Thanks to sirmyghin for asking me to pitch in this week after the prior week’s missed opportunity. Hopefully I can keep all entertained. I am Sam....no Dr Suess comments needed
reporting from the Southland, not close enough to the ocean, but far enough away from the banjos in the mtns! Been allowed to hang around here for a number of years and keep learning more about G&L and guitars in general from many knowledgable folks that jump in. (newbies, lurkers and runaways let's hear from you) Lunch today will be a bean burrito, apple and water, something quick and easy.
Non- G&L question – Many of us lament the desire to play loud/louder amps but living arrangement either kids in the house, spouse’s need for sleep or proximity of neighbors, I fall in the category of kids in the house needing sleep. But over the past year I have found some ways to reduce volume but keep tone and in one case, change tone.
For years I have tried to manage volume by adjusting amp and guitar volume knobs, but the first purchase this year was a Weber Mini-Mass attenuator. My original intent was to tame a Mesa F-50 and am very satisfied with the results. Can still get the "grind" without rattling the walls. I like the fact that that the minimass did not turn the sound into a dark muddy mess that I had heard abot some attenuators.
The second purchase was a set of “THD Yellow Jackets”. These are neat little EL-84 tube converters that allow me to go for more of a EL sound VS 6L6 in the Mesa and a Fender Blues Deluxe. They also take the wattage to about 16W, which is still plenty of volume. They are simple plug and play tubes. Take out your power tubes and put these in and you are ready to go. They sound better to me in the Fender than the Boogie. They add some nice chimey tone versus the richer 6L6. Don't believe anyone that says they will make your amp sound like a Vox, but very cool and inexpensive way to get multiple amps out of one.
The question to all (that share space) is, "how do you manage to play at a level that satisfies your desire for volume and still not disturb the rest of the inhabitants: smaller amp, attenuator, “yellow jackets”, or just try to manipulate the volume knobs on amp and guitar?
G&L question – GLDP V2 has been off to a great 7 month start in my opinion. Sure some growing pains and tweaks to be done but here’s to Craig and all participants!
What about the G&L Guitars page, http://www.glguitars.com, how often do you go there? I swing over there fairly regularly to check on any latest news, skim the artist list and see if there is anyone new or any I have forgotten about, look for shirts/swag, listen to audio clips and of course get the latest Will Ray clinic dates.
The audio clips are a fantastic means of hearing some different guitars/pickups. That Steve Trovato guy can really pick.
Speaking of Will, any participants in last weeks three clinics tuned in today? Chime in let the rest of us know what we missed.
Happy Birthday’s go out to Glen Tipton (Judas Priest), Jon Anderson (Yes), Dale Griffin (Mott the Hoople) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Ed, enough influence you could have something with a 5W Whipper Snapper, or "Little Snapper". 
