acoustic guitar – Bill Vencil

Seven Words

The words of I Am on that fateful day. A song to commemorate them.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” – Luke 23:34

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” – Luke 23:43

“Woman, behold, your son!” – John 19:26

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Mark 15:34

“I thirst.” – John 19:28

“It is finished” – John 19:30

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” – Luke 23:46

[audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/SevenWords.mp3|titles=Seven Words]

Spatial Tension

An outtake from “In the Wilderness”.

I was intrigued by the tonal tension in the song, the innate tension that exists in the elements of Creation, and the juxtaposition of the two.

Repetition, variation, textural exploration. ex nihilo.

[audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/SpatialTension.mp3|titles=Spatial Tension]

Another tune from the recent past. 2005 vintage. I was listening to Bruce Cockburn’s Joy Will Find a Way, and at some point in the proceedings, it struck me that Joy did a find a way (Hebrews 12:2). I picked up my trusty Lowden guitar, and this was the result:

[audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joyfound.mp3|titles=Joy Found a Way]

Strong Zeal Trail

A tune recorded in 2006. Unabashed roots in Martin Simpson’s wonderful Pretty Saro-Long Steel Rail on his album “When I Was On Horseback”. Played on the Lowden O35.

[audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/strongzeal.mp3|titles=Strong Zeal Trail]

Tacoma Thunderhawk – Acoustic Baritone Monster

Sobell Lust

I’ve wanted to get a Sobell guitar for a long time, but have never had the money to get one. At some point, probably in 2004, I found out that Stefan started making a “D Guitar”, that is, a long scale version of his models, designed to be tuned 1-2 steps lower. Well, that sounded very interesting, but still out of reach for a guy with a wonderful wife, a passel of kids and a mortgage. Put it on the backburner.

Tacoma Thunderhawk

Enter Baritone

In the meantime, I sold a bunch of old gear, so I had a little dough available. I was waffling between a Carvin Bolt kit guitar and a cool little Martin (OOO15S), when all of a sudden, the Sobell came to mind. The word baritone also came to mind, so I did some searching and found that Tacoma (at the time) was making a 29″ scale baritone called the Thunderhawk. Also found that Elderly Instruments had one used for a good price. I decided to try it out. Wow! It is like having a piano sitting in your lap. Awesome tone, and it goes really LOWWWWW…

I would still really like to get the Sobell, but for now, I am working with what I have. I find myself playing this thing all the time, and in fact, have been working to get a number of songs recorded with it for a future album.

Alas, Tacoma is out of business, and the Thunderhawk is no longer in production. It’s a shame, as it was a great option for a moderately priced acoustic baritone. Sorry, mine is not for sale!

Here are some short improvs of the beast, which will give you a feel for what it sounds like:

[audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tacoma1.mp3|titles=Improvisation 1]

[audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tacoma2.mp3|titles=Improvisation 2] [audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tacoma3.mp3|titles=Improvisation 3] [audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tacoma4.mp3|titles=Improvisation 4] [audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tacoma5.mp3|titles=Improvisation 5] [audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tacoma6.mp3|titles=Improvisation 6] [audio:https://www.billvencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tacoma7.mp3|titles=Improvisation 7]