It Isn't The Heat...

 

If you said, "It's the humidity," you get one bonus point.  If you live in the desert, you probably said, "Oh, bullshit - it IS the heat."  You get 5 bonus points for that correct answer.

More monsoon season talk: the high temperature today is supposed to be below 100º - that is unusual for July in the desert.  The weather weasels are calling for 98º for a high.  I would say that would be a refreshing change, but... it is the humidity.  This morning when I got up, it was 79º.  That would normally call for a celebration, but... the humidity was 78%. 

The pavement was wet when I looked out, but it quickly dried.  A good chance of rain for most of the day.  And, when I say, "A good chance of rain," that means a possibility of flash flooding here in the desert.  The TV is scrolling "Flash Flood Warnings" for 3 counties here, including the one we live in.  We are not in a "low lying" area... but, we live at the foot of a mountain.  And heavy rains can bring a a deluge of mud and debris down the mountain.

It happened last year when Joan and I were out of town; crud came down the mountain, plugged up a drainage wash, and made for some street flooding in our neighborhood.  It didn't affect us, but the streets a few blocks from us had a mess to deal with.  That was called "a once in a decade" storm.  Pretty sure that doesn't mean we're good for the next nine years.  ;-)

For those keeping track: "Officially, monsoon starts June 15 and runs through Sept. 30.  In the 2026 Monsoon Outlook from the National Weather Service, there is a 33% to 50% chance of above-normal precipitation in nearly all areas of Arizona.  The greatest chances for above-normal precipitation are across northeastern Arizona."  

Seems like Mother Nature is pissed: bad air from forest fire smoke in New York City, Detroit, and Cleveland, higher than normal temps across much of the country, flooding in central Texas.

 

It starts with some friendly grooming...

 

Murphy and Stella...

 "You kids play nice..."

No kitties were injured in the making of this video.

 

Permutation...

 

Is that one of your "math things," Jim?  Yeah, pretty much.

After Joan and I got back from lunch out today, I "went to work"... not at anything like a real job... I have been trying different guitars and pedals with the new amp.  You do have to spend some time with each of these permutations (specific combinations) of guitar > pedal > amp.

It takes a while.

Conclusions: this is really a great amp.  It makes me want to play better.  And more.  It sounds great with my electric guitars.  With or without pedals.  Well, most pedals.  For those readers who don't play guitar: some guitar/amp combinations really need some effects pedals to get a good tone.  I have generally been more of a minimalist with pedals, only adding them for a specific purpose.

Addressing that "most pedals" comment in the paragraph above: putting my acoustic guitars through the Fishman Aura pedal is not the best use with this amp... it gets a "woofy" tone to it.  But, the Aura sounds great when run to an acoustic amp (I still have two), or direct to the PA.  That said, I can get a pretty decent acoustic tone out of the Emerald Virtuo with this Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb.  Meaning: when playing with the group, I don't really need an acoustic guitar.  Did I just say that?  (No, dumas, you wrote it.)

 Yeah, that is a lot of "spaghetti" - cables all over the place; I was trying different combinations, so more cables than what I would have in actual use.  In that lower image, that is my "reduced" acoustic pedalboard.  The top image is what I have been using as needed for the electric guitars.  With this new amp, I can get a good range of tones without pedals.

 

 

Comfort...

 

Is this going to be a shoe discussion?  Always trying to second-guess me, aren't ya?

I have been going through a guitar transition.  Again.  It happens now and then.  Not looking to swap off a bunch of guitars... or even add a bunch of guitars.  I have been having some issues with my hands.  Might be from 60+ years of playing guitar; or as Joan has suggested: a few decades of using computers.  I don't think it is a carpal tunnel kinda thing; I'm guessing more like I've worn out some thumb joints and toss in some arthritis.

Over the last few months, I find myself picking up my electric guitars more often than the acoustics.  The action is lower on the electrics, making it easier on my hands.

Joan looked into it and found some gloves that hold the lower joint on your thumb in place, and don't restrict your fingers.  When they came in, they do kinda help my thumb... but it hurts to put 'em on and take 'em off (snug).

This is the reason I put the Gibson ES-335 back to work: it is the easiest to play of all my guitars.  But, it needed a better amp.  Yeah, that Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb that I posted about yesterday...

 The amp is really nice.  Good tone.  Plenty of "headroom" (meaning: you can control that tone as you increase the volume).  Great clean tones, crisp crunchy tones.  Working with it last night, it is also a good platform for pedals.  I also gave it a try with a variety of guitars, electric and acoustic.

As you'd expect, each of the electric guitars sound great.  The acoustics?  It depends on the pickup system in the guitar... the Emerald X7 and X10 were decent; the X20 and the Taylor 814, not so much.  But, each of those could be better with a pedal designed for acoustic guitars.  Not that it matters that much... I got this amp to use with the electrics.

One thing that became very apparent while switching between all these guitars: the neck size and shape makes a big difference on hand comfort.

I decided to "put a number on it."  I put a caliper on the nut width and thickness (depth) of the neck at the first fret...

    Guitar                        Nut Width        Thickness        Comfort Rating
    Gibson ES-335            1.57"                    0.97"                    1
    Taylor T5                     1.68"                    0.93"                    2
    Emerald Virtuo            1.71"                    0.88"                    3
    Emerald X10               1.78"                    0.83"                    4
    Emerald X7                 1.77"                    0.93"                    5
    Taylor 814                   1.76"                    0.95"                    6
    Emerald X20               1.79"                    0.90"                    7

The Comfort Rating is my opinion - no "scientific measurement."  Just based on how my hands felt while playing it.  I've never looked at this information before, based on a digital caliper.  What this tells me: the narrower the nut width (measured at the nut on the fretboard), the more I perceive it to be comfortable.  I was surprised that the X20 "feels" more chunky than the others.  And that the 335 "feels" smaller than the others, even though it isn't the thinnest (from the fretboard to the back of the neck).

Of course, as any guitar player will tell you, these measurements don't take into consideration "the carve" of the neck; i.e. how thick or wide the neck becomes as you move up the fretboard.  Guitar neck carves are often described as "a C-shape, a D-shape, etc," when viewed from the side.  And, that curve may be "compound" - many variables.

A couple surprises: the Taylor T5, Emerald Virtuo, and the X10 are all advertised as "1 11/16" nut width"... the Emerald X7, the Taylor 814, and the X20 are all advertised at "1 3/4" nut width."  The Taylor T5 and 814 are closest to their advertised nut width.  The Emeralds are all wider than advertised.  The first 3 in my comfort rating are all electrics; the X10 is a hybrid: an acoustic with "a humbucking pickup and a thinner, more electric shaped neck; the last 3 are acoustics that have an electric pickup added.

Conclusions: well, if I was using a Magic 8-Ball, it would probably say, "Ask again later." But, going by the measurements and seat of the pants (turn of the hand?) feeling, if I decide to do the "one in, one out" formula, it would be an electric coming in and an acoustic going out.  IF an electric option, it needs to have a comfortable neck.  Preferably 1 11/16" nut width and a slim carve.  Scale length matters, too... the X7 has the shortest scale length at 24", the X20 and the 814 are the longest at 25.5."  Yep, a lot of variables.

Did I mention: I sure do like that new amp!

 

NAD...

 

Is this going to be about testicles?  Definitely not.

I have mentioned a new amp to be arriving soon.  Today is the day... New Amp Day!

 That is a Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb Blonde.  I really like the blonde Tolex covering with oxblood speaker grille; to my eye, a striking appearance.  There is a sound reason for the Blonde version: it uses a Celestion Neo Creamback speaker instead of the Jensen speaker that comes in the standard (black Tolex) version.  It is a bit warmer (some say "darker") tone.

After getting it out of the box and looking it over, I took it to my music room and tried it out with my Gibson 335, the Taylor T5, and the Emerald Virtuo... it sounds good with each of them.

 

An unboxing and first impressions video...

 This evening, I put the cover on the amp...

 Back in the good ol' days, the covers used to be a heavy vinyl.  This feels like a denier, as in a light backpack material.  No padding, but it will make a good dust cover or possibly provide some protection if you have to load it in light precipitation.  That said, it is good that it comes with a cover.

 

That Is Heavy, Dude...

 

Emotional load or an actual burden?  Making music with the guys yesterday, I asked Mark if I could try one of his solid body electrics (he has a good selection).  I had my Taylor T5, which weighs about 5 and a half pounds.  I tried out his new Paul Reed Smith Fiore HH guitar - it weighs about 7 1/2 pounds.  You notice the difference.

Then, I tried one of his Fender Stratocasters.  I think it weighed about 160 pounds... I may have missed that by an ounce or two one way or the other.  Yeah, I am kidding.  That guitar was just over 8 pounds.  When you have that strapped across a shoulder, every pound counts.

My heaviest guitar is the Gibson ES-335, which is also around 8 pounds.  The Emerald Virtuo is my lightest electric at just barely over 5 pounds.  All my acoustics are lighter than that.

Does weight make a difference?  Thanks for asking.  Guitars are made from different woods, which means different weights.  That PRS Fiore has a body made of swamp ash.  That's a dense wood.  There will be variations in each individual piece of wood, so the weight of any guitar of a particular model may vary within a half pound or so.  Different woods will have different resonance; so even on a solid body guitar, the type of wood will make a difference in the sound.

Acoustic players seem to be more particular about what kind of wood a guitar is made from.  Rosewood, maple, spruce, koa - it makes a difference in tone.

This is a generalization: carbon fiber guitars are can be lighter than wood, but the production process (type of epoxy used, how many layers of carbon fiber, whether sheets of fiber are laid up or sprayed in with a chopper gun) makes a difference.  Since RainSong closed up, Emerald seems to be the leader in keeping their guitars light. 

I have been considering another solid body electric.  Not sure my shoulder would be happy about that.  There is no "rule" about heavy guitars being better, or lighter guitars being better.  But, you wouldn't know that if you visit internet guitar forums.  ;-)

Anything you can do about the weight of a guitar?  If you play standing, the strap you use can make a significant difference... a wider, padded strap will spread the weight out, making a real difference in comfort.  Or, you could switch from a Gibson Les Paul (generally around 9 pounds) to a Gibson SG (usually between 6 and 7 pounds).  But players are drawn to a style or model of guitar visually... and that's a whole 'nuther debate.

 

* If you really want to delve into guitar weights, here's a link: https://guitargearfinder.com/faq/electric-guitar-weight/

 

It's Still Rock 'n Roll To Me...

 

If you said, "Billy Joel, from the album Glass Houses, 1980," you get 12 bonus points.  Partial credit given for partial answers.  And, speaking of Billy Joel, there is a good documentary about him on Max, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes."

We watched it last weekend - very interesting.  If you are a Billy Joel fan, I recommend it.

Today is a rare Monday music day.  The Hip Replacements haven't all been in Phoenix at the same time for over a month.  And Ron will be leaving for another month+ trip to the Pacific Northwest.  Mark and Cindy will be in New York and the northeast for half of August and September.  Podge is always traveling.  And me?  I never go anywhere, never have any fun.

But, today we are all here and will be making music.  The amp I ordered is supposed to arrive at the store today, so it won't be in time to use it today.  Maybe tomorrow.  It still took me 4 trips to the car to get my gear in. 

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A fun practice with the guys today - we work well together, so even though it has been over a month since we've all been in town at the same time, everything came together nicely.  We have some gigs booked after we're back together again - more summer travel plans.

Cindy surprised me today with cookies from Crumbl.  With my birthday coming up, this is the only opportunity with us all together.  She put a candle on one of the cookies - is that "a candl on the Crumbl?"  ;-)

  And, the obligatory Birthday Song.  BIG cookies, btw; and my favorite: chocolate chunk.

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This evening, another nice thing...

 It wasn't a lot, but it has been 105 days since any measurable precip, so we'll gladly take it.  Of course, before the rain came down, a gust front full of sand and dirt blew in first.  Here's a photo from one of the TV stations, taken east of here...

 Thunderstorm on the left, a haboob on the right.