Nick Ogawa

The NEW EP is now available on CDbaby and itunes! Currently there are a limited number of physical CD’s, but MP3 downloads are also available, listen to the songs below and click one of the links below to buy.

Track 1. Light The Flame
Track 2. Awakening
Track 3. The Lone Ranger
Track 4. Show Down
Track 5. Neon Green Alligator

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Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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I’ve been hard at work on a new album, or EP really since it’s 5 songs, and it’s almost finished. The songs are mastered and the discs are being pressed right now, and should be available on cdbaby and itunes in a couple of weeks. My buddy Jamison did this amazing oil painting for the cover, which I believe was inspired by one of the songs on the EP called “Neon Green Alligator.” The new EP is a pretty big departure from my previous stuff, incorporating much heavier beats and more effects and instruments. I’m anxious to see if people who like the old music I’ve done will like the new stuff. Here’s the lead track from the disc “Light The Flame.”

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The prototype is done, and I’m not gonna lie, it’s pretty bad ass. I’m pleased with the results, at least for a first try. I wanted to see how putting frets on would go, and while they work, it never occurred to me how essential vibrato was to the overall sound of the cello until I was unable to use it. I’ve already gotten the ball rolling for the next version, which will use an ebony fingerboard and no frets. I learned a lot in the first run so more than likely the second attempt will be the one I use for performance.

I’ve been slowly but surely putting the finishing touches on this body, using a beautiful piece of curly maple. It looks about a million times better than the plywood version i did below. I’ve just started finishing it, using a nice “vintage amber” stain. The photo resolution on this pic doesnt reveal the shimmery curly effect of the grain, but that should come out more when I add the gloss coat. In a couple weeks expect to hear how it sounds!

I routed out a trial run of the body. It needs some serious sanding, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to use it anyway. The plywood started to split, and while the glue seems to have done the trick for now, I’m not sure I want to go ahead and install everything onto something I’m not sure of. Nonetheless it’s good routing practice.

Here’s a pretty addictive music game. Pretty basic but definitely fun:

http://www.playauditorium.com/

hat tip: akhbar

got a router and started on it, but i totally underestimated how loud it would be. Not to mention the sawdust. Tomorrow I’ll get earplugs and a mask. It probably wouldn’t be too bad an idea to talk to the neighbors too, just to let em know what I’m up to. Here’s what the first pass looked like at least:

Google just digitized a bunch of Life magazine photos that are pretty cool.  These are a couple of my favorites:

New haircut!

I cut out all the slots in the fingerboard and will be ready to hammer the actual fretwire into the fingerboard soon. I’m still trying to determine if it’s better to glue the fingerboard to the neck first, or if it’s okay to have the frets in before gluing.

I guess trial and error is the way to go. It’s doubtful that this will be the only one I make. I’ve got the pickups and wiring all ready to go. I plan on routing the body tomorrow.