Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

This is the place where the Lunch Reports will be posted.
zombywoof
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Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by zombywoof »

Good mornin' to ya'll. Woof here. I go back a pretty long way with GbL but got confused when it went to the new format so went a wandering. I was brought back into the fold to do a stint as Lunch reporter but went a walking again. Now I be back. I assure ya'll though, my absenses had nothing to do with the guitars or the forum.

Lunch today - not too bad. I got in some decent bagels from Zabars so am having a ham with swiss chesse sandwich, potato salad my wife made, and a Granny Smith apple.

Re-Introducing Myself:

I am a geezer. Back when I wore a younger man clothes I started off as a folkie - playing Woody, Leadbelly and the usual suspects. I had a big thing for the blues back then as well and could not get enough Son House and, Skip James. About the only "rock & roll" I heard was the stuff my older cousins, who had been smitten by the Boby plague (Vee, Rydell, Vinton and the others) listened to. Then I saw the Beatles on the Sullivan show with those electric guitars. Man, I had to get me one of those. From then on I could not get enough Stones, Byrds, Kinks, and others while I backed into guys like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.

Thoughts on G&L:

Way back when life was pretty simple. I never heard of "tonewoods" and figured the quality of an electric guitar was determined by how many pickups and switches it had. I started off with the usual used Kays and Dan Electros and then moved up to even more used Fenders. My favorite guitar and the one that I played for decades was a 1958 Fender Tele. This leads me into G&Ls.

For me that Tele was the perfect guitar. When I wanted another electric, it made no sense trying to find something the same. I wanted a guitar I felt at home with but not one that was a carbon copy of a Tele. That was how I stumbled upon G&L. They looked like a Tele, were the same kind of shop project guitar, and, of course, had been made by the guy who made my Tele. So I started giving G&Ls a try. I owned a Broadcaster, two 1986 ASATs, even a Classic S (which remains the only guitar I have ever bought new). I really could not find anything I did not like about any of them - I just could not settle in with one. Then it happened. One day somebody put a G&L in my hands and everything clicked. That guitar was a 1st body style Interceptor. At first I hated the way the thing looked from the sickle headstock down to what I called the blood groove. But I could not get the sound of that guitar out of my head. I had owned a '67 Strat but this G&L just rang out with such authority - every note that came out of it was clear and stong.

My friends just about called an intervention on me when I first showed up with that guitar. But I loved that flippin' Interceptor so much I sold it and then bought it back. So its gotta be love. Here she be.

Image

So here is my question. How long have ya'll been playing your favorite - your #1 G&L. Did you and that guitar hit it off right off the bat or did it take you a while to discover one another. And why is it this one that makes you say - This is my G&L. There are many like it but this one is mine.

Musical Hodgepdge

Has anyone out there found an interesting use for a musical instrument other than what it was designed for?

Here is my favorite - an answer to the age old question what do you to with an old clarinet you don't want.

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Last edited by zombywoof on Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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kakerlak
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by kakerlak »

I'll have to revisit this once I'm home and photos actually show up, but, for now, I have a couple answers and will leave it at that.

1st G&L/ The "one"... The first G&L I got, and I think my 3rd ever electric guitar was an '83 SC-3. It's kind of beat up, there's some wear-thru on the underside of the neck and most of the fretboard finish is a couple mocrons away from being down to wood, there's a bunch of little dings and chips and you can tell somebody had an assortment of rectangular stickers on it at some point... All that aside, it sure plays right and man does it sound good. I still have it and still play it sometimes, it might also be the last G&L I'd sell, just b/c it has the most sentimental value, too, but...

The last G&L I bought (still over a decade ago) is "the one." It's a sunburst, mahogany '82 S500 that apparently went to the factory in '91 and came back with a new neck. As such, it's a mutt, but at least a mutt assembled with factory blessing. I like the '91 neck shape better than the '83; it's not quite as pinched at the nut and has a more graceful curve to the back of it. On the other hand, the funk shaped 80s mahogany body with the 2 piece metal pickguard and those square-ended pickups is very cool. The marriage of the two is unique and it's about the most neutral+comfortable neck to play for a long period of time, great for bending, etc. The sound is somethin' else, though. It's hands down THE best sounding strat type guitar I've ever heard, period. I'd put it up against anything, other G&Ls included...

In some ways, I don't "love" it and I really just bought it 'cause the mahogany body was cool and it was like $250 or $275, but it's hard not to enjoy playing it (and listening to it).


Regarding re-purposing, not much comes to mind, though I did know some guys that modified a wooden recorder with a roll of electrical tape and some aluminum foil once.
-Colin

'83 SC-3, '82/'91 S-500, '95 ASAT, '88 SB-1
sirmyghin
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by sirmyghin »

I have not owned a multitude of guitars (<10), but the ones I keep are all there for a certain reason, and the G&L is no exception. In contrast to you and used instruments, the instruments in my stable were all bought new. This is likely due to a combination of extreme pickiness, and all the guitars in the room being built to spec, as much as is available. My ASAT is certainly a different beast in my hands, albeit mostly in the stealth variety. The wiring took a hit with a 4 way and phase switch added, the pickguard, well, just look at the picture. The gibbo nut width (1" 11/16) and 12" radius make it not standard ASAT stock either way. I love teles, but hate vintage radii. It was love at first feel, but it isn't really #1, in that all my guitars I keep are #1, depends what I need them to do. The ASAT covers the most ground though, despite having single coils. Those 'special' pickups are just that.

It certainly doesn't take a genius to realize whose ASAT this is and why.

Image
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darwinohm
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by darwinohm »

Welcome Woof, by another old geezer here. II just had a bowl of soup for lunch and it fixed me up. Still recovering from the weekend!

My first G&L was in the summer of 2008 and I have 14 of them now, so that speaks for itself. That is a way cool Interceptor. I'll bet you had a lot of crap about that one as there isn't anything traditional about it. I owned a Gibson in the early 60's and at that time thought the only thing to use was a Gibson. I also played a Gibson bass. When I got back into this 2000 I bought an American Deluxe Jazz Bass and an American Deluxe Strat. I am mainly a bassist and now use an L-2500 which has caused retirement for an almost new Stingray 5. Here is a photo of one of my favorite Asats
Image



That is a cool lamp. Thinking back, the bassoon i played in college would have made a fine floor lamp although a bit expensive. :thumbup: -- Darwin
Michael-GnL-Michael
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by Michael-GnL-Michael »

Hello Zombywoof,

Lunch: Grilled hamburger, mushroom and carrots in a cream sauce with a couple of pieces of toast and pineapple juice.

I don't have an interesting history to share. I just started playing guitar again in May of last year after a long time away. I had a Gibson LP Custom back then. I bought a Legacy and then an ASAT Classic. Both were new. I like the Legacy but I do love the Classic. It has a beautiful tone, it is very sensitive to nuanced touch, the neck feels great and I wanted the color scheme ever since I saw a special edition. It looks like many others but I am very happy with it.

Though I do not think I have seen anything I suspect an old guitar could make an interesting clock.
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JagInTheBag
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by JagInTheBag »

Michael-GnL-Michael wrote:I just started playing guitar again in May of last year after a long time away.
Lunch: Cream of Potato soup.

I am with Michael on this one. I started playing when I was 16 and while in college stopped playing for another 16 years. Then I had only when I could assemble myself, every dime going to college tuition. Finally bought my Wil Ray a few years ago, but it mainly gathered dust- building a business, raising a family, everything but playing guitar. So, in a lot of ways I feel like a beginner. I am relearning in a trial by fire with church gigs- 5 or 6 songs with one rehersal on tuesday and gig on Sunday.

Image
WilRay by ShowYourAuto!com, on Flickr

The Wil Ray has been my "go to" guitar, but I was certain that the S-500 would supplant it. Strangely, the Wil Ray has hotter pickups, deeper tone, and in a lot of ways, more comfortable to play.

That said, I am still looking for "the one". Perhaps the ASAT deluxe Carved top will be (at least the belly cut will be better than the slab body on the Z-3). I wish they made the Carved Top in a USA- that would be the cats meow!

Instruments as furniture, best use for a Gibson?

Image
Last edited by JagInTheBag on Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Muleya
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by Muleya »

My favorite G&L is the one I got last year. While I've been playing guitar since I was in jr. high, I wasn't serious until college and was around 30 by the time I got into electrics. And times were lean then, so in the ensuing 14 years, gear acquisition has been slow and steady and it's only in the past 4 or 5 years I've had good, quality electric guitars. The Legacy HB I got a year ago was the first instrument I ordered to my specs. I really like all 3 of my electrics, but the Legacy HB is definitely my favorite. It's versatile, toneful, and beautiful!

That Interceptor is pretty cool...kinda sad I missed G&L in the 80s!

And I like that ASAT, Darwin.

Don't really have any old instruments laying around, but I've got boxes of old casette tapes...any creative ideas for those??
zombywoof
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by zombywoof »

A mobile perhaps?
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westsideduck
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by westsideduck »

Hey you old dog nice to see you back around, I been a wanderin abit myself.

I've tried almost every Pre BBE G&L Leo ever put on the market including all the SC series, G-200, F-100, Cavileirs, invaders and second style Interceptors ETC ETC but that guitar you got there has eluded me!!!! I want one, had a chance to get one with the two buckers and passed because I waqs looking for one like yours and it never showed up.

I've been playing this S-500 for many moons now, numero uno of all my electrics, once in a while I'll pick up the F-100 or the 91 sig. ASAT Clasic but thats about it.

Image
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Kit
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by Kit »

JagInTheBag wrote:Image
I'd be afraid it may get knocked over, snap the headstock and bust a lightbulb!

I'm a denizen of geezerville. I grew up in the sixties with all those great bands of the era, but I did not get stuck in time in that I find favorites even among today's music makers. I have a couple of instruments that's old enough to be interesting for some collectors, and they are a 1975 Fender Strat hardtail and a 1976 Yamaha SG1500. The G&L that I've own the longest is my LE which I ordered new in 1999. My others are a 1990 SC-3 and 2002 or 2003 L-2000. My philosophy is that I keep them until something else comes along with prove to be a better instrument. So far, nothing has come along to push any of these down to the bottom of the pecking order.

Kit
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darwinohm
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by darwinohm »

Woof and Duck, it is okay to stray a bit on these forums but don't try it on the wimmin'. It will get you in trouble. :fighting0030: -- Darwin
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kakerlak
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by kakerlak »

This thread needs more hog.

Image

Image

There. That's better.
-Colin

'83 SC-3, '82/'91 S-500, '95 ASAT, '88 SB-1
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westsideduck
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by westsideduck »

I love HOGS! I just like the maple neck on the red ash one more.
Image
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kakerlak
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by kakerlak »

westsideduck wrote:I love HOGS! I just like the maple neck on the red ash one more.
Image

Man, I forgot about that natural finish one, WSD. What a looker! Mine almost made it out of the factory that way; it's stamped "NATURAL" in the neck pocket. Sadly, it ended up getting the SB treatment. With the pickguard taking up most of the front, it doesn't leave a lot of visible wood grain. Oh well, sure sounds right!
-Colin

'83 SC-3, '82/'91 S-500, '95 ASAT, '88 SB-1
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gitman001
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by gitman001 »

Hey Woof,


I have been playing G&L's for around 10 years now and just recently have a new favourite..... My custom SC-2 (Turquoise Metal, on ash). Yeah its the one in my avatar ( and everyone is probably getting sick of seeing it ) but here is a pic.... I figured I should represent the "New School" after drooling over all of these great old school g&l's.

Image

Oh Yeah +1 on the tape mobile.....

Scott
Image
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sam
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by sam »

Hey Woof!

Good to see you round here. You know all the cool kids play G&L guitars. :D

Like you I went from a Telecaster to an ASAT for pretty much the same reasons, and interestingly enough, it was Beatles, Kinks and Alice Cooper that was the sound I was chasing and Leo seemed to hit it for me. A special order 92' ASAT sig was my first of seven now, and it's hard choose a #1. The SH Z3 I picked up in 2005 and put a WR bridge pup in seems to be grabbed more than all.

No interesting uses on my end, but will have one soon. Have a ASAT tribby neck with a twist in it that I could do something with. (recent trib acquisition revision to be posted elsewhere)

Look forward to the week Mr. zombywoof.
Cya,
Sam
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yowhatsshakin
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by yowhatsshakin »

Howdy Woof,

My #1 G&L is still the first ASAT I ever bought: my true workhorse '99 Classic:
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This one is strung with 11's and permanently tuned in open-G so it always makes me 'Happy' to play it (which is many times the first riff when it is slung around my shoulders).

I like some of the alternative uses of instruments shown by others. Still surprised nobody has Photoshop'ed a bon fire with bodies and necks of less favorable brands sticking out.

- Jos
zapcosongs
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by zapcosongs »

Hey Thom!

Sorry it took me so long to check in. Let's just say it's been a H*ll of a day in a whole series of them. Dealing with some aging parent stuff (coupled with some parenting stuff and all that all this entails).

Hey, I miss you! Not just on the forum, but it's been too long since we've had the chance to get together. Man, I wish I had taken better advantage of the situation when you were in my area of the world. Does Linda still come to DC in connection with her work? How is Emma doing? And what's the latest with the newest Zomby? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Hey, do you remember this guitar? http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/ ... =slideshow

I've told this story before, but before you left to go back to the Great Plains, you gave me the opportunity to try - and to select between - your Broadcaster and your '86 ASAT. Ultimately, I went for the latter after checking them both out. Do you think I made the right decision? If so, please explain.

Though I love my Bluesboy and my first-style SC-3 (thanks 'Duck!!!), that '86 ASAT has a special place in my heart - and for reasons that go beyond the sentimental. Just a great guitar!

As far as re-purposing is concerned, I've never had the pleasure - but you have me thinking here. I'm thinking that I might like to check out the creative device fashioned by acquaintances of our own kakerlak. Just for scientific reasons, of course... ;+)

btw, I always wanted to check out that Interceptor thing. I'm going to start checking out airfares. It's high time, methinks..... Can you tell I need to get out of here for a bit? -ed
Michael-GnL-Michael
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by Michael-GnL-Michael »

zapcosongs wrote:Hey Thom!

Hey, do you remember this guitar?

Image
Threads benefit from nice pictures.
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astutzmann
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by astutzmann »

lunch was soup. I was in colorado skiing last week on what little snow they have, so ate and drank too much!

my go to seems to be my legacy, I dont play it that much right now since I just got a new heritage 150, but the legacy has the fastest neck and the best feel of them all.

Havent seen anything done with old instruments other than wall ornaments but in the early 80s I received a bunch of hard drives. Darwin will remember the large drives which were platters of disks. I turned them into lamps. Had them for a bit, they were cool for a while.
Alf Stutzmann
zombywoof
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by zombywoof »

M-GnL-M - heck I don't remember yesterday.

Zap - Little Buddy is still seeing alot of doctors but is really doing great. We are expecting him to be placed with us permanently this month.

And if you need a break - our door is always open.
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JagInTheBag
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Re: Lunch Report, 2/6/12 Our Musical Back Pages Monday

Post by JagInTheBag »

gitman001 wrote:its the one in my avatar ( and everyone is probably getting sick of seeing it ) but here is a pic....

Image

Scott

Not sick of seeing it at all Scott! Makes me want to build an orange flake cousin to it! Woot! ~Patrick