Thur Jan 12 Back In Black Lunch Report

[repoman]

Lunch - is unknown at this point. Probably going to go with my old standby of a Bocca Veggie Burger and some yogurt.

G&L - Sticking on the aesthetics theme from yesterday. I LOVE the looks of the black hardware and wish mightily that they'd bring it back. Do you desire the black hardware? Cast your vote and spout off here. Vote early and vote often. I know I read it here on this forum, black guitars do sound better! It's a fact. Something to do with the black pigment absorbing bad tone. Go ahead and google it. On a related note....back in the day did G&L only offer black hardware? Or was it black on some models, chrome on others? Anyone know?


"How much more black could it be? And the answer is none, none more black"
[youtube]wx6fwfBKCIQ[/youtube]

Non G&L - reunions - I saw that the Hellecasters are getting together for a NAMM concert. Maybe more shows too? I actually have no idea if there are other shows, but I'd be thrilled to see them. Saw that Van Halen just announced an album and a tour with Diamond Dave. I was never much of a VH fan but I can understand the attraction. I remember a few years back when Zepplin did the 1 time gig as some tribute or fund raiser or something for their old manager Ahmet. I did find a bootleg DVD of that show and quite enjoyed it. Like a lot of folks I was hoping that it would lead to a full-on reunion tour. Alas it was not to be. I never did see the old Led Zepplin live. The closest I got was a Page/Plant concert. It was OK I guess, but I walked away from that show thinking it would have been fun to see Zep in their heyday when they were rock gods. Yeah, I've heard the arguments "Page is sloppy" blah blah blah etc, etc. But dangit they knew how to rock. Shocking I realize, but some of the bands are probably only doing it for the old money grab but a lot of bands have been reuniting the past few years. Who is it *you* want to see reunite? Or conversely who has reunited that you thought was a bad idea? Ya'll know who I'm voting for.


Bonus G&L question:
If you had to fight of a croc or maybe a charging wilderbeest what model would you use?
(Is this a common problem in the land down under?)
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-n ... 6239366869

BTW a little follow up to Tuesdays report for anyone interested in Keneally and lucky enough to be in the NY area. Here's a little snippet I just snagged from his web site concerning some unusual New York City shows. You gotta give the guy credit for being versatile. 3 very different shows on 3 straight nights: jazz trio, big band, and rock.

"New Yorkers! I'll be returning to Iridium in early February for three very different nights of music - on Monday the 6th I'll be sitting in, as many other guitarists (including Jeff Back, Keith Richards and Todd Rundgren) have done, with the legendary Les Paul Trio. On Tuesday the 7th I'll play a night of my music with two brilliant musicians, Doug Lunn and Gregg Bendian. And on Wednesday the 8th I'll be sitting in again with the fantastic Ed Palermo Big Band. Very exciting stuff for me and I hope you NY people can make it out to as many of the nights as you can."


thanks,
Jeff

[Elemeno P]

Who is it *you* want to see reunite?

The Police....I've always wanted them to get back together.

[JagInTheBag]

Likely a G&L Bass- big heavy, six bolt neck- that should hold up while fighting crocodiles! Never an acoustic however.

I'd like to see Smashing Pumpkins reunited.

[willross]

The Police reunited in 2006-08.


Cheers,

Will

[Elemeno P]

The Police reunited in 2006-08.


Cheers,

Will

I forgot about that...thanks.

Wish they never split in the first place I guess is what I'm thinking.

Theirs was the first box set I ever bought.

[sickbutnottired]

I voted hell yes. I love the old black crinkle, and am constantly shouting about it.

But what is this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-L-ASAT-Classi ... 56479b8d55

Bonus Question: An ASAT Bass, of course!

[willross]

I voted hell yes. I love the old black crinkle, and am constantly shouting about it.

But what is this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-L-ASAT-Classi ... 56479b8d55

Bonus Question: An ASAT Bass, of course!

That guitar is listed is "New". No mention of aftermarket mods, etc. Does G&L now offer black hardware???


Cheers,

Will

[darwinohm]

Just had a leftover pizza from last night for lunch. Does this sound like a familiar story recently??

I prefer chrome hardware and the gold on my Z-3 is eye candy. I would not prefer black hardware or black guitars in general. Now here is a real story. A friend of mine bought a new Black Harley Road King about 4 years ago. He had me paint it the following spring. In what color you ask??? Nome other than a Metalic Red with Birch White trim. I would never paint a Red Harley Black!!!!

Whats this down under? I'm glad this didn't happen at Blargs or Philbys house!

Band reunions? Mine will never happen. Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson, Elvis, the list goes on and none of them are young! -- Darwin

[sam]

Bring the black crinkle back for sure!

For reunions maybe the Kinks. If Ray and Dave Davies could make more good Kinks music one more time would be cool.

You feeling better today?

[Dave_P]

Hell yes! love the black hardware, not too fond of that flat black guitar though.

ASAT Bass is a good choice to fend off most things I would think

Good luck on your gigs in Feb!

-Dave

[astutzmann]

love the black, I think that guitar would look good if it had the new satin finish on it. ALso, the pickguard just doesnt go. But I love the black hardware, I would order a black bridge for my asat special if they had one!

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

Black- some guitars would look best with black hardware, particularly the ASATs look very strong.

Reunions are a bad idea because they typically take place after the magic of the whole has dissipated. What is left are individuals gathered together playing their parts without anything holding them together but sentiment and often bad history between them. If any of them has found success elsewhere that deepens the divide when they return to an old team.

I saw the Eagles when they were in their prime. They were a hard working group of perfectionists. They were one of the tightest live shows of all time. That translated into a charisma on stage that felt very comfortable and real. Later when they reunited that charisma was gone. They were just a bunch of guys getting back together and performing. The magic was missing. They tried it several times. Eventually they even gave another shot at a serious studio album release of new material. The material was okay but the gap apart left its scares that were there to be seen and heard.

I was just thinking about Pink Floyd and a reunion idea today after watching an interview with Waters last night. Those reunions for charity were really only weak performances by the Gilmour sans Waters Floyd with Water playing Guy Pratt's parts not his own at all.

Bands break up because of deeply rooted problems and those do not mend well. The scares can be so unwieldy the individuals are isolated and unable to mesh as a team beyond basic functions.

The Zeppelin reunion for Ahmet Ertegun was a nice gesture for that reason alone. They actually practiced for months for the gig unlike other "reunions." It was all for Ertegun and very respectful. They were not Zeppelin though without John Bonham. Plant blew out his voice on those songs even before Bonham died. He is still reaching for new horizons while Page wants/needs to rekindle past success. They will probably never tour as Zeppelin again according to Plant. I don't care.

Generally things are never the same and nowadays everyone is soul-less and a facade both on stage and in the audience. People do what is expected in both positions. It is rare when everyone is truly moved. There are exceptions most definitely but the majority are going through the motions. One year I saw Paul McCartney on both legs of a US tour. I was part of the first but I noticed people were responding like robots the second time through. I guess I was one of them the first time as well. I was driven by memories. Paul even told the same jokes. A friend loved U2 and her husband was a MLB player so they had the money to follow the band around the country for a few shows. Night after night they are pretty much interacting with the same words. It must take some very strong concentration to be a stand-up comedian. You have to deliver those jokes and make them sound fresh and with the vibe of humor. Sometimes there are dead audiences or hecklers. You are mostly talking and storytelling unlike the brief exchanges between songs in a band. Everyone seems happy with a little interaction between songs. Maybe they don't notice it is all scripted. I didn't. Sorry for the digression.

[KenC]

I love black hardware. I'm generally not a fan of black guitars, despite the fact that 40% of my G&Ls are black. That just happened to be the color they were.

I believe black chrome hardware first appeared on the Broadcaster. I can't say for sure, but all of my G&Ls from before the Broadcaster came out in '85 have shiny chrome hardware. The exceptions are the black crinkle on the first-style S-500 pickguard, the neck plates after the serial numbers were moved in '83, and the control plates on all but the F-100. Everything was black on most ASATs (my '86 is an exception) until chrome started showing up on some pre-production ASAT IIIs in '87.

Ken

[zapcosongs]

'Nuff said about the black crinkle, eh?

I was lucky enough to see Zep in 1977. They were great (from what I can recall;+). I don't really desire seeing them again more than thirty years later. The song would not likely remain the same. - ed

[Philby]

If you had to fight of a croc or maybe a charging wilderbeest what model would you use?
(Is this a common problem in the land down under?)
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-n ... 6239366869

That croc was only a little one. Steve Irwin and Paul Hogan have scared away all the big ones. I'm not sure which guitars they used though. I keep my ASAT Special by my bed to swat mosquitoes. The mozzies here in Melbourne are like small birds this time of year. The ASAT does a great job as an insect swatter and definitely earns its place among all the other bedroom furniture.

[blargfromouterspace]

Big 'hell yes' from me for black crinkle hardware and pick guards. It looks great on the saddle lock bridge, not so great on the ashtray bridge on the Classic.

I use my ASATs to scare croc's away all the time. I have a case made out of their hides.

I'd like to see the 'Discipline' era King Crimson reunite. I love that album.

[repoman]

The people have spoken and the poll has overwhelming asked for the black hardware. I'm sure BBE will be implementing our request any day now. We can only hope.

Sorry Darwin, we had to disqualafy your vote due to your well known bias for red guitars!

I realize band reunions are a double edge sword. Of course there are lots of variables to consider. Like why the band broke up in the first place. We want to relive the good memories and forget the bad. I guess its the same as getting back with your old girlfriend

Looks like most folks would also use a big heavy bass as a croc deterent. Seems like a good choice to me.


thanks all,

Jeff

[asphalt-abate]

Once again I'm late to the party. You guys keep moving it and I'm having a hard time finding it. Are you trying to ditch me?

I love the black crinkle hardware. My 97 ASAT has black crinkle bridge and switch plate. The pickguard is black and the guitar is black. I bought one of the tone-guard black crinkle pickguards for it. It's really cool. I like the black on black. I think it's part of the g & L legacy and as such should be offered as an option.

I saw Led Zeppelin back in 76 (maybe 77). The musicianship was ok, the solos increadbly long. It was no where near my top 10 concerts. Led Zep without Bono is a no go. His drumming was so key to the songs I don't think he can be replaced. I also saw the Who with Keith Moon. THat show may be my all time favorite. It was true bliss. However I would not like to see them again. It would ruin my very good memories of their live show. In general agree with what Michael had to say.

Tom

[yowhatsshakin]

I voted hell yes. I love the old black crinkle, and am constantly shouting about it.

But what is this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-L-ASAT-Classi ... 56479b8d55

Bonus Question: An ASAT Bass, of course!

That guitar is listed is "New". No mention of aftermarket mods, etc. Does G&L now offer black hardware???


Cheers,

Will

Hey Will,

That is one of a number of prototypes the guys at Pro Guitar Shop in Portland, OR offer for sale, this time with a prototype black satin finish. They have an SB-2 and an Invader XL in satin black finish as well. I do not know whether the black hardware are a one-offs though, but as you can see it is not powder coated but rather looks more like anodized aluminum.

- Jos