12-29 Another "Tricky" Day Lunch Report

[sam]

Thanks again for all the kind remarks yesterday and helping me keep the train rolling this week.

Of course I stole today's LR title from The Who, but last night’s venture to the Cheap Trick show was quite fun and the event was actually a benefit for the World Wildlife Federation put on by Coca Cola. The venue was the Buckhead Theatre which originally opened in 1931 and over the years has gone through a couple of name changes and renovations but it's a great little club to see a show. Gear was Rick Neilson’s usual row of Hamer’s, Sponge Bob included, a Les Paul and a Jeff Beck tele, gift from Jeff he said. (could have been a custom shop model), and Robin Zander had a green tele. Both ran through a FUCHS head and unknown cabinets.

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of course somebody always has there phone/camera up when you're using your phone/camera

Lunch today will be a salad and some grapes with a glass of water. Trying to keep it simple after a week of heavy eating.

G&L topic – With all of those sweet looking G&L’s posted over the last few weeks and a few bargains posted got me thinking, what is your best G&L bargain?

I traded a pink Fender HM Strat in 1995 (hey those were fashionable in the 80’s -) ) straight up for my 88 ASAT! Gotta think I got the better end of that deal. Love telling that story.

Non-G&L topic –Some local guys, The Biters, opened and they had this combination of Bay City Rollers / Faces sound that was a good match for Cheap Trick. Spoke with the guys after the show and paid the $5 for their CD to help support both local musicians and local economy. Nice bunch all in all. Do you try to see local bands and do you ever buy their CD’s?

Speaking of CD’s, or albums back in the day, there is a slew of new rock releases coming in 2012. ZZ Top, Rush, Lamb of God, Alice in Chains, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Kiss, Pearl Jam, Slash and Van Halen. I look forward to the Rush, Alice in Chains and ZZ Top most of this group.

Do any of these bring anticipation, or do you have another one you are waiting for?

Easy trivia of the day – What was the Fats Domino song Cheap Trick covered and reached the top 50 song charts?

[darwinohm]

Sam, glad that you enjoyed the Cheap Trick concert and I especially like it when they use local bands to open. I love the picture, a guy like me would get confused as to which neck to use. No lunch yet but it will be a sandwich today.

Best G&L deal I had was 2 years ago, I bought a Legacy at the CG on an offer. It was Black but had an ebony fretboard. I intended to refinish it to a color of some kind but ended up doubling the investment. That doesn't happen very often.

I am guilty of supporting local bands and buy their CDs if I like their music. My problem is that I am completely out of touch with bands after the early 70s so many of the bands mentioned here are unknown to me. I am in an old geezer rut and may be in it forever.

Fats Domino was one of the folks I am familiar with but i am ashamed to admit that I have never heard anything by Cheap Trick so I don't have a clue on the trivia question. Maybe I should be looking at guitars less and listening to music more!!! Darwin

[KenC]

Darwin, you couldn't have come any closer to the correct answer without getting it right (the answer being "Ain't That a Shame")!

I've counted almost all of my G&Ls as great bargains. The best would have to be my Nighthawk ($699) and my '86 ASAT ($599), both of which were in great shape and came with OHSCs. The best bargain I've ever found was my all-original '68 Super Reverb for $200 at a yard sale. I felt kind of guilty paying that little for the amp, but the people selling it definitely weren't hurting for money and the wife was making a very public scene about forcing her husband to "grow up and get rid of his toys" while he was standing right there. That made me feel bad for the amp and want to get it to a better home...

The only live band I've heard in the past year was our own Bassman's. No CDs for sale, though. When I was gigging actively in Cincinnati I would buy CDs from all of the other bands we shared venues with. A couple of years ago this band played an outdoor set at a hotel I was staying at in Austin:

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I bought their CD, and have listened to it pretty consistently over the past three years.

No new CDs that I'm waiting for, but with an endless variety of good old stuff out there I look forward to stumbling across some new-to-me discs in the next twelve months. The first up will be a couple of Link Wray albums I plan to order this afternoon.

Ken

[meowmix]

My best G&L bargain was the 30th Anni. Well worth it.
All G&L's from now on must have SS frets which puts me out of the bargain business. Still worth it, even though I am not getting a deal.

Last time I saw Cheap Trick was when they opened for RATT.
That was LOUD and loong ago.

No more concert going for me, I lost the drive.

[RickT]

I always wondered how heavy that guitar with all the necks was. It's got to be like a boat anchor hanging around your neck, but he does a great job playing it. Nice photo.

RickT

[sickbutnottired]

I have never gotten a real great deal. I have bought some busted stuff and fixed it and made some dough, but never really just 'stole' something.

Ken, you did the right thing getting that super reverb to a safe house!

I am pretty cool on the rock & roll scene right now. I don't pay much attention to what's coming. I love ZZ Top, and often buy their albums at a best buy or something on a whim.

van halen isn't van halen without Michael Anthony. I am ok with any old singer, but IMHO anthony is one of the greatest sidemen ever; and was the difference between VH being annoying, preening, self important and indulged 'rockers' and a rockin' combo. He is a killer, driving bass player, and amazing backup and harmony singer, and every time I have seen him on stage or in live show video's he is carrying the rock and roll energy. </80's rant>

All right, busted, I was a fan of VH and van Hagar in my formative years! In fact, I may have started seriously playing guitar to be like Eddie (gag). All's well that ends well!

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

I never thought much of Van Halen with any vocalists. I liked Hagar when he was with Montrose (he never sang with the same style after that) and a few solo songs enough to buy and read his book which I found quite interesting. I always thought anyone could play bass for them, very simple riffs. I could never put the backing vocals with the image of Anthony. He does not look like he has that voice. Hagar needs a strong producer telling him how to deliver the vocals. On his own he often repeats himself in a tired fashion. Just my opinion.

G&L Bargains- I bought an ASAT Classic that seemed well under-priced and I still wonder why the dealer offered it so low. It has upgrades yet it sold for less than a basic model. And....the upgrades are not anything odd.

Local bands- I am out of the loop on this. I was attending concerts as recently as prior to 2004 but have not seen anyone since. I did not see anyone opening most of the time and of those who actually had an opening act they were not locals and I did not like the music that much. I recall Ryan Adams thinking he was a big rock star. To me he acted like he was riding on the public's familiarity with Mick Jaggar. Maybe he was hoping he would be successful because he was attempting to sing like Jaggar.

[blargfromouterspace]

Glad you had fun Sam. Would have been entertaining seeing all the guitar changes.

My best G&L bargain was my '97 Classic. I paid just shy of what a new one is worth now, but back then the $AUS was worth around $US0.80. Now they're worth the same and what I paid would be considered way too much - a couple of Classics haven't sold at $400 below what I paid! Anyway, it's one of the best guitars I've ever played so it doesn't matter.

I enjoy seeing live, local acts. There are a lot of really good ones in Melbourne, we're spoiled for choice. One of my girlfriend and I's favourites is Clairy Brown and the Banging Rackettes. I love the sloppy, care-free backup dancers. I think that our favourite dancer has left the band, but we're hoping it's temporary. We'll be buying their CD next time we see them.

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EDIT: Just remembered that a new 'Little Willies' album is out on January 10. The band features Norah Jones on vox and Jim Campilongo on guitar. Their first album is brilliant, a sort of New York 'hipster' version of country music. Campilongo's playing is unique, he has one of the best guitar sounds going

[louis cyfer]

glad you had fun sam. they are entertaining and have good songs.

as far as local bands, if they were selling the cd's for 5 bucks, i would have no problem helping them. around here it's 15-20 bucks. sometimes i do get them, but i really have to like the band to do it.

as far as bargains, my bluesboy was 800 bucks, not a great bargain. otoh, most of my gear was purchased at crazy prices. 700 bucks for an original 57 tweed deluxe. it is not in good shape cosmetically, but that is still a steal. my kenny burrel sig heritage amp for also 700 is a silly deal. only about 200 made and 3k+ new. an srv sig strat with brazilian rosewood fretboard. 400 bucks. a few months ago. my original 67 ampeg reveberocket for 400 is also pretty nice deal. got a new am standard strat with 400 buck callaham/fralin guard/pup/electronics upgrade for 600. but the best deal i have gotten was my 2 chris clem custom guitars, bought while the seller was under dire financial straits.

[sam]

some great deals and cool vids guys.

Darwin - we're all old geezers but better than the alternative. so close on the trivia.

Ken - love the clip, bass player jams! I want a super reverb for that price and i will be on the look out for Link Wray.

Meowmix - they are still somewhat loud but fun.. crowd was about 400 old geezers, one guy was looking for an elevator to the balcony becacuse "his knees would not handle the stairs"

Rick - Neilson shrugged his shoulders after taking it off, gotta weigh a ton.

sickbutnottired - Van Halen was on many turntables and cassettes in the beginning, me included. I'm getting into Chickenfoot some now.

Michael-GnL-Michael - thanks for the comment on my guitar on the left yesterday, that's my parts JD-5. See above, Hagar and Anthony and Chickenfoot and also agree with Ryan Adams.

Jamie - cool sound and sweet dancers!

Louis - young band and cheap CD luckily. 700 bucks for an original 57 tweed deluxe is UNREAL IMHO. Thanks for kudos to my board yesterday, more pedals in attempt to make me sound better.

[louis cyfer]

sam, the kicker is that it was sitting at a music store. somewhat traded it in, and they had no idea what it was. i called my friend, who knows much more about this kind of stuff, and he said, buy it.

[yowhatsshakin]

Hi Sam,

With Rick toting that weight around you wonder whether there aren't any invisible support cables running to the rafters. Although, I see none in your picture. Apparently Rick uses his 5-necked Hamer for bench presses.

G&L topic – With all of those sweet looking G&L’s posted over the last few weeks and a few bargains posted got me thinking, what is your best G&L bargain?

ASAT HB for $600, 25th Anniversary for $770, JD-5 for $1,000. Think that sums it up.

Easy trivia of the day – What was the Fats Domino song Cheap Trick covered and reached the top 50 song charts?

Darwin - we're all old geezers but better than the alternative. so close on the trivia.

Can't believe nobody answered that one yet. 'Ain't that a shame' indeed (pun intended)

- Jos