How Low Can You Go...

 

You're doing the Limbo, Jimbo?

No, I am not, and don't call me Jimbo.  The Emerald X10 was in need of some new strings.  I had moved to 11s on my other acoustic guitars; guitar players will know what I am talking about - a short explanation for civilians: the gauge of the high E-string.  If that didn't answer anything for you, it is lighter than I have been using.  It's part of my move to making all my guitars easier for these old hands to play.

I decided to put 10s on the X10.  I had to hunt through my string inventory to come up with a set that was that light - fortunately, I had half of a 12-string set from when I put Nashville tuning on my X7.

I took the strings off one-by-one...

 I cleaned the fretboard and polished the frets while I had access to them.

The saddles on the X10 are adjustable.  I lowered them one-by-one...

 It is a balancing act: too low and the strings will buzz on the frets above them.  When I had it set as low as I could get it with no buzz, I called it good and snugged up the new strings.  Tuned them up to pitch.  Yep, that feels easier on the fingers and no buzz.  The neck has a truss rod, but it didn't need to be tweaked.  Good to go.

And just for fun, I played the X10 for a while through the new amp.  The X10 is an acoustic that has a humbucking pickup as well as individual piezos... the premise from Emerald on this guitar: an acoustic that can also be played like an electric.  It sounds decent through the Deluxe Reverb amp.

With that guitar done, I should be able to take some time off from guitar "tweaking."  Today was supposed to be a get together with the guys at Mark's house kinda music day, but I am still sneezing, snotting, and coughing, so I chose to stay away.  I was disappointed, because this will be the last chance to get together with Ron; he and his wife are heading to the Pacific Northwest until September (where it will definitely be cooler than here in Phoenix).  It's always a treat to get together with my music buddies, but better to not spread this fun cold crap around.

 

Flirty Girl

 

Is Joan flirting with you?

(Sigh) No.  But, little Stella has her way of flirting...

 Today is a big day for her: one year old.  She has been with us almost 7 months, and was estimated to be around 5 months old when we brought her home.  Her life has certainly changed, coming from being on her own in a parking lot to having a family, including a feline big brother.

We are guessing that this is as big as she is going to get.  Half the size of Murphy, twice the attitude.  And sweet as can be... most of the time.

 

 

Morning View...

 

With monsoon season in swing, the views from our courtyard have been less than striking - low visibility and blowing dirt in the distance.  This morning, it is overcast (a sign of the higher than typical humidity), but the visibility is good.

A bit of sunlight coming down on the Estrella Mountains to the west of us...

 A pretty view to start the day.

 

You Say It's Your Birthday...

 

It's my birthday too, yeah!  If you said, "The Beatles, 1968," you get 10 bonus points.

Yes, it's that day when I am reminded what my Mother said about my birth: "You were trying to be born breach - you came out telling the world to kiss your ass, and that's the way it has been ever since."  Mom always had a way with words.

I have a summer cold.  It's like a regular cold, but worse.  Kinda like a man-cold.  For those of us with asthma, it is, in medical terms: a big ol' bucket of suck.  That plan was for the family to take me out for a nice meal and adore me.  It may have to be an at-home adoring.

Joan started my day out with a big ol' smile: a personalized birthday card with this on the front...

 The inside of the card telling me I am the best Cat Dad.  Which is true.  I was there when they voted.  And then an 8x10 composite photo with these images...

 Joan found a company that takes your photos and uses AI to create these fun images.  She was right: it made me smile, through the coughing and wheezing.

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Steph and Dan took Joan and I out for lunch - I loaded up on cold meds right before we left; back to our place for more opening of cards and adoring.  A very nice way to spend this celebration of... getting older.  As I told Joan this morning: "Not everyone gets the opportunity to live this long - I'll appreciate each new day."

To which she replied, "That's a lovely thought - are the cold meds getting to you?"

Everybody's a comic.  ;-)

 

 

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.

 

Can't See the Forest For The Trees...

 

Meaning: you can't see what's right in front of you.  No, I'm not going to say anything about guys looking for stuff.  This morning, you can't see the mountains for the blowing dirt/sand.  Monsoon season in the desert.

Looking to the southeast...

 On the far right side of that image, you can see some of South Mountain.  You would normally see that on the left side, as well.  Not today; it is shrouded in blowing dirt.  25 miles southeast of here, they had 20 foot visibility, rain, and hail.  Looking to the west, you can't see the Estrella Mountains; no point in a photo, just dirty air.

Yes, Murphy still wanted to go out.  It is not blowing here.  In fact, the wind is forecast for single digits here for most of the day.  In anticipation, the patio umbrellas have been put in the shed, along with the flag and the canopy over the hot tub...

 There is a 30% or greater chance of precip for the next week.  We can use the moisture; it has been over 3 months since we've had measurable (greater than .01") rain.

 

Everybody's Working For the Weekend...

 

If you said, "Loverboy, 1981, from the album Get Lucky," you get 15 bonus points.  If you said, "Not everybody is working," you may have been looking in our windows... and that's just creepy.

As we roll into the weekend, the feline family members are not working...

 

There was some "scurrying" happening before these napping photos.

Joan and I will be working (sorta) before the day is out: Mother Nature is supposed to be giving us some wind the next few days, and a chance of precip (about 30%) for much of this next week.  Yeah, this is "monsoon season" where the desert experiences humidity to go along with the heat.  So, that's fun.  Not.  We will be putting stuff away on the patio: furniture cushions, securing umbrellas.  

Ride, Captain, Ride...

 

If you said, "A song by the band Blues Image, 1970," you get 10 bonus points.

It has been hot.  As in: above 90º by the time I get up in the morning (usually around 6:00ish).  Daytime highs above 110º.  The last couple of days have been daytime highs around 114º.  This morning, it was 89º at 6:00... yeah, that's just a psychological 1º difference.  Still, it gave me the push to get out on my ebike, after I got my morning chores done.  And by that time, it was 94º.  Moderately crappy air quality.  Good times.

Still, a good ride...

Hardly anyone out and about.  It is amazing to me that you can find some solitude in the big city.  

Hey, it's only supposed to get up to 112º today - that's what the local weather lady said this morning.  Yes, she used the word "only."  Like that makes a difference. 

A few short video clips with the Meta Adventurer smart glasses... 

  

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Shared from my friend Danny...

 

 

Two Out, One Incoming...

 

I went to a different guitar shop yesterday.  They did not have the exact model amp I am interested in in their in-store inventory.  But, they had one almost the same.  Same manufacturer (Fender).  Different covering, a different speaker in it; some might say that is mostly cosmetic.  We decided to go there and take a look.  Also, they can order the exact one I am interested in and it will be delivered in 3 to 5 business days.  So, in layman's terms: about a week.  Also, the salesman there said they'd be interested in what I have to trade.

I had a number in mind for the trade value.

What about that first store you went to on Monday?  Thanks for asking.  They couldn't give me a price on my trade, but said the manager would be in the next day (yesterday) around 11:30.  I waited until noon, then gave them a call... the manager wasn't going to be in until Wednesday.

No big deal; but, as Joan said, "You are ready to do something.  Today."  We drove to the second guitar shop.  Yep, they were interested in doing a trade.  I checked out the amp that is almost the same (black instead of blonde, same size speaker but a different manufacturer).  To complicate things further, they have the next larger size amp... in the exact color... and with two of the speakers I like.  For the same price as the one I have been considering.  Let me repeat that: bigger amp, twice the power, a lot more volume, twin speakers instead of one.  Same price.  I had to ask why.  The salesman thought it may have been ordered and then the customer didn't like it when it came in.  Or, ordered on-line, then returned to the store.  He assured me it is new and nothing wrong with it.

I played through it.  It sounds great!  I used to have this same amp in the tube version (from 1974 to 2006).  It was one of my favorite amps.  I know what you are thinking... me, too..."SAME PRICE AS THE SMALLER ONE!!  WHY WOULD YOU NOT DO THIS??"  

Overkill.  I must be getting old.  Maybe smarter?  Probably not.  That amp in stock is larger, heavier, and louder than the one I am interested in.  The one I want is truly "the Goldilocks" in size, weight, and volume (control).  Yeah, I caught that, too: "the one I want," not "the one I am interested in."  This hot deal is about 50% heavier to cart around.

Joan made an interesting car analogy: "It is like going to the Chevy dealer to buy an Equinox and see that they have an even better deal on a Suburban."  Hey, it won't fit in the garage and it will get fewer miles per gallon, but it is a good price.  

I am willing to pay the same money for an amp that is smaller; to get exactly what I want.  I ordered the amp.  Traded the two smaller amps I brought in.  Got $50 more for the trade than I expected.  Yes, I may have gotten a bit more if I sold them myself... but that would mean having to deal with people.  It is worth something to me to not have to run ads on Facebook Marketplace and deal with people who will message you and ask if you will take less (You haven't even seen this thing - it is SO good, you will probably want to offer me more when you see it!).  Yeah, I made the right decision.

I did leave the guitar shop (some might call it a "center") with something: strings.  When we got home, I changed the strings on the 335.  Four of the five strings on it broke as I was unwinding them.  Yeah, it was over-due for some new strings.  And as long as I was at it, I changed out the strings on the Emerald Virtuo, too.  I may take both of them for music at Mark's today.  We'll see. 

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Two Here...

Murphy and Stella chillin' this morning...

They are frequently rowdy with each other; generally in a playful kinda way.  Murphy went outside with Joan for a short time this morning; already 93º just after 7:00... they didn't spend much time out there.  And now, nap time for Murphy; Stella won't be far behind.

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 Music today with the guys, and a surprise appearance from Ron - I thought he was going to be gone until late September.  Turns out he is home to check in on some work being done on their house, and was able to get away to make some music with us today.

This was a fun diversion: music, pizza, and a cookie break with like-minded friends.  We took turns picking songs.  I did take my Gibson 335 today... Mark commented, "That guitar already knows all the songs."  Not quite, but it was a lot of fun playing it today.  Good comments from the guys; the only complaint was from my shoulder - that is a heavy guitar.

A good time.  Took my mind off the miserable heat.  Well, until it was time to drive home.  I saw 116º on the outside air temp in the car; no doubt a lot of heat coming off the pavement.  I am grateful for air conditioning!  And music.  And a blast from the past with that 335.

 

 

A Hot Time In the Old Town...

 

If you said, "A popular American song from around 1896," you get 10 bonus points.  If you knew it was composed by Theodore August Metz and performed by McIntyre and Heath Minstrels, you get an additional 300 bonus points.  If you thought it had something to do with Old Mother Leary's cow, you get 3 bonus points.  If you said, "Who is Old Mother Leary and what does that have to do with a cow?" you are probably a whippersnapper.  No bonus points for being a whippersnapper.

The high temperature today in Phoenix is supposed to be 114º today.  115º tomorrow.  Neither of which is in "record territory."  That is hot... with a capital HOT.  86º when I got up at 6:15 this morning; 90º by the time I got Murphy outside at 6:40.  If we don't get outside first thing this morning, he isn't going to get any outdoor time.  He doesn't understand that it will burn his big furry paws.  Last night, it was nearly dark before he got to go outside again.

There is an Extreme Heat Warning from now through 8:00pm on Thursday.  You might think: "You live in Arizona - you get acclimated to the heat."  Sorta.  As of today, there have been 192 deaths in the metro area that are suspected to be heat related... 16 confirmed.  The Salvation Army has opened cooling shelters in places around the Valley.

Thank goodness for air conditioning.

 

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Broke...

You're out of money, Jim?  Well, Joan hasn't given me my allowance yet this week.  I'm kidding... I don't get an allowance.  Mostly, I get by on my looks.

So, you really are broke, huh?

Damn - you people are harsh.  In Sunday's post, I talked about my Gibson ES-335 TDC.  I have music with Mark and the guys tomorrow - I was thinking about taking it.  While playing it this morning, I bent a string and... snap!

Now, we're all aware that a broken string isn't a big deal.  Back when I was playing for a living, I broke strings several times a week.  I don't have any strings for that guitar, so it will require a trip to a guitar shop.  No, that isn't a hardship; I like guitar shops.  The problem comes after you change all the strings... the guitar tends to go out of tune frequently, until the strings settle in.  I don't want to spend all my time tuning tomorrow.  So, we'll see how that plays out.

I was thinking about taking the 335 to that guitar shop that has the amp I'm interested in... that would be downright embarrassing to bring in a guitar that's missing a string.  I know this for a fact: yesterday while at that guitar shop, a kid (well, looked to be in his 20s) brought in a guitar that needed a string replaced.  He seemed to think it was a technical operation to replace a string.  I was embarrassed for him.  He probably had no idea that he should be embarrassed.

For those of you who don't play guitar, first of all, I am sorry for you.  And second of all, changing a string should be one of the first things you learn.

When I was going out to the car yesterday, the kid was coming out at the same time - I held the door for him.  He asked me, "What kind of guitar was that that you were playing?"  I told him a little bit about Emerald guitars.  He told me about his Epiphone Les Paul (with the broken string now replaced).  Also told me he has been playing "about a year."

"62 years for me... and my first guitar wasn't anywhere near as nice as your Epiphone."  I also told him, "The music comes from the player... but, it doesn't hurt to have a nice instrument." 

Speaking of amps...

 

That's amplifiers, as in: to use with an electric guitar.

There is an amp I'm interested in.  The only place we found one in a search of the Phoenix area is at Bizzare Guitars & Drums.  Yes, that is the name of the place.  I called before heading there - yep, they have one in stock.

I took a guitar with me.  Also a couple of my other amps - just in case there is an opportunity to do some trading.  The manager isn't in on Mondays, so no trade today.  I did try their amp: very nice.  Perhaps a bit of overkill for my current use.  But, very nice.  A consideration, but noting came home with me.

 

Hello Old Friend...

 

This is a long-standing friendship.  Even before I met Joan.  In two weeks, it will be 60 years.

For those who don't know, that is my Gibson ES-335 TDC.  Received on my 13th birthday.  My brother-in-law John negotiated the price down from $500 to $350.  Including the case.

There is more to the story.  Before the 335, I had a Teisco Recco.  Teisco was a Japanese company.  Recco was a Japanese word meaning: piece of crap.  It literally made my fingers bleed.  I didn't care - I just wanted to play guitar and be in a band.

We did our first paid gig when I was 12.  We made $3 each.  I couldn't believe it: getting paid to play a guitar.  And making way more per hour than I made bagging groceries in the neighborhood grocery store.  Pretty sure there were no child labor laws back then.  ;-)

That band became The Spirit of '76.  Because we bought the jackets second hand...

 That's me with the tall boots.  And, the 335.  Back to the story of the 335: there was a music store in Sioux City that wasn't the cool place - they mostly sold pianos and school band instruments.  But, they had a few guitars... and one of them was this very 335, in the cherry finish.  I was determined to get that guitar.  I saved what I made from playing weekly gigs with the band and working in the grocery store.  My sister believed in me - she said, "I know you've saved some money - for your birthday, John and I will chip in to get you that guitar you want."

 That is my sister Joan and me, playing that gawd-awful Recco.

The 335 changed things for me.  Big time.  I discovered I could actually play the guitar - it was so much easier to play compared to the Recco.  The band sounded better.  We got better jobs.  As a 14 year old, we were playing almost every weekend.

I was 16 and Joan was 15 when we started dating.  I would like to say it was my good looks and charm that turned her head... pretty sure it was the guitar playing.

Other bands.  I quit college first time around to go on the road with the Flippers...

 Yep, even in that blurry snapshot above, you can see the 335 (and my Marshall stack to the left); the 335 and the Fender Bandmaster below...

Later, with Stinger...

The 335 with my Fender Twin Reverb (above); I had that Twin from 1974 to 2006; the 335 stayed. 

After 2006, I spent more time playing acoustic guitar - easy to do a solo thing with an acoustic.  A lot of other guitars have come and gone over the years.  When we moved to Phoenix a bit over 2 1/2 years ago, Joan helped me hang guitars in my music room... she said, "The 335 needs its own special place on the wall..."

 

 

The 335 has hung on that wall since.  Until today.  I got it down and tuned it up.  It felt... like home.  It needs a fresh set of strings, but I tuned it up and gave it some playing time.  Plugged in.

The 335 has been with me for a lot of years.  It helped feed our young family.  Hell, it is part of the family.  I thought it had worked hard and deserved time to kick back and let some of the other guitars have their time to shine.  Now, I'm thinking the 335 and I should have more time together.  Maybe it needs a different amp to show it off?

 

Quieter... sorta

 

So, how did it go last night?  The neighbors (behind Steph and Dan's yard) that were SO noisy on New Years Eve were absent last night.  I really thought people would heed all the warnings about fire danger and the ban on fireworks in city limits.

I did mention previously that we are right on the edge of city limits and the county.  There is a place up the mountain from us - last year on the 4th, they actually started two fires on their property with all the fireworks.  You would think they would learn...

 Umm... nope.  So much for that "no fireworks that leave the ground" ban.  This was just one small snippet.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy a good fireworks display.  Especially when they are put on by professionals.  But, I no longer have any interest in dealing with the crowds and traffic to go see them.  It used to be easy when we lived in the Tropical Tip and could take our boat into the bay and watch "the biggest fireworks display in the State of Texas" from the cockpit.  And not have to deal with the traffic getting on and off the island.  Dock to bay, bay to dock - no traffic, no waiting.

I had anticipated that the majority of the noise here would die down after 10:00 pm.  That was the peak, but there was a bell curve on either side of that.

The most important thing: how did the kitties do?  Murph was totally chill; little Stella had concerns, but no panic.  I think it helped that Mom and Dad didn't react to all the popping noise out there.  I haven't visited with Steph and Dan yet today to see how their critters did.

So, Happy Birthday, America!  Other than Mother Nature causing some issues around the country, seems that the party went off as planned.

 

How do you spell R*E*L*I*E*F?

 

If you said, "R*O*L*A*I*D*S - from the TV commercials in the 70s and 80s," you get 15 bonus points.  No, this isn't about that kind of relief.  Joan's Xmax has been sitting a bit too long and the battery is run down - the heat here in the desert doesn't help that situation.

The battery in the Xmax is in an unusual place compared to most motorcycles and scooters: it sit under the front fairing, just below the windshield.  Most bikes have the battery under the seat or some other easily accessible place.  I have had the piece on the front of the fairing off twice in the six years Joan has had that bike.  Once was to wire an accessory USB attachment piece back to the handlebars... as I recalled, it was a real chore.  The other time was to replace the battery 3 years ago.  I couldn't recall the process to get to the battery, since that accessory attachment was stuck in my mind.

YouTube is my friend.  It took 12 seconds to pull up a video showing how to remove that piece and get access to the battery.  And about 90 seconds of watching the video to provide some relief to my mind for the process... two allen screws and about a dozen clips that hold that plastic piece in place (be careful not to break any of those tabs/clips).

 Before I get that charged and check the state of the battery, I will wire a pigtail to the battery connections so we can attach a Battery Tender without having to take that apart each time.  In the meantime, the Battery Tender is giving the battery a slow charge.  I will put a load on it and test it to see if the battery needs to be replaced.  Typically, I figure 5 years or so on a bike battery - things are different here in the desert.

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Happy 250th Birthday, America!

It was relatively quiet last night, as far as fireworks in the neighborhood.  Steph and Dan went to a ballgame with friends and left me in charge of Dicha for the evening.  With concerns about the potential noise and commotion, they put her crate in their huge walk-in closet, with a TV to mask any outside noises that could possibly stress out the pooch.  As it turns out, it wasn't an issue.

Now, if we can make it through tonight.  Our neighborhood is in a "No Fireworks Zone," but that didn't stop some neighbors on this past New Years Eve.  It just so happened that we were watching Dicha during that night - the noise was horrendously loud, as it was a group of adults setting off huge aerial displays right behind our house... with most of them going off right over the top of us.  We brought Dicha over to our house and sat with her on the floor that evening to try to keep her calm.

If the assholes start that again tonight, I will be calling the Police.  There have been Extreme Fire Warnings in place for almost the entire state of Arizona.  Fireworks have been completely banned in many areas (including ours).  I assume that our proximity to South Mountain is why our address is in that "No Fireworks Zone." There are local PSAs stating that there are "no fireworks allowed that raise above the ground anywhere in Phoenix."  There are also wildfires being fought in quite a few places in the state... people have to be aware of the potential danger.

That said, there is a lot going on - fireworks above the Diamondback's Ballpark again tonight (they did that last night, as well), with many other communities across the Valley having professional fireworks or drone shows.

This morning, before getting the Xmax battery charging, Murphy and I were outside in our courtyard.  Joan bought this yard ornament flag months ago...

 In the courtyard, we're the only ones who see it; but we've enjoyed it for several months now.

Right now, we're watching the tall ships (and aircraft flyovers) in New York Harbor.  In the words of the philosophers Cool and the Gang: It's a Celebration. 

 

Let's Cut To The Video...

 

This one was just fun: the video from yesterday's ride... the Burgman 200 scoot is a hoot to ride.  Very "flickable" (that's a motorcycle/scooter term meaning it turns fast and easy in the curves).  Then, there's the HoverAir X1 Pro - the drone that launches from your hand and performs "intelligent" maneuvers, like Follow Me, Zoom Out, Orbit, and a bunch of others.  No controller necessary, just click through the options then press the button.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I wasn't planning on a video - thought I'd probably just do a photo or two from a higher perspective.  With the lack of traffic, I could go as fast or slow as I wanted (within reason, of course); and see how the X1 Pro handled the situation.

Here's the video: about 3 1/2 minutes, with music and a voice-over, just for the fun of it...

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A music jam with "my local guys"... well, 3 of us are from Laveen.  As always, at Allan's house.  Allan on bass and vocals, Tony on lead guitar and vocals, Bob on keyboards, Joe on drums, and me on guitar and vocals.  We play classic rock 'n roll.

Some photos I took (and that's why I'm not in them)...

 Yes, it is a lot of gear.  I am fortunate: Allan has a Marshall amp just like mine, so I don't have to cart it back and forth.