| Author | Message | ||
     Al_lighton |
Tough act to follow? Well, as far as motorcycles go, seems like I'm the one always trying to keep up!  Alas, such is my world. In my radio controlled airplane days, I was a great builder, but a hack pilot. In my rock&roll days, I was a good builder, but a pedestrian musician. And in my motorcycle days, I'm a good modifier but average rider. I guess that's why I became an engineer. Those that can't, build. Thanks for the good words, folks. I had fun building them. I didn't have much in the way of tools, those were built pretty much exclusively with a router, sabre saw, and hand tools. I think I could build some kick-a$$ guitars if I threw some serious machine tools at the process like Paul Reed Smith does. Brett, tube amps are STILL the only way to go, regardless of their obsolesence in other electronic gadgets. There's all kinds of cool digital modeling amps with FET output stages out there these days, and their versatility is amazing. But they still have (or did, a few years ago when I last played with them) a more "sterile" sound to them. In addition to my mojo Vibrolux reverb, I have an 82 Super Champ that is the coolest little amp. Tight little package, very cool sound. The only mod I did to that one was add a pot so I could change the overdrive gain. I also have a MINT 68 Princeton that has a wonderful sound, and the only mod it will EVER get is the three prong AC cord. I've heard a ton of Princetons, both blackface and silverface, and this one is among the best of them I've played through. And Court, it's not for sale either. Though I admit I do feed a tad guilty having such wonderful music making tools sit idley by while musicians that could make them truly sing scrape by on modern transistor crap. Jerry, We WILL plunk a chord or two together some day. If nothing else, when we get you and your lovely gal out to a campfire after a hard day of dirtbiking in the desert. Al | ||
| Djkaplan |
Good God, Al. Now I have another subject to chew your ear off with. Don't get me started... | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Alright, Mr Haughton...IT'S ALL YOUR DOIN'! man, if i had a dollar for every time i've heard that... Bomber, on your recommendation i ordered "Cream: May 2-3-5-6, 2005 at Royal Albert Hall" on DVD, should be here in a few days, REALLY looking forward to it! once i get my axe (it goes in a brown truck a week from tomorrow), how long before "my fingertips hurt [don't] like heck!" ??? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
We WILL plunk a chord or two together some day. If nothing else, when we get you and your lovely gal out to a campfire after a hard day of dirtbiking in the desert. Al, we're looking forward to it.  | ||
| Bomber |
Jerry -- I'd plan on a month of pain -- just stop before you bleed or develop blisters | ||
| Pdxs3t |
 Kyle Corso - Rhythm Guitarist for Purple Dragon. He just got his axe back from the shop (needed some fine tuning adjustments). Too much whammy bar action!  Purple Dragon - Jim Corso (Left) Lead Guitarist, Kyle Corso (Center) Rhythm Guitarist and Josh Corso (Right) Bass. There is no future plans for a World Wide Tour but we are keeping that option open. Photo credit's go to Shel Corso (Mom). | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
GREAT pix (thanks Shel!) and wait 'til Alex Prior sees Kyle wearing a John Deere shirt, he's gonna be busting out all over! Coming Soon to a Bedroom Near You!!! | ||
| Madduck |
I see a computer and a CD burner in the top photo. Burn an album or put it on the internet. Don't need to tour to print up t-shirts either. | ||
| Prior |
The Deere shirt is awesome! I think I actually have more of them than I do Buell shirts. One of these days I'll have to post a few pics of the toys I get to play with at work... Jim, Way cool that you guys get together and jam. I wish I had started that young! | ||
| Whodom |
Wow, this thread gets better all the time. Jerry, you really started something... Well, Al, you inspired me to dig all my axes out of their cases and photograph them tonight. Most of my handiwork is not nearly as nice as yours, but we share a common interest in building electric guitars.  Here are my 3 efforts at home built guitars. No, the image isn't reversed, I'm a lefty. At the right back you see my first attempt made about 32 years ago (WOW!) when I was in high school. I used the neck from a cheap Japanese "Cameo" electric. The body is a big piece of cypress (NOT your normal guitar wood, just the biggest hunk I could find) with a piece of oak on top. Pickups and controls are Ovation. Originally, it had no oak top and was stained red mahogany (and was much prettier), but I had this thing about continually modifying my guitars. I learned a LOT from building this one (the only power tools I had were a saber saw, a belt sander, and a 1/4" drill). The one at the left rear I built during the summer while I was in college. It is a neck through with maple neck/fingerboard; the strip down the middle and the body "wings" are philipine mahogany. The inlays are big hunks of brass bushings I hammered flat, sawed out, and filed to shape. The rythm pickup is an old Dimarzio Strat pickup; the lead is a Bill Lawrence L-500. It, too has suffered from repeated mutilations. Originally, I hand-wound pickups using #40 magnet wire and magnets purchased from Alembic. They weren't terribly powerful so I added an on-board preamp. After repeated mutilations to the front, I finally veneered a layer of mahogany on front to cover them up. The guitar in front is my best job, a Telecaster body with a Warmouth Strat birdseye maple neck. I built this about 7 years ago. Pickups are by Rio Grande. The body is made from curly poplar that my father-in-law used as the top of a firewood storage box in his home for about 40 years. It's amazing how age gives you more patience to do things right the first time. Better photos of the Tele below:   The little walnut inlay is evidence that I measure d once and drilled once, exactly 1 inch from where I should have! (So much for age and patience.) I plan on stamping my name into that one of these days. The piece of wood was really amazing looking. It was only 1" thick and about 6" wide, which required it to be glued up as shown to give sufficient thickness and width for the Tele body. Here's a closeup of the birdseye maple Warmouth neck (purchased cheap at a guitar show):  Here's my Seagull acoustic:  This is a Kramer Ferrington acoustic/electric bass (purchased on ebay for only $165). (Danny) Ferrington is a custom guitar builder best known for making electric-shaped acoustics. He designed this line and Kramer had them built in Korea. There are also Tele and Strat shaped 6-string versions. This bass sounds really great with flatwounds on it.  Finally, my "working" axe, a G&L L-2000 bass. I ordered this through a local shop about 10 years ago; it's been a great one.  Finally, this will be my next project one of these days:  That's an ~8 foot long, 8" wide, 3" thick slab of black walnut, originally cut from a tree on my father-in-law's farm. I don't know what it's going to be, but I suspect a very nice bass... | ||
| Pdxs3t |
Love that Kramer bass! I have been searching for a double cut away six string Kramer for years. First time I seen and heard one, I was 6th row at the RUSH Power Windows concert in Portland, OR. Mr. Lifeson sure did make that guitar do some amazing things! | ||
| Captpete |
THE PURPLE DRAGON Anxiously awaiting the underground “ Bedroom Sessions” demo. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Hugh, beautiful work on your guitars, thanks for the pix and words. i think it's cool that you still have all your hand-crafted axes, clear back to 32 years ago. it's also very cool to hear the stories behind the wood you used. if you get a chance i'd like to see a few more pix of your Seagull. BluzM2 mailed me one of their brochures, which was very entertaining and informative. looks like a beautiful (and beautiful playing) guitar from the pics. next Friday my Garrison begins its final journey. all this guitar talk sure has my juices flowing. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Capt. Pete, do you have a link for the fellow that made your guitar strap? Pdx, sign me up for a copy of your demo, too. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Best thread ever! | ||
| Mikej |
It would be if I could find out the name of that learn to play DVD that Court is sending Jerry.  This has all got me thinking of taking the pack of rummage guitars and one electric I have upstairs down to the local used guitar shop and working a horsetrade on something decent to learn with. Took some pics of the electric I may post this weekend to help identify if it is anything to make note of. I still like the archtop style guitars, maybe I can swing getting one of them in a deal. | ||
| Mikej |
A web site I came across some time back that seems to have a bunch of info and lessons on it: http://www.guitarists.net/ Any other sites out there to check out? | ||
| Whodom |
This is a great one for all around music info. Has instrument and amp reviews, news, links to manufacturers, and links to TAB for a gazillion songs: http://www.harmony-central.com | ||
| Pdxs3t |
The Dragon's will have to see what we can do on putting together a couple of cover tune's and maybe an original. First though, we all have to learn how to play! Josh (Da Bassist) and our oldest is by far the most talented. He is in his schools jazz band playing the trumpet and bass. Here at home, he will often have mom's classical in his hand strumming away. Pretty funny stuff, Shel and I will be lying in bed at night, house very quiet and then all of the sudden you will hear Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water resonate out from his room. It has been a lot of fun jamming with the boy's and learning right along with them. When I was a kid, I had very little and now as a parent, I make sure they are full equipped to chase their dreams and I'm very happy that I can chase right along with them! Jerry - Thanks for starting a very enjoyable thread and thanks for letting me (and family) join in with all of our goofiness. Have lots of fun with the new guitar and I am looking forward to hearing the learning progression as time passes. Alex - Kyle's loves his Deere shirt, its very hard to get him to take it off sometimes! And he said last night while he was home that if you have any extra's, send em his way! | ||
| Prior |
Jim, I'm more than sure a shirt or two can be sent Kyle's way. What size? PM me an address and I'll see what I can do next week. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Your post made me cry a little, Jim... | ||
| Captpete |
First though, we all have to learn how to play! Hogwash! It never stopped me, and I got a "Live" CD to prove it! Ferris: You can check Scoop's straps out @ http://scoopstraps.com I think Scoop's brother is an IT guy, and put his website together for him. It sure makes that funny guy who sits in the local pub every weekend look like a big operation. I don't know where he gets all the pictures of his customers, though. I did notice that he's got me in there twice, now. Once captioned as Capt. Pete, and then again as H Caldwell. (I think he's after volume in that section. Shoot, he's got Barb in there four of five times, but if you take a look, you'll se why.)  But now I've got a picture of the D28. The other is playing a friend's Taylor at the pub. That was the easiest playing guitar I've even seen. Too easy, for me. (We frammers have trouble with action that's so low.)  (But the astute observer will notice that in both pictures, I'm playing a G chord.) But I'm glad you asked about the straps. I'm gettin' a little homesick out here. The little fishing town I'm from in NE FL is full of pickers, and over a dozen of the people on his customers page are friends of mine. It was good seeing them. Capt. Pete PS - If you email Scoop, mention that Capt. Pete sent you his way, and I told him to give you a 10% discount. (It might work?) | ||
| Djkaplan |
If anyone on this thread ever gets a chance bang on their guitars together, the ad hoc name for the band should the, "The Buell Brothers". "I didn't trailer my bike because I was afraid to ride it here; it was so I could bring my guitar!" | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 would you buy a fish from this man??? | ||
| Captpete |
And on the subject of amps: I know this sounds contradictory, but imho here's the ultimate acoustic amp. One mic and one guitar input. Enough punch (50 watts) to play a small barroom. (Its circuitry won’t let you overdrive the speakers. They just don’t distort.) You’d swear there were a bank of 12-inch speakers inside instead of a pair of 6-inchers, and a whole crocus sack full of watts. Perfect for the coffee house rooftop deck that's ten feet wide and 40 long. Doesn't change anything; just gets you to the people on the other end of the deck. If they didn't see the mic, they might not even know you've got some electricity going on. Great notch filters. You can play it behind you with no feedback and you don't need a monitor. Maybe give the mic just a teeny bit of reverb to make you sound way better than you are. (Frammers like that.) Show up for a gig? Two trips from the car. Axe and amp first trip, and ditty bag and mic stand the second. Setup: 5 minutes Trace Acoustic. Not inexpensive. But simply blows away any musician who’s ever heard it perform.  | ||
| Captpete |
Ferris - You dog, you! I remember that picture, now. It's posed the night Scoop presented me with that strap. I have no pick in my hand. It was, "Grab Davis' guitar and let me take your (the strap's) picture while he's on break." You dog! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
woof! | ||
| Captpete |
"I didn't trailer my bike because I was afraid to ride it here; it was so I could bring my guitar!" You posted it, DJ, but the second this thread got to the Newfie Rock idea, on the long shot that I pull this mess out of the fire out here and Pammy & Wes put the S1W back together, and I thought about FL to NF, that very thought popped into my mind. I had dodging the wimp factor covered. Me and ol'e Dewey riding up I-95 in style in the old antique RV. AC blasting at the beginning and a month later the heater doing the same when we arrived. What do you need to cross the border w/ a dog, Newfie? (He's a musician, too, ya know. Might have room to bring the digerie-ladder.)  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Ferris - You dog, you! What do you need to cross the border w/ a dog, Newfie? Cap'n, hope ya don't mind that i pulled and posted that pic from Scoop's site - it looks like a happy time. | ||
| Captpete |
I was just afraid that someone might be heading to the post office after seeing it. |
