Jan 09 Morning Lunch Report

[repoman]

Thanks to Tom for the nomination to the 2nd highest honor. I'll try not to bore you all too much.

The obligatory intro The name is Jeff, but my friends call me Heff. Because much like Hugh Hefner I lead an extravagant, playboy life-style in my mini-mansion. Alright I made most of that up but you can still call me Heff this week if you want to. These days I'm strictly a basement hack, errrr, I mean basement shredder. Yeah, that's the ticket. It's been a number of years since I played out. I suppose some day my work and family schedule will allow me to find a hobby band of some sort. But for now I'm actually pretty happy with my little basement setup.

Lunch: I probably brown bag it 90% of the time these days due to schedule, health, and budget concerns. Today's culinary delight is going to veggie lasagna, an apple, and some chocolate covered pretzels leftover from Christmas that I just found this morning.

G&L Question: Love `em or loath `em, the Tribute line seems to be doing alright for G&L. I own one Tribute, a purty red SB2 that I picked it up for a great price. At twice the price it would still be a great bass for the money. I was looking for a moderately priced bass to use for home jamming and recording. I looked at F*nder, Ibenez and a few others. I was hoping to find a used USA G&L when I found my tribute.
A year or so ago I compared a Tribute Bluesboy with a US Bluesboy in the store. Almost identical guitars, both maple neck, semi-hollow, f-hole, orange finish. I actually preferred the neck on the Tribute. I really like the 9" radius on the Tributes I've tried. Lately it seems the Tribute line has a few other things to offer that aren't available on the USA line such as the carved top ASATs and the GTS line. Is there something offered on the Tribute line that's not on the US line you'd like to see? I think my vote would go to the 9" radius neck. I really find the 9" radius to be a comfortable fit and a nice compromise between the 7.5 and the 12.

Extra Credit G&L question: If Hugh Heffner did play guitar, what G&L model would he play?

Non G&L question: It's not really a New Years resolution or anything, but I am hoping to read more this year. I recently finished Mary Roach's - Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and just received, but haven't started Brian Greene's Fabric of the Cosmos. I've read a couple of Mary Roach books and really enjoyed them. She's a science writer with a sense of humor and dumbs things down just enough that a dunder-head like me can enjoy them and still learn a thing or two. And I saw the PBS series based on Greene book. Fascinating stuff. So whatca reading lately and do you have anything you can recommend to me? I mostly read non-fiction but I'm open to any suggestions.

enjoy the rest of your day,
Jeff

[darwinohm]

Jeff, I like the morning reports! I like the first description you gave of you lifestyle, Certainly a person of my age can only dream of, but it sounds great until the fess up.

Haven't decided on lunch yet.

I recently looked at a Carved top ASAT Special Tribute which is really a looker. It also had a nice feel and the workmanship was very nice. My only concern was the weight. It was quite heavy and I am liking lighter guitars as time goes on. It is strange but the weight of my bass guitars does not bother me like the weight of a regular guitar and it must be the way it hangs. The Tributes are very nice and if a person is set on a Fender type neck, it is very close.

I do not usually read much but when going to a DR. appointment I always arrive early so I can read a bit. Most of my reading is internet research. You didn't tell us where you are from, but I suspect it may be my area. .-- Darwin

Edit: Forgot the Heff question. He would be playing the Blingy ASAT in my avatar.

[sam]

Hey Heff thanks for taking the reigns this week!

The Tribute line has been calling me for some time just never pulled the trigger. I have played the Bluesboy and an ASAT HB at a local shop with general satisfaction, so why no purchase? top 3 reasons: I prefer to buy US products, the 7.5 and 12” radius are my preference (but could live with a 9), and cost. I’m a cheap sob and think these are overpriced for an import, so I wait a while and for a few dollars more I would find a Fullerton made. That said, an ASAT HB in the US made would have to be custom job and the trib has a 13.75 neck, which is closer to 12”, so that could be my tribby introduction. The hidden shredder in me I guess.

If Hugh Heffner did play guitar, what G&L model would he play? Gotta go with an Intercepter, points and all!

So whatcha reading lately and do you have anything you can recommend to me? I just finished an interesting look at spirituality, “Searching for God Knows What”. This one was picked up at our church garage sale. Good book IMO, not a preachy book at all. The last good biography I read was the Warren Zevon book “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”, talk about a wild life and story. Steve Jobs biography is next. A few people have told me it was very good.

[astutzmann]

lunch is some cold cuts and cheese and pickles

Tribute looks like a great product, have seen them in the stores, but in my case being left handed, I figured if I wanted a G&L, I'll just order a new USA one with the features I want. No complaints on all 3 now.

Other than the neck, they seem very very similar, I always wondered if there should be a different direction for the 2 lines, instead of the same, only made elsewhere.

Heff would have his ladies play the guitar while he giggled.

As far as books go, I read the dragon trilogy, great and I just finished the jobs' biography which is a great read, I couldnt put it down.

Alf

[sickbutnottired]

I generally ignore questions about G&L's company strategy, because I know nothing. But I think that G&L has done a nice job with the Tribute line, and not getting things to confusing. And it seems like they are intent on trying new things in that line going forward. That would seem to give them a lot flexibility.


I have owned one Tribby, a ASAT. I think it was MIK, but don't totally remember. It was a nice guitar, and I ended up selling to a friend who had a young one who wanted to play. I hope he used it, cause that was a REAL nice guitar for a wrote beginner.

HEF? He'd carry two of those ASAT like Darwins, except with a crimson pick guard--at all times. Then he'd get the girls to tell us what a great player he is!

[Ken Baker]

The obligatory intro The name is Jeff, but my friends call me Heff.

Peanut reference!

Ken...

[zapcosongs]

Hey Jeff. Nice to see you ruling the board again. We survivors, man!

Nice start.

Lunch today was pbj featuring apricot jam. Cheese curls. Cherries. Water.

Never tried a Tribute, but I think the in-between neck carve would suit me fine. Not much I can add here as I am not very familiar with the line. I will say that buying a used Tribute would be a great way to get a great deal on a fine guitar.

The Heff question: Would have to be an Invader, as a "tribute" to the number of, uh, feminine facilities he's entered in his long and lucky lifetime.

I am out of here. Great start! - ed

[Boogie Bill]

Not sure what model he would play, but having a G&L with a Playboy Bunny logo on it would certainly attract attention!

I'd rather have a USA model than a Tribute, and I've most of my USA as cheap as what I could find a Tribute for in this area. Tributes seem to hold their value even better than the USA models, come to think of it.

And I really don't care for the 9.5" radius. I went from years of playing a Tele, then a vintage Strat--to the Legacy. Fender's 9.5" neck has always felt vey awkward to me.

I read all the time. I'm reading an Iris Johanssen novel at the moment which is barely holding my attention.

I will though, put in a great read recommendation for John Sandford's works. I love his Lucas Davenport "Prey" novels, one of which was made into a USA channel movie with Mark Harmon from NCIS. The Sanford book I just finished was "Bad Blood", with a character lifted from the "Prey" series.

I love mysterys, police procedurals and spy thrillers; so almost anything by Clancy, David Baldacci, Lee Child or Vince Flynn are right up my alley.

And I LOVE Clive Cussler!!!!

Bill

[louis cyfer]

good to see you heff. at least a few invites to the mansion is required here. i like trubutes, but with the prices of us g&l's in the 500-700 range on the market, i can't justify it. i may consider buying a tribby neck for a usa asat body i have sitting around. i like the 9" radius. also usa necks are not abundant. i still have to refinish the body.

i think hugh heffner would play an asat special deluxe z3 belly cut, dfs tremolo.

[repoman]

Thanks all for the reads and responses.

Good answers on the Hef guitar question!
That was a question I didn't even think about until I posted my LR but it seemed to get the most attention. My original thought was that he'd have a custom Rampage similar to the Jerry Cantrell model with a poster girl on the body and bunny inlays for fret markers.

But Darwin's gold sparkle ASAT is bling-a-licous! I could totally see Hef - or his girls - playing that.

Oh and Darwin, I'm a bit further south in GA. Sam and I are practically neighbors.

Hef rockin' an Invader? Yeah, that's a good bet.

astutzmann's idea that the girls would play while Hef watches makes a lot of sense

Ken - sorry, but I don't know who/what that Peanut creature is.

Thanks for the book recommendations I've heard several people recommend the Steve Jobs bio so I'll put that on the short list.

Sam - I have read several rock star bios. They are usually entertaining. I'll have to check out the Warren Zevon bio.

Zapco - apricot jam with PB? Sounds delicious. Why did I never think of trying that before?!?!

I'll agree with Bill and Louis about the tribby price being a bit of a road block when used USA models are around. One thing I've noticed - at least around here - is that there seem to be very few used tributes for sale. I suppose that bodes well for the tribute market.

Louis - next time there is a big part at the bunny club I'll be sure to put you on the all access guest list

Jeff - aka Heff

[asphalt-abate]

Jeff sorry to come in after the bell but being on the West Coast it's bound to happen.

Nice start. Thanks for picking up the job on short notice.

I was going to nominate Darwin's gold ASAT for Hugh's guitar but Darwin beat me to it. It seems to be a popular suggestion.

I talked to a G & L dealer in Olympia, WA. If I recall correctly the name of his store is Capitol Guitars. He was very enthusiastice about G & L and he was selling a lot of tribbies. If the dealers are happy with the Tribbies, then this is a good thing. I'm old school and typically buy only USA or vintage Japan. But if I had a line on a used Tribby ASAT Classic for cheap, I'd pick it up. I would not however buy a Tribby Bluesboy because they do not have the Seth Lover bucker, which is what makes a Bluesboy a Bluesboy in my opinion.

I'm not a big reader so recommending books is difficult. Maybe the most influential book that I've ever read is, "A Sand County Almanac," by Aldo Leapold. This was "THE" call to arms for the conservation movment. It's a very good read.

Here's the Wikipedia entry if you're interested in learning more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sand_County_Almanac

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

I am currently enjoying The Wise Man's Fear, follow up to The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfus. I would never have wasted time on the fantasy genre until I was introduced to the work of George R.R. Martin. His writing transcends genres. I limited my reading to non-fiction believing fiction was a waste of valuable time. I could be learning something! Well what about entertainment and stimulating the imagination? No one creates more interesting characters than Martin and he is not afraid to kill off a popular one and create others mid-story.

A fascinating read behind the scenes in the music industry is The Operator by Tom King. It is an unauthorized biography on David Geffen. Geffen sued Neal Young for writing music that did not sound like Neal Young after Young signed with Geffen. He was also the guy John Lennon signed with only because Geffen was shrewd enough to talk business through Yoko Ono when no one else would give her the time of day. Carly Simon says he is the inspiration behind "You're So Vain." The book was written before Dreamworks but it illustrates Geffen's ultimate goal to be in the movie business.

Books: +1 on "Jobs"

Walter Isaacson, author of the new Jobs biography, is also one of the most interesting people in an interview. His work on Benjamin Franklin is stellar as Franklin was amazingly active in his lifetime and there are many sources to pull upon. It is an encyclopedia in itself. I cannot embed the actual video here but this is Charlie Rose (one of the best journalists and interviewers around) with Walter Isaacson on Steve Jobs:

(Click on image for link to watch interview video)