Amp SOS: The Fillmore, Rescued.

[Prina]

Whether it's amp/tubes/speaker or guitar/pickups/strings, it's so awesome to find that sweet spot. And often ya' don't know for sure till you're there.

Congrats on the cryo journey's outcome!

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

I Had A Similar Experience. The Electrician Walks Into The Music Room And Sees Everything And Says "Man, You Have A Lot Of Guitars And Stuff. You Into Music?" I Responded "I Have Been Known To Play A Little." I Could See His Mind Was Racing As He Observed His Surroundings. He Said At One Time He Played A Little. I Said Oh? He Said "Yeah I Miss Playing Sometimes...I Had The Best Guitar In The World But I Had To Sell it In My Divorce Years Ago." I Asked What He Had Hoping He Would Say An Original 59 Les Paul Or Something. He Said He Had A "Basic Fender Strat...That Is All You Need" And Then Went on To Tell Me All The Famous Players Who Played Strats Back In The Day. I Politely Smiled And Let Him Talk. I Could See He Was Looking For A Fender Headstock But Didn't Find One. He Said "Sir...I Don't Mean To Be Rude But You Have A Lot Of Stuff. Why Not Get Rid Of What You Have And Buy A Few Really Nice Guitars Like A Fender Strat Or A Les Paul And Have Some Really Nice Guitars And Not So Much Stuff?" I Was Chuckling Deep Down Inside And His Eyes Finally Saw A Gibson Headstock And He Excitedly Said "Oh, You Have A Nice Guitar! I Didn't Recognize Any Of These Other Brands You Have." I Was Signing The Invoice And He Said Again That "I Really Should Consider Getting Some Nice Guitars As It Looks Like I Am Into Them." I Smiled And Said I Would Consider His Suggestion As It Made A Lot Of Sense As We Were Selling That House And Getting Ready To Move And It Would Be Less To Move So What He Was Saying "Made Sense". He Felt Good For Offering The Advice, I Was Amused And Did Appreciate His Passion. I Didn't Have The Heart To Tell Him I Had Already Consolidated Down Years Ago And This Was The Result. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid. When The House Sold And I Had To Prepare The Stuff For The Move I Did Ask Myself...Should I Sell Everything And Get A Couple Of Strats? They Were Good Enough For Hendrix And This Repair Guy So They Have To Be Good Enough For Me As Well. That Thought Went To The Abyss About As Quickly As I Thought It...It Does Make Me Smile Each Time I Recall That Story. Thanks For The Memories...

So, tip of the iceburg doesn't even begin to describe the vast difference in our gear inventories, but I had a similar thing a couple years ago. This was back when I had a Budda, a Vox, a PRS and 4 Mesa amps. I had 17 guitars which at that time was 5 PRS, 3 EBMM, 3 Taylor, 2 Ibanez, a Peavey Wolfgang, a Carvin and a Gibson (my dad's old acoustic). A friend who plays bluegrass was at my house and I took him to the music room. He looked around at all the amps and was in awe, but I could tell he wasn't blown away by the guitars. 3 PRS and one EBMM were out. I opened a few cases to show him more. He said that most of them were "really pretty," and clearly didn't want to hurt my feelings by disapproving. But I could tell. He plays ONLY Martin, but is well aware of Taylors and acknowledges them as great guitars, but it was the electrics he just kind of "yeah, they're nice" and moved on. Then of course "the question." "Have you ever owned a Les Paul or a Strat? Being nice, and in his own way, he was trying to figure out if I'd ever owned a really nice guitar. Before I answered he said "or any other Gibsons?" I told him that I had owned a Les Paul Custom and more than one strat, inculding just getting rid of a 50th Anniversary American Deluxe Strat. So OF COURSE, his next question was "why did you get rid of those?"

So I told him! Then I showed him a few PRS and EBMM's online so he could see these weren't "cheap" guitars, they were top of the line guitars.

 

[László]

When The House Sold And I Had To Prepare The Stuff For The Move I Did Ask Myself...Should I Sell Everything And Get A Couple Of Strats? They Were Good Enough For Hendrix And This Repair Guy So They Have To Be Good Enough For Me As Well. That Thought Went To The Abyss About As Quickly As I Thought It...It Does Make Me Smile Each Time I Recall That Story. Thanks For The Memories...

That’s a great story!

I think I may have told this one about an ad client, but if not…

The Creative Director for a big agency came over while I was mixing a car ad I wrote and produced; he wanted “Americana” style music. Well, hell, that was right up my alley.

The track had already been approved, he just wanted to hang out while I mixed.

During a break he said, “You know what would have been great on this track? A big, ol’ Rickenbacker. That would have really sounded awesome.” He had kind of a smug smile going like, see what an expert I am?

I said, “Hang on a second.” And came out of the recording booth holding, yes, a big ol’ Rickenbacker.

“It’s what I used to record the guitar parts you’re hearing.”

The look on his face was priceless. I really shouldn’t have busted him like that, but I couldn’t resist!

I took the guitar back into the recording booth, but decided not to rub it in further. So I offered him a beer.

 

[László]

So I told him! Then I showed him a few PRS and EBMM's online so he could see these weren't "cheap" guitars, they were top of the line guitars.

Great story as well!

I’ve always wanted to respond to that kind of thing with a snarky remark, but I’d have probably said something dumb in an attempt to be witty, like “I don’t play cheap guitars like Fenders and Gibsons,” and the guy would have just figured I was an a$$hole (which of course would be correct!).

You get a medal for enlightening this barbarian — I wouldn’t have had the patience!

 

[László]

I’m Laz’ alter ego. He’s all happy that he fixed up his Fillmore. And I’m thinkin’ “Sure ya are; big whoop. In two weeks you’ll have it listed for sale again.”

I’d have been happier if he made a little more room in the studio by getting rid of some amps. It’s looking cluttered, and I want to record orchestra players who have to sit in chairs with sheet music stands because that’s who they are and what they do. They need space.

And we all know space is the final frontier.

So I think the version of Laz that started this thread is kind of a selfish dick. He certainly has no consideration for me!

You’d think he’d ask me every once and a while what *I* want. But noooooo.

 

[Bogner]

I took the guitar back into the recording booth, but decided not to rub it in further. So I offered him a beer.

That Said More Than Any Amount Of Words Ever Could Have And In His Own Internal Language To Boot (Which He Most Certainly Could Understand, Even If It Hurt Him A Little).

 

[Bogner]

I’m Laz’ alter ego. He’s all happy that he fixed up his Fillmore. And I’m thinkin’ “Sure ya are; big whoop. In two weeks you’ll have it listed for sale again.”

I’d have been happier if he made a little more room in the studio by getting rid of some amps. It’s looking cluttered, and I want to record orchestra players who have to sit in chairs with sheet music stands because that’s who they are and what they do. They need space.

And we all know space is the final frontier.

So I think the version of Laz that started this thread is kind of a selfish dick. He certainly has no consideration for me!

You’d think he’d ask me every once and a while what *I* want. But noooooo.

Pricks Be Prickin'