Life Imitates Art Imitates G.A.S.??

(image: www.musicradar.com)

"Isolation" by Robin Rose

Here's an art display currently on exhibit in Washington D.C. The circle is composed of effects pedals. Don't miss the Strat stuck to the ceiling. This is supposed to symbolize what many of us are going through. Yeah, I'm feelin' it. Are you feelin' it? It should be called "Minimalist NAMM on Acid".

It's hard to tell in this sized photo, but the pedals are all facing out. In other words if a player were in the center, he'd have trouble using the pedals. Perhaps the finishing touch this piece lacks is a homicide chalk line human silhouette in the center of the circle. The human element is important.

www.musicradar.com has the full scoop. Go check it out.

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Guitar Rag Retrospective- Dec. '77 Guitar Player

Last week a mysterious envelope arrived containing this gem of guitar culture. Actually my brother was organizing his basement. Other than the cover discoloration, this mag's in pretty good shape. I'm just glad he didn't mail me any dead rodents.

Besides the Les Paul cover feature (interview available online), other articles profiled The Outlaws, Funkadelic, Women & Guitar and Session Men.

Monthly columns at that time included Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's "Eclectic Electric", Craig Anderton's "Electronic Guitarist", John Carruthers's "Guitar Workshop", Barney Kessel's "Guitar Journal" and a very prophetic installment of George Gruhn's regular American Guitar column entitled, "American Guitars in the World Market". That's right. It seems like Gruhn has always known what's going on.

Additional players clinic column offerings came from: Larry Coryell, Howard Roberts, Tommy Tedesco & a number of others. The "Questions" column featured then editor Don Menn, and included a reader question "How does a fuzztone work?", which Don handled with great care and thoroughness (now I know!!!).

One of my favorite things is the product ads. Surprisingly, several companies in this issue are still around-- more than I expected considering the high turnover in the gear industry over the last 32 years. Electro-Harmonix was enormously prominent-- and I have to laugh because the EH stuff looked the same then as it does now. EH's newest box was the Memory Man. Fender was still with CBS, and Gibson & LAB Series amps were under Norlin.

Ibanez was pimpin' their Artist Series model inside the front cover. The center spread displayed a huge full-color Mighty Mite lightening bolt thru the heart. Music Man guitars, basses & amps owned the inside rear cover (pre- Ernie Ball era). Roland was pushing Amps and their GR-500 guitar synth. Mesa Boogie was presenting their first generation small combos & heads (wish I still had mine!).

Gone by the wayside stuff includes Road Amps, Hondo, Oberheim, St. Louis Music, Stage amps & PA gear, Martin's Sigma line, Mu-Tron pedals, Travis Bean guitars, Altair attenuators,
Acoustic Amps and Ampeg Amps.

Rick Derringer was endorsing the BC Rich Mockingbird model. There were also ads for tape recording gear such as Teac's Tascam reel to reels (the 4 track cassettes, i.e. Fostex hadn't yet arrived). Ovation had a cool looking solidbody called the Viper which was much more conventional looking than the Breadwinner... better looking!

The usual String makers were there. We also saw long, straight string packaging by Alvarez & Nashville Straights who warned us about the tonal degradation of strings packaged in coiled form... I guess coiling them actually wasn't so bad after all.

In the pickup zone, DiMarzio was the king of hot-rod replacement pickups. Bill Lawrence was there too. Older outfits like Bartolini & DeArmond were chugging away but in a lower key fashion. I was surprised by Schecter Guitar Research selling loaded Strat pickguards, and even EMG was already rolling the active thing.

But wildest of all is a tiny ad in the very back for Seymour Duncan's Pickup Rewinding Service offering custom rewinding:

"$17.50 Fender / $30 Gibson"
(We've since seen some progress here...)

Album reviews included, Robin Trower's "In City Dreams", Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever", Lee Ritenour's "Captain Fingers", Chet Atkins' "Me and My Guitar" and Jean Luc Ponty's "Enigmatic Ocean" featuring Allan Holdsworth.

The upcoming January '78 issue promised features on Steve Miller, Domenic Troiano and a little guitar lesson outfit called Guitar Institute of Technology.

Finally, GP's Dec. '77 issue featured the Reader's Poll Results. It was their 8th poll. Check out the following selected categories for a good taste of that era's popular players (including the 4 runners up):

Overall Best Guitarist:
#1 Steve Howe
Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Roy Buchanan & Carlos Santana

Best Rock Guitarist:
#1 Jimmy Page
Steve Howe, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana & Frank Zappa

New Talent:
#1 Tom Scholz
Al DiMeola, Ted Nugent, Earl Klugh & Alex Lifeson

Best Guitar Album:
#1 Elegant Gypsy by Al DiMeola
Boston's debut, Guitar Player (?), Loading Zone by Roy Buchanan & Yes's Going for the One

Best Electric Blues:
#1 Johnny Winter
Bonnie Raitt, Albert King, Michael Bloomfield ('76 winner) and Muddy Waters

Other categories included: Best Jazz, Best Pop, Best Classical, Best Country, Best Acoustic Blues, Best Flamenco, Best Steel, Best Bass (pre-BP mag), Best Studio & Best Folk.

Feel free to comment below if you want any stats on those last categories!

I worked a little on this post folks, because GP didn't yet have an ad index;))

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Blindfold Update #4

Ok, so I'm done practicing blindfolded for now. I underestimated the creepiness of it-- and family members are expressing concerns.

But I have gained from this experience, especially when I learned a couple tunes completely by ear while blindfolded. Another thing that happened is that I've started playing more while watching TV, AND have come up with some original tunes inspired by the stuff I was watching. No, I'm not talking about learning the "5 Dollar Footlong" or "FreeCreditReport.com" songs. I turn the sound down and try to interpret the drama musically. And no, I'm not watching Baywatch.

Has anybody ever heard Walter Becker's solo album "Eleven Tracks of Whack"?

I swear that the lyrics to "Surf and/or Die" are about some cheesy made for TV movie I once saw about hang glider dudes in California. You know the matinees on Saturday afternoons in the summer. Similar to Baywatch. This could explain a lot of Becker & Fagan lyrics. Maybe those guys watch a lot of daytime TV in the studio.

Maybe close acquaintance of Walter reading this can verify if I'm correct. Walter? Do you read Stratoblogster? Never know...

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Blindfold Update Part #3

Hello? Anyone there?

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1966 Fender Super Reverb Auction

'66 Vintage Blackface Super Reverb
 

You can buy Tweed and Blackface reissues, but if you want a real tar and nicotine grill cloth, ya gotta go vintage baby! In '66 they probably already had a good smoke film before leaving the factory. They should have included those coupons you could save and trade in for patio furniture.

Not appealing? Sorry. Go take a vitamin and change your patch.

Anyway, besides the 3 year old filter caps and a new 3-prong power cord, this one's all original. The original power cord is also included loose. If you want the orig. filter caps, why not go get your head examined (I know you're out there).

Meet the parents:

Seller: hotfootblues (454Feedback score)
Feedback: 100 % PositiveMember: since Jan-24-03 in United States

Fresh Listed Vintage & Hi-End Amps

Tubes & Amp Parts Resources

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UK's Fret-King Guitars, P90's at the Bridge- Finally!

Fret-King is a newer guitar company based in Britain. But there's nothing new about founder Trev Wilkinson, famous for his Trem units. Although there aren't yet any Trem-King dealers, there are many in the UK, and a few in other Euro countries.

Pictured is the Corona 60 SP which is made in Fret-King's UK custom shop. A comparably configured Super 60 SP, built in Korea is a less expensive version of the Corona. So far the online buzz on Fret-King is very positive. People are impressed with the Korean models.

What caught my eye is the P90 in these models. The "P" in SP stands for P90. They also have HB models as well as standard Strat-type pickup config. models. Anyone who reads this blog regularly may recall my wondering about the absense of production line S-type guitars with P90's at the bridge, by nearly any company out there. Wilkinson is also making their own pickups.

Also, you may notice the lack of string trees. Wilkinson is using staggered post tuners to increase string break angle. I don't see anything about a deeper scooped headstock face as used with Fender's Eric Johnson Strat, so can only assume the short posts do the job.

Any Fret-King owners out there? I'm specifically interested in feedback on the SP models.

Sept 2010 UPDATE: Fret-King guitars now has USA distribution!

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What's the Ideal Guitar Nut Material?

Tony Pasko recently posted a good article about nuts at The Rock House Blog. You should read it first, before reading on.

Tony's post got me thinking about nuts vs tone, and asking myself, "how important are nuts to tone, really?". I mean, the tone of any fretted note is more influenced by the nickel the fret is made of right? So it would therefore seem logical that a nickel nut would provide the ideal overall tonal balance between open and fretted notes. Are there any other kind of guitar notes? Alright, add nickel slides too. That oughta cover it!

Now I know that some people swear by petrified mastodon feces as the ultimate nut material. I don't wanna argue about it though, so don't even comment here if you're one of THOSE people wanting to talk feces.

But I'm still thinkin' the ideal nut material must be nickel, and that bridge & bridge saddle material is even more important since the bridge is NEVER out of the loop like the nut is whenever notes are fretted. Everybody with me here?

THEN I read the Phil Petillo interview in the May '09 PG, which seems to help solve the puzzle! If you want some serious insights about guitar construction materials, this is the interview for you, and I urge you to follow the link and read it!

Petillo refers to ivory as the most "musical" fret material, but of course since ivory frets would require constant replacement, he's been on a longtime quest for metal alloys with similar tonal characteristics to ivory. Petillo talks about a type of stainless steel alloy he eventually discovered which sounds like ivory frets would, but won't wear out. He does not mention if he's also making nuts from this alloy, but it sure seems logical as the ideal nut material, when you consider how popular ivory nuts are on hi-end guitars.

Materials like graphite and the synthetic Tusq, used for more conventional nut material, are also not the stuff you can make frets out of. What about Pyrex or ceramic? Probably cracks too easily. Perhaps someday we'll have fretboards in which users can simply "eject" one type of frets and pop in another type.

Anyway, Petillo caused me to do a 180 degree change on my original theory about nickel as the logical ideal nut material. But I'm still standing by utilizing a common material for nuts & frets, even if it's petrified mastodon feces.

As for bridges & saddles... Let's save that for another time.

Stratoblogster Labs

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Local Guitar Builder & Tech, CHW of McMinnville, OR

(photo: chwguitars.com)

My local neighborhood guitar tech is Chuck with CHW Guitars. Chuck runs a modest little guitar shop where he sells guitars and accessories. But the real secret behind the wall, so to speak- remember the pawnshop in MIB? - is Chuck's luthier work and custom builds, much of which he does in his home shop-- separate from his little retail shop in town.

In addition to expert set-ups and mods, he builds custom order guitars including entire necks and fretboards from scratch if the build calls for it. His fit, finish and intonation is tight too! The Customer Ordered Guitars webpage features a few builds created to customer specs.

The guitar pictured above is one of Chuck's own design projects called the LG35. Forgot to ask him what "LG35" stands for, but the alder body with serious raised blue metallic flames features:

Maple/Rosewood Neck
(22 fret, 25.5 scale)

Hipshot - Hardtail bridge
Graphite nut
Electrosocket jack
Grover locking tuners

Neck Pickup - Duncan Detonator
Bridge Pickup - Quad Rails Humbucker by Kramer/Gibson

Instead of a pickup selector switch, each pickup sports its own vol. control and there's a master tone control, giving it a simple Malcolm Young fat vibe.

Any readers who just happen to live in our area, that are seeking a good tech who can even build you a one-off custom, are recommended to contact Chuck via the contact info. at his site. BTW, the LG35 is for sale!

Feel free to comment and tell us about your own favorite local guitar tech/luthiers. We need to help support these folks, and I'd be glad to feature some of them here!

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UK's Fame Bureau Auctioning Lost Hendrix Tapes

UK readers are probably familiar with The Fame Bureau, a British auction house for Rock and Film memorabilia. I just discovered this site.

Currently their homepage is loaded with some very interesting items being auctioned April 28, 09 (tomorrow), including some Hendrix tapes.

Just click on the above link or photo and check it all out.

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The Latest F-Bomb in the Guitar Nerd-o-Sphere

"FULLERPLAST" !

That's right! Fullerplast! Google it kids, cuz this is important stuff!


Or not...



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Fender Says NO NO to Dealers Using eBay? Why?

Ed Note: The following described situation was reversed. Currently, Fender dealers are now ok to sell new product on eBay.

Say you're a small brick & mortar guitar store having trouble competing with the mega stores & mega sites online. You put up a website, but since you're a small dealer your limited content isn't getting Google's attention, hence no traffic & no sales. Next, you buy Adwords, but that's eating up your promo budget.

So you get an eBay Store and/or an Amazon Merchant Marketplace storefront in order to get your items better search indexed. You also put up with eBay's fees, restrictions and buyers who post negative feedback for non-problems, and make you look bad. Then, if that wasn't enough, the companies whose gear you sell, start to prohibit or restrict how & what you can list on those channels.

Whaddaya do?

First of all, don't blame the manufacture and become a victim about this. Betcha didn't expect me to take this direction. But those truly at fault are the unscrupulous fly-by-night sellers who sell crap and don't provide any service, much less any honesty to start with. These folks make it very difficult for ethical people to start up & expand a gear business. They ruin things and create roadblocks for everyone from buyers to manufacturers and all points in between.

After speaking with a few people this week who represent different sectors of the industry from small to huge, I discovered it would be too easy and superficial to target the big manufacturers and big retailers for not caring. Everyone starts from the bottom, and only continue to grow if they do more right than wrong by their public. And sometimes little guys still do well when they utilize opportunities to provide personal touches that larger outfits often cannot.

As a "guitar blogger", I pimp a little gear for miniscule affiliate commissions, but mostly because it's interesting, fun and a labor of love. If you're a dealer finding it tough to survive, try to come up with unique ways of presenting yourself, your products and servicing your public. Create some goodwill by helping people. Help some kid learn how to string & tune his guitar correctly so that he'll retain his interest in playing guitar long enough to survive as a beginner and actually learn to play decently enough to gain some confidence and self esteem. Something like that can go a long way, and everyone benefits.

There's no easy way to survive. Just be ethical and don't screw people over. The current economic state is the result of unethical individuals. Large entities and corporations take the blame broadly, but the individuals within them are/were the crooks. There was a high profile effect because of the magnitude of their organizations, but those individuals were still slimey little criminals just like the guy who sells you a counterfeit "vintage" TS-808 Tube Screamer on eBay.

So deal with sellers who've been around awhile and have good ratings. Patronize you're local mom & pop guitar shop, and if they provide good service be sure to recommend them to others. If the mega store customer support took good care of you, or a Guitar Center employee helped you make a gear decision you're glad about, then recognize those individuals who cared.

And if you have time, check out a guitar blog once in awhile. We're not all crazy, just some of us.

Here's a great source on doing things right: Seth Godin's Blog (not even a guitar blog).

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Gearmanndude's Dallas Guitar Show Vids

Well, he's certainly no Ken Burns at documentary filming, and he's no JFK either but he's better than Zapruder at getting off the grassy knolls and into last weekend's Dallas Guitar Show!

Although not the highest quality video, you really get a taste of what the Dallas show offers in terms of vintage gear and a huge volume of used pedals and accessories-- AND FASHION STATEMENTS. We don't see any guns though, and in Texas, Guitar-Gun shows aren't unusual. In true artistic indie film style, the Gearmann even shares a very personal moment on camera, on which I will not elaborate. You'll just have to sit thru 'em yourself.

We just never see his face and are not positive if he was the only shooter in Dallas last weekend. We do recognize the tenaciousness from the father of the mysterious Luther pedal.

Video #1 - Introduction - Guitar shows are about HAWAIIAN SHIRTS!
Video #2 - Walk around with Gearmanndude Part 1
Video #3 - Walk around with Gearmanndude Part 2

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Warren Haynes with The Dead on Letterman

Did anyone else see this Thursday nite? Warren gigs with everybody! I was half asleep on the couch, then I'm watching Bob Weir, and Phil Lesh with some kind of black dragon monster bass sportin' blue LED position markers. And then there's Warren playing Jerry's licks on an old non-reverse Firebird like the one pictured (only it was a metallic blue color).

This is what happens when I eat too much bad Chinese take-out and crash in front of the TV.

Seriously, did anyone else really see this?

Then I dreamed that Guitar Center sold Warren Haynes masks. So, it coulda been anyone. Warren can't be everywhere at once. Only Willie Nelson can do that stuff.

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A Strat for Friday #122 - Vintage '57 Stratocaster

If you've been thinking about refinancing the hacienda and taking advantage of these new low rates, why not toss in a little firewood for the winters ahead. Yeah, this one's real, and one of the cleanest 57's I've seen listed. Seller is railroadguitars - an eBay Store with lots of hi-end vintage inventory. Serious firewood over there kids!

100% original, including all the screws, even that super-white pickguard, and EVEN the solder joints. Yes, they really said the solder joints are original.

Note: Not many people recall the Solder Stalker of 1962, who went around re-doing the solder joints on '57 Strats. Apparently, he didn't get near this one.

The strings aren't original though, which is kinda disappointing. But at least they don't say, "It plays like butter!" -- a lot of us out here really hate that line!

Food & Beverage Suggestion:

BLT on Wonder Bread
Apple Pie
Coffee (Folgers Crystals- nobody will know)

more Friday Strats!

Top Vintage Strat Listings!



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Knucklehead Guitar Strings, Cuz You're Worth It!

That's right! Don't settle for just any old geetar strings when only the best will do.

Visit the website for a complete experience which attempts to elevate the culture through art and geetar strings. You'll never be quite the same.

www.knucklehead.com

Find Knucklehead Strings at these fine eBay Stores.

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Guitar Strings & Cheetos Don't Mix

A little public service message for our valued readership.

If you use the Cheetos product, always be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before handling your guitar or anyone else's guitar.

Do not allow Cheetos users to touch your guitar.

If you work in a music store, watch for Cheetos users-- they're not hard to spot- and do not allow them onto the premises.

This has been a public service message.

Thank you.

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Fender 1956 Custom Shop Relic Stratocaster

Portland, Oregon Vintage Fender Dealer

Portland Music is listing this one at their eBay Store. These guys have been in biz for decades and are an eBay Power Seller. The '56 Relic, ser# is R2996X, is a "Buy it Now!" listing built in March of 2006 by Fender Custom Shop. Guitar comes with orig. tweed case, accessories and Custom Shop Cert. Ships worldwide.

Hi-end Strat Listings
Current results - Top Dealers

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Tony Martin, Strat-o-Brother from France or Saturn?

Just like Coneheads named Beldar come from France, so do Gypsy lookin' cats who play their righty Strats lefty and sound like Hendrix & SRV. Makes sense to me. If he says he's from France, who am I to argue?

I avoid posers and wannabes like the plague, so just know this Tony Martin from France actually is a badass. I discovered him while perusing various versions of SRV's Texas Flood at Youtube where Martin's could be the best TF cover I've heard. After checking all his Myspace tunes, I think the guy actually has more of a Jimi vibe overall. BTW, his TF vid is also posted at myspace. If you dig Philipe Sayce, then you'll probably get into Tony Martin.

Visit www.myspace.com/tonymartin6strings and check out all the tunes & video. Then enjoy mass quantities of beer, potato chips & fiberglass insulation.

Strat-o-Brothers Directory

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KGC Brass Trem Blocks Upgrade Strat Tone & Sustain

Guitar parts- machined brass tremelo tremolo block.

Killer Guitar Components (KGC) machines a high quality brass trem block for Fender & Floyd Rose units. We're starting to find out that machined brass is the ideal material for trem blocks. Yes, brass sucks for nuts and saddles, but not for blocks.

I recently spoke to the guys at KGC about brass issues and also about the other aftermarket trem blocks made of steel and titanium. These guys have done their homework because they explained about resonance, harmonics, spectrometer readings and how hi-grade machined brass sonically tests superior to other materials.

The geeks out there are starting to confirm this, as I ran into some chatter at the Caparison Forum raving up brass trem blocks too. Anyone familiar with Caparison guitars knows those folks are serious about tone & detail.

KGC's brass trem blocks also have the shallower string recessing, similar to the '57 style recessing that Eric Johnson had Fender bring back for the blocks used in the EJ Strats. Now all an EJ Strat needs is some KGC brass!

MIM & MIJ Strat owners will especially benefit since those stock blocks are cast pot metal. A $70 machined brass trem fat block from KGC makes a huge difference for non-USA Strats! Click Here for a demo video.

Killer Guitar Components
PIMP YOUR STRAT - Resource Directory
RELIC GUITAR RESOURCES
TUBES & AMP PARTS
DIY PEDAL & AMP MODS

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Jeff Beck Angel Footsteps - Right Hand Slide

Check out Jeff Beck's NEW BLOG!!! www.jeffbeck.com/blog

Jeff Beck's 2006 UDO Music Fest performances were filmed as well as any live stuff you're gonna see. Youtube user marks6338 has clips of JB's entire show there.

The above tune is Angel Footsteps from the Who Else! album.

Check out the slide technique at 3:43! I've heard this tune many times, but never knew he held the slide in his right hand at this part.

Fresh JEFF BECK STRATS @ eBay

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Andy Timmons & New AT100 at Dallas Guitar Show 2009

The Dallas Guitar Show was just last weekend, and hi-lites are starting to show up online. Here's Andy Timmons on his new Ibanez AT100 super-Strat unit. Currently available in Europe, they are supposed to hit the USA soon. The orig. AT100 & 300's were discontinued, but the AT100 is being newly released. Timmons also endorses Mesa Boogie amps.

I'll be posting some merchant links when the AT100's arrive. US dealers expect them in May '09 and will be selling at $2k.

If you attended the Dallas Guitar Show, feel free to click the comment link below and give us your spin. We'd love to hear from you!

More AT Dallas clips at: mav5150 (youtube user).

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Guitar Art Prints by John Froehlich

Paintings of Famous Guitar Players

SRV

David Gilmour

Jeff Beck

Joe Diorio

John Froehlich does abstract paintings & caricatures of all sorts of musicians & celebrities, but he digs guitar players the most, and spans Jazz, Rock & Blues personalities. I included the Joe Diorio here for any old school GIT/MI folks out there.

These kinda grow on you. As I was looking at the Jeff Beck one & thinking, "That doesn't look like JB very much...", my attention was drawn to his right hand, and I had to chuckle. Serious Jeff fans will pick up on that (pun intended). The stance & super-hero thighs accentuate the JB vibe as well. And if you're not sure about the Gilmour, he has a different one that's pretty eerie for lack of a better word-- and seems to say, "There's no way out of here, when you come in, you're in for good." At least that's what it said to me.

Froehlich has hundreds of different prints to check out. Guitar players are broken down into separate Blues, Jazz & Rock menu categories.

FRO-ART JAZZ, BLUES & ROCK PAINTINGS



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Bonnie Raitt Strats-- Ahead of the Curve?

Here's a great '05 performance of "I Will Not be Broken" on the Letterman Show. The riffmeister behind her is George Marinelli.

Fender's Bonnie Raitt Artist Series Strats were produced from 1995 to 2000. They were available in a standard 3 color burst and a transparent blue burst which was called "Desert Sunset". Other features included rosewood board (9.5" radius soft C), MOT pickguard, Duncan Texas Hot Strat Antiquity pickups and fat 70's style headstock.

The Bonnie Raitt Strat was Fender's first official Artist model for a female guitarist, although the Mary Kaye Strat was arguably & maybe technically the first-- that's another story. As production models go, the BR Strat was the only Fender guitar represented by a female artist, and remains as such. Currently there are no female Artist Series production guitars.

I've seen Bonnie pictured with the blue burst a bit, but her old standard worn Strat in the above video is what we see her with most. Funny that guitar was not replicated as a Relic model like more recent artist models & Custom Shop offerings.

It's interesting that the era of the Bonnie Raitt Strat only just precedes the Relic guitar era and also a boom of female Blues & Rock guitar soloists. We'll probably never see a Bonnie Raitt replicated Relic Strat or know how it would have done in the marketplace. But the genuine article has been out there all along.

Harmony Central - BR Strat reviews.

Bonnie Raitt Strats @ eBay
(keep checking)

Bonnie Raitt collectible prints at AllPosters.com

Strat-o-Sisters Directory

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Fender Brown '61 Pro Amp at eBay - All Original

collectible mint guitar amplifier

Vintage Amp Alert!

Here's one of those "too good to be true" stories, but the seller is 100% with good history and provides good photos and tons details, i.e. component #'s, stamps and designation codes. You'll wanna read the entire listing, but basically this amp has lived its entire life in a closet in Arizona and only used a few times by a little old man (yeah, I know...).

Everything is original, so a filter caps R&R may be the only maintenance item to address. The second owner is selling it and has the entire track, including the Arizona dealer who sold it new in 1961 to the little old man before he was a little old man! Brown Shugga!

Meet the parent:
(access listing via seller's home link)

queeniebe (177 Feedback score)
100% Positive feedback

Time left: 6 days 3 hours (Apr 24, 200906:03:03 PM PDT)

Item location: Phoenix, AZ, United States
Ships to: Worldwide

Fresh Boutique Amp eBay Listings

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Rev. Billy F. Gibbons Doing Bones

Forensics shows aren't necessarily my cup of meat, but if you're into the Billy Gibbons mojo mystique, this is must see TV!

I was recently introduced to the Fox weekly TV drama series "Bones" where Billy Gibbons has a recurring role totally designed for his persona. He plays the father of regular character "Angela" - played by Michaela Conlin, who is having an on-off romantic relationship with Dr. Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne). As an overprotective dad who doesn't approve of Hodgins for his daughter, Billy messes with Hodgins. In the above episode, he's making Hodgins & others pretty paranoid-- and what "mysteriously" happens to Hodgins at the end of the episode is a classic ZZ music vid maneuver.

Billy's scenes are few and short, and I was too lazy to harvest the scene times for you, sorry. Look for a street scene with Billy playing guitar on the sidewalk, a diner scene with Angela and the final scene just past 42:00 when Hodgins wakes up out in the desert.

Billy Gibbons' hat

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Blindfold Guitar Practice Update

(image: www.amazingrex.com)

Practicing guitar while blindfolded for one week now.

It's interesting. In some ways I'm not playing as well, but in other ways better. It's kinda like when you pick up a guitar with heavier strings or a neck & action you're not used to, and although you tend to play more safely, you also focus on what matters without playing as much extra weedle dee dee wanker deedle doo.

I just made that term up.

Another odd thing is that I still "look" toward the fretboard, even though I can't see anything. This is sorta like when my wife is talking on the phone and pointing to things around her.

But there are moments of not thinking when I just navigate normally.

That's week #1. I'm gonna continue this until I get a stable change in my attention circuits where my ears are assuming more navigation command over motor functions. Do you get how that would be?

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Guitar Care & Cleaning Supplies From Around the Galaxy

Scotty... Kirk here! Stand by to... beam up the landing party... with the GORGOMYTE!







How's that for a product name! GORGOMYTE!

This is a specially treated multipurpose cleaning cloth for guitars, fretboards, strings, finish etc. And really, what better thing to call an important item such as this.

"Specially Treated Multipurpose Guitar Cleaning Cloth" is waaaay too long a name. When I hear GORGOMYTE, I instantly think of something that's gonna really take care of business when it comes to spiffing up my gear.

CLICK HERE for the latest eBay Stores guitar care products listings with best deals & biggest variety of polishes, fluids, cleaning kits, microfibre, etc. And GORGOMYTE!

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EVH Shoe Wars & Rumors of EVH Shoe Wars

Official EVH

"Banned Van's Halen"

"Non-Van Halen"

The top photo is official promo for Ed's new shoes. They're Converse Chuck Taylor's with the trademark EVH stripes thing. Hi-tops are $59, and low-tops are $54. You can buy them at Ed's official online store:

https://secure.feamerch.com/stores/evh/


The middle photo is a Google Images thumbnail linking to a removed page at www.deviantart.com originally titled "EVH Custom Shoes". Made me wonder why Ed didn't go with Vans instead of the Chucks. Seems like Vans are more his style. Plus it would be a fun promotion wordplay because of "Vans" and the "Van" in Van Halen. They coulda done a lot with that, not to mention how easily Ed could change his shoes if he'd gone with the loafer style.

The bottom photo belongs to www.axeplorer.net who is currently selling "Non-Van Halen Shoes" that he's making out of Chucks, using alternative stripes instead of official trademarked EVH stripes. Now get this-- Axeplorer's Non-VH's shoes sell for $90 a pair, or the unbelievable deal of $175 for TWO pairs!

Then I fell into a deep sleep and I dreamed strange dreams about EVH shoes. I dreamed that the official EVH shoes were everywhere. Yes, even at McDonalds & Starbucks. However, the shoes were only on display and nobody could really buy them. Plus they were only made in one size-- Ed's size. And that size wasn't indicated, plus they didn't seem to fit anyone. Then I saw a video with Ed talking about the shoes saying, "...If I ever need a new pair, no matter where I'm at, I'll always be able to get a pair no matter what -- and they'll be the same. Just for me..." He also went on to say, "... I've messed up plenty of shoes in the last 30 plus years, but Converse gets it!..." Suddenly, I was at Summer NAMM '09 and both the Music Man & Peavey booths were only displaying shoes... Axeplorer Non-Van Halen Shoes!!!

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A Strat for Friday #121 - Bobby D's UGLY Key West Wonder Strat

Food & Beverage Suggestion:
Jalapeno Poppers
Skittles
Stolichnaya

This week's feature is provided by our Key West correspondent Bobby D., who calls it his Ugly Strat. Bobby loves it though, and here's the scoop in his own words:

"Ah, the ugly strat.

built on aug 1969, the week of woodstock!

i discovered her in a miami pawnshop many years ago. in the 80s, she had been "hotrodded" with a floyd rose, gotoh tuners, and some upgraded electronics.

over the years, i have done some mods myself, including a set of Dimarzio HS-3, HS-2, and Virtual Vintage Solo Pro pickups. there is a "pull" switch on the bottom tone knob to allow "telecaster" style switching (front and back pickup together, or all THREE)

i let my daughter color it with sharpies, but that has worn off after months of sweaty gigs.

neck has BIG ASS frets, probably dunlop 6100's.

floyd rose is one of the early ones from the mid 80s. Andy Papacio from Floyd Rose told me the tremelo is worth more than I paid for the guitar :-)

the neck on this guitar is pretty thick and round. it has a great feel, after years of play wear. it reminds me very much of my tyler guitars that had the '59 neck profile.

i have owned over a dozen vintage strats, and this is the best sounding and best playing one i have ever had, other than my '58 strat that i traded to buddy guy in the 90s....

bobby d"

Bobby is an active musician and "stunt" gear demo videographer. Discover him at the following links:

www.myspace.com/therealbobbyd

www.youtube.com/user/roccotanto

more Friday Strats!

Tone Factor

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Scott Henderson's Lesson on Using Fifths

The above Scott Henderson video lesson provides a means of getting out of the box and back in with some added sophistication. I know he makes it look easy-- that's his job. Just start thinking with this drill and let it assimilate into your playing. Don't force it, just think with the melodic aspects for awhile.

As a bonus, check out this Michael Brecker video from 1987, featuring Mike Stern on guitar. Stern's solo starts at 2:28. Here's a guy burning it up in '87 with NO fretboard tapping, NO whammy bar, NO baroque scales/modes, NO sweep techniques and probably NO MSG, transfats or cereal fillers either... Just a vintage Telecaster with a hint of chorus-delay for lubrication. Fundamentally, Stern works from the standard pentatonic riffage zone, and steps in and out at will into more adventurous- though not too Holdsworthian- realms.

In other words, there's still some oxygen and soil particles where Stern's going.

THEN, as an additional bonus, the late great sax genius Michael Brecker follow's with an *EWI solo, demonstrating a non-guitarist grasp of guitar runs, perhaps rivaled only by keyboardist Jan Hammer.

Is there any better way to ventilate your skull on a Monday? Perhaps not. So check out all these video links and kick your week in the ass folks! Crank 'em up on your work pc and piss off your boss!! Just say Stratoblogster made you do it.

*EWI - Electronic Wind Instrument is a MIDI synth interface for reed instrument players.

Ibanez Andy Timmons AT300 Guitar at eBay

Rare AT300

The AT300's are a discontinued model. They originally sold new for about $1500 street. This used one is currently sitting at eBay twiddling it's thumbs. Ibanez & Timmons are bringing the AT100 this year which will sell for about $2300. The AT100's look more like a Strat as they sport a white pickguard, offer a burst finish & use standard dot inlays. All AT series models (past & present) feature DiMarzio Cruisers at neck & center, a DiMarzio Special AT HB at bridge and Wilkinson bridge. The AT300's had a mahogany body making for an interesting hybrid considering the double coils, 25.5 scale & Stratty dimensions.

The necks have a very curved radius, so although Andy Timmons can shred, he's into more traditional dimensions, Bluesier phrasing & a very fat sound.

Meet the parent:

Seller: rockarolla (146Feedback)
Member: since Aug-03-98 in United States

End time: Apr-21-09 09:05:15 PDT (4 days 23 hours)

Shipping:
US $45.00
Service to United States

Item location: Denison, Texas, United States

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Matt Schofield - UK Strat-o-Brother's FAT STRAT

Here's another cool player recommended to us by my OZ connection. There are always great Blues players coming up in the UK. They seem to have a perpetual Blues machine over there!

Matt Schofield's '61 burst through a Two-Rock amp helps him get a nice thick, fat tone. Leaning heavily on Albert Collins, Matt still mixes it up well without going too SRV on us or anything. I dig that he doesn't rush things and doesn't over-play. Even though the above video is a slow number, other up-tempo clips out there show that Schofield keeps his cool and chooses his phrases carefully even when burning it up, similar to Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks & Robben Ford.

I don't see a whammy bar in this vid, but it's NOT a hardtail. The '61 also sports Fralin Vintage pups, 6100 jumbo frets and is strung 11-54 (Pass the Superglue! This ain't no little girly-man set up folks!).

Another very cool thing is that Matt's band is an organ trio, utilizing Jonny Henderson on the Hammond B3, instead of a standard bass, making for some nice grooves and broad voicings. Drummer Evan Jenkins does a great job building with the dynamics in this clip. Who says slow Blues is boring?

So many SRV wannabes out there play waaaay more notes than Stevie did, so it's always good to hear players with vocabulary who can handle the reins.

Find out more about Matt Schofield:

www.mattschofield.com

www.myspace.com/mattschofield

Strat-o-Brother's Directory

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Blindfolded Guitar Playing - Out of the Box!

(image: www.amazingrex.com)

Beginning today, I'm gonna start playing blindfolded.

Several things came together to give me this idea.

First, I can sing without watching my larynx. Even if I could watch my own vocal chords, how would that help me to know if I was at the right note or pitch? Figure that one out. And yet people sing.

My hands & fingers are just as connected to my brain & ears as my voice box is. Or at least, they should be. People learn to talk, discuss concepts & ideas and sing Old MacDonald before they learn to read & write words or music notation. So maybe keeping my eyes on the fretboard is actually attenuating the signal path between fingers, brain & ears.

This post isn't a justifier for not learning theory and it's not an attempt to side with either learning to read music or not learning it. People manage to make music regardless, and they seek tools & improvement in direct ratio to their own individual necessity & interest level. There are commercially successful working musicians who read and ones who don't. Either way though, shifting your attention from the structure of your instrument to the function of playing music by removing your video circuit is gonna send more juice to the ears and force them to take on more control responsibility of the motor functions.

Everybody knows that blind people can play musical instruments if they're interested in creating or recreating music. And unless they use their bare feet to read braille sheet music or tab while playing, they're not following any "sheet" music while playing. Vocalists would have that one a bit easier.

When running up & down the stairs, do you watch and measure each step? No, we become coordinated, a word which describes a zillion physical actions we do without watching or giving it a second thought. How many times have you stabbed yourself in the nose with a fork while eating? It's been awhile for me because I got better with the fork. I also stopping falling down as much except during certain holidays.

Whether you're a music reader & know the fretboard map-- or you play totally by ear, playing blindfolded should help to put your playing closer to par with speaking by removing the mostly unnecessary detour of having to watch the fretboard, a detour which adds time & mental machinery we probably don't need to use.

Ask yourself the following:

"If I actually lost my sight, would I have to quit playing guitar?"

"If I lost my sight, could that condition actually reduce certain obstructions to playing better than before?"

We often hear that people lacking one or more of the 5 senses, "have" stronger perception in those senses they retain. I don't believe that's an automatic "given" though, but rather that those working senses are worked harder and thus become stronger. I wrote this blog post without watching the keyboard. Doing otherwise would have taken longer, but it helped having the screen to look at instead. Blindfolding will get my ears to "look" more at the sound and the music than at patterns my eyes dictate.

The Guitar Channel recently featured some Scott Henderson video interview clips. Click the link and watch to video #3. More important, LISTEN to what he says about rhythm & FEEL, and worrying about what your fingers are doing.

If you're not ready to try the blindfold, start playing in front of the TV with the sound turned off. It's so simple a caveman can do it.

I don't recommend using a blindfold to become a better driver, however Ray Charles talked about riding a bicycle by himself as a child, after losing his sight. He navigated around his small town by knowing the ruts in the road, smells and sounds all around him. I was disappointed that the movie "Ray" didn't include that potentially very entertaining item.

Stay tuned for future reports on my own blindfold guitar playing progress.

Check out Stratoblogster Labs for more ideas. Some really work & some will cause you irreversible damage. The chance you take.

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Remember Guitar Player Mag's Sound Sheets?

(image: www.vai.com)

Too blurry to read, but you're looking at GP's very first Sound Sheet from the October 1984 issue. The tune is "The Attitude Song" from Steve Vai's debut solo album "Flexible" (how poetic!). Click image for more info. at Vai's site.

For you youngsters out there, a "Sound Sheet" was thin floppy vinyl record stamped onto a little square sheet included inside issues of Guitar Player back in the 80's. The sheet was attached to the staples inside the magazine, and removed by tearing along a perforated line at the inside edge.

Monthly sheets usually introduced us to debut recordings by new artists, plus they also represent what might very well be the first actual gear demo audio samples.

The discontinuation of Sound Sheets occurred sometime during the rapid transition from vinyl records to CD's.

I still have most of them in a folder I kept just for them on my vinyl record shelves-- now archived somewhere within the bowels of the Stratoblogster compound (only Mrs. Stratoblogster knows where).

Anyone who can correctly name the month and year of GP's final Sound Sheet will be entered into a drawing for a Shetland pony.

Special kudos to Pribek who recently featured a Bill Connors tune, mentioning that it was on a Sound Sheet.

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Happy Easter from Strat-o-Peepster!

"Mommy! Mommy! Look what the bunny left!"

Found this photo at the Dolphin Street guitar blog. Looks like this munchkin scored the prize Easter egg for sure!

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Scorch Riddlin's $20,000,000.00 eBay Guitar Pick Listing

Here's one for GL at Guitarz!

This pick is currently listed on eBay at $20,000,000.00. Yeah, that's "million" alright.

It's a publicity gimmick to promote the movie "The Gods of Rock", but it's a real eBay listing by seller: MINTSTRUMENTS.

The seller is also listing an EVH Frankenstein & an Ernie Ball Steve Morse model at $60K each. Both guitars used in the movie, and the Morse guitar includes movie graphics. Must be a helluva flick! At least somebody seems to thing so. Scorch Riddlin...

Is this supposed to be serious? Don't freakin' ask me, Chief!!!

Oh yeah, the listing also includes the following line:

"Insured shipping will be $12.95 via Canada or US Post. Pickup is available upon request."

Ever wonder if you may have lost your mind?

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A Strat for Friday #120 - Triple Fat Custom Jeff Beck Neck

Jeff Beck Hybrid Custom

Food & Beverage Suggestion:

BLT Sangwich (double bacon)

Root Beer Float (Henry Weinhard Root Beer & Tillamook Vanilla Bean Ice Cream)

Took me awhile to figure this one out, but it's very cool. This is/was a Fender Jeff Beck Artist Series Stratocaster-- completely custom revised from the neck down. WTF does that mean? Exactly. Here's just a sample from the wildest eBay guitar listing I've seen in awhile:

"Brand New Flame Maple Top Fender-Licensed Mahogany Body! (Warmoth)

Gorgeous Premium Transparent Tiger's Eye Dye and Trans-Brown Finish!

Genuine Fender 2008 Jeff Beck Signature Maple Neck with Rosewood Fretboard!

Superb Autographed Duncan Antiquity Humbucker at the Neck and Bridge!

Amazing Duncan "Duckbucker" at the Middle!

SEVEN Pickup Combinations and Variable Blend Control!

Copper Foil Paper-In-Oil Jensen Tone Capacitor and Volume Kit!

Modern Fender Tremolo Bridge with "Pop-In" Arm!

Soft C Profile, Modern 9.5 Inch Fretboard Radius and 22 Medium Jumbo Frets!

Sophisticated LSR String Nut and Fender-Schaller Locking Tuners!

Tapered Neck Pocket!"

Meet the parents:
9/10 NO LONGER A REGISTERED USER-- SEE LINKS BELOW.
Seller: pats-guitars (1718 Feedback score)

FRIDAY Strat Archive

Hi-end Strats
(includes Jeff Beck Strat search)

AMP SEARCHES

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Jeff Beck's R&R Hall of Fame Induction

Finally, Jeff Beck gets his due!

i heart guitar blog has more about it, including video links on the presentation by Jimmy Page and some great jams. The induction ceremonies took place last weekend, the same time as Musikmesse.

Jeff looked to be having a great time!

i heart guitar also has info. on JB's current tour and a list of all April - July '09 tour dates.

The above blog links go to the specific posts mentioned.

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GEAR411 Has the Scoop on FRETS

(image: The Rock House Blog)

Tony Pasko at The Rock House Blog gives us another great tech article this week. Guitar Frets-Does Size Matter? provides a well illustrated breakdown on fret sizes and typical sizes used on popular guitars.

He also helps guide you through the process of deciding whether or not a different fret size is right for you.

Even if you don't have fret issues, this is good info. and well presented too!

For a directory of all Tony's tech posts, check out GEAR411.

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Eddie Genes In Contemporary Guitar Design

EVH Wolfgang (image: www.guitarplayer.com)

Peavey HP Special CT (image:www.peavey.com)

Ernie Ball Music Man Axis (image:www.music-man.com)

Reproducing and here to stay, the signature spawn of Eddie Van Halen is morphing into the next solid body icon. You've wondered what the next one would be, well it's here.

For years solid body makers have been shooting for the ultimate LP-Strat-SG-Tele hybrid in form & function. Whether positioning with looks, optimum versatility or both, nobody's really nailed it in terms of high profile mainstream acceptance. Parker tried to, but has thus far lacked players of sufficient popularity to push it over the top, though it could still happen.

The enormous success of PRS still basically boils down to a high quality super LP re-work and aggressive marketing during a Gibson siesta and a Santana Fiesta. Carlos did the same mojo for PRS as he did for Mesa Boogie and now he's selling shoes-- go figure. Everything else in the solidbody world boils down to super Strats & super Tele's whether you're talking about Satch & Vai's Ibanez models or the boutique offerings of DeTemple, Anderson, Suhr, ad infinitum. Even a company like Flaxwood is taking a huge risk while pushing familiar enough profiles to cop a classic vibe. Etavonni, RKS... never mind.

Perhaps only Steinberger, in the 80's, had a decent run with the least imitative profile becoming so aligned with 80's fashion and MTV culture, that when those things went away, so did the cosmetic appeal of the Steinberger. Probably for the best since domination of such a minimalist profile would have evaporated the builder culture, although some of Steinberger's technical contributions live on. Remember when the brothers had those wedge do's on top-- went perfect with a Steinberger.

Meanwhile the Les Paul train keeps rollin' thanks to players like Page, Perry, Slash & Wylde loading the coal & passing the shovel forward. Likewise the Strat icon persists on the legendary radioactive half-lives of Hendrix & SRV, along with Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson, John Mayer & others still performing with Strats. Kudos to Dick Dale too!

All of that considered, it only makes sense that the next design icon would be driven by a player icon. And although fashion & trends constantly change, the Van Halen legacy seems to have deep & healthy roots. Also, Eddie has definite ideas about guitar design & tone which he never found implemented in the standard instruments. Even if you don't prefer his style or sound, you still have to recognize that the amount of time and miles EVH has spent and put into playing and tweaking guitars has to have yielded some important insights which extend beyond his own musical approach even if that wasn't his intent. You see, the Wolfgang IS NOT like other guitars in set-up, configuration and tone. In other words, if you really prefer Strats, LP's, Tele's or SG's, you probably DON'T want a Wolfie-- it isn't all of those guitars-- or necessarily a perfected version of any one of them.

So, the success and demand for the "Eddie Genetic" guitar configuration is NOT about the ultimate cosmetic and/or functional hybrid. Nor is it about versatility. Although imitated as a player, EVH remains a unique guitarist who has managed to forge a unique guitar also destined to be copied.

The bottom two photos are CURRENT model offerings from Peavey & EB MM. And no, the headstocks and body lines are not the same, however, consider the general profile and the following common "brown" features:

Basswood body w/quilted or flame maple cap
Zebra coil humbuckers
Gun oil finish maple neck
Floyd Rose

If there wasn't a market for this configuration & general form, would Peavey & EB continue to offer it, especially considering their full range of other models and current artist endorsements? Also, consider the likely legal hurdles for both companies just to maintain these current design rights. I don't thing either dropped the D-tuner as a useless & unnessarsary option. So, I'd say that this basic configuration is VERY important to these people, especially in view of EB MM's newest "Sterling" Axis debut.

By now we've established that EVH designed the Wolfgang totally for himself and not for you, hence re-stressing the guitar's uniqueness. So now the really intriguing aspect here is what current & future players will do with the Wolfgang. Remember Leo Fender didn't design the Strat for Jimi Hendrix. The Wolfgang may at first glance seem a "one trick pony", but a deeper look and certain innovations are starting to indicate otherwise.

Finally, I've mentioned so many key companies, designers & players but still wonder if Hamer ever had an opportunity to take a crack at a Wolfie. Jol has some stories...

I'll end off at that. It's out of my system and I can focus again on Strats!

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