Thursday Table

Really great feedback on yesterday's topic: "What is your dream amp?. Some of us own one, others did at some point but through circumstance, no longer own them. The really cool thing is the variety of price points, brands, tubes, and configurations that define the ultimate tone we seek. Great job guys, that was inspirational. One statement made that I always keep in mind is that the "amplifier is the other half" of the electric guitar.

Today's clip is my previous Broadcaster in action. We were booked to play at a new place for us. Rick, described us as a blues and classic rock band, which is what we are. So we go the small town of Clayton, NC and immediately notice the patrons are all Mexican laborers. Needless to say, there was some disparity between our set list and the bar's musical expectations. It was no unlike the scene from the Blues Brothers when they show up at the country bar to play. Unfortunately, Rawhide, was not in our set list. Here is "Let It Bleed" from that night's performance. I am using the Broadcaster through a compressor and my Swart AST.

Let it Be - [url]files.me.com/rickythompson/nt0quz.mp3[/url]

Just to extend yesterday's amp thread, I found this photo of my amps and guitars from 1999:


The only thing I still have from that photo is the Grosh Retro Classic.

How has your gear changed over the years? What was the motivation behind moving to what you currently own?

RickT

Well my gear over the years is not as exciting as a lot of folks, being still young. My earliest gear was a 20W giant bass amp and my dads Japanese J bass knock of from 1975, that amp couldn't do much, that is for sure. It was the first upgraded to a fender BXR 100 which I still use. The bass had action a mile high, but I still learned to play any and everything Rush on it, and I think that had a lot to do with the player I am today. Then I scored a used electric with its practice amp, a squier strat. These lasted until I got to university and bought a Carvin DC135 as a guy I knew really liked them. I was playing with a GNX3000 modeller at the time. I have since sold that one, the neckthrough and tone was never for me, especially the gloss on the neck, sticky... I then acquired a LB75 bass, which is my main bass nowadays, and only quality one. Has big MM style humbuckers and haven't played a bass that comes close to it. I got a carvin C66 a year after that, and it is 'the guitar' for me, but that made me feel the lacking of the modeller. So I set my sights high, this is about the release of the MEsa Mark V and though I had to have one. A year later, bang got it. Shortly before I bought that amp I had touched my first G&L, but was out the cash as I just bought a shiny ring for the lady. Delayed the amp a bit too, but it was all good. This august I finally got to order my first G&L built.

What I've learned : I like 25.5" scale bolt on guitars more than anything else. I don't like the guitars to be too light (the DC135 was 5-6 lbs I think, very very light).
What I don't like : Modellers , although they were nice for recording as you can use them directly. I would like to try Axe FX for that, as it is supposed to be astounding, that one is a bit different than the rest of the pack (and 3x more expensive).

Rea...the scene from the Blues Brothers when they show up at the country bar to play. Unfortunately, Rawhide, was not in our set list....

You can always learn "...The Wreck of the ol' Ninety-seven, for when ya come back!..."

Anyone notice Blue Lou Marini playing Bari sax on Jeff Beck's Les Paul tribute?

Another nice clip, Rick. Thanks for sharing.

My gear has changed according to taste more than anything else. I started off as a big time metal head in my teens, playing a Dimebag Darrell guitar with lightning bolts over it. I still have the guitar, it was my first ever electric and so there's a sentimental attachment there. I used to have various strats, including a very nice AVRI '57 one in blonde, a Gibson ES335, Marshall and Mesa Boogie amps... When I got my first ASAT I saw fit to sell my Strats as they weren't getting used enough, and when I did use them they'd sound anemic and crappy. I sold them and turned the money from that into more ASATs. I sold the ES335 to buy a car (and I had change!), which was necessary to get to rehearsals and gigs - I've never been the type to rely on or expect other people to pick me up for rehearsals and gigs. I wish I hadn't sold the Marshall and Mesa amps, they were both great. The Marshall, a vintage modern combo, had sooooo many classic sounds in it all in a single channel amp, but was highly unreliable. The Mesa, an F30, was a good, solid amp that did exactly what it was supposed to. It lacked a little in character, but I still wish I'd held onto it. I've got plenty of instruments and amps at my disposal at the moment. Next stop - JTM45!!

Over the years, I've sold off all my expensive guitars that I couldn't justify and was afraid to mark up in order to purchase more old G&L instruments which feel right and will hopefully continue to appreciate in value as I enjoy them. - ed

...How has your gear changed over the years? What was the motivation behind moving to what you currently own?

RickT

I played acoustic pretty exclusively for about the first 10 years. It was the sixties: Folk was it.

Got into electric blues behind Mike Bloomfiled. First I had a used Univox Les Paul when I was in the Navy. When I got out I bought an Ampeg VT-40 and an Epiphone Casino (an old Kalamazoo made one), but the sound of the Telecaster was calling me, so I played those for about 20 years (back when used ones were just old guitars and could be had for a couple hundred).

I tried archtops, because jazz guys played those, but always went back to Telecasters, as they are more versatile and don't feedback.

Finally, got into strats (even more versatile for what I do now), which eventually led to my present S500. It does all the sounds I need.

Along the way I have had brief flings with other types and brands, but I seem to always come home to a maple neck Fender design with single coils. It floats my boat.

I keep a cheap Ibanez acoustic around too, but rarely gig it. It's there if I need it, but mostly leans in the corner.