Burgess Stringed Instruments

read moreImagine what it would be like evaluating hundreds and hundreds of instruments. It might be fun, but you might need to take several years off from work to get it done. And who would assist you in evaluating the quality of construction and artistic merit of instruments that sound good to you? How do you know that the maker isn't a hack, or that the instrument isn't going to fall apart in a few years? Is there even the remotest chance that you could play all of them "side by side"? In a contest, a bunch of prominent players, experts and connoisseurs get together to choose the finest modern instruments in the world, based on sound, workmanship and artistic merit.

read moreTake about HALF A CUP OF TABLE SALT, and a QUARTER CUP OF WATER, and mix them together in a coffee cup by stirring for about a minute. Place the coffee cup containing this mixture into an AIR TIGHT CONTAINER such as a large Ziploc bag or a sealed pressure cooker, along with the hygrometer(s) you want to test. You must have an air-tight seal, and make sure the hygrometer doesn't come in direct contact with the salt solution. Put all this in a room temperature location where the temperature will remain fairly constant for about 24 HOURS (away from drafts, direct sunlight, hot air vents).

read moreOddly enough, after recalibration, these cheap looking things are much more accurate than any of the "certified, lab-grade" hygrometers I have tested. They are 4x2 inches, 3/8 inch thick and will fit in almost any instrument case. They have a memory function so you can check what the highest and lowest temperature and humidity have been. Accurate measuring range is 30 to 70%, guaranteed to be with 1%. A hygrometer which isn't accurate is worse than useless; it's a hazard to your instrument! Can you find this cheaper?