West Coast Blues Thread - Version 2.0

[THINSOCKS]

I played a show Saturday night with Nemeth and Watson. Packed house and Nemeth really sang his ass off. Hell of a nice guy too. IMHO he is the best singer on the scene right now.

[zappafrank]

Jeff Scott just played a track by a group out of Portland, OR called "The Insomniacs." Said they just got signed to Delta Groove?

We've got some Portland representatives in here right? Who are these guys? Fantastic band! Killer guitar player...wow!

Yeah---that's the oh-so-youthful (early 20's..) Vyasa Dodson on guitar and vocals---plus he wrote most of the material---recorded on the very cheap at the bass player's (Dean Mueller) house---Vyasa (pronounced VEE-OSS) has a VERY well worn 50 or 51 Broadcaster, I believe, that I think he pretty much inherited from a family member---I had'nt heard about the signing to Delta Groove---that makes 2 Portlanders on that label now (Paris Slim aka Frank Goldwasser is the other one)---I think that's Randy Chortoff's label---

That recording is very good, and I think they are on the fasttrack to whatever blues stardom there is these days---he gets airplay on the Ed Schultz radio show (#1 Progressive talk show in the US) after they opened for him in Portland last year---just got back from playing some movie premier in Hollywood---He's young and hungry and enthusiastic, and the bass player seems to know a fair amount of folks in prestigious positions and gets them a lot of High Profile gigs and exposure, from what I have heard--Vyasa is way into swing-stuff---not so much the deeper blues as of yet---I figure he will find that as he gets a little older---great player, decent vocalist, good songwriter, really nice guy--He sits in all the time at my old Thursday night gig that I quit---always borrows my amp if I'm there (rarely these days), and is always respectful. I wish him the best and am glad he's getting some good exposure. At least this is one time where the hype surrounding a new act actually is hype about someone very talented!

take care--

ac

PS---Shades---It was nice to meet you a few months back---you make some sweet guitars and are a real fine player!

[zappafrank]

BTW---I've pretty much made the decision to liquidate most, if not all, of my gear---I'm going to start putting ads in the Emporium/Ebay in late April---I think I may just keep an acoustic or 2 in case I get the urge to play for my own entertainment, but I'm going to start selling off my stuff slowly at 1st, and see how painful it gets before I sell everything...

Might as well give you guys the heads up if you are looking for some good stuff---

For sure to sell right off the bat:

1980 Gibson ES-175 Blonde (deeply ambered now)
1940-41 Gibson ES-100 w/ a blade/Charlie Christian type pickup
1952 (or 53?) Epiphone Deluxe Zephyr Regent Sunburst
Harmony 415 amp w/ 2-12's (low wattage)---H. Fats used this model per a late 70's interview....that's why I tracked this one down...
Tony Duggan-Smith Handmade small bodied Archtop w/ woods from D'Aquistos shop, and made in Linda Manzers shop---much like a Sadowsky
'Jim Hall' model

and either the 'Mary Kaye'd' White Blonde USA 57' RI strat w/ Voodoo 50's, or the Pee Wee Crayton strat---maybe both---that decision will come next month---

...maybe the 56' RI Goldtop Gibson, too---

The 66' ES-335 is in the shop for a headstock re-repair---also might go when it's fixed, but that's way down the road

and actually, I suppose ANY of my gear is available if someone makes an offer I can't seem to refuse---just a note---all my CHEAP gear (except the Harmony amp) is already gone---no fire sale here, but you guys get 1st crack at whatever.


I'm just basically 'done' as a semi pro, and don't have it in me anymore to try and do the hustle thing for gigs---all the people you have to be nice to, etc...you know what I mean--

anyway---that's all for now---you all take care and 'swing on!!'

ac

[S.W.Erdnase]

Why, ac? Whhhyyyyyy?

You have a PM.

[zappafrank]

Why, ac? Whhhyyyyyy?

You have a PM.

Your answer can be found in the 2nd to the last sentence of my previous post:puh :BITCH :messedup :crazy

I'm just fed up, no gigs, these are now just in the way and gathering dust and should be in the hands of someone who cares more than i do these days---


ac

[Strat-O]

whatever blues stardom there is these days

This means he gets to sleep in. Even if he has kids that have to get up and go to school.

[Dave Orban]

BTW---I've pretty much made the decision to liquidate most, if not all, of my gear---I'm going to start putting ads in the Emporium/Ebay in late April---I think I may just keep an acoustic or 2 in case I get the urge to play for my own entertainment, but I'm going to start selling off my stuff slowly at 1st, and see how painful it gets before I sell everything...

Might as well give you guys the heads up if you are looking for some good stuff---

For sure to sell right off the bat:

1980 Gibson ES-175 Blonde (deeply ambered now)
1940-41 Gibson ES-100 w/ a blade/Charlie Christian type pickup
1952 (or 53?) Epiphone Deluxe Zephyr Regent Sunburst
Harmony 415 amp w/ 2-12's (low wattage)---H. Fats used this model per a late 70's interview....that's why I tracked this one down...
Tony Duggan-Smith Handmade small bodied Archtop w/ woods from D'Aquistos shop, and made in Linda Manzers shop---much like a Sadowsky
'Jim Hall' model

and either the 'Mary Kaye'd' White Blonde USA 57' RI strat w/ Voodoo 50's, or the Pee Wee Crayton strat---maybe both---that decision will come next month---

...maybe the 56' RI Goldtop Gibson, too---

The 66' ES-335 is in the shop for a headstock re-repair---also might go when it's fixed, but that's way down the road

and actually, I suppose ANY of my gear is available if someone makes an offer I can't seem to refuse---just a note---all my CHEAP gear (except the Harmony amp) is already gone---no fire sale here, but you guys get 1st crack at whatever.


I'm just basically 'done' as a semi pro, and don't have it in me anymore to try and do the hustle thing for gigs---all the people you have to be nice to, etc...you know what I mean--

anyway---that's all for now---you all take care and 'swing on!!'

acIt is fairly depressing out there sometimes, that's for damned sure. Hope all goes well for you, bro.

[TwoFeets]

AC - man, I'm torn between feeling bad about you getting rid of all that gear, and lusting after much of it.

[Dave Orban]

Gig Alert: Sat, Mar 31, South Amboy, NJ

My band, the Mojo Gypsies (http://www.mojogypsies.com), will be playing this Saturday night, Mar 31, at the Blue Moon Cafe in South Amboy, NJ. 9pm start, runs 'til about 1am...

Nice little place, good food, friendly crowd, yadda, yadda, yadda...

Come on out, if you're in the neighborhood. Click here: http://www.mojogypsies.com/gypsies/news/, for more details.

[musicofanatic5]

This means he gets to sleep in. Even if he has kids that have to get up and go to school.
If this is how it's defined, I am a blues-super-star! Look at the time; I am up early today!

[Strat-O]

:)


zf - I say sell it all off man. You'll feel alot better and then you can buy more again later. I'd keep the Pee Wee and Beaufort though.

[Scott Miller]

Nemeth and Kader wandered in to the jam last night, Nemeth holding a big doggie bag from an Indian restaurant; so he's up there singing his ass off, doggie bag in one hand, scotch in the other, and pulls out some nan or a dhosa or something and starts eating mid-song, chewing between verses. Only in California.

[aja]

Where was that ?

[THINSOCKS]

@musicofanatic5: I will try once more to run the amp lower. I am however sceptic that it will make any difference whether I run the amp at 10 and back up the guitar vol to where it just breaks up (as I have done until now) or run it at 5 with the guitar full open.

I have played around with the settings. It helped a lot to turn up the normal vol to around 10 to reduce mids/gain but it also ruined the tone. Raising the tone to 10 helped without ruining the tone. I have tried different vol settings on the amp and as far as I recall the amount of feedback only depended on the total level (guitar vol +amp vol) meaning that it would feed the same with a low amp vol setting and high guitar vol. setting as in the opposite case.

In other words, the feedback occurs at low volumes. By that I mean volumes where the tone is still very clean. It's not a result of me trying to melt down the shack. Your solution does probably not work for me since I will have to turn down the volume to something way below the point of breakup to get rid of the feedback. But I wil of course give it a chance. Thanks for your suggestion.

Anyway, it is interesting to get an idea of how other guitarists use their tweed amps. Until now I have primarily been using mine with the strat. Here it seems to work excellent to turn the amp vol to 10 and regulate the guitar vol between 6 and 8.5 (leaving 9-10 as an ace up the sleeve that is rarely used. With 5V4 and a weber P12Q the amp can handle somewhat more than lets say my GA-20 with the org. jensen P12R. I would not play that amp at 10 with my strat). Thats why I tried the same thing with the 350T. As you guys point out there is not really a reason to turn the amp vol that high with the 350 when I will never be interested in opening the guitarvol fully anyway. But that has not much to do with my feedback problem.

If I also experience feedback to that degree on stage it seems that Sound Pots is the way to go. Do you know where to buy them?

Again, thanks to you all for your advises. I really appreciate it.
Andreas

PS: @TwoFeet: A reverb unit between the guitar and the amp must be the "best" solution I have heard so far. Thanks! I have never had a better excuse for bying a tank. So, where do I sell my soul to finance the damn thing?!

I have a real '56 Deluxe and I can tell you that on 10 it will howl even with a solidbody. My Deluxe is far from musical when it's wide open. If you have to turn your amp up to 10 to get a "sound" then something is not right with the amp. As with any good old tweed amp, a good Deluxe should hit it's stride at 5 or 6 and pretty much just "mush out" after that.

[Shades]

Shades---It was nice to meet you a few months back---you make some sweet guitars and are a real fine player! Thanks AC. I really enjoyed playing with you as well, you play your butt off. Wish we had more time to hang out. Sorry to hear your current situation but I certainly understand. I basically went into player semi-retirement myself after I left San Jose 3 years ago, only playing very sporadically around this area. I just recently started thinking about starting up again more regularly, after hanging out with Marco, Phil, and Vyasa at Duff's on Wednesdays. Still, the biz part isn't my favorite thing on earth by any stretch, and it is very easy to get fried by the process. It can sap your energy and enjoyment of things pretty easily. Best of luck with whichever way you go, make sure you hold on to enough to cover you if get the itch again.

[Dave Orban]

Nemeth and Kader wandered in to the jam last night, Nemeth holding a big doggie bag from an Indian restaurant; so he's up there singing his ass off, doggie bag in one hand, scotch in the other, and pulls out some nan or a dhosa or something and starts eating mid-song, chewing between verses. Only in California.ROTFLMAO...!

[Shades]

Vyasa is way into swing-stuff---not so much the deeper blues as of yet---I figure he will find that as he gets a little older---great player, decent vocalist, good songwriter, really nice guy
Yeah, he's definitely into the swing side, and I think that works out well. What I like about his voice is that it sounds very natural with the stuff he's doing, it just sounds like him. With the deeper stuff, I'm not so sure his voice suits it as well. I'm glad he's getting some notice since, as you mentioned, he's a talented player and a really good guy.

[Echo Are]

Where was that ?

It was at last night's Murphy's Law Jam(Sunnyvale, CA). House band was Johnny Cat, Mike Phillips & June Core. John motioned for Johnny Cat to take a solo, and that's when he started eating. I thought it was a funny moment too. Not very, uh, professional, but it was a jam :D.

[straightblues]

Hey AC don't sell all of your stuff. We have all been through this at one time or another. Sell most of it if you want to, but hold back on some stuff so you can go to jams or sit in every once in awhile. It is really hard getting the cash together to buy everything again. Believe me, when I was in my mid 20's I sold everything except my 1932 Dobro. When I strated up again in my mid 30's, with a house and wife and stuff, it was hard to get cash together to buy a whole new rig. Keep a couple guitars as investments if for no other reason. :munch

[HappyValley]

Hi guys- Been awhile!
AC- Check your PM.
Alec- Congrats on the move & best of luck, me hombre- keep in touch! Check your PM, too!

To whomever was inquring about the out of phase tele- if the five pos. switch is too much of a hassle, go with a push pull pot; I've had one on mine for years for that sound and it's GREAT....it actually came that way when I bought it from Holmes.

In the archtop feedback category- My ES-5 behaves wonderfully unless there is a ridiculous monitor mix or any WAY too loud amp in my vicinity.

In the tweed amp stage volume category, I keep my tweed 30 watt 3x10 between 6-7.5 90% of the time; Maybe 8 with a low gain PUP guitar.

Welcome Andreas! My buddy & frontman Racky Thomas lived in Denmark for quite some time doing acoustic Delta Blues, probably 11 -12 years ago...

Well, I think I covered all the bases for now......

[jetlag]

I played a show Saturday night with Nemeth and Watson. Packed house and Nemeth really sang his ass off. Hell of a nice guy too. IMHO he is the best singer on the scene right now.

Frank, I think you got lost in the mix. Anyway, congrads on that gig! That must have been a blast. Are you doing any more dates with John? I'm really looking forward to Nemeth and Watson making it out here in April.

[HappyValley]

Frank, I think you got lost in the mix. Anyway, congrads on that gig! That must have been a blast. Are you doing any more dates with John? I'm really looking forward to Nemeth and Watson making it out here in April.
Frank- Missed your post- Ditto on jetlag's sentiments!! That's GREAT!!

[aja]

Thanks Nick I'm looking forward to the move. I'll be able to catch all the
great west coast guys now. I'll give you a ring sometime man !!

[safecracker]

Hi guys- Been awhile!
AC- Check your PM.
Alec- Congrats on the move & best of luck, me hombre- keep in touch! Check your PM, too!

To whomever was inquring about the out of phase tele- if the five pos. switch is too much of a hassle, go with a push pull pot; I've had one on mine for years for that sound and it's GREAT....it actually came that way when I bought it from Holmes.

In the archtop feedback category- My ES-5 behaves wonderfully unless there is a ridiculous monitor mix or any WAY too loud amp in my vicinity.

In the tweed amp stage volume category, I keep my tweed 30 watt 3x10 between 6-7.5 90% of the time; Maybe 8 with a low gain PUP guitar.

Welcome Andreas! My buddy & frontman Racky Thomas lived in Denmark for quite some time doing acoustic Delta Blues, probably 11 -12 years ago...

Well, I think I covered all the bases for now......
That was me on the Tele mod. Does yours have a 3 or 4 way switch in addition to the push-pull? Can I add a push pull pot and keep the three way that's in it and get the out of phase loopy sound we all love?Thanks, S

[bluesbreaker59]

Well last night, I found it....

Willie Johnson tone, its been very elusive for me, and its not a tone that appeals to everyone, but dammit, last night I had it in spades, from a very unlikely combination, and frankly I'm sure he used something totally different.

My homebrew blackguard Tele, set on the middle position, volume up to about 8, tone backed WAY OFF, almost fully off. Plugged into my reverb tank, set for just a little ambience, and then into a Crowther Hotcake, set for boost, into 5E3 clone channels jumpered and amp set to about 9 on the bright channel, normal at about 4, and tone set at 7.5. I had the best Willie Johnson tone I've ever heard, we we're playing that old Wolf stuff most of the night, flip to the neck pickup and roll the tone up a little and it sounded like a big hollowbody (ala Curran's early records), go to the bridge pickup, and it was great biting Tele tone, roll back the tone a little and it was nice for some Muddy Waters stuff.

Sorry, just had to share my findings. I've got no clue what Willie really used, but I'll bet it was some kind of Tweed amp or Valco, National, Supro, etc., and some cheap ass guitar.

[ES350]

Later on he used a LP Jr., but Lockwood told me Willie used an ES 150.

[THINSOCKS]

Frank, I think you got lost in the mix. Anyway, congrads on that gig! That must have been a blast. Are you doing any more dates with John? I'm really looking forward to Nemeth and Watson making it out here in April.

Thanks. I just want to make it clear though that my band opened for John. I didn't play with him and Junior. My friend (and bandleader) has been booking these monthly Saturday night "Blues Nights" at a local club now for the last 4 months. It's turning out to be a great gig. Usually, we have a opening band, then us and then a headliner. Each show so far we have had about 200+ people in attendance.

[THINSOCKS]

Later on he used a LP Jr., but Lockwood told me Willie used an ES 150.

I have a picture of him from around the time he played with Wolf in Memphis and in it he is playing one of those little Supro guitars. It's the same Supro guitar that Wolf is playing in the picture of him in front of the supermarket. The only diffrence is Willie's is a sunburst.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/SUPROJOHNSON.jpg

Sorry, but I'm not sure why this is so small...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/WLLIEJOHNSON.jpg

Here's a 60's pic with a Melody Maker

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/WILLIEJOHNSON2.jpg

[bluesbreaker59]

I have a picture of him from around the time he played with Wolf in Memphis and in it he is playing one of those little Supro guitars. It's the same Supro guitar that Wolf is playing in the picture of him in front of the supermarket. The only diffrence is Willie's is a sunburst.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/SUPROJOHNSON.jpg

Sorry, but I'm not sure why this is so small...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/WLLIEJOHNSON.jpg

Here's a 60's pic with a Melody Maker

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/WILLIEJOHNSON2.jpg

Holy cow those are some REALLY cool pics!!!

[jetlag]

Man I know. Those are as cool as that shot Frank put up of Robert Jr with the 295 and the crooked bow tie. I've seen a later picture of Willie (70's or 80's) holding something that looked like a cherry red copy of a melody maker. Oh, and sorry about the mixup Frank. I misread your post. It still sounded cool!

[Scott Miller]

I think Willie Johnson could have played anything and sounded great. He's one of those guys where I hear him play something and it sounds awesome, so I figure out what he played and it's always something simple, something that I already do a billion times... but it never sounds as good as when he plays it.

[bluesbreaker59]

I think Willie Johnson could have played anything and sounded great. He's one of those guys where I hear him play something and it sounds awesome, so I figure out what he played and it's always something simple, something that I already do a billion times... but it never sounds as good as when he plays it.

Amen!!! It blows me away how much Fats stole from Willie. Those two Howlin Wolf early days discs, bear this fact out. Just listen to the chords he's using, the turnarounds, bass patterns, and even his very nimble fingered solos. And to some extent there are elements of his tone, that I hear in some of the modern West Coast guys stuff. I hear Charlie Christian, T-Bone and Gate, always getting lots of credit as "founding fathers" of West Coast, but I think that Willie is just as important. Its a shame there wasn't much of him recorded.

[THINSOCKS]

That last picture of Willie Johnson came out of Jas Obrecht's book "Rollin' & Tumblin - The Postwar Blues Guitarist". It's a really must have book, and it even has a entire section (5 or 6 pages) on Willie Johnson. It features the standard guitarist like BB King, Freddie King, Albert King, but it also features in equal light players like Saunders King, Jody Williams, Homesick James, Guitar Slim, etc. One of the intersting things in the book is they mention that in the 60's Johnson wanted to play Jazz and that on gigs he would bust out some Gene Ammons songs. I bet that was wild. Ha-Ha.

Bluesbreaker - There is actually a fairly decent amount of Willie Johnson stuff out there. He played on a lot of Sun records besides Wolf's, he even recorded some for Sun under his own name. He also did live in Chicago for awhile and is on a scattering of stuff from that period.

[bluesbreaker59]

That last picture of Willie Johnson came out of Jas Obrecht's book "Rollin' & Tumblin - The Postwar Blues Guitarist". It's a really must have book, and it even has a entire section (5 or 6 pages) on Willie Johnson. It features the standard guitarist like BB King, Freddie King, Albert King, but it also features in equal light players like Saunders King, Jody Williams, Homesick James, Guitar Slim, etc. One of the intersting things in the book is they mention that in the 60's Johnson wanted to play Jazz and that on gigs he would bust out some Gene Ammons songs. I bet that was wild. Ha-Ha.

Bluesbreaker - There is actually a fairly decent amount of Willie Johnson stuff out there. He played on a lot of Sun records besides Wolf's, he even recorded some for Sun under his own name. He also did live in Chicago for awhile and is on a scattering of stuff from that period.

Where can i find this other stuff that he's on? Seriously, I'm just enamored with his style, tone, all of it.

[THINSOCKS]

Where can i find this other stuff that he's on? Seriously, I'm just enamored with his style, tone, all of it.

I wish I could tell you one CD to buy, but your just going to have to dig for it (and really that's the fun part). Most everything I have is on older compilations from the 70's/80's (For some reason this was the golden age of blues comps). The P-Vine Memphis Aggressive Guitar LPs have some rare Willie Johnson stuff on them. I have a LP box set called the Sun Blues Box that has the Sammy Lewis/Willie Johnson sides and a lot of other stuff Johnson was a sideman on for Sun. There was also a European label in the 70's called Ball & Chain that put out two bootleg records of unrealesed Howlin' Wolf outtakes that have Willie Johnson all over them.

[RickyKing]

You never cease to amaze me,Frankie Baby!!

[zappafrank]

Hey George, Nick, Eric, and Rob---I got your PM's and phone messages---you guys are great, and I appreciate all your incredibly supportive comments---still does'nt mean I won't continue with the gear purge, but I will keep some stuff---just in case---I'd have a real hard time saying goodbye to the 330, the 350, and the 64' refin strat---and of course for the future loser dives I may play sometime down the road, that parts tele would be perfect, as it's only real value is to me (It's a killer, tho)---
You know I have'nt played a gig large enough to use the old Holmstrom Vic 4-10" Pro in over a year??? Or really even the Clark 1-15" "Pro-Luxe" type amp in over half a year???---That's just a total waste, IMO--

Plus, with the incredible amount of really good electric blues/swing type players here now--(Vyasa, Marco Savo, Paris Slim, Suburban Slim, Robbie Laws, Josh Fulero, Terry Robb, Stu Kinzel, Peter Damman ((Paul Delay's former usual guy)), KBR is coming soon, etc, etc...)---there is just less and less opportunities for a part-timer guitarist/full time jobber like myself to squeeze in with any A or B tier bands---and the fall off to C- and D bands from that level is a LONG way down, IMO---just not worth my efforts---

And, a part of me also feels that I can never really call myself a musician until I get it together on acoustic, and can really play whole songs by myself, w/ no accompaniment--Bass, Chords, and Fills w/ Vocals----something that has eluded me (due to laziness, I guess..) ever since I picked it up at 12---too much listening to the 'flights of fancy' of lead players and saxes I was enamored with over the years--Now, I listen to Big Bill Broonzy, Mississipi John Hurt, or guys like Terry Robb or Tommy Emmanuel and go--" Now THAT guy knows his instrument inside and out---does'nt need anybody else with him to sound good"...and also, "How the hell does he do that???"---Hopefully, I'll be able to glean something off of that style--

So you see, there's more than just an apathy for the local scene here at work---

Thank You guys sincerely for your nice words--

-ac

[zappafrank]

Amen!!! It blows me away how much Fats stole from Willie. Those two Howlin Wolf early days discs, bear this fact out. Just listen to the chords he's using, the turnarounds, bass patterns, and even his very nimble fingered solos. And to some extent there are elements of his tone, that I hear in some of the modern West Coast guys stuff. I hear Charlie Christian, T-Bone and Gate, always getting lots of credit as "founding fathers" of West Coast, but I think that Willie is just as important. Its a shame there wasn't much of him recorded.

You nailed it---and i agree---WJ is in my top 5 DEAD blues guitarists, along with Fats, Magic Sam, Earl Hooker maybe, and the other spot in rotation...

and Frank---thanks for the tips on other cuts---i have that CD 'Blue Guitar' on Charley/SUN which has a fair amount of hard to find WJ, as well as some great early E. Hooker---of course, it's also out of print

Count me IN on all discussions about Willie Johnson---great story on him and Jody Williams in an old Living Blues I have around the house somewhere---sadly, not much on his early gear and tonal secrets--

ac

[zappafrank]

BTW---IF I sell the Goldtop---S.W. has first crack at it---squeaky wheel gets the grease, but it's not running away quite yet---maybe after I sell a few others-

ac

[TwoFeets]

Hey George, Nick, Eric, and Rob---I got your PM's and phone messages---you guys are great, and I appreciate all your incredibly supportive comments---still does'nt mean I won't continue with the gear purge, but I will keep some stuff---just in case---I'd have a real hard time saying goodbye to the 330, the 350, and the 64' refin strat---

You are clearly suffering from some sort of short-term insanity. I hereby volunteer to keep all your gear for you until it passes.

[zappafrank]

You are clearly suffering from some sort of short-term insanity. I hereby volunteer to keep all your gear for you until it passes.

---Hey TwoFeets---I don't think of a year as short-term, but thanks for the offer:)

[rhartt1234]

I haven't hunted down WJ like Thinksocks has, so I may have more easily accessible picks. The most readily available Willie Johnson CDs:
Sun Records Harmonica Classics (OOP I think but easily found)
Sun Records: 25 Blues Classics
Sun Records: 25 More Blues Classics
Howlin' Wolf/Moanin' in the Moonlight (if you don't have this one maybe you shouldn't be reading this)
Howlin Wolf Memphis Days Vol 1

[valcotone]

On the drive in this morning I was listening to Louis Jordan's "Rock and Roll" album on Mercury from about '56-57 with Mickey Baker on guitar. Caldonia just rips and his tone on that is so bright, brash, and in your face... I love his reckless punchy fills and they just propel the song. I have no idea what gear he might have been using. Anyone know?

[rhartt1234]

Let's say there's this guy, right? And this guy has a fake thing that he wants to look like the real thing, right? Where might this guy go to find a sticker type deal for his thing?
50s?
Tele-ish?

[bluesbreaker59]

Let's say there's this guy, right? And this guy has a fake thing that he wants to look like real thing, right? Where might this guy go to find a sticker type deal for his thing?
50s?
Tele-ish?

I'd tell "this guy" not to infringe on Fender (or any other company's copyrights), but that's me. I've "heard" that Fender can be rather unpleasant to deal with on such things.

[THINSOCKS]

On the drive in this morning I was listening to Louis Jordan's "Rock and Roll" album on Mercury from about '56-57 with Mickey Baker on guitar. Caldonia just rips and his tone on that is so bright, brash, and in your face... I love his reckless punchy fills and they just propel the song. I have no idea what gear he might have been using. Anyone know?

Sean, I've seen pictures of Mickey playing a sunburst maple neck strat, a '54 Les Paul Custom and a very rare and very early 3 knob Les Paul Custom with 3 PAF humbuckers (Also, known as the Mickey Baker model). When I played some gigs with Roy Gainnes I asked him about Mickey, since Mickey played 2nd guitar on all of Roy's 50's stuff and Roy said they were both playing Premier amps in the studio. Not sure the model name, but Roy described it as the one that "splits in half" and has "colored knobs and push buttons".

[RickyKing]

I do believe Mikey Baker was using a Fender Jazzmaster or his 2 P-90
Les Paul Custom. It is pretty spanky tone...

[RickyKing]

PM me Ryan,I have the guy you want

[GOLDENSTRAT]

I have heard the first half of Tad Robinson's new cd and it is nuts! The first song has some kind of Isaac Hayes/ Bobby Bland ultimate arrangement, the theme (so far) seems to be kind of a mid-life crisis thingy, i have to get to the second half today. A lot of work went into this cd.
Mickey Baker is also on the cover of "Wildest Guitar" or something like that with a Jazzmaster. Just spent the last 3 dyas on a great roadtrip with my girls listening to soundtracks of Spongbob, Austin Powers, Holes, etc., etc. eye-yi-yi . fred

[THINSOCKS]

I do believe Mikey Baker was using a Fender Jazzmaster or his 2 P-90
Les Paul Custom. It is pretty spanky tone...

I thought that too , but the only thing would be that the Jazzmaster did not come out till '58 and that album was a full year + before that.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/MICKEY1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/MICKEY2.jpg

[dddelta]

Let's say there's this guy, right? And this guy has a fake thing that he wants to look like the real thing, right? Where might this guy go to find a sticker type deal for his thing?
50s?
Tele-ish?

And then lets say there's this guy has a kinda tweed amp thing that he needs a speacial tweed amp nameplate made in a kinda 50's tweed style amp script so that it looks kinda cool...


...Where might this guy go to have one made...?

[dddelta]

Alex Schultz new clip...it's a good un!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph9mh7F4cJs

[Strat-O]

:munch

http://www.webervst.com/design/

[S.W.Erdnase]

BTW---IF I sell the Goldtop---S.W. has first crack at it---squeaky wheel gets the grease, but it's not running away quite yet---maybe after I sell a few others-

ac

Ouch.

Ouch.

Ouch.

Ouch.

Ouch.

[groove_king]

And then lets say there's this guy has a kinda tweed amp thing that he needs a speacial tweed amp nameplate made in a kinda 50's tweed style amp script so that it looks kinda cool...


...Where might this guy go to have one made...?

I'd tell your guy to go here ...

http://www.partsisparts.net/categories/46/1/Logos-and-Faceplates.htm

I know a guy that just bought a Bandmaster faceplate. My guy says it looks like the shiznit ...

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Hey all you downeasters up there, waz Mr. Earl up to these days?

[rhartt1234]

And then lets say there's this guy has a kinda tweed amp thing that he needs a speacial tweed amp nameplate made in a kinda 50's tweed style amp script so that it looks kinda cool...


...Where might this guy go to have one made...?

http://www.amplates.com/
These guys don't do "name" plates but they do do custom work. You can be like Rod Piazza and make a "Famous Bluesman"
instead of a Fender Bassman.

[zappafrank]

Ouch.

Ouch.

Ouch.

Ouch.

Ouch.


What?? I did'nt mean to hurt your feelings---I was told by your bandmates that the "S.W." in yer name stands for ----'Squeaky Wheels'!!!:crazyguy

Just kidding---you do get first shot, my friend---check yer email---

ac

[zappafrank]

Alex Schultz new clip...it's a good un!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph9mh7F4cJs



Yet ANOTHER reason to sell most of my stuff---just too killin':eek:

ac

[valcotone]

Alex Schultz new clip...it's a good un!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph9mh7F4cJs


dddelta, thanks for posting that! I love it! Cool drum solo too with the skin stretching thang... or whatever you'd call it. The bends he does at the 1:00 mark kill me.

Looks like he's playing an old Harmony H78... niiiiiiiiiiice.

[safecracker]

Thanks guys for the guidance on the 52' Tele RI oop mod. I left the three way switch in,converted it to modern style wiring and added a push-pull on the tone knob. The oop tone is great, but has volume drop just like jetlag said it would. Should I get some kind of a clean boost pedal just for the oop to keep volume levels the same? If so, any recommendations on pedal. I use tweed amps. Thanks fellas! Shawn

[HappyValley]

Hey all you downeasters up there, waz Mr. Earl up to these days?

Ronnie's doing well & has a CD/DVD session coming up next month for release on StonyPlain. He's doing some gigs up this way again starting late spring.

[TwoFeets]

Thanks guys for the guidance on the 52' Tele RI oop mod. I left the three way switch in,converted it to modern style wiring and added a push-pull on the tone knob. The oop tone is great, but has volume drop just like jetlag said it would. Should I get some kind of a clean boost pedal just for the oop to keep volume levels the same? If so, any recommendations on pedal. I use tweed amps. Thanks fellas! Shawn

I just had a second pickup wired into an Esquire and I wasn't actually going to bother with the phase mod on this guitar, but the installer accidentally switched a couple of wires around, so I ended up with the out of phase tone anyway! Of course, I don't have the normal in-between Tele tone but I'm going to leave it for now. However, like you say, the extra-thin nature of the OOP tone and the volume drop makes it really dicey to use onstage. A clean boost might not be a bad idea but a fat boost would probably be better because I think the overall tone is TOO thin. Maybe try the Duncan pickup booster pedal, they're fairly readily available to try out in stores.

[safecracker]

I just had a second pickup wired into an Esquire and I wasn't actually going to bother with the phase mod on this guitar, but the installer accidentally switched a couple of wires around, so I ended up with the out of phase tone anyway! Of course, I don't have the normal in-between Tele tone but I'm going to leave it for now. However, like you say, the extra-thin nature of the OOP tone and the volume drop makes it really dicey to use onstage. A clean boost might not be a bad idea but a fat boost would probably be better because I think the overall tone is TOO thin. Maybe try the Duncan pickup booster pedal, they're fairly readily available to try out in stores.
Thanks for the tip. I'll try that. Is it safe to connect vintage amps together input to input? I've got a AB box to run two amps, but I'd like to run 3 or 4 amps. They are all vintage ranging from 5 to 10 watts.Thanks in advance. Shawn

[jetlag]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that. Is it safe to connect vintage amps together input to input? I've got a AB box to run two amps, but I'd like to run 3 or 4 amps. They are all vintage ranging from 5 to 10 watts.Thanks in advance. Shawn

Man, I want to hear clips of your 4 amp rig. Pics too! Many amps have input jacks that let you daisy chain amps together, but not all. You'll have to experiment with yours and see if they do that or not. You could use the A-B switch for one of the amps that doesn't daisy or put that amp at the end of the chain, where it doesn't have to feed another amp. The danger lies in ground loops - if all the amps have a 3 prong power chord your fine. The other issue is phase. The chance of 4 amps all being in phase with each other is very low. What you do is try them all in pairs - with one amp used consistently as a reference amp. Try the others, one at a time, with the reference amp. Set their volumes equal and listen to the two amps, then turn one around 180 degrees and listen again. One way will be fat with a lot of lows, the other will sound thinner and almost stereo -like, maybe even wide sounding (hard to explain but you'll hear it). The latter is when the amps are out of phase, and not what you want. Do that comparison thing with all of the amps until you have all of them phased together. Then hook them up with some facing forward, some facing the other way. If you want them all facing forward, rewire the amps that are facing backword around by swapping the speaker leads. You'll eventually have a quartet of whoopass singing in harmony. Oh, another thing on daisy chaining - the first amp in the chain will sound/respond normally, the rest of the amps will not get as much signal from your guitar and won't be driven as hard. You'll have to turn them up louder than usual to correct for that.

[RickyKing]

+1 on the Duncan pedal...mighty handy!

[musicofanatic5]

Are there any vinnidge gtr psychologists on this page? Can anyone explain why I feel soooo much attraction to this gtr:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150106577413&rd=1&rd=1 ?

Especially in light of the fact that I've had a '51 ES-5 for over fifteen years. I can't figure it out, but I seem to think I am more interested in cool, old non-cutaway gtrs. Is it some kinda weird "old guy" thing or what? I threaten to sell the ES-5 about every coupla years, but somehow haven't yet. Man, am I f*cked up or what?!? Somebody do me a favor and smack me upside the head! It's gonna be hard to pass on this 300, but I reckon someone (other than me) is gonna pay too much for it. Aaarrrgghhhh!

[THINSOCKS]

Are there any vinnidge gtr psychologists on this page? Can anyone explain why I feel soooo much attraction to this gtr:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150106577413&rd=1&rd=1 ?

Especially in light of the fact that I've had a '51 ES-5 for over fifteen years. I can't figure it out, but I seem to think I am more interested in cool, old non-cutaway gtrs. Is it some kinda weird "old guy" thing or what? I threaten to sell the ES-5 about every coupla years, but somehow haven't yet. Man, am I f*cked up or what?!? Somebody do me a favor and smack me upside the head! It's gonna be hard to pass on this 300, but I reckon someone (other than me) is gonna pay too much for it. Aaarrrgghhhh!

Jon, if it makes you feel any better I have a ES-300 and a ES-5 and the ES-5 still ends up leaving the house way more. I love those non-cut guitars also, but my ES-300 never makes it further then the living room. It just a hell of a work out to take that ES-300 out on a gig. Yet, I just can't bring myself to sell the damn thing even though I rarely use it.

[TwoFeets]

Are there any vinnidge gtr psychologists on this page? Can anyone explain why I feel soooo much attraction to this gtr:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150106577413&rd=1&rd=1 ?

Especially in light of the fact that I've had a '51 ES-5 for over fifteen years. I can't figure it out, but I seem to think I am more interested in cool, old non-cutaway gtrs. Is it some kinda weird "old guy" thing or what? I threaten to sell the ES-5 about every coupla years, but somehow haven't yet. Man, am I f*cked up or what?!? Somebody do me a favor and smack me upside the head! It's gonna be hard to pass on this 300, but I reckon someone (other than me) is gonna pay too much for it. Aaarrrgghhhh!

Felix has a single pickup ES300 that he rigged up a Charlie Christian pickup out of a EH100 lap steel into the neck position of. I think you're hearing your inner jazzer talking.

[zappafrank]

Are there any vinnidge gtr psychologists on this page? Can anyone explain why I feel soooo much attraction to this gtr:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150106577413&rd=1&rd=1 ?

Especially in light of the fact that I've had a '51 ES-5 for over fifteen years. I can't figure it out, but I seem to think I am more interested in cool, old non-cutaway gtrs. Is it some kinda weird "old guy" thing or what? I threaten to sell the ES-5 about every coupla years, but somehow haven't yet. Man, am I f*cked up or what?!? Somebody do me a favor and smack me upside the head! It's gonna be hard to pass on this 300, but I reckon someone (other than me) is gonna pay too much for it. Aaarrrgghhhh!


Jon---my ES-100 might fit your 'old-man-itus'---it's got the aforementioned C. Christian style pickup, and is a smaller body to deal with---and a LOT cheaper. Well, here....take a look:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/Tugboatguitars002.jpg



ac

[zappafrank]

Thanks guys for the guidance on the 52' Tele RI oop mod. I left the three way switch in,converted it to modern style wiring and added a push-pull on the tone knob. The oop tone is great, but has volume drop just like jetlag said it would. Should I get some kind of a clean boost pedal just for the oop to keep volume levels the same? If so, any recommendations on pedal. I use tweed amps. Thanks fellas! Shawn

Hey Safecracker---It's probably way more than you'd want, but I have a Zvex 'Super Duper' that is a cream of the crop boost, with an added double booster/overdrive---the regular boost is fantastic, for what you'd want it for---kinda spendy for a booster, tho--

ac--

[THINSOCKS]

Jon---my ES-100 might fit your 'old-man-itus'---it's got the aforementioned C. Christian style pickup, and is a smaller body to deal with---and a LOT cheaper. Well, here....take a look:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/Tugboatguitars002.jpg



ac

Just my two cents, but you really shouldn't sell any of your stuff that is not new. The strat, epi, 335, 330, 100... just keep it. Put it all away some place safe and just hold on to it. There is nothing wrong with just enjoying yoru guitars at home.

[zappafrank]

Thanks Frank, for the .02c----

I'm just tripping over cases here and I want em' out!---but I surely see your point---it ain't about needing cash---at least, not right now! (Got my State and Fed refunds today, along with my regular paycheck, AND our yearly bonus payout at work---feel like I hit the slots today.)

thanks again---

ac


PS---the strat ain't going anywhere---that truly IS money in the bank---actually, BETTER than that---don't know about the 335---we'll see how it plays/reacts after it's 2nd headstock repair---if it's at all 'funky', it's gone---and it will be a tearful goodbye---but I won't off it on you guys if it's sub-par---I like you guys too much. 330 is also staying (another h.stock repair---can't tell, tho--) I think the 350 is staying, too---if for nothing else, just to look at: (just kidding---it IS a bit noisy, tho, compared to my other p90 guitars---can you guys help me out with that?---)

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/106_0694.jpg

[zappafrank]

And, c'mon---You guys KNOW you want this one:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/epiDZR1.jpg

( I'm just in a pic-posting mood today, I guess---)

ac

[zappafrank]

But Frank---you are probably right---we'll see what happens---if I can sell the 175, the Tony Duggan-Smith (what a jazzer!---too bad I'm not), and one or 2 strats, that might be enough to stop my insanity--

Here's the Duggan-Smith, just for fun---

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/duggansmithJz1.jpg


ac

[zappafrank]

And---just to frustrate the hell out of our own "Squeaky Wheels" S.W. Erdnase---although he is now also the proud owner of a similar 65' ES-330 himself---he seems to have a fever for Gold---(I'm so damn MEAN!!!)

(the Fatdog ES-5 is long gone...)

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/Tugboatguitars001.jpg

ac

[zappafrank]

As you can see, an embarrassment of riches---I can let go of a few good ones and still be happy---this many guitars rancors my (somewhat) Buddhist sensibilities---It's just more than any one man needs---but it's tough to let go, I admit---but then again, these should be PLAYED---not sitting in cases with no gigs on the books!

ac

[Scott Miller]

"...but I seem to think I am more interested in cool, old non-cutaway gtrs."

You might satisfy that itch with a Harmony H-50. They still go for $300 - $600. I love mine. In some ways, it's kind of a piece of crap, but that's perfect for some gigs. I think Thinsocks just sold one, unless I'm getting my ebay names confused.

"It's just more than any one man needs..."

That's exactly the sort of sentiment that keeps me from getting any more of the damn things. I already have more gig-worthy guitars that I have gigs for.

[zappafrank]

"...

"It's just more than any one man needs..."

That's exactly the sort of sentiment that keeps me from getting any more of the damn things. I already have more gig-worthy guitars that I have gigs for.

Then YOU, my friend, are far more enlightened than I have been---and have a lot more willpower!!!!!:YinYang

ac

[zappafrank]

Oh, BTW guys---I saw John Nemeth last night---bought his latest---did'nt somebody here say they thought a coupla tunes sounded Robert Cray-ish??--Well---I totally agree!! Watson sounds great on it, as usual--maybe even a bit different than what I'm used to hearing from Jr.---but in a very cool, good way-and what a voice John has!

Sadly, Jr. was not with them last night, but Mike Schermer got the job done---I hear some Jimmie Vaughan in him---it was good music, what can I say---too bad there was literally zero promotion and a subsequent low turnout---seems to be the standard these days in these parts---

ac

[Scott Miller]

I also have two kids in college, which is like having fleets of trucks hauling cash from my bank account. That kind of dampens discretionary spending somewhat.

My favorite guitarist with Nemeth is Kid Andersen. Lots of youthful musical hijinx occur.

[musicofanatic5]

[quote=Scott Miller;2313684]"...but I seem to think I am more interested in cool, old non-cutaway gtrs."

You might satisfy that itch with a Harmony H-50. They still go for $300 - $600. I love mine. In some ways, it's kind of a piece of crap, but that's perfect for some gigs. quote]
Yeah, you know, I've got one of those Harmony's (actually a Silvertone H-59[?], with the p.g. surrounding the p.u.), and it's actually quite an esthetically pleasing gtr, not to mention playable as hell with that b-i-g neck and all. I just worry that it might implode withoput notice; does not inspire great confidence in the structural integrity department. And I've got my 1940 Epi Zephyr project spread all over the bench right now, so screw it. I'm not buying no more damn overpriced Gisbons! Musta been a touch of spring fever, but I'm fine now, thanks. Keepin' that damn "5", too, so there!
Another 2 p.u. ES-300 just went on eblay for $1,500, and it had been split asunder(!), and didn't have orig p.u.s; yikes!
Hey, speaking of spring fever, didya see the kids duking it out with their "I hate the 12 bar blues" (as if "12 bar blues" was the name of a song! Hey, wait...), and "greatest living bluesmen" (Joe Bananamosta and Anus Young leading at last count, ["Hey, what about Caca Montoilet?"]) posts? Plenty amusing, and actually somewhat difficult to stay out of!
Cheers, y'all and thanks for your fine humor.

[S.W.Erdnase]

And---just to frustrate the hell out of our own "Squeaky Wheels" S.W. Erdnase---although he is now also the proud owner of a similar 65' ES-330 himself---he seems to have a fever for Gold---(I'm so damn MEAN!!!)

(the Fatdog ES-5 is long gone...)

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/Tugboatguitars001.jpg

ac

Heartless, cruel swine! Pure torture! Have you no mercy?

[mikelaw]

shawn, i told ya before to do the OOP correctly, you have to make sure its wired OOP IN SERIES!

[zappafrank]

FYI---

All you cats who liked the Insomniacs CD w/ Young Vyasa Dodson--(You know how all those blues mags love the 'young' tag...)

At 11:45 am Thursday, he just signed with Delta Groove records---right alongside Paris Slim, Phillip Walker, and the Hollywood Blue Flames---

CONGRATS, Vyasa!!!---Now, if he'd just get the funds together to buy my 175 he seems to like so much...

Seriously---a lot of us are real happy for him---that bass player he has is a sharp cookie in dealing with the biz end, I gotta say---all you guys need a guy like that to get y'all da hookup!---Crap, I coulda used a guy like that---it was all I can do to get em' to a gig when one was booked!

ac

[Shades]

Oh, BTW guys---I saw John Nemeth last night---bought his latest---did'nt somebody here say they thought a coupla tunes sounded Robert Cray-ish??--Well---I totally agree!! Watson sounds great on it, as usual--maybe even a bit different than what I'm used to hearing from Jr.---but in a very cool, good way-and what a voice John has!

Sadly, Jr. was not with them last night, but Mike Schermer got the job done---I hear some Jimmie Vaughan in him---it was good music, what can I say---too bad there was literally zero promotion and a subsequent low turnout---seems to be the standard these days in these parts---

acMighty Mike! Cool. Is he still using the Dr Z Maz 38 that I sold him? I'm very fond of Mike's solo effort, particularly in the songwriting/choice area...very cool stuff

[zappafrank]

Mighty Mike! Cool. Is he still using the Dr Z Maz 38 that I sold him? I'm very fond of Mike's solo effort, particularly in the songwriting/choice area...very cool stuff


Sorry shades---I did'nt really notice---I did see he had a tweed Fender of some kind---and another amp off to the side, but what it was, I dunno---Was'nt really paying attention that much that night----fighting off a raucous bout of bronchitus and just had to get out of the apartment for a spell---

ac

[jetlag]

For those wanting to catch Watson with Nemeth, he's joining up with the tour on April 12 - so that JJ's gig the 13th is the first gig he's onboard. I believe he stays with him thru April at which point someone else takes over for the east coast dates.

[safecracker]

Man, I want to hear clips of your 4 amp rig. Pics too! Many amps have input jacks that let you daisy chain amps together, but not all. You'll have to experiment with yours and see if they do that or not. You could use the A-B switch for one of the amps that doesn't daisy or put that amp at the end of the chain, where it doesn't have to feed another amp. The danger lies in ground loops - if all the amps have a 3 prong power chord your fine. The other issue is phase. The chance of 4 amps all being in phase with each other is very low. What you do is try them all in pairs - with one amp used consistently as a reference amp. Try the others, one at a time, with the reference amp. Set their volumes equal and listen to the two amps, then turn one around 180 degrees and listen again. One way will be fat with a lot of lows, the other will sound thinner and almost stereo -like, maybe even wide sounding (hard to explain but you'll hear it). The latter is when the amps are out of phase, and not what you want. Do that comparison thing with all of the amps until you have all of them phased together. Then hook them up with some facing forward, some facing the other way. If you want them all facing forward, rewire the amps that are facing backword around by swapping the speaker leads. You'll eventually have a quartet of whoopass singing in harmony. Oh, another thing on daisy chaining - the first amp in the chain will sound/respond normally, the rest of the amps will not get as much signal from your guitar and won't be driven as hard. You'll have to turn them up louder than usual to correct for that.
Jetlag, all the amps are two prong. Would you advise to have all cords replaced before trying this. I really appreciate all your thought and input on the subject. If all amps are in phase with the two prongs, can it still shock you thru the vocal pa mic.Thanks, Shawn

[Scott Miller]

"...Watson with Nemeth, he's joining up with the tour on April 12 - so that JJ's gig the 13th..."

Good God ya'll! I hope that's true. Kind of weird that with all the guitar players around here he's got Watson on a local gig, but whatever. With my luck, I'll get a gig that night.

Hey Bill, Mike told me he uses that Maz 38 on his outdoor and otherwise big-stage gigs. I use the one you sold me regularly; my Stratotone is in love with it. I didn't know you had moved out of town... three years ago? I guess I need to stop telling people to go down to your shop to try out Z's!

[jetlag]

Jetlag, all the amps are two prong. Would you advise to have all cords replaced before trying this. I really appreciate all your thought and input on the subject. If all amps are in phase with the two prongs, can it still shock you thru the vocal pa mic.Thanks, Shawn

The safe answer is to say put grounded power cords on all amps. There are a lot of issues here that can make things confusing:
1. Keeping amp speakers in phase so it sounds good.
2. Having all amps grounded for safety.
3. If all amps are grounded, you increase the chance of ground loops, resulting in hum (another audio annoyance per item 1).

The party line is to always have all amps with a three prong grounded cord, then do other things to deal with the ground loops (expensive AB, ABC or ABCD boxes that have isolation transformers and buffer circuits, or filtering black boxes like a HumX). None of that keeps you from trying it with two prong equipped amps at your own risk (against my formal, on-line recommendation ). If you do, wear rubber soled shoes and don't touch two things metal at a time (two amps, mic and guitar strings, guitar strings and amp, etc). You might want to plug into a GFCI outlet too while your at it. Again, I am not recommending this, just sayin' ...................

[Shades]

Hey Bill, Mike told me he uses that Maz 38 on his outdoor and otherwise big-stage gigs. I use the one you sold me regularly; my Stratotone is in love with it. I didn't know you had moved out of town... three years ago? I guess I need to stop telling people to go down to your shop to try out Z's!

Yeah I moved to the Portland area 3 after the big robbery 3 years ago. I semi-retired from playing at that time. The combination of having to get a new group together, having lost most of my gear in the robbery (everything that I wasn't using on a small gig that I was playing the night we were robbed) and having to re-setup the shop was a bit too much to try to balance. I sit in with different guys and I have a few thing here and there.I miss a lot of folks out there but I really love it here. I'm trying to arrange a bit of a Catahoula band reunion in the Bay with Billy Johnson, Fuzzy John, Dennis Dove or Bryant Mills, and possibly Duke, if I can get him or perhaps Dale Ockerman. Our keyboardist Ned Torney passed away as did one of our vocalists, Ray Simpson. I thought it might be nice to have a show every year in their memory. Things are still in the early planning stages, I'm hoping I can get it worked out.

Glad you are still digging the Z and seems like you are out playing quite a bit these days which is great to hear.

[RickyKing]

I'll bet PM Blues got the Epi from Duke....

[zappafrank]

I'll bet PM Blues got the Epi from Duke....


Bingo. And Duke had done ALL of any needed work on it before it came to me---Plays like *name you fave sex lubricant here* ----I just had a handcut purdy lookin' wooden bridge put on instead of the tun-o-matic---but, of course, it would come with both---and the original beat-to-hell brown-leather covered wooden case. Some of the binding on the guitar has the shrinkage/cracks that happens a lot, but so what---

ac

[S.W.Erdnase]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XYtHqEIQbs

Hollywood Blue Flames...

[RickyKing]

I had a chance to get an Epi from Duke much like that one...
Shudda got it! You're not gonna sell that one, Zap?:messedup

[zappafrank]

I had a chance to get an Epi from Duke much like that one...
Shudda got it! You're not gonna sell that one, Zap?:messedup


Yep, I do believe so. But that's one I do not intend to lose money on, if at all possible. It's at a good friends right now, so he can do a little recording with it--

ac

[TwoFeets]

So.... topic du jour - what's the "jam" situation in your area like these days?

The Orlando area, which has been a desolate blues wasteland for as long as I've been here, has seen a sudden resurgence in blues jams.

All of a sudden, there are two on Sunday, one on Wednesday, three on Thursday, and at least one on Saturday.

The sad thing is, none of these venues has stepped up to the plate and offered anything like a real paying gig to any actual blues act. They get their one night a week of mostly-free entertainment, make $$$ off drinks, food and tips, and that's it. IMO it's killing what little market there is here for actual working bands, not only from a financial standpoint, but from a quality-of-product standpoint. These guys come in and will host a jam for $200 and free beer, the entertainment quality is terrible, the volume control and dynamics are nonexistent, the patrons are driven away, and the manager is left scratching his head saying "wow, blues really doesn't work here."

[Scott Miller]

Depending on how far you want to drive, there are jams all over the place, five days a week. Some are more interesting than others.

Things have sort of shaken out where certain types of jams are possible, for example, the jam formerly known as RJ's, now Freund's, has something of a reputation for being more old-school. Others are more "contemporary," and others more eclectic, and there are some that are puro rocker-dood.

There are also varying approaches and ambiences. One of my favorites is in downtown Oakland... somewhat of a tough neighborhood. Consequently, it is a bit off the radar, but the players are pretty good and maybe more importantly, being a low-key jam it doesn't attract as many "this is my big moment" type players. You can play something mellow there.

Every single one of them is a jam, though, so they have the typical wide range of musical quality.

The venues are either solid blues venues, or they at least have blues acts, so I don't think it's taking gigs away.

[Echo Are]

So.... topic du jour - what's the "jam" situation in your area like these days?


What Scott said. Also, a lot of the same characters:)(myself included)show up at the same jams. Thus, we've played together more than once, so the music quality's pretty good usually.

Our SF Bay Area scene has the usual Blues Jam problems, most of which boil down to poor time management, but, overall, we have a pretty good jam situation IMHO, compared to many parts of the country.

[musicofanatic5]

Yeah, a jam, or open mic is a cheap way for a club to have live "entertainment". Times are SO tough, that I have taken a post in a house band for a weekly (weakly?) open "blues" jam. I get food, drink, good pay, and respectful treatment from the staff/management. Some nights, many bass owners show up, so I play our little opening set, and then drink heavily for the rest of the night. Other nights (last night, f'rinstance), not ONE other bassist showed, and I was stuck with all the schmucks playing All Along the Watchtower ("three chords and no end in sight"), Space Cowboy ("blues" jam?!?!?), slow blues after slow blues after slow blues, and some other unrecognizable shit. And I hear from other regular jam crawlers that ours is about the hippest! Glad to have the damn gig, tho...

[TwoFeets]

Yeah, a jam, or open mic is a cheap way for a club to have live "entertainment". Times are SO tough, that I have taken a post in a house band for a weekly (weakly?) open "blues" jam. I get food, drink, good pay, and respectful treatment from the staff/management. Some nights, many bass owners show up, so I play our little opening set, and then drink heavily for the rest of the night. Other nights (last night, f'rinstance), not ONE other bassist showed, and I was stuck with all the schmucks playing All Along the Watchtower ("three chords and no end in sight"), Space Cowboy ("blues" jam?!?!?), slow blues after slow blues after slow blues, and some other unrecognizable shit. And I hear from other regular jam crawlers that ours is about the hippest! Glad to have the damn gig, tho...

I can't slag on jams too much because after all, the only reason I know Hollywood Fats wasn't a professional pool player is from going to the jams hosted by the Racky Thomas Band - then a trio - at the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain, and every now and then this tall dude named Nick would drag in a 60's 335 and a Super and sit in, and play all these chords I'd never seen before.

I think you're right, I think it's all part and parcel of the scene being so tough. I think a lot of these guys have just given up on trying to put together some kind of cohesive band and then trying to book it. That way, instead of trying to book 10 different places on 10 different weeks, it's far easier to wedge your foot in the door to one place and play there the same night 10 weeks in a row.

[pete kanaras]

the entertainment quality is terrible, the volume control and dynamics are nonexistent, the patrons are driven away, and the manager is left scratching his head saying "wow, blues really doesn't work here."

if i've said it once i've said it a thousand times:
blues is the easiest music of any to play really badly really easily....

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Just got the new Holmstrom cd today, some tunes remind me of Jormas' "Barbecue King" cd - vocally. Also got "My Last Goodbye" - the William Clarke dvd. Some awesome playing by John Marx on there. He is so classy and powerful. Maybe Thinsocks knows something about his Danelectro with the tele neck.
I gigged last night with a tweed super built by Redtoploader here on tgp. It is a great amp with a very good power for clubs- jumped channels and volume at 4-6 - it does music right. I just nned a great trem pedal.
Twofeets- most jams here have a regular crowd with some newcomers once in a while but real blues clubs I could count on one hand. Jams are a cheap way to provide entertainment on off nights I think. If you want to keep the crowd, play some ZZ or SRV, if you want to entertain the other blues guys, play some hip swing stuff. My feeling is that guys like chicks and we should play music to keep the chicks interested ( I could use some help here). rock on,fred

[Greentone]

the entertainment quality is terrible, the volume control and dynamics are nonexistent, the patrons are driven away, and the manager is left scratching his head saying "wow, blues really doesn't work here."

if i've said it once i've said it a thousand times:
blues is the easiest music of any to play really badly really easily....

No kidding, blues jams and lousy bands just kill it for everyone. The bands and the patrons lose out.

[mikelaw]

i host one every month. some players are obnoxious, but they need to know their role. and thats what my job is. most of the problems at jams stem from lack host bands/hosts who put up with stuff.

[stevieboy]

I think most clubs that have blues jams plug them into nights when they don't have anything going on and don't have any patrons to begin with, as a way to get some activity on that particular night. So I don't agree that jams drive patrons away. There are non players who actually enjoy the unpredicable nature of them. Also, a good house band will bring out some people to see a good set of music before the jam starts, usually for no cover. They'll buy a couple of drinks, eat if the place serves food, and get home early.

[RickyKing]

There are lots around here and I host 3, but I run a pretty tight ship,also have managements backing that if there is something going on I don't like,
I stop it. No problems. I work real hard to keep it to the Blues only. I pretty much know who is who around here so the music most nights is pretty good.

[mikelaw]

your jams are GREAT ricky. laura and i maybe out this summer so ill try to make a harrys jam while im there.

[musicofanatic5]

we should play music to keep the chicks interested ( I could use some help here). rock on,fred
Goddamn, rightthef*ckon!! The chicks! Blues music used to be about SEX!! Muddy with the coke bottle in his pants, etc. When I first arrived on the east coast, any blues show in Boston, or especially R.I., was always at least 50% chicks. Now it's nearly 100% (as Tony Zagmati designated them) blues queers. What kinda music do chicks like? I'll play it!!

[Scott Miller]

I think I might need to take a break from jams. I'm usually Mr. Patience, but I got tired of this consistently dreadful bass player last night and yelled at him. He was trying to get up in the front row with the guitar players and I told him to get back by the drummer where he belonged.

Nah, I'm a jam ho. I'll be out again tonight, prolly. I'll yell at the drummer this time.

[musicofanatic5]

...and a Jazz note: came home from the record store last night with Hank Mobley's "Workout". It would be a great jazz record without Grant Green on it: Hank, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe, day-yam! GG on that 330, YES!!!

[musicofanatic5]

[quote=Scott Miller;2326695] ...I got tired of this consistently dreadful bass player last night and yelled at him. He was trying to get up in the front row with the guitar players and I told him to get back by the drummer where he belonged.
quote]
They just don't seem to "know their place" any more. Ya gotta yell at 'em!

[Scott Miller]

Yeah. Getting ideas beyond their station. Sheesh.

[Echo Are]

I think I might need to take a break from jams. I'm usually Mr. Patience, but I got tired of this consistently dreadful bass player last night and yelled at him. He was trying to get up in the front row with the guitar players and I told him to get back by the drummer where he belonged.

Nah, I'm a jam ho. I'll be out again tonight, prolly. I'll yell at the drummer this time.

LOL! Actually, said bass player's not too bad, it's just that the guy always wants a schematic diagram of each song, and starts firing off questions: "What kinda groove? Is it a quick IV? How fast a shuffle? Do we come in on the IV? Ok, so should I play a boogie woogie-type line, or 'Killing Floor' riff?" On and on, lol.

[musicofanatic5]

LOL! Actually, said bass player's not too bad, it's just that the guy always wants a schematic diagram of each song, and starts firing off questions: "What kinda groove? Is it a quick IV? How fast a shuffle? Do we come in on the IV? Ok, so should I play a boogie woogie-type line, or 'Killing Floor' riff?" On and on, lol.
I do know the type! Drummers can be that way, too. "Hey, man, just listen a bit, and then come in with your best guess. If nobody throws nothing at you, you made the right choice!"

[Echo Are]

I'll yell at the drummer this time.

Especially if you end up onstage with you-know-who on the traps, and he forgets to switch from sticks to brushes:D.

[musicofanatic5]

Testing, one, two...I'm just figuring out how to do this photo thing. Lemme see if this'll work...http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/P6150005.jpg

[valcotone]

Testing, one, two...I'm just figuring out how to do this photo thing. Lemme see if this'll work...

Breathtaking guitar, Jon!!

[musicofanatic5]

Hmmm, gotta figure out how to keep the photo from chopping up the text. Hey, anyone play one of these? Westcoast blues electric mandolin!http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/PA080002.jpg

[musicofanatic5]

Breathtaking guitar, Jon!!
Yeah, it's an Edwards!! (not really)

[musicofanatic5]

Hey, this is fun! Here's my jungle bass...http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/PB180001.jpg

[THINSOCKS]

Alright, Jon. Bust out that funky H-44.

[musicofanatic5]

Busted. I gotta do a decent p.g. on this someday.http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/P3300002.jpg

[THINSOCKS]

It was the back I dug the most. Ha-Ha.

[mikelaw]

love the jungle bitch

[Scott Miller]

That zebra thing would go nicely with my purple Strat with leopard-skin pickguard.

[Schwalbe]

Hey, this is fun! Here's my jungle bass..

Dig the chair too...

[nmontz]

musicofanatic5

Love the fact that the es-5 has a L-5 tailpiece?

What year is the single coil p-bass? You must be cool....I don't think I could pull off the pimp zebra guard! :-)

[musicofanatic5]

Noel-anyone cool enought to play bass thru a Showman is cool enought to play this bass.

Dan-that's not a chair; it's a gtr stand.

Frank-oh yeah, the back. I'll get a shot of that up for all the no. Ohio fellas.

[Schwalbe]

Somebody asked for a sound sample of the Tore Vibe. Here's a couple short snips of Rockin' Daddy & The Rough Cuts in a club in Minneapolis.
http://www.soundclick.com/util/downloadSong.cfm?ID=5192969&key=09B53391-C

http://www.soundclick.com/util/downloadSong.cfm?ID=5192966&key=09B53391-C

And here's some mindless wankery with out the trem, just verb. Yeah it's to damn long...
http://www.soundclick.com/util/downloadSong.cfm?ID=5193049&key=FCAC85A4-4


'course ya might find whole songs @ http://www.myspace.com/schwalbeblues

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Just got back from the Kenny Wanker Shepard with Pine Top and Hubert. It was awesome to see them , they sounded great. Bryan Lee was good. Buddy Flett was really cool, I didn't know of him before, he had tasty tone and a great sensibility. KWS is not my cup of tea , no dynamics or tone or sense of melody but the crowd ate him up. fred

[zappafrank]

Just got back from the Kenny Wanker Shepard with Pine Top and Hubert. It was awesome to see them , they sounded great. Bryan Lee was good. Buddy Flett was really cool, I didn't know of him before, he had tasty tone and a great sensibility. KWS is not my cup of tea , no dynamics or tone or sense of melody but the crowd ate him up. fred

Figures---thanx for the review---I think KWS is either coming by, or just came by---glad he has Piney and Sumlin---ALMOST enough to make me go see them---I was kinda hoping to hear KWS had a 'musical epiphany' and truly was playing in that cool old school way for this tour---sounds like a big NOT, from what yer sayin'---

thanks for the review and saving me some $$'s

ac

Jon---great, great looking rides, man---I could sure see Ronnie James w/ that Bass!! too cool for a nerd like me...:rolleyes:

ac

[zappafrank]

Jon---BTW---I'm probably about to take a 'hit' for you in the 'hypocrites' thread!---Gladly!---Thank Buddha for THIS thread, where real info on real blues is really disseminated---and actually appreciated---everyone here has learned about at LEAST one brand new (old school) artist they have never heard of before---THAT's a useful thread!!!

rant over

ac

[pete kanaras]

Noel-anyone cool enought to play bass thru a Showman is cool enought to play this bass

yeah baby. tell you what jon, if you ever get down here for a bass gig i'll let you roll with my rig: a b15 cab with an ev15b clone/ black bassman head with a blonde showman OT shoehorned into it. umm, words fail. just because you're so damn cool...

[dukeh62]

Testing, one, two...I'm just figuring out how to do this photo thing. Lemme see if this'll work...http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/P6150005.jpg

Hubba, hubba!!! Nice guitar Jon! Thanks for sharing!

[mikelaw]

here are some shots from the april fools jam.

alec
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8213/ajakw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

george dudack,alec james,me
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/7482/georghq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

tbone ryan hartt
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5812/tbo3ss8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[musicofanatic5]

here are some shots from the april fools jam.

alec
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8213/ajakw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

george dudack,alec james,me
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/7482/georghq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

tbone ryan hartt
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5812/tbo3ss8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Wish I could have made the scene w/y'all. Glad to see the li'l Model Two in the line-up there. What sort of overhead crane was employed to hoist Ryan back up?!

[Dave Orban]

Chiropractors are standing by...

[musicofanatic5]

Jon---BTW---I'm probably about to take a 'hit' for you in the 'hypocrites' thread!---Gladly!---Thank Buddha for THIS thread, where real info on real blues is really disseminated---and actually appreciated---everyone here has learned about at LEAST one brand new (old school) artist they have never heard of before---THAT's a useful thread!!!

rant over

ac

Thanks, AC. I believe I will limit my presence to the comfort and safety of this here thread, even though it's SO hard NOT to have an opinion...

[dukeh62]

Would have been fun to have you there Jon! Although, after the Heinekens started kicking in, the musical integrity of the day went down the crapper pretty fast (insert pic of T-Bone Hartt).

Much to the dismay of Ryan's ranting about its tone, the Model 2 arrived DOA to the jam.

[musicofanatic5]

Noel-anyone cool enought to play bass thru a Showman is cool enought to play this bass

yeah baby. tell you what jon, if you ever get down here for a bass gig i'll let you roll with my rig: a b15 cab with an ev15b clone/ black bassman head with a blonde showman OT shoehorned into it. umm, words fail. just because you're so damn cool...

Pete-you knoooooooooow what I like! Will you be up here with Jake this summer?

[jimfog]

Hey guys,

Interesting stuff over on the "Hypocrites thread"......a lot of folks who don't get it, but some who do.

I'm a blues geek like the rest of us here........especially the jump/west coast, etc stuff.......but I tend to get a little uncomfortable when it comes across like civil war re-enactment, if you know what I mean.

While I REALLY wish he hadn't brought up Fog-friggin-HAT, what do you think of this guys point?

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showpost.php?p=2331093&postcount=67

Just curious,

Jim

[rhartt1234]

Glad to see the li'l Model Two in the line-up there.

I have a coworker who is an audiophile/dumpster diver/garage sale nut. I bought that from him for $25. I brought it to the local music store that outsources its repairs last July. After a couple of casual inquiries I got it back 3 weeks ago. Thank goodness the turnaround time was reflected in the price: it was free. However about 33% percent of what I wanted was actually done. No 3 prong cord and the tremolo still didn't work. But it worked and sounded pretty good and the plexi back and stove knobs I put on it looked pretty cool too. I brought it to the jam and it was, as Eric stated, DOA. I don't think I'll bring it back to that guy since I can't really get my money back.

Harp players have started raving about this amp recently. Granted it wasn't 100% but I wasn't bowled over by its harp tone. I thought guitar sounded better through it.

What sort of overhead crane was employed to hoist Ryan back up?!

For a husky guy I'm quite limber. Don't ask how I sounded while I did this. It's not entirely my fault. The bass player started the "After Hours" groove in A?!!!???!!!?!??! What the hell kinda key is that? Ab? Sure! G? Hell yes!!! A? I don't think so. We'll leave A for Eddie Taylor and us T-Boners will skip right over to Bb thanks.

[TwoFeets]

I remember Maylo Keller (remember him, Nick and Ricky?) got one of those Model Two's for $5 at a yard sale. It sounds pretty good for guitar. He had this old Vega guitar that sounded positively raunchy through it.

[RickyKing]

Hi Feets,
Mayo is still around...I wonder If the amp is???
Crap,it's starting to snow here....

[TwoFeets]

Someone up there just emailed me that it was starting to snow, I thought they were kidding.

I'm pretty sure he still has the amp. He always had a neat collection of quirky, offbeat gear that sounded really good. Low-wattage Premier things and so on.

[mikelaw]

ryan, dont be a jerk and take the amp to cotton already. i told you that in the first place. i have a model one kalamazoo i LOVE for harp and guitar especially. ps-if the guitar player is good enough, he can play after hours in any damn key....what does it really matter? i only started in A because there was a little imperfection in the upright neck that happened to show where A was. :)

[pete kanaras]

Pete-you knoooooooooow what I like!
haha, i get the feeling we're on the same page bass-wise. oh yeah, and i have'nt changed the labella flats on my 62 ri P since '95 either. yeah, they're just about broken in!

Will you be up here with Jake this summer?
oh no, that gig ended last september. the expenses flying the whole band in just got to be too much. crazy really, at that level. fun while it lasted, and a departure for me musically. he's got some good local guys now, which makes so much more sense for him. i wish him well. sure do miss hanging with prez though....

[Schwalbe]

OK the Tore Vibe clips are finally working. Guess Sound Click is kinda slow with sh*t. Anybody gotta better place to park sound clips, mp3's etc.?

[HappyValley]

Yup. Snowing in Massachusetts and the Northeast. You've GOT to be f***ing sh*tting me.
Anyhow,
Cool photos !! Looked like a good ol' time!
Ryan- I used to flip my ES-5 o'er my head like that (sans split, however) until the time I didn't see the low ceiling molding and was fortunate to get out of it w/ a minor ding in the binding.....yeeeech! A move not recomended for 6'4" types like myself methinks!
MikeLaw, check yer PM's.

[rhartt1234]

Ryan- I used to flip my ES-5 o'er my head like that (sans split, however) until the time I didn't see the low ceiling molding and was fortunate to get out of it w/ a minor ding in the binding.....yeeeech! A move not recomended for 6'4" types like myself methinks!

I used to play with a bass player that was pretty tall. We had a gig on a 6 inch or so stage with a regular ceiling so there was little to no clearance for him. Quite a ways into the gig, in the middle of a tune, I hear some commotion behind me. The bass player is trying to say something to the drummer and making a circle with his index finger pointed toward the floor. And then I hear the bass player count " 1 2 3!" and he and the drummer spin in place in the middle of the tune. His bass was firmly wedged in between the floor and the ceiling.

[zappafrank]

Hey guys,

Interesting stuff over on the "Hypocrites thread"......a lot of folks who don't get it, but some who do.

I'm a blues geek like the rest of us here........especially the jump/west coast, etc stuff.......but I tend to get a little uncomfortable when it comes across like civil war re-enactment, if you know what I mean.

While I REALLY wish he hadn't brought up Fog-friggin-HAT, what do you think of this guys point?

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showpost.php?p=2331093&postcount=67

Just curious,

Jim


My take?---I think he has a point about the 'continuum' aspect, and the fact he used the Blue Sky Waters/Winter recordings really makes that point well---IMO, those 3 studio albums/CD's are some of the greatest sounding blues laid down on vinyl--and I call it blues, for sure---but Winter really WAS/IS a Continuum---even though he made some pretty straightahead R&R records, and plays 'faster' than 90% of guitarists back in that day---i actually 'get' his vibe---and that vibe is of a genuine bluesman, following in the steps reverently, and also allowing other influences to make him who he is---Johnny Winter
---but that blues 'vibe' is ALWAYS there with him, whether I dig everything he has done or not makes no difference---he's a real deal---and, with all those HEAVY players that were the previous generations 'real deal' on those Blue Sky records made those what they were---props to Big Eyes Smith on all that FANTASTIC blues drumming---It could'nt help feeling like anything else other than blues---and notice---there is HARP all over those, which I tend to Identify strongly with as classic blues vibe---done well, of course---when the newer stuff has just guitar as a feature, it tends to lead, to my ears, to 'Rock'---not always, but often these days---to me, (and Scott Miller per his quote before the above quote, might agree.

It is about feel and, to a lesser degree, I guess, instrumentation and tone as far as what I hear as 'blues' in a song or band---labels are confining, I know, but can be illuminating occasionally---

sorry for the ramble--

ac

[zappafrank]

Great pics, BTW---love the splits, Ry---

ac

[zappafrank]

Ok guys---I got too PO'd in the 'Hypocrites' thread---I posted the below Epic----I'm gonna need feedback from YOU guys, 'cause I expect to get shat upon soon---whaddya think????---(Long, I know---blame the steroids the docs are making me take...)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please don't take the rant below as directed at you personally, my friend---it's a general statement----

Sorry---to ME, as much as I still dig those artists, (I listened to both Zep and Beck last week---(loved the CRAP out of it too---it was my mood then...), they still are part of the same 'clicks' (sic)---so in my world, you are dealing with them, even if you state have no time---an exception being Beck, arguably---
No matter where these above great artists choose to endeavor NOW, they have been severely influenced, at the very least, by 'real blues'---whatever that means to you.---Granted---they are not all 'traditionalists', but their predecessors are evident in the 'thread' of blues----but that does not make those that made a severe left turn after discovering Page, Beck, Clapton, Allmans, SRV, et al, unworthy of 'the love' of folks at TGP, or worthy of being labeled as bowling-shirt-wearing-Blues Nazis!

To me, that's a huge confrontational slap in the face from people that CHOSE to move in another musical direction from us 'Nazis'---and not only that, but 'we' pay for it daily-----by taking punches from those that really are not that into the predecessors, but pop their names up a lot to show how 'into' blues they are----by club owners that profess they want 'blues acts', and when they actually get a killer trad band they all of a sudden want you to play more rock,---by patrons that hear you lay out a smokin' "Coke Bottle In The Pants" (a nod to musicofan5)-style blues, and then get pissed when you politely say you don't know know their request of ---

(Insert Popular Request Here)---

I could go on---and will, I'm sure, if poked w/ a stick---


And how can you tell me, that just because "I" REALLY LIKE TO PLAY MAGIC SAM, HOLLYWOOD FATS, T-BONE(etc) style blues, that I'm somehow 'denying' or 'putting down/condescending to' my original influences???---
To me---that means you are either aware that YOU are the blues fan 'Poser' (I don't mean the poster of the above quote, BTW...) and don't wanna admit it, because then you (general 'you', BTW) saying you dig 'blues' might be a bald faced lie (to yourself, mainly) OR---

Underneath it all you realize that SOME of the musicians (certainly not just Hawaiian-Shirt-wearing guitar players) in this world put a HELL of a lot of time, energy, and years of sweat and self-doubt (especially if we are modern, white, and financially stable/unstable!) into really trying our hardest to absorb this 'feel' into our playing, at a huge cost to our becoming 'popular' or 'commercially viable', and you do not really 'get' why.


To that, I say---Rock On---do yer own thing, and quit yer constant hate of us that have strived to do this thang out of a REAL and TANGIBLE love of the blues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

....But don't ask to sit in on Pee Wee Crayton's "After Hours", will ya???----I promise not to ask to sit in on "Talk To Your Daughter" (80's Version)---(yes, that include's Piazza's version, too LOL!!!) or any KWS tunes (sorry guys---I'm using those initials as a metaphor---nothing personal on KWS---I just don't know his music...forgive me---put anyone else you can think of in his place...)

Peace Out and Rawk On---or Blues Out, if you will---

ac

And yeah, I'd love to find a blues band that wants to play "Willie The Pimp" as much as a Little Walter tune---still looking:rolleyes:
__________________

[Scott Miller]

"...trying our hardest to absorb this 'feel' into our playing..."

That's it in a nutshell. Heck, first you have to realize that there are different feels, even, or ESPECIALLY, for different songs. Then it takes a while to figure out what to do. I had lots of help from other musicians, like "Don't swing this thing, make it CHUNKY!" or, whenever I would play with RJ: "Take your time, Scotty... take your time, Scotty... take your time, Scotty..." Yeah it took some hammering to get me aware of what I needed to do. Still working on the implementation.

I'm still cracking up over the "dog watching television" thing.

[THINSOCKS]

Alright, all you amp guys.... will a BF Super Reverb head fit in a BF Vibroverb Cab?

[musicofanatic5]

Frank-dunno the answer to your amp question, but here's the ugly side of the Stratotone as per yer request.http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/PB060014.jpg

[musicofanatic5]

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/PB060012.jpg

[musicofanatic5]

I got that stratotone from a nice girl in Cleveland, so all that stuff pertains to that area. One of those stage passes from a place called the Metro has Robert Jr.'s scrawl on it.
Hey, how 'bout this amp? Before I knew Frank much, I used to ask: "Ever seen one of these?" Knowing him better, now I ask him, "How many of these have you owned?". What izzit? Kay? No info in or on it. The panel nomenclature has that cheesy 50s-60s Japamp look, as do the components(?). I do know this much: the back p.u. of the ES-5 sounded like an L.P. jr. in this amp!http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/PB070015.jpg

[musicofanatic5]

Here's the panel:http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/PB070017.jpg

[musicofanatic5]

...and the guts...I just put in those Weber 'lectrolytics. All the other caps have the word "oil" on 'em. Does that mean they're "oil in foil" caps, or does o-i-l spell something else in japanese? It's got some groovy-looking maroon colored phenolic tube sockets and some nifty springwire preamp tube retainers. Three-12AX7's, two 6V6's, and a 5Y3; all nice RCA's.http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/PB060008.jpg

[musicofanatic5]

...okay, one more; the trannys. The tremolo doesn't work.http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/musicofanatic/PB060009.jpg

[THINSOCKS]

Ha-Ha. Yeah, that sure is ugly... but so ugly it's beautiful. When I use to live in the apartment next to Lynwood Slim, it seemd like he would always pull up each week in a new $500 "monkey shit brown" boat of a car. The first thing out of his mouth was always. "Partner, it's so ugly, it's beautiful. I had to have it". I think he had about 4 of those cars taking up about 6 of the 8 parking spaces.... each car just full of about $20 dollars in Dollar Store vise grips to hold the engine together.

Anyway, that grill cloth on that amp sure looks like Kay cloth.... and nope, never had one of those. However, I think I'm now the official owner of the largest collection of early 50's Tiesco "Model 51" amps. I got 5 now. They are like trading cards. They never made two that look the same.

[Stringmaster]

Since it's been quiet around here, I thought I'd start a discussion about pickups/postions. I find when I use a Strat, I use all 3 pickups, and both pickups with my Guild archtop and Teles, but when I play the Stratotone, I get by fine with just one; same when I had my old Esquire (that I want back). I just don't seem to miss the extra options.

I've tried to study the tones of some of the older and more current blues guys that we like. I always thought that BB would be a neck pickup guy, but in listening to his early stuff, sounds like he favors the bridge. I'm guessing that most of the early P90 and Tele guys were primarily hanging out on the bridge pickup. I can't always figure out what Watson is doing, because when I've seen him, it's never the same!

I'd love to hear input about what pickups the guys we like favor, and include yourselves in the discussion. Do we really need more than a Stratotone, Esquire, or Jr.?
Thanks, DD

[musicofanatic5]

After a few years of playing a two p.u. Stratotone, if I was to revert to only one p.u. again, I would want it to be the bridge p.u. .
Sure would like to test drive a real mid-fifties Jr., either through a two-6V6 amp or an 18-watt brit-thing.
I do, however, get by just fine with a single-neck-p.u. archtop.
Additionally, no problem hangin' with the middle p.u. on the ES-5 for a different sound. I used to play one of those 330's with the one middle p.u., too.
To summarize: I like a variety of configurations, and whatever configuration is on the inst I'm playing at a given time, I can usually get some kinda sound outta, provided the amp is willing.

[nc slim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ieJsugSwOI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FchayKKSBLA
for you tastetippers

[Strat-O]

I agree, I'm pretty adaptable too. But if I could only have one it would be a Broadcaster style Tele.

[straightblues]

Here is a You tube that everyone will enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKnwDcPLSGU

[dukeh62]

Jon....might purdy amp you got there!

Okay...so pigs are now flying: Anyone happen to catch the H44 on the cover of the latest Guitar Player? Of course, it's a reissue, but who the hell would ever have thought one of those would grace the cover?

[zappafrank]

nc---thanks for that Enrico clip---outstanding!

ac

[btg]

I read zappafranks comments about quitting with great interest because I could see those feeling ssneaking up on me and it happened tonight. I have had to use sub players on virtully every gig because one of my regular guys can't make the gig. I am the one doing all the booking and all they do is complain that we don't have enough gigs and we don't get paid enough. I say it is hard to impress people and get the better gigs when guys doon't practice or show up for gigs.

The final straw: my harp player and bandmate for the last 10 years books a gig at a bike rally 10 hours away several months ago. Last month our bass tells us he has a court date and can't get away in time to make the gig. We can't find a substitute and I tell the harp player to cancel the gig. He had booked it for $1,000 and rooms. Keep in mind this is a 20 hour round trip drive. He calls two days ago and says the bike club has agreed to fly the bass player down for the gig after court while the rest of us drive. The kicker is I have to front the plane ticket and they will reimburse me after we play. So I ask the harp player to confirm the rooms he can't do it. He expects to drive 10 hours to the bike rally find some guy named John who will tell us when we are staying then. I said no way on this I am not going and the other guys actually get mad.

Cut to tonight - we have a regular gig lined up for tonight. I havn't heard from any of the guys since I said I was not going to make the bike rally and now I find out the harp player/vocalist isn't going. Nice of hime to let me know ahead of time. Of course I was using all sub players for the other guys because they couldn't make it. But after ten years I can't believe this has happened over a screwed up bike rally. I'm with A.C. I think this just killed it for me. Sorry about the rant but I needed to get it out.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

AWESOMEENRICOCLIP!!!!!! fred

[musicofanatic5]

Jon....might purdy amp you got there!

Yes, but what the hell is it?!?

Okay...so pigs are now flying: Anyone happen to catch the H44 on the cover of the latest Guitar Player? Of course, it's a reissue, but who the hell would ever have thought one of those would grace the cover?

What a low point...a cool gtr like that on the cover of that rag!