West Coast Blues Thread - Version 2.0 [Archive]

nmontz

06-19-2006, 11:27 AM

Man that looks great George. Jeff is truely an artist! He worked on my 58' tweed pro about a year or two ago. Added a bias pot, new electrolytics, wired the heaters to BF style, got rid of the selenium rectifier. I wish we would have thought of the fixed bias/ cathode bias switch cause I would have done that too. When you are in KC you can a/b it with Karl's pros. Maybe Karl can help you dial it in with tubes too. The man is a genius about stuff like that. He also has a tube stash that makes me drool! Last time I was down it was a vintage np tweed pro summit of sorts cause we had my amp, which I was leaving for Jeff, Karl's, and sideman had his there that Jeff had just finished. I thought it was interesting hearing how different the 3 amps sounded all through the same cab. Karl's was the best sounding of the 3, sideman's was the cleanest, and mine sounded pretty mushy, but part of that was the tubes I had in it. That was before I had a ga-20 and wanted it a lower volume.

George, what are you gonna use for a speaker?

fretshop

06-19-2006, 12:14 PM

NMontz: I'm using a P-15N pull from a Hammond Cabinet. I'm thinking of checking out a C-15N as well. See you in K.C. You'll get to play an axe with my non-stick vintage finish. Nothing like the Fender "fly paper" finish.

Straight Blues: I just gave Jeff the go-ahead and told him to bill me later. BTW, Paul at Mercury Magnetics told me it'd be no problem to run an extension speaker with his trannies.

Thanks to Jetlag for coming through with the Foil in oils and all the other good stuff.

valcotone

06-19-2006, 12:21 PM

hi George - What a killer-looking amp. The build-quality of that looks just outstanding - big time kudos to Jeff. I bet it will sound as good as it looks. FYI, after chatting with Jetlag via email about Pro and Bandmaster amps, I installed a cathode/fixed bias switch in my homebrew 5E7 Bandmaster and it's a useful mod. I went with no cathode cap to increase the difference between the two settings... it's still subtle in some ways, but in c/b mode you definitely get a looser bottom end and little less headroom. As expected, f/b mode is tighter sounding. They are both good!

Is that a 500-ohm 10W cathode resistor Jeff used? I'm interested in the value since the original c/b Pro amps used 250-ohms, which is what I used but it runs pretty HOT!

One more question - are those ferrite beads for filtering on the shielded leads to the first pre-amp tube?

Eric - Thanks for kicking off this thread!

Jeff Scott is on KUCI.org right now... Mr. Lynwood Slim is supposed to be stopping by.

valcotone

06-19-2006, 01:00 PM

In the just-demised WCB thread, Jetlag posted about Junior Watson and the boys up in Canada using the Valco Duo Supreme amps... here's a short exerpt from a tune I did with one of these tasty amps using an ES-330 (both parts)...

http://www.kilback.net/tunes/duo-supreme.mp3

http://www.kilback.net/pics/56oahu-front.jpg

jetlag

06-19-2006, 01:10 PM

hi George -
Is that a 500-ohm 10W cathode resistor Jeff used? I'm interested in the value since the original c/b Pro amps used 250-ohms, which is what I used but it runs pretty HOT!

One more question - are those ferrite beads for filtering on the shielded leads to the first pre-amp tube?

Jeff Scott is on KUCI.org right now... Mr. Lynwood Slim is supposed to be stopping by.

Sean, yeah I was sayin' that about your setup - you are running things HOT w/that 250 ohm resistor! I looked thru the Pro pics and it's 560 ohm. It's probably the same resistor that he put in my GA77, which really, runs a little cool - maybe a hair under 60% when using TAD 6L6WGCs. On a past project, I went with an adjustable power resistor in my Pro Reverb and think it was set around 375 ohms in that particular amp. So I'd look for a fixed resistor somewhere between 250 ohm and 500 ohm. And yes, apparently Jeff did use ferrite beads. Intense stuff, I've never heard of that. BTW, he mentions the ferrite thing a little in the text.

Thanks for the KUCI reminder!

mikelaw

06-19-2006, 01:28 PM

Cruelty To Young Harp Player.

Q-what Key Is This One In?
A-b#, So You Would Want To Use Your E# Harmonica.

Lol!

aja

06-19-2006, 01:52 PM

I don't know how I found this but I guess I did. Can't believe their is actually footage of the red devils I thought they were super super unknown rare.

S.W.Erdnase

06-19-2006, 01:56 PM

Cruelty To Young Harp Player.

Q-what Key Is This One In?
A-b#, So You Would Want To Use Your E# Harmonica.

Lol!

Oh mah aching sides.

mikelaw

06-19-2006, 02:16 PM

like that sw? --ha. even better if ya really want to tick off most harp players when they ask what key it is in, tell them to grab their harp that is a 5th up the scale...

ie-if the band is in E:
q-what key is this one in?
a-grab an A harp.

really confusing for them usually and even for the more experienced harp player they usually take offense to a guitar player saying 'grab an A harp' because a good player can play 3-4 different harps in 1 key. just a silly sidenote if you want to be tricky/dicky to some fool.

groove_king

06-19-2006, 03:48 PM

Lol! I can dig where you're coming from, but I'd never presume to tell a harp player what key harp he needs. I play with a guy like that - but he also insists on counting in everything too damn slow - bugs the crap outta me.

How about a comeback to a guitarist: We're in the key of A, you need to play up at the 5th fret.

Bummer about the other thread being lost. I hope they can get it back - lotsa cool pics and mp3s there.

groove_king

06-19-2006, 04:01 PM

Oh yeah, I'd thought I'd chime in on the Lester Butler/Red Devils clips posted in the other thread ...

Wow.

Simply stunning. As S.W. will attest, it took me a while to 'get' the King King album. I always felt like I needed a shower after listening to it - but when I did get it - wow.

The band is simply awesome. It's hard to believe that Paul Size is only 21-22 years old. He sounds so mature with a raw simplicity that takes one a lifetime to learn. And Lester Butler is so damn good - frighteningly powerful yet simple harp that effortlessly sits in the pocket and rocks.

It's so good that these clips exist. If you haven't yet checked 'em out, do so.

TwoFeets

06-19-2006, 05:00 PM

Just checking in here:

A) Definitely digging the Red Devils clips

B) Finally got to hear what my Tungsten 5E5-A sounds like at a REAL volume level (mumblegrumble playing with upright players with lousy rigs) and holy cow, it scared me, it sounded so good. I have a P15N out of a Hammond cabinet in mine as well. It's GOT it. Now I just have to find someone who can really play to plug in thru it... any of you guys feel like visiting Orlando any time soon?

groove_king

06-19-2006, 05:54 PM

Now I just have to find someone who can really play to plug in thru it... any of you guys feel like visiting Orlando any time soon?

Whaddya mean "find someone who can really play"? You can play just fine, my man.

What was the problem with the bass player (apart from the obvious, that is :D)?

Crocodile Andre

06-19-2006, 06:27 PM

It's not West Coast and it's not blues but I'm sure there's something here for everyone to enjoy

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

Strat-O

06-19-2006, 06:32 PM

Yeah, that's a cool video. I've seen it before. Redd Volkaert's an animal on guitar, but Cindy Cashdollar steals the show in that song.

Strat-O

06-19-2006, 06:34 PM

Two Feets - Huh? You sound great man! I can't play 35 watts of anything most places I play though. 15 to 20 watts is it for me to get the amp going.

CK

dukeh62

06-19-2006, 07:35 PM

It's not West Coast and it's not blues but I'm sure there's something here for everyone to enjoy

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

Wow...that is killer.

TwoFeets

06-19-2006, 09:18 PM

Whaddya mean "find someone who can really play"? You can play just fine, my man.

What was the problem with the bass player (apart from the obvious, that is :D)?

Hey thanks man.

Our upright player's rig is pretty marginal and doesn't really have a whole lot by way of EQ. What it becomes for me is a constant struggle of compromise to avoid causing feedback between myself and the upright. If I want my own tone to be fuller I can add some bass in but I can't get up to a volume where the amp is starting to drive. If I try to play louder, I have to drain all the bass out of my signal, which sounds like hell. I can turn the treble and presence down which helps a little, but it's still not right.

The other night I was able to actually put the Pro on about 4 1/2 AND have something noticeable on the bass control, and it was like "ahhh, THAT'S what this is supposed to sound like."

valcotone

06-19-2006, 09:39 PM

It's not West Coast and it's not blues but I'm sure there's something here for everyone to enjoy

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

Thanks Croc! I'd like to share this... I saw Redd and Cindy twice on my last trip to Austin, both times at the wonderful Continental Club on South Congress. They just tore it up! What I found interesting in contrast to your typical blues scenario was that they often did fine solos that were just 1-verse long, then gave it up to the next soloist.... things kept moving very quickly. I remember a cool version of Swingin' At The Savoy that they did... and on another tune Redd (and the whole band) ripped into the solo section from Stairway To Heaven, then sequed right back into the western swing tune they were in the middle of. Fun and exciting music to watch in person!

S.W.Erdnase

06-19-2006, 11:03 PM

Q: How do you know there's a harp player at your door at 3 am?

A: Because he can't find the key and doesn't know the right time to come in.

(That's my favourite muso joke, and I'm a harp player. If you can't laugh at yourself...)

Thanks to the guys who posted comments on the SJ410 and the Meteor before the thread died in the ass, and to those who contacted me off list. Muchas gracias, amigos.

S.W.Erdnase

06-19-2006, 11:12 PM

Wow. Just found the 'other' Red Revils stuff. Paul Size does a mighty fine Hendrix turn on 'Backstroke' - like the stuff Jimi did on "Drivin' South" on the BBC....

fretshop

06-20-2006, 06:22 AM

Yeah, that's a cool video. I've seen it before. Redd Volkaert's an animal on guitar, but Cindy Cashdollar steals the show in that song.

Strat-O : I bought Cindy's steel guitar videos for a better perspective on the 8 string. She is amazing. Just after finishing the videos, I bought what I swore would be my last steel (I must have a dozen at this point)...and had to sneak it into the house. The last time we communicated with Red Volkaert, he was hooked on the Harmonic Design pickups. Don't know what he's using now. He mentioned that the "standard" Nashville Tele rig is something like a Twin or other large clean-headroom amp, a Boss Blues Driver, and a compressor. Talk about bleeding ears in the audience !! Hope you can make the party.

Two Feets/Back Streets : I'm arriving in Lowell on the 23rd, in the middle of the day. I'll call as soon as I get into the immediate area.

fretshop

06-20-2006, 06:25 AM

Anyone try the Don Mare Joel Foy wrap Tele bridge pup?

mikelaw

06-20-2006, 06:53 AM

q-how do you know a harp player is at your front door?
a-the door bell feeds back.

LMAO

zappafrank

06-20-2006, 07:56 AM

Anyone try the Don Mare Joel Foy wrap Tele bridge pup?

George that WILL be me!!---I have the body being made by Guitarmill, and soon I'll buy the Fender 52' RI pickup set with the 'correct' Alnico3 magnets, and send them to Don for that wind---I'm very curious, and I really wish I could hear from someone else who has tried them before I'm the 'guinea pig'!!---But I bet they will be great for blues--different than the "Roy Wrap"---;)

ac

dukeh62

06-20-2006, 08:00 AM

Anyone try the Don Mare Joel Foy wrap Tele bridge pup?

Rick Holmstrom has flipped over Don's pickups. He had him do a special wind for him that is like Gatemouth's early tele. Very low output and microphonic. He's building a tele right now that he's putting another one in. Don't remember where he got the body, but I know the neck is coming from USACG.

dddelta

06-20-2006, 09:41 AM

I'm sure this is the guy that someone mentioned in the "missing" thread!
This person has a few clips of Zak.
Not strictly West Coast either but good Blues!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoEO5wwrPeg&mode=related&search=slide%20guitar

Strat-O

06-20-2006, 09:56 AM

Don told me that Rick's Tele pickups were the 2329 style pickups for a 'Gatemouth' kind of tone. Apparently the 2329's are a pretty vintage/classic sounding set of Tele pickups. I'll have my 0038's in next week and will let you know. Maybe try to make some sound samples. I didn't send anything in for rewinding, Don made mine from scratch, so to speak.

bobgoblin

06-20-2006, 09:57 AM

Hey, there, Zak's a bad, bad man! he's got a rockabilly band (the alley dukes) that flat out cooks, and (obviously) his solo slide guitar stuff ain't too shabby either...

fretshop

06-20-2006, 11:07 AM

Rick Holmstrom has flipped over Don's pickups. He had him do a special wind for him that is like Gatemouth's early tele. Very low output and microphonic. He's building a tele right now that he's putting another one in. Don't remember where he got the body, but I know the neck is coming from USACG.

Frank tutwiler told me that he's working with Mr. Holmstrom on the Tele project involving more than one instrument. Brian Poe is cutting the bodies. I've been speaking with Don Mare for over a month. He's very receptive, and actually played his 2324 Roy set for me over the phone out of a dimed 65 Vibrolux Reverb. What I heard was great. Then He told me that most of his "standard" wraps are low output and that the pickups should be adjusted as close to the strings as possible. That's the only reason why I hesitated. Strat-O bought Don's "hot" 0038 bridge pickup, and I'm waiting for a critique from him. By request, I've re-introduced several vintage Albert Collins tunes and some Roy Buchanan instrumentals (Sweet Dreams etc.) to my repertoire and I need some extra gain from the pickups. The low output thing worries me a little, even though the tone from the lower output pups is great.

straightblues

06-20-2006, 03:40 PM

zak

06-20-2006, 08:06 PM

Hey, there, Zak's a bad, bad man! he's got a rockabilly band (the alley dukes) that flat out cooks, and (obviously) his solo slide guitar stuff ain't too shabby either...
Why thank you, sir. I'm not really a bad man, I just have lousy PR!

It was a huge honor to be part of the Bharath Rajakumar recording that Junior watson played on this spring...I don't know when it will be released, or if any of the cuts I played on will make the final track selection...but it's going to be a killer record and you're all gonna dig it, I hope!

For the gear geeks, Junior flew in without any instruments or amps, he played Bharath's non-cutaway Silvertone electric (like a Harmony H-50 or H-51) on most of the recording, as well as my green '56 Danelectro U1, and (for one track) someone's Strat...he played 'em through one of Bharath's National TremoTones (with the two oval car speakers) until it died, then he switched to my Silvertone 1482. I believe a Premier Model 88 was also present, but I don't think Junior ended up using it on anything. The band's regular guitar player, Colin Perry, used an Epiphone Master with a DeArmond Rhythm Chief pickup through an old Gibson "Charlie Christian" amp. I played my two Harmony H62s through an old Framus amp.

http://myspace-658.vo.llnwd.net/00735/85/62/735482658_l.jpg

Here's Junior and me:

http://myspace-655.vo.llnwd.net/00706/55/67/706687655_l.jpg

Here's the whole gang:

http://myspace-892.vo.llnwd.net/00735/29/81/735481892_l.jpg
(left to right: Jack Gutman, producer - Sal Botage, piano - Ben Cassie, drums - Junior Watson - Bharath Rajakumar, harmonica & vocals - Colin Perry, guitar - Mark Peetsma, bass - one of the staff from the Griffintown Cafe where the recordings werte made - and me.

bobgoblin

06-20-2006, 08:23 PM

cool pics, zak, good to hear yer movin' and shakin' like y'are! keep us posted on when that album drops, & best wishes!

mikelaw

06-20-2006, 08:37 PM

great photos zach!

HappyValley

06-20-2006, 08:45 PM

Two Feets/Back Streets : I'm arriving in Lowell on the 23rd, in the middle of the day. I'll call as soon as I get into the immediate area.

I'll be home during the day- buzz me as soon as you're settled; Gig in Cambridge that nite, bro'! C'mon down! You too, TwoFeets!

All this talk about those Mare PU's got me thinking....; Could they be an improvement over the real 50's bridge PU on that tele I got from Holmes? I'm afraid to mess with that axe....the No Caster neck PU courtesy of Fretshop is too killer as well....I dunno.
Zak- Welcome...dug the tracks I heard from your session.....even sounded good over a cellphone in Boston traffic ! Junior seemed to REALLY love playing with you guys, too...that says a LOT!
Really enjoying the LP TV Special VOS I picked up.....extremely light, a neck almost as huge as my H-44 and so far the stock Gibson P-90's haven't annoyed me..gimme a week or two! I'm sure Mr.Lollar will be getting a call from me eventually.

jetlag

06-20-2006, 08:54 PM

Zak, thanks for droppin' by and sharing that with us. And nice playing (in the clip and on your myspace clips)! Loved the pics and the gear rundown too. Junior sounded really excited about the CD you all recorded, so you guys must have a real winner. Can't wait til it comes out. Keep us posted.

bobgoblin

06-20-2006, 09:03 PM

little charlie clip of rick doin' the sonny boy "no hands" thing on youtube, i figgered it'd be good to get some more clips on the revised WCB thread...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhW6yB1IT78

Poppa Stoppa

06-20-2006, 11:59 PM

Hey Zak, great pics! Can't wait to hear the recording.

'For the gear geeks...' - that apply to anyone round here?

zappafrank

06-21-2006, 02:36 AM

I have two sets of Don's pickups which are going into a parts tele (Guitar Mill 2 piece swamp ash body withWarmoth Boat neck) and parts Esquire (Guitar Mill 1 piece pine body with old 70's Ibanez Tele neck). Don will be doing the final setup on them this weekend. He already did fret jobs on the necks. I have been over to Don's house several times over the past couple of months and have played and watched him play several of his pickups. These pickups are the real deal. Don't get caught up in the numbers, his Roy Wrap pickups sound great through a clean amp as well as a very overdriven amp. They are the magic tele pickups I have been searching for for along time. I have owned tele pickups from Seymour Duncan, Fralin, Truetone, Wolfe, and Lollar. Several were very good but after hearing Don's pickups, I think they are better for the blues I play.

Straightblues---this is VERY good news to me---i also have a 2pc swamp ash body coming from Guitarmill, with an Allparts FAT maple tele (about an inch thick--seems similar to CS NoCaster necks, from what I have heard)
Wish I could go to Don's house and listen to different wraps!
If you, or Strat-O-Ck, get those pups up and running, I'd love a review!

Zak---GREAT pics! Someone's pretty good w/ a camera---and you are a great slide/National player!!---Slide is my Achille's Heel---I can't seem to learn slide to save my ass---I have, like, 9 slides around the house and a beat to s**t old duct-taped Guild tuned to G, w/ HIGH action, and I still just totally suck at it...any tips greatly appreciated, because I love that sound and style---also WELCOME!---Nothing cooler than having more folks on here that have played/recorded witth Jr.---and Holmstrom! Nice!!....

The CD I'm going to be on should be out in August now, from what I hear---no Watson, but Paul DeLay's on it, and some FINE unknown players, as well as Jimi Bott in the driver's seat---i'm honored, I gotta say--

ac

Crocodile Andre

06-21-2006, 03:41 AM

Now this is the sh*t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOSZm1u5kyg&mode=related&search=slide%20guitar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOSZm1u5kyg&mode=related&search=slide%20guitar)

Crocodile Andre

06-21-2006, 03:48 AM

mmm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHXiwmx1FSw&mode=related&search=slide%20guitar

zappafrank

06-21-2006, 04:32 AM

Hey Croc---that was way cool---and cruel, too, knowing how much I CAN'T play slide!---i was fortunate to See Danny Gatton Live in Eugene years ago---he did that thang w/ the bottle and towel---just jaw dropping, really--

and HoundDog---just gimme back that wig , will ya??

ac

Crocodile Andre

06-21-2006, 04:54 AM

Some modern rockabilly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgAVkIIirfo&search=deke%20dickerson

Crocodile Andre

06-21-2006, 05:05 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4bVY9iEDbg&search=junior%20watson

Crocodile Andre

06-21-2006, 05:07 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qd1E1R2m0Y&mode=related&search=wes%20montgomery

Crocodile Andre

06-21-2006, 05:20 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-3ZjDPTJgQ&search=lynwood%20slim

I think this one had been posted on the old thread but I just love Lynwood Slim.... and with Kid Ramos.

Has anyone got a report on the new Slim cd ?

zappafrank

06-21-2006, 05:24 AM

Croc---I've got it (The newest Slim CD)---real nice---but REAL mellow, in comparison to even Back to Back!---still a very cool little disc, and the vocals are in top form---i'll give another listen today--It's certainly worth having!!

ac

Crocodile Andre

06-21-2006, 05:28 AM

more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSZ3kxi0jlU&search=lynwood%20slim

fretshop

06-21-2006, 06:16 AM

Zak: great photos. I thought I'd been miraculously transported back in the '60s for a moment. The computer I'm using at this point blocks all streaming media, so I wasn't able to hear anything. As a guitarist and lap steel player, I'm anxious to to hear Bharath's stylings. Bless you guys.

Jetlag: Will you be seeing Pete this weekend?

Strat-O

06-21-2006, 08:24 AM

Alrighty, I'm selling off my sunburst H64. Its a beautiful guitar that looks just like Rick Holmstroms (before refinish), Nick Curran's, and Teddy Morgan's sunburst H64. Its all original except for a refret a few months ago. It was set up and refretted by Joe Glaser in Nashville. It sounds exactly like its supposed to and pretty well does all the tones you'd hear on Nick Curran's records (where he used his H64). I've got photos to email you'd like. I thought I'd offer it to you guys first before I go to eBay with it. I'm gonna regret this.

dukeh62

06-21-2006, 09:15 AM

Zac....I've heard a ton of great stuff about that recording. Myspace sounds killer too!

Nick: Don't mess with that original pup in your tele!!!!!! Ain't none better!

valcotone

06-21-2006, 09:55 AM

hey Zac - Welcome to the thread and thanks for the run down on your sessions with Junior, much appreciated. I'm in BC, do you ever play out on this coast? Your clip was a pleasure to watch. How about the Twisters from Vancouver... ever cross paths with their guitarists Junior Demchuck or Brandon Isaak? Both killer players, IMO, and can do the west coast stuff very nicely.

valcotone

06-21-2006, 10:05 AM

zak

06-21-2006, 11:05 AM

hey Zac - Welcome to the thread and thanks for the run down on your sessions with Junior, much appreciated. I'm in BC, do you ever play out on this coast?
My band the Alley Dukes will be in BC next month, actually. This is our schedule for the next little while:

Jul 8 Hot Rod Hootenanny - St Catherines, ON
Jul 13 Playhouse - Montreal, QC
Jul 14 Silver Dollar Room - Toronto, ON
Jul 15 The Shadow - Guelph, ON
Jul 18 Collective Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB
Jul 19 The Distrikt - Regina, SK
Jul 20 Amigo's - Saskatoon, SK
Jul 21 Sidetrack Cafe - Edmonton, AB
Jul 22 The Palamino - Calgary, AB
Jul 23 Pete's Club - Jasper, AB
Jul 25 Lamplighter - Vancouver, BC
Jul 26 Logan's Pub - Victoria, BC
Jul 28 Boomer's - Vernon, BC
Aug 5 Hemisphere Gauche - Montreal, QC
Aug 12 Cadillac Lounge - Toronto, ON

Hopefully you can make it out to one of 'em!

Sorry for barging in here with all this self-promotion, by the way. I don't really know if it's in accordance with the decorum here...if it ain't, I apologize.

Thank you everyone for your kind comments...the only thing I consider myself to be "good" at is procrastinating...as far as playing guitar is concerned, I'm just learning, like everyone else...and hopefully improving gradually. If some of you folks enjoy my stuff, it really makes my day! Thanks!

valcotone

06-21-2006, 11:12 AM

Zak - That looks almost like a cross-Canada tour! I'll try to make the Vancouver or Victoria gigs and if I do I'll be sure to come up and say hi. If you've got more pics of your recent session and don't mind sharing feel free to post 'em.

So you use a couple of H62s, eh? Nice guitars!!

zak

06-21-2006, 11:26 AM

So you use a couple of H62s, eh? Nice guitars!!
Yep...and there's a good chance we'll be doing more east coast (ontario to the maritimes) dates in the fall..busy busy busy!

I have a couple of H-62s, a blonde '56 and a sunburst '58...they're both great but the sound difference is like night and day...the blonde has a maple body and it's got a tighter plunkier sound, more "stiff" I guess. The sunburst guitar has a birch body and it is woofier and "breathes" more. You can even hear it unplugged...

I'll probably bring the '58 on the road with me, along with the mutant '59 Gretsch. I'm gonna bring some clamps and lots of glue with me in case I have to glue it back together again!

I just posted some vids in the "members soundclips" section...

valcotone

06-21-2006, 12:25 PM

I have a couple of H-62s, a blonde '56 and a sunburst '58...they're both great but the sound difference is like night and day...the blonde has a maple body and it's got a tighter plunkier sound, more "stiff" I guess. The sunburst guitar has a birch body and it is woofier and "breathes" more. You can even hear it unplugged...

Interesting... I've got this pair below... the blonde H62 has been renecked with what is probably an old H50 neck, and I installed the Lollar P90s and the switch in the sunburst H61. They definitely sound different acoustically too... they appear to have the same top wood, but the blonde might be a solid top - it's brighter and more percussive than the sunburst which is also mellower and woofier (as you describe).

Collect the whole set!!

http://www.kilback.net/pics/h62_h61.jpg

dukeh62

06-21-2006, 12:40 PM

My Harmony/Silvertone archtops all sound TOTALLY different as well.

By the way, do any of you guys know the correct tone pot value for an H62? The shaft split on one of mine, so I need to replace it. Any recommendations on where to get a good one, too?

zappafrank

06-21-2006, 01:16 PM

I know nothin' 'bout no stinkin' Harmonys---or Valco, Or Supro---but I DO know that if I had Zak's musical schedule, I could quit my f'n day job!!
I gig (lately) about 6 gigs a month---thank Buddha for unions!!--Oh well, Single, No Kids, live by myself, weekends off for potential gigs---life is pretty ok...I'll deal w/ it!!!

ac

nmontz

06-21-2006, 01:22 PM

Duke62. If you had the pot out you could measue it with a meter to see what value it was. I'll bet harmony used lots of different values in there. I just put some real nice pots from alessandro in my strat. But they were real pricey compaired to stock cts pots at like $4.50 a pop. Boy, they seem real real nice, and even though ponying up for them hurt I'm still impressed.
http://www.alessandro-products.com/main.html

from jetlag and I messing around...he figured out they were from this company. Don't know how to order them from there though.

http://www.precisionelectronics.com/

Since it's a tone pot I wouldn't think it would matter as much on the value. A lower value volume pot would have more of an effect on the brightness (or lack of) of the guitar. The larger value tone would just effect the taper of the roll-off. I have always had 500k tone pots in my gibsons, and used 250k in fenders. You would want the correct taper too. Pots come in both linear and audio taper. I can never remember which is which...but one seems to have most of the roll-off at 7-10 and the other seems to have most of the roll-off at 1-3. I think audio taper is the one you would want.

fretshop

06-21-2006, 01:26 PM

Poppa Stoppa

06-21-2006, 01:38 PM

Skilback - whoo - nice axes!

Croc/Fret - that Redd Volkaert/Cindy Cashdollar clip is great! Somewhere along the line I picked up a cheap old double 8-string steel - they're a lot harder to play than they might seem...I may have to put up a picture just to try to keep up with these photo-posting guys...

That Deke Dickerson clip is most excellent, as well.

Is Junior posin' or playin' in that photo Zak posted? If he's playin', what the hell chord IS he playin'?

mikelaw

06-21-2006, 04:50 PM

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8202/49x12008ot.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Strat-O

06-21-2006, 04:53 PM

Deke Dickerson is flippin' killer. Hopefully you guys are up on his stuff. I ain't joking, he's one frickin' helluva boss man on the guitar.

I've stepped back from the edge, and I think I've going to keep my Harmony. I just can't bring myself to do it.

bobgoblin

06-21-2006, 05:41 PM

straightblues

06-21-2006, 05:49 PM

I've stepped back from the edge, and I think I've going to keep my Harmony. I just can't bring myself to do it.That sounds like a good descision. I sold mine awhile back and miss it. That is why I was interested in yours. The darn prices on these guitars is going up as well. Keep it around.

valcotone

06-21-2006, 05:58 PM

Jr. Watson's old H62 on the 'bay? According to this guy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Harmony-H62-early-60s-Ex-Junior-Watson_W0QQitemZ110000454568QQcategoryZ106457QQrdZ 1QQcmdZViewItem

it sure is purty, no doubt...ahh, if i had a genie, right?

"...that is if I had one!"

I believe the seller's story about Junior Watson customizing and owning this guitar is correct. I remember when it was on ebay originally and the host of the Harmony discussion forum snagged it. One or more of the other regular posters here can probably confirm this as well. Shore does look nice don't it?!

Speaking of that song, does anyone have the lyrics? There are some words I can't make out... does he really say "in an executive sort of way"? haha... :)

dukeh62

06-21-2006, 06:08 PM

Jr. Watson's old H62 on the 'bay? According to this guy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Harmony-H62-early-60s-Ex-Junior-Watson_W0QQitemZ110000454568QQcategoryZ106457QQrdZ 1QQcmdZViewItem

it sure is purty, no doubt...ahh, if i had a genie, right?

That IS one of Watson's old ones. I know the guy that bought it from Watson and sold it to the current owner. It's legit.

Strat-O...good decision...especially with having just had it set up. It's rare to find them in the condition you got it. Keep it!

mikelaw...the collection is looking nice!

valcotone

06-21-2006, 06:16 PM

I think this is it... the modified H1310 acoustic:

http://www.kilback.net/pics/junior-modded-H1310.JPG

Crocodile Andre

06-21-2006, 07:09 PM

How about the Twisters from Vancouver... ever cross paths with their guitarists Junior Demchuck or Brandon Isaak? Both killer players, IMO, and can do the west coast stuff very nicely.

Have to agree with this Greg Demchuck has a very nice cd of his own out and the Twisters are well worth the listen.

mikelaw

06-21-2006, 08:48 PM

thanks duke, laura and i just got a digital camera so i had to see how it worked, how it uploaded and how it posts and all that jazz. :) i didnt feel like busting the concert out and other amps too.

someday i want to get all my stuff and carl's stuff and take a huge photo of all the crap.

HappyValley

06-21-2006, 09:02 PM

Is Junior posin' or playin' in that photo Zak posted? If he's playin', what the hell chord IS he playin'?

Poppa- If I see it correctly,that's an augmented chord using the D string as the root...basically a 1st position major chord shape w/ a #5 on the B string it looks like to me.

zappafrank

06-22-2006, 02:08 AM

Backalley---nice call---you smarty-pants, you!
Mikelaw---wow, nice stuff!--and I was just kiddin' 'bout 'stinkin' Harmony's' and stuff---I've played 1 silvertone converted to 2 p90's that I'd LOVE to get my hands on---owner won't sell---been about 15 years, now!
gig tonight---no Silvertone, but a es-335 and a dumb ol' strat, I think
mikelaw---I really dig that stratotone! (That is what it is, right??)

fretshop---you asked awhile back about my Harmony 415 and why I'm thinkin' of selling it---well, it just does'nt seem to cut it, volume-wise, at even my small gig w/ drums/bass/harp--do you think a recone on those wornout C12R's would make that much of a volume difference for me? If so, I'll do it---I put one good c12N in there, and left one shot c12r, but the advantage was only slightly noticeable---sure the hell sounds fantastic, though!!

any more info on Jr's Hamony there??

ac

zappafrank

06-22-2006, 02:11 AM

well, lost the last photos I posted in the thread crash---here's a re-up of a couple:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/Tugboatguitars003.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/epiDZR9.jpg

ac

fretshop

06-22-2006, 05:36 AM

Eric,

I have some authentic H-62/64/Espanada harnesses...The pots are all Centralab 500 K Audio Taper "Tiger Stripes", and the caps are all Sprague .022mf W.W II military radio surplus black beauties. Gibson Guitar company manufactured radios and avionics modules for B-17/24/25 bombers, and when the radios started to explode in flight, it was revealed that the capacitors were the culprit. Gibson and other vendors were stuck with millions of the capacitors. The caps work fine with the miniscule voltages in standared Hi-Z (High impedence) guitar circuits, but don't EVER experiment with them in guitar amp or audio circuits. BTW: regarding the pots...they're worth more than the entire guitar to a 50's Gibson fanatic. I've seen 'em go for almost $300 a piece. This is why some of the Harmony and Silvertone archtops you get off e-bay have bogus, botched harnesses. Beware...and demand that the seller guarantee that the harness is original. If he or she can't authenticate it, then ask them to take it out and check it. It's your dough !! Sorry for the rant, but I spent ALL day last Saturday making replica harnesses for 2 e-bay H-62's and an early Espanada. for any tech hounds: The .022 Cornell Dublier light green axial lead caps in 60's Silvertone/Dano guitars sound the closest to a real black beauty. I have some photos that I can post if anyone would like to see them. It's all techy stuff, and might be boring to some members.

fretshop

06-22-2006, 06:12 AM

So far, I haven't had any serious problems with the Precision Electronics (Canada) pots when used in guitar applications. Some of them though, including their mini pots will sieze right up if you try to tighten them too much, and the shaft will not rotate. Harp players...stay away from the precision mini's.

Poppa Stoppa

06-22-2006, 06:31 AM

Re Junior's old H62 on ebay, the seller is not far from me at all...if any of you would care to comment or send me an email or pm about about what you think would be a fair price I would appreciate it...

valcotone

06-22-2006, 08:53 AM

Poppa - tough call I think.

On one hand it's a routed and drilled late 50's H1310 (it has a truss rod) so any sense of original condition is gone, and now the top has been repaired too... on the other it used to be owned by Junior Watson . It's possible that JW picked out some nice pickups from his stash, or maybe not if he was going to sell it... who knows.

Original H1310s in nice condition seem to go for $500-700 or so, and H62s for around $900-1400 and sometimes more for prime examples. I'd guess that his asking price is just ok if it's a great playing and sounding guitar. If you can get JW to authenticate it you'd have a better investment - maybe the pic above is good enough?

If you check it out please tell us all about it.

-

ac - That Epi is just breathtakingly beautiful!!

bobgoblin

06-22-2006, 10:05 AM

lawdy, that is a beautiful epi...there's just something about the way the finish ends up on those older guitars, kinda calls to ya.

straightblues

06-22-2006, 11:36 AM

I have some photos that I can post if anyone would like to see them. It's all techy stuff, and might be boring to some members. I would like to see some pictures of the caps plus the original pots, and an original harness if you show them.

TwoFeets

06-22-2006, 12:16 PM

Well, off to Boston for me. Hopefully will catch Backalley and co. tomorrow night. Catch up witchou guys soon.

valcotone

06-22-2006, 01:25 PM

In advance of Friday, here's a great live track by Sean Costello. I think this is called Jump For Joy and I've heard Duke do it as well...

Sean Costello
Deep Ellum Blues
Dallas, Tx - October 15, 2005
Jump For Joy (http://www.kilback.net/tunes/SeanCostello-JumpForJoy-dallas15oct05.mp3) <-- click to listen

11MB mp3, sorry for the size.

Poppa Stoppa

06-22-2006, 05:28 PM

Junior's a one-man industry these days it seems:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Junior-Watsons-Custom-Harmony-Stratotone-Unique_W0QQitemZ150000831425QQihZ005QQcategoryZ238 4QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

mikelaw

06-22-2006, 06:09 PM

that is SOOOO tough. i really want to do that to mine but I cant see myself getting my hands on another p/u like that without having to buy another actual guitar. man is that just SICK though. god would i love a 2 p/u h44, thats really all i would ever need. UGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

dukeh62

06-22-2006, 07:04 PM

HappyValley

06-22-2006, 11:03 PM

Well, off to Boston for me. Hopefully will catch Backalley and co. tomorrow night. Catch up witchou guys soon.

Yeah! Fret'll be up as well....; Just got word that Dave Maxwell's on the keys for the show..should be a blast..Buzz me in the afternoon, bro!
http://www.rackythomas.com

Poppa Stoppa

06-23-2006, 12:30 AM

Poppa- If I see it correctly,that's an augmented chord using the D string as the root...basically a 1st position major chord shape w/ a #5 on the B string it looks like to me.Backalley - thanks - think I was trying to make it too complicated!

Skilback - thanks for the info on that guitar - will see how it goes!

RickyKing

06-23-2006, 12:50 AM

Hi all,
It has been a very buisy gear time here in Kingworld. I found an original 3x10 Bandmaster,
Got a real Cool Purple Top Dearmond M-75 w/2k PU's.
Another Ebay grab on a Silvertone variant of 2 pu 4 knob + switch HarmonyStratotone,
also bought back A Killer Dano 2 pu Copper Dolphin headstock(Silvertone),
also picked up the Chinese Epi Dot that was redone.(all new electronics ,nut and pu's)
There will be a yard sale of other things (a 1959-60 tweed Masetro by Gibson w/1x12 , Reverb and Trem) and other stuff. Stay tuned...

zappafrank

06-23-2006, 04:26 AM

Jeezuz, Ricky!!!--sounds like you got some nice recent scores!---and some cool stuff going OUT!

I'll keep watchin'---!!

TwoFeets---I wanna hear all 'bout this trip 'up north'!!!

I gotta say, a Carr Rambler on the triode mode, (14 watts!) all the way cranked and running from the vol. knob---sounds pretty dang good!---admittedly, different than the Clark or the Vics, but GREAT for a smallish room, and pretty versatile, too!---the 335 and the ol' strat (Dimed) had people asking a bunch of ????'s!

ac

mikelaw

06-23-2006, 07:16 AM

summer on the cape=$$$$$CHING for Russell!!!!!!!!

wooohoooo

dukeh62

06-23-2006, 08:59 AM

bobgoblin

06-23-2006, 10:16 AM

ok, here's a question, i've got a guild x-150 that i installed seymour phat cats (hum-sized p-90's) in, but i'm not really into the tone...w/the original p'ups it sounds great, kinda wooly, more jazz than jazz/blues, but still. i've been thinking maybe i'd dremel out some wood & install some lollar true p-90's, whadya'll think? Watson's modified (solid top?!) harmony really got me thinking...i've done this before w/a MUCH cheaper chinese hollowbody, but my guild is my baby, ya know? decisions, decisions.

Poppa Stoppa

06-23-2006, 10:19 AM

Just an idle thought...that David Hidalgo guy has definitely got what it takes. I'd like to see him and Kirk Fletcher play together and watch the sparks fly.

RickyKing

06-23-2006, 11:42 AM

Could someone from Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts contact me asap.
I have a booking oppertunity for you.
tweed_bassman@hotmail.com I need a phone # to talk to.
Thanks,RKR

Strat-O

06-23-2006, 12:37 PM

Man that is one HOT Stratotone. I wonder why he's getting rid of it?

Anybody know anything about Junior's white Stratocaster that he plays all the time? Or maybe he has more than one.

zappafrank

06-23-2006, 01:56 PM

Strat-o--

I asked Jr. about that a few years ago---he was re-stringing it up before a gig at Duff's Garage here in P-town---he told me (IIRC), that him and Kid Ramos basically 'repainted' that guitar---kind of a 'whitewash', is what I remember him telling me---I also remember he was stringing it up with .10's that night, from this rather HUGE pile of misc. strings---no neat little packages of Ernie Balls, or anything like that---Now I've been reading he uses .12's on all his gits---w/ Jr., I guess things are ALWAYS changing around!! (Speakers, guitars, strings, licks!!)---that was the same weekend he asked me up to play (at another joint...)--I played that strat w/ his Pro (4-10"s, like mine, but admittedly COOLER!!) and a Reverb tank---I touched NOTHING, played an off the top of my head little instrumental in C, and was in total tonal bliss---what a sound!---luckily, that night, I did'nt suck the big one---unlike a couple of times with L. Charlie!!

Sure wish Jr. would quit messin' 'round with them Canucks and get back to the Northwest here!!---LOL!!

(Just jivin', Zak---I can sure as hell see why he's hang with gents like you and Eric and Ryan--Holmstrom, too---the scene here is definitely on the 'dying' trend, right now---pretty sad---)

ac

Strat-O

06-23-2006, 07:51 PM

At least he's recording more music. I guess the new Rick Holmstrom disc is due out pretty soon as well as the new discs from Kid Andersen and John Nemeth.

Didn't I see on a T-Birds schedule recently that they were booked for a recording studio? No, I remember, it was a video production studio. Anybody else know anything about this?

Poppa Stoppa

06-24-2006, 03:43 AM

Man that is one HOT Stratotone. I wonder why he's getting rid of it?

Anybody know anything about Junior's white Stratocaster that he plays all the time? Or maybe he has more than one.Junior told my friend Guitar Ray that the white strat he was playing with the Rockets in March had 'Warmoth parts and vintage pickups'. The body did look 'whitewashed', but it had a classy looking neck, birdseye maple kinda thing.

nc slim

06-24-2006, 11:00 AM

Just got back on thread been keepin my good eye on it. Copped a 1485 twin twelve head any suggedtions on speaker cab or speakers to enhance I played thru my silver vibrolux speakers, also got a small airline great tweed sound now if only I could get a bigger one for gigs.

Also I am looking at a Mex Cray strat for my son any comments fretworks is hot on them

TwoFeets

06-24-2006, 11:02 AM

Got in at about 2 AM from another great night of music from Nick, Racky et. al. Ryles Jazz Club is a great venue with good acoustics (and the scenery wasn't too bad either!). Nick killed equally on his ES5, Tele and his new VOS LP Special reissue. That Juke amp has some great tone, and Nick walked me through some of its features between sets. Great vibrato and tremolo. I also FINALLY got to meet our very own Fretshop and got to noodle on his featherweight just-finished Nocaster, too! Great guitar... HUGE frets on it and a neck profile to die for.

I think I need to move back up to Boston.

mikelaw

06-24-2006, 03:59 PM

welcome nc! i use my twin twelve head through a 4-10 cab and it sounds GREAT!!!!!!!!!!. 2 high wattage ceramic 10's and 2 low wattage 20 watts only--eminence alnicos.

ya get the big chunky umph with the jangling (almost broken) sounding 20 watt blue frame alnicos.

nc slim

06-25-2006, 06:05 AM

The Twin Twelve sounds pretty good thru my silverface super cab
Did you mod yours at all??

mikelaw

06-25-2006, 08:36 AM

other then a few stickers on it the guts are stock. the twin 12's sound great as they are outside of maybe using a holy grail reverb pedal instead of the bad reverb that is on the amp. there are lots of cabinet designers out there that can make a nice cheap box for ya then you can buy the speakers. i like the sound of an open back cab.

Strat-O

06-25-2006, 10:04 AM

NC - Sorry I missed your call yesterday! I'll ring you back later today. Limber up those fingers man, welcome back.

valcotone

06-25-2006, 11:17 PM

Also I am looking at a Mex Cray strat for my son any comments fretworks is hot on them

hi nc - I think the Mex RC Strat is one of Fender's best guitars... nice larger neck profile, medium jumbo frets, decent stock pickups, vintage-style hardware, 9-1/2" radius, and the hardass bridge. :D

I never use trem on a Strat and this setup works well for me. Mine is sunburst and is really light at just about 6lbs. I liked the neck so much I bought another RC strat on ebay, used the neck for a project, and parted-out the rest - which just about paid for the neck!

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

zappafrank

06-26-2006, 03:29 AM

I think I need to move back up to Boston.

TwoFeets---DUH!---I'd KILL to be over there with all these great players, and enthusiastic afficianados!

And TwoFeets, The Mouse could care less about your talent! He's all about HAPPY music and s**t!--You need a new field of play!

Sounds like you had a great visit---

Crap, we have the largest "Blues" fest in the country happening this coming weekend, and there is literally NOBODY I care to go see!---Maybe some for curiosity's sake, but nothing that moves me AT ALL---that is pretty sad---maybe that just means I'm out of touch---but, I know I'm not going this year---unless I missed someone in the lineup that I just HAVE to go see. How about Otis Rush? Junior Watson? Eric and Ryan? MonsterMike? James Harman? T-Birds? I wish they would just be honest and call it a 'Music' Festival, instead of a 'Blues' Festival---I think it just gives most of the audience a twisted idea of what 'Blues' really might be, and makes it harder for those that are at least trying to lay down something rooted in the traditional, old school styles...JMO
I know there are some big names coming, but I'm just not excited...
rant over---flame away if you want--

ac

Crocodile Andre

06-26-2006, 08:39 AM

Crap, we have the largest "Blues" fest in the country happening this coming weekend, and there is literally NOBODY I care to go see!....

I wish they would just be honest and call it a 'Music' Festival, instead of a 'Blues' Festival---I think it just gives most of the audience a twisted idea of what 'Blues' really might be, and makes it harder for those that are at least trying to lay down something rooted in the traditional, old school styles...JMO
I know there are some big names coming, but I'm just not excited...
rant over---flame away if you want-- ac

Down here in sunny old Oz the biggest so called Blues Fest is the Byron Bay Blues Festival and I've been thinking for years that is just wrong to be calling it a Blues Festival when at least 90% of the acts have no connection to Blues at all - except of course unless you are comparing it with twisted version that has been fed to you in the past.

I think that many of the people who are down on Blues haven't actually heard much blues at all. What they've heard is Blues Rock and/or big time rock stars getting back to the roots maaan. IMO most of that is dull boring sh*t and has very little to do with blues anyway.

So AC rant away. You are entitled to your opinion and I for one agree with it --- flame me as well if you want

mikelaw

06-26-2006, 10:29 AM

jr was doing one in honesdale,pa. not sure about the others, they all stink lately. id love to play one but all of the fests never got back to my press pack/dvd. oh vwell. i wouldnt do one without the cash though unless it was HUGE exposure. i have a new lease on 'free' or cheap gigs. my musicians wont settle for doing free gigs, so after a few years of doing them i decided if i cant beat my guys into doing them i might as well join them in NOT agreeing to play for nothing.

mikelaw

06-26-2006, 11:22 AM

http://solidbodyguitar.com/pedals.htm tube screamers. $650 each....WOW.

fretshop

06-26-2006, 11:35 AM

Two Feets: It was great to meet you and your dad at Ryles. My cousin Mike from Lowell who you met is a big blues fan and has been following Racky and Mike Welch for some time. He also had a blast. Yes...the scenery was awesome..."lactation nation" to put it mildly. I also had a very nice time hanging out with the honey sitting next to your dad at the bar. The band cooked all night long. Nick had some awesome tone coming out of that Juke amp, and Racky had the audience in his pocket. He can really work a crowd.

I know what you mean about moving back to New England. the Blues scene in New Jersey is D-E-A-D. Only two wanna be blues clubs left in the state, and they are both pathetic. If I could transfer my state government position to New England, I'd be up there in a heart beat.

I'm honored that you liked the No-Caster. Tommy Rosamond found me a very old, resonant piece of wide grain South Eastern Swamp Ash for the body that rings when you tap it. FYI, the fretboard radius is about 18", the frets are Dunlop #6000, shaped and dressed to my specs, and the neck and body finish were done with a very thin custom clear coat that feels nice and slick even in the hottest weather. The profile took quite a bit of shaping, but I love it. I mixed the butterscotch tint for the body and the amber tint for the by using a photo of an early No-Caster as a guide. I'm bringing that particular guitar to K.C. with me.

Check your e-mail.

zappafrank

06-27-2006, 02:52 AM

Fret---man, I'd LOVE to see some pics of your No-Caster! (Hint Hint...)

Sure wish I could have been there---I think I'll try to make arrangements for a vacation back east next year---get the heck out of dodge, and try to coordinate w/ TwoFeets, and hopefully others, who might wanna go to Mass. at the same time---and I'd finally get to see some of you cats--

BTW--Sean, your skills at photography are truly amazing---you could make a serious living at--"STILL LIFE: GUITAR!"

Mikelaw---there comes a time when you have to decide NOT to sell yourself so short by playing for free, no matter what everyone says about how you should just play because 'you love to play---it's art, and you can't put a monetary value on that.'---If I had a nickle for everytime...
Screw that, man---you put the blood, sweat, soul, tears, hours and years of listening and practicing this 'art', you should damn well get something in return, at least a good percentage of the time---then, it really IS for fun and personal satisfaction when you DECIDE you will play for free, or go to jams, or whatever. Of course, if you don't WANT any financial compensation, that's a different story...Of course, as we all know, it's getting more and more difficult to get ANY paying gigs, so you could look at it as someone is LUCKY to get paid, these days---
I guess I look at it this way---a person goes to college for 4 to 8 years or so, and society expects them to come out of there and get paid for their acquired expertise. But someone (a self-taught musician, perhaps) is drawn to 'studying' music for 20 or more years, is expected to use their acquired expertise to practically give it away for other's enjoyment (and, admittedly, their own personal satisfaction)...I dunno---sounds like a pretty crappy deal to me.
By the above rant, can you tell I just quit my Thursday gigs? Getting paid $35.00 every week for a year and a half or longer has finally taken it's toll...I think it came to a head when this SUPER drunken old broad was dancing, and of course, tripped over the monitor, mic stand, and, yep, my Epiphone archtop that was 'safely' out of the way--It's fine, but that kinda did it for me, as this had happened too often before . I got a couple more to do, and it now feels like I'm going to the f'n dentist, instead of going to a fun, low paying job.
Hmm, maybe I'll just totally contradict myself now, and hit up craigslist to play at someone's smokefree house 'just to jam', for a year or so. Might be truly inspiring---

Another issue about folks playing for such low wages, or free, at bars and such, is that it's usually the new bands that do this, and MUCH of the time, the musicianship level is mediocre at best...but the club owners think they are getting a 'deal', and will hire them....this will push out all the pros and semi-pros that can actually play, because they rightfully expect to get paid a fair wage for a gig. I see this all the time---undercutting of GOOD bands, and soon the club has nothing booked but shite that I would'nt see for free.

YMMV

ac

zappafrank

06-27-2006, 03:48 AM

--jeezuz---do I ever sound like a bitter old fart these days!!
Oh well---

fretshop

06-27-2006, 06:07 AM

Posted by Zappa Frank:

"Another issue about folks playing for such low wages, or free, at bars and such, is that it's usually the new bands that do this, and MUCH of the time, the musicianship level is mediocre at best...but the club owners think they are getting a 'deal', and will hire them....this will push out all the pros and semi-pros that can actually play, because they rightfully expect to get paid a fair wage for a gig. I see this all the time---undercutting of GOOD bands, and soon the club has nothing booked but shite that I would'nt see for free."

Kudos to you Zappa Frank !!

What club/Bar owners gain in economy by hiring mediocre players, they usually lose in good clientele. What alot of proprietors don't get...and what doesn't sink into their thick skulls is that people aren't sloths, or a bunch of cretins who will suffice to drink, eat, socialize (if they can hear one and other over the din of an obnoxiously loud combo) in the midst of "whatever" happens to waft off the band stand. I've witnessed more dedicated, long term patrons desert a favorite bar or club because the entertainment was cheapened. What I've learned during my thirty nine years in this business, is that an artist is portrayed by what he portrays...same goes for club owners. Any comments?

pete kanaras

06-27-2006, 07:14 AM

you get what you "pay" for. it's a fairly complicated issue, but in the end that's it in a nutshell. to digress slightly, one thing i found that always worked for me in the bands i led (not as a sideman) was to play the music we wanted to play PERIOD. no requests. unless it's something you feel like playing, and/or the (reasonable) request arrives with a $100 bill. my reasoning back then was that none of us are ever gonna get rich playing this shit so you might as well play what you want. it's so simple. it really does'nt matter man; put your entire heart and soul into the music and the people will get it. it works for me, and always has. "mustang sally"? oh, so sorry, i don't know it miss (ok, so i fibbed). haha, there's nothing they can say to you after you tell them that!

Strat-O

06-27-2006, 09:12 AM

Well. I probably ought to keep my mouth shut on this one, because I won't do anything but get everyone pissed off at me. I won't comment on the musicians, but I will comment on the clubs. Whether you guys are willing to admit it or not, there is not much interest in the world today for the style of blues that I/we like to play. And, a variety of issues have forced many clubs who don't cater to the 'mainstream' out of business. So, you're living in a fantasy world if you think a club should pay you good money to perform your 'art' even though your 'art' won't draw a paying audience.

The quality of a musician or band doesn't have much to do with how much they get paid. Its all about being able to consistently draw a paying crowd for a club. You guys are complaining about blues festivals being watered down with rock acts. Same problem there, traditional/classic blues doesn't pay the bill.

Frankly, I'm sick and tired of dealing with prima donna 'musicians' who won't leave the house for less than "x" amount of dollars. They'd rather stay home and not play if they don't get 'compensated for their art'. On the other hand, I'm just happy to find a place that will let me play the music I love to play for something in return. Picasso didn't paint for the people, Picasso painted for himself and was happy to find that others enjoyed his art.

But you know I came up playing nothing but original music where I created songs the way I wanted them to sound and sang what I felt like singing about. And I performed them anywhere and anytime I could find someone willing to let me do it. It wasn't about the money, it was about the music. I'm still that way. I'm also mature enough to know that club owners are running businesses and I can't expect them to lose money just to support my 'art'.

Maybe one day, classic blues will be popular again, and we can all collect good money for the years of time and effort we have put into our music. It will happen, but what are you going to do until then? You fight for the best paying gigs you can get. Try to create something unique with your music that will draw a crowd. Give everything you've got on stage. Don't ever forget that you may be good, but not really all that great.

However, I don't walk away from any opportunity to play obscure blues tunes that no ones ever heard all night long. And I keep trying to create a 'marketable product' out of this obscure stuff that I love that will help get better paying gigs. The Bluehearts and Racky's guys have done a good job of this...creating something to attract attention and using it to their advantage. Although, I'm sure they would love for the scene to be more conducive as well.

Now see I've broken down and gotten onto the musician subject. One things for sure. You've got to do what makes you happy with your music. I've got to do the same. Its the only way to be happy with your life.

HappyValley

06-27-2006, 09:35 AM

Fretshop/Twofeets-
GREAT seeing the two of you at Ryles; Glad it sounded good from where you were sitting . Dave Maxwell did a heck of a job I thought...playing with a master like him elevates everybody to the next level. He expressed a lot of interest in doing more gigs with us, so I'm sure we'll take him up on it if the club payout is right.
Mike Law- Just got your email....did that show happen yet? Lemme know, dude.

nmontz

06-27-2006, 10:21 AM

Here is a pretty good blues fest! I've been attending every year since 93'

http://www.mvbs.org/fest.htm#06sked

pete kanaras

06-27-2006, 10:54 AM

nmontz, if you're there early on saturday please come by the bandshell stage at 2, because i'll be on it. gonna be a great day of music in lovely davenport. gotta find me a bix t-shirt too....

pete

Scott Miller

06-27-2006, 11:13 AM

8 Bold Souls at a blues festival. I like that.

zappafrank

06-27-2006, 11:42 AM

Strat-o...You know I respect ya and stuff---but that flowery language
about playin' what you love and understanding that classic blues won't grab a club/audience just does not fly with me---our 'art', CAN draw a paying audience, and if it does'nt, then I guess I'm as willing to stay home and play with T-Bone/BB records like the rest---our 'art' may indeed require that we have to try/play/present more conviction/ than other 'accepted commercial' styles, but by now, it's FRESH to an audience that's been exposed to the crap that seems to pass as blues---
If you are sick of all these players that will not leave the house unless they get paid "x" amount, then I guess you can count me in that group now, sadly. I'm happy for you if it is still all for the 'joy' of it, and damn the compensation---but I have to disagree w/ your Picasso analogy---he did not care one ratf--k if you or I dug his art---in fact, he was the quintessential Prima Donna!---I guess I'm following his lead, now...I'm in fantastic company...

And BTW, if you are making a living, or adding to your 'financial, personal, happiness profile' playing original music, doing your own creations and playing mostly what you feel to people that are willing to listen (whether they pay you, or not...)--then you are in a much better position than almost anyone I've met (but not all, of course...)
I love original music (well, with SOME discriminating caveats, of course!), and would like to hear your offerings---my first recorded tunes that will be available soon do not have any of my original offerings---but then again, I do not think my originals can really hold their own if you compare it to truly great music---that's just me being realistic about my 'talent', or lack thereof...

Guess I'm ready now, finally, to live in my little 'Fantasy World' and expect clubs to pay, well, not GOOD money, but FAIR money to play whatever the hell it is I'm playing---and yes, it is mostly in the 'obscure blues' vein, but I'm ok with that---we did create our own smallish crowd at that Thursday dive---the regulars before abandoned us---hated blues, hated harp, we did'nt know/play their faves, etc...but we had a decent, self-made crowd, eventually---you can teach SOME old dogs OLD tricks!

OK---this prima donna is off the box---I'm pretty sure I FELL off, and broke my penis----

Strat-o- (chris...) you KNOW I love ya man---I'm just digging in a different ditch for now, I guess...
Maybe the real bottom line, is that-----Blues folks (in general) are TERRIBLE at martketing the music as a 'product'---It's just a bit too personal, in the long run..

ac

jetlag

06-27-2006, 11:46 AM

Pete, sorry I missed you in KC bro. The food poisoning thang turned out to be a full bore viral rot that nailed pretty much everyone in the household. I even had to skip the Campbell Bros gig on Saturday. Hope the Davenport gig goes well - we'll catch you next time thru for sure.

George, because of the above, I wasn't able to snag your 5E5A head and take it out Sunday night. We'll have to do the official inaugaration this Sunday.

Regarding gigs, money and clubs ........ I think Mike Buck was onto something when he incorporated (full time from the story I heard) two go go dancers in his stage act. If that doesn't bring 'em in ..................

zappafrank

06-27-2006, 11:51 AM

Jetlag---OUCH!!! Hope you are mucho better now---yucky!
And If we could afford go go's, we'd ALL do it---or if we were all really GOOD LOOKING and could 'hire' them for free....hmmmm.

Add to my ramblings:---i've been drinking at happy hour (7:30 am...graveyards, you know...)---so take all my s--t as a grain of s--t...ok you can switch the words!)

ac

jimfog

06-27-2006, 12:06 PM

The way I see it, it's not really an either/or situation........

Yes, the straight blues audience is dwindling, but that doesn't mean we have to JUST play SRV, etc covers.

But, a whole night of unfamiliar music is asking a lot from any audience.

SO, why not mix in a few tunes that people might recognize and love, as a hook, to get them to check out the rest of what you're putting down? No law against doing "Pride and Joy", "Thrill is Gone", "Stormy", "Red House", etc, in your OWN style, is there?

A spoonfull of sugar helps the medicine, they say.

OR.....if you're not comfortable with that, your act better be DAMNED entertaining.........not just "hey man, watch me pour out my soul on this slow blues" stuff.

Above all, we need to remember when on any stage, no matter the size or venue, we're ENTERTAINERS. Everyone seems to ignore that aspect these days. The "real deal" blues legends we loved knew all about it.....every one of them knew how to work a room. No audience owes you anything.........you have to get up there and EARN it, brother. And don't forget, people's attention span is getting shorter and shorter, so you better grab them quick!

Now, having said all that, I will admit there's a disturbing lack of vision from most clubs and bookers these days......very few are willing (able?) to make a long-term committment to music even slightly outside the mainstream. That's needed as well.

My jump/blues band does real well at swing dances, outdoor summer-type fests and even occasional corporate events........but have a HARD time in local bars and clubs. That's just silly....obviously people dig us, when given the shot.

So, yeah....demand respect, demand a decent wage.........but we ALL need to be prepared to "sing for our dinner". Remember, even a little reaching out to your audience goes a LONG way.

A subject near and dear to my heart.......

-Jim

mikelaw

06-27-2006, 12:08 PM

you guys have any friends like this?....you burn them cds to turn them onto really hip stuff and they end up hating everything you burn them. Or you ask them how it was and they tell you they havent even listened to the cd like 3 weeks after the fact?

Oh yea, and then you ask them to burn stuff for you that you are all excited to get after SOOO LONG and they NEVER send you the cds they promised you?

i know someone like that! rrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhh!

Strat-O

06-27-2006, 12:12 PM

Strat-O

06-27-2006, 12:18 PM

Mike...I hope its not me who owes you a CD!!! :-)

Speaking of club owners with a vision...I'll second and third the recommendation for the new Antone's video. It is nothing short of incredible. What a moving and inspirational story of a man who loved the blues. Makes you realize that there are others around like you, but Clifford Antone was something special. And so was, or maybe is, his club. It is just a killer movie with outrageous performances from the greatest performers in the blues. I could blather on for an hour about it. Its just totally killer. Totally.

zappafrank

06-27-2006, 12:18 PM

er...Mikelaw---I think TwoFeets can relate to that...via ME---I have, like, 5 or 6 JUST SITTING here!---waiting to be mailed---I'm such a loser!

jimfrog---you speak some wisdom...I'll have to respond (since I started this damn blither!!!) as soon as I am sober and thoughtful...I'll get back to you in September, then...

I guess I agree--The Bad Samaritans---my 'alternate ego band'---def. plays some 'classics'---including-GASP---Roadhouse Blues!!! (f--k, just shoot me...)---although that usually features a LOT of x rated stuff from the bass/singer---people suck it up no matter how often he uses the "C" word---I can't get away w/ that...and I listen to FZ, for chrissakes!!!---he must be better looking....

ac

---told ya I'd been drinkin'

zappafrank

06-27-2006, 12:24 PM

AC - Nothing personal here either...we're ALL frustrated. Me included. I'm just Johnny Optimism about stuff like this most of the time. Its an affliction I have at times. Can't seem to shake it.

Interestingly enough, although folks have never (usually) heard the music we play, at every gig at least one person comes up to us and says "man, I don't really like blues but you guys are GREAT". If we could just get 200 hundred of those folks at every gig, we'd be all set! And so would the club!

Cleanhead was around here for a time. He struggled to get into the scene as talented as he is.

Yep...frustrated...I always thought that was a reference to LACK OF SEX!--Now I know the truth...keep your optimism, bottle some, and sell it to ME for a large profit!

your quote of that 'lone audience member' rings so true---and on certain nights, I admit, it can make it all worthwhile (except the bit*h knocking over my 50's Epi!!!:mad:

OK---enough 'gig-hatin'' from me---where can I get this C. Antone DVD? I must have it!

ac

pete kanaras

06-27-2006, 12:54 PM

yikes jet! man that sucks, hope you're all past it by now. talked to paulie last night and george last week boy are they fired up for this weekend; sure wish i could be there. tremendous crowd at BB's last saturday; man a gig like that can keep ya going for a couple of weeks worth of crap gigs afterwards. i sure do love that place. to me, lindsey shannon is a lot like clifford; pure passion for the music, and also the food. what a gem of a guy. that band mike buck had was called The Naughty Ones, and from what i was told they had the chicks sometimes dancing behind a sheer black backdrop, backlight. toooo cool!

i'm popping in the antone's dvd right after lunch, just got it

mikelaw

06-27-2006, 12:57 PM

haha----no its none of you guys. i was just messing with someone on here. 'our fearless leader' :)

im just a big baby/prima donna. wwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!~

TwoFeets

06-27-2006, 02:14 PM

We've largely gotten out of the "playing for the door" and that sort of thing and we do have a "minimum." We're a little flexible, but we've quit playing for free. By flexbility.. for example, there is one local bar that features blues, and the owners really do give a crap about the music and the musicians as well as making a buck. They provide a good environment in which to play and they treat you well when you're there; they make you feel like something other than just hired help. That goes a long way. They're a small venue and thus not able to pay as much as we'd always like to make, but we're willing to work with them simply because the vibe there is great, and because they don't make us feel like stepchildren. Also, they actually bumped their average pay per night up by $100 recently because the club has caught on and is doing well, so we do feel like there's some give and take.

What really sticks in my craw is places like Hard Rock Live and the HOB main stage hire 4 bands in a night, hand out tickets to the bands, and your only pay is $1 for every ticket that comes in the door with your name on it. These are multimillion dollar corporations and they won't even shed a couple of C-notes to help pay for entertainment.
They put zero effort into it and get you to play in there.... you promote the show FOR them at NO cost to them, and bring YOUR people in to drink THEIR beer without shelling out any dough of their own. I'm sorry, but if SOMEONE is making money off my being onstage, then I want to get paid too, period.

My demand to be paid for my efforts really doesn't have a lot to do with any sort of artistic notions. The reality is I'm married and I have two kids, one who just turned 2 years old. Let's say a typical gig night starts at 6 PM with packing equipment and getting on the road, and ends at 2 AM when you get home. That's a a whole 8 hours I'm away from my family, wife, kids, etc. That $12 an hour or whatever turns out to be, is the only way I can reasonably justify the hobby.

Bluewail

06-27-2006, 02:15 PM

Hi Guys
Been lurking for a bit and don't want to derail things here but I did want to extend an invitation to anyone who might live in or be visiting No. California Bay Area to stop by the Blues Jam at The Little Fox Theater in Redwood City. It's every 2nd and 4th Wed of the month, 7-11 PM and hosted by Kenny Blue Ray and his band with me doing the cat-herding duties. It's a gorgeous 250 capacity old theater with a big stage, nice bar, great gear and a very warm, receptive and knowledgeable blues audience. We have been very fortunate to have had an incredible # of guests come through to liven up the festivites including, Kenny Neal, Kid Anderson, John Nemeth, Jimmy Dewrance, Taylor P. Collins, Chris Cobb, Rene' Solis, Ron Thompson, and the man with twenty-five flying fingers (or at least it looks that way), Scott Miller, to mention just a few. It's a good one and y'all are welcome anytime.

Cliff

06-27-2006, 06:23 PM

Hi guys - I've been lurking on this page for months, mostly picking up on cool suggestions for music. Thanks much for all the info. I'm wondering if someone can help me identify a guitar. Most of you will know this cold. It's a Harmony "H" guitar, but I can't figure out which model it is. Single neck pup, cool bakelite knobs..... There isn't any kind of stamp on the inside of the box (where it should be, I understand). So, here's a picture. I can post more if necessary.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/Kliff/top.jpg

Strat-O

06-27-2006, 06:36 PM

Good grief, that thing is beautiful. Immaculate. We have a couple of real Harmony experts, but I think its an H50. DukeH62 knows I bet. Look on page 3, Jr Watson playing one like it except his is missing a few parts. NC Slim has one of those too.

Cliff

06-27-2006, 06:51 PM

I saw that picture of Jr., but couldn't make out the details of the guitar. I don't know too much about the Harmonys. I bought this one on a lark a few years ago, thinking I was going to get into swing. That never happened, and I continue to play in an "English style" blues band...the stuff that killed me in the mid-60s. Not really suitable for a fat hollow body like the Harmony.

dukeh62

06-27-2006, 07:13 PM

nc slim

06-27-2006, 07:39 PM

I think it is called an H 64 jazz artist I have one. good at low volumes not enough hi's w out neck p u. You can get the old Willie Johnson sound w it on the old Sun and wolf sessions

dukeh62

06-27-2006, 07:55 PM

I think it is called an H 64 jazz artist I have one. good at low volumes not enough hi's w out neck p u. You can get the old Willie Johnson sound w it on the old Sun and wolf sessions

Right Slim it's an H65...the H61 is the same guitar but the Silvertone model

This page has got some great info. (http://216.219.212.85/Harmony/Discriptions.htm) There's a link to catalog pages at the top too.

nc slim

06-27-2006, 08:06 PM

it is an h65 the data base has some pix of it

Dave Orban

06-27-2006, 08:14 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/Kliff/top.jpg
Schwinggg....!!! :drool

fretshop

06-28-2006, 06:14 AM

Early H-65. on that model, the easiest way to date an un stamped instrument is by the hardware. During the early 50's Silvertone and Harmony used the chocolate Bakelite volume and tone knobs from their post war lap steels, and an out dated Gibson trapeze tail piece. The pots on the early to mid 50's "H-65" usually had a solid shaft, and were excellent quality. Slim has a nice one. We both played it at an Anson gig in Brevard N.C. almost two years ago. It sounded punchy with a nice smooth break up out of Anson's red Dr. Z Maz 38. I put the "H" down, used Anson's ES-5 for one song, the picked up Slim's "H" again...played much easier. Then Slim got up and kicked every body's ass.

valcotone

06-28-2006, 10:32 AM

hey Cliff - welcome. I agrew with everyone, if it has Harmony on the headstock then it's an older H65, probably around '53-54 or so. Most of these you see on ebay are blonde with a nice flamey top, but the sunburst sure looks classy!

Harmony also made a variation with dot-neck inlays for Silvertone called an H61 (also may have beenknown as the S1352). If I remember, there are a couple of pics of Troy Gonyea using one in the liners for his solo CD.

And, the new Hollywood Blues Flames features a babe holding one that has 2 P90s installed... it's different since it has "Silvertone" on the headstock but block inlays - I haven't seen that before.

You can see a pic of my H61 on p5 with the two P90s installed. They are GREAT guitars.

Poppa Stoppa

06-28-2006, 12:32 PM

I've been digging those Blueshearts clips on YouTube - thanks Eric/Ryan! Great playing!

It has been a couple of interesting days - hopefully I'll be able to report on how that H62 that was for sale round these parts sounds next week some time...oh man!

dukeh62

06-28-2006, 12:35 PM

I've been digging those Blueshearts clips on YouTube - thanks Eric/Ryan! Great playing!

Oh crap...they've been spotted. Well, certainly isn't my best work, but figured what the hell. It's about all we got on video.

fretshop

06-28-2006, 02:14 PM

Eric...you couldn't have a bad day on guitar if you tried.

dukeh62

06-28-2006, 02:17 PM

Eric...you couldn't have a bad day on guitar if you tried.

Fretshop: Thank man...but I think you witnessed one of my worst at Bar A a few months ago!!! When are we gonna see you at one of our shows?

Cliff

06-28-2006, 03:00 PM

Thanks for all the info on the guitar, guys. I knew this would be the place to ask. That Harmony site you led me to is pretty cool. I see that the only thing that doesn't match with the H65 pictures on the site is the tail piece on my guitar. Unfortunately, the reason I'm learning about the guitar is that I must sell it. I'll try here on TGP first, and then (ugh) ebay if I have to. If anyone that follows this page is interested, shoot me an email.

dukeh62, this thread hipped me to your CD, Oh Yeah. Great album, man.

dukeh62

06-28-2006, 03:06 PM

Scott Miller

06-28-2006, 03:20 PM

Cliff, there's a Harmony forum, with some of the same jokers you see here, at:

http://216.219.212.85/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi

They are Harmony addicts over there; you might be able to take advantage of that.

Poppa Stoppa

06-28-2006, 03:23 PM

Cliff, this looks like yours:
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/ted149/H65_12.jpg
It's from the photos on this page from the Harmony database site:
http://harmony.demont.net/modele.php?id=179

Eric - wish my good days sounded half as good as your off days!

Cliff

06-28-2006, 04:12 PM

Poppa Stoppa - Yup, same tailpiece and everything. Just blonde instead of burst. Thanks, man.

Scott - Thanks for the heads up on the Harmony site. I'd do almost anything not to deal with ebay. At this point, I'm just trying to get what I've got into it....and find it a good home.

Thanks again, lads. I'll still be lurking in the background....

mikelaw

06-28-2006, 06:30 PM

great clips eric/ryan. im so blessed to have such HIP friends! xoxo

Strat-O

06-28-2006, 07:30 PM

How the heck do you get the whole band to dress up like that? Around here its the 'just roamed in off the street' look on stage. I'm like the Lone Ranger.

fretshop

06-29-2006, 06:32 AM

Fretshop: Thank man...but I think you witnessed one of my worst at Bar A a few months ago!!! When are we gonna see you at one of our shows?

Now that I'm feeling better, I can get around more. The problem at this point is that all leaves have been cancelled, and the state government may shut down by close of business tomorrow...I'm conserving my $$$ until we find out what the governor has in store for us. I'll try and call you tonight if I remember. (you never call...you never write...still no baby pictures...but that's O.K.)

Strat-O

06-29-2006, 06:47 AM

I can't make the big party this Saturday. We have a gig that night and I have not been successful at rescheduling it. Kinda dissappointing.

fretshop

06-29-2006, 11:11 AM

I can't make the big party this Saturday. We have a gig that night and I have not been successful at rescheduling it. Kinda dissappointing.

Yeah, I'm bummed out that I can't make it either. We're sitting here in our state offices waiting for the axe to fall.

Scott Miller

06-29-2006, 11:19 AM

Anyone heard of LA harp player Chris "Hammer" Smith? We're opening for him on Saturday at JJ's. Various write-ups look encouraging.

mikelaw

06-29-2006, 11:42 AM

i wonder how he got THAT nickname?

mikelaw

06-29-2006, 11:52 AM

you decide!

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/269/empwalpaypal5my.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6546/watbfront2yk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Scott Miller

06-29-2006, 01:39 PM

Har!

Hey, I know those guys (School of the Blues). I took lessons from John Garcia for a while. They're all really good players, and they obviously have excellent graphic design taste.

Strat-O

06-29-2006, 01:57 PM

Yes, as I stand on stage Saturday night trying desperately to be relevant, I will be thinking of you Jetlag having the BIRTHDAY EVENT OF A LIFETIME! Then I'll guilt trip my band for missing the party and staying here with them to do my duty; and try to be relevant. :messedup

mikelaw

06-29-2006, 02:18 PM

i think im gonna get a lollar mini humbucker and have my repair guy put it in my stratotone bridge position! what do yas think? hes gonna have to rout it.

valcotone

06-29-2006, 02:33 PM

Mike - Why not hold out for a DeArmond pickup? You see them occasionally on ebay... here's a Gold Foil that is exactly the same size as an H44 pickup, but will have more output (might be just fine for a bridge pickup):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Dearmond-Harmony-goldfoil-guitar-pickup_W0QQitemZ150002204983QQihZ005QQcategoryZ226 70QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

RickyKing

06-29-2006, 02:36 PM

dukeh62

06-29-2006, 03:08 PM

Hey Mikey,
I found a 1955 Exact Stratotone pickup on ebay.
I also have a blown gold foil Dearmond you could have
Lindy or someone rewind. IMHO that would be cooler than the Mini H-bucker.
:angel
BTW the Harmony that Troy was holding on his Album cover,and I think J.B. has now used to be mine....
Wish I had it back!

Ricky...you don't even want to know the "rock n' roll" treatment I've seen that guitar take!!! Lets just say I don't think it has spent much time on a guitar stand.

Scott Miller

06-29-2006, 04:29 PM

I'm now the considerably impoverished owner of a two-pickup H-44, formerly owned by Jr. Watson. I went over to Kedar's house the other night and played it. It's a bitchen guitar.

- Scott M

dukeh62

06-29-2006, 05:13 PM

I'm now the considerably impoverished owner of a two-pickup H-44, formerly owned by Jr. Watson. I went over to Kedar's house the other night and played it. It's a bitchen guitar.

- Scott M

Great Scott!!! Man, I knew that thing would collect high dollars. No surprise that one of us nutcases got it. Enjoy, can't wait to hear the full report!

mikelaw

06-29-2006, 05:42 PM

congrats, i hope you like big necks. :)

mikelaw

06-29-2006, 05:52 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4EkxRGqVUDk&search=quinn%20sullivan

killer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

zappafrank

06-29-2006, 08:04 PM

scott--aww, man---good for you---i sent Kedar a bunch of emails, but after 1200.00, I just had to back away---too rich for my blood!
You had better bring it up here to Portland, if you ever come back!!
Let me know if you do---I'll call in sick to work LOL!

Congratulations, Scott---that's TWO Watson geetars off of Ebay now owned by thread members this week!!---cool stuff, man-

ac

zappafrank

06-29-2006, 08:28 PM

Scott---er, BTW, I checked the feedback of the winner---are you also a doll collecter, as well as guitars?? Whaddup?---those cornhusk nurse dolls are pretty SCARY!!

ac

Scott Miller

06-30-2006, 03:18 AM

Heh heh... My wife likes weird old dolls, so every few years I get a bunch of them off of ebay for her birthday. The cornhusk dolls are four nuns performing open-heart surgery on another nun.

OK, so I dd a gig tonight at JJ's with the H-44. My my my... Naturally thick and juicy tone. Thick neck, too, but I played nothing but a classical guitar for 25 years, so the H-44 is still gravy by comparison. Action is very slightly higher than I'm used to, but nothing majorly high.

Neck pickup is teriffic, middle position is nice and out-of-phaseish groinky; great for chords. Bridge pickup is wicked, the only problem with the bridge pickup is that the high E string is noticably not as loud as the rest. I'll try tweaking the pickup height.

- Scott M

dukeh62

06-30-2006, 06:48 AM

Heh heh... I'll try tweaking the pickup height.

- Scott M

The one mod I did to my H44 was I had the permanent mounting rivots on the pickup removed and replaced with adjustable screws with springs. I actually HAD to do this b/c the high E string was bottoming out on the pickup from the 12th fret up. I'm assuming Junior mounted his to be adjustable?

Stringmaster

06-30-2006, 07:18 AM

I was in the game for Junior's H44 in the morning--I threw in a bid and was high bidder when I left for an out of town gig, not knowing if I would be the winner by the time I got home. Well...congrats Scott on your new axe--it's a cool one!
DD

mikelaw

06-30-2006, 07:28 AM

uh oh. the drama begins. :)

TwoFeets

07-01-2006, 06:50 AM

I think the Fatdog might be going up on the market soon. Got GAS bad for something else... Will probably be asking $750 for it shipped w/case. You guys get advance notice! :)

dukeh62

07-01-2006, 10:17 AM

I think the Fatdog might be going up on the market soon. Got GAS bad for something else... Will probably be asking $750 for it shipped w/case. You guys get advance notice! :)

What's the GAS for?

Mikelaw and I went to see Sugar Ray Norcia sing with the Mystic Horns last night. The horns have a few ex-Roomful guys, along with Neil Gouvin on drums and Matt McCabe on piano. Was some SWINGIN' old school jump blues and swing. Had a guitar player but he pretty much just comped rhythm all night.

Here are a few pics (http://photocast.mac.com/ericducoff/iPhoto/mystic-horns/index.rss)

TwoFeets

07-01-2006, 11:39 AM

What's the GAS for?

I'm after a local piece that's been hanging around a long time.

mikelaw

07-01-2006, 11:50 AM

your link is dead on my pc eric. here is one photo i took.

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/8215/63006mystichorns0048fq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

mikelaw

07-01-2006, 11:51 AM

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/41/63006mystichorns00113by.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

nmontz

07-01-2006, 12:24 PM

Man what a great weekend of music here in the Midwest. Last Night at the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest I saw the Mannish Boys. Johnny Dyer, Finis Tasby, Leon Blue on Piano, Richard Innes, Tom Leavey, and Randy Chortkoff on Harp along with Dyer. Guitar duties were Rusty Zinn AND Kid Ramos! Kid Ramos was on fire! Kid was playing a cs 57 MK strat into a vox ac-30 and a victoria bassman, but I don't think it was in the mix much. Rusty was using a tokai les paul gt copy with humbuckers into what looked like a victoria twin. He even used a crybaby waw for a few songs!

I'm just getting ready to head out the door for the drive down to KC and Jetlag's B-day bash with Jr. Watson, Lee McBee, Cleanhead, and who knows who else! (sorry I had to miss you Pete at the fest!)

If I survive all the driving I might make it back to the blues fest on Sunday to see James Cotton with Darrell Nulisch. I saw them about a month ago. Nulish is one of my favorite vocalists! I bought all his cd's at that show and they haven't left my cd player...especially "The Whole Truth" and "Times like these" with Johnny Moeller playing guitar.

Wow, what a weekend of music! The Mannish boys knocked my socks off and I'm really looking forward to Jr. and Jetlag tonight!

I just thought I'd post a quick plug for the Mannish Boys!

Dave Orban

07-01-2006, 12:55 PM

I'm after a local piece that's been hanging around a long time.
I think I may have dated her once.

HappyValley

07-01-2006, 01:23 PM

[quote=nmontz]If I survive all the driving I might make it back to the blues fest on Sunday to see James Cotton with Darrell Nulisch. I saw them about a month ago. Nulish is one of my favorite vocalists! I bought all his cd's at that show and they haven't left my cd player...especially "The Whole Truth" and "Times like these" with Johnny Moeller playing guitar.

[quote]

Tell Darrell I said 'Hi' if you talk to him....I got a bunch of promo from Severn to book more stuff w/ him here in the New England for the fall/winter. Moeller is a killer player - tough trying to fill those shoes on stage w/Darrell, I'll tell ya.
I'm extremely jealous of the kick ass weekend you're having man! Soak it all in! Mannish Boys- what a band!
( Ramos is easily one of my top 5 faves along w/Junior & Rusty, of course;Kid has a way of making any Fender sound as tone-y and warm as a 40's spruce top jazzbox. Amazing.)

Scott Miller

07-01-2006, 11:16 PM

The official H-44 report, after two gigs. The neck pickup is definitely all that and more. Different from anything I've played before. I raised one side of the bridge pickup, so the sound is more even. It's not perfectly even, but good enough. If I raise it any more, the E string, as you say, bottoms out. The neck position has rivets, bridge has adjustment screws.

Anyway, it's a mighty powerful bridge pickup, but... it doesn't quite have that other-wordly magic that the neck pickup has. It's a wild, rich sound, but I like a P-90s/P-13 bridge pickup just a little better. So there you go; an H-44 with a P-90 in the bridge... that would be something. Maybe even one of those goldtones.

Well, maybe I'll like the bridge pickup better the more I fool with it. But having a neck pickup like that; it's like, why eat a really good burger when you have a steak?

Still, it's great to have a middle/bridge position for certain songs, and definitely when things get out of control, volume-wise, and you need something sharper to cut through.

Neck-wise, it's very playable. It's not as effortless as my Strat or Heritage, but it's easier to play than my H-62 neck. I love the weightlessness too, it's like a toy.

Respectfully submitted,

- Scott M

dukeh62

07-02-2006, 07:36 AM

Congrats Scott! Glad to hear you like it! And yes, those H44 neck pickups are magical. Just huge!!! I've been playing mine quite a bit lately, and when I plugged my goldtop in at a gig recently I couldn't believe how much thinner it sounded then the H44. What's even more wierd, as we've all stated before, is that they actually have a really LOW meter reading.

dukeh62

07-02-2006, 07:38 AM

Okay...COME ON ALREADY!!!! Give us a goddamn report on the Jetlag/Watson extravaganza!!! I've been up for three hours already...I want a report, pics, etc. I don't care if you guys were up all night partying. Let's hear about it!!!

mikelaw

07-02-2006, 07:40 AM

morning duke! youre up early! :)

Strat-O

07-02-2006, 09:26 AM

No doubt man. Stop holding out on us already!

GOLDENSTRAT

07-02-2006, 10:24 AM

Yes, Happy Birthday Jetlag!! You have the best present/party going in musical history! ( well, maybe JFK had a good one too) .
Is it illegal to put fret markers on an Airline Rocket? I get lost on dark stages too easily. What paint is best?
Happy 4th, Fred

valcotone

07-02-2006, 10:45 AM

Scott - Thanks for the report on the Junior-a-tone H44, sounds like a fine axe!

Jetlag - Happy birthday!! What a bash!! :AOK

valcotone

07-02-2006, 10:56 AM

hi guys... Just wanted to give a heads-up on this Valco/Supro amp that might go cheap on ebay. I have the English Electronics version that I've posted a pic of before. Mine is actually a 15" combo and I think this one is too. The seller says it needs work, so buyer beware - but it's a very nice sounding amp with thick fat tone that just rips when cranked up. Dual 6L6s in the output with various octal pre-amp tubes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280000878012

http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3634912/1151415558761_Picture_004.jpg

Stringmaster

07-02-2006, 11:31 AM

I'm lovin' my Silvertone Newport Stratotone--these pickups rule--I love the way they push the amp! I'm really a two pickup guy, but it's amazing how much variation you can get, just by adjusting your picking. It definately draws attention--folks want to know if it's a "real" guitar, and "how come that one's so much smaller than the other one!" And it's got ten more time the wood in the neck versus the body, plus it's screaming yellow! Here's some pics of the rig:

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/2637/stjuke15cf.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1683/stjuke25ll.jpg

And some noodling clips that I recently did to demo the Juke, using the Stratotone:

Juke Stratotone Pentode
lo-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4037665&q=lo
hi-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4037665&q=hi

Juke Stratotone Grinder
lo-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4037798&q=lo
hi-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4037798&q=hi

DD

bobgoblin

07-02-2006, 12:36 PM

that's some nice playing...& that juke amp sound real good, too!

HappyValley

07-02-2006, 07:54 PM

Love my Juke (same colors!!)as well....can't get your Soundclips for some reason , though...Hmmm...

mikelaw

07-02-2006, 08:29 PM

great stuff. i want to get one and mod it! sounds JUST like my h44!

dukeh62

07-03-2006, 07:36 AM

great stuff. i want to get one and mod it! sounds JUST like my h44!

Do you ever NOT want to mod something? :messedup

Strat-O

07-03-2006, 08:20 AM

The guitar clips sound great man. What kind of setup did you record it with? The first clip was pentode mode...what about the second one?

Stringmaster

07-03-2006, 08:58 AM

Thanks for the compliments guys--it's tough to do soundclips--getting inspired to play some tasty blues without a band--plus it's kind of nerve wracking being on the spot trying for perfection. These are just "quick and dirty" clips that I did to give an idea of how the Juke sounds for a prior thread. Both of the clips listed were utilizing the Pentode mode, which gives them most power and "fatness"--I just cranked up the "Level" control on the second to get more dirt. Tonally there aren't huge differences between the settings. There are a lot more Juke clips up on my Soundclick page, using different guitars (and more Stratotone clips), and some with the Vibrato/Trem, and other modes (with the same guitar) for comparison. They were all recorded straight into my Edirol R1 MP3 recorder with no processing. Most were done with the built in mikes, but a couple were done with an external stereo mike. Differences you may hear are mostly due to the mike placement and the room in my house where I was set up at the time. I hope to do some more clips this summer, and be a bit more organized. Anyway, check them out:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=482706

Backalley--if you can't access that link, try going to Soundclick and searching under my name "Dana Duplan" under "Artists"--you may get them that way.

Thanks,
DD

jetlag

07-03-2006, 09:17 AM

Hi guys, thanks for the Happy B Day wishes and all. Sorry it's taken awhile for a "report" - but things have been crazy. There's some awful viral stomach rot out there that raged thru our family before Junior's arrival. Then once here, my extended family got it from our 18 month old boy. That made Saturday evening/Sunday morning an all nighter. After the show I had to take my brother to the emergency room, got 4 hours of sleep yesterday, then played last night etc.

But it was cool! Junior is a real engaging, friendly, open cat that's really fun to hang out with. He's really cool about helping anyone out (musically) that is interested in the real stuff. Junior started the gig off on my '56 goldtop thru a 'verb, a '57 pro and a '60 bassman. After a couple tunes he gave up on the goldtop as apparently it was tuned up to F. So he played this '59 strat I have (with Dave Stephens pickups) the rest of the night. If I end up getting clips up on the board, that will be the rig he used. He never went back to the goldtop because that whole deal knocked him out of sorts a little bit.

Scott, congrads on the H44 "junior-tone". I was too cautious and didn't bid on it. I figured it was a dud that junior was moving. However, I talked to him about it after the auction and it wasn't. Actually he said he never got to gig with it because someone burnt up the volume pot doing the soldering job (before you bought it, the pot is fine now). He was a little concerned about the high E thing on the back pu and asked me to tell you to try flipping the pu around - it may be in upside down or something. He also mentioned that those rivets in the top of those pickups can interfere with the magnetic field - and that you might be able to file the one down on the high E side to enhance it's tone (I would check with a pickup guy first). I asked him if maybe the string spacing in the treble position is wider - enough to screw up the magnetic field over the high E pole. He thought there might be somthing there, but wasn't sure. I just don't know the construction under the hood of those pickups to speak with any intelligence. I asked him about the doublets and the concentric pots versus the setup of your guitar - which looks like basically a tele setup of master tone and volume and a three way. He prefers the setup like your guitar because he likes 500K pots in those guitars. Junior said the concentrics are only 50K and thus don't sound as good. But again, he never really gigged with that guitar and couldn't really comment on it's tone. He did say the work came out great on it and from your descriptions, I don't doubt it. With what I know now, I wish I would have bid on it but am really glad you got it. Again, congrads!

Hey, I got a ton of stories of west coast blues guys, old blues guys, stuff to listen to, gear stuff etc that I'll be glad to post in tidbits if you guys are interested. If it gets monotanous, let me know and I'll put a lid on it. Does anyone have a stratotone for sale? Question two, how do I get my hands on Teddy Bunn stuff?

GOLDENSTRAT

07-03-2006, 09:26 AM

well, I hope that viral thing is gone from your neck of the woods. And commence with the tales already! fred

rhartt1234

07-03-2006, 09:51 AM

Question two, how do I get my hands on Teddy Bunn stuff?

Frank T is the real Teddy Bunn expert but here's a good place to start.
http://www.classicjazzguitar.com/albums/artists_albums.jsp?artist=67
I've got sme of his stuff w/ Hadda Brooks that is pretty cool.

S.W.Erdnase

07-03-2006, 09:57 AM

cool (http://www.highjohn.com/livecdUpKW.aspx)

valcotone

07-03-2006, 11:14 AM

Stringmaster - nice Newport! I have one just like it and it's a fine sounding guitar... the action is better than on my H44 too. But I think I might be parting ways with it in the next month or two pending other gear swapping... we'll see. No firm plans quite yet but I'll let you guys know if it comes up.

Jetlag - Glad the b-day bash went well, sorry to hear about the virus outbreak. That's never any fun at all. I'm willing to read as much as you're willing to type about your stories... :-)

HappyValley

07-03-2006, 02:07 PM

how do I get my hands on Teddy Bunn stuff?
Big Joe Turner on Savoy-"Have No Fear, Big Joe Turner is Here"- has Teddy Bunn on some stuff; Also that great Proper box "Hittin on All 6' has him featured.That site Ryan mentioned is great- more records to hunt down!
Stringmaster- Great clips w/the Juke! Gary Croteau just fixed a short in the footswitch on mine last week-he's a great guy to deal with.
Ryan/Eric/Mike Law/Fretshop- Billy Flynn is in town the 14th with a female singer -Nora Jean(?)-forget the last name- at Chan's- any shot of seeing you guys? I'm off that nite & may head down.

zappafrank

07-03-2006, 02:10 PM

Jetlag - Glad the b-day bash went well, sorry to hear about the virus outbreak. That's never any fun at all. I'm willing to read as much as you're willing to type about your stories... :-)

+1 on all of that!

...and put me in the 'que' re: the newport---more info??
ac

Scott Miller

07-03-2006, 03:40 PM

Thanks for the "Junior-tone" info. The Hadda Brooks CD "Blue and Boogie" has a bunch of Teddy Bunn. His solo on "That's My Desire" got me interested. His tone sometimes sounds like a sitar, which could be seen as pretty bad tone, but it's... different, anyway.

jetlag

07-03-2006, 06:35 PM

Scott - Junior just called me a minute ago and said that (again) while he hadn't played your guitar, someone I'm not familiar with - Johnny Cat - had and said it was killer. So there you go.

I reiterated something with Junior about the pots and he kinda sidestepped it: so you guys with concentric pot stratotones take all that with a grain of salt. Junior just said that you get a hotter, more distorted tone (and probably brighter) with the 500Ks. But that many of them are already distorted enough and don't need the 500Ks.

Scott, funny you should mention the Hadda Brooks stuff, Junior just told me to pick that up but said to get the "I've Got News For You" record (seems like a compilation CD) Man, Junior played what he described as the original or first version of Big Boy over the phone - I heard a II chord lick that I've been playing for awhile and wondered of the origin. I asked him what record that is on and he replied to his knowledge it's only on 45 (he may have meant 78). Other stuff Junior recommended checking out: Bill Jennings with Willis Jackson "Back 'n Forth" (then said pretty much all the Willis Jackson stuff), a Shakey Jake CD with Jennings and Brother Jack "Good Times" (comment here is that most people don't like the record, Junior loves it). On Shakey, Junior said he interviewed Jake for five hours and recorded it - asking him about all the west coast players back then. Fascinating stuff, I wish Junior would get them transcribed (I should offer to do it).

Gear note: Junior plugged into the normal "1" input on both amps Saturday night and thought I was nuts to use the bright channel. His comment was "the bright channel is the reason you're feeding back with archtops." Tweed Pro: Normal volume 4, bright channel volume off, bass on 7, treble on 6, presence on about 2 or 3. The bassman was on 3.5 with the bright channel volume off, midrange on 2 or 3, bass about 4 or 5, treble was cranked with presence on 6. The guitars had .0115, .015, .019 upto .050 on them except the archtop: 12's. So it was pretty big wire slammin the front end of the amp. On sunday night I tried his setting on the pro and it gives you and older amp tone - more of a 40's tone. Kind of like that tone Fats gets on that live stuff with Roy Brown.

In his phone call today, Junior clued me into the early Bunn stuff on CD on ebay. If you don't have it, just search on Teddy Bunn and scroll down to the ebay stores. It's like a collection of '29 to '40 stuff.

Many, many thanks to all of you guys replying with info on TB. This place is great.

zappafrank

07-03-2006, 07:01 PM

Jetlag---yer killin' me!!---All great info in that post! Keep it coming! (when your fingers get a break that is---love the amp settings and gauge info--)and yes, I would not mind a copy of that TB CD if and when you get it---all I have is the stuff on "Hittin' On All Sixx" Box...

Just a heads up--I'm seriuosly thinking of lightening my 'load'---The Victorilux 3-10", the Harmony 415 w/ 2-12's, the '80 blonde ES-175, the '40 (or '41?) ES-100 w/ CC-type pickup, maybe the Carr Rambler, maybe one of my strats---even the Pee Wee is a thought, the Duggan-Smith/ Manzer/D'Aquisto Jim Hall-esque archtop---maybe one of my p90 guitars (63 ES-330 or 56 LP RI...) the Clark outboard tweed reverb/trem unit--all are under consideration, although some more than others!!

I just want all you great folks on this King of All Threads to know first---before I actually commit to doing anything---I have NOT made any def. decisions, but somethings gonna give, one way or another---

ac

HappyValley

07-03-2006, 08:07 PM

Other stuff Junior recommended checking out: Bill Jennings with Willis Jackson "Back 'n Forth" (then said pretty much all the Willis Jackson stuff), a Shakey Jake CD with Jennings and Brother Jack "Good Times" (comment here is that most people don't like the record, Junior loves it).
FYI: That Willis Jackson stuff w/Jennings is all on the Prestige Legends of Acid Jazz series...'Back-n- Forth' is a 10 minute mind -boggling tenor v. guitar duel b/w Jennings & Jackson trading off the whole time . Funny you should mention that Shakey CD...it's cool for what it is, but it's not Jennings' best stuff to cop off of, IMHO.
Keep the info coming man!

Stringmaster

07-03-2006, 11:49 PM

Great news for us San Diego area folks--Jr. Watson with Billy Watson and James Harman on Thursday at the Coyote, and The Mighty Flyers on Friday at Stagecoach Park. I heard Holmstrom may be playing with the Flyers--anyone know?
DD

dukeh62

07-04-2006, 07:43 AM

Jetlag: Thanks for the report. Sounds like you had a killer time! So what was the set list like? And, how did he exactly "flip out" and tune the guitar up a half step?

Junior's the king of stories for sure. When we recorded with him, we played for about 4 hours and he talked for about 2 more! Just fantastic stories!

Man, I gotta save some $$$ for new CD's soon!

Strat-O

07-04-2006, 07:48 AM

Cool man, congratulations to you on the big birthday event. Sorry to hear about the plague setting in on the family.

jetlag

07-04-2006, 11:32 AM

Duke, I think Junior somehow had the goldtop in F from the start, but didn't realize it. When it was trio I think our bass player just transposed on his upright a bit, but once the harp came in that didn't work. If you need more details, email me. Anyway, Junior is a gem, played great, was a superb entertainer and was a super cool hang. I'll have to go thru the MD of the whole night to derive a set list as he doesn't operate off of one. But he played a swing instrumental, then the Kid Thomas tune, Blues After Hours ....... Later in the second set he played the surf medley with a few added twists (including purple haze), Girl With Emphesema, Certainly All, Junior's Bounce, Cuban Getaway - he kept our rhythm section on their toes and then some ............ Interspersed in there were some of Lee's tunes and then our very own Cleanhead got up and played three numbers: a fast chromatic instrumental he wrote Hypomanic (I believe), a T Bone style slow blues and Evan's Shuffle. Kurt sounded great and Junior smoked my ass the whole time.

I got another email and he recommended the Barney Kessel stuff off the Touch Of Evil soundtrack - I know that's stuff that many of you are already well aware of it, but I don't have it yet and thought some others may be in the same boat. Junior also mentioned that he just got to hear 5 tracks off the new Nemeth CD. I didn't mention it yet, but Junior was in Dallas right before the KC thing recording with John, Anson, Ronnie, Wes, Kaz etc. Anyway, he said that Anson played a killer solo over a ballad that was Watsonesque (as in Johnny Gtr) and that John's voice is going to drop some jaws.

Gear note: He did say this though - he really likes Don Mare, says he's a real nice guy and winds stuff well. He likes Don's winds on his strat pickups but says you need to start with really good magnets and a good bobbin. His platform are old '56 or '57 pickups that are rewound by Don. Junior laid it out like this - you need good, low Z strat pickups (like in the low to mid 5Ks) with good pots - 300K all the way around. That's what he says makes his strat work. Junior also commented that my les paul was light - especially compared to his tokai goldtop and his strat. I was amazed because I thought my goldtop was really heavy. So I guess Junior's parts strat isn't some featherweight.

I think the coolest thing I saw Junior play was the Huckle Boogie in the sound check (on my late 40's ES150).

rhartt1234

07-04-2006, 08:10 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FghNW94YUaM
Cruise the member "Harpsucker (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Harpsucker) for 2 more tunes of Ronnie and Walter

HappyValley

07-04-2006, 08:37 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FghNW94YUaM
Cruise the member "Harpsucker (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Harpsucker) for 2 more tunes of Ronnie and Walter
Again, anyone in the N.E. seeing Billy Flynn on the 14th?

rhartt1234

07-04-2006, 09:19 PM

Billy Flynn w/ Nora Jean Bruso I assume?
I doubt I'll be able to make it but I'll keep it in mind.

TwoFeets

07-04-2006, 09:59 PM

Well guys, it's off to Italy and France tomorrow. Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris and Normandy. We'll catch you all in a couple of weeks!

-R-

HappyValley

07-04-2006, 10:15 PM

Billy Flynn w/ Nora Jean Bruso I assume?
I doubt I'll be able to make it but I'll keep it in mind.
That's the one, man.....I think Billy's the modern derivative of Earl Hooker, so I'm going to try to attend....

zappafrank

07-05-2006, 01:39 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FghNW94YUaM
Cruise the member "Harpsucker (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Harpsucker) for 2 more tunes of Ronnie and Walter

cool to see that on Youtube---i have the video of all this---and that CD of Horton and earl "Little Boy Blue"---sugar Ray is on it too--The vid is great, 'cause there's a little bit of interview segment, and Ronnie is obviusly hanging w/ one of his Idols---lighting Horton's cigarette and stuff---basically treating him with mucho respect and adulation---Ronnie's a class act in that regard, IMO

ac

zappafrank

07-05-2006, 01:49 AM

dukeh62

07-05-2006, 06:35 AM

Again, anyone in the N.E. seeing Billy Flynn on the 14th?

Hey Nick, sorry man, not gonna be able to swing that one. Thanks though!

mikelaw

07-05-2006, 07:01 AM

nicky a. no go for me. i have a date that night. billy is great though! love his cheapo guitars too, he makes them sound great.

valcotone

07-05-2006, 10:09 AM

Have you guys picked up the Undercover CD release by The Mighty Flyers? This is the first time I've heard this original 1988 album and it's pretty cheezy in places with Rod singing out of character, and some aweful keyboard patches... even though the lineup is Rod, Honey, Bill, Jimi, and Junior.

...but the live tunes with Rick Holmstrom that they added as bonus tracks are HOT. Here's the last one featuring Rick singing as well... judging from the fat tone, that's gotta be an H44 Stratotone he's playing:

Rick Holmstrom w/ The Mighty Flyers
"Lucky Day"
live ~ circa 2000-2001
http://www.kilback.net/tunes/RickHolmstrom-with-TheMightyFlyers_LuckyDay.mp3

Dave Orban

07-05-2006, 10:17 AM

dukeh62

07-05-2006, 10:21 AM

Poppa Stoppa

07-05-2006, 12:44 PM

That one led me around some other youtube stuff (what a great thang Youtube can be!!)

how's about some Lightnin'---is this the definition of cool, or what??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiPD00lZvHw&search=blues%20harmonica%20guitar%20live%20big%20w alter%20Horton%20shakey

ac
Yeah that is so cool - the way he kicks it off...unreal. Killer stage presence. And he almost plays regular blues changes on this one - shock!

Skilback thanks for the Flyers tune. Is there a way to save the track to my computer? Would be great to keep. I kept a few you posted before but can't seem to with this.

Hey guys do you think a reissue Dano U2 I have would respond to a DeArmond transplant? The lipsticks it has don't do much for me. Just I thought this cheap Dano I have is SO like a Harmony, plays great, but the pickups are weak...get some gold foils or something maybe for it.

Mike Law I hope you haven't taken the knife to your H44 for a mini HB - it's gotta be the right p/u or nuthin'...

I get to pick up the ex-Junior H62 this evening...gig tomorrow...report due.

valcotone

07-05-2006, 12:48 PM

Skilback thanks for the Flyers tune. Is there a way to save the track to my computer? Would be great to keep. I kept a few you posted before but can't seem to with this.

Did you try the ol' right-click "Save target as...", then pick the location on your hard drive to store it? Works for me. If not, email me and I'll help.

jetlag

07-05-2006, 01:42 PM

Hey guys do you think a reissue Dano U2 I have would respond to a DeArmond transplant? The lipsticks it has don't do much for me. Just I thought this cheap Dano I have is SO like a Harmony, plays great, but the pickups are weak...get some gold foils or something maybe for it.

Poppa, that's what I've been thinking about doing for a long time. My guitar is a messed up old dolphin head dano I don't use. I want to put two golden foils in it because I swear Hubert's stuff sounds like a dano but with different pickups. If you do it, let me know how it turns out. Those golden foils sound killer in rockets, but the reports of them transplanted in solid bodies have been luke warm. My theory is that you need a hollow body to drive them properly. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out!

mikelaw

07-05-2006, 02:01 PM

poppa, i still have intentions on doing it. i just want to find the right tech in the area. i work with some great craftsmen but it maybe hard to get them to do it even with $$ involved. probably just gonna let it slide for now and not pursue it since i have a strat anyhow.

i may just keep it original like it is.

valcotone

07-05-2006, 02:45 PM

Quick word of caution about the old DeArmond gold-foil pickups, and the hershey bars too... they sometimes have a tendency to go open-coil. The result is that they can still produce some output, but it's very weak and thin. If you measure them, a good one should read a solid 10K-ohms (approx) for gold-foils, and about 3.5K for hersheys. So if a seller says "they work" make sure they give an ohm reading as well.

Rock on! :RoCkIn

dukeh62

07-05-2006, 02:53 PM

valcotone

07-05-2006, 03:08 PM

hey Duke, I think that's the DeArmond Model 41 which is most often seen with a wired volume control like the pic below. I spotted one just like this in the original box with "Model 41" marked on it. I think I've also seen it installed in H44s and Newports on ebay, but I always wonder if it was a later replacement.

All the ones I've seen with date codes on ebay were from the 60's, and if I remember correctly measured about 10K... which means they are a variant of the Gold Foil style, which has a different magnet and wire size from the hershey bar. Take this all with a grain of salt though...

http://demont.net/harmony/pickups/images/DeArmondPUPJazzAcoustic.jpg

http://demont.net/harmony/pickups/images/0001.jpg

jetlag

07-05-2006, 04:04 PM

While we're on the subject of Stratotone pickups, anybody know what model these are that Holmstrom has in his custom double pup H44? Anybody have a GOOD one they'd be willing to part with? What's this PUP? (http://www.losangelesblues.com/holmstrom2/img7.htm)

Duke, I know this is going to sound bizzare but when I read your post I was looking at that picture and junior called me up again. I asked him about those pickups. Junior pretty much reiterated what Sean said.

Stringmaster

07-05-2006, 04:21 PM

I didn't realize that those Hershey bar pickups measured so low--the pickup in my yellow Newport Stratotone pictured (and heard above) sound like they are super hot! I have to turn way up when I put down that guitar and pick up a Strat or something! I figured they were in the 10K range. BTW, I talked to Jason Lollar about replicating these pickups--even using stock pickup covers,etc. such as a Firebird or P90 type, but he said that the magic was in the magnets, which would be big bucks to manufature, so it was a "no go." I too thought of putting a couple of those in a Dano, in fact I bought a project reissue without pickups just for that purpose. BTW, the Fralin "Jazz Blues" pickups are in the ballpark I believe--I've heard them and they sound real good--there are lots of options with them as far as how they will wind them. The ones I heard were wound real hot. Anyway...
DD

mikelaw

07-05-2006, 05:50 PM

i dont care what you guys say, mini humbuckers in the bridge spot of an h44 would be bad as hell. almost everyones used minis from the old school cats.

i still will probably never get around to it, but im still thinking about it down the road.

Scott Miller

07-05-2006, 06:02 PM

Hey, I absolutely LOVE the minis on my '65 Epiphone Broadway. Those suckers kill. I think you might be right about them being a good match for a Hersheybar. Same kind of sting. I don't think a goldfoil would be such a good match; they're too different.

I'm still not totally convinced that a Hershybar is the best thing for the bridge, but I'm going to see if I can dial it in. I know that tone is in there somewhere, dang it. Might have to get some tweed involved...

Strat-O

07-05-2006, 08:58 PM

Dave Stephens said he was going to build a Harmony pickup for his line. I can't remember which one it was though. I'll have to check on that.

mikelaw

07-06-2006, 06:29 AM

whats neat is kent armstrong makes a pole-less mini hum. its nearly the same size as the h44 pu, it looks identical. although its a little shorter width wise then the 3" h44 pu. lower output on it too. which leads me to believe it would be close to the stock h44 pu.

http://www.wdmusic.com/mini_humbucker_chrome_29717_prd1.htm

jetlag

07-06-2006, 07:19 AM

Mike, it might be worth talking to lollar about this pickup and see if there is any way he can ditch the mounting underassembly to allow you to just stick this thing on top of the guitar w/o routing/drilling.

http://lollarguitars.com/cgi-bin/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LGP&Product_Code=227&Category_Code=PU

What appeals to me is the "hound dog sound with touch sensitive high output" description. That seems like a pickup that would blend well with the front. Plus I'm sure he could mod it to make sure the string/pole spacing works out right. Being that a stratotone is practically a lap steel and this thing is derived from those whopper lap steel pickups, it might be just the ticket. Hopefully it would also be something reversible .........

dukeh62

07-06-2006, 11:26 AM

Woohoo!!

Thanks to a nice tip from Mikelaw, I just scored another H44 from a mutual friend of ours. Looks like I might be joining in on the two pup mod too!

fretshop

07-06-2006, 11:59 AM

Nick, Eric, Ryan with one "N", What's going on Schedule wise ? With the State Government shut down...I've got time on my hands. Also got my hands on some of the period correct neck binding material, fret wire, and finger board inlay for H-62's. I'm waiting for the package to arrive so I can complete N.C. Slim's H-62. Slim...I used the 6100s...the neck is working perfectly. Gotta figure out what to do with the phase switch. I might just hide it in the F-hole rather than use push pull pots...they have terrible tapers.

Glad you're feeling better Senor Jetlag.

At the studio today (The Jamroom Music Complex) for the next couple hours if any one wants to talk to me...732-308-3039.

Jersey George