapping instruments affect the sound?
  • Can you make a left handed tapping instrument?
  • Can you make a straight tuning across all twelve strings?

And here are some questions that people don’t ask (but they should!) …

• • Can a MIDI pickup track bass strings?
  • How easy/difficult is it to play MIDI on a tapping instrument?
  • How is a Roland modeller different from MIDI gear?
  • What does the Screaming-Ghost piezo system sound like?
  • What’s the difference in sound of active-circuits? Why?
  • How does posture and positioning affect your music and the health of your hands and wrists?
  • What’s the easiest way to begin learning?
  • What is the simplest Basic Hand Orientation?
  • Fretboard Mapping – Where are the notes?
  • What’s with big dots on Stick, or double-dots on Megatar?
  • Best Way to tune up?
  • How does Buzz Feiten Intonation System work?
  • How do fanned frets work to give better tone?
  • How to do setup and adjust intonation?
  • How is the sound and tone changed by picking versus tapping, the wood, the type of pickup?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

Surely we can never do *all* of these, and maybe some are of little interest, and maybe others are of GREAT interest to people. You can help guide us.

Please add a comment below and tell us which ones you’d most like to see explained and demonstrated in a video.

Then add any additional ideas that you may have.

Just to make sure we’re not wasting our time making these videos, we’d like to see some activity and participation in the comments, please.

Thank you very much for adding your comments below!

It’s surprising how often people ask, “Where are you?”

Perhaps a tapping-guitar factory on the slopes of a volcano way up in Northern California is somehow unusual … and to answer that question more fully, here’s a view of the local scenery …