~Friday 9th September~

[stagecoach]

I have fun this week as the LR. I hope that I supplied some interest in the subjects I have put forward. I found my hardest task is the G&L subject that had not been mentioned in previous weeks with my limited G&L knowledge (1 guitar). Because I am on the road during the day I have been preparing my LR the night before and just tweak them before uploading to the forum. I have had fun this week, thank you all for the replies you have given me.

Just one more bit about me. Last year we made a trip to the USA, and had some great time. We got to play at Trouts (where the Bakersfield sound started). But what was more fun was we were invited to a Jam around the corner later that night. They asked us to do just 3 songs, but after we did those they said they wanted us to play more. We ended up doing about 45 minutes. We borrowed the bass player from that band as our bass player decided to stay home in Australia.


L-R – Unknown bass player, Dad (Terry) on Rhythm, Me on Lead, Anita on Fiddle and my brother Neil on Pedal Steel (and I believe the Pedal steel player from the other band trying to get our fiddle player so it wasn’t feeding back)

We travelled 10000Km ( ~6300miles), paid for 735 US gallons of fuel, stayed a total of 35 nights in the USA sleeping in 20 different locations and crossed through a total of 8 states (California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Oklahoma) We had so many stories from that trip but one of the first things that happened was when we showed our license for the hire (rental) car they said, “are you from Washington”. We said no from Australia and the guy was about to refuse us rental when it dawned on us. We abbreviate our state to WA same as Washington. This was the start of a lot of other confusing conversations. We went into a grocery store to buy what we call mince. The shop keeper said that it is the wrong time of year but let’s see if we have any left. We found out “mince in the USA refers to mince pies, we were after “ground beef”

Lunch – I couldn’t be bothered today so another fast food joint. This time the world famouse McDonalds. Hamburger and a Thickshake, nothing special

G&L Question– How were you introduced to G&L. My very first experience on G&L was at a local music shop when my brother was looking for a bass as his was just stolen and he needed a replacement. He looked at the G&L and in played well, the reason he didn’t buy it was he wanted a Fender. Since then I haven’t seen any in Perth. I mentioned in an earlier LR I went to the USA in 2010 and was looking to buy a Fender Telecaster. I was going into every music shop I could find and trying whatever they had. A few shops said they had G&L, but I said no thanks I am looking for a Fender. I guess the gods were shining on me on that trip as I came home with more than I could imagine when we went to Nashville

Non G&L question #1– Where do you go to buy your gear from? A couple of weeks back were talking about great finds, but where do you go to buy your gear. Let others know your secrets. I constantly look at Gumtree (http://perth.gumtree.com.au/f-Stuff-for ... atIdZ18409) as it is a free listing and there has been some interesting things on there (and I found out this week it is owned by eBay) and of course eBay. I mainly buy online as the local music shops are very expensive. I use Elderly a lot to but string as there postage to Australia in only $10 for small packages. I like my SIT Powerwound stings 9 – 46’s and they retail for $15.95 but I can get them landed at my door for $3.50 a set from the USA. I would like to know who is making the money on that?

Non G&L question #2 – In my introduction I mention language barriers between Australia and the USA. What words/phrases have you come across and between which countries or maybe even between states?

[jonc]

great week. almost makes me want to move to NZ or Australia. back in the day i worked at my friends music store. local joint that still sported an orange paint job from the early 60's. another guy who worked there brought in his then still new 82 L1000 to sell. i think i gave him $250.00 for it with the case. that's the G&L that started it all. a lot of guys likeL2K's better since they cover more styles and sounds, but the simplicity of the L1K is perfect for me and that one Mofukin MFD Hummer does everything i need it to and more.

[Philby]

Hi Stagecoach,

Great week. Sorry I haven't had time to post much as it's been quite busy here at work. Your trip across the US sounds like a rollicking good time. Did you take your own instruments or buy new ones when you were over there? I can't think of any obvious differences in terminology between the US and Australia, but references to technical objects always seem to be different between the 2 countries e.g. hood/bonnet or trunk/boot on a car, or drywall/plasterboard in the DIY world. Food is always confusing too, especially with the never ending source (sauce?) of condiments available in the US.

Now that I've got kids and a limited budget, second hand guitars are all I can really dream about. Although I scour the dreaded Evil Bay occasionally, there are some pretty good 2nd hand music stores in Melbourne that usually have a G&L or 2 e.g. 555 Music has a nice 80's SC-3, Fretted Instruments has a '93 Ocean Turquoise Legacy and Music SwopShop has a Tribute Legacy, all reasonably priced.

I used to buy my strings from the US but I've noticed that Australian distributors have bullied their US suppliers to stop direct export of many brands (Elixir and Dean Markley comes to mind). No matter how much local distributors cry foul of the internet, I'm not going to pay $15-20 for a set of strings locally when a US supplier can land them at my door for $3-4 a set. I know the smell of a rip off.

[Aussie]

Good week Paul!

I found my hardest task is the G&L subject that had not been mentioned in previous weeks with my limited G&L knowledge (1 guitar). I had a similar problem a few weeks back when I had the LR honours. Its hard enough to find a G&L question that hasn't been asked, but I also own only one G&L and have only ever seen one other up close and personal - not a strong base for leading discussions. You did fine though.

trip to the USA Sounds like a great trip. Getting to see and play in some of those places would have been awesome. BTW, is that an L2500 the bass player is using?

How were you introduced to G&L. I guess I jumped the gun on Monday. As I mentioned, Ive always been a keen follower of Leo Fender's career and had been aware of G&L since its inception. But with no dealers in WA I didn't see a G&L in the flesh until a few years back when my band did a charity gig along with Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan's band. I got to try out his Legacy and was sold enough to do something I had never done before or since and bought one online sight unseen.

Where do you go to buy your gear from? The network of friends and other musicians, Quokka, Gumtree, local music stores such as Kosmic, Mega Music, Joondalup Music, Concept, Theos, Clef, Guitar World, Zenith etc etc . I used to spend a LOT of time (and money) in Ric's Vintage Guitars in Fremantle and then King Street Perth before he closed the shop and became an online dealer. Once a week I run a search on Ebay AUS for anything in the Musical Intrsuments category that is located within 200km of Perth. I gave up looking in the pawn and second hand dealer shops as I never came across anything of reasonable quality or at a reasonable price.

language barriers Biggest language barrier I've come across is between my father who was born in the UK and even now speaks with a strong Yorkshire accent and vocabulary and my kids who are all Aussie born and bred. Funny to watch how hard it can be for two people supposedly speaking the same language to actually understand one another LOL

cheers, Robbie

[stagecoach]

Jonc – Sometimes the simple things in life are often the best. I always talk about having a 3rd pickup, but usually use the rear only on my ASAT (99% of the time)

Philby – I only took a mandolin as we were going to a bluegrass festival and I wanted to buy a guitar and amp while I was over there (which I did).

I hear you on the family department

Have you tried the SIT’s? It was my brother who put me onto them as pedal steel players seem to use these and they are hard on strings with all the pulling/pushing by those leavers. I have found them to be great

Aussie – I just had a look at the photo and this was pre me picking up the G&L. This was about 5 days after we landed and I dint get the G&L till day 25.

I had my acoustic advertised with Ric when he first started as an online shop. Then he moved to an actual shop in Freo, now he is back online. Here that circle thing I was talking about earlier in the week

[sam]

Hello stagecoach,

Belated participation and thanks for taking the reins. Lets just say I was juggling chainsaws and razorblades this week so this is first chance to peek in. Looks like I missed out on lots o' fun. BTW hope the trip to the good ol' USA was enjoyable and the ghost of Buck Owens was with ya when you played. Strangely enough, ate at one of the greatest combo deli/gas stop/liquor store in Bakersfield in 1984...wish I could find it again.

G&L Question– How were you introduced to G&L.
Tele player and found out about G&L through guitar rags and local shop in Indiana that had a SC-3. But the real deal was when I got my hands on an ASAT in in San Fran, the same 84' trip through Bakersfield, and man I was hook line and sinker. My tele had to go!

Non G&L question #1– Where do you go to buy your gear from?
Ebay, CLIST and local shops. Picked up a a BBE Soul Vibe and a Boss TU-3 low cost on ebay last night!

Non G&L question #2 – In my introduction I mention language barriers between Australia and the USA. What words/phrases have you come across and between which countries or maybe even between states?
I can say beer in many languages.

[Boogie Bill]

Really great job on the LR this week! Sorry I didn't get to contribute more.

My first two electrics were Fenders. My first was c. 1960 Duo-Sonic in Desert Tan that my we found in a pawn shop for about $80.00. That was back about 1967--a lot of money back then. I think it was the winter of 1968 that I found an almost new Fender Telecaster Thinline. It was an ash body, maple neck, normal Tele single coils--and a Bigsby! For $150.00!!!! Fast forward to about 1978-79--I saw the first ad for the Music Man Sabre in a Guitar Player Magazine, and grabbed one of the very first to arrive in the Seattle area. I knew about G&L from the beginning; another local guy bought an F-100, c. 1980-81. We did some comparing, and decided I definitely liked my Sabre II better than the F-100--and he did too. I bought a second Sabre back about 1985, and stayed with those guitars until about 1992. I had to sell my 1960 Strat after my 1990 divorce. By 1992, I needed a guitar with a vibrato for a new band I formed, and found a great deal on a slightly used G&L S-500, and then got a Legacy.

I just bought my 16th and 17th G&Ls; got the boxes today. I bought a beautiful black Legacy with a RW board, black plastic, and a tortoise guard--and the faux wood body binding. The other guitar is a simply STUNNING blue Flake Legacy Special, with an ebony board, white plastic and a white pearl guard. Got them from board member Dwasifar--see his ad in the Marketplace. He has some awesome guitars, and it was a really great transaction.

I have a couple of good stores here in Portland, Oregon; and I still deal with a few in Seattle, too. I have done A LOT of business with the two local Guitar Centers since I moved down here 10 years ago. I'm getting to the point that I have almost every thing I need, so bought very little over the last two years. Elderly is a good place to get strings that GC might not have. I have also used FQMS and Just Strings. I like to buy used, so for some things, E-bay and Craiglist are good sources.

Bill

[zapcosongs]

Bill -

I had my eye on that Legacy Special as well. There was a moment there when I mistakenly believed my marriage might be worth more than having that guitar, and I guess I hesitated a bit too long. Won't make that mistake again, I assure you. Enjoy (bastid!!!). Ha! - ed