The Last day of July lunch report. Life death and money

Hello,

A lucky story about yesterday's Jazzmaster. I was I Los Angeles in 1990 and I had withdrawn all of my cash as I was about to buy a Lake Placid Blue 1960's Fender Jazzmaster. Anyway while we slept we were robbed and I lost all my money. I was in a bad mood (not like me ) and I remember talking to the 1st cop on the scene. I was swearing my head off as I admit I can do at times. The cop says quietly , looking me straight in the eye "hey man at least you're alive". He was right.

As it turned out my girlfriend of my mid to late teenage years and her Mum ( who didn't like me) lived in L.A and I slept on her couch for 2 weeks.

A year later I'm on holiday in Melbourne and I walk into a Vintage guitar shop and there it was my Jazzy , spent all my money on it and haven't regretted it for a minute. Seymour Duncan owned it before me. I'm sure some famous guitar friends of his would have played it . I have the photo around somewhere.



I was thinking about the saying "all good things must come to an end" said 1st by a poet of the middle ages.

Last year Australia's most famous Vintage guitar shop which was established in 1987 closed for business. Allans Music and Billy Hyde (Australia's biggest chain of music stores)also had receivers in.
Clearly not a good thing for confidence in the Economy. Or is it the music business is not a good business to be in at the minute.

So I got researching and found some spooky photographs of businesses that were once great. But now , well I'll let the photographs tell the story.






Image




Now for some positive photographs. The guitar that relegated my Jazzy to Number 2.
I have no G&L question today just G&L porn.











And when I feel like being a little quieter . I didn't ever think I would love a guitar company as much as I love G&L but I found one last month. Interestingly also a Californian company. Richard Hoover the owner,( he has never sold out to a big company) and he started in the mid 1970's.says he cheats by sourcing already old timber. Yes , timber counts more than most people give it credit. I remember filling in an online survey once . What was more important, Timber, Pick ups and Frets when I was one of 2 people in 5,000 who said timber I knew the rest were all idiots and didn't ever go back. Found this awesome forum instead.








Anyways it's just past Wednesday lunchtime here , you have probably worked out the Sun comes up early around here. This report has taken me longer than I thought and I pick my kids up from school. I only spend 2 hours with them but it's worth the drive to get them. So Lunch will be a protein shake with a seed mix and some berries and yoghurt.

It must be hard for G&L with someone like me who is just into the old stuff. The exception is this but they are so expensive. I am sure they cost a lot to make so this is not intended as criticism .

Not my photo.



In fact I would really like to meet the girl. LOL. I'm hilarious sometimes.

So there are some wise old heads around here and while I have you. For the moment , it's all about me. Hahaha .
I'm a 45 year old man that is starting again (financially) I will have almost nothing but I do have a good job .Well I have my guitars but I owned most of them before I met her.
The kids are another painful story and best to not get into them.

So can you please offer me some advice to help me get back on my feet. As I said yesterday, I am an optimist, thank God.

In case you're wondering , everyone always asks especially at dinner Party's , yeah I know but its true. "Was there someone else Involved" thankfully I can hold my head high. No I just didn't love her anymore and she didn't love me. And for me , that was no way to live.
Was it all worth it, yes.
Aint it great to be alive.
Thanks
Anthony ,Mr Big and Leo F The Champion.

In fact I would really like to meet the girl. LOL. I'm hilarious sometimes.

Alain Aslin's 'Blue Dress' girl was published in the (European) June '73 issue of 'Oui" magazine. Now, you may be 45 and want to meet the 'girl' but by my calculation she will be a hexagenarian at the least with a high septuagenarian or low octogenarian not outside the realm of possibilities. You silly you ....

I don't have too much time to participate these days but thanks for the great LRs Anthony!

- Jos

Hey Jos,
I was happy to meet a cartoon girl but not a really old cartoon girl. Great advice mate I have already taken it on board.

While I am here , I should also say it's a great collection you have and a really cool website too . Like me you are lucky to know Gabe and Gary.

I am honoured that you said my Lunch reports are great.

A

You've shown us some gorgeous guitars...and the 'hog 500 is a beaut.

I love the pix of the amusement park. I've been reading Max Brooks' "World War Z", and these have a real post-zombie apocalypse feel. Very cool...and totally creeping me out, LOL!

I wish I could wave my magic wand and take away your pain. The circumstances of my divorce were different than what you describe, but it took me many years to emotionally recover...financially too. You will be going thru a lot of ups and downs...mostly downs. You may have fallen out of love, but the loss is very real. I would strongly suggest that you get some grief/loss counseling. You may find some self help books that can provide insight. It is a process that you have to go through and everyone goes thru it at their own pace. And you really need to deal with this now and completely, before you enter into another relationship, or it will blow up too. Give yourself some time. Take care of yourself...eat right, exercise, limit your alcohol and "pharmaceutical" use. Practice random acts of kindness. And be kind to her, your kids, and yourself.

You will survive. If you do it right, it will make you stronger and you will come out of it a better man. Do it wrong, don't face the issues, and the baggage will weigh you down for the rest of your life. Don't be that guy.

Take care. And I am really enjoying the lunch reports.

Bill

Anthony, a perfect pictorial of what happens over time. Business has changed dramatically in the last 50 years. In the 90's and 2000, the big box stores were it and now they are changing.

That is a sweet S-500. That is really a dark old school sunburst. The custom build acoustic is also very nice. I would rather have the other guitar without the girl.

Life changes are difficult but also can be very rewarding if one looks forward. It takes time to recover but you will. Just be careful and calculating while doing it. Great report today, the photos are killer! -- Darwin

That's a nice S-500 you have Anthony. The photos of the abandoned amusement park, remind me a lot of some of the old "been closed and out of business for a long time" factories I've seen over the years. They're kind of eerie - kind of like the old 5 story factory in my hometown, that was built at the turn of the the last century, occupies most of a city block, was used to make aluminum cookware, and has been closed for close to 20 years.

I have no person experience with divorce, other than a couple that have occurred within my extended family. I remember there being a lot of bitterness in those divorces. I think Boogie Bill said it right - you need to deal with the personal issues that have come to you as a result of the divorce, or they will drag you down. Good luck.

god, those HDR pictures are ugly...

I really like all the guitars you have posted so far, a really nice collection. Stay optimistic , that's all I can say .

There seems to be some interest regarding the abandoned amusement park. I'm pretty sure it's in New Orleans or near there someplace. I had seen those photos posted on this website http://sometimes-interesting.com/ Be warned, it is hard to stop reading once you check it out as there are many many interesting stories and a ton of photos. Great lunch reports this week !

I had seen those photos posted on this website http://sometimes-interesting.com/ Be warned, it is hard to stop reading once you check it out as there are many many interesting stories and a ton of photos. Great lunch reports this week !

Those pics remind me of one of my favorite movie shots :




You have fine taste in G&L's, I'm drooling over that S-500 ( )
When things get tough, I do my best to live in the moment, no more than 7 or so seconds at a time. It keeps your view fresh.
The past is heavy , no need to haul it around. It sure isn't going anywhere .

my best,
elwood

god, those HDR pictures are ugly...

i think the top 3 are actually just over processed in photoshop. they didn't know when to stop playing with contrast and vibrance. the 4t is also hdr, but without the over processing, and the 5th is just regular.

god, those HDR pictures are ugly...

i think the top 3 are actually just over processed in photoshop. they didn't know when to stop playing with contrast and vibrance. the 4t is also hdr, but without the over processing, and the 5th is just regular.

well, it looks HDR like... so, ugly !