Ric Kaestner profile picture

Ric Kaestner

About Me

I play a sweet Michael Kelly mandolin pickin' mostly bluegrass and ole timey tunes. I pick on any acoustic, folk, blues, rock and I can tag along on jazz and some choro. I'm always looking for music pals so don't be shy. Chat me up if ya wanna pick some tunes or if ya need some mando backup at your gig.
Wayne Preis and I launched our new product and we're very excited about it. Check it outFM Jam TX3 Rocks
Play your guitar through any FM radio..
PLEASE DON'T POST HUGE IMAGES IN MY COMMENTS. I MAY DELETE THEM.
You can also find me hangin with the Hilltop Ramblers We'll play for ya if ya give us beer and food. Click the mandolin below to see the Ramblers

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchel, Bob Dylan, Jonatha Brook, Doc Watson, David Grisman (OK..I just met David but he's still a hero), Allison Krauss, James Taylor, Walter Cronkite, Pee Wee Herman, Dirk Diggler, Kyser Soze, Bill Clinton, Jamie Fox, Kira Knightly, Colin Powell, Homer Simpson, Quintin Tarintino, Norman Blake, Buddah, Steve Jobs, Luca Brasci and Grahm Parsons.
My Dream Backup Band: Dan Tyminski on guitar, Barry Bales on bass, Russ Kunkle on drums, Sneaky Pete on pedal steel, Chet Atkins on electric guiter, Chris Thile and David Grisman on Mandolin, Vassar Clements on fiddle with Emmy Lou and Gram singing harmony.....it's too much....I have to sit down....

My Blog

HIlltop Recordings

The boys and I finally got a few tunes recorded using a new Neumann that Clevis snagged. Set up a mic in the living room and went at it old time style. Check it out at www.hilltopramblers.com. It's al...
Posted by on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:24:00 GMT

Oh Berkley Where Hart Thou

Had a great time at the Jeff berkley /Calman Hart concert on Saturday. Great line up for the Oh Berkley Where Hart Thou show with the 7th Day Buskers, Lisa Sanders, Barbara Nesbitt, Gregory Page, Eve ...
Posted by on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:20:00 GMT

Thanks Dr. Tsai

I gotta thank Dr. Tsai who really helped my carple tunnel and tendonitis with his acupuncture treatments. I still get a little tingles once in awhile after workng on computer but it's soooooo much bet...
Posted by on Sun, 14 Oct 2007 14:06:00 GMT

Tunnel Time

So my acupuncture guy says I have carpel tunnel in the right wrist. Makes sense since it's tingling all the time. I've had to wear a brace and use a sling but it's getting better and if all goes well ...
Posted by on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:13:00 GMT

Ouch....that hurts

For the last month I've had a nasty bout of tendonitis in my right arm. Too much mando playing and lifting pavers for the back porch. Had to stop playing for 2 weeks but I'm slowly getting it back. In...
Posted by on Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:22:00 GMT

WOW....Mandolin Symposium was amazing!!

That was simply an amazing week. As a first timer it took me a few days to figure out the most efficient way to prepare for classes. Sitting with David Grisman and working on technique, listening to M...
Posted by on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:40:00 GMT

Summer Camp

Well I'm getting ready to head out for Summer Camp this Sat. Going to the David Grisman Mando Symposium in Santa Cruz for a week of non stop mando pickin and study. Hope we don't have to make laynards...
Posted by on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:38:00 GMT

Hangin' with Jim Tullio

I finally had the chance to hang out with Jim Tullio in Chicago last weekend. He was mixing the new NYCO album and it was a joy to watch him zip around in Pro Tools ( perfect name ....pro....tools). W...
Posted by on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:16:00 GMT

Coyote Problem Sessions

Wow.....had a bucket of fun recording with Peter Bolland and the Coyote Problem on their new album. Peter asked me to add mandolin on three tracks. This is gonna be a great album. Sounds like the love...
Posted by on Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:45:00 GMT

Joel Raphael

Had a great Sat afternoon pickin with my ole pal Joel Rafael . He's got a cool homestead out in Valley Center about 30 miles north of San Diego. Nice rural plot with pine trees and and a windmill. We ...
Posted by on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:27:00 GMT