West Coast Blues Thread - Version 2.0

[TwoFeets]

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.

SUPER price on that unit, too. If I already didn't have my '64 verb, I'd be all over that.

[KBR]

AC,
That is sick to only pay that kind of $...fortunately Rent here ain't bad (1/2 of Bay Area)
as for my Students...I have alot in the Bay Area, only 1 in PDX...dang I thought and hope that will change soon...I only did 3 months of a day Gig since 1987...

[Scott Miller]

Just got back from Nemeth and Watson. Vance on bass, Wes Starr on drums. That is, I believe, the next touring unit.

Watson mostly played the Strat, but also the *ahem* Dillion goldtop. Sounded fine to me.

Whew. Killer band.

[zappafrank]

Just got back from Nemeth and Watson. Vance on bass, Wes Starr on drums. That is, I believe, the next touring unit.

Watson mostly played the Strat, but also the *ahem* Dillion goldtop. Sounded fine to me.

Whew. Killer band.


----At that level---who CARES that it's a Dillion???


Glad ya had a good time----

ac

[nc slim]

I need your thoughts on adding a p u to my Harmony h 62( 1 pu model I think called jazz artist) it is a beaut but I do not play it much because I have black silvertone on w 2 pu's beautifully redone by fret works there was a pix of it in tonequest). the one p u though has better neck and woody sound. any advice ongetting p 13 pu or changing it.

have a dillon lp gold top heavy sucker made for guys like Matt murphy I like it though

[nc slim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7yhdxLYBT4&NR=1

good playin

[nc slim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RrsSsu-fDM&mode=related&search=

[THINSOCKS]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RrsSsu-fDM&mode=related&search=

I know the guy that posted that. His name is Dave Stuckey and he has a band with Deke Dickerson (The Dave & Deke combo). He has a bunch of other really great clips posted. Most of them are western swing stuff, but it's all pretty rare and great. Check out the Thumbs Carlisle clip he posted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31d7wtfIKA4

[Dave Orban]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RrsSsu-fDM&mode=related&search=

Oy..!!! :dude

[valcotone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7yhdxLYBT4&NR=1

good playin



YOWZA!!! I love those guys and Anders is one of the best around (in any country), IMO.

[dukeh62]

Agreed...Knockout Greg is pretty untouchable. Just a killer band. I highly recommend ALL their records if you don't have them.

[Cleanhead]

Speaking of KNockout GReg...

I had the good fortune of touring in Sweden last summer... Played on some of the same festivals and hung out with them for a while... Anders let us borrow his amp for a few of our dates... To my surprise many of the Swdish blues guys played guitar through a blues junior - Anders started it all... He did say, however, that he had some mods done to it... I saw the band back Mike Sanchez (amazing boogie woogie player and singer from UK) one night and it ranks as some of the best blues I have heard in years.... Anders is also really great at playing soul music and he seems to be headed in that direction somewhat these days... Oh yeah, add to his great guitar, Knock out gregs GREAT harp playing, amazing rhythm section - cool upright player named Urban Head...

those swedes can play for sure...


on a more personal note, I have just accepted a position in SEATTLE and will be headed for the Pacific Northwest in 2 weeks.. I am excited but it is unfortunate that after finally establishing myself here in CHICAGO I have to pick up and leave... oh well, such is life... I here there is a lot of opportunity in the SEATTLE/PORTLAND area - hope that is true!

before I leave town, I deceided I should probably record... so in between packing and preparing to move I will be headed into the studio for a few days... I am excited but also a little anxious as I am to knock it out in a short amount of time...


Kurt

[Strat-O]

The Blues Jr rears its head again. That fella down in Brazil uses one too.

Good luck to you Kurt. Tell us more about the studio session you've got coming up. Who's the band?

[pete kanaras]

whoa cleanhead, big congrats on the gig! you'll find stuff out there for sure between seattle and portland, a Lot of great players there. check out highway 99(81,99?) in seattle, verrry nice room. and there's a great joint 2 hours north in annacortes the name of which i forget, but they've they've got a pretty slamming cajun menu. the owner's a huge blues freak (and a neuw yawkah to boot)with a good built-in crowd, good times. and yeah, you should definitely record before you split; chicago's now a marker in your life and you should document it.

way to go bro, i'm thrilled for ya!

[HappyValley]

Congrats, Kurt! Best of luck in the new locale!

On a side note, caught Little Charlie & the Nightcats this weekend; I've seen these guys over 15 times and this time had to have been one of, if not THE best ever. Rick's harp was as deep & killer as I've ever heard, Charlie made me want to pull a "zappafrank" ( LOL,AC!!:AOK ) with ALL my guitars,amps,records,guitar books, lessons, etc. and sell them on Ebay or toss 'em in the dumpster. He was playing standards to open & close each set with a serious Django vibe. His chordal work alone was staggering, never mind the solos. The rhythm section was tight, dynamic and both were masterful soloists in their own right. I spoke to Rick for quite some time and he indicated to me that both he & Charlie are LOVING Lorenzo and Jay.

[Stringmaster]

I dug out my old VHS tape of Little Charley live in '85. He was such a fine player then, and just keeps getting better! I wish they'd do another live video, their CD's never seem to capture what they are about, unless I missed those! He's always struck me as one of those guys with "natural talent". I remember reading that he started playing a bit later in life, but he's just got it--makes it look so easy!

In this video, he's playing that "Little Charley" ES-5 styled Tele--I love that little guitar! Does he still play that? He's also got the reissue ES350T with Humbuckers--makes you want to buy one of those too--even if you don't like Buckers! Looking forward to their next West Coast tour--been a while since I've seen them--but I did see Estrin smoke recently at one of Hummel's deals.
DD

[aja]

Hey east coasters !! That holmstrom and blue weather stuff is great.Just sat in with cool band out here last night in diego called west of memphis. These guys are cool their on myspace too check 'em out.

[TwoFeets]

In this video, he's playing that "Little Charley" ES-5 styled Tele--I love that little guitar! Does he still play that? He's also got the reissue ES350T with Humbuckers--makes you want to buy one of those too--even if you don't like Buckers! Looking forward to their next West Coast tour--been a while since I've seen them--but I did see Estrin smoke recently at one of Hummel's deals.
DD

That Tele and his Strats are his go-to axes when they fly in to do gigs, much easier to pack them up and take 'em on a plane. I think if he has his druthers he'd rather be playing the 295.

[TwoFeets]

I didn't pay a lot of attention to the conversations about Nemeth's current tour earlier in the thread, and I'm too much of a lazy-ass to go back and find the stuff.... LOL.... he'll be here in Cocoa Beach on June 28th. Any clue as to whether or not Watson will be with him, and if not, who might be playing guitar for him?

[HappyValley]

I didn't pay a lot of attention to the conversations about Nemeth's current tour earlier in the thread, and I'm too much of a lazy-ass to go back and find the stuff.... LOL.... he'll be here in Cocoa Beach on June 28th. Any clue as to whether or not Watson will be with him, and if not, who might be playing guitar for him?

Hey Two Footses- I'm 90% positive that Junior's forgoing that leg of the tour, ( I spoke to him 'bout it a few weeks ago), but I think his replacement will be Mike Schermer, a killer guitar player himself...still a great show by all means. Cripes, Nemeth's voice alone is enough to make it worth the trip & ticket, IMHO.

Charlie had his big gold 295 and strat lineup thru the gold Vero all nite. what a sound. Clean and FAT the whole time. Rolled off the volume & tone to get the old Lockwood thang going on harp heavy numbers. What a show, Dammit!!!

[Scott Miller]

"...with a serious Django vibe."

I talked to Charlie a bit in January, and he said he's getting into that gypsy guitar, and also into golf. We were sharing shoulder pain issues, and he was pondering if he was getting hurt by the weird way you attack with that stuff. The gypsy guitar, not golf.

Schermer is a killer player and a super-nice guy... but I'm glad I got to see Watson with Nemeth. I finally got to meet Junior; we mostly talked about Hershey bar pickup rivets. Guitar geekdom.

Nemeth's last song was Mr. Pawnbroker, or whatever that BB King song is. John just nails that BB falsetto. Junior was doing BB like... well, not like BB, and not like anything else I've ever heard. Incredible. The room was full of guitar players with their hair all standing on end.

It got me thinking... you know the rap about those trad blues players playing the same old stuff. But those trad players; Baty, Junior, Freund; they do stuff I've never heard all the time. Invention is part of the blues tradition.

[TwoFeets]

Hey Two Footses- I'm 90% positive that Junior's forgoing that leg of the tour, ( I spoke to him 'bout it a few weeks ago), but I think his replacement will be Mike Schermer, a killer guitar player himself...still a great show by all means. Cripes, Nemeth's voice alone is enough to make it worth the trip & ticket, IMHO.

Charlie had his big gold 295 and strat lineup thru the gold Vero all nite. what a sound. Clean and FAT the whole time. Rolled off the volume & tone to get the old Lockwood thang going on harp heavy numbers. What a show, Dammit!!!

Thanks man! Oh, either way, I'm there... just, if it was Watson, I was going to have to try and pull some strings via some fellas in this thread to see if I could weasel a lesson or something out of him!

When Little Charlie and the Nightcats came to play the Orlando blues fest a year ago November, I volunteered to go and pick up Charlie and Rick at the airport. They'd been stuck on the tarmac in LA for several hours before takeoff due to aircraft maintenance issues, and they'd had nothing but peanuts to eat and by the time they got here it was 11:30 PM, they'd been on the plane for like 9 hours... they asked if there was anyplace to go and eat, and at that time the only thing open was Denny's. So there I am at midnight sitting across a booth at Denny's from Charlie Baty and Rick Estrin. It was all rather surreal. (Charlie had a burger and fries and Rick went with an omelet... the secret tonal ingredient... cholesterol!)

I saw them in Gainesville several months prior to that with Bill Barnard (who got a lesson from Charlie)... I far preferred Charlie's 295 tone through the Vero at the Gainesville club gig, to the tone of the ES5Tele and rented 64 blackface Super Reverb at the festival. It seemed the entire band got off more at the club gig, too. Those festivals, I think, can be really tough to get a good vibe going.

After they played the Orlando thing I asked them to sign the back of the Fatdog, and when Charlie saw the guitar he said "shit if I'd known you had this, I'd have played this tonight instead." So I got the vibe that he digs the archtop thing moreso than the solid bodies.

[Scott Miller]

Aw... Jeff Scott just played some RJ Mischo. I miss that guy. I see on his calendar he's doing some gigs with Jimmy Thackery. The mind boggles at that a bit.

[HappyValley]

After they played the Orlando thing I asked them to sign the back of the Fatdog, and when Charlie saw the guitar he said "shit if I'd known you had this, I'd have played this tonight instead." So I got the vibe that he digs the archtop thing moreso than the solid bodies.

Very true...We were on a festival a together few years ago and Charlie asked to use my archtop so I lent him my ES-5 which he dug, but didn't dig the tweed amp AT ALL. He quickly switched to a back line BFSR if I recall....

[TwoFeets]

Some Tiny Grimes for a Monday evening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciQGjvDhX0E&mode=related&search=

[TwoFeets]

More Grimes.. Film is reversed but it's definitely him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93EIw41FOFo&mode=related&search=

[bbarnard]

On the several Little Charlie comments/questions. I can affirm his interest in Django of late. He indicated that to me too when I saw them at the Jax Blues festival two weeks ago. At that gig he had two Strats (one maple board one rosewood board) and the 295 but only played the 295 and maple neck Strat. I asked about the maple board and he said he'd gotten another because this was a long tour and he's hard on them. He played each about 50/50 for the one set they did. He played through both a Super and a Bassman (couldn't tell if it was a reissue) but it probably was just whatever was backline provided. No site of the Vero.

I totally agree with TwoFeets the 295/Strat through the Vero in Gainesville when we saw him slayed the Tele with 3 P90s and Super at the Orlando festival. Not that his tone was bad but it was nowhere close to the other combo.

[Stringmaster]

Does Charlie use the little Vero--like a 40's amp, or the larger one, like a fancy SR?

[TwoFeets]

Does Charlie use the little Vero--like a 40's amp, or the larger one, like a fancy SR?

The bigger one.

It's painted goldtop/ES295 gold!

[HappyValley]

Does Charlie use the little Vero--like a 40's amp, or the larger one, like a fancy SR?
According to the Vero site, he used the small one (20th century ltd.) in the studio on a tune from the last album ('tag you're it' or sumthin' like that I think?). I've seen him w/the gold one and awhile back the really furniture -esque finished hardwood $$$$ Gotham model.
As an aside, I can't help but extend my deepest condolences & prayers to the families of staff and students at Virginia Tech. Just an unspeakable tragedy.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

I agree, I'm just stunned. so sad. fred

[TwoFeets]

I recall a couple of on-campus deaths when I was at UMass, one accidental, one where a student took his own life, and I remember how deeply each one affected the entire student population, regardless of whether you knew the individual. Something on this scale is just unimaginable. My heart goes out just as much to the survivors as it does to the victims and their families.

[RickyKing]

+1 Nick,Fred,Feets

[straightblues]

On the several Little Charlie comments/questions. we saw him slayed the Tele with 3 P90s.

Do you have any pictures or any more information on this 3 P90 tele? How is it wired? How is it switched? Is it a thinline (semi-hollow)? How did it sound, etc etc etc.... I saw him playing it on this You Tube but the pictures weren't very clear. http://youtube.com/watch?v=swL2fOzMxZk

[Dave Orban]

Do you have any pictures or any more information on this 3 P90 tele? How is it wired? How is it switched? Is it a thinline (semi-hollow)? How did it sound, etc etc etc.... I saw him playing it on this You Tube but the pictures weren't very clear. http://youtube.com/watch?v=swL2fOzMxZkHere's a picture of it.

I've only see him play it at outdoor events, where the weather might wreak havoc with a big old archtop... As you can see, it's a semi-hollow, but other than that, I don't know...

http://www.intrepidartists.com/images/batybenefit.jpg

[TwoFeets]

I'm pretty sure it's wired ES-5 style, volume for each pickup, master tone on cutaway, bridge and neck pickups out of phase.

[TwoFeets]

By the way, hey Orban, learn how to post pics on the Weber board will ya?

[Dave Orban]

By the way, hey Orban, learn how to post pics on the Weber board will ya?LOL!

[straightblues]

After a little more searching I found this picture of it as well. Looks like three volume and either a master volume or a master tone without any switches.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/straightblues/cr9.jpg

[THINSOCKS]

I'm pretty sure it's wired ES-5 style, volume for each pickup, master tone on cutaway, bridge and neck pickups out of phase.

My '50 ES-5 is 3 volumes and 1 master volume. Kind of a tough configuration and not something I dig all the time. In fact, I just bought a ES-350, so the ES-5 will most likely be on Ebay this week. Let me know if any of you with deep pockets are interested. ;)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/IMG_4993.jpg

[TwoFeets]

My '50 ES-5 is 3 volumes and 1 master volume. Kind of a tough configuration and not something I dig all the time. In fact, I just bought a ES-350, so the ES-5 will most likely be on Ebay this week. Let me know if any of you with deep pockets are interested. ;)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/IMG_4993.jpg

Beautiful. Due to the recent ES350 purchase on my end I doubt I'd be able to even touch it; shame too because I really wanted an ES5.

[valcotone]

Do you have any pictures or any more information on this 3 P90 tele? How is it wired? How is it switched? Is it a thinline (semi-hollow)? How did it sound, etc etc etc.... I saw him playing it on this You Tube but the pictures weren't very clear. http://youtube.com/watch?v=swL2fOzMxZk


Here's my take on the idea... home-built semi-hollow alder body with flame maple top, Master volume, tone neck, tone bridge, 5-way switch, push pull pots for bridge phase, and neck + bridge. Two Fralin's and an unpotted Lollar beast in the bridge. Love it! I was shooting for a Gibson vibe with this one and am replacing the neck with another Warmoth tele one with a black-face headstock.

http://www.gmvintagerestorations.com/sktele2.jpg

[valcotone]

Thinsocks - nice guitar!!! 3 volumes + a master volume?... I haven't heard of that arrangement before... interesting.

[THINSOCKS]

Thinsocks - nice guitar!!! 3 volumes + a master volume?... I haven't heard of that arrangement before... interesting.

It's pretty common for that year.

[THINSOCKS]

Beautiful. Due to the recent ES350 purchase on my end I doubt I'd be able to even touch it; shame too because I really wanted an ES5.

Well, it's pricey, but it has some changed hardware, repairs, etc., so I'm looking for 4k. A clean sunburst would go for 7k-8k, so it's a decent deal at that price.

[Scott Miller]

I can see that volume arrangement working. You kind of blend things to your desired tone, and then control the volume of that blend. Is that the idea?

Next question: Is there such a thing as a pre-war blues rhumba? Just curious.

[valcotone]

Next question: Is there such a thing as a pre-war blues rhumba? Just curious.


Would "Early In The Morning" (Louis Jordan) meet that criteria? We do that one with kind of a rhumba feel.... but I don't know the specifics of what makes the rhumba a rhumba! If anyone does, please explain... I know the "feel" but...

[dddelta]

Just a whole heap of droolworthy stuff here!

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/index.html

[TwoFeets]

Well, it's pricey, but it has some changed hardware, repairs, etc., so I'm looking for 4k. A clean sunburst would go for 7k-8k, so it's a decent deal at that price.

Frank - PM sent.

[Scott Miller]

"Just a whole heap of droolworthy stuff here!
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/index.html"

I use that site a lot for research purposes.

Ay yi yi... listening to Magic Sam Live right now. Sheeeesh. I don't think anyone can touch him, for straight-up electric blues.

[dukeh62]

Hey all you East Coast folk...

Nick Adams and I are doing another two-guitar hoedown at Vincent's in Worcester on May 3rd. Last time was just a stupid amount of fun, with lots of great players in the house.

Come on down!

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Listening to Ronnie Earls' " Language of the Soul" today, the one with Fathead Newman. It is an amazingly well recorded cd as well as great playing. I wish he would do another recording with Bruce Katz with some new compositions from both of them. Played some good gigs this weekend with my tele with p90 in neck , it is fat and versatile for gigs-many tones without switching guitars. fred

[Esquire]

Listening to Ronnie Earls' " Language of the Soul" today, the one with Fathead Newman. It is an amazingly well recorded cd as well as great playing. I wish he would do another recording with Bruce Katz with some new compositions from both of them. Played some good gigs this weekend with my tele with p90 in neck , it is fat and versatile for gigs-many tones without switching guitars. fred

Hey Goldenstrat,

Ronnie is recording a new "live in studio" record/DVD this weekend. I'm pretty sure the song selections are going to be somewhat off the cuff. There are also going to be guest artists sitting in. Sounds interesting.

[Schwalbe]

Nick Adams and I are doing another two-guitar hoedown at Vincent's in Worcester on May 3rd. Last time was just a stupid amount of fun, with lots of great players in the house.


Aw MAN! Sorry I have to miss that one, it does sound like fun.
Oh well, Watson & Nemeth tonight so I guess I'll be alright.

[zappafrank]

Here's a line-up for you---

I am REALLY, DESPERATELY trying to get Sunday 4/29 off from work--

Because---in Eugene, Oregon at the Hult Center:

.....is "Concert for Curtis II" (Salgado)...

Featuring:

Charlie Musselwhite
Steve Miller
Kim Wilson
Little Charlie and the Nightcats
Curtis and his band (I'm pretty sure---would make sense!)

....and just added a couple days ago---

Jimmie Vaughan!!!!!!

A possible one-night-only reunion of Kim and Jimmie????

I'm betting so!!

wish me luck on getting the night off (the bitch is I was planning on being there anyway on Fri and Sat to see family---but I'm scheduled to work Sunday night!!!) Arrrggghhhhhh!

anyway, I'll check in on this thread later this week---cheers, all---


(Is that a freakin' lineup, or what???---Probably a better one than ANY summer blues festival coming this year---)

ac

[mikelaw]

Hey Goldenstrat,

Ronnie is recording a new "live in studio" record/DVD this weekend. I'm pretty sure the song selections are going to be somewhat off the cuff. There are also going to be guest artists sitting in. Sounds interesting.

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE RONNIE HAS ASKED YOURS TRULY TO SIT IN ON HARP AND VOCALS FOR THE FILMING OF HIS NEW DVD!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOO

[Dave Orban]

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE RONNIE HAS ASKED YOURS TRULY TO SIT IN ON HARP AND VOCALS FOR THE FILMING OF HIS NEW DVD!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOODamn...! Keep us posted, bro...! :dude

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Do us proud , Mike.

[Schwalbe]

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE RONNIE HAS ASKED YOURS TRULY TO SIT IN ON HARP AND VOCALS FOR THE FILMING OF HIS NEW DVD!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOOGo get 'em Kid!

[THINSOCKS]

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE RONNIE HAS ASKED YOURS TRULY TO SIT IN ON HARP AND VOCALS FOR THE FILMING OF HIS NEW DVD!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOO

Congrats, Mike!

[frank62]

I love this kind of thing happening. Good for you Mike!

[Stringmaster]

Congrats Mike!

So Skillback, does you ES-350 do the out-of-phase TBone thing? Or is that something you'll miss when you pass along the ES-5?
DD

[Strat-O]

Rock on Bro'...

:RoCkIn

[Scott Miller]

Finally, something that really should be all caps.

[TwoFeets]

Finally, something that really should be all caps.

LOL

You go, Mike.

[HappyValley]

Well, I had planned on keeping this under wraps 'til after the session, but since it's "out there", I've also been scheduled to be on the Ronnie DVD/CD playing 2nd guitar on 1-2 cuts..guess I'll see you @ Wellspring, Mike! Gimme a ring....

BTW, anyone in the New England area - Playing the Sit-n-Bull w/Racky Thomas Friday.....our own 'musicofanatic' Jon Ross on drums, Mudcat Ward on bass.

[mikelaw]

I am totally busting fellas...kidding around only. :) Mola found me out...LOL. HOWEVER!!!!!!... I can't wait to see our own Nick Adams with Ronnie! Either way the whole thing should be great since Ronnie doesn't really even have a live show on dvd. Should be great. :)

[TwoFeets]

Nick - man, wish I could make it out there for Friday!

Here's my question for today - need some advice from you guys. We've been doing a lot of outdoor gigs lately with more coming up... some on larger stages.... and my tone at these has been absolutely horrendous - I just can't stand the way my rig sounds outside, just very one-dimensional and lifeless. I figured being outdoors, I could take out the Pro and get away with cranking it a little more and adding some bass.... that didn't work. I've fiddled with every knob I could think of, tried multiple approaches, and still haven't come up with a solution. I can't figure out whether it's because the majority of these have been those portable stage setups with the aluminum frame and rubber flooring that seem to make everything sound really boomy, immediate and in-your-face or what. It's very distracting, though. Today I'm going to try going with the little Ampeg Jet and see if that helps at all. It just seems so small for such a large venue. What sort of settings do you use and what's your preferred rig for outdoor venues?

[HappyValley]

I am totally busting fellas...kidding around only. :) Mola found me out...LOL. HOWEVER!!!!!!... I can't wait to see our own Nick Adams with Ronnie! Either way the whole thing should be great since Ronnie doesn't really even have a live show on dvd. Should be great. :)

:crazyguy
TwoFeets, Mike!! I'VE BEEN HAD!! Hook, line 'n sinker.....You're NO GOOD!!!!!! LOL. A set-up like no other....I'm a natchal born sucka!!

Well, here's where I'm at:I've got a soundcheck/rehearsal w/Ronnie on Friday before the 'Bull gig and recording on Sunday evening. Looks like a slow blues in D, maybe a shuffle , too. I'll let ch'all know how it goes....

MikeLaw, pay back's a BEEEEEACH!!!

[mikelaw]

:) lol i LOVE you nick ,you know that. It wasn't aimed at you, just a general mess around thats all. Cant wait to see you in May at Vincents. :)
xoxo

[HappyValley]

:) lol i LOVE you nick ,you know that. It wasn't aimed at you, just a general mess around thats all. Cant wait to see you in May at Vincents. :)
xoxo

Youda man, ML!! :rotflmao

[TwoFeets]

Hey waitaminnit, I didn't find out ANYTHING. I was just as "had" as everyone else!

[dukeh62]

Nick - man, wish I could make it out there for Friday!

Here's my question for today - need some advice from you guys. We've been doing a lot of outdoor gigs lately with more coming up... some on larger stages.... and my tone at these has been absolutely horrendous - I just can't stand the way my rig sounds outside, just very one-dimensional and lifeless. I figured being outdoors, I could take out the Pro and get away with cranking it a little more and adding some bass.... that didn't work. I've fiddled with every knob I could think of, tried multiple approaches, and still haven't come up with a solution. I can't figure out whether it's because the majority of these have been those portable stage setups with the aluminum frame and rubber flooring that seem to make everything sound really boomy, immediate and in-your-face or what. It's very distracting, though. Today I'm going to try going with the little Ampeg Jet and see if that helps at all. It just seems so small for such a large venue. What sort of settings do you use and what's your preferred rig for outdoor venues?


Dos Pies: How to get a good tone outside is the eternal question! I've always hated it. However, since I started using earplugs RELIGIOUSLY at every gig I play, I don't seem to bothered by it AS MUCH. Granted, I still don't love it, but the earplugs seem to bring a little more consistency into the picture for me. I'm sure it's 100% related to which frequencies are being filtered out...so I'm probably not hearing them as much indoors as well. Just a theory...

I know Troy Gonyea's comment on the subject was to bring more amps and turn up!

Rick Holmstrom's suggestion was to try and get a good mix between the monitors and the amp, so that you can find a "sweet spot" to stand in where you feel like you're getting some of the ambiance of a room.

And those aluminum framed stages? Forget about it!!!!!

Backalley: Thanks for the call and "report" last night. Always amusing!!!

[jetlag]

Nick - man, wish I could make it out there for Friday!

Here's my question for today - need some advice from you guys. We've been doing a lot of outdoor gigs lately with more coming up... some on larger stages.... and my tone at these has been absolutely horrendous - I just can't stand the way my rig sounds outside, just very one-dimensional and lifeless. I figured being outdoors, I could take out the Pro and get away with cranking it a little more and adding some bass.... that didn't work. I've fiddled with every knob I could think of, tried multiple approaches, and still haven't come up with a solution. I can't figure out whether it's because the majority of these have been those portable stage setups with the aluminum frame and rubber flooring that seem to make everything sound really boomy, immediate and in-your-face or what. It's very distracting, though. Today I'm going to try going with the little Ampeg Jet and see if that helps at all. It just seems so small for such a large venue. What sort of settings do you use and what's your preferred rig for outdoor venues?


I've just about given up on tweed amps outside - especially if alnico speakers are involved. Everything turns to mush. I've ended up going with a BF bassman head either thru a semi-closed back 2x12 or thru my Pro Reverb cabinet (both with ceramic magnet 12 speakers) with something behind it to deflect the sound back forward. I think that's your best bet - put an amp case or something behind the amp to reflect that sound back forward. That, and having a good sound system with your own monitor mix (guitar up high) is ideal. When the sound guys have good side fills and decent ears is when I'm most happy outdoors. That happens about 1 in 5 times. The rest is somewhere between okay and "grin-and-bear-it." If you do take a tweed amp to a big outdoor gig, use either 10" or 12" ceramic speakers - skip the 15s. Especially when it's humid - those cones won't budge.

Nick, great news man. Congrads. We'll be waiting on a report.

[pete kanaras]

Here's my question for today - need some advice from you guys. We've been doing a lot of outdoor gigs lately with more coming up... some on larger stages.... and my tone at these has been absolutely horrendous

there's nothing you can do about it, unfortunately. the amp has no walls to bounce off of so the whole thing is hit or miss. it's just the nature of playing outdoors, you have to just cross your fingers and hope for the best. and if it's windy fughettaboutit. one cool thing can be bringing a real small amp you're comfortable with, setting it up around waist level and thus hearing yourself much better in the mains. IF you've got a hip foh guy that is. also, try looking out to where the foh guy is located and Do Not inadvertently aim your amp squarely at their head! angle it away from the foh position. like i said, it's all a crapshoot. welcome to my world......

[TwoFeets]

I really appreciate the input, guys - not only the advice, but the comfort that lies in the fact that I'm not alone in hating the way these sound.

[HappyValley]

What sort of settings do you use and what's your preferred rig for outdoor venues?


Ditto to all responses; The 'tone magic' of low to mid wattage tweed amps w/alnicos is gone at least 'feel-wise' from the bandstand. The only times I've had luck is when I've played the acoustically semi perfect Hatch Shell on Boston's Esplanade at the Blues Festivals there; That stage is designed for the Pops to play very july 4th w/acoustic instruments outside, so it's worked well w/me using even a Brown Deluxe miked! Every other outside venue has just blown with my tweeds.
I saw Holmes slave a tweed Pro through a BF Twin Reverb RI with great results once, though....when he was with Rod. You still have a Super Reverb , right? use that w/the Pro maybe?

[frank62]

Try the Smith Sound Enhancer.

[KBR]

2 BFSR's or
2 Twins

turn up!

[mikelaw]

2 BFSR's or
2 Twins

turn up!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

[pete kanaras]

last time i saw jimme with the 'birds he was using 3 twins, all off standby!

[KBR]

I like Tweed original Bassman's and Pro's but outdoors needs 2 or more Amps, usually.

[Cleanhead]

Mike and Nick...

Wow... what a thrill... Can't wait to hear the reports - and see/hear the results... please keep us posted...

Who esle is on the session? Any idea?

again.. congrats on such an amazing opportunity...

KURT

[Ryguy]

This thread is a force of nature. I hadn't checked in for a long time, but the thread just keeps growing and growing. It survived the leap from the TFDP to the TGP, and has just flourished here! In addition to all of the good-natured blues crustiness, there is so much great information here. It is truly a great resource and something to be proud of.

At any rate, I will chime in on Two-Feets dilemna, and second the voices that recommend using more than one amp. I play a lot of out door shows down here in Buenos Aires, some with great sound, others not so much. With a a good sound crew working, I can get by with small amps, but in general, I take two mid to large sized amps to try and get the fell right, usually a black face-style eq'd for a lot of bass and body, and then a tweed deluxe cranked for the grind. Plus I put the tweed deluxe up pointing at my head. It works pretty well. Also, try and separate the amps to get more oopmh to your sound.

[Ryguy]

This man knows tone! So take his word for it. BTW if you haven't checked out his site lately, do so! There is a great new Radio Vault with some very nice music; he really shows of his Jazz chops on some of the tunes.
http://alexschultz.com/#
http://alexschultz.com/gallery/galleries/history/photos/unknown.jpg

[Schwalbe]

Nick - man, wish I could make it out there for Friday!

Here's my question for today - need some advice from you guys. We've been doing a lot of outdoor gigs lately with more coming up... some on larger stages.... and my tone at these has been absolutely horrendous - I just can't stand the way my rig sounds outside, just very one-dimensional and lifeless. I figured being outdoors, I could take out the Pro and get away with cranking it a little more and adding some bass.... that didn't work. I've fiddled with every knob I could think of, tried multiple approaches, and still haven't come up with a solution. I can't figure out whether it's because the majority of these have been those portable stage setups with the aluminum frame and rubber flooring that seem to make everything sound really boomy, immediate and in-your-face or what. It's very distracting, though. Today I'm going to try going with the little Ampeg Jet and see if that helps at all. It just seems so small for such a large venue. What sort of settings do you use and what's your preferred rig for outdoor venues?


What's worked well for me is adding a high efficiency speaker in a closed back cab as an extention speaker. I've got an old JBL that works for this.

BTW Watson, Nemeth, Ellers and Starr were freakin' fabulous last night. Jr. was on like crazy (Stratotone and a Strat, no Tokai Goldtop in sight) and Nemeth! Whew! Damn that boy can sing AND play! Vance and Wes were just as incredible. It was a real treat to see this stuff played right with no clutter messing sh*t up.

[mikelaw]

What's worked well for me is adding a high efficiency speaker in a closed back cab as an extention speaker. I've got an old JBL that works for this.

BTW Watson, Nemeth, Ellers and Starr were freakin' fabulous last night. Jr. was on like crazy (Stratotone and a Strat, no Tokai Goldtop in sight) and Nemeth! Whew! Damn that boy can sing AND play! Vance and Wes were just as incredible. It was a real treat to see this stuff played right with no clutter messing sh*t up.

right on bro. i told this to mola in a private message. :)

[Strat-O]

Dirty dog! Rock on anyway!

I just use two amps. One with the reverb cranked.

[THINSOCKS]

Anyone know or have any old 50's P10Q speakers for sale?

[RickyKing]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230116230483&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013

I wonder if you all saw this....

[TwoFeets]

Last night, we backed Leon Atkins, who bills himself Lil Jimmy Reed, at a street fest in Mt. Dora FL. He's out of Enterprise, Alabama. The gig was supposed to start at 5 PM. By the time the band got to Mt. Dora, Leon was already there. He'd gotten there at about 2 PM. The drive from Alabama cost him about $100 in gas; by the time we got there he'd made that back busking on the sidewalk, and had attracted enough attention by promo'ing the show during the day that we had a really nice crowd when we finally went on.

[TwoFeets]

Paging Scott Miller to the Olympic White courtesy phone please, Scott Miller.... please check your PM's...

Thanks!

[HappyValley]

Someone mentioned the Sound Enhancer; I tried one awhile ago and have this to say about it: It's a great concept and probably fantastic for certain tones,(Super clean country gig, or maybe a heavy rock gig where the subtleties and dynamics we rely on don't matter as much) but IMHO, it enhanced too much of EVERYTHING...meaning every sound coming out of the back of the amp...highs,lows, less than appealling overtones, etc. I think the L shaped cab it's built with affects the tone considerably...I got a "brittle" type distortion, sharp with no roundness(?) I guess.
I don't want to pan this guy's product, 'cause I think he's on to something, but I liked my amp better when I took it OFF the Enhancer. It definitely increases volume and projection, though. Holmstrom had one and stopped using it...I don't even know where mine is...oh yeah..a dumpster after a frustrating gig. Oops.

[dukeh62]

If we could only trust Gibson's quality...and if it had a bigger neck.

Limited run of 50 of these:
http://www.music123.com/Gibson-Memphis-ES-335-P90-Limited-Edition-Electric-Guitar-i758069.music

[Dave Orban]

If we could only trust Gibson's quality... and if it had a bigger neck.


Really!

[bbarnard]

If we could only trust Gibson's quality...and if it had a bigger neck.

Limited run of 50 of these:
http://www.music123.com/Gibson-Memphis-ES-335-P90-Limited-Edition-Electric-Guitar-i758069.music

I can tell you that I played a Gibson 335 Fat Neck (Memphis) at the Jax Beach blues festival in the Gibson display trailer and the neck was awesome. Wish they'd offer these with that neck.

[frank62]

Someone on TPG has one comming. I am sure we will hear more about this axe.

[bbarnard]

So I'm headed over to Tallahassee tonight to hear my buddy Lenny Terenzi's band Mighty Lester. You guys would like them. They finished third at IBC this year and first in self produced CD there. Great guy and great sound.

http://www.mightylesterband.com/

Also an early heads up, I just bought the Gries 35 that was advertised here so I'll be putting up my Point Blank Tweed Deluxe clone for sale along with my Reverbamate pedal soon. The Point Blank was made by Roy Blankenship and he now markets the same amp as the Blankenship Fatboy (http://www.blankenshipamps.com/). Haven't decided on pricing yet though.

[ski]

Hey All - I'm new to this thread and excited to see a hefty WCB crowd on TGP. Hope to pick up a lot of wisdom from you guys. Anyway, I just ordered Holmstrom's Hydraulic Groove CD and saw that he has another that's available for pre-order. Does anyone have an inside scoop on his new CD? And while we're at it, what CDs should I get if I want to hear more Junior Watson? Thanks in advance!

[Scott Miller]

My favorite Watson CD is the Blues Harp Meltdown thing that he's on. He just crushes it all night long on that one.

SF Bay area ex-pats will want to know that Andy Mazzilli has died of unknown causes. Not unexpected, but still... what a talent on the guitar. There were a couple of times when he came into JJ's trying to sell a Strat or something for cash, while his connection waited outside. Tough to see that sort of thing, but not uncommon, unfortunately.

[Dave Orban]

My favorite Watson CD is the Blues Harp Meltdown thing that he's on. He just crushes it all night long on that one.

SF Bay area ex-pats will want to know that Andy Mazzilli has died of an overdose. Not unexpected, but still... what a talent on the guitar. There were a couple of times when he came into JJ's trying to sell a Strat or something for cash, while his connection waited outside. Tough to see that sort of thing, but not uncommon, unfortunately.Damn! Sad in too many ways...!

[musicofanatic5]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230116230483&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013

I wonder if you all saw this....
The seller's handle is super-genius. I'll say!! Anyone who can sell one of these boat oars for $2,368.00 is a super genius in my book!

[bluesbreaker59]

Just wondering if any of you cats are going to be present. I'll be there with some of the members of my favorite local blues band, the Soul Searchers, my girlfriend, a couple friends and a couple members of my new band may be present as well. I've been looking forward to this one, for months!!!

[dukeh62]

The seller's handle is super-genius. I'll say!! Anyone who can sell one of these boat oars for $2,368.00 is a super genius in my book!

Jon, believe it or not, I have a cleaner one that I may try to cash-out on for even more $$$. Still on the fence about it, but I figure now's the time!

[Dave Orban]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230116230483&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013

I wonder if you all saw this....That's just retarded.

[Echo Are]

My favorite Watson CD is the Blues Harp Meltdown thing that he's on. He just crushes it all night long on that one.

SF Bay area ex-pats will want to know that Andy Mazzilli has died of an overdose. Not unexpected, but still... what a talent on the guitar. There were a couple of times when he came into JJ's trying to sell a Strat or something for cash, while his connection waited outside. Tough to see that sort of thing, but not uncommon, unfortunately.

That is sad. The last time I encountered him at a jam was 2 years ago. I'd wondered what happened to him since. Now I know(sigh).

[cigpow]

Very sad about maz. Is there any place where I could find some of his recorded work?

[S.W.Erdnase]

Say hello to my new baby...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170099431242&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:AU:11

I was all fired up to get a 54 Goldtop reissue (AC was trying' to find one for me) and had a chance to A/B one with a 51 Nocaster at a friend's place. The GT had no mojo for me - and too many knobs. But the Nocaster? It was "Take a Letter, Maria" time, I tell ya. Within two weeks I jagged this sweet thang.

[RickyKing]

Jon, believe it or not, I have a cleaner one that I may try to cash-out on for even more $$$. Still on the fence about it, but I figure now's the time!

Now is the time Duke,It also makes my refin look pretty good....

[Strat-O]

Nice guitar S.W. Get some Done Mare 0038's for it and it'll be off the chain.

Do you guys think its a waste of money to get an Epiphone ES295? The Korean reissue?

[TwoFeets]

Do you guys think its a waste of money to get an Epiphone ES295? The Korean reissue?

Yes.

[S.W.Erdnase]

Nice guitar S.W. Get some Done Mare 0038's for it and it'll be off the chain.

Nah, I just bought it, LOL. The CS pups will do me just fine, married to one of the fillies in my tweed stable...

[musicofanatic5]

Nice guitar S.W. Get some Done Mare 0038's for it and it'll be off the chain.

Do you guys think its a waste of money to get an Epiphone ES295? The Korean reissue?
Waste of money? Not if you replace the pickups with Lollars, put in the special RS pots and caps, replace the tuners, replace the bridge, and have Bob Benedetto make and install a new neck for it...

[Poppa Stoppa]

Do you guys think its a waste of money to get an Epiphone ES295? The Korean reissue?I don't think you'd need to replace the tuners or the neck. Also the P90 style pickups are pretty good, although they have fewer windings and are low output compared to regular P90s. They have a clarity that you don't get with regular P90s. You might want a different bridge, the pots can be rubbish and the frets might need stoning or plekking. A s/h Gibson reissue will cost four times as much and an original might cost eight times as much upwards, so that's where the decision lies.

I have the ES5 copy and I keep swapping between the original pickups and a set of Lollars and I can't decide which I like better. I put a wooden bridge in (£15), replaced the pots and had it plekked and it's pretty good.

[pete kanaras]

those epi ri's, they're pretty decent guitars for the money. yeah, put a few bucks into them and they're ok. but for some reason every es-ri i've tried has been quite heavy, perplexinly so

[TwoFeets]

My problem with the Epis is, and has always been (and not just the archtops) that they feel like they're made entirely out of plastic for some reason. I'm sure part of it is the finish, but I don't think that's the whole deal. I've played Korean archtops (the Fatdog I used to have included) that feel more lively and "real" but every Epi I've played has fallen short. I know because I *really* wanted a ES295 or a Zephyr Blues Deluxe for a while, and I TRIED to like them. They tend to feel really stiff and lifeless, and that's the kiss of death for an archtop.

[pete kanaras]

They tend to feel really stiff and lifeless, and that's the kiss of death for an archtop.

yep. but for a cheapie....it really is amazing the amount of guitar you can get these days for low $. yikes, back in the early 70's.......

[musicofanatic5]

I was mostly just funnin' about the neck, etc, but those things do indeed seem like they're dipped in a vat of liquid plastic. And yes, there are many more low $$ gtr choices today, but most all of 'em do have that "hermetically sealed in bullet-proof polymer"-type finish.

[Strat-O]

:crazy Man, that's what I figured I'd hear about the Epi's. The Gibson 295 reissue's go for around $4,000. That's ALOT of money.

I get all weirded out about playing expensive guitars. I've got four guitars right now (solid bodies) and they're all killer; but all four might add up to the Gibson 295 in price. I guess you have to pay for quality with an archtop/hollow body style guitar though. At this point, I think my car might be worth that much!

[frank62]

A current good value in an achtop is the Electromatic 5120.

[TwoFeets]

:crazy Man, that's what I figured I'd hear about the Epi's. The Gibson 295 reissue's go for around $4,000. That's ALOT of money.

I get all weirded out about playing expensive guitars. I've got four guitars right now (solid bodies) and they're all killer; but all four might add up to the Gibson 295 in price. I guess you have to pay for quality with an archtop/hollow body style guitar though. At this point, I think my car might be worth that much!

Two words: vintage Guild.

You can still find T100's and things like that for right around a grand and sometimes a bit less. Single pickup models mostly but still, 10 times the guitar.

[Schwalbe]

I couldn't swing the deal on that Heritage I was looking at this past December. I ended up with an Epi ES 5 and it's a decent enough guitar. I play it a lot. 'Course I'm used to playing junk so...

Anybody interested in any of these? I just recently discovered these are supposedly still available.
http://www1.gemm.com/ddc/search.pl?&a_refno=GML12418986

http://www1.gemm.com/ddc/search.pl?&a_refno=GML12418992

http://www1.gemm.com/ddc/search.pl?&a_refno=GML12418990

http://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr09.jpghttp://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr15.jpghttp://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr13.jpg

[GOLDENSTRAT]

How 'bout a report on the Ronnie Earl show
today? fred

[GOLDENSTRAT]

I'm still waitin'. fred

[Autopilot Slim]

2 BFSR's or
2 Twins

turn up!

I agree. 2 BFSR's
Split the signal with a digital delay, 15th of a second to fatten up the sound.

[dukeh62]

I couldn't swing the deal on that Heritage I was looking at this past December. I ended up with an Epi ES 5 and it's a decent enough guitar. I play it a lot. 'Course I'm used to playing junk so...

Anybody interested in any of these? I just recently discovered these are supposedly still available.
http://www1.gemm.com/ddc/search.pl?&a_refno=GML12418986

http://www1.gemm.com/ddc/search.pl?&a_refno=GML12418992

http://www1.gemm.com/ddc/search.pl?&a_refno=GML12418990

http://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr09.jpghttp://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr15.jpghttp://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr13.jpg

That RJ Mischo Record with Percy Strother and Teddy Morgan is one of my favorites. Just a GREAT record.

[btg]

I've got a Gibson Es-5 reissue that I bought several years back. I have had three of them. One the neck twisted on after only two years. The one I have now is very light but I had too put spacers under the pickups because they were way too low. Gibson's quality control leaves somthing too be desired imo. However, I love this particular ES-5. I had a wood bridge put on but am thinking about changing back to the ABR-1 that it came with. What are are the tonal differences between the two bridges and which do you guys prefer.

[musicofanatic5]

I run a tuna-matic bridge on my (not-a-reissue) ES-5 to brighten it up and to accomodate the unwound G string. I do also dig the dark sound with the wood saddle and a wound G set of flatwounds, but for general purposes I'm not running those strings, and the metal bridge provides more cut for playing live.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk31242CnkU

Check out Johnny Guitar Watson here. fred

[mikelaw]

jgwatson BAN ON COMPUTERS era. LOL

[THINSOCKS]

I've had this on a tape for the last few years and always enjoy watching it. Bo is just savage and the crowd is going ape shit. The ladies can't sing to save thier lives, but they sure have some great dance moves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4QSCLccu08

[dukeh62]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk31242CnkU

Check out Johnny Guitar Watson here. fred

WOW! Man, those moves during his solo are KILLER!

[THINSOCKS]

Ok, my 1950 ES-5 is now up for sale in the emporium. It's a good one.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/ES52.jpg

[dukeh62]

Set your timers...

Don't forget to catch Rick Holmstrom, Stephen Hodges and Jeff Turmes backing up Mavis Staples on The Tonite Show this Wednesday, 4/25.

[Greentone]

Set your timers...

Don't forget to catch Rick Holmstrom, Stephen Hodges and Jeff Turmes backing up Mavis Staples on The Tonite Show this Wednesday, 4/25.

Thanks for the heads up!:eek:

[HappyValley]

How 'bout a report on the Ronnie Earl show
today? fred

It was a 2-night live in the studio show recording for a CD as well as a seperate DVD with a studio audience of about 50 or so folks. I didn't see the show Saturday but was there all day Sunday. The performance that night went great. Ronnie was in the 'zone' and the band was in the pocket throughout.
I was fortunate enough to play on " Blues for Otis Rush" with Ronnie who generously tossed me a solo midway though. (My ES-5 ain't no Otis bending machine so I mostly tried to stay in an Ansony- B.B. type mode.) I REALLY liked the blackface Vibrolux reverb they had in the studio.
Not sure when the release date is for this project...I'll keep y'all posted.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Anybody have experience with a GA-6 amp? Is it as good as a 5E3? let me know, thanks, fred

[valcotone]

Anybody have experience with a GA-6 amp? Is it as good as a 5E3? let me know, thanks, fred


Jetlag is the expert and will probably chime in. I've got a 5E3 clone, played part of a gig on Friday with an original 5E3 (in Austin, Tx) and have played a couple of friends GA-6's. There are a couple of different flavours of that model, either with octal pre's or the 12A_7 variety... both are a bit darker than a 5E3 but with a rounder tone and probably more compression. The word "fat" comes to mind. :D

[Echo Are]

http://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr09.jpghttp://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr15.jpghttp://www.geocities.com/bloonmpls/Bmr13.jpg
Those pics of young R.J. are kind of a trip...there was a time when his hair was all black;). Myself and quite a few other folks here in the SF Bay Area miss R.J. ever since he moved to Arkansas. I also miss his Minnesota accent: "Ahh, it's jam night here at the Mojoh Lohnge."

[Autopilot Slim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk31242CnkU

Check out Johnny Guitar Watson here. fred

LOL..... Thanks for the video. That is so cool. What a showman and musician.
I think I'll go and lengthen my collars now.:dude

[Autopilot Slim]

Those pics of young R.J. are kind of a trip...there was a time when his hair was all black;). Myself and quite a few other folks here in the SF Bay Area miss R.J. ever since he moved to Arkansas. I also miss his Minnesota accent: "Ahh, it's jam night here at the Mojoh Lohnge."

I just got news RJ is doing some dates in the Bay area.

Wednesday, 4/25 - The Saloon, San Francisco
Thursday, 4/26 - Biscuits & Blues, San Francisco
Friday, 4/27 - Mojo Lounge, Fremont
Saturday, 4/28 - Poorhouse Bistro, San Jose
Sunday, 4/29 - Half Moon Bay Brewery, Half Moon Bay

Wish I could make it out to the Left Coast.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

After watching footage on youtube of Ike and Tina, Bo Diddley and Prince at the Superbowl, I can see where most blues bands are missing their marketing opportunity. fred ( and how many of you have tried to make JGW's siren sound???? ;)

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Forgot to mention a cool cd I got recently, Long John Hunter "Ooh Wee Pretty Baby" - his early recordings, twangy tele playing with good drummer. Reminds me of JGW and Gatemouth tone wise, and maybe Freddie King's sense of fun. fred

[aja]

Just wanted to say I saw kid ramos this weekend and he KILLED !! i've heard pretty much all his cd's and live is just amazing. i talked to him a little after and he's shorter than I imagined but way cool. he had a second
guitar tuned to B too. which i of course tried out and is sooper cool. It sounds like a baritone. He's my new hero. Wish i could be at vincents again that was a fun night. later.

[HappyValley]

Just wanted to say I saw kid ramos this weekend and he KILLED !! i've heard pretty much all his cd's and live is just amazing. i talked to him a little after and he's shorter than I imagined but way cool. he had a second
guitar tuned to B too. which i of course tried out and is sooper cool. It sounds like a baritone. He's my new hero. Wish i could be at vincents again that was a fun night. later.

Kid's just unbelieveably great.....

Tuned to B?!!!!! That IS a baritone!!! must've had huge strings....Sure it wasn't a whole step down top to bottom ...kinda like open D but different...
Or open B which'd be even weirder.....lotsa folkies use that open tuning..CSN on Suite Judy Blue Eyes......(How'd I rememeber THAT??!!)

[pete kanaras]

Sure it wasn't a whole step down top to bottom ...kinda like open D but different...

entirely possible it was B baritone. it's way cool playing something that low. i used to do shows backing tracy nelson in my former band. she uses mike henderson on a lot of her records, who's known for tuning super low. once i had to ape a tune he played on and said "self, make the lady happy". so i went and got a 7string set, tossed the high E and used the rest. the low E was like a 60 and it was the biggest thing i could get through the post(dano R2 reissue). before we lit into that tune i said "hang on" and switched guitars. man she was all smiles because i took it the extra mile.

oh, the tuning? low Bflat Major. sick...

[Autopilot Slim]

Kid ROCKS!
He was here in T.O. a couple of years ago with Lynwood, and for the last tune he pulled out a bari tele and did a Lightn' Hopkins tune. Killer!

[RickyKing]

Mmmmmm....Tuning......

[KBR]

I'll be in the Bay Area as well.
4/25 Little Fox Jam, Redwood City
5/1 Lou's Pier 47 SF.
5/4 Pleasanton Hotel
5/5 Dublin Sports Grill

come out come out, wherever you are

[Poppa Stoppa]

Baritone guitars - anybody remember JLV's cool solo I think it was on 'Chicken Fried Snake' from Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom.

Wooden bridges - they are great for reducing string breakage. I got a blank for my Epi ES5. The top surface was rough cut for a wound third but left about 1/8" wide. A skilful guy dressed the the wood towards the pickups for all strings except the G string which he dressed as far as he could away from the pickups. Now I have an in-tune bridge across all strings with an unwound 'G'. Tone is pretty much the same as the metal bridge, but I can go months without breaking a string. With the metal bridge it used to be a break every damn set. Same with my 335. I now hate those knife-edge saddles.

[AndreasA]

Hi there.
I often run into trouble when I play with a capo on my strat. Bending notes a couple of frets higher higher than where the capo sits will often pull the strings out of position. Do you know if there is a solution to this problem?

Tonight I am going out to hear James Harman backed up by Nathan James and Ben Hernandez. Nathan and Ben also did a duo gig last week here in Copenhagen. These guys are tough!
Andreas

[Dave Orban]

Hi there.
I often run into trouble when I play with a capo on my strat. Bending notes a couple of frets higher higher than where the capo sits will often pull the strings out of position. Do you know if there is a solution to this problem?

Tonight I am going out to hear James Harman backed up by Nathan James and Ben Hernandez. Nathan and Ben also did a duo gig last week here in Copenhagen. These guys are tough!
Andreas
Damn...! I'm SO jealous! Enjoy the show! :dude

[Scott Miller]

KBR, see you tomorrow night, I hope.

Andreas, ask Nathan to give you a tour of his foot drum set, if he has it. That thing is a trip.

I think Kessel's solo on "Two Bones and a Pick" is a bari. Hey... another reason to buy a guitar! Gotta have a bari, right?

[pete kanaras]

Mmmmmm....Tuning......

yeah well.......!

[THINSOCKS]

Just wanted to say I saw kid ramos this weekend and he KILLED !! i've heard pretty much all his cd's and live is just amazing. i talked to him a little after and he's shorter than I imagined but way cool. .

Ha-Ha. Yeah, he's about as wide as he is tall.

[musicofanatic5]

Hi there.
I often run into trouble when I play with a capo on my strat. Bending notes a couple of frets higher higher than where the capo sits will often pull the strings out of position. Do you know if there is a solution to this problem?

Tonight I am going out to hear James Harman backed up by Nathan James and Ben Hernandez. Nathan and Ben also did a duo gig last week here in Copenhagen. These guys are tough!
Andreas
Yeah, bending with a capo can be troublesome. The lighter the strings, the less trouble. One trick is when you release the bend, pull the string back into position.

[Short Bus]

Listen to Kid's West Coast House Party version of Real Gone Lover. The guitar is tuned down a whole step.

My SRV strat tuned to D sounds like a semi truck hitting you in the foreheard.

[dukeh62]

Hey guys,

My H62 only has two original knobs. I know the originals go for big bucks on ebay. SO....I'm looking for a good source for cool vintage-esque knobs...preferably with a set screw (long story).

Anybody know any resellers of cool knobs?

[aja]

maybe i'm not sure how he had it tuned, when I tried it i thought something wasn't right.

[Strat-O]

Antique Electronics Supply used to have a bunch of weird knobs in their catalog.

[safecracker]

[quote=Short Bus;2413076]Listen to Kid's West Coast House Party version of Real Gone Lover. The guitar is tuned down a whole step.

That tune is awesome. I've attempted Kim Wilsons' vocal and harp on that number. Kids' playing is GREAT on it. He sounds like he's doing a little bit of Lightnin' Hopkins style on his playing. Also, the song is reminiscent of my second love, North Mississippi Hill Country Blues being as there is no bass player on the song. And you don't miss it either.LOL

[safecracker]

Just found out that Nemeth is coming to Capital Oyster Bar in Montgomery on June 30. Can't wait for that show. I'm betting he won't have Junior,but it should be a fabulous show.Best singer,IMHO to come along in a very,very long time. Tonite in B'ham is J.J. Grey and Mofro.Not West Coast in the least,but Grey is a great singer and writer. Great band too.

[RickyKing]

Duke,
I know you don't want to spend alot...
Check these out...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Harmony-Rocket-Knobs-and-Tailpiece_W0QQitemZ190104310427QQihZ009QQcategoryZ 47076QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[TwoFeets]

Just found out that Nemeth is coming to Capital Oyster Bar in Montgomery on June 30. Can't wait for that show. I'm betting he won't have Junior,but it should be a fabulous show.Best singer,IMHO to come along in a very,very long time. Tonite in B'ham is J.J. Grey and Mofro.Not West Coast in the least,but Grey is a great singer and writer. Great band too.

Ah, that's 2 nights after I'll see him here in Cocoa Beach at the Beach Shack! Should be a great show, regardless of who's with him (I'm 99% sure it won't be Junior)

Are you familiar with Leon Atkins (aka Lil Jimmy Reed) out of Enterprise, I think?

[safecracker]

Ah, that's 2 nights after I'll see him here in Cocoa Beach at the Beach Shack! Should be a great show, regardless of who's with him (I'm 99% sure it won't be Junior)

Are you familiar with Leon Atkins (aka Lil Jimmy Reed) out of Enterprise, I think?
I've heard of him and seen where he's played in Tuscaloosa a good bit,but I've never seen him,but would like to. I read your post last week or so when you played with him and he was recovering gas money on the street playing. That is cool. Resourceful man apparently. I'll have to check him out now for sure.

[TwoFeets]

I've heard of him and seen where he's played in Tuscaloosa a good bit,but I've never seen him,but would like to. I read your post last week or so when you played with him and he was recovering gas money on the street playing. That is cool. Resourceful man apparently. I'll have to check him out now for sure.

Definitely now super-technical or anything and he treads a lot of ground that's already been trodden (not that we all don't), but his vocal and harp delivery are reminiscent of Lazy Lester, which is cool.

To be honest, I'd never heard of him until our booking guy said we were going to back him. I'm glad we did though, it was a lot of fun.

[straightblues]

Hey guys,

My H62 only has two original knobs. I know the originals go for big bucks on ebay. SO....I'm looking for a good source for cool vintage-esque knobs...preferably with a set screw (long story).

Anybody know any resellers of cool knobs?

I don't know of a store. What I did last time was search ebay under radio knobs, bakelite, electronics knobs, vintage knobs and you will find them for cheap. Here are some I found on ebay for my SJM 62, I spent $5 for the pair.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/straightblues/DSCN6956.jpg

[Scott Miller]

Gen-u-ine Harmony brown knobs are up to about $50 each now.

[pete kanaras]

Gen-u-ine Harmony brown knobs are up to about $50 each now.

jesu, what about white ones?!

[Poppa Stoppa]

Here are some I found on ebay for my SJM 62, I spent $5 for the pair.Ok...what IS a SJM62? Looks nice...funky pickups (that I can't identify either)...

[Scott Miller]

The white ones are the cupcake type. A set of four brown cupcake knobs just sold for $125.

[Schwalbe]

Hey Eric, check the Daka Ware stuff at the bottom of the tube nazi's page.
http://www.angela.com/catalog/guitar-amp-parts/knobs.html

Weber's got some generic white ones that might be OK
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/knobord.htm

Maybe next time I'm here http://www.ax-man.com/ I'll see what they have. Ya just never know at that place.

Is there an old hardware or appliance parts store near by?

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Here seems to be a good source for lyrics to older tunes... http://www.heptune.com/artists.html , Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, etc. fred

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Thanks for the heads up on the Leno show, Mavis and the band sounded great. How much for stratotones now???? fred

[dukeh62]

Thanks for the heads up on the Leno show, Mavis and the band sounded great. How much for stratotones now???? fred

Man, was his tone friggin killer or what? And that tune was great. Much different sound then I expected. Was cool to hear the band have so much of their stamp on her sound.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

His tone was killer. Am I wrong or is Ry Cooder and gang on the cd and not Rick? I felt the tune had some Cooder-ish vibe to it . It would be cool if they toured as we saw them last night. fred

[dukeh62]

His tone was killer. Am I wrong or is Ry Cooder and gang on the cd and not Rick? I felt the tune had some Cooder-ish vibe to it . It would be cool if they toured as we saw them last night. fred

You're right, Ry Cooder IS on the CD and not Rick, Hodges and Turmes. I might be wrong about this, but I think Rick's band was opening for her a while back, and her band got delayed(?) and Rick & Co. stepped in and did a great job and eventually got the gig. I THINK that's how it happened, but I can't be sure. So don't quote me.

But it IS Rick's band touring behind her. It sounds like she is doing one special show with Ry Cooder at the Apollo.

[RickyKing]

Did anyone tape it?

[Autopilot Slim]

Man, was his tone friggin killer or what? And that tune was great. Much different sound then I expected. Was cool to hear the band have so much of their stamp on her sound.

Thanks for the heads up. It was certainly refreshing to see some good music on the tube.
Killer tone!

[Strat-O]

Man, I hate that I missed it. Don't have cable or satellite TV. I need to get some rabbitt ears or something. It was probably on a major network.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Strat-O, just on Jay Leno, NBC i think. I bet it gets on youtube soon. fred

[musicofanatic5]

Man, I hate that I missed it. Don't have cable or satellite TV. I need to get some rabbitt ears or something. It was probably on a major network.

My brother!! A lower-tech dude than me!! I've got rabbit ears!

[GOLDENSTRAT]

LOL -I've got alligator clip wire to the window sill in the basement!

[straightblues]

Ok...what IS a SJM62? Looks nice...funky pickups (that I can't identify either)...
It is made by SX guitars and is sold by Rondo Music for $139. Nick Curran is currently playing one. I modified mine with a new pickguard and 60's Tiesco pickups. Out of the box the guitars barely play but with a few mods they are a fun ride. Here is a picture of the body and a link to Nick Curran playing a black one with the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sjTx7I9610

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/straightblues/DSCN6960.jpg

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Rock out with Ike and Tina and be sure to hang out until the very end....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddvzkfe_CiU

[THINSOCKS]

Rock out with Ike and Tina and be sure to hang out until the very end....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddvzkfe_CiU

What's with the white guitar player playing over the top of the neck the entire first song? I have a video of Ike in '57 playing the fastest version of Gates "Okie Dokie Stomp" ever. I'll have to figure out how to post that sometime.

Still my favorite dance clip. James Brown...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l89xJPi2U_Q

[Strat-O]

LOL -I've got alligator clip wire to the window sill in the basement!

:RoCkIn That is cool!

[TwoFeets]

:RoCkIn That is cool!

I want to know if he's using cloth-covered wire. If he's not, I bet everything sounds real tinny and modern.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

I think that the white strat is tuned to an open thing , he's hitting the bass strings pretty good on the first tune, then changes guitars. Is that Jackie Wilson singing with Tina at the end?? fred

[Strat-O]

Of course he uses cloth push-back wire! This crew has got its act together!

I need some expert advice on hollowbody archtop parts. For a wood bridge, is it best to go with ebony or rosewood? And, where can you get a Gibson hollowbody pickguard cut for P90's in cream? And, did the ES295 have gold Gibson speed knobs, or where they a different style?

Thanks for any advice you guys might have!!

[musicofanatic5]

I like ebony unless you can get some old brazilian (I've had a stash from old upright bass fingerboards). There are a few pickguard specialists; I'd google pickguard. Are you talking a 295 p.g.? That would be clear with cream paint on the back. All photos of 295's I've got show the tapered sided "bonnet" type knobs.

[Scott Miller]

I saw RJ tonight, recently returned from Brazil, and he had HUGE compliments for the Prado Blues Band. "World class," was how he put it.

RJ was on fire tonight, just amazing. Kid was too; he ate "Shake Dancer" alive. June and Marc Carino rounding it out. A great, rattly band.

[Schwalbe]

Anybody post this one yet? Video of one of my favorite records.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOT6cUMh3nM

[Strat-O]

Prado Blues Band..the guitar player has posted on here before. I can't remember his name but there is some great video on the net of them. Isn't he the lefty who plays the black Silvertone H62? He's the fella who plays through a blues jr.

['56 Merc]

Hello everyone. First post here. I have been following this thread since the old FDP days [SCBT] and just recently found the TGP. Over the last few weeks I've went back and got caught up.

Strat-O:
From what I've seen ES295's came with both speed & bonnet knobs.
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearList.aspx?GS=Y&SF0=12&SD0=1&SF1=8&SD1=1&Keyword=es+295
If you got an Epi, I changed the tuners, switch, jack and Bigsby [ B-6]on mine and love it. It plays so much better not having the tension bar on it. A-B'ed it with another arch top I have w/Lollars and there is not that much differance in the pickups. Not that the Lollars arn't great the stock ones sound just about as good.

Goldenstrat:
I have a '56 GA-6 Salt&Pepper that is one of my favorite amps. I should finish my 5E3 clone today and give a comparison.

Also I don't personaly get the whole Stratotone thing, but for those of you who do here is a sighting. Duke's playing is great as usual.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duZZkWg77Ec

[Dave Orban]

Also I don't personaly get the whole Stratotone thing, but for those of you who do here is a sighting. Duke's playing is great as usual.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duZZkWg77EcWelcome!

Cool clip... :dude I wonder if that Epi is the one Duke had back in the day, albeit with Mini-hums...?

Looks like some kind of P90 on there now...

[jetlag]

Been out a while ............ GA6s are great. I have a salt 'n pepper one like Merc (welcome). It's a great amp. Very similar to the early 50's brown leatherette GA20 amp in tone and volume, a little tighter, smaller cabinet so the tone is accordingly tighter, more focused, a tad smaller. It's also more durable! The salt 'n pepper GA6 comes with a 12AY7 in V1 which, when swapped with 12AX7 and when you plug into the mic channel is just badass, raw early chess/JOB sounds w/o working for it. More compressed and a bit darker than a 5E3 deluxe. Kinda in between small supro/valco amps and 5E3 deluxes in the tone and volume department. More gain than supro/valcos. The later tweed GA6 Lancers are killers too. A little crunchier and slightly less compressed - they sound outstanding, a little closer to a 5E3 than the earlier ones. Most of those 50's gibsons have virtually no clean sound, which is fine by me. But something to be aware of when buying one. I'm not sure I've ever gigged just with one of those, but pair one with a bigger amp all the time.

Yeah, Igor Prado has posted here a few times to let us know what is up down south. And I'm glad he did because he and his band are excellent west coast blues practitioners (sorry to use the WC term, hopefully that doesn't start something). I see his CD is doing well on Pacific Blues too. Congrads to the Prado Blues Band.

[musicofanatic5]

Welcome!

Cool clip... :dude I wonder if that Epi is the one Duke had back in the day, albeit with Mini-hums...?

Looks like some kind of P90 on there now...

I recall seeing that clip when it aired. I'm pretty sure that's not the Epi that Duke played for all those years (and on the Hotlicks video). I think he just got this one last year, and yes, there's P-90's on there. Interestingly, right after he got it, I was playing a gig in R.I., and afterwards, knowing Duke had a gig down the street, I stopped in to say hi. He had just finished too, and when he saw me, he came over, all excited about his new (old) gtr (if you know Duke, you know he's like a kid about gtrs [unlike the rest of us, of course!]). He handed me the Epi and enthused, "Check out the neck on this!". Unfortunately for him, I had been playing my Stratotone all night, and ANY other neck is gonna seem like a pencil by comparison. So I said, "I dunno, Duke, feels a little skinny", and he just visibly deflated! I immediately felt bad for letting him down, and explained my situation, but he just muttered something about, "Oh, yeah, you like those budget catalog gtrs that're too cheap to have a truss rod!", and slinked away, pouting. Poor Duke; I'm such an asshole! I'm still trying to make it up to him!

[Swingblues]

Hey Guys!

RJ was here in March and became a really good friend of us. We had a great time on our gigs (Igor Prado Band) in also on the Harmonica Festival in Brazil...

I just finished recording my first solo cd with guest like RJ Mischo, Steve Guyger, the saxophone player Ron Dziubla (recorded with Lynwood Slim, Kid Ramos, Rick Holmstrom).

As soon as I finish it I will post a few samples here.


All the best!
Igor Prado
www.myspace.com/igorprado (http://www.myspace.com/igorprado)

[HappyValley]

Love your stuff, Igor...keep up the good work!!

In the gear category, I made a good (non-Internet!! yeah!!) score of an old Premier 120 amp (the 1 x12 model w/multicolored knobs like the one that Willie Johnson/Pat Hare allegedly used on some of the Wolf stuff). This thing is the best sounding amp I've heard for that 50's "Memphis meets Chicago" filth tone- better & warmer to my ears than all the Valcos, supros, silvertones, mini Gibsons,etc. that I've owned in the past.
I wanted to check it out with a P-90 equipped guitar and all the store had was what seemed like a relatively new Guild (Fender owned?) Bluesbirds....Wow! What a pleasant surprise! A super light semi hollow (chambered, non F-hole) body with a FAT neck and sweet sounding P-ups. $1299 retail.....still cheaper than most of Gibson's RI stuff-the only negative is the lack of "vintage vibe" whereas the body isn't an exact LP shape...might affect resale if you want to move it I'd think. I'd buy one if I needed yet another guitar.

[Dave Orban]

Hey Guys!

RJ was here in March and became a really good friend of us. We had a great time on our gigs (Igor Prado Band) in also on the Harmonica Festival in Brazil...

I just finished recording my first solo cd with guest like RJ Mischo, Steve Guyger, the saxophone player Ron Dziubla (recorded with Lynwood Slim, Kid Ramos, Rick Holmstrom).

As soon as I finish it I will post a few samples here.


All the best!
Igor Prado
www.myspace.com/igorprado (http://www.myspace.com/igorprado)
Welcome, Igor... love your music, bro...! :dude

[Short Bus]

Friday night was one of the coolest gigs I’ve played. The crowd was small and got smaller after the first set. We later found out that’s normal for this place. We hadn't palyed there before.

But during the second set these two girls come in and start grooving to the music right away. Towards the end of the set, we’re playing “Early In The Mornin” One of the girls comes up to the stage and starts singing the woman’s point of view. Basically, “you say you love me, well I don’t see it...” So Pete would sing a verse and she would reply with that stuff. We don’t know what song its from or if she was just ad libbing. But the crowd went nuts over this. And we stretched the song out to about 10 minutes with them going back and forth. Just totally cool! Later on in the night, she came up during “Help Me” and did the same thing. She was right there with “I’m right here baby...”

Just totally cool! Made the whole weekend for me.

[Dave Orban]

Friday night was one of the coolest gigs I’ve played. The crowd was small and got smaller after the first set. We later found out that’s normal for this place. We hadn't palyed there before.

But during the second set these two girls come in and start grooving to the music right away. Towards the end of the set, we’re playing “Early In The Mornin” One of the girls comes up to the stage and starts singing the woman’s point of view. Basically, “you say you love me, well I don’t see it...” So Pete would sing a verse and she would reply with that stuff. We don’t know what song its from or if she was just ad libbing. But the crowd went nuts over this. And we stretched the song out to about 10 minutes with them going back and forth. Just totally cool! Later on in the night, she came up during “Help Me” and did the same thing. She was right there with “I’m right here baby...”

Just totally cool! Made the whole weekend for me.You lucked out, bro. I usually get the drunk in the wife-beater with the mullet and bad teeth shouting out "The Sky is Crying" while we're trying to do a Louis Jordan number. :eek:

[TwoFeets]

You lucked out, bro. I usually get the drunk in the wife-beater with the mullet and bad teeth shouting out "The Sky is Crying" while we're trying to do a Louis Jordan number. :eek:

LOL! One of the funnier things I saw this weekend was a salon/spa with an advertisement on the sign: Free Mullet Removal.

[Short Bus]

This was definitely the exception. We don't get The Sky Is Crying, we usually get Skynyrd or some country song or Blackfoot's Train Train, because we have a harmonica player. Remember, we are in the south. We even got a request for Sublime's Santa Ria once.

[Short Bus]

LOL! One of the funnier things I saw this weekend was a salon/spa with an advertisement on the sign: Free Mullet Removal.

Oh, did I see an amazing mullet last week, bleached blonde and down to his butt.

:eek:

[TwoFeets]

Short Bus, I owe you a phone call... been trying to time it when the kids are in bed and I have a free hand and a minute to talk but those have been hard to come by the last few days.

I have a pretty good request story from this weekend too. We played Saturday night at a bar in Fernandina Beach, about an hour north of Jacksonville. We're getting ready to finish up and a guy sitting in front asks if we'd do a request. Typically we don't do requests, mostly because of what SB and Orban said - the requests here are usually off-base and sometimes border on the ridiculous. But anyhow, this guy stammers out "Reconsider Baby." Now, Leroy perked right up. "How did you know about that?" (Leroy was one of the sax players, along w/Fathead Newman, on the original Lowell Fulson recording).

Well, the guys says "know about what?" He had no idea about Leroy, he was just requesting the tune. Well, I knew the words, so we decided to give it a go, and we pulled off a fair-to-respectable version behind Leroy, who just KILLED it on the baritone.

After the gig, Leroy was telling me what a trip down memory lane it was. He said "I still remember that session just like it was yesterday. We were all done with the session and just sitting around drinking when this local trumpet player we all knew came by. He pulls this crumpled piece of paper out of his jacket and says, man, since you guys are already sitting around recording, why don't you try out this tune I wrote?" So they did, and that cut was Reconsider Baby. Who'd have thunk it would be Lowell's biggest hit?

[Short Bus]

[QUOTE=TwoFeets;2433859]Short Bus, I owe you a phone call... been trying to time it when the kids are in bed and I have a free hand and a minute to talk but those have been hard to come by the last few days.

No worries. We'll catch up.

I think you just trumped all the request stories with that one. That's awesome!

[Poppa Stoppa]

After the gig, Leroy was telling me what a trip down memory lane it was. He said "I still remember that session just like it was yesterday. We were all done with the session and just sitting around drinking when this local trumpet player we all knew came by. He pulls this crumpled piece of paper out of his jacket and says, man, since you guys are already sitting around recording, why don't you try out this tune I wrote?" So they did, and that cut was Reconsider Baby. Who'd have thunk it would be Lowell's biggest hit?Great story. Everybody thinks that Lowell wrote that - in fact I think it's credited to him.

I often wonder if the long list of great blues hits credited to Willie Dixon were actually songs brought in by the artists for which Willie took the songwriting as a condition of recording, or maybe due to lack of understanding of the artist as to its long-term value.

[Strat-O]

That's probably because Lowell's story is that he wrote it. As I recall the official quote was "I had written this new song and was on the road with my band in the south...didn't really fit into the "Chess mold", etc, etc,...called Leonard and told him about the song and he booked studio time..."

[bbarnard]

Although not your prototypical west coast blues amp, here's a link to a cut from a recent practice recording made with my Valvetech VAC 22 that actually sounds pretty tweedy. Tokai 335 and the VAC has 2 Weber Blue Pups in it (10s).

http://www.6streetmusic.com/InTheWeeWeeHours.mp3

[TwoFeets]

I can't for the life of me remember the trumpet player's name, but Leroy did. I don't think it was a household name or anything; I'll try to get it from him again this weekend. It sounded more like the guy just up and gave the song to him, not like Lowell stole it and didn't give him credit.

[dukeh62]

Right now...Rick Holmstrom and Al Blake on Jeff Scott's show: http://www.kuci.org

[Dave Orban]

Right now...Rick Holmstrom and Al Blake on Jeff Scott's show: http://www.kuci.org

Grazie. :)

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Here's one for Shortbus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4QF5IXAAEg
I can't believe you let that girl get away...fred

[TwoFeets]

But during the second set these two girls come in and start grooving to the music right away. Towards the end of the set, we’re playing “Early In The Mornin” One of the girls comes up to the stage and starts singing the woman’s point of view. Basically, “you say you love me, well I don’t see it...” So Pete would sing a verse and she would reply with that stuff. We don’t know what song its from or if she was just ad libbing. But the crowd went nuts over this. And we stretched the song out to about 10 minutes with them going back and forth. Just totally cool! Later on in the night, she came up during “Help Me” and did the same thing. She was right there with “I’m right here baby...”

Just totally cool! Made the whole weekend for me.

That's a great story, by the by.

I'm usually not so lucky. I enjoy recounting this story, even though I don't think Nick remembers a minute of it. Back in the days of the Midway Cafe jam in Jamaica Plain, Nick Adams and I were called up to play with "Nasty" Jay Place and an unidentified bass player who looked like Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean). The thing that had all the men in the place salivating, though, was this petite blonde thing who had walked in with a pair of drumsticks and put her name on the sign-up sheet. She was wearing a baseball cap with her bangs pulled through the little loop in the front, just the cutest thing you ever saw. Nobody said it, but *everyone* wanted to be the ones onstage when she got up there, and wouldn't you know, they put her up there with us. So there we are, all googly-eyed, and Jay calls out a march. It all starts out fine, chunk-a-chunk-a-chunk-a-chunk-a, but as the song progresses, the tempo gradually gets slower... and slower.... and sloooooower.... chunk - a - chunk - a - chunk - a..... By the time we got to the end of the tune, it had become a dirge. Boy, was it painful.

At the end of that one tune, the host guy (I think Maylo was hosting it that night) "everybody give a hand to Jen!" (clapclapclapclapclap) and whisked her outta there real quick-like. LOL

[HappyValley]

I enjoy recounting this story, even though I don't think Nick remembers a minute of it.


You are correct, sir!!

[TwoFeets]

You are correct, sir!!

S'OK bro, there were many, many things that happened at the Midway that I don't remember either!

I think the only reason *I* remember it is because I was still pretty wet behind the ears playing blues, I'd been going to Nasty J and the Grinders shows, and I was nervous as hell getting up there with you guys to begin with!

[Stringmaster]

Seeing the Eastwood Airline Stratotone reissue in the latest Vintage Guitar magazine got me thinking--what's the consensus? Worthy partner or waste? I recall that Don Mare was tweaking the pickups, but hadn't heard much since? That Kay Barney Kessel looks cool too--once the long tailpiece is changed out. Thoughts?

[HappyValley]

S'OK bro, there were many, many things that happened at the Midway that I don't remember either!

I think the only reason *I* remember it is because I was still pretty wet behind the ears playing blues, I'd been going to Nasty J and the Grinders shows, and I was nervous as hell getting up there with you guys to begin with!


My forgetfullness regarding that musical moment is absolutely a combination of post traumatic incident repression (LOL!!) and, even moreso, EXCESSIVE DRINKING (and Lord knows what else during that time!).

I do recall meeting & hanging out w/you a lot back then when you first started playing this stuff and my being an absolutely outspoken big