msb

If you’re getting jerked around , get out.

They’ve always changed things around.

I think of my Bergantino Forte as being hifi. The tone stack has almost surgical control. It’s full frequency , very clean , and carries some serious slam. It’s an amp that has authority. I have the earlier version that has a compressor rather than a drive. Before that I had been running a GenzBenz Streamliner. A very different amp. Warm and dark. Also with some serious slam. So I wind up getting a good tube preamp and use the effect return channel… but I can switch back to modern hifi in seconds.

I’m hoping you’ll enjoy yourself here. I immediately read that introductory post twice.

An old friend was living in Toronto , when he first heard Jerry Jones was making boutique Danelectros he immediately hopped on his bike and drove to Nashville. Bought one. He eventually sold it and has been kicking himself ever since. Jones retired , closed the shop , sold his tools. Danos by design were cheap instruments , a handmade boutique copy is pretty ironic. But I have to admit the Jones instruments that I’ve checked out were wonderful things.

Along with the Longhorn I’ve got these two classic Japanese surf basses.

My first gig amp was a hundred watt Marshall , sold it about forty years ago. I’d kinda like to try another one now.

Super Bowl Sunday , the old dive was dead. We were snowed out last Sunday but most of the cleanup has been done. We’re getting another Nor’Easter Tuesday night. More snow. winter fun …

I had a little GK MB200 head. I didn’t realize the fan had become gunked up and stopped working. The power module and a couple of other things became overheated , and fried. It was an expensive repair. Now I find it quite reassuring when I hear a fan kick in.

Twenty five used to be the magic number for vintage , although some restricted it to Pre-CBS or Norlan. My Korean re-issue Dano Longhorn has become vintage.

I’ll generally help people getting their stuff in and out , and if several do it’s quick and easy. But it’s easy to get miffed if you’re the only one helping out …

I’m a big fan of modern lightweight cabs. And that’s a beauty.

I use Bergs and appreciate the size , weight , and ease of moving them around. I’m just a blue collar musician , I pack the car , drive it downtown , set it up , play , and then take it all home. No crew , just me. Smile every time I put one in the car.

I like short scales , and would love to find a nice EB-3 sometime. I’m fine with the shape and ergonomics. I have an SG , but they’re not the same thing.

It looks like it might be a bitch to move around , and looks like some serious business. Beauty!

If I think it’s time to clean and oil the fingerboard they all come off , otherwise one at a time. I keep fresh rounds on several , but most have flats that will remain on for some time. A couple have very old rounds. I’ll be re-stringing one tomorrow. I’ll be oiling the fingerboard , and as I have a floating bridge I’ll have some tape down for it. I’m changing string tension so there will probably be a set up involved. I’ve been finding the strings on a big hollow body a bit stiff so I’m putting on Thomastik Infelds. A favourite string. Looking forward to putting them on.

I just turned 72. 1 I’ve cut back on some gigs because we’re looking after my 98 yr old mother-in-law. I do a house band gig every Sunday and like a night for rehearsal or a gig on top of that. But not much more. I used to generally play three or four nights every week. 2 Haven’t dealt with agents for some years , since I decided to cut back on travel many years back. I’ve been fortunate to play as much as I’d like in town. I’ll do a couple of minor drives in the summer , but that’s it. 3 Most gigs I do are return gigs. The phone will ring and I’ll be asked about availability. So more often then not I’ll know many of the regulars by their first names. 4 My gig money generally goes in a sock for musical emergencies. At the moment I’m thinking I should sell some things to make room for something different , but I’m happy with what I have. There are some amps I’d love to try. My gear was bought with gig money. Thankfully my wife always says that if I do see something I like … to get it. 5 Two to three nights per week out max for now. Things usually start to pick up as the dead of winter winds down. So I hope you’ll be back in the usual gigs soon. I know things can turn around just like that. Take advantage of the down time as you can.

Welcome! It is a wonderful thing to have some practice time.

I’m curious about the family heirloom. Welcome to the board.

Mine is an early Korean one from the late 90’s , and you have to remove the neck to do any truss rod adjustments. Fortunately the necks on the early Korean instruments are incredibly stable. Unlike most Fenders , they do not require seasonal truss rod adjustments. In the 24/25 years I’ve had mine I’ve only adjusted the truss rods twice. Once when I first bought it , and the second time was about three years ago. The only others I’ve seen that stable would be older Rics with the pre84 spring style rods.

A friend used to have a record shop , he loved old rock and roll (Jerry Lee Lewis) he hated the Grateful Dead. I remember once walking into his shop , and there he was , sitting behind the cash register , smoking , cup of coffee in hand , and a huge grin. He explained that some kid had just tried to sell him some Grateful Dead bootlegs and he had just finished tossing the guy out of the shop. He said “ Misanthropy is it’s own reward”

We’ve had about 80cm of snow , so things have been cancelled this weekend , we’re looking at another 20 before it stops. Heavy winds so it drifts right back after you shovel it. misery

Wow! I have some corners where things pile up , but have some spring cleaning plans in mind.

If I lived a little closer I’d be all over the classifieds. And I’d have a selection of Barefaced cabs. I did manage to find a lightly used cab in Quebec , and have become a believer.

We really do have wonderful choice today. I’ve been thinking that I’d grab an Elf if I see one going for a good price. I probably should add the Gnome to that list.