Phil,

That Muddy sound that often goes with a 12-string was one of the reasons I went to a 9-string. My hands were going numb back in the 1980s from MS (undiagnosed then) and I thought I would be strumming more and picking less---more sound for less work sort of I thought. With three single bass strings 6,5, and 4 and double unison 1,2 and 3 I did what Big Joe Williams had done to his guitar (sort of). Well, it "sort of" worked for me. Later I went back to 6 strings when I couldn't push 'em down at all hardly.------------ But I know what you're saying. (Sorry for the thread creep.)

SING OUT! is a must read for me now as it was in the 1960s. I love the CD of all the songs featured in a given issue that comes with each issue now for an extra nominal fee. I do wish there was less mod singer/songwriter navel gazing music there-----as well as less World Music. That's not wrong. Just not to my taste. (I prefer folk music ! ;-) **LARGE SMILE** Uniquely, another magazine I subscribe to, THE OLD TIME HERALD, is seemingly more open these days to revival singers that did trad. type music. I can point to a feature article on the late banjo picker and singer Derroll Adams in the last issue. Very nice to see.

But MARK MOSS, editor of Sing Out, is doing an amazing job of juggling the myriad styles, egos and personalities as well as the many expanded definitions of this thing we call "the folk world" now.

Art Thieme