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!

[jimfog]

Hey,

Did a gig on Saturday, and had a guitar player come up who "loves the blues, man", but had never heard, or even heard of Jump or West Coast Blues!!!

I tried to give him a 5 minute primer, which got me to thinking......

What would be the top 10 or twenty "core repetoire" West Coast tunes? You know......stuff you HAVE to be familiar with, if not KNOW, to play this music.

I gave him a few examples, to get started....

T Bone Shuffle
Rock This House
Okie Dokie Stomp
After Hours
Seven Come Eleven
Drifting Blues
Juke

So......just as a topic of conversation.......what would you say are the "must know" tunes? A FAQ, if you will......

Curious what you think....

- Jim

[bbarnard]

Okay AC I went to Jax Blues Festival on Saturday to see Little Charlie and the Nightcats. Got to talk to him afterwards and told him that you were looking at selling a lot of your gear. He asked why and I told him because you weren't getting many gigs. His reply to you (and I'm quoting directly).

"Tell him to stop being such a wuss" :D

I also did confirm that the pups on the 295 ARE P100s. When I asked him that question he said "Next question" but then confirmed that they were but that most of his other guitars with P90 types were indeed P90s.

Also he played the 295 and a Strat but with a maple board. First time I've ever seen him use a maple board strat. He played through a Super Reverb and what looked to be a Bassman reissue.

And he sounded great.

[Scott Miller]

"Honky Tonk" is kind of a license-to-play-guitar song.
Two Bones and a Pick
My Babe


That Enrico clip... nice guitar, but the singer! Yowza! Dude's got pipes to burn. Someone send him out to this coast, please.

[Strat-O]

Texas Flood, no doubt!

Is Charlie's 295 a real one or a reissue?

[Scott Miller]

"Is Charlie's 295 a real one or a reissue?"

Next question.

Har! Reissue with a different bridge, according to that video lesson that is somewhere out there on the Web.

[Swingblues]

What you guys thinking about Dillion DL600GT (A Goldtop Replica), is a good guitar? I see in Dillion Web Site some comments of Junior Watson and Kenny Ray...

[zappafrank]

Okay AC I went to Jax Blues Festival on Saturday to see Little Charlie and the Nightcats. Got to talk to him afterwards and told him that you were looking at selling a lot of your gear. He asked why and I told him because you weren't getting many gigs. His reply to you (and I'm quoting directly).

"Tell him to stop being such a wuss" :D

I also did confirm that the pups on the 295 ARE P100s. When I asked him that question he said "Next question" but then confirmed that they were but that most of his other guitars with P90 types were indeed P90s.

Also he played the 295 and a Strat but with a maple board. First time I've ever seen him use a maple board strat. He played through a Super Reverb and what looked to be a Bassman reissue.

And he sounded great.


Hey Bill, I could have told ya they were p100's---:D

Wuss,huh?---Easy for him to say---He's F'n CHARLIE BATY!---That band is what I would call 'Established'---as hell!:roll --No worries for those guys not getting almost all the gigs they can handle or want---If they DO have trouble, then the rest of us are in severe trouble. Crap, I already am---Paris Slim keeps asking me about gigs and I just Shrug my shoulders, ya know?

Kind of sad, considering what I just found out a few days ago from Jimi Bott---Here's a link---Scroll Down to "TOP 100 CD's" and click, then check about 4 or 5 pics down...................


http://www.realbluesmagazine.com/index2.htm

Strike while the iron is----Hot? Tepid? Hitting you over the head? The irony is NOT escaping me, BTW, regarding the fact that I'm on my 1st CD at 45 years old, it's getting uber-national and international exposure and some semblance of critical acceptance and acclaim, and at the same time I have not played a paying gig in I think 5 or 6 months, and I have nothing on the books---disregarding the fact that I've quit picking up the phone to make gig calls on my own, it still is kinda surreal....


And I could get rid of 6 or 7 guitars, all good, and still have 5 or 6 great guitars---I do have a feeling, that once I actually start actively selling these, and they leave my hands one by one, it will be a lot easier to 'let go' of others---I just need a push---gotta sell the least 'painful' first.

Top all this 'wussiness and whining' off with recently having been sick, and my relationship of 7-ish years crashing on the jagged, painful rocks of that Same Old Story, and the 'stuff' that gear just is, really does not seem important to me anymore---But you guys have been great to me---Much, much appreciated....'cause most else outside of my job has been blues cliche hell---life is like that sometimes, I've been told:rolleyes:

Thanks for the typically Charlie quote, Bill---

ac

[zappafrank]

What you guys thinking about Dillion DL600GT (A Goldtop Replica), is a good guitar? I see in Dillion Web Site some comments of Junior Watson and Kenny Ray...

I gotta be honest, I had one for those very reasons (promoted by players I respect)---It was no better than the 2 Epiphone 56' RI's I owned---in other words, not that great---go for a Tokai or an Edwards, if you can't swing the Gibson---those are FANTASTIC guitars for the moolah---JMO

ac

[TwoFeets]

Kind of sad, considering what I just found out a few days ago from Jimi Bott---Here's a link---check about 4 or 5 pics down...................


http://www.realbluesmagazine.com/index2.htm


Hey man, this link doesn't bring me to somewhere with 4 or 5 pics to choose from.

[zappafrank]

Hey man, this link doesn't bring me to somewhere with 4 or 5 pics to choose from.

Sorry---I'll edit the above post---

Go to that link, scroll down to "TOP 100 CD's" and click---THAT will bring uop some pics

ac

[TwoFeets]

Sorry---I'll edit the above post---

Go to that link, scroll down to "TOP 100 CD's" and click---THAT will bring uop some pics

ac


Hey - that's pretty cool!

[bbarnard]

Hey AC, I think Charlie was just busting your chops some. And I've never been on a CD ever and I'm older than you. Really though I hope life looks up for you and soon. I'm rooting for you!

Your bud,
Bill

[btg]

Hey A.C. - I work some with Dennis Binder. He's #1 on that list - He can't get a gig either I called him to do a job a couple of weeks ago and he asked what it paid. I told him and he said he would rather stay home. Things are tough all over.

[zappafrank]

Hey A.C. - I work some with Dennis Binder. He's #1 on that list - He can't get a gig either I called him to do a job a couple of weeks ago and he asked what it paid. I told him and he said he would rather stay home. Things are tough all over.

Oh I believe that! I never said I thought i was the only one:rotflmao

I'm just at the age and time in my life where "Just 'F' it" is an absolutely viable option. YMMV!

ac

[btg]

F it - thats exactly what my harp player/vocalist said after he no showed a gig on Saturday and imploded my current band. Down here in Texas we have it pretty good even though my guys constantly whined about fewer gigs and lower pay. I suspect it was better here than many other places.

I'm too stupid to quit. I just don't have the players now. The only decent ones around have to come out of DFW and my steady gigs are all 1 1/2 to 2 hours away. With gas prices it does not make sense for them.

So I've decided to pull it back now and really learn to sing and play at the same time. Then I won't have to lean on another person to front the band. Hopefully, I can keep the fire lit and burning until I can get back on a real stage. Good luck.

[frank62]

It sucks all over. It seems the only guys who can gig are the ones who can afford it. For the most part it is a hobby for wealty people or kids who don't care about money.

[btg]

Has anyone hear ever tried to sing later in life. Any tips on becoming a servicable vocalist.

[bluesbreaker59]

Has anyone hear ever tried to sing later in life. Any tips on becoming a servicable vocalist.

I'm working on it now at 25. My only singing experience prior to this was HS choir, when I was lead bass.

My advice:

1. Get a vocal coach
2. Find vocalists that you like, that you can imitate
3. Sing ALL THE TIME (radio, cds, etc)
4. Start singing some at open jams (its hard, but you have to do it)

My problem is while my pitch is great, according to my coach, and other folks I play with, I'm not an "exciting" singer. Right now, I'm kind've in the "impersonation stage", like I can do a fairly good job with the raspy voiced singers, like Nick Curran, and I can do some of the Wolf, and Hollywood Fats stuff. All I know is its REALLY frustrating.

[btg]

I've sang onstage before and I keep hit a pitch and carry a tune but have a problem of being heard over the band. I can do it if I am not playing but with a guitar strapped and playing at the same time I lose all my projection.

[rhartt1234]

Singing:

In my opinion, 75% or more is getting over the fear of singing. Once you get over that the rest is relatively easy. Nonetheless, most singers myself included, don't put nearly as much work on their vocals as they do their axes. It's just like learning an instrument. You learn riffs, solos, etc note for note, but the solos have words.

What kills me is guys like Rusty Zinn, Stevie Ray or even Jimmie Vaughan who were reluctant singers and ended up having killer voices. I'm convinced Kirk Fletcher is like that if he ever decides to sing.

Dennis Binder:

Dennis "You got Me Way Down Here" Binder can't get a gig? That figures. I heard that Melvin Smith of "I'm Looped" (w/ Bill Jennings on guitar) fame was some sort of civil servant in Connecticut. I tried to find more info but I spose it doesn't matter since he couldn't get any gigs around here anyway.

[TwoFeets]

Found out some interesting Oscar Moore trivia this weekend- can anyone confirm this? Later in life Oscar got tired of playing.... early on in his career he'd bought a bunch of land in the LA area and turned them into paid parking lots. He made a bundle off this and quit playing in public, to the point where when he was asked to play he'd deliberately quote such an astronomical price, the asker would have to decline.

[btg]

Nope Dennis can play Europe on occasion but can't play in his own backyard. Part of it is his own fault though. He prides himself on being a versatile musician. So when I played with him you might do a killer blues tune then follow it up with "You Are So Beautiful". He won't stay in one bag too long. Blues, jazz, country, showtunes. It's hard to find a band that do all that well.

He told me about the record he did for Earwig which is on the Real Blues Chart. He said they made him be a three hour bluesman. His next record was gonna show his versatility. He once told that Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf never made it big because they limited themselves to blues. Dennis is a great talent though. There is a book about him and Vincent "Guitar Red" Duling written by a guy that used to drum for them. It is called Life In Double Time: Confessions of an American Drummer. Pretty interesting read.

[Scott Miller]

About singing: I got a vocal teacher, and that helped a lot. I'm 52, which qualifies for later in life, I think.

I was talking to John Nemeth about singing, naturally I was raving at him about his voice, and he said your voice is not all that important. Most important is just letting yourself sing.

I've been thinking a lot about that... There are two parts to that, one is just having the confidence to let fly, the other part is the YOURSELF thing. Trying to sing like someone else just gets in the way. Singing isn't like playing a guitar; YOU are the gear, and you can't swap the pickups. Yourself is all you got, so make the most of it.

Good technique, though, let's your own self shine through, which is why a teacher is good.

[Thinsocks]

Found out some interesting Oscar Moore trivia this weekend- can anyone confirm this? Later in life Oscar got tired of playing.... early on in his career he'd bought a bunch of land in the LA area and turned them into paid parking lots. He made a bundle off this and quit playing in public, to the point where when he was asked to play he'd deliberately quote such an astronomical price, the asker would have to decline.

Yup, that's true. He did sort of briefly come out of retirement in the 60's to cut a tribute album to Nat King Cole. Cool record. He does a great version of "Paper Moon" on it. Junior Watson told me that Shakey Jake took him down to one of his parking lots one time to meet him. Gene Phillips kind of did the same thing too. Phillip's was not as famous, but he did basically stop playing in order to devote his time to owning and managing a junkyard.

[musicofanatic5]

"It seems the only guys who can gig are the ones who can afford it. For the most part it is a hobby for wealty people or kids who don't care about money".
You forgot to include poor people in your list of who can "afford" it. Reasons I gig:
1) I LOVE music and the public perfomance of it.
2) Because I'm good at it, and (somewhat) resourceful at getting gigs.
3) I'm chronically unemployable otherwise.
4) I'm successful at, and satisfied with maintaining a carefully designed, low-overhead lifestyle.
5) It's "in my blood". I am "addicted" to it.
6) Faith in human nature. While I am aware that the vast majority of the human race is so totally dictated to, f*cked up by, and utterly submissive to mass marketing and the electronic media onslaught (all run by lawyers) that they are now too stupid to know what good live entertainment is, I believe there will always be a small, hip community of actual humans who desire/need it.
7) I consider it to be a noble pursuit and I can be proud of what I do.

While I salute anyone who puts forth the effort to "become" a singer, I firmly believe either you is or you isn't. Maybe I'm just jealous that I isn't...? Gawd, I would love to be able to sing--the ultimate musical instrument!!

Dillion gtrs...do you see Junior on stage with one? Me either. Firewood, for the most part.

Keep the faith, AC.

[frank62]

I was just trying to comment on what i have read here about guys complaining about the cost of gigs. I am possibly the poorest member on this forum. I see absolutely nothing noble about gigs for little or no pay and being poor.

[btg]

Have you ever noticed it is always the guys that don't do any of the booking or do any of the legwork that it takes to get the gigs that are always the ones that complain that things should be better. Has anyone else experienced this?

[TwoFeets]

With 3 kids at home including a 10 week old, I'm certainly not wealthy, either in terms of time or in terms of disposable income. I also can't afford to take gigs that don't pay. I'm fortunate enough to have gotten in with a band that's fronted by someone who happens to work his day job from home so is able to devote some of the daytime to pushing the band, and who is also really, really good at hustling decent-paying gigs. I admit, I don't have the time or the energy to do the booking myself and I can see someone getting frustrated as hell with trying to do it, but the gigs *are* out there if you're willing to put in the time and leg work. Hell, I'm turning down work right now; we're getting offers for afternoon gigs when we're already booked in the evenings. I have to draw the line somewhere so I can spend a LITTLE time at home.

[Dave Orban]

Well, I'm not rich by any means, but I'm not going hungry, either.

And while I may complain about it, I don't mind playing for $75 a man for a 4-piece gig, largely because I love playing. And the other guys in my band are pretty much in the same position. We also do our fair share of freebies (benefits for different causes -- this Thursday, we're doing a benefit for a Mental Health organization), and I don't mind doing them, either. And every once in a while, we'll get the $250/man private party or corporate gig.

Whether I'm taking money out of a working musician's pocket, I can't really say. Probably not, because the blues is not what most of the working musicians in my area are playing. Besides, we're carrying the blues torch (SOMEbody has to...!), and we get a fair number of folks who follow us and seem to appreciate what we do.

At the end of the day, we really don't make any money. Between gas and bar bills, equipment maintenance, promotional costs, web site charges, business cards, dry cleaning, etc., wear-and-tear on aging bodies... you get the idea. It's a labor of love. Don't know what else you can call it.

And God bless all of you guys who are out there, doin' it...!

[frank62]

OK, i am not trying to upset anyone and i admire everyone who is out there trying. When you do not play exclusively for a living then you are a hobby player. That is, you can afford to do it because you have money from something else to pay the bills. How many of you would continue to play out if it was your only means of support? If you had to do it to survive could you? If you have a nice guitar and amp and can afford to break even with your gigs then in my world that is wealth. That is what i meant by wealthy.

[mikelaw]

i have dvd of watson playing a dillion and it sounds and looks sick. although he probably swapped the pickups, if a dillion can be found used for 400 or so i would consider it a SMART buy. throw in lollar p90's and youll have a sick axe IMO. $600-800 though?? tokai's are probably the way to go.

[valcotone]

Budget gold top? I vote Edwards... I have one with Lollars and it's killer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120102942957

http://i14.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/93/e1/57d0_12.JPG

[Schwalbe]

Dillion Gold Tops? I played Billy Flynn's a while back, way neck heavy. If they're all like that I wouldn't buy one 'cause it would drive me nuts trying to play it.
As for guys who feel like throwing in the towel, I can't blame ya. It ain't about whinning. It's about having to deal with tight wad wet brains all damn day long. Some cats are salesmen, some aren't. The people that I know that can hustle gigs don't seem to mind getting abused by tavern owners and such. I've always landed in situations where somebody who can tolerate the idjits does the booking. If it were totally up to me, I wouldn't work much.
I can drive a guitar, or a truck, tractor, soldering iron, etc.. Couldn't sell any of 'em if I had to. Takes all kinds, ya know...

[valcotone]

Good post Dan.... in our band we've kind of settled into the non-music roles which reflect what we can do well... our bass player is good at the people end and interfacing with the clubs, I can do the audio/video/gear/website stuff, and our drummer... hmmm, we're not sure yet.

:roll

[Schwalbe]

Good post Dan.... in our band we've kind of settled into the non-music roles which reflect what we can do well... our bass player is good at the people end and interfacing with the clubs, I can do the audio/video/gear/website stuff, and our drummer... hmmm, we're not sure yet.

:roll

Well...he IS a drummer:jo

Oh BTW now that I think of it, one of those Tore Vibe samples I post a few days ago made it up number 3 on the Sound Click Straight Ahead Blues chart, topped out at 21 on the regular Blues chart. Kinda fun but kinda silly for a gear sound clip.

[Thinsocks]

When you do not play exclusively for a living then you are a hobby player.

I don't know if I find that true. Kid Ramos would be a good example. He spent good amount of time lugging water around between James Harman's Band and the T-Birds. I think now he does landscaping. I still think of him as a professional musician though. You can look at a lot of peopel like that. Jimmy Rogers owned a cab company in the 60's and played music on the side. Johnny Little John was a mechanic for most of his career and played music on the side. There are a lot more and I'd hardly think of them as not being a professional musician.

[valcotone]

I have a day job (as do many of the fine players who post here), but that doesn't exclude me from having the same passion and dedication for the music as someone who does it full-time. I've just chosen a different way to organize my life. I don't complain about the $$ at gigs, just about the limitations I have on how many I can play. With my family I need to keep 'em to about 4 a month max and not all those can be on a weekend. Good thing our bass player has the same restrictions... it's more challenging to keep momentum going and sure I'd love to play many times a week but that's not gonna happen.

It seems the full-time musicians around here also do other things to make ends meet... teach, do sessions, score work, jingles, gear-related work, etc. Bar gigs for an average blues band around here typically pay about $100 a person, how about where you guys are?


re: the Watson DVD with the Dillion... remember in the TQ article he talked about flying into gigs and hitting up local guys he knows for guitars - I bet that's what happened.

[Dave Orban]

OK, i am not trying to upset anyone and i admire everyone who is out there trying. When you do not play exclusively for a living then you are a hobby player. That is, you can afford to do it because you have money from something else to pay the bills. How many of you would continue to play out if it was your only means of support? If you had to do it to survive could you? If you have a nice guitar and amp and can afford to break even with your gigs then in my world that is wealth. That is what i meant by wealthy.Call it what you like. I have friends who make their living solely from music, but it's hardscrabble existence, in which actually "playing" live music represents maybe 20% of their income, the rest coming from lessons, schoolteaching, instrument repair, sound engineering, handyman work, and general gopher jobs.

I personally know a lot of extremely talented musicians, none of whom make their living solely from playing.

Don't know whether that makes them hobbyists or not, but even Wes Montgomery held a day job through most of the 50s... ;)

[MVrider]

When you do not play exclusively for a living then you are a hobby player.


The list of people who make 100% of their income from playing must make for a short list. And the list of people who make 100% of their income from playing/performing while managing to stay above the poverty line for any period of time must be an EXTREMELY short list. I'd imagine we've read a good portion of that short list of names on the entertainment pages. LOL

If it weren't for so-called hobby players, most of the music stores would have closed a long, long time ago. It's too cheap and easy to play popular music. Anybody can do it and millions have at one time or another. Huge supply. Meanwhile, the entertainment alternatives (DJ's, canned music, etc.,) are just so inexpensive they drive the market down and reduce demand.

[Schwalbe]

Meanwhile, the entertainment alternatives (DJ's, canned music, etc.,) are just so inexpensive they drive the market down and reduce demand.

That and home theater systems.

[straightblues]

I just got a great tele neck and body really cheap. Since I already have a tele and esquire that I love I want to put some different pickups in this one. What other pickups you guys have in a tele body that you are happy with?

[musicofanatic5]

Well, I guess I can count myself lucky to live adjacent to the great state of New Hampshire, with all it's antiquated, quirky liquor laws. There are some types of liquor licenses that stipulate you must have live entertainment in order to purvey alcoholic beverages. This translates into (in some places) lunch-hour gigs (where you alternately noodle in the corner, drink coffee, and do the crossword puzzle), happy hour gigs, and the like. Hooray! Also, finding "non-liquor sales associated" gigs is key. F'rinstance, I have a local credit union that calls me for music for their silly little functions; mostly as sonic wallpaper (definately my forte, 'specially at $150+- a man, for a duo!). And, it just so happens, I'm available to do these 3:30, 4:00 pm weekday gigs; no leavin' work early (hell, I gotta get up early for these gigs!). These are the deals that are always organized by the nice, old, motherly ladies who insist I take the rest of the sandwiches, etc home with me at the end! So things ain't too, too bad.

[zappafrank]

No I don't see any connection between being 'wealthy' and playing music. That's a really strange comment. Although being wealthy is a gig I could really get into, for a little while anyway. I don't know any wealthy blues musicians around here and we've got plenty of blues musicians. What I do see is alot of musicians, including myself, with a passion to play the music they love, regardless. And alot of musicians, including myself, who are willing to go out and bust their ass to get gigs rather than complaining about not getting any. And alot of musicians who whine about how big a pain in the neck it is to deal with the hassle of being a musician; including low pay and lack of gigs.

I know, we can play the GLAD GAME! As in, just be glad you weren't born a black man in the early 1900's who wanted to play the blues in Anytown, USA. Judging from all the whining from some folks in this crowd, most of us don't appreciate the freedom and relative good fortune we have to own decent guitars and amps, play music we love, and not worry about getting strung up in the nearest tree.

Damn, I can't take anymore of this wallowing in self pity. I grew up flippin' broke, living in mobile homes with a single mother and AWOL Dad. Most of my life's been a pile of dung and I've busted my ass for what little I'm lucky enough to have, and I don't see how playing music is any different than any other part of my life. Life is hard folks. I wake up everyday happy to be alive, and thankful for everything I've got including the opportunity to play music. If you don't understand that, then you don't know what its like to not have shit and not have your freedom.

Strat-o---Sounds like you should go ahead and put me right on your ignore list. Funny---it also sounds like we had some definite similarities in our upbringing: Really poor, AWOL dad, No bros or sistahs, single (clinically schizophrenic/psychotic) mom, worked fairly hard to get away from all that (after I was done drugging to get away from all that)---we just ended up viewing the world a bit differently---I'm normally a 'half-empty' glass kinda guy---just the way it is. Probably why the blues were such a huge part of my life as a younger man.

ac

[Dave Orban]

I just got a great tele neck and body really cheap. Since I already have a tele and esquire that I love I want to put some different pickups in this one. What other pickups you guys have in a tele body that you are happy with?I have one with one of Pete Biltoft's (www.vintagevibeguitars.com) Charlie Christian pickups in the neck position, and his specially-wound matching bridge pickup.

And THAT is the Tele that gets taken to gigs...! :dude

[zappafrank]

I have one with one of Pete Biltoft's (www.vintagevibeguitars.com (http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com)) Charlie Christian pickups in the neck position, and his specially-wound matching bridge pickup.

And THAT is the Tele that gets taken to gigs...! :dude

I bet that sounds fantastic, straightblues/DaveO--

The only other recommendation I would have are Don Mare
pickups, But I think you have those already, straightblues---a CC in the Neck is a killer tele tone, from what I can remember

ac

[TwoFeets]

Yup, that's true. He did sort of briefly come out of retirement in the 60's to cut a tribute album to Nat King Cole. Cool record. He does a great version of "Paper Moon" on it. Junior Watson told me that Shakey Jake took him down to one of his parking lots one time to meet him. Gene Phillips kind of did the same thing too. Phillip's was not as famous, but he did basically stop playing in order to devote his time to owning and managing a junkyard.


Hey AC - see? There is a precedent here. If you sell off your gear, INVEST IN PARKING LOTS!

:)

[zappafrank]

Hey AC - see? There is a precedent here. If you sell off your gear, INVEST IN PARKING LOTS!

:)

Thanks, But I'm one of the 7% left in this country that has an ok union job. (Like I said---the job is lately a blessing in disguise...) But that managing a junkyard sounds like the life O'Riley, don't it??

ac

[HappyValley]

I don't know if I find that true. Kid Ramos would be a good example. He spent good amount of time lugging water around between James Harman's Band and the T-Birds. I think now he does landscaping. I still think of him as a professional musician though. You can look at a lot of peopel like that. Jimmy Rogers owned a cab company in the 60's and played music on the side. Johnny Little John was a mechanic for most of his career and played music on the side. There are a lot more and I'd hardly think of them as not being a professional musician.
I'm w/you Thinsocks...I've been working a "heavy" day gig and playing almost every weekend + occassional week night gigs for as long as I can remember + I have some road gigs coming up this summer that I've managed to work out time off for; all this BS about having no day job as a pre-requisite for 'professional musician' status vs. 'hobbyist' is just plain ridiculous. If you're consistently getting paid $$, making any semblance of a profit,you're now a professional, like it or not....just ask the IRS!!
Although I admire and respect those who have committed their existences to making this music and nothing else, I DO NOT envy their problems....i.e. relying on fund raising events to pay medical bills due to no employer paid insurance, relying on state funded housing later in life when they're done playing and have no support system, unable to effectively provide for their wife & kids,(unless the wife is the primary source of real income) etc. How many times have we heard stories of seemingly "successful" blues guys later in life struggling?
I can't fathom ever having my SURVIVAL to be solely based on the whim of club owners, shady agents, or a constantly fluctuating if not cyclical public interest in live music, whether it be blues, jazz or what have you.

Strat-O- Well said in the post a couple above, man.....

[jetlag]

Budget goldtops - I can attest (from emailed soundclips) that Kilback's lollar equipped edwards is a great sounding intsrument. 80's tokais are nice too. Regarding the Dillion, the one I played was real neck heavy too. It was also just plain heavy. Had to be at least 10 or 11 pounds. But man, it sounded great. The pickups in it were great - that thing had tons of whallop. I think the pickups are the least of their problems. The neck heavy thing is a killer unless you have a real good strap that really grabs your shoulder. Junior does still have a dillion - last I heard he's threatening to take it out on the Nemeth tour here in next couple days. We'll see.

Gigs around these parts pay $350 to $450 (total, not per person) for your average bar on weekends. If you get good crowds that amount is supplemented by getting any overage at the door. Tips, if you're good at badgering the audience for them, is another good source. I think we routinely get $50 to $150 a night when Lee is at it - he's real good at mixing humor and desperation in a way that motivates people to cough it up (on top of the cover). During week, I'm sure wages drop considerably - probably more like $250 or $300. The good money gigs are almost always private stuff and festivals.

A good way to play for a living is illustrated well by a friend and good guitarist/vocalist here in KC - he does a lot of solo and duo gigs, then some trio stuff during the weekend. He supplements that with giving lessons during the day. I think the key to his success is that he and his wife only have one kid and the wife holds down a professional day job w/ good benefits. The benefits (health insurance) is the part that'll kill you if you're doing it on your own. I wish I had $10 for every time I've been asked to play a benefit for a local musician that is in the hospital and doesn't have insurance. That and for all the other times people asked me to play benefits to raise money to bury someone.

You can add Jody Williams to the list of professional guitarists with day gigs - wasn't he an ATM technician until he retired? Albert King drove a bulldozer until the Stax period, then drove his own bus while touring!I think some of the other guys in Chicago also supplemented their income big time through other "big city" endeavers, if you know what I mean.

[frank62]

After reading these responses i see where i was wrong. I meant no disrespect with the word hobby. Bad choice. These days it is common for people to have two or more sources of income. With musicians it looks like it has been that way for some time. As i said, i respect all at any level who are out there doing it.

[TwoFeets]

Budget goldtops - my 2005 MIJ Tokai LS80S has a Gibson R6 pickup in the neck and I had Benny Trevillian at True Tone Technologies wind me a bridge pickup before he got all flaky and stopped returning peoples' phone calls. It's one of the nicest playing and sounding guitars I've ever owned. After shipping from Japan it was around $750 but I would take it over any of the Korean-made drek that's out there like Epi, Dillion, MIK Tokai, etc. There's no comparison. Mahogany-maple construction like a Gibson, and from what I understand the newer ones have the long neck tenons too. I have heard nothing but good things about the ESP/Edwards ones, too.

[KBR]

I gig 100% and it is a B*tch, gettin Gigs, etc.
One must hang in there and I am on 57 Records, LPs, Cds, you name it.
I am now in Portland, Oregon and some clubs are booked out for the whole Year (Oh Great!)
Thank God I teach and will try to get students lined up....
I prefer Tokai's over the Dillion's/ Epi's and I like homemade Guitars best, tele's, strats, Korina's, I always use the best pickups and get a neck you like, and light weight for back/neck and Tone projection.
Muy importante'.
KBR
all y'all with Day Gigs and Gig, consider your selves LUCKY/smart.

[Strat-O]

AC - Ignore list? Naw man! Don't let what I said get you down...let it get you UP my friend. Just wanted to remind you (and anybody else who needed it) just how lucky we all are. Don't worry if the glass is half full or half empty, just be glad you got a glass to put something in.

:AOK

[mikelaw]

also mucho props given to day giggers that have kids and/or friday gigs. while the non day job cats sleep until 1pm then gig from 9-2am, us day giggers wake at 6am work all day on a friday, then gig all night until 3am+ the next morning...

yes i am stereotyping non day giggers as to sleeping late. BECAUSE 99% OF THEM THAT I KNOW DO!!!!!!!

[straightblues]

I have one with one of Pete Biltoft's (www.vintagevibeguitars.com (http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com)) Charlie Christian pickups in the neck position, and his specially-wound matching bridge pickup.

And THAT is the Tele that gets taken to gigs...! :dude
This sounds interesting, I will check it out.

Yes AC I have Don Mare tele pickups in my tele and Esquire, strat and Squier 51. Don is making make awesome tele and strat pickups. But for this one, I want to do something totally different.

Anyone ever put early 60's DeArmond pickups from a Harmony, gretsch pickups or Kay Kleenex box in a tele body?

[jetlag]

.
Anyone ever put early 60's DeArmond pickups from a Harmony, gretsch pickups or Kay Kleenex box in a tele body?

No, but I've been dying to try a dearmond "hershey" type pickup in the front slot of my tele. If the strings are high enough and/or the neck set deeply enough in the pocket, there seems to be just enough height to clear the strings w/o routing. Just kind of resting the pickup on top of the wood over the route and cutting a new pickguard to accomodate it. That would be interesting. Why don't you try it and let me know! A golden foil would be interesting too, but somehow I have a feeling that sound wouldn't be compelling enough to leave in there for too long. On a more practical note, if I had tele parts laying around that I was going to put together, I'd probably put my barden front pickup in it. Not vintage sounding, but real fat/full and really versatile.

[Poppa Stoppa]

I just got back from a couple of weeks in Tuscon & Houston - had a great time! Played a couple of gigs too. Great players out in the desert!

Almost bought a Silvertone 1457 with amp-in-case for $599 in Houston, then thought 'I do not NEED another guitar!'. Hope I don't regret that!

Lot of discussion here in that time...

Somebody mentioned DeArmond floating pickups - here's one on ebay if anyone's interested:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220101638071&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:UK:1

I reckon DeArmond goldfoils/moustache type pickups would be killer in a tele - or any other guitar for that matter. Those things don't take prisoners! Jetlag I believe they are indeed 'compelling'!

[TwoFeets]

I just got back from a couple of weeks in Tuscon & Houston - had a great time! Played a couple of gigs too. Great players out in the desert!

Almost bought a Silvertone 1457 with amp-in-case for $599 in Houston, then thought 'I do not NEED another guitar!'. Hope I don't regret that!

Lot of discussion here in that time...

Somebody mentioned DeArmond floating pickups - here's one on ebay if anyone's interested:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220101638071&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:UK:1

I reckon DeArmond goldfoils/moustache type pickups would be killer in a tele - or any other guitar for that matter. Those things don't take prisoners! Jetlag I believe they are indeed 'compelling'!

Those floating DeArmonds are really cool to run in a faux stereo setup in the bridge position of a guitar that only has a neck pickup like a 125... run the stock guitar pickup to one amp, and the DeArmond to another.

[RickyKing]

I have a pair of P-13's That I'd love to try in a Les Paul...

[Scott Miller]

OK, wake up everyone. Major gear question: Can you recommend an electric ukulele? An acoustic/electric ukulele? We're playing "Hot Nuts," and it really wants some plinking.

[valcotone]

Anyone ever put early 60's DeArmond pickups from a Harmony, gretsch pickups or Kay Kleenex box in a tele body?


You guys are probably sick of this picture, but this gives me an excuse to post it again... YES it works, and YES it sounds great. The only caveat (like Jetlag mentioned) is that you need enough clearance between the pickup and strings.

I no longer have this guitar but the guard fit nicely, however it's too tight to squeeze into another strat I wanted to try this in... and another guard with Gold Tones hasn't made it into a guitar yet for the same reason. To do this right (for a Stratocaster anyway), you'll need to route holes in the pickguard for the pickups and suspend them on a bracket (mine are mounted ON the guard and I haven't taken time to route yet...).


http://www.kilback.net/pics/blackiehershey.jpg

[valcotone]

Rick H. with a Tele and Jo'Buddy's crazy Tube Radio amp... cool schtuff!!

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

[DonM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRpZZJpuI_Y
nice!
Hey thats my Rick Holmstrom set on a blend pot, hes blending in the neck all 1950 wiring except we have a .010 cap on the dark neck tone,, also hes in "D"

[Autopilot Slim]

FYI.....
Here is a link to a music store here in Toronto that is selling an H62.

http://www.capsulemusic.com/retail/what_new.asp

[Autopilot Slim]

Nice Rick H. clip.
Looks like he's playing Storyville in Helsinki, Finland.
Playing through the Groovey Eyes' guitar player's rig.
http://www.ram-bam.com/groovy1.jpg

Great band.

[btg]

What kind of guitar is Jo Buddy got in the picture above? Killer player that CD tribute to George Smith he did with Helge Talmut (sp) is great.

[Autopilot Slim]

I think it may be a Hagstrom.
Not sure of the model though.
I agree, killer player.

http://www.ram-bam.com/holland1.jpg

[Thinsocks]

I think that guitar is a Framus.

[Thinsocks]

Rick H. with a Tele and Jo'Buddy's crazy Tube Radio amp... cool schtuff!!

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


That drummer has a good feel on that fast double shuffle. Guitar player isn't bad either. ;)

[TwoFeets]

I think that guitar is a Framus.

Pretty sure you're right. Those wacky McCarty-like Framus metal floating pickguards sound REALLY good. A friend of mine that unfortunately has no idea about this kind of music owns a Hofner archtop with a Framus guard like that on it. The action on the guitar is so high as to be virtually unplayable (needs a neck reset) but what notes you can get out of it sound killer.

[michael30]

What kind of guitar is Jo Buddy got in the picture above?.

It's a Klira.

[michael30]

Rick H. with a Tele and Jo'Buddy's crazy Tube Radio amp... cool schtuff!!

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

I was there. He played two nights in Helsinki. One of the best gigs I've been to in a long time. He only used the tele on a couple of songs, and a Harmony H88 for the rest. I wanted a H44/88 before but now I REALLY want one!

[Thinsocks]

Ok, more shameless promotion of my junk on Ebay. Currently I have listed a "Revibe" reverb/tremolo unit that belongs to Rick Holmstrom. The unit was assembled by Dansamps in Los Angeles.

[KBR]

Went down and played a set with Jimi Bott (The Best) Jim Wallace, Marco Savo, all top notch Players, and even a Good Bass Player, too.
The Steinhaus (Steiny) a little dive but close to the Crib and reminded me of 1975 Playin with Little Charlie and the NightCats @ the AERO Club in Sacramento, Baty played Harp 1/2 the night and Guitar the rest.
I got some good ideas when I was in that band for 2 years.

Charlie could play awesome Guitar even back then!

[zappafrank]

Went down and played a set with Jimi Bott (The Best) Jim Wallace, Marco Savo, all top notch Players, and even a Good Bass Player, too.
The Steinhaus (Steiny) a little dive but close to the Crib and reminded me of 1975 Playin with Little Charlie and the NightCats @ the AERO Club in Sacramento, Baty played Harp 1/2 the night and Guitar the rest.
I got some good ideas when I was in that band for 2 years.

Charlie could play awesome Guitar even back then!

Hi Kenny---welcome to PDX (Portland)---Wallace said you sounded great!

That used to be my gig until I quit when they would not give us a raise from $35.00 a night to $50.00 a night---after a year and a half of playing for 150.00 they would'nt raise us to 200.00---pathetic.

I still go down just to mess around---Paris Slim is the usual guitarist now, but he was sick that night--

I'm sure we'll bump into each other soon----any of your students need a guitar?? LOL!

ac

[zappafrank]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRpZZJpuI_Y
nice!
Hey thats my Rick Holmstrom set on a blend pot, hes blending in the neck all 1950 wiring except we have a .010 cap on the dark neck tone,, also hes in "D"

....and that's why it sounds so good!---You make awesome pickups---best kept secret out there, right now---as soon as I sell the JM Rolph's in my Pee Wee Crayton strat, I'll be buying a beefed up Watson strat set from you---if that does'nt liven that axe up, off it goes---but I have high hopes and expectations for your strat pickups----I've been using low-output vintage spec pups in that guitar, and it needs some beef instead--

Talk to you soon---

Any of you want a set of Rolph Vintage Pretender 1956 replicas, drop me a line. You guys get first dibs.

ac