Jan 10 Lunch Report

[repoman]

Lunch today is a Boca Veggie burger with swiss chess and spicy mustard and some more chocolate cover pretzels from yesterday. If it was up to me chocolate pretzels would be one of the four basic food groups. Yum.

G&L : I been a while since I've seen a G&L print catalog , but when I did it seemed like a lot of technical information was lacking. I mean technical in terms of specs such as pickup and switch differences. As I recall, there was little to no info on the differences between the Legacy, the S500, and to some extent the Comanche. You know, like the expander switch on the S500 and a bit on the differences between the pickups on the Legacy and the S500. Are there things BBE could be doing differently in their catalog and web to better introduce the products to the uninformed? Or on the other hand what are they doing a great job at introducing and differentiating their products?


Non G&L: Not only have I learned a good bit about G&L and guitar stuff in general from this page but I've also learned about a few artists I've enjoyed from reading this forum. I think it was Kit that posted a couple of videos from Thievery Corporation recently. I enjoyed the videos and took a chance on downloading one of their albums. So far so good. Thanks Kit! If you've discovered a band because of a post on the GbL let's hear about it. Even more important, if you've got a band that you think deserves a bigger audience give us a link or two.

Here's a couple you might enjoy. The first one surprised me. My teenage daughter usually watches the VH1 top 20 video countdown on Saturday mornings while she's doing her weekend chores around the house. I happened to catch a video by the band MuteMath a few weeks ago that intrigued me. I investigated a bit more and ended up with their latest album. Nothing earth shattering here. But it was good to hear some guitar driven alt-rock mixed in with the usual pop diva flavor of the month drivel you expect on VH1.

[youtube]cv2mjAgFTaI[/youtube]


One of my long time favs is Mike Keneally. He got his start years ago playing guitar with Zappa and has also played keyboards for Joe Satriani and Steve Vai so you know he's no slouch. According to the blogosphere he's currently working on a record with Andy Partridge from XTC. I've met Keneally briefly at a couple of meet-n-greets he had at his shows. As an added bonus he seems like a genuinely nice guy too.

He's got a site streaming Keneally tunes 24x7 at http://www.radiokeneally.com/playing.php
and of course there's the usual youtube such as:

Kedgeree - This one starts off a little slow but picks up steam nicely as it progresses.
[youtube]hEtZpLk1jjc[/youtube]



Useless trivia: I just read a few days ago that the city of Memphis, Tennessee is mentioned in more songs than any other city. I'm sure that will come in handy someday. Your welcome


Jeff

[astutzmann]

Hi Jeff:

For lunch today I am going to a vietnamese restaurant for a large bowl of PHO, I always order the same one, PHO GA (chicken) and put way too much of their extremely hot chili sauce in it. I LOVE IT.

I agree on the G&L front, information is lacking everywhere, almost like they are trying to hid it, maybe from competitors, but they shouldn't hide it from current and potential customers.

Of course, now that I am working for Cisco Systems again, I believe they should do everything from their web site outwards and have apps for iphone and android, blogs, the whole gammit. Let's hear what they are thinking? Guitar builder app would be wow. Strategic plan should be on there as well. How come we don't hear from the guy running the place. To get answers we get Craig to chase 'em down.

Ok, enough of Alf's soapbox for the day.

Useless trivia, the necktie was invented by the french. In the 1700s, the rich all wore very expensive silk hand woven shirts and since they didnt change their clothes much, or bathe for that matter, they invented the tie, which was basically tied around the neck but was more of a wide bib to protect their nice shirts from FOOD.

Ever since I read that years ago, I refuse to wear one, breaking that rule only for weddings and funerals. Haven't bought one in 10+ years.

Alf

[JagInTheBag]

"Guitar builder app would be wow."

This is how I ended spending money at Warmoth instead of G&L. Get people dreaming, personalizing it, making it their own. Bring your "build sheet" to your local G&L dealer to place the order. Drive sales to your dealers- more sales will shift more floor space and dealer web space in your direction. That will boost sales of both Tribute and USA models (more so for USA I bet). Are you listening BBE? Make it so! But do it quickly, you must be FIRST to market on this one! It will go VIRAL.

P.S. See http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Be ... ilder.aspx and http://www.warmoth.com/pages/CustomNeck.aspx for inspiration. They do a good job of explaining the technology behind their product, but I also think their presentation can be simplified.

[sam]

Heff,

I am a big guitar catalog fan and regularly grab the Mesa Boogie, Martin and Fender vesions when I can.(others as well to check out their gear) Sure there is a cost to manufacture but a big ol' catalog always gives me GAS.

The web could go into more detail on guitars for sure but they could clean up expired (way expired topics) and update clips. Jag's builder is something mentioned on the old board and would offer buyers a look at what they could build.

Title cut from one of my all time favorite albums tells it
[youtube]hGcwpJgge6g[/youtube]

"New bands" I am listening to are The Black Keys and The Airborne Toxic Event, good stuff IMHO.

Keneally is a killer player thanks.

[blargfromouterspace]

Hey Jeff.

I first heard of Mike Keneally when he played on the first G3 album with Steve Vai. I thought it was amazing that two people could play such intricate harmony guitar lines together. Now I see him playing guitar and keys at the same time. What a bas... talented individual. Looks a lot like Bruce Willis too.

My favourite thing someone else has posted here is Magic Sams Boogie, posted by Robbie (aussie) a while back. I just love it. What attitude!
[youtube]7KF2ZI9MdVg[/youtube]

[louis cyfer]

wow, keneally is really good. on the guitar. he should not be singing.

[sickbutnottired]

Nice vids. I am not familiar with Keneally. Killer.

[asphalt-abate]

Jeff:

Thanks for the videos.

As a guitar player I can see why you may enjoy Mike Keneally Band but most people would find it incredibly boring. I imagine his audiences number in the hundreds not thousands. I'm not trying to be a bastard. I did enjoy the video.

As for useless trivia. I'm not surprised that Memphis is mentioned frequently but you'd think that NY or even LA would be mentioned more frequently. I've heard it said that Memphis has destroyed more music history than any other City. Which may or may not be true.

Thanks

[zapcosongs]

Very time-limited this evening.

Great videos. Thanks!

Never seen a G&L print catalog.

I would have guessed New Orleans.

Check out Willy Porter.

Pass those damn chocolate pretzels, would you?! Ha! - ed

[darwinohm]

Jeff, I finally had a chance to jump in here. Lunch was leftover pizza from yesterday, still tasty.

When I was a kid the Sears roebuck catalog was a big source of entertainment and dreams. I always loved guitar brochures and Taylor still puts out a fine one. Today everything is internet based, so that probably has priority over printed material. However, with the real time of the internet we still get information updates on products way after the fact. It is probably low on the manufacturers priority list.

The forum has been a wealth of information on all kinds of things. It did let me down today as I was looking for information on a CA Cargo. I found lots of information on the AGF and looked at one tonight and didn't like the ski slope in the neck after it met the body. But that is only once that I couldn't find what I needed on this forum. I can live with that. I haven't watched the videos yet as my internet is as slow as I am. Remember, this is the Minnesota tundra. Darwin

[repoman]

Alf - Maybe I should wear a necktie to wipe my mouth. It would keep the sleeves of my shirts cleaner

Jag - a guitar builder app would be the bee's knees. I've seen some others before but not the warmoth app.

Sam - At the start of the Kinks video I thought it was guy from Spinal Tap on the drums! Heard a few things from Black Keys and like what little I've heard.

Blarg - Thanks for the re-post of Magic Sam's Boogie. Guess I missed that last time around. Nice and nasty! I like it. I think its a crime that a guy as talented as Keneally is slogging along in those little clubs. If there were any justice in this world he would be living like a king.

Louis - Funny you should mention Keneally's voice. I guess I'm used to it at this point so it doesn't phase me at all. But I did read an interview where he admits is voice is the weak link in the chain.

Tom - no offense taken on the Keneally audience comment. I know just what you mean. And honestly some of Keneally's stuff is pretty accessible. It's not all 10 minute guitars shredding.

Darwin - Ahhh yes I have fond memories of the Sears catalog too. I guess the cold weather must slow down your data transfer.

If anyone is interested in more info on Keneally feel free to ping me. I'm more than happy to spread the Keneally gospel and my recommendations on his records.

Jeff

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

I am reading late this week.

Lunch was a ham sandwich and chips.

...Looks a lot like Bruce Willis too....

Throw in a little David Gilmour and Brian Dennehy as well.

I wish all YouTube concert videos had at least the same quality. The sound was as clear as the image on that one of Keneally. His vocals, there are worse guitarist/singers out there. Have you heard Vai sing Little Wing? (no need to answer it's not a real question......I think a lot of guitarists should stay off the mic).

I like the progressive drumming the most on that video. I also do not think there is any need or benefit having two rhythm guitarists backing Keneally. He is handling many positions at once. He just needs one musician filling in when he is leaving something open.

G&L is "too comfortable." They could be so much better but they don't want to be that good. Offering more means too much work at all stages. They don't want to work that hard.

Some businesses use both, however, the internet is used over a print catalog mainly because it is cheaper. If you go through the expense of a printed catalog you better have all of your information up to date including recipient addresses or you are throwing money away. A website can be outdated with less consequence. In fact, outdated and sparse is more common making it less of a priority to update. If you are truly interested in anything you have to scour the web then make phone calls and talk directly with people who can access more information that is not published. Unfortunately, this is the way things are operating these days.

I don't have any obscure new bands to recommend. Searching for guitar related tips I have discovered a few musicians: Johnny Hiland, Andy Timmons, Ede Wright, Arlen Roth among others.

[louis cyfer]

Jeff, I finally had a chance to jump in here. Lunch was leftover pizza from yesterday, still tasty.

When I was a kid the Sears roebuck catalog was a big source of entertainment and dreams. I always loved guitar brochures and Taylor still puts out a fine one. Today everything is internet based, so that probably has priority over printed material. However, with the real time of the internet we still get information updates on products way after the fact. It is probably low on the manufacturers priority list.

The forum has been a wealth of information on all kinds of things. It did let me down today as I was looking for information on a CA Cargo. I found lots of information on the AGF and looked at one tonight and didn't like the ski slope in the neck after it met the body. But that is only once that I couldn't find what I needed on this forum. I can live with that. I haven't watched the videos yet as my internet is as slow as I am. Remember, this is the Minnesota tundra. Darwin

did you post a question regarding the info you were looking for?

[Boogie Bill]

Kenneally is very good. I saw him a few years ago doing a Taylor guitars clinic.

I'm not a big fan of the G&L ads. I really think they could do better by pointing out the technological advantages of their instruments in their ads.

Bill

[Ahryn]

Mutemath is pretty good, have you tried their first album yet?

It's a little different from Armistice, maybe a little more raw and apparently their live shows are amazing because of the drum work/ stunts.

[youtube]5YT52vDzZjQ[/youtube]
Example A

[youtube]tsUCM1QcrZM[/youtube]
Example B

[youtube]LfyChdikLo4[/youtube]
And rocking out on Conan.


G&L topic, Yes I would like to see more detail in their advertisements focusing heavily on the history (Leo) and the tech side (features).

P.S. the Black Keys rock and El Camino is probably the best thing I've heard from them since Magic Potion.

[darwinohm]

Louis, I did have time to do a post before looking at. I just did a search on the subject so technically the forum didn't fail me. It just hadn't been discussed before. I should have made that clear. Sorry-- Darwin