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My wife gave me a conga drum for a wedding present 24 years ago, and for my 25th I'm asking for LP's Giovanni series congas. I've played along with the greatest musicians on earth and have never had to step out of my living room. Thanks be to God and His 300Bs.

Unless CD's count. Guess not.

I'm a local champ on air guitar and percusive dishwashing. And of course I'm singing in the rain . . . or was it the shower?

Thats why I enjoy my stereo so much.

I'm singing the role of Lancelot in a concert version of Camelot at York Woods Library Theater, Toronto, March 4-7, 1999. Call (416) 421-1267 and reserve your tickets now! [Shameless plug.--Ed.]

Actually, I tinker with a lot of instruments. If I weren't into the music so much, I probably wouldn't be into the hi-fi thing so much either.

played drums since 4th grade.

Also play keyboards, percussion, synthesizer.

I always considered playing my stereo as playing my instrument. Nonetheless, my daughter plays a piano that cost 75% of the price of my stereo equipment. I have had both playing at the same time when she is trying to get a new piece in focus. I am always surprised at the difference between the body that the real piano has and what I can get in playback. As an interesting addition, I generally record her final pieces (on cassette), which is strictly for her. She does not seem to care if I record it on my ReVox or on a Sony cassette deck. I wonder how many of the musical-instrument-playing audiophiles also dabble in recording?

I went to HI-FI '97 in San Francisco. I was very disappointed. It was like going to a museum---I had no idea whether what I was listening to sounded the way it really was supposed to sound. Since then, I've concluded it's better to spend thousands of dollars on a musical instrument (like a Steinway) than on stereo equipment---a cheap stereo with decent sound is good enough. By the way, I did enjoy listening to Hyperion Knight---it was more fun than listening to a CD on an expensive stereo.

If I could play an instrument, I would not spend as much money on my CD's

used to play sax too. but no more...

I play 5-string banjo (bluegrass). Nothing is better than playing your own musical instrument with a group of friends, except possibly someone much better than you showing you just what it is capable of and giving you something to aspire to.

Haven't played much lately, as electrical work has done a number on my hands. But I haven't sold any guitars, either, and the day I start playing hard again will return!

Have played music since age 7---piano, drums, percussion, mandolin, now guitar. Have been an audio enthusiast since age 16.

I also play guitar and sing.

Not as often as I would like to. Two kids under five keep me pretty busy,

My stereo will probably never convincingly duplicate the sound of a live performance. But having a good system does make it easier to pick out individual parts and hear more of what's going on in the music, which is very important to me as a musician.

Hardcore and improv. Probably the minority yo yhr majority of your readers.

I have a few guitar players and an occasional squeezebox player over to the home studio twice a month. I just have to have the real thing from time to time. We are amateurs, but we have big fun. Also, making my home recordings helped me realize how difficult it is to make the true audiophile recordings we treasure.

Although not a professional Musician the passoin I have for it does stem in dwmanding a system that bring forth the enjoyment of it.

I play just about all of the clarinets and saxophones, and flute. It has been a while since I have done any real orchestra playing, but I am doing theater and small ensemble work. Add to that some occasional recording of recitals and concerts, it makes for a hard time trying to decide to spend money on instruments, audio gear, or recording stuff.

I get the best of both worlds: making it and listening to it! The only limiting factors are how much I apply myself to my music and how small my wallet is for buying audio equipment. I find that one ultimately feeds off the other. However, I am in more control of my music than my system! The more I work and get paid as a musician, the better the equipment I can afford. This in turn leads to more intense and emotionally involved listening sessions that inspire my performance practices. Furthermore, I'm too young to have heard Miles Davis live with Philly Jo Jones. So I like to strive for that "being there" kind of feeling in my system, and that "been there and going somewhere else" kind of feeling in my playing.

I found that listening is a twofold experience. First to the music, do I enjoy the music and how it is played, secondly how does the system sound. The second may, and often did in the past prevent me from realizing the reality of the first consideration. After all the first consideration is what is the composer and the musician trying to express to me.

I have played numerous instruments, both professionally and for my own and friends' entertainment. I was a rock'n'roller professionally in Washington, DC in the '60s, and can also play classical guitar. I started as an audiophile in the early '60s and have had a good to fantastic system at all times since then. I am now a professional pharmacist with a Linn Lingo LP12, AQ 7000Fe5, Audible Illusions M3A w/MC section, ARC VT200, and Dunlavy SC-IV/As. Theta digitalia and subwoofers complete the system.

I made my living playing drums until I got married. Got divorced six years later and started playing again. I wish I'd kept drumming; it's cheaper than child support, and lots more fun than dealing with the ex.

My stereo is my instrument!

I have to disagree with that particular element of "audio wisdom." I wouldn't have been so concerned as to the quality of the playback, but after playing and trying to perfect your music for 16 years, the last place you want your music to fail is in playback of the final product. True, some more "puritanical" musicians would have you believe that the true nature of the music could be conveyed through a $10 Walkman. Predictably, not all of the subtle nuances, texture, and emotion that you have worked diligently to include in the piece appear unscathed. I personally have rationalized my "upgradeitis" as a direct and natural progression from the creation of music: you want to make sure nothing obscures your musical intention.

I learned to love rock and roll at my first concert---The Guess Who---at the age of 11. I saw Gimme Shelter at age 12 and was transfixed. By age 14 I'd started to play guitar. This love of rock and roll matured into a love for orchestral music, beginning with Mozart's Don Giovanni. THEN I decided I needed a better stereo. After several years of equipment fixation, I have assembled a system that is sufficiently enjoyable that I am back to collecting MUSIC.

listening only....it's a mental thing.