Vorstand / Board Members

President: Stephan "Steve" Coblitz

 

Steve startet his "Career" as stringed Instrument-Player at Age 11 at the Sunday-School (Methodistic Church) in Schafisheim, Canton Argovia in Switzerland.

He was impressed about the Choir-Songs which were accompanied by an acoustic 12 String Guitar and asked the Lady which played it for Lessons - what she did!

He was gifted a 6 String Western Guitar from his Father and took it (beside some Lessons and some Self-Studying with a Beatles-Songbook) to the so called "Confirmation-Camp", a Preparation for the  Confirmation at the Reformated Church at Age 14. He was asked by a Friend over there to join his Band.

When entering this Band, which played a Style kinda "New Wave", he was looking for an Amp and added a good old Schaller Magnetic Pickup to his Western Guitar. He also bought a Schaller Tube Amp Head, which is today a pretty rare Item, and of Course a Marshall 4x12 Cabinet. The Western Guitar with the Pickup was soon be replaced by a "Fairmont"-Stratocaster.

Soon after, he joined a Rockband in Lenzburg.

Years over Years, Bands where joined and left, but nothing serious to be noted. Styles changed from Blues-Rock to Rock and Hard Rock, Metal and Progressive-Metal. But there was also Funk, Blues and Reggae. When trying Funk, he switched to Bass to gain some Skills for "Slapping"-Technique. And of course, tons of Campfire-Nights with the Acoustic Guitar ;-)

Besides, Steve had a Company-Band with Members of all Skill-Levels. They played some Songs for Retirements, Jubilees or Birthdays. They also played a Welcome-Song when another Company was integrated: it was a Cover Version of Bruno Mars' "you can count on me". Steve played a Fender-Ukulele on this Song - which he had to learn to play it in Advance. As the last Song, before the Company Band "died" during the Pandemic, "The Galway Girl" from Steve Earle was selected, and Steve decided  to try the Mandolin.

So he bought a Mandolin from a well-known Person in the Swiss Bluegrass-Scene in March 2022 which recommended him to see the Bluegrass-Jam in Lenzburg - and - the Rest is "History".

Steve joined the Board of the SBMA (Swiss Bluegrass Music Association) shortly after and took also the Role of the SBMA Bluegrass-Meeting Jam-Leader for a While before he decided - after 2 Years of Engagement - to quit the SBMA-Board and run his own Association - and to concentrate on Music: to learn Songs and Tunes - and also new Instruments. The Repertoire of Songs and Tunes is huge - a lot to learn! ;-)

Besides to organize his own Jam-Sessions for Blugrass and Old-Time, which is regularly held during the warm Days out in the Woods at Camp Fires - and during the colder and darker Days somewhere else or at his Home - he's also trying to gain some Skills on the Five String Bluegrass-Banjo or the Five String Open Back-Banjo - and the Double-Bass as well. And he's visiting as much Bluegrass-Jams across Switzerland as possible. He also loves to join OTITA (Old Time In The Alps) which is held every Year in Germany (Bavaria) at the Moment.

The next "Challenge" will be to try the Fiddle! 😉

 

 

(Some Facts) Yes, indeed, Steve:

  • once played a Washburn A20 electric Guitar (beneath some others...)
  • once made a Morning-Ride on the Beach on a Berber-Stallion in Tunesia (Djerba)
  • was once the President of a 4x4-Association called "Safetrailers" and drove (& won) some Races at the Swiss Offroad-Championship
  • visited a few Times the Isle of Brac in Croatia (& a lot of other Places in Ex-Jugoslavia, including Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia/Herzegowina, Montenegro)
  • once was an active Shooter (IPSC & Swiss Standard Shooting)
  • is a huge Fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Books & Movies
  • is still reading Books from Karl May (especially the Orient-Cycle), Jules Verne, Wolfgang Hohlbein, Marion Zimmer-Bradley & others
  • is a Fan of the "S.T.A.L.K.E.R."-Franchise, especially STALKER Anomaly (PC Game)
  • likes PARTYLITE-Candles
  • likes Camping, Camp Fires & Fireplaces
  • likes Seafood, Caviar, Snails, Sushi, and almost any kind of Cheese and Meat
  • likes Kruškovac (Pear Liqueur) & Baileys Irish Cream
  • is working since 38 Years for the same Company

 

Mandolin Gear

Eastman MD-305 A-Style Mandolin (Stock)

Eastman MD-315 F-Style Mandolin (Heavily modified: James-Tailpiece, Montana Lutherie Bridge, Grover 409 Tuners, Hill Country Stringworks Arm- and Finger-Rest)

d'Addario XTM1140 Strings (Sometimes also XSM)

Paige Capo

Bluechip-Pick (TAD-603R 1.5mm)

TC Electronics Unitune Noir Clip Tuner

Lakota Leathers Straps

Tone-Gard Toneguards

 

Banjo Gear

Fender FB59 Walnut Resonator (11", modified with Remo Renaissance Head, Snuffy Smith-Bridge, Banjolit Dr. Arm Walnut wooden Armrest). Standard G-Tuning.

Gold Tone BC-350 Open Back (12", modified with Remo Renaissance Head, CatEyz-Bridge, Prucha Presto Tailpiece & Gold Tone little Mountain Maple wooden Armrest). Standard A-Tuning or Low-D (0.012 John Pearse #1950 John Hartford-Strings).

Gretsch Dixie Deluxe Open Back (11", modified with Remo Renaissance Head, Snuffy Smith Bridge, Banjolit Dr. Arm Maple Custom wooden Armrest, Tone-Gard Toneguard). Double C-Tuning.

Gold Tone AC Traveler Composite Open Back (11", modified with Remo Fibreskin Head, Gold Tone little Mountain Black Maple wooden Armrest, Snuffy Smith Bridge). Standard G-Tuning. Cheap (~$260) and shorter than Standard Travel Banjo - but sounds pretty great!

OZARK 2102G Open Back. Simple and cheap (~$230) Open Back Model. Wood Shell, Mahagony Neck, Ovangkol Fingerboard. No Modifications (Except new d'Addario-Strings). Remo Standard Top frosted Head. Ungeared 5th String Tuning Machine. Actually the "Offfice-Banger".

d'Addario XT- & XS-Strings (10s)

ProPik Heritage Finger Picks (but also a lot others!)

ProPik Clawhammer Brass & Fingertone Finger Pick

BlueChip Thumbpicks (BCT-BRL, BCT-1L, BCT-RESO-1L)

Shubb Capos (Stainless, Nickel, Gold)

TC Electronics Unitune Noir Clip-Tuners

Lakota Leathers Straps

 

Double Bass Gear

Czech Luby (Schönfeld, today Strunal) Semi-Solid 3/4 Double Bass (70s/80s) 

Roth & Junius BKS Carbon-Endpin

Conrad Goetz ZA B325E Ebony Tailpiece (attached with with Kevlar Tailgut)

d'Addario Helicore HH610M Steel Strings (Medium Tension)

GEWA BS 25 Wheeled Double Bass Bag

d'Addario PW-CT-17CBK Cello- & Double Bass Clip Tuner (Headstock-Mounted)

 

Guitar Gear

Taylor 110CE (Old Model, Sitka-Spruce Top)

Washburn WD920SCE NAT

d'Addario XT- & XS-Strings

Taylor Picks (Thermex Premium 346 1.5mm)

Bluechip Picks (TAD-601R 1.5mm)

Capos: Thalia, Dunlop, Paige

TC Electronics Unitune Noir Clip Tuner

Peterson Clip Tuner

d'Addario Conchos Suede Leather Strap

 

Violin Gear

Chinese Student Grade 4/4 Violin (70s/80s, Maker unknown, Model 8220)

Pernambuco Student Violin Bow

d'Addario Kaplan Dark Rosin

d'Addario Helicore H310M 4/4 Steel Stings Medium Tension

Aubert Mirecourt Self-Adjusting Bridge

Wittner Fine Tuning-Pegs

Wittner Zurich Chin Rest

Wittner Isny Shoulder Rest

Wittner Tailpiece with Fine Tuners

Kevlar Tailgut