West Coast Blues Thread - Version 2.0

[KBR]

Thanks, Bro

It's a Great day here in the States!!

[RickyKing]

Happy thanksgiving to you all.

We don't celebrate this in England (as you know) but my parents fly out to the States every year to celebrate it with their American friends and I wish you all the very best and every possible kindness.

Cheers,
Phil

Right back at you Phil

[fretshop]

Philly Mid-Winter Get together Update : so far it looks like confirmations from Dave Orban and hopefully members of the Mojo Gypsies, Deb Callahan and her crew, The Jamroom crew, my brother Arnie (unless he has a gig) Pete Kanaras and me. Saron Crenshaw may make the trip if he's not working. Lou promised to leave a message with Dave Gross for Gina Sicilia. We have attempted contact with Jim Fogarty but have not heard from him. We have also left messages for Steve Guyger and Russ Lambert. Mike Schwartz (guitarstorage.com) lives in the Philly area and is attempting to locate a place for the convening. I hope it works out...it would be alot of fun.

[jimfog]

We have attempted contact with Jim Fogarty but have not heard from him.

:jo

George.........unless you messin' wit me, I"ve posted three times that I'll be there!!! lol......plus, Jeff, too. Once we get a date, I'll bet the rest of the Mighty Rhythm Kings would be into it.

PLUS........I have a sneaking suspicion that Melissa's bar would be happy to host.

cheers,

Jim

[dial-tone]

I saw you guys talking about Lynwood Slim and
wanted give all you north east coasters a heads up...

Lynwood Slim will be doing a 6 day tour in New England in Jan.....

Band Lineup....
Lynwood SLim-Vocals & Harp
Matthew Stubbs-Guitar
Nick Moss- Bass
Chria Rivelli-Drums

Shows
Wed Jan 16 Wildhorse Tavern Beverly MA
Thur Jan 17 Paddy Barrys, Quincy,MA
Fri Jan 18 Chans, Woonsocket, RI
SAt Jan 19 Harrys, Hyannis, MA
Sun Jan 20 Horsefeathers, North Conway NH
Mon Jan 21 Time Out Pub, Rockland, ME


Its been alomg time since Lynwood has toured the east coast so try to make it to one of the shows if you can.


Thanks Fellas!

[S.W.Erdnase]

Nick Moss on bass?

[mr tom]

Nick started his working life as a bass player for Legendary Blues Band!

[musicofanatic5]

Yes, apparently, there's not one, single, damn bass player on the west coast!! Lately, guitarists such as Kid Anderson, Matt Stubbs, Moss (yes, I know he's not west coast), etc. are out there doing tours playing fender bass. Thanks a lot, Leo Fender, you prick, for inventing the Precision bass, so gtr players could double!! Great idea, a**hole!!
-a disgruntled, under-employed upright bass player.

[jimfog]

Yes, apparently, there's not one, single, damn bass player on the west coast!! Lately, guitarists such as Kid Anderson, Matt Stubbs, Moss (yes, I know he's not west coast), etc. are out there doing tours playing fender bass. Great! Thanks a lot, Leo Fender, for inventing the Precision bass, so gtr players could double!! A**hole!
-a disgruntled, under-employed upright bass player.

Well, you have to realize, Jon.....in addition to just playing bass, Kid, Matt, Moss, etc are actual MUSICIANS, too!!

:p

- Jim

[KBR]

the Bay Area has a Dozen or more killer Bass Players (Blues & Swing that is, maybe a lot more.

[pete kanaras]

funnee, but for me it hurts a little bit too. i've been playing bass since i was 14 and been gigging professionally on that instrument for over 20 years. lowell fulson gave me my first bass lesson. i love it every single bit as much as guitar and make no excuses about it. never had a problem doubling in ny (in fact for sub work quite the opposite was true) but i sure had some guilt trips laid on me about it when i moved to dc, jesu; "you're a guitar player, you stay over there!" and so on. so i just let it go, for many years. but this year i made a firm decision to not sweat what other people think and just do it for myself, for the enjoyment i get. i shed on it a lot again and it's worked out great. why should i feel "bad" about wanting to gig on an instrument i clearly love so much? milt hinton i ain't, but i do know this particular music. i just lay it down, fat and simple. and slow but sure i'm getting referalls from drummers(the ultimate endorsement)and some bass player friends have put me on their sub lists as well. bandleaders say "heeey, you really Don't play bass like a guitarist!" and i think to myself well dumbass i tried to tell you, but you tried to stick me in a corner over there....

yeah, it's a complicated issue for sure. economics mostly i suppose, the ability/inability to tour, etc. and i don't have any answers either, but can only relate my experiences.

[KBR]

Bass in a band, is way more important than Guitar, I love and play Bass, too. (no pick) and especially dig good Hammond players playin Bass, too.

[stevieboy]

I once jammed with Kirk Fletcher playing bass--he seemed to be pretty well acquainted with the instrument! I just saw WC Clark last weekend, he did a couple of tunes very well on bass when his friend Texas Johnny Brown sat in on guitar.

[musicofanatic5]

Hey Pete-if I lived in your area I'd want you playin' bass for me! The above was hopefully presented as a good-natured rib on alla you gtr players (which I guess includes me!). Really, though, where's the skill? Can you arpeggiate a chord? Count to four? Okay, you're a bass player! Ha!
Maybe this Jimfog fella will someday include me on his little list of "actual MUSICIANS" that are also (by coincidence, economic necessity, touring availability, or just plain stupidity) bass players! What an honor that will be!
Differing from some stated views, to me, bass is the least important component in the band. If you can get a good one, that's great, but as long as someone's up there holding something with a maximum of four strings, looking cool while doing it, and isn't too loud, that's all I need. Seriously, though, I have participated in several bassless line-ups that were plenty cool. I was drumming in this one band that was gtr, harmonica, and piano (with a strong left hand). I do this duo form time to time with me stomping bass drum and hi-hat while playing gtr or mandolin, with my buddy on harmonica or gtr. Muy primitivo and lotsa fun/noisy! I dig a Chicago-style setup with harmonica, two gtrs or gtr and piano, and drums. Bass, schmass!!

[pete kanaras]

Hey Pete-if I lived in your area I'd want you playin' bass for me!

hell yes, in a new york second too jon! man you sounded great when you sat in last year, i enjoyed your guitar playing a lot. and on that laughably worn out strat of mine too boot, which is no mean feat. hmm, that'd be an intersting concept; get a bunch of like-minded folks together and do an album of great tunes with everyone playing instruments they're not "known" for.

hmm....hello george, paging fretshop. hey patritha! you out there?!?

[mikelaw]

hate to say it mr ross but i think alot of those cats could play upright as well. my 3rd time playing upright was with bob margolin because mookie let me play his upright. outside of a few flubs mookie let me stay up for 3-4 songs each night over 2 nights. the few times i did flub margolin looked at me and laughed. :) after i told mookie that was my 3-4th time touching an upright he wasn't pleased to say the least. more like, get the F out of this club right now.

[mikelaw]

ps-you jon however, are the most accomplished on all instruments that ive ever seen. (just say thanks)

im sure time and experience are the most to attribute to that. hopefully one day i could be as good as you and my other upright heroes. first things first, i have to get one. ha

i play drums, harp, guitar, sing, bass...etc... and i have to say bass in general upright and fretted are the most challenging for me. to do what i want to do and play like my heroes of bass. it is easily the hardest instrument i am trying to master. like i always say and some musician told me years ago. 'harmonica is like playing bass. easy to play, tough to be good at.' everyone has a harmonica, even 5 year olds across the world have toy harmonicas. how many good harp players are there though? really good harp players?

[TwoFeets]

Heads up on a possible deal on a very reasonably priced H62-like ride for you guys!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Silvertone-Harmony-Kay-2pu-hollowbody-guitar_W0QQitemZ130176002528QQihZ003QQcategoryZ119 094QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[musicofanatic5]

ps-you jon however, are the most accomplished on all instruments that ive ever seen. (just say thanks)

im sure time and experience are the most to attribute to that. hopefully one day i could be as good as you and my other upright heroes. first things first, i have to get one. ha

i play drums, harp, guitar, sing, bass...etc... and i have to say bass in general upright and fretted are the most challenging for me. to do what i want to do and play like my heroes of bass. it is easily the hardest instrument i am trying to master. like i always say and some musician told me years ago. 'harmonica is like playing bass. easy to play, tough to be good at.' everyone has a harmonica, even 5 year olds across the world have toy harmonicas. how many good harp players are there though? really good harp players?
Thanks. The number of really good harp players are about 0.01% of those who own/operate the inst. I think it probably takes less time to sound good on the upright bass than the harmonica.

[musicofanatic5]

Heads up on a possible deal on a very reasonably priced H62-like ride for you guys!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Silvertone-Harmony-Kay-2pu-hollowbody-guitar_W0QQitemZ130176002528QQihZ003QQcategoryZ119 094QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The same seller has an equally reasonably priced mex-squire up, too. Dunno about the non-string-thru-the-body deal. Could be easily converted...?

[bluesjuke]

I just saw WC Clark last weekend, he did a couple of tunes very well on bass when his friend Texas Johnny Brown sat in on guitar.


WC does play some good Bass.
I've had the pleasure of meeting WC and his wife and a year later Texas Johhny Brown.
Sweetest people you could ever hope to meet.

Where did you catch them?

[jimfog]

Maybe this Jimfog fella will someday include me on his little list of "actual MUSICIANS" that are also (by coincidence, economic necessity, touring availability, or just plain stupidity) bass players! What an honor that will be!

Jon,

Whoa down there, big fella!!!!

My above sentiment was stated with tongue (and foot, apparently) FIRMLY set in cheek. When we met at Havanas a few weeks back, I guess I didn't make clear to you how overwhelmed I was by your playing, groove and musicianship...........you, my friend, are simply a stunning musician.............otherwise, I wouldn't have felt comfortable with my poor joke above.

As Jeff Michael can confirm, I'm bass-loving fool......the function, instrument....and especially the REAL players. In contrast to the cliche, I am a guitar player who WISHES he had picked up bass originally, and would prefer that to be my instrument. I've learned, after many attempts, that I am NOT a natural.....nor is it easy to play well. I'm lucky to have 4 or 5 really excellent players available around here......and believe me, I appreciate that!

And....I agree with KBR...........bass is the most important part of a good band.

:dude

- Jim

[musicofanatic5]

Jon,

Whoa down there, big fella!!!!

My above sentiment was stated with tongue (and foot, apparently) FIRMLY set in cheek. When we met at Havanas a few weeks back, I guess I didn't make clear to you how overwhelmed I was by your playing, groove and musicianship...........you, my friend, are simply a stunning musician.............otherwise, I wouldn't have felt comfortable with my poor joke above.

As Jeff Michael can confirm, I'm bass-loving fool......the function, instrument....and especially the REAL players. In contrast to the cliche, I am a guitar player who WISHES he had picked up bass originally, and would prefer that to be my instrument. I've learned, after many attempts, that I am NOT a natural.....nor is it easy to play well. I'm lucky to have 4 or 5 really excellent players available around here......and believe me, I appreciate that!

And....I agree with KBR...........bass is the most important part of a good band.

:dude

- Jim
Jim-I will occasionally remove my tongue from my cheek here, but it was firmly planted when I wrote the above! Thanks for the complimentary comments.

[stevieboy]

WC does play some good Bass.
I've had the pleasure of meeting WC and his wife and a year later Texas Johhny Brown.
Sweetest people you could ever hope to meet.

Where did you catch them?

Big Easy in Houston, not where I live (LA), but it was close to my hotel!

Not my first visit to the Big Easy, not my first time seeing WC either. He is my definiton of the consummate musician.

[Poppa Stoppa]

First time I've checked in for a while -

[Poppa Stoppa]

First time I've checked in for a while -whoops - have been in hospital a week with some kind of leg infection. Hope to get out tomorrow. Funny stuff from Goldie breaking that 14 gauge E string. Can tell he is a dock labourer by trade and uses ship cables for strings. KBR you asked about the Airline H44 bridge. It is non-adjustable an does slide around. Glue, pins or tape would fix it. Gotta go. This hospital intrnet system is crap!

[dukeh62]

whoops - have been in hospital a week with some kind of leg infection. Hope to get out tomorrow. Funny stuff from Goldie breaking that 14 gauge E string. Can tell he is a dock labourer by trade and uses ship cables for strings. KBR you asked about the Airline H44 bridge. It is non-adjustable an does slide around. Glue, pins or tape would fix it. Gotta go. This hospital intrnet system is crap!

Poppa Stoppa...get well soon!

[bluesjuke]

whoops - have been in hospital a week with some kind of leg infection. Hope to get out tomorrow...................... Gotta go. This hospital internet system is crap!



At least you were able to sneak a message out!

Hope and pray you'll have a good quick recovery.

[bluesjuke]

Big Easy in Houston, not where I live (LA), but it was close to my hotel!

Not my first visit to the Big Easy, not my first time seeing WC either. He is my definiton of the consummate musician.


That's Texas Johhny Brown's territory there in Houston.

Met both of them at the (what used to be called) Blind Lemon Jefferson Blues Festival in Wortham, TX. where he was from, and buried, and started performing on the streets, a busking pioneer ya' know.
My wife's family has also been in that town since the mid 1800's too.

They used to set the stage up on the original brick streets right in the middle of the main intersection.

Keep in mind there is only one flashing yellow light in this town of a little over 700 people.
Many of Texas
best Blues players would come from Dallas, Austin, and Houston to play each year and I made it my Mecca every September until the Chamber of Commerce let it fall apart after 10 years.

[straightblues]

I have seen Kirk Fletcher play bass a few time. In fact, the last time was at the Long Beach Thanksgiving Battle of the Blues Harps last year. It was Kirk Fletcher on bass and Rick Holmstrom on guitar. They played very well together.

[Dave Orban]

A good bass player is a rarity, and a thing of beauty.

A good UPRIGHT player is even more rare, and a thing of GREATER beauty.



And I'm looking forward to playing with Jeff Michael (a GREAT upright player) again...! :dude

[musicofanatic5]

I guess it should be reasonable to expect a good blues gtr player to know how to cover a bass gig. If they possess the authority to criticize bass playing, then they oughta know how to actually do it. I mean how hard is it really? See that old Keith Ferguson interview in GP mag. He describes blues bass as "dunta-dunta-dunta-dunta" or "dunta-dunta", and that's about it. I will say this about a blues music rhythm section: For me, I would rather have a single-celled organism playing bass with a good drummer than the other way around. Bass just isn't that important to me. I don't know how many times I've been playing gtr in a situation, and somebody will ask, "Whadja think of that guy playing bass?", and my honest response is, "Gee, I really wasn't paying attention." Unless the guy is seriously f*cking up or too loud, it will escape my notice entirely. However, if the drummer drops one beat, or places his backbeat anywhere near the top or in front of the beat, I am generally forced to produce my service revolver and take him out. Conversely, I will take notice when a drummer is doing everything "right"; what a joyfull noise that is!
Lucky for me, other people do not entirely share my preference. Saves me from hauling all that heavy drum crap around all the time! I also see great value in all the time I spent years ago, posing with an upright in a full-length mirror. I make a living from people wanting to have "that look" onstage!

[Schwalbe]

whoops - have been in hospital a week with some kind of leg infection. Hope to get out tomorrow. Funny stuff from Goldie breaking that 14 gauge E string. Can tell he is a dock labourer by trade and uses ship cables for strings. KBR you asked about the Airline H44 bridge. It is non-adjustable an does slide around. Glue, pins or tape would fix it. Gotta go. This hospital intrnet system is crap!
Hope all's well soon.

[Dave Orban]

With a good upright player, you don't even need no stinkin' drummer. ;)

[Strat-O]

I guess it should be reasonable to expect a good blues gtr player to know how to cover a bass gig. If they possess the authority to criticize bass playing, then they oughta know how to actually do it. I mean how hard is it really? See that old Keith Ferguson interview in GP mag. He describes blues bass as "dunta-dunta-dunta-dunta" or "dunta-dunta", and that's about it. I will say this about a blues music rhythm section: For me, I would rather have a single-celled organism playing bass with a good drummer than the other way around. Bass just isn't that important to me. I don't know how many times I've been playing gtr in a situation, and somebody will ask, "Whadja think of that guy playing bass?", and my honest response is, "Gee, I really wasn't paying attention." Unless the guy is seriously f*cking up or too loud, it will escape my notice entirely. However, if the drummer drops one beat, or places his backbeat anywhere near the top or in front of the beat, I am generally forced to produce my service revolver and take him out. Conversely, I will take notice when a drummer is doing everything "right"; what a joyfull noise that is!
Lucky for me, other people do not entirely share my preference. Saves me from hauling all that heavy drum crap around all the time! I also see great value in all the time I spent years ago, posing with an upright in a full-length mirror. I make a living from people wanting to have "that look" onstage!

Man I'm glad you said this, I thought I was the Lone Ranger. In my opinion, drums are much more critical to setting the sound of a band than bass. I'm not diminishing the role of a great bass player, and a band is always the sum of its parts. But if you have a great blues drummer, the bass player would have to work hard to screw up the groove...all he has to do is follow the drummer. It isn't that easy for the drummer to follow the bass player and not screw up the groove or the feel of the entire song.

A drummer who's on top of the beat and lacks feel can turn a great blues band into a big pile of dung as far as I'm concerned. Bass players generally can't screw up the drummer assuming its a bass player with any talent and ears at all. That's my opinion anyway. Been there and done that!

I do worship great bass players though, no doubt about it. There's nothing better than having a great rhythm section.

[pete kanaras]

However, if the drummer drops one beat, or places his backbeat anywhere near the top or in front of the beat, I am generally forced to produce my service revolver and take him out. Conversely, I will take notice when a drummer is doing everything "right"; what a joyfull noise that is!

plus one bazillion

I make a living from people wanting to have "that look" onstage!

haha, stop it! man you're killin' me, oww

[straightblues]

Here is a history of Chicago Blues narrated by Buddy Guy.

http://www.downloadchicagotours.com/bluesmedia/

[Schwalbe]

But if you have a great blues drummer, the bass player would have to work hard to screw up the groove...I know one...at least.

On the other hand, Jon, the few times I got to work with you was a real treat.

[Strat-O]

My band has an upright bass player, and its pretty awesome. Looks cool and sounds even cooler.

[jumpnblues]

Just a brief heads up...FWIW Harmony-Central finally got around to posting my review of the Louis Electric 10/12. Lou's (Rosano) doing some tweaks as I "speak" and I've had the amp for about 4 months. I'm safely past the honeymoon phase now and can truthfully say I like it better than any single amp I've owned. And that's saying a lot because I've had about a 6 year love affair with my Victoria 35115T Tweed Pro with a Weber 15A150 (P15N). The Vicky with a really good Tele with really good pu's is especially a match made in heaven. And as good as that combination sounds the Louis Electric 10/12 sounds even a little better...a little stronger mids, as you might expect with 1x10" speaker and 1x12" speaker. Also the negative feedback adjustment and 4 stages of gain make it more versatile. My ears like the tone a little better from top to bottom. It has a little more girth or body. I'm not so sure the Pro is less of an amp tone-wise as it is different. The Pro is more scooped. But the 10/12 is really something very special, especially if you're a tweed kind of guy. The top end in particular of the 10/12 is just sooooooo sweet.
If you're looking for Dumble-style tone look elsewhere. Same if blackface tone is your bag, although the cleans from the 10/12 are really something to behold. The 10/12 is a blues and jazz player's dream. Well, I've raved about it here before so I won't bore you with anymore of a rehash. Check out the review if you're so inclined. Email or PM me with any questions. :cool::cool::cool:

Tom

[bluesjuke]

I'll look for it.
Hope my Pro doesn't get jealous!

[jumpnblues]

"[I'll look for it.
Hope my Pro doesn't get jealous!]"


LOL!! I think mine already is. It isn't going anywhere though. I still really like that amp. I think Pros are a great, well kept secret. With a good speaker and tubes there isn't much that sounds as good, let alone better IMHO.

Tom

[musicofanatic5]

I know one...at least.

On the other hand, Jon, the few times I got to work with you was a real treat.

Damn, I know him, too, Dan. I laughed my ass off when I thought of who you mean! On the second count, right back atcha!

[S.W.Erdnase]

A good UPRIGHT player is even more rare, and a thing of GREATER beauty.

Dude, the two upright platers I work with are GREAT on the bass, but definitely not objects of beauty. (Shudder).

[fretshop]

:jo

George.........unless you messin' wit me, I"ve posted three times that I'll be there!!! lol......plus, Jeff, too. Once we get a date, I'll bet the rest of the Mighty Rhythm Kings would be into it.

PLUS........I have a sneaking suspicion that Melissa's bar would be happy to host.

cheers,

Jim

Yeah...ooops, I checked you off on my list...you're right. I had a brain fart....at my age it's allowable. Melissa owns a bar ?

A Sunday in early to mid January sounds about right. would you be comfortable with that ?
I'll be travelling back and forth from NJ to Massachusetts on family business starting 12/14...but January is clear for me and my guys.

Question:

Mike Schwartz met a harp player named Russ Lambert at the Philly guitar show. Mike's been raving about him. Do you guys know him?

[jimfog]

Yeah...ooops, I checked you off on my list...you're right. I had a brain fart....at my age it's allowable. Melissa owns a bar ?

A Sunday in early to mid January sounds about right. would you be comfortable with that ?
I'll be travelling back and forth from NJ to Massachusetts on family business starting 12/14...but January is clear for me and my guys.

Question:

Mike Schwartz met a harp player named Russ Lambert at the Philly guitar show. Mike's been raving about him. Do you guys know him?

George,

Got your email this time.

I'll check with Melissa.......be aware that it's a sports bar, so it would have to be a non-football Sunday.......otherwise, I'm pretty sure they'd be into it.

Russ Lambert sat in with the Mighty Rhythm Kings a couple months back, and since then Jeff has been gigging with him......I"m sure he'll check in. Good player.

- Jim

[fretshop]

George,

Got your email this time.

I'll check with Melissa.......be aware that it's a sports bar, so it would have to be a non-football Sunday.......otherwise, I'm pretty sure they'd be into it.

Russ Lambert sat in with the Mighty Rhythm Kings a couple months back, and since then Jeff has been gigging with him......I"m sure he'll check in. Good player.

- Jim

Mike told me that Russ got a nice little crowd gathered around him while he was blowing harp and trying out amps.

[jimfog]

Mike told me that Russ got a nice little crowd gathered around him while he was blowing harp and trying out amps.

Well.....I'm sure you would get right along with Russ....he, too, is a snappy dresser!

:D

- jim

[fretshop]

Well.....I'm sure you would get right along with Russ....he, too, is a snappy dresser!

:D

- jim

Duke told me I looked like a funeral director. While we were at Marsha Brown's restaurant before the show (talk about sticker shock....ya gotta do a credit check to eat there), I was standing at the bar and a lady came up to me and asked for seating....Carol dared me to play the situation, so I grabbed some menus and went for it. That black suit got me a $5.00 tip...(and a pissed off waiter to whom I promptly surrendered the tip).

I left a phone message and an e-mail for Steve Guyger re: January

[Jeff Michael]

Hey Jon,

I'm with you in not really noticing bass players unless they blow it. I always claim to be from the ninjitsu school of bass--if you notice me I'm not doing my job.

And that's why I think, while owning and operating a bass isn't all that hard, a lot of cats can't really nail the bass gig. There's kind of a minimalist mindset or something that a guy needs. I can't tell you how many times I've heard dudes--other potential employers, almost always--talk about how upright players they've worked with overplay. I guess it's the jazz thing that they just can't suppress. A lot of guys can't just sit back and shovel coal. Not to mention that there is a certain physical command you have to have of the thing. I've heard good guitar players grab a bass and just have no balls whatsoever in their sound.

For me it's like haiku--a real zen kind of thing. Wow, I get four notes to a bar and have (maybe!) four to pick from. That sounds like it would suck, doesn't it? Suddenly I find myself thinking about dynamics, articulation, where in the pocket I want to hang, even register. Just yesterday I was thinking aloud in a rehearsal about where in the bass' register I wanted to put a part. I think the guys thought I was crazy.

You're dead on about the look too. I'm always as gracious as I can be when folks gush about the sound of upright (and boy do they), but in the back of my head I'm thinking "you know, I can make a P bass sound just like this too!" Ironically, electric basses feel alien to me now. All my choreography's worked out for the big girl, ya know? I feel kinda naked with just a plank hanging around my neck.

I should also say that I really dug your stuff at Havana's in New Hope last month with Duke Robillard. More to the point, I hardly noticed you! ;-)

JAM

[jimfog]

You're dead on about the look too. I'm always as gracious as I can be when folks gush about the sound of upright (and boy do they), but in the back of my head I'm thinking "you know, I can make a P bass sound just like this too!"
JAM

......and THAT, my boy, is exactly where you're wrong.

While I won't deny the image factor (the bass, not YOU, obviously), it's immediately apparent when you've had to switch to electric in the MRK........not bad, but MUCH, much different. The pocket is smaller and more precise.....and not necessarily in a good way.

Anyway......I agree with the rest of what you're saying, though.

- Jim

PS.....we WERE surprised yesterday that you were worrying about what register...........but, mostly because you were playing the wrong NOTE!!

:roll

[Jeff Michael]

Mike Schwartz met a harp player named Russ Lambert at the Philly guitar show. Mike's been raving about him. Do you guys know him?

I'm surprised Russ isn't better known--I think he's been at it for a good number of years and IMHO he's really a good player. He's based out of Paoli or thereabouts.

You can take a peek at this--he hasn't been doing the MySpace thing for too long, but this'll give you a sense of what he's doing:

http://www.myspace.com/therusslambertband

(I'm pretty sure that's me on bass on those audio files. I can never tell.)

As his bio on MySpace says, Russ is a stonemason by day. Between that and a weightlifting hobby, he's a pretty solidly put together cat. Add in the pompadour, a pencil-thin Fu Manchu 'stache, and, as Jim Fogarty mentioned, a top-notch closet of retro threads, and he ends up looking like a dude you wouldn't want to see if you owed anybody any money! But he's really a prince of a guy. Anybody in the area ought to come out to the Big Easy Saloon in Paoli PA for some great Cajun grub and check Russ out. Hell, odds are if you come to the Big Easy any weekend you'll see me--between Russ, Melissa Martin, and James Day and the Fish Fry I think I'm there almost every week. Just checked the book: three more hits there for me through year's end. None with Russ though--I think I'm next with him in February.

Fun fun fun,

JAM

[Jeff Michael]

......and THAT, my boy, is exactly where you're wrong.

While I won't deny the image factor (the bass, not YOU, obviously), it's immediately apparent when you've had to switch to electric in the MRK........not bad, but MUCH, much different. The pocket is smaller and more precise.....and not necessarily in a good way.

Anyway......I agree with the rest of what you're saying, though.

- Jim

PS.....we WERE surprised yesterday that you were worrying about what register...........but, mostly because you were playing the wrong NOTE!!

:roll

I guess I see what you mean about the difference between electric and upright: there is a sort of focused immediacy to the electric's sound. The notes have squarer corners.

Wrong notes? Well DUH! I was just wondering if they were less obvious low or high.

Honey, do these frequencies make my intonation look flat?

JAM

[musicofanatic5]

Hey Jon,

I'm with you in not really noticing bass players unless they blow it. I always claim to be from the ninjitsu school of bass--if you notice me I'm not doing my job.

And that's why I think, while owning and operating a bass isn't all that hard, a lot of cats can't really nail the bass gig. There's kind of a minimalist mindset or something that a guy needs. I can't tell you how many times I've heard dudes--other potential employers, almost always--talk about how upright players they've worked with overplay. I guess it's the jazz thing that they just can't suppress. A lot of guys can't just sit back and shovel coal. Not to mention that there is a certain physical command you have to have of the thing. I've heard good guitar players grab a bass and just have no balls whatsoever in their sound.

For me it's like haiku--a real zen kind of thing. Wow, I get four notes to a bar and have (maybe!) four to pick from. That sounds like it would suck, doesn't it? Suddenly I find myself thinking about dynamics, articulation, where in the pocket I want to hang, even register. Just yesterday I was thinking aloud in a rehearsal about where in the bass' register I wanted to put a part. I think the guys thought I was crazy.

You're dead on about the look too. I'm always as gracious as I can be when folks gush about the sound of upright (and boy do they), but in the back of my head I'm thinking "you know, I can make a P bass sound just like this too!" Ironically, electric basses feel alien to me now. All my choreography's worked out for the big girl, ya know? I feel kinda naked with just a plank hanging around my neck.

I should also say that I really dug your stuff at Havana's in New Hope last month with Duke Robillard. More to the point, I hardly noticed you! ;-)

JAM
Jeff-dunno 'bout no ninjitsu, zen, or haiku, but I know about shovelling coal! I rarely hear a jazz guy who can play "stupid" enough for blues music. Thanks for the nice compliment about the lack of notice I drew!
Say, any of you Philly types know anything about the Steel City in Phoenixville, Pa? I'm there with Duke on Sat., and never been there before.

[rhartt1234]

I rarely hear a jazz guy who can play "stupid" enough for blues music.

Here's a good Jazz bass player playing Blues story:

Our drummer Nick is one of the more amazing musicians I have ever met. In addition to be a great all around drummer he is an amazing Jazz drummer and is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music which for lack f a better term is a "Jazz school" A bass player buddy of his came to one of our gigs and we had him sit in. I called off the tune "Jump in Bb with a ii-V." And this cat starts playing the most outside stuff I've ever heard. Eric and I were looking at each other with the same "He's a Jazz cat so he must be playing some hip sh!t I can't comprehend" look. Most any Blues musician would know I was referring solely to the turnaround, but come to find out he thought we meant the progression itself was a ii-V.

[HappyValley]

I saw you guys talking about Lynwood Slim and
wanted give all you north east coasters a heads up...

Lynwood Slim will be doing a 6 day tour in New England in Jan.....

Band Lineup....
Lynwood SLim-Vocals & Harp
Matthew Stubbs-Guitar
Nick Moss- Bass
Chria Rivelli-Drums

Shows
Wed Jan 16 Wildhorse Tavern Beverly MA
Thur Jan 17 Paddy Barrys, Quincy,MA
Fri Jan 18 Chans, Woonsocket, RI
SAt Jan 19 Harrys, Hyannis, MA
Sun Jan 20 Horsefeathers, North Conway NH
Mon Jan 21 Time Out Pub, Rockland, ME


Its been alomg time since Lynwood has toured the east coast so try to make it to one of the shows if you can.


Thanks Fellas!

Hi Matt

[Strat-O]

You're dead on about the look too. I'm always as gracious as I can be when folks gush about the sound of upright (and boy do they), but in the back of my head I'm thinking "you know, I can make a P bass sound just like this too!"

I don't know, there are some things that an electric bass can do that sounds like an upright, but to me they sound different. And depending on the situation, you know that there are things the upright can do that the electric can. Aside from percussive qualities, the big thing I notice is that the note coming from the upright seems to wind up laying farther back on the beat. I've always assumed it had something to do with the length and composition of the strings etc.

As far as blues bass being mostly "dunt-da, dunt-da, dunt-da", I know the T-Birds did alot of that but my band only plays one song a night like that. As you guys know, there are so many killer classic blues tunes from the 50's and early 60's that are anything but that!

Oh, and don't forget that Fred Below was a jazz drummer!! The story that's ingrained in my head is that when Fred realized the good gigs of the day were in the blues scene, his transition to blues wasn't so smooth. But he figured it out obviously. And I'm sure it didn't take too long!

:dude

Fred Below laid down some HEAVY grooves.

[musicofanatic5]

As far as blues bass being mostly "dunt-da, dunt-da, dunt-da", I know the T-Birds did alot of that but my band only plays one song a night like that. As you guys know, there are so many killer classic blues tunes from the 50's and early 60's that are anything but that!

Oh, and don't forget that Fred Below was a jazz drummer!! The story that's ingrained in my head is that when Fred realized the good gigs of the day were in the blues scene, his transition to blues wasn't so smooth. But he figured it out obviously. And I'm sure it didn't take too long!

:dude

Fred Below laid down some HEAVY grooves.

"there are so many killer classic blues tunes from the 50's and early 60's that are anything but that!"

Oh yeah? Like what? If KEITH says that's how it is, I'm goin' with that!

Almost all the great chicago drummers were converted jazz drummers. Odie Payne, Francey Clay, Clifton James, S.P. Leary, others I'm forgetting. There was an issue of Living Blues from way back that was a special about chicago drummers. Had a roundtable with Below, and all the cats. Priceless. Maybe the difference is none of the above fellas went to Ber-ser-klee.
Sh*t, I could play II-V's all over your sad-ass little 12-bar form...but I won't!

[Goldie295]

Hey Guys !

Just checkin' in after an interesting few days with car tyres blowing, bathroom pipes leaking and guitar strings breaking...

PoppaS, very sorry to hear about your spell 'inside' with an injured leg, though I did tell you it was time to cut out the stage diving...

[For anyone that doesn't know, PoppaS is in fact a trapeze artist with the famous Cirque de Slough]

Some interesting talk on bass and drums. In the small world of Phil, the drums are most important. When I'm playing I can always tell a 'struggling' drummer as I find it hard to 'tune-in' when soloing. Bad bass players - for me - are the ones that overplay (which is a good sign of a moonlighting guitar player).

Cheers,
Phil

[fretshop]

"there are so many killer classic blues tunes from the 50's and early 60's that are anything but that!"

Oh yeah? Like what? If KEITH says that's how it is, I'm goin' with that!

Almost all the great chicago drummers were converted jazz drummers. Odie Payne, Francey Clay, Clifton James, S.P. Leary, others I'm forgetting. There was an issue of Living Blues from way back that was a special about chicago drummers. Had a roundtable with Below, and all the cats. Priceless. Maybe the difference is none of the above fellas went to Ber-ser-klee.
Sh*t, I could play II-V's all over your sad-ass little 12-bar form...but I won't!

We had this "Blues Legends" thing going on in the Boston-NYC-Philly-Baltimore-DC circuit during the early and mid 80's, and Pinetop brought in the Myers Brothers with Fred Below for a short stint....maybe a month. I have some photos of The Lone Star show at home. Depending on the location, either Brian Bisesi, the late Andy Masilli, or I did guitar work for the ensemble. Later, James Cotton recommended Michael Coleman to take over the guitar chair. Mike is a killer Chi-town string man, and he was gracious enough to throw a couple nights my way when had gigs with James and Johnny Copeland. I believe Fred passed about ayear and a half, two years later. He used to listen to some of our regular drummers and remark that they "listened to too many records when they shoulda been studyin' their paradiddles"...whatever that is.

[Strat-O]

Oh yeah? Like what? If KEITH says that's how it is, I'm goin' with that! :roll

Almost all the great chicago drummers were converted jazz drummers. Odie Payne, Francey Clay, Clifton James, S.P. Leary, others I'm forgetting. There was an issue of Living Blues from way back that was a special about chicago drummers. Had a roundtable with Below, and all the cats. Priceless. Maybe the difference is none of the above fellas went to Ber-ser-klee.
Sh*t, I could play II-V's all over your sad-ass little 12-bar form...but I won't!

I knew Francis Clay was too, but I didn't know about the other guys being from a jazz background.

[fretshop]

Check out Fred Below's work on Little Walter's "Off the wall".

8:20AM : re: Philly Reunion. Just received and-mail from Steve Guyger. He'd love to do it if he's not working. As soon as we get a date and place...looks like we've got a nice little event happening here. Pete K. mentioned that maybe he'd bring his mint RR II. Pete...I've been diggn' those Shambells CD's you sent. Who's the guitarist ?

[nmontz]

fun fact for you George, a paradiddle is a simple drum rudiment......

In a measure of 4/4 on 8th notes the sticking goes: down stroke, up stroke, tap, tap and one complete pattern would be R,L,R,R, L,R,L,L The down stroke makes an accent....when you get them going fast enough the taps are a bounce. Down up tap tap Down up tap tap Down up tap tap Down up tap tap...ect.....

My day job is as a band teacher and I teach 5th graders through Seniors in HS. Just teaching paradiddles this week to my beginning 5th grade drummers.....

[Scott Miller]

RJ threatened to get me on bass behind him, but then he moved to Arkansas. He said he liked my bass playing because I'm always on the edge of screwing up. It would fit right in with his penchant for confident, yet reckless abandon.

I like playing bass because you are right in the middle of the music; you don't fart around with that synchopation crap. I try to get that feeling when playing guitar, but it isn't the same.

Hey, anyone heard of Irish blues guitarist Nigel Mooney? Wondering if I should go see him this Friday here in Dublin.

[Echo Are]

Incidentally, Scott, how's Ireland so far? Hope I got my time zone right. It's ...what,about 7:45 at night there now?

[nc slim]

Can you say BILLY BUTLER

[nc slim]

BILLY BUTLER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9V-QnefTzM&feature=related

[Dave Orban]

VERY cool!

[nc slim]

Otis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdBZWrx13S4&feature=related

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Awesome! and check out Major Holley's solo on the part 2 vid.

On a another note, this month's issue of Living Blues has a very interesting interview with James Blood Ulmer. I was really into him in the early 1980's " Black Rock" LP days, but haven't heard his newer blues releases with Vernon Reid at the helm.

[nc slim]

pretty cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36ZQfVIVkH0&feature=related

[nc slim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBSnwi94ANQ&feature=related

Is that Jersey George dancing to fleetwood mac

[nc slim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yGkkufpq8&feature=related more

[Ryguy]

Just checked in after a while and somebody posts Billy Butler! Great start to the day. One of my all time favorite's. If you haven't heard it, check out Charles Brown's "One for the Road." I guess it was his "comeback" album, the band is crackin' with Butler on guitar, and Houston Person on Tenor.
Nice!!

[mikelaw]

just put duncan antiquity II's in my jlv strat. kind of cool. better then stock but hard to tell to my ears not playing it loud and live yet. left the middle pu stock fender and the 2 and 4 spots are oophase sounding and lower output because the stock middle isnt reverse polarity i think. but im just leaving it as is because its a cool tone in there.

got a good deal otherwise i would have gotten the watson set from don mare or the sd pickups texas mojo stagger.

[Schwalbe]

I just like this one, especially how the rhythm section pays attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MAtCwifXl4&feature=related

[afenderman67]

anyone have any expierence with the import epiphone zephyr blues guitar? pro's and con's?

and what do you think is a good price for one used?


thanks!

[Goldie295]

anyone have any expierence with the import epiphone zephyr blues guitar? pro's and con's?

and what do you think is a good price for one used?


thanks!

Fenderman,

I use one rather than gig my '53 Gibson ES295 everywhere. They are great.

The only 'con' is the size, as it won't get into my car boot ('trunk') with an amp so I have to lay it on the back seats.

The pros are many. For a start they are cheap secondhand, they are reliable, they sound good, they look good (especially with the pickguard off), the middle pup comes pre-sorted (though I would also recommend turning the rear pup around as that worked for me), it takes about 5mins to get used to the control layout and feedback is not an issue.

For West Coast, T-bone stuff I tend to run all of my volumes on 2 and then roll up the treble/bridge pup for solos (not necessarily to 10). Roll the tone back as far as you can with out loosing too much treble (around 3.5 to 5 will do it) to get that 'old sound' through a Bassman or similar (on the amp I would keep the middle up high, the bass down low, the treble up high and the presence v.low).

For a Jazzy tone you can do the same but roll up the neck pup (or just use the neck pup on its own). No need to keep the tone quite so backed off but it depends on taste. Wes M is tone nearly all off and Kenny B is tone slightly backed off (to my ears anyway).

I would recommend using 12s (flat or ribbon wound) rather than using a heavy set.

Cheers,
Phil

[Schwalbe]

Those Epi ZBD's are good guitars. I like mine just fine.
Somewhere on this thread there is a clip of The Rough Cuts playing Wee Wee Hours, that's my ZBD.

['56 Merc]

After years being a Tele/Strat guy I started getting into large hollow bodies. the first was a 6120 then a ZBD about five years ago and its been a great guitar.
I have a bunch of guitars and it's one of a few that I haven't changed the pickups. I did change the tuners, jack and tail piece. The only thing I don't like is the inlays on the fretboard are too plain.
I play mine a lot like Goldie and turn up the middle or bridge PU for solos.

[afenderman67]

thanks guys, i can get this one for $ 500 with out a case! is that fair?

chris

[RickyKing]

I just like this one, especially how the rhythm section pays attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MAtCwifXl4&feature=related

That would be our own Nick Adams on guitar....

[Dave Orban]

That would be our own Nick Adams on guitar....VERY cool! :dude

[jumpnblues]

Had one and installed Lollar P-90s. Wow!! Sounded great. I sold it to raise some cash and I'd really miss it except I found a new Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster with P-90s from the custom shop...yep, I installed Lollars on that too although it sounded pretty good with the stock pu's.
A quick story about the ZBD...one night I was in my music room and as I walked by both the ZBD and a Gibson L5CES I had at the time, I strummed them acoustically as they sat in their respective stands...the ZBD sounded better. Much more resonant. I soon sold the L5CES. It had some other problems too (the tailpiece wasn't installed properly, I had to have it refretted when brand new, etc.). But I have very good memories of the ZBD. I'd have another one if I didn't have the Switchmaster which, by the way, is a superb guitar.

Tom

[Poppa Stoppa]

Hey guys thanks for the good wishes while I was in hospital. It was a weird week but the national health service gave me fantastic service - for nothin'.
thanks guys, i can get this one for $ 500 with out a case! is that fair?
chrisMy ZBD was £499 with a case, s/h. On the basis that pounds = dollars when it comes to buying guitars, maybe you should get that hard case thrown in for $500...

I've used mine a lot. I had the frets plekked - it made a huge difference to playability. Also I changed the metal bridge for a wooden one. It made no difference to the tone but I was breaking strings every set and now don't break any. The only other thing I did was to change the pots and jack socket. The original electrics were cheapest rubbish. The tuners are OK and the pickups are good, and I prefer them to a set of Lollars I bought for it.

[TwoFeets]

That would be our own Nick Adams on guitar....

You know, I thought so but it was so far away I thought it might be a mirage.

[Goldie295]

Hey guys thanks for the good wishes while I was in hospital. It was a weird week but the national health service gave me fantastic service - for nothin'.

Glad you're back PoppaS.
Cheers,
Phil

[Schwalbe]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwalbe http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=3294678#post3294678)
I just like this one, especially how the rhythm section pays attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MAtC...eature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MAtCwifXl4&feature=related)

That would be our own Nick Adams on guitar

Nice work Nick! Who's the rest of the band?

[jimfog]

I just like this one, especially how the rhythm section pays attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MAtCwifXl4&feature=related

Yeah......but TWO harp players at once on stage?!??!

Oh, the humanity!!!!

:rotflmao

[RickyKing]

Nice work Nick! Who's the rest of the band?

Looks like Chris Rivelli on drums,maybe JB on the bass.....

[rhartt1234]

Looks like Chris Rivelli on drums,maybe JB on the bass.....

You are correct. Nick Adams on guitar, Chris Rivelli on drums, and Jeff, "JB" Berg on bass. John Gindick asked me to teach and host the jam at his Boston Jam Camp and I unfortunately couldn't make it, but threw these guys together for the jam.

[Schwalbe]

Yeah......but TWO harp players at once on stage?!??!

Oh, the humanity!!!!

:rotflmao

I have been known to instigate 3 :eek: harp players on stage at once. One each in 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions.:crazy

[bluesjuke]

We're back!!!

[nc slim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsFpcJedlOU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyyQBVV1b40&feature=related

lesson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKARnJjciZE&feature=related

[nc slim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFH8aLRXeQQ&feature=related

[blueskalle]

Alex S is so good its scary...And I love it!!!

[jumpnblues]

Yep. Definitely in my top three of jazzy blues/bluesy jazz players along with Charlie and Duke...well, maybe along with Junior and Anders too...and then there's Markowski and Fats and Igor...Danny Caron...and I almost forgot...oh what's the use?!!! :messedup :bkw :cool:

Tom

[Dave Orban]

I have been known to instigate 3 :eek: harp players on stage at once. One each in 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions.:crazy
When we backed Harman back at AJ's in August, we had three up on stage: James Day, Steve Guyger, and Harman...

The sound was somewhat reminiscent of the baked beans scene in "Blazing Saddles." :eek:


















:roll

[the-tone]

just put duncan antiquity II's in my jlv strat. kind of cool. better then stock but hard to tell to my ears not playing it loud and live yet. left the middle pu stock fender and the 2 and 4 spots are oophase sounding and lower output because the stock middle isnt reverse polarity i think. but im just leaving it as is because its a cool tone in there.

got a good deal otherwise i would have gotten the watson set from don mare or the sd pickups texas mojo stagger.

MIKE!,

You gotta try the Curtis Novak strat pups, I'm telling you that's it. I'm done.

BTW, I'm really loving those burnished nickel strings, but I'm also diggin' the new D'addario pure nickel.

[S.W.Erdnase]

Yeah......but TWO harp players at once on stage?!??!

Oh, the humanity!!!!

:rotflmao

Ah, the biannual dumping on harp players leitmotif.

Reminds me that daylight savings ends soon. Thanks!

[fretshop]

Ah, the biannual dumping on harp players leitmotif.

Reminds me that daylight savings ends soon. Thanks!

I enjoyed the interplay between the three harmonicists at the Harman show. I loved listening to the three different stylistic approaches, and was pleased to witness the cammeraderie on the band stand. It can get tricky when trading fours, but the backline held it all together, smoothly, and without incident, although the sound man was having serious issues for at least half the show. It was an enlightening and FUN evening...exactly as it should be.


I am less than a budding novice on "the tin sandwich", and am grateful and fortunate to be receiving both encouragement, and some nice CDs from our own WC member, safecracker. Seeing three great harp players for the cost of one ticket...priceless.

[fretshop]

Philly "reunion" update:

as of this moment, barring musicians' schedule changes or un-forseen circumstances. the list includes the following individuals and their guests/friends: Pete Kanaras, Deb Callahan, Dave Orban, Jim Fogarty, "Filthy Rich" (Rich McPherson), Ken Nerback (Bassist extraordinaire), Steve Guyger (e-mailed an emphatic "yes" from Helsinki), Russ Lambert, Me.

Tentatives : Carlos Colina, Arnie Brown (Jamroom music Complex), Lou Rosano (Louis Amps).

[pete kanaras]

Ah, the biannual dumping on harp players leitmotif.

Reminds me that daylight savings ends soon. Thanks!

haha, funnee!

I am less than a budding novice on "the tin sandwich"

the misery whistle

[fretshop]

"The misery whistle"...that's a good one. I found Sonny Hudson.

[valcotone]

I know some of you guys have been looking for a Nick Greer Ghetto Stomp... this fellow on the WeberVST board has one for sale (I'm not affiliated with or endorsing the seller, just passing this along):

http://www.webervst.com/bns/messages/41136.html

[valcotone]

I was in Osaka about a year ago and saw these guys playing on the street... never thought I'd see a video of them, but here they are... nice straight-ahead blues.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IkutEoNkyuk

[groove_king]

I was in Osaka about a year ago and saw these guys playing on the street... never thought I'd see a video of them, but here they are... nice straight-ahead blues.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IkutEoNkyuk

Was the swaying butt there too? Mesmerising!!!! Oh yeah!

[groove_king]

Hollywood Blue Flames!!!

Fletcher! Holmstrom! Ramos! Kaplan! Taylor! Innes! Blake!

Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLrRaJdwafU

http://youtube.com/watch?v=972rX9qUk4s&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jsHNIvWOnvg&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xEXFNbzlYaM&feature=related

[RickyKing]

Hollywood Blue Flames!!!

Fletcher! Holmstrom! Ramos! Kaplan! Taylor! Innes! Blake!

Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLrRaJdwafU

http://youtube.com/watch?v=972rX9qUk4s&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jsHNIvWOnvg&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xEXFNbzlYaM&feature=related

Wow...seemslike I'm not the only guy to have to play with the tv on...:crazyguy

[groove_king]

Wow...seemslike I'm not the only guy to have to play with the tv on...:crazyguy

LMAO! I noticed that too! Looks like we're in good company!

[S.W.Erdnase]

Interesting to see Al Blake having to check the band's volume a few times there. Ah, the eternal interplay between the harp player and the over-excited rhythm section... Glad I'm not alone!

[musicofanatic5]

Hollywood Blue Flames!!!

Fletcher! Holmstrom! Ramos! Kaplan! Taylor! Innes! Blake!

Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLrRaJdwafU

http://youtube.com/watch?v=972rX9qUk4s&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jsHNIvWOnvg&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xEXFNbzlYaM&feature=related

Great variety of gtr players here. L. T. on the "Sheryl Crow model" Kay bass! Innes caged! Enjoyed Fred on the piana, but not every pianist is a necessarily a Hammond player.

[Swingblues]

A little workshop (swing/blues guitar) last month in Sao Paulo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrgKC-PNEQw

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

[Poppa Stoppa]

Wow some nice vids there.

Igor - you get a great tone with your gold top. I wish I could play half as good as that with the strings the right way up.

Those Fred Kaplan/Hollywood Blue Flames videos are wonderful. I particularly liked the solo played by Kirk Fletcher. Smouldering playing all round.

Skilback that Japanese blues band has got an amazing groove and the lead player has got the Chicago feel down cold!

[Poppa Stoppa]

Here's an idea if you get asked what you'd like for Christmas: there's a fantastic book called 'White Bicycles' by Joe Boyd that I was given recently and enjoyed a lot.

He was born in Boston and it's his own story of his music production adventures in the sixties, both in the USA and in England but mainly over here. There are tales about Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Rev Gary Davis, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, how Bloomfield came to join Butterfield, Bob Dylan at Newport, early Pink Floyd, the Move, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Fairport Convention, the Incredible String Band etc etc. It's a great read and I highly recommend it!

[Schwalbe]

There have been some old Lynwood and Mischo stories on the local Blues board lately. Anyone interested check here;
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/BluesMN/

[sideman]

Love those Blue Flame vids. Such laid-back, cool, simple grooves. The piano seems to set them up, and everyone else just gets on board. Why don't more bands do that?

[groove_king]

Love those Blue Flame vids. Such laid-back, cool, simple grooves. The piano seems to set them up, and everyone else just gets on board. Why don't more bands do that?

I'm guessin' it's 'cause most bands don't have Freddy Kaplan at the pianny!

But you're right, though. Blues music has become so guitar-centric it's boring! And I'm a guitarist! It's great to hear another form of expression - be it pianny, B3, mandolin or even the misery whistle!

[Jeff Michael]

Hey, me too, me too!!!

Philly "reunion" update:

as of this moment, barring musicians' schedule changes or un-forseen circumstances. the list includes the following individuals and their guests/friends: Pete Kanaras, Deb Callahan, Dave Orban, Jim Fogarty, "Filthy Rich" (Rich McPherson), Ken Nerback (Bassist extraordinaire), Steve Guyger (e-mailed an emphatic "yes" from Helsinki), Russ Lambert, Me.

Tentatives : Carlos Colina, Arnie Brown (Jamroom music Complex), Lou Rosano (Louis Amps).

['56 Merc]

In the Japanese blues band video the camera should have been a little to the left.

The Valco/Oahu model 51 behind Rick Holmstrom is my all time favorite amp.

Before I read musicofanatic5's post I was gonna ask if that was Larry Taylor?

Great videos, Yours too Igor! What did you end up with for pickups in that Dillon?

[safecracker]

I am less than a budding novice on "the tin sandwich", and am grateful and fortunate to be receiving both encouragement, and some nice CDs from our own WC member, safecracker. Seeing three great harp players for the cost of one ticket...priceless.
George, I'm more than glad to send you music for you're quest in achieving happiness on the "misery whistle" LOL. I just ordered two different speakers to try with the Masco and Bogen heads. One is a Weber 12a125-30 watt w' no dope,and a Eminence Red Fang. I'll report later. I got a new cd yesterday by Seth Walker. Texas guitar player,extremely talented. Plays a old Gibson ES 150 thru a '59 Bassman w/4-10's.Nice vocals too. Disc has an "old feel" to it. Got it from bluebeat along with the Howling Wolf in Concert 1970 dvd. Shawn

[fretshop]

George, I'm more than glad to send you music for you're quest in achieving happiness on the "misery whistle" LOL. I just ordered two different speakers to try with the Masco and Bogen heads. One is a Weber 12a125-30 watt w' no dope,and a Eminence Red Fang. I'll report later. I got a new cd yesterday by Seth Walker. Texas guitar player,extremely talented. Plays a old Gibson ES 150 thru a '59 Bassman w/4-10's.Nice vocals too. Disc has an "old feel" to it. Got it from bluebeat along with the Howling Wolf in Concert 1970 dvd. Shawn

The MA-17N arrived. I swapped Arnie some guitar work for it...and now its mine. (Thanks Sean K. for the wiring tips !! ). Needs some work...so off to Lou's shop. I'll do the work myself.

Shawn, I took apart a Big River harp and followed both the Seydel and Mel Bay (News Letter) mod instructions. The harp is easier to play, and the reeds are more responsive. Some things that helped alot were dressing the reeds and reed holes, burnishing the comb and covers dead flat, applying 3M porous paper surgical tape to both sides the comb as a gasket, then carefully cutting around the comb holes with an Exacto knife. Lastly, I drilled the comb and covers for multiple screw holes.
The harp is easier to control and little or no dead spots on the reed plate.

[fretshop]

Hey, me too, me too!!!

Jeff, you're in. PM me or e-mail me with your contact info. Deb Callahan and Pete Kanaras both suggested AJ's as a possible option for the get together.

I tried to get in contact with Tom Foran as well, but haven't had any luck. I saw him at the Duke Show in New Hope, but he took off before we could get his phone number. Tom is a harp player, and moved to Philly from Central Jersey a few years ago. He was very close friends with Bill Clarke, and was given Bill's Magnatone amp after his passing.

[jumpnblues]

George,

Say "hi" to Lou for me. He's doin' some tweakin' to my Louis KR-10/12 (he discovered a new master volume method, says it sounds killer). He had one or two other tricks he was going to perform on it too. He's really good about letting you know about updates and improvements. Just got an email from Lou that said it's going out tomorrow. Can't wait to hear it. I was supremely satisfied with it the way it was, but he said he could make it sound even better. So I said "have at it"! Now, if I was "supremely" satisfied with it before will I be, uhh..."orgasmically" satisfied :eek: with it now? LOL!! :D :cool: :cool:

Tom

[musicofanatic5]

Love those Blue Flame vids. Such laid-back, cool, simple grooves. The piano seems to set them up, and everyone else just gets on board. Why don't more bands do that?

Sh*t, I'd be "doing that" in a damn minute if economics allowed for hiring the fourth or fifth piece that the piano is in a blues music band. That's my idea of chicago style blues music right there. A lotta times, even when the gig pay allows, you can't find sufficiently authorized personel to fill the seat, though. One of my favorite duo gigs is playing gtr with piano.

[fretshop]

George,

Say "hi" to Lou for me. He's doin' some tweakin' to my Louis KR-10/12 (he discovered a new master volume method, says it sounds killer). He had one or two other tricks he was going to perform on it too. He's really good about letting you know about updates and improvements. Just got an email from Lou that said it's going out tomorrow. Can't wait to hear it. I was supremely satisfied with it the way it was, but he said he could make it sound even better. So I said "have at it"! Now, if I was "supremely" satisfied with it before will I be, uhh..."orgasmically" satisfied :eek: with it now? LOL!! :D :cool: :cool:

Tom

Lou told me about your amp a couple weeks ago.

Here's a Funny story about a particular KR amp:
About a year or so ago, Lou finished a KR in red Tolex with accents for a certain snooty monthly guitar newsletter write up. He took it with him to Keith Richard's home for a try out...Keith messed around with it, then grabbed it and threw it into his automobile and said "see ya !!!" as he drove out to the airport. That particular amp never made it into the newsletter.

[valcotone]

The MA-17N arrived. I swapped Arnie some guitar work for it...and now its mine. (Thanks Sean K. for the wiring tips !! ). Needs some work...so off to Lou's shop. I'll do the work myself.


Cool. Let me know if I can help George!

[valcotone]

The Valco/Oahu model 51 behind Rick Holmstrom is my all time favorite amp.


Great amps! Supro Supreme with 6J7, 6SC7, dual 6V6, and 5Y3.

[fretshop]

Cool. Let me know if I can help George!

Sean, I sent you an e-mail. Maybe I'll send it to you.

[valcotone]

Some amps.....

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

[Thinsocks]

Some amps.....

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


Alright, Sean. Do the guitars next. You have more stuff then some guitar stores. Ha-Ha.

[valcotone]

Alright, Sean. Do the guitars next. You have more stuff then some guitar stores. Ha-Ha.


I learn from the best, right Frank? :BEER

[Swingblues]

One more video of my guitar workshop in Brasil.
T-bone, Pee wee ideas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH2e-hDWSPo

I don´t like to play this stuff in three piece band but is better for the public to identify the bass lines and drums grooves.
Its very hard to find musicians that have studied and that actually play traditional blues here in brasil.

'56 Merc: I buy one set of Lollar´s 50´winds and I´m using them on my guitar.

All the best
Igor Prado

[Thinsocks]

I learn from the best, right Frank? :BEER

Ha-Ha. You surpassed my collection a long time ago!

[Birdseye]

Got a gear question for you guys:

My son plays bass and plays a lot of upright, all styles, classical, jazz and blues. But he doesn't own an upright yet. He's a freshman in college, and has learned thus far using school basses. I'm thinking maybe I'll got one for him for Christmas if I can find one for a decent price.

What kind should I be looking for? I know nothing about these. I don't want to buy junk, but can't afford the best either, I'm sure. Used would be best I'm sure, but I need to know what to be looking for. Advice?

[jumpnblues]

Man, those Hollywood Blue Flames vids are thoroughly killer. Al Blake is sooo bad and "the Kid" is at the top of his game. Gotta' get some Fred Kaplan CDs too. That vid had me chompin' at the bit to get home from work and play my ax. Those guys are so inspiring. :AOK:AOK


And, Sean, all those gorgeous vintage amps in one place...what a "Christmas wonderland"?!! :drool:drool

Tom

[straightblues]

I have the same little Valco amp as Rick Holmstrom. It is awesome. My favorite amp of all time. In fact, I got it worked on by the same guy who did his amp. He put a line out for me like Ricks so I can run it through a second bigger amp like Rick does. It sounds really good like that (I run it into a 65 Deluxe or Bassman or a Tweed Bandmaster clone). But to be honest, the best tone is just straight out of this little 8 watt amp with its old field coil 10" speaker. I really wish I could get the same tone from this amp but just a louder. Does anyone know what amp I should buy to capture this Valco tone but at about 20 watts?

Here is the picture of my little Valco....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/straightblues/dd1a_12.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/straightblues/db29_12.jpg

[Jeff Michael]

Got a gear question for you guys:

My son plays bass and plays a lot of upright, all styles, classical, jazz and blues. But he doesn't own an upright yet. He's a freshman in college, and has learned thus far using school basses. I'm thinking maybe I'll got one for him for Christmas if I can find one for a decent price.

What kind should I be looking for? I know nothing about these. I don't want to buy junk, but can't afford the best either, I'm sure. Used would be best I'm sure, but I need to know what to be looking for. Advice?

You ought to find a bass shop and ask them. They're few and far between, but they're out there.

If you were in the Northeast corridor of the USA, I'd tell you to take a trip to either Barrie Kolstein's shop on Long Island, David Gage's in Manhattan, or Mike Shank in Elizabethtown PA (my go-to guy). Essentially there aren't a lot of places where you're going to see any uprights in the flesh...and if you try buying one of those $600 jobbies off eBay, you're just going to have to go see one of these guys to fix it anyway, once the 'ebonizing' (that is, black shoe polish) starts coming off on your son's fingers and that inimitable Chinese political prisoner craftsmanship starts to make itself apparent.

A good rule of thumb is a factor of ten: divide the price of the upright by ten and you can fairly reasonably picture the comparable quality of electric bass you'd be looking at. A $1000 upright is comparable to a $100 electric: a starter axe. A $5000 upright is like a $500 electric: low-end pro. And it just goes up and up from there. Strings are the same: a cheap set is around $100.

These numbers are daunting, no doubt. But think how you'd feel if your dad, knowing you were a guitarist, picked up the phone and acquired for you one of those fine fine Esteban guitars (complete with highest-quality amplifier etc.). We're talking about a tool here, and the quality of the work done will definitely depend somewhat on the quality of the tool used. Having a fine upright is like having a good marriage. Having a crap upright is like the opposite.

I'd recommend a good plywood bass. Carved basses are bears to maintain and tend to be more expensive anyway. If you can't find a bass to have him look at in person, and you have to go the internet-order route, the only way to go is Bob Gollihur's website:

www.gollihurmusic.com (http://www.gollihurmusic.com)

The equipment I've gotten from him has been of invariably high quality. Good luck--you're getting into some deep water there!

JAM

[mikelaw]

Does anyone know what amp I should buy to capture this Valco tone but at about 20 watts?



i may get flack for this and if you ask rick hell probably laugh at you and say its only for the white stripes, but honestly for old tweed fender, valco tones at 20 watt ranges, CRANKED....i have to say the silvertone 1484 and 1483 heads. whats great about them too is you can dish them through ANY cabinet specs you'd like because they are heads!

i host monthly jams and EVERY player who uses it loves them and its non stop comments and kudos everytime i use them. its gotten to the annoying point actually where id rather bring something else then hear all the comments

'i had one of those'
'that was my first amp'
'that thing sounds amazing'
'your tone is killer'
'can i play through that' (while there are better amps on stage)

in other words, if you havent tried one go try it. i love my brown concert but when it comes to raw TONE and crunch, to me, there is nothing like these.
oh yea and fyi i work with a guy that LOVES old fenders and is a NUT about anything of the sort. he HATES all other amps. i brought the 1483 head in with the 1-15" and his mouth dropped. he said it was VERY much like his favorite fender amp of all time...the black and brown 'deluxe' amps. he said he couldnt believe how similar the tones were and presence, volume, etc. he said he almost liked the 1483 better because it was darker then the deluxe. so now when people ask me what the 1483 silvertone sounds like i always say brown/black deluxe. :)

[RickyKing]

i may get flack for this and if you ask rick hell probably laugh at you and say its only for the white stripes, but honestly for old tweed fender, valco tones at 20 watt ranges, CRANKED....i have to say the silvertone 1484 and 1483 heads. whats great about them too is you can dish them through ANY cabinet specs you'd like because they are heads!

i host monthly jams and EVERY player who uses it loves them and its non stop comments and kudos everytime i use them. its gotten to the annoying point actually where id rather bring something else then hear all the comments

'i had one of those'
'that was my first amp'
'that thing sounds amazing'
'your tone is killer'
'can i play through that' (while there are better amps on stage)

in other words, if you havent tried one go try it. i love my brown concert but when it comes to raw TONE and crunch, to me, there is nothing like these.
oh yea and fyi i work with a guy that LOVES old fenders and is a NUT about anything of the sort. he HATES all other amps. i brought the 1483 head in with the 1-15" and his mouth dropped. he said it was VERY much like his favorite fender amp of all time...the black and brown 'deluxe' amps. he said he couldnt believe how similar the tones were and presence, volume, etc. he said he almost liked the 1483 better because it was darker then the deluxe. so now when people ask me what the 1483 silvertone sounds like i always say brown/black deluxe. :)

Right on,amigo,I'm very much into grey tones!!!!

[valcotone]

Does anyone know what amp I should buy to capture this Valco tone but at about 20 watts?


I don't think anything can recreate the same tone as those old Supremes with their field coil speakers and simple circuit. But, you could look at the 50's Valco amps with the same octal pre-amp tubes your amp has (6SC7) but with dual 6L6 output tubes... these have a little more output approaching 18-20 watts, and some similar tones. They aren't as common but they made a few models in that configuration, some with tremolo and some without. Most have multiple instrument inputs and one hotter mic input.

The 1484 and 1843 are cool amps too (I owned a piggyback 1484 for a while).

[nc slim]

I have a 1484 twin twelve with out the cab What do you suggest I put it thru for the best sound. Can I play it thru a single speaker I know it had twin twelve inch. I used to run thru my Vibrolux reverb cab

N C SLIM

[dukeh62]

I have a 1484 twin twelve with out the cab What do you suggest I put it thru for the best sound. Can I play it thru a single speaker I know it had twin twelve inch. I used to run thru my Vibrolux reverb cab

N C SLIM

MIKELAW's 1484 sounds THUNDEROUS through his 4x10. Just kills!

[Echo Are]

Yeesh, you guys are giving me major G.A.S. for one of those Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelves:cool:: the '60s garage band amp, $180.00 brand new in the Sears catalog in the mid-'60s.

[jumpnblues]

Igor,

I just ordered 2 of your CDs from Pacific Blues. Saw your youtube vid here on the Gear Page and it was killer. I wish you would come to the states for some gigs. I'd really like to catch one of your shows. Anyway, I pumped to hear your CDs.

Tom

[jumpnblues]

"[Yeesh, you guys are giving me major G.A.S. for one of those Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelves:cool:: the '60s garage band amp, $180.00 brand new in the Sears catalog in the mid-'60s.]"


And to think when they were new snooty guys like me turned our noses up at the "catalogue" 1484's because they...distorted. LOL!! I had just gotten a new ('64) Twin Reverb at that time because they sounded so...clean. Man, little did we know. The 1484s really are tone machines.

Tom

[Echo Are]

jumpnblues, just curious, do you remember how much a new Twin cost back then? I've always wondered how big the price difference was.

Folks that used Twin Twelves back in the day always told me stories like," we'd run the vocal mic through one channel, and then harp through the other",etc.

[mikelaw]

maybe 60s garage band tones but KILLER blues tones in there. heck, lots of those garage bands had great tone and killer blues chops too! wailers, sonics, paul revere...etc... they played freddie king instrumentals better then freddie king.
:)

[mikelaw]

nc slim, i use a 4-10 one of the original fender blues deville's from the 90s. i ripped the chassis out, took the tubes from it, threw the chassis in the garbage and use the cab only. 2 original fender speakers in there and 2 celestion vintage 10-60 watters(my fav speaker)

[Thinsocks]

they played freddie king instrumentals better then freddie king.
:)

Hitting the bottle today, Mike?

[musicofanatic5]

Echo Are-'64 Twin Reverb list price: $469.00. Dunno what the Silvertone went for.

[bluesjuke]

I could listen to you guys forever Igor!
Good job again as always.

[jumpnblues]

"[jumpnblues, just curious, do you remember how much a new Twin cost back then? I've always wondered how big the price difference was.

Folks that used Twin Twelves back in the day always told me stories like," we'd run the vocal mic through one channel, and then harp through the other",etc.]"


I think musicofanatic is pretty darn close on the price. I'm thinking mine was $425. And, yes, we would run a guitar or two and vocals through one amp. I remember when we ("The X-Rays") were the house band for the "Kandy Kane Lounge" ('62-'65, Ottumwa, Ia.) the house amp was a blond Bandmaster head and 2x12" closed back cab. All 4 inputs on that amp were filled with either a guitar or mic. We didn't even have a bass player or PA system for the first 2 years. Just 3 guitars and drums. The house also provided a Fender tape echo unit that the band paid for and the house manager promptly confiscated when we decided to go out on our own. We were just teenagers and were easy to take advantage of. I have great memories of those years though. That place was packed every Friday and Saturday. An off duty police officer was hired every weekend to keep the peace. No alcohol was served (inside that is). I was a bit of a novelty because of my age. I started playing there in 1962 with the house band when I was 12 y/o. Like I said in a previous post, where did all those years go?!!

Tom

[fretshop]

"[jumpnblues, just curious, do you remember how much a new Twin cost back then? I've always wondered how big the price difference was.

Folks that used Twin Twelves back in the day always told me stories like," we'd run the vocal mic through one channel, and then harp through the other",etc.]"


I think musicofanatic is pretty darn close on the price. I'm thinking mine was $425. And, yes, we would run a guitar or two and vocals through one amp. I remember when we ("The X-Rays") were the house band for the "Kandy Kane Lounge" ('62-'65, Ottumwa, Ia.) the house amp was a blond Bandmaster head and 2x12" closed back cab. All 4 inputs on that amp were filled with either a guitar or mic. We didn't even have a bass player or PA system for the first 2 years. Just 3 guitars and drums. The house also provided a Fender tape echo unit that the band paid for and the house manager promptly confiscated when we decided to go out on our own. We were just teenagers and were easy to take advantage of. I have great memories of those years though. That place was packed every Friday and Saturday. An off duty police officer was hired every weekend to keep the peace. No alcohol was served (inside that is). I was a bit of a novelty because of my age. I started playing there in 1962 with the house band when I was 12 y/o. Like I said in a previous post, where did all those years go?!!

Tom


I still have my '65 BF Twin Reverb. My dad bought it for me at a discount music dealer in Newark NJ for $350 in the fall of '65. It is still mint ++.

I also needed to retire my Kay electric, and although I liked the Dot neck ES-335 sitting innocuously, and collecting dust in the used rack...for $175.00, Dad pointed to the display case, and insisted that I take the Gretsch 6120 because it was new and had a warranty. Shortly after, I found a '54 gold top...$90 and $5.00 for the case at another store. BTW: My other amp was a 1940's 4 channel Webster P.A. head that I played through a home made cabinet with two used Jensen field coil 12" speakers (from home stereo consoles) that we found in a T.V repair shop. I still have the Webster P.A. head. I am a gear horder...a very sick one.

[RickyKing]

I still have my '65 BF Twin Reverb. My dad bought it for me at a discount music dealer in Newark NJ for $350 in the fall of '65. It is still mint ++.

I also needed to retire my Kay electric, and although I liked the Dot neck ES-335 sitting innocuously, and collecting dust in the used rack...for $175.00, Dad pointed to the display case, and insisted that I take the Gretsch 6120 because it was new and had a warranty. Shortly after, I found a '54 gold top...$90 and $5.00 for the case at another store. BTW: My other amp was a 1940's 4 channel Webster P.A. head that I played through a home made cabinet with two used Jensen field coil 12" speakers (from home stereo consoles) that we found in a T.V repair shop. I still have the Webster P.A. head. I am a gear horder...a very sick one.

Actually JG, I admire the fact that you still have the stuff that you got when younger.

[jumpnblues]

Wow, George, that is impressive. A mint '65 Twin Reverb. I wonder what one of those would bring today? Back then I liked the T.R better than the S.R. It's been a long time since I've heard them both side by side.
If you promise not to tell anyone else I'll tell you what I traded my '64 T.R. for...come a little closer and I'll whisper it...a mutha'frickin' Thomas Organ solid state Vox Royal Guardsman!!! Can you believe that?!! WTF was I thinking?!!!! Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Don't tell anybody here. They'll never let me live it down. :o :jo

Tom

[fretshop]

Actually JG, I admire the fact that you still have the stuff that you got when younger.

I just let go of a sweater that I bought as a junior in High School...Yea Lincoln Lions !!! Wish I still had my Kay.

[Echo Are]

If you promise not to tell anyone else I'll tell you what I traded my '64 T.R. for...come a little closer and I'll whisper it...a mutha'frickin' Thomas Organ solid state Vox Royal Guardsman!!! Can you believe that?!! WTF was I thinking?!!!! Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Don't tell anybody here. They'll never let me live it down. :o :jo

Tom

Nah, it's all right, you can be forgiven. I figure, hey, it was the '60s, The Beatles were huge, you were young, and the Royal Guardsman does look like a scaled-down Super Beatle:D.

Hey, Mike Law: I'm a major fan of '60s garage rock. The Sonics were brutal. Gerry Rosley could scream with the best of 'em.

[Dave Orban]

I just let go of a sweater that I bought as a junior in High School...They had sweaters back then...?!? :confused:

[KBR]

I got back one of my old 4x10 cabs, Man does it sound good w/ a 30 Watt Allen Brown Sugar head...
Weber P10Qs/P10Rs...good tones.

[fretshop]

They had sweaters back then...?!? :confused:

Well...it was kind of a pull over thing actually. very popular back then. It kept me warm throughout my secondary school years. The last itme I wore it was at Lincoln's funeral. After that, I just packed it away.

[Dave Orban]

Well...it was kind of a pull over thing actually. very popular back then. It kept me warm throughout my secondary school years. The last itme I wore it was at Lincoln's funeral. After that, I just packed it away.
LOL!

[mikelaw]

im convinced nothing beats a 4-10 cab. 1-15 and 4-10 is all anyone would need IMO. smaller room single 15, bigger- 4 10.

hey fellas, anyone ever use a 100 or 50k tone pot in their strat????

im truly considering it.
:)

[TwoFeets]

Well...it was kind of a pull over thing actually. very popular back then. It kept me warm throughout my secondary school years. The last itme I wore it was at Lincoln's funeral. After that, I just packed it away.

Nowadays George, much like myself, relies solely on chest and back hair to keep himself warm.

[musicofanatic5]

im convinced nothing beats a 4-10 cab. 1-15 and 4-10 is all anyone would need IMO. smaller room single 15, bigger- 4 10.

Nothing! Nothing, I tell you! He's convinced! Now go forth and destroy all 12" spkrs! You have your orders!
(y'killin' me, mikey! what furvor!)

[mikelaw]

hahaaaaaaaaaa

[michael30]

Hey, Mike Law: I'm a major fan of '60s garage rock. The Sonics were brutal. Gerry Rosley could scream with the best of 'em.

Their drummer Bob "Boom Boom" Bennett was amazing as well.

[Scott Miller]

For the really bored at work, here are some photos from one of our blues venues. Some people you might know...

http://tinyurl.com/2zlfzb

[fretshop]

Nowadays George, much like myself, relies solely on chest and back hair to keep himself warm.

It's a bitch when the hair spray hits the bald spot runs down the back of your neck.....Yeck !! Actually, depressed over my thinning mane, I treated myself to a Dobbs Glenwood Stingy Brim fedora at the Village Hat Shop (Beautiful on-line store). It looked so gooooooood when I put it on...I kissed my image in the mirror, then went out and bought a pair of Madisons....I sat in for a couple numbers at the Peppermint. The House guitarist, Ken Robinson remarked...what da hell you doin' wearin those "old man comfy shoes"...?
http://www.villagehatshop.com/media/thumbsup.php?image=dobbs_glenwood_brn_lrg.jpg&width=375


http://base.googlehosted.com/base_media?q=http://www.zappos.com/images/102/102179/3034-4031-d.jpg&size=2&dhm=8fb8d834&hl=en (http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.zappos.com/noauth/redirect.cgi%3Fq%3Dvz5476912z23&sa=X&oi=product_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=4&cad=AK6SEiUyCx-UY3dsZNqp85FW2np3kgci8gAAAAAAAAAA&usg=AFQjCNFaGw_BbLtR3rtiEHTe0X7qPzpgag)

[KBR]

I had a a song called Stingy Brim, an Albert Collins Shuffle, in 96, I am sportin one on these pix, and hey any Playa want to purchase my Les Paul Korina Caster, email me, fast.
It has nickel covers Gibson BluesBreaker pickups and a new Rswd C shaped 22 Jumbo Frets All parts MIJ Fender strat neck 12" radius...see it in link from Scott above.
Guitar weighs 7 lbs 1 ounce! and Smokes.

Looks like Lara is gaining weight, bummah.
I am a svelte 250, my own bad self, Hell If I grow a foot next life I'll be in the NBA @ 6'11" 250.
Better payin job than Blues Guitarist!

[Echo Are]

For the really bored at work, here are some photos from one of our blues venues. Some people you might know...

http://tinyurl.com/2zlfzb


I haven't checked the Mojo Lounge's online photo albums in quite a spell. There are a couple of pics me in there(Yikes!), under the Steve Freund's Blues Jam album.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m139/NayrYes/RyKid090707.jpg
"Kid" Andersen on bass! Hmm...looks like we're in A, and I'm holding my patented Ezee-Grip 3-note A7th chord:p.

[jumpnblues]

"[Nah, it's all right, you can be forgiven. I figure, hey, it was the '60s, The Beatles were huge, you were young, and the Royal Guardsman does look like a scaled-down Super Beatle:D]"


Guilty as charged. :messedup :o

Tom

[jumpnblues]

"[I got back one of my old 4x10 cabs, Man does it sound good w/ a 30 Watt Allen Brown Sugar head...
Weber P10Qs/P10Rs...good tones.]"


Kenny,

That's a killer speaker combination. I'm running 2 Weber P10Qs and 2 Weber C10Ns in my Allen cab and I kind of think I should have substituted at least 1 Weber P10R in there somewhere. They break up a little earlier vs the P10Qs and C10Ns. My set up is kinda' loud. Killer tone, but just a little loud before giving up the goods. I use a Weber MASS at home with this particular set up so I can get the power tubes cookin' without stripping the paint off the walls. I'd really like to hear your set up. :AOK:AOK

Tom

[KBR]

It's unreal with my clean Lollar HBers or the Don Mare Tele bridge pup.
I have an old WL Van Zandt Strat neck pup (True Vintage) that sounds like JLV on 1st T Birds lp that goes well with the cab, too.

4x10's rule, eh Mike?

The P10Qs/P10Rs is a great combo, I used to like the 2 P12N cab, but nowadays, they won't let you wail, like the old Days.
(Thank God for the few clubs where you can turn up) or out doors, but I feel like 30 Watts RMS is a great volume, kinda like the 59 Bandmaster 3x10.

Joisey George, How much was that Stingy Brim? Looks good, Homes.

[straightblues]

"[I got back one of my old 4x10 cabs, Man does it sound good w/ a 30 Watt Allen Brown Sugar head...
Weber P10Qs/P10Rs...good tones.]"


Kenny,

That's a killer speaker combination. I'm running 2 Weber P10Qs and 2 Weber C10Ns in my Allen cab and I kind of think I should have substituted at least 1 Weber P10R in there somewhere. They break up a little earlier vs the P10Qs and C10Ns. My set up is kinda' loud. Killer tone, but just a little loud before giving up the goods. I use a Weber MASS at home with this particular set up so I can get the power tubes cookin' without stripping the paint off the walls. I'd really like to hear your set up. :AOK:AOK

Tom
Those Weber speakers are very effecient and are therefore loud. I switched my Webers over to vintage Jensen and CTS and the volume drop was dramatic.

[straightblues]

hey fellas, anyone ever use a 100 or 50k tone pot in their strat????

im truly considering it.
:)

I know that Don Mare has been trying out different value pots in several strats lately, give him a call he will be able to give you some feedback.

[mikelaw]

no he wont, because i got duncan antiquity's -shame on me!

[straightblues]

no he wont, because i got duncan antiquity's -shame on me!
Sure he will, he loves to talk tone. Speaking of Antiquities, I took my Antiquity humbuckers to Don for rewinding. After talking a lot we tried something a little unconventional. We took the two humbuckers apart giving us 4 coils. We then created new humbuckers with 1 coil from each of the stock Antiquites. This made two new pickups with radically mismatched coils. They now have way more of a single coil feel. They get a little 60hz buzz but not near as much as a strat pickup. I really love these pickups.

[jumpnblues]

"[Those Weber speakers are very effecient and are therefore loud. I switched my Webers over to vintage Jensen and CTS and the volume drop was dramatic.]"


Yeah, I know the Webers are super efficient. But, man, they sound soooo good...and loud. By the way, where is a good source for vintage Jensens or CTS?

Tom

[fretshop]

"[Those Weber speakers are very effecient and are therefore loud. I switched my Webers over to vintage Jensen and CTS and the volume drop was dramatic.]"


Yeah, I know the Webers are super efficient. But, man, they sound soooo good...and loud. By the way, where is a good source for vintage Jensens or CTS?

Tom

Tom,

I usually go to google product search and compare prices. This site had some very good prices as of today :

www.tonetronix.com (http://www.tonetronix.com)

[RickyKing]

Would you buy a 55 bassman for $4250 w/replica jensen ?

[jumpnblues]

Thanks for the heads up on the speakers George.

Tom

[Poppa Stoppa]

Robin Bank$ with an all-star band with Kid Ramos on guitar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdcWl8LnvkY&feature=related

A while back Skilback posted 'Wait On Time' from the same band (thanks SK - same gig maybe?). Kid's solo on that is a f'n textbook of tuff blues.

[jumpnblues]

"[Kid's solo on that is a f'n textbook of tuff blues.]"

Man, I wish Kid would record more. Especially solo CDs. He's such a killer player. His jazz playing is right up there with Charlie, Alex, and Duke. Very underrated player IMHO.

Tom

[dddelta]

Man, I wish Kid would record more...

Tom

+ 1 on that!

Junior & Kid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iosU4vwzUag

[mikelaw]

+ 1 on that!

Junior & Kid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iosU4vwzUag

+2 !!

[bluesjuke]

Robin Bank$ with an all-star band with Kid Ramos on guitar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdcWl8LnvkY&feature=related

A while back Skilback posted 'Wait On Time' from the same band (thanks SK - same gig maybe?). Kid's solo on that is a f'n textbook of tuff blues.


While on YouTube check out the other uploads by teebeeferris.
His catalog of Blues/ West Coast Blues is pretty immense.
We met for the first time face to face at the John Nemeth /Junior Watson Show on the tour earlier this year in Dallas at Poor Davids Pub.Those vids are posted on YouTube as well.

Here's his myspace page;

http://www.myspace.com/texasbluesbands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqMofujxUTE&sdig=1

[hasserl]

Speaking of 4 x 10 speakers, a tip for a very good cabinet with decent speakers is a 4 x 10 cab from Carvin. They have been discontinued for a long time now, but they still come up every now and then on the bay or in local stores. They have the fake tweed cover that Carvin used, similiar to what Peavey used on their tweed Classic amps, but I find that fake tweed stuff very durable. It takes a lot of abuse and it's almost impossible to stain it. Spilt beer just runs right off, no rings from bottle or glasses either.

The cab's are made of poplar ply. They are pretty light and they sound great. You could upgrade the speakers to Weber's, but it's nice to use these inefficient speakers so you can push the amp harder.

[TwoFeets]

Mighty Blue Kings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3pDK9IBJpo&feature=related

[fretshop]

Dave Orban:

I received your e-mail. Last appearance at Sotto ? Last time I was there, the crowd really liked the Mojo Gypsies.

We'd love to make the show, but I'm leaveing for Lowell, Mass. this Friday. Be back next week.

Knock 'em dead Professor !!

[mikelaw]

did i mention john mayer sucks?

[S.W.Erdnase]

Hey, keep it clean. We don't want to hear about your lifestyle choices.

[jumpnblues]

Oh now, now, now...let's play nice. ;)

Tom

[S.W.Erdnase]

Actually, I was going to post something FAR more controversial for this thread: boy am I over the retro suits shtick in Jump blues.

(ducks)

[Thinsocks]

Oh now, now, now...let's play nice. ;)

Tom

I don't know, I got a good laugh out of that one.

S.W. re the suits - I play in band where the bandleader makes everyone wear a black suit and then he shows up with matching black shirts, red ties and sometime white belts and white shoes for us all. It's painfull.

[jumpnblues]

LOL, LOL, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just read S.W.'s post.

[mikelaw]

Actually, I was going to post something FAR more controversial for this thread: boy am I over the retro suits shtick in Jump blues.

(ducks)

cheers to dat!

whos that playing harp? an accountant? :AOK its ok to look nice and even suits for a wedding gig but the whole bowling shirt thing is what really bugs me.(i used to wear them!) at least most of the appearance ridden cats ive seen can play their butts off for the most part!

the whole matching outfit things screams one thing to me..... yikes i need to get out of here! sorry but even if the music is great, im leaving. its painful on the eyes and thats 1/2 the game when playing live shows.

sneakers is painful to watch most of the time. its not really what the band wears, its how they wear it!

[jimfog]

cheers to dat!

whos that playing harp? an accountant? :AOK its ok to look nice and even suits for a wedding gig but the whole bowling shirt thing is what really bugs me.(i used to wear them!) at least most of the appearance ridden cats ive seen can play their butts off for the most part!

the whole matching outfit things screams one thing to me..... yikes i need to get out of here! sorry but even if the music is great, im leaving. its painful on the eyes and thats 1/2 the game when playing live shows.

sneakers is painful to watch most of the time. its not really what the band wears, its how they wear it!

So....from this, I'm getting that you prefer your blues bands naked, Mike?

::shudder::

:messedup

- Jim

[Dave Orban]

Dave Orban:

I received your e-mail. Last appearance at Sotto ? Last time I was there, the crowd really liked the Mojo Gypsies.

We'd love to make the show, but I'm leaveing for Lowell, Mass. this Friday. Be back next week.

Knock 'em dead Professor !!


Thanks, George...

Typical story of a bunch of inexperienced young guys trying to develop a restaurant as a music venue and not having a f*cking clue of how to go about it, nor wanting to actually put any effort into it. No advertising or promotion, etc.

They're pulling the plug on everybody but Ernie White, and Johnny Pompadour and his goofy f*cking laptop with backing tracks.... Looking like a fat Adam Sandler dressed as Buddy Holly, this guy is just this side of a Karaoke machine. No, I think he's actually worse. But what the f*ck do I know...? LOL!

We ALWAYS had a good crowd in there, and ALWAYS kept them til closing time.... Bartenders would ALWAYS comment on how good a night they'd had... so I was a more than a little confused when I was told that December would be our last outing there...

Oh, well...

[Mr Moto]

Good to see this forum is still alive and well.
This has probably been asked a thousand times already, but here we go.
Any recommendations for a dog ear P90 to go in the neck position of an L5 sized archtop? Been looking at Seymours, Lollars, Fralins, Gibson etc.
I'm looking for a vintage jazz tone (Wes, Burrell, Benson,Green, Kessel) rather than driven tones.
Cheers

[fretshop]

So....from this, I'm getting that you prefer your blues bands naked, Mike?

::shudder::

:messedup

- Jim

I guess that's one way for a player to expose his short comings.

[fretshop]

I'm waiting for "rim shot " from Pete K.

Pete BTW: Wednesday Delivery

[pete kanaras]

So....from this, I'm getting that you prefer your blues bands naked, Mike?

I guess that's one way for a player to expose his short comings.

I'm waiting for "rim shot " from Pete K

HAY, i resemble that remark!!!

Pete BTW: Wednesday Delivery
danke mucho bro. yep, i joked to my partner back in june that this $$#%^&* project would'nt be done until xmas! but it will be bad-ass and worth the wait. report to come. i think i'll call her the Memphis Belle. or maybe the Cropp Duster....

[fretshop]

So....from this, I'm getting that you prefer your blues bands naked, Mike?

I guess that's one way for a player to expose his short comings.

I'm waiting for "rim shot " from Pete K

HAY, i resemble that remark!!!

Pete BTW: Wednesday Delivery
danke mucho bro. yep, i joked to my partner back in june that this $$#%^&* project would'nt be done until xmas! but it will be bad-ass and worth the wait. report to come. i think i'll call her the Memphis Belle. or maybe the Cropp Duster....

I did a lightly aged, see-through white on mine. The finish is finally buffed out. I'm keeping the wiring on this one stock, except that I'm using a .039mf tone cap. To me..that value sounds more like an older cap . Found two more OEM Stackpole pots for volume and tone, just like on my Butterscotch No-Caster. Hopefully, we'll see and hear yours at the reunion.

[pete kanaras]

Hopefully, we'll see and hear yours at the reunion

you can count on it. i was gonna bring my 3p90 Kay full depth Swingmaster, because since jetlag likely won't be making it i figured i stood a good chance of returning home with her, lol! man that guitar blows away any es5 i've ever played, new or old

[mikelaw]

anyone know what a jensen C15P can take wattage wise before exploding? 1965 is the year.

[TwoFeets]

Hopefully, we'll see and hear yours at the reunion

you can count on it. i was gonna bring my 3p90 Kay full depth Swingmaster, because since jetlag likely won't be making it i figured i stood a good chance of returning home with her, lol! man that guitar blows away any es5 i've ever played, new or old

I've been looking at some Kay Upbeats - what do those Kleenex box pickups sound like? Not like the Guild Franz pickups I hope?

[pete kanaras]

is THAT what it's called?!? man i've been looking for info for many years to no avail. it's a 55 or 56 i'd guess. cesar diaz told me it was a Swingmaster, and boy did he want this guitar BAD. anyway, my digging showed a Swingmaster to be the same guitar but a thinbody hollow with a bolt-on neck. this is a full depth hollow with a Huge set-neck, otherwise they're identical in their appointments. the toaster tops were buzzy and hummy in the extreme. no amount of sheilding/potting could tame them, and i'm very used to hum. hell, i embrace hum! it was ridiculous however. so i said "screw it, i'll turn it into a K-mart version of an es-5". and that's exactly what i did: a new(then, mid-80's)gibby p90 in the neck, a '67 in the middle and a ''63 in the bridge. rewired her for 3vol/master tone, no switch. thru a tweed bassman or a tweed anything the tone of this thing is the just end of the world. there's a bootleg floating around out there of me backing guyger in '94 with that guitar, when it still had it's wooden bridge, thru a bf super reverb. jesu

[TwoFeets]

is THAT what it's called?!? man i've been looking for info for many years to no avail. it's a 55 or 56 i'd guess. cesar diaz told me it was a Swingmaster, and boy did he want this guitar BAD. anyway, my digging showed a Swingmaster to be the same guitar but a thinbody hollow with a bolt-on neck. this is a full depth hollow with a Huge set-neck, otherwise they're identical in their appointments. the toaster tops were buzzy and hummy in the extreme. no amount of sheilding/potting could tame them, and i'm very used to hum. hell, i embrace hum! it was ridiculous however. so i said "screw it, i'll turn it into a K-mart version of an es-5". and that's exactly what i did: a new(then, mid-80's)gibby p90 in the neck, a '67 in the middle and a ''63 in the bridge. rewired her for 3vol/master tone, no switch. thru a tweed bassman or a tweed anything the tone of this thing is the just end of the world. there's a bootleg floating around out there of me backing guyger in '94 with that guitar, when it still had it's wooden bridge, thru a bf super reverb. jesu

If you've got a pic, throw it on up there somewhere - would like to look at it! Although if yours had toaster tops on it, it's probably not an upbeat - probably more like one of the other big box 17" Kays out there. I had one of those too but the neck, like many of them, needed a reset. I paid $300 for the guitar and it would have cost me at least that to get the neck right, so I sold it.

This is an Upbeat.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kay-1958-1960-Upbeat-Kelvinator-Headstock_W0QQitemZ320194348476QQihZ011QQcategoryZ 119094QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The guy on Ebay that sells all the old Silvertone, Supro, Harmony etc. T-shirts userid "Badbanana" is here in FL and at the Orlando show every year. He has a 3 pickup Upbeat ES5-alike that is very, very nice and fairly reasonably priced but a guitar show is a horrible place to actually try out a guitar, you can't crank it up and you can't hear anything... so I'm not sure how it sounds.

I'm guessing this is probably more like what you have turned into an ES5:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NICE-VINTAGE-KAY-17-ARCHTOP-CARVED-SOLID-TOP-NR-MINT_W0QQitemZ320192504544QQihZ011QQcategoryZ11898 2QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The electric version had the toaster top pickups on it.

[jetlag]

Pete - would love to play your swingmaster some time, and promise not to snipe it. Judging by how good your H19 sounds, this thing must be a mutha. I take it you got the pup safe 'n sound?

Mike, I had a C15PS brown/gold label speaker in my 5E5A for a good year. It's the speaker that came with the amp when I bought it. So judging on that, I'd say they can take about 25-30 watts in an overdriven amp if you don't use gain pedals. Less if it doesn't have any doping around the edge surround.

[pete kanaras]

yeah i did bro, thanks! forgot to email ya to say i got it....

it's a special guitar indeed. gotta pop some side dots in it though; i have the material but have'nt ever gotten around to it. the H-19 will finally be getting some fret action after new year's, sorely needed. and it is in my will as going to you! might be awhile though(smile)

kurt said he had a ball with you and yours, wish i was there....

[mikelaw]

thanks jet, just wondering if i can use it with my 1484 head. im sure itll be just fine.

[pete kanaras]

feets:

no man sorry, it's neither of those. i don't have a dig camera so...

mine is a 16" full depth body in a gorgeous light 2tone tobacco burst, set neck(Huge, with a non-adustable truss rod), face dots, no side dots(typical for a Kay)plain medium brown headstock with Kay aluminum script logo, one f-hole (looks as cool as all get-out), tuners replaced with plastic tulip klusons, wooden bridge swapped out to a t.o.m., refretted with 6105/rebound. it was originally set up with one bigass honker pointer switch on the upper bout and 3vol/3tone down below. the same setup as the bolt-on Swingmaster but with toastertops instead of kessels. it's a rarity for sure; i bought it for $220 in '87, when Nobody would give these things a second look. it had Me written all over it though!

[fretshop]

Jetlag: The see through white is the last body I did before I stopped doing finishes and dismantled the spray area. I didn't take photos of the process. This was not the normal Fender type process. The base coat is a couple coats of specially tinted and thinned off white shellac. Then I applied two coats of tinted hybrid clear, then three coats of standard hybrid clear rather than Nitro. I let the shellac base coat sit for a week, then applied the clear, and cured it with ultra violet light...it hardened in less than 30 seconds. The total cure time was 24 hours rather than six weeks required for regular nitro.

[Strat-O]

Jet - Is that the same C15PS? You had asked me what happened to it...destroyed by UPS on its way for a recone!!!

[fretshop]

yeah i did bro, thanks! forgot to email ya to say i got it....

it's a special guitar indeed. gotta pop some side dots in it though; i have the material but have'nt ever gotten around to it. the H-19 will finally be getting some fret action after new year's, sorely needed. and it is in my will as going to you! might be awhile though(smile)

kurt said he had a ball with you and yours, wish i was there....


Pete:

The metalurgy on the neck pup cover, and the flat top is as close to a 50's cover as we could get. You have the last of my final series of that custom pup. When the stock is all gone...you and Nick Adams will have something to brag about. He's got one in his Holmstrom Tele.
If I must say, it sounded great through his Clark Tyger.

[jetlag]

Jet - Is that the same C15PS? You had asked me what happened to it...destroyed by UPS on its way for a recone!!!

Strato - yeah, that's the same one I sent you. It's what originally came with my 5E5A, but wasn't original to the amp. To me, it sounded great and was as up to the task of that amp as any P15N I put in it. It was doped and old, thus not real efficient. That was probably why it didn't work out for you (you were putting it in a smallish 2x6V6 amp right??). Too bad it got trashed. Sorry to hear that. Hope you got some dough out of UPS.

[hasserl]

Just an FYI, noticed a story in the local paper today that Kid Ramos' mom passed away on Dec 5, funeral services were being held today. Dave is a local boy, my wife went to school with his brother, Doug, and she knew Dave well when they were younger. We went to Doug's wedding where their mom sang Ava Maria. She was a singer when she was younger that toured locally until she quit that to stay home with the kids.

Here's the story from the paper:

She kept on singing despite life’s hardships

Dolores Bice charmed people with her voice and her positive attitude.

By ROBIN HINCH THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER




The next time you’re feeling a little mopey, churlish or down on your luck, consider the life of Dolores Bice.
She lost her first husband to another woman and her second to a bandit who killed him to avoid paying $10 for gas.
She had a stroke that paralyzed her left side, then diabetes and gangrene that took first her left foot, then forced amputation of her left leg.
But somehow, each day, she considered herself blessed, found the good in everyone and the positive in most situations.
She was 73 when she died Dec. 5.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dolores had the gift of a beautiful voice from the time she was very young. Her family still has a recording her father made of her singing “Ave Maria” when she was only 15.
Dolores won many local talent shows and radio contests with her sister Terri playing the piano.
In 1948, the family moved to Anaheim. Dolores sang for local churches and at age 17, she won a starring role in the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music production of “La Boheme.”
After graduating from Anaheim High in 1952, she worked for the telephone company and married her high school sweetheart, Fernando Ramos. But he left her when their boys were 2 and 5, and Dolores felt the world crumbling around her. She didn’t even know how to drive.
But Dolores knew how to cope. She started singing with the Golden Horseshoe Review in Disneyland, with the Laguna Beach Opera Company and at La Strada restaurant in Los Angeles.
In 1965 she married George Bice, whom she’d met while they were singing together in “La Traviata” in Laguna Beach. George was a baritone with the Metropolitan Opera Touring Company.
They sang together at restaurants, nightclubs and theaters. “Gosh,” said Dolores in a 2004 Register article, “we covered Orange County like sunshine.” They were especially popular at the El Fortín Bandido nightclub in Anaheim.
On Sundays, friends came to their Anaheim home for Dolores’ homemade Italian meatballs and spaghetti, and everyone sang around their baby grand piano.
George wanted Dolores to spend more time at home with their children, so they quit singing professionally, and George leased a Texaco gas station in Garden Grove.
On the morning of Aug. 14, 1979, George left for the station saying, “I’ll see you later, sweetheart.” They were the last words she’d ever hear from him.
A convict filled his tank at George’s station then sped away without paying. George jumped into the truck bed to try to stop the thief.
He stopped, all right, but jumped out of the truck and shot George in the face.
Dolores was cooking cauliflower and a roast for George the night she got the fateful call about his death.
Putting the pieces of her shattered life back together was slow and painful. But she did it, she said in a short, written memoir, “with the help of God” and by returning to singing with family and friends.
Then, three years after George’s death, she had a stroke that paralyzed her left arm, but she refused to let it get her down.
Dolores’ positive attitude was unshakable. You could see it in her bright-colored clothing, in her determination to remain independent, in her cheerful smile and lilting voice.
She did everything from her wheelchair from cooking big Italian family meals to decorating every room in her house for Christmas.
To hang something on the wall, she put a wad of chewed gum on the wall to hold the nail, then pounded it into place with her one good hand.
And she sang – Italian folk songs, tunes from “West Side Story,” bits of operatic arias.
“This life had ups and downs,” she wrote in the memoir she left her family, “...but somehow I managed nicely with this handicap (of losing a leg and the use of an arm).”
She ended it with, “It’s a good life.”
Interviewed for this story: Sister, Terri Giardino; son, David.

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=Orange/2007/12/11/25/Img/Pc0250500.jpg

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=Orange/2007/12/11/25/Img/Pc0250600.jpg

[jetlag]

Pete:

The metalurgy on the neck pup cover, and the flat top is as close to a 50's cover as we could get. You have the last of my final series of that custom pup. When the stock is all gone...you and Nick Adams will have something to brag about. He's got one in his Holmstrom Tele.
If I must say, it sounded great through his Clark Tyger.

George, that was a great pickup. You really had it tweaked - it was Cropper sounding out the wazzoo. Real twangin'. Great output too. Pete, just watch the pickup height. That pickup is a string grabbin' mofo - it made my low strings warble quite a bit until I put it fairly low. Dimarzio must have some real strong magnets in there.

Right now I have a Don Mare stelly in my tele and am really digging it. I like how well it responds to the tone knob - when you roll off the high end it really gives you some archtop fart tones. With the tone up it's just about what I've always wanted out of a tele front pickup. Great attack and balenced across the strings. Man, the list of tele front pickups I've been through is exhausting, but Don's MIGHT be it for me.

[dial-tone]

Hey Guys,

Heres a few very funny clips on youtube by West Coast Drummer Paul Fasulo.(Paul was in the in Flyers for about 3 years and Harmans band and almost every other west coast outfit at one time or another).

Now he talks about being a blues drummer.


www.youtube.com/paulfasulo (http://www.youtube.com/paulfasulo)

[GOLDENSTRAT]

Hasserl, thanks for posting that. She had quite the spirit. RIP . fred

[fretshop]

George, that was a great pickup. You really had it tweaked - it was Cropper sounding out the wazzoo. Real twangin'. Great output too. Pete, just watch the pickup height. That pickup is a string grabbin' mofo - it made my low strings warble quite a bit until I put it fairly low. Dimarzio must have some real strong magnets in there.

Right now I have a Don Mare stelly in my tele and am really digging it. I like how well it responds to the tone knob - when you roll off the high end it really gives you some archtop fart tones. With the tone up it's just about what I've always wanted out of a tele front pickup. Great attack and balenced across the strings. Man, the list of tele front pickups I've been through is exhausting, but Don's MIGHT be it for me.

For the record: The magnets came from a couple different sources, and are all spec'd. The flat top of the cover allows the magnture to be adjusted much closer to the strings, so adjustments are very sensitive...Yes, you can get too close. The pickup is designed NOT to be adjusted super close to the strings inorder to promote a more natural string decay while maintaining excellent volume control response (roll off) and increased touch sensitivity. I own over a dozen authentic Tele/B'caster/No-caster sets from the 50's and early 60's, and decided to keep the Magneture much the same way it was done on the originals....(with a twist). I walked away from calibrating magnets so that the pickups could be adjusted evenly on both sides for balanced tone...I wanted authenticity. I personally wound several variations with Poly-Sol/Poly-Nylon and single and double Formvar. The testing rendered a unanimous thumbs up to the poly wire, including a long test with Anson Funderburgh....it just works with my formula. Lately I have presented the pickups to commercial/OEM winders for samples, and I am very happy with the results. BTW: I went to the #43 Poly Nylon wrap in order to preserve the high end that's usually attenuated by the metal cover. I am not winding at all at this point, other than my own proto-types. All pickups gone. No more till spring, maybe Summer.

[KBR]

I did a few Gigs with Paul, along time ago, a Good player.
It ain't easy doin Music, especially in LA, doin Blues Music...

[stevieboy]

Paul is John Marx' regular drummer these days.

[musicofanatic5]

I did a few Gigs with Paul, along time ago, a Good player.
It ain't easy doin Music, especially in LA, doin Blues Music...

Well, hell no it ain't; lookit them bruises fer crissakes!

Paul is a pretty funny guy, and an animated story teller. Once, at a festival in Fla. a bunch of us were hanging out in a hotel lobby and he told this story about this girlfriend once wanted him to go see "some rock band", but being a (self-described) "blues bubble boy", he "didn't know about any music outside of blues", and was hesitant about going, but relented in the name of romance. Turns out the show he was "dragged kicking and screaming" to was the Allman Bros at the Fillmore East, the very weekend that the monumental album was recorded! He said that, after seeing the show, "turns out the band was pretty good"(!). Just as he was finishing the story, who should come strolling through the lobby? None other than Dickie Betts (really!! He was on the bill at that fest), so we (being drunk, mostly) shanghai-ed Dickie, hauled him over and made Paul tell the story all over again for Dickie's benefit. Dickie was a good sport and very patient and gracious with us! (lucky for us. He mighta kicked our ass, from what I've heard!)

[Jeff Michael]

Hey Guys,

Heres a few very funny clips on youtube by West Coast Drummer Paul Fasulo.(Paul was in the in Flyers for about 3 years and Harmans band and almost every other west coast outfit at one time or another).

Now he talks about being a blues drummer.


www.youtube.com/paulfasulo (http://www.youtube.com/paulfasulo)

Oh my God--I have a new hero!!!

[TwoFeets]

Anyone else hear that Bill Stuve is joining the Sean Carney Band, starting with the Blues Cruise in January?

[sethr]

Anyone else hear that Bill Stuve is joining the Sean Carney Band, starting with the Blues Cruise in January?

That is a fact.

[pete kanaras]

Heres a few very funny clips on youtube by West Coast Drummer Paul Fasulo.(Paul was in the in Flyers for about 3 years and Harmans band and almost every other west coast outfit at one time or another).

Now he talks about being a blues drummer.


www.youtube.com/paulfasulo (http://www.youtube.com/paulfasulo)

absolutely positively fukkin' priceless!

[dukeh62]

Hey guys, I'm trying to compile a little playlist for practicing the I-V progression...the "Those Lonely Nights" I-I-I-I-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-I-I-I-I progression. Can you guys rattle off some other tunes that use this progression? I know "Irene" uses it...having a brain fart on others...

[mikelaw]

Well, hell no it ain't; lookit them bruises fer crissakes!

Paul is a pretty funny guy, and an animated story teller. Once, at a festival in Fla. a bunch of us were hanging out in a hotel lobby and he told this story about this girlfriend once wanted him to go see "some rock band", but being a (self-described) "blues bubble boy", he "didn't know about any music outside of blues", and was hesitant about going, but relented in the name of romance. Turns out the show he was "dragged kicking and screaming" to was the Allman Bros at the Fillmore East, the very weekend that the monumental album was recorded! He said that, after seeing the show, "turns out the band was pretty good"(!). Just as he was finishing the story, who should come strolling through the lobby? None other than Dickie Betts (really!! He was on the bill at that fest), so we (being drunk, mostly) shanghai-ed Dickie, hauled him over and made Paul tell the story all over again for Dickie's benefit. Dickie was a good sport and very patient and gracious with us! (lucky for us. He mighta kicked our ass, from what I've heard!)

and kicked your wifes ass too! lol!!!!!!!

[mikelaw]

Hey guys, I'm trying to compile a little playlist for practicing the I-V progression...the "Those Lonely Nights" I-I-I-I-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-I-I-I-I progression. Can you guys rattle off some other tunes that use this progression? I know "Irene" uses it...having a brain fart on others...

uh, earl king, fats domino, smiley lewis.... nawlins schtuff.

[TwoFeets]

Dear Atlanta WCB'ers - what can you tell me about the Electromatics?

Feel free to PM if you don't feel like posting.

[pete kanaras]

what can you tell me about the Electromatics?

jon liebman is one of my best friends. he kicks complete ass both as a vocalist and as a harp player. superb choice of material and always has a great band with him. and jon does a lot of co-bills with his bro sean costello, another good friend of mine. so go see them, money back guarantee from moi!

[Cleanhead]

Like Pete, I am also a good friend of Jon and have to agree with him... Jon is a MOFO on both harp and vocals... the guy can sing both Sinatra AND Sonny Boy with ease( and soul!) PLUS he is a monster harp player... he cut his teeth on traditional chicago blues (learned from Doug Jay and others in and around DC) but has developed his own unique style on Chromatic and diatonic... he plays a fair number of jazz gigs with horn and organ thus has learned to play some interesting harp over more complicated changes... I have been telling him for years that he needs to cut an album... Nemeth deserves all of the praise he has been getting of late but Jon represents another young musician to be reckoned with... Hopefully people outside of Atlanta will get to see/hear him in the near future... quite a talent indeed!

[TwoFeets]

Thanks guys, that's high praise indeed considering the sources.

[S.W.Erdnase]

It ain't blues, but this stuff cooks... (http://www.amazon.com/Days-Nights-Sharon-Jones-Kings/dp/B000UO75AY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197495906&sr=8-2)

[bluesbreaker59]

Thanks guys, that's high praise indeed considering the sources.

I saw the Electromatics last spring when I was visiting my mother in Georgia, and both of us were very impressed. Costello sat in for half the night, which was incredible. Jon's singing though, TRULY blew my mind, excellent, excellent vocalist.

[Thinsocks]

It ain't blues, but this stuff cooks... (http://www.amazon.com/Days-Nights-Sharon-Jones-Kings/dp/B000UO75AY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197495906&sr=8-2)

I just saw them recently. They did a instore at record shop here in town. The band is the same one who played on Amy Winehouse's new record.

By the way, Ike Turner just passed away today.

[pete kanaras]

It ain't blues, but this stuff cooks.. (http://www.amazon.com/Days-Nights-Sharon-Jones-Kings/dp/B000UO75AY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197495906&sr=8-2).

sharon jones and the dap kings are bad-ass in the extreme

rip ike

[aja]

Real sad about Ike. I just bought an instrumental compilation of his too. I'm gonna be using my whammy in memorium tonight.

['56 Merc]

I just posted on the RIP Ike thread. A sad sad day indeed.

[bluesjuke]

Yes sad.
Announced on the radio while I was driving was , " A famous musician has died today, details at 6:30."
Went nuts for 15 minutes trying to find out who.

[fretshop]

It ain't blues, but this stuff cooks.. (http://www.amazon.com/Days-Nights-Sharon-Jones-Kings/dp/B000UO75AY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197495906&sr=8-2).

sharon jones and the dap kings are bad-ass in the extreme

rip ike

Way bad-ass !! Can you say Binky Griptite ?

RIP Mr. Turner

[fretshop]

I just saw them recently. They did a instore at record shop here in town. The band is the same one who played on Amy Winehouse's new record.

By the way, Ike Turner just passed away today.

Amy Winehouse ain't no slouch either !!! Gospel influenced R&B/Soul is still a BIG commodity in my metro area (NY/NJ/Philly) with Doo-Wop and acapella still reigning as the icing on the cake. Carol just mentioned something I overlooked...Bettye Lavette lives 20 minute from us, and we see her on a social level, Barbara Harris (Toys "Lovers Concerto" and later Marvellettes) is in Staten Island, Mary Ann Thomas (Ad Libs "The Boy From New York City) lives nearby, and members of the Platters, Marvellettes, Dixie Cups and Shirelles work with my brother at least once a week...so the emergence of a new wave of authentic shouters is big news here.

[fretshop]

Ya wanna get into some really greasy stuff ?

Check out Dyke & the Blazers. Arlester "Dyke" Christian and his band did the original "Funky Broadway"..parts one and two, that inspired Wilson Picket to do his version.

Frankie Lee told me that he was in Phoenix with Dyke's band members (BTW...they were the O-Jays original back up band) at the moment when Dyke was murdered in at gun point in March, 1971 during an altercation in a bar. The Killer was exonerated and released after several trial delays...because from what Frankie said, the defense entered a self defense plea that the prosecutor bought.

[Goldie295]

Hi all,

Been out of action for a while trying to deal with the final plans for my Wedding Saturday week. In three weeks I'll be in Chicago for the first time before taking a train (yes, a train) to San Francisco. If anyone can recommend any gigs or venues then that would be great.

Despite the Wedding stuff, I've been keeping up with this board and taking in a reasonable quantity of YouTube performances. It is the later that has got me thinking.

Hope I am okay to mention the words Eric and Clapton on this board (??!??)...

I think it is generally accepted he was great in the 60s (Beano album etc) and that now he is - how can I put it - 'uninspiring'.

Well who has seen this:

Two versions of Reconsider Baby. One with a Gibson (335) and one with his Fender Signature Strat.

This one: Gibson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CITLWfcGUyg)

This one: Fender (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OESxMnOD0SY&feature=related)

Is it just me or is the Fender version awful and the Gibson version amazing?

Clapton - if you are reading this - for *$@! sake drop the Fender sponsorship (you don't need the money), stop using a pick, forget Layla and all that stuff, let Trucks and Doyle Whatever the 2nd go their separate ways, strap on your 335 get a small band (standup bass etc) and just play like your life depends on it.

Regarding Ike Turner. Big contribution and great feel. Shame his memory is clouded by the Tina film (at least that is all the UK news agencies are mentioning today). Hope she comes out and pays tribute despite her grievances. At this time of year it would be a very Christian gesture.

Cheers,
Phil

[blueskalle]

Goldie295: I agree completly!!!

[S.W.Erdnase]

I just saw them recently. They did a instore at record shop here in town. The band is the same one who played on Amy Winehouse's new record.

Amy Winehouse? Amy Winehouse?

How come nobody ever told me about this lady?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9mw492VXvE

I can't get over the clips of young concert goers knowing all the words to a song that's, like, a real soulful song played by real musicians and not some 5 minute wonder factory line shite.

[jumpnblues]

"[...Amy Winehouse? Amy Winehouse?

How come nobody ever told me about this lady?...]"


Went to Amazon, listened, then ordered the CD. Can't wait. You can also download mp3s of the songs.

Tom