Lunch Report For Thursday, October 6, 2011

[Boogie Bill]

It’s probably my own fault. Silly me, trying to wash that new Town and Country Van we bought last December. Trying to give it a good hand wash, and get a coat of wax on it before the rain hit. Well that was Friday, and Saturday, the rain came with a vengeance. Snow in the higher elevations of the Cascades--I’m freezing, and people are eagerly looking at the potential of the ski season! I’m praying for a couple more good sunny days, so I can finish the wax job, and maybe even get some wax on Miss Leslie’s little hot rod: her V-6 Accord Coupe.

And of course, I’m so outta shape, I found places that hurt on Saturday that I didn’t even know I had!!! Where’s Ralph Macchio when I really need him? Wax on, wax off my ***!!!!

So, tell me about your ride. What kind of vehicle do you drive?

Who has the longest commute every day to work? How many miles do you put on the car in a year? (Miss Leslie wanted me to remind you that the Federal Income Tax Mileage Allowance changed, and went up from $0.51 per mile to $0.54 per mile. I think that rate changed at the end of June. Be sure to keep track of your mileage!)

Who cleans your car? Do you carefully hand wash your pride and joy every weekend? Or has that chore been delegated to your offspring? Do you take it to a detail shop twice a year? Do you just run it though the auto car wash when you have time and actually think about it? Or do you off-road your pickup or SUV, and keep it dirty as a badge of honor?


===================

Now that winter’s coming, getting some physical activity in is going to be even more difficult for me. I’m thinking about joining a gym or the YMCA—I’d like to find a place I could swim. I could just move band equipment around the house to do weight training, I suppose.

So, what do you like to do for exercise? Do you work out on a treadmill or Total Gym in your home? Are you a cyclist, jogger or swimmer? Do you belong to a fitness club? Play basketball with your kids? How do you keep in shape?

Or do you just look at yourself in the mirror each morning—and wonder, “What the hell happened here?”




===================

Haven’t decided what to do for lunch today, might just do some chicken soup. If I have to do chicken noodle soup out of a can, it will be Campbell’s Chunky. My secret ingredient is adding some Spice Islands Curry Powder. Actually what I’m craving is Chili Con Carne. Face it, canned chili is pretty dismal, but if you’ve got a good recipe you like, please let me know. I’d love to hear a good chili recipe. Our Red Robin, a Pacific Northwest gourmet hamburger restaurant chain has pretty good chili, so I might have to make a trip there for lunch.


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So how do you like the new G&L Forum? I started lurking back in 2000, but I don’t think I joined until 2002. I did my first Lunch Report in 2003, and did one of the last Lunch Reports on the old board. I’m happy with the new format, though there are some folks who still like the old style forum.

I’ve realized though, G&L is doing a lot more on their Facebook page. Nowadays, it’s almost mandatory for businesses to have not only an internet presence, but a strong following on Facebook and Twitter.

Do you follow G&L on Facebook? Do you have a page for your business, or your band? Do you tweet, or follow any music-related sites on FB or Twitter? Have you embraced the new wave of social media, or do you miss the days of rotary dial phones and party line gossip?




===================

Tell me about the amp you’re using. Yesterday, I was talking about having the “perfect” guitar for what you do; today I want to know if you have the perfect amp.

I have five Mesa amps that I use. My DC-3 112 combo is great for practicing or for smaller clubs at 35 watts. It will easily hang with a drummer. The Maverick 212 combo is also 35 watts, but it has a really different flavor. I have my Mark IV 112 EVM combo that I usually use with a 112 Theile cab underneath, for a very compact ¼ stack that can put most full stacks to shame. I also have three Mark III amps—two Simul-Class 75 watt combos, and a 200-watt Coliseum half-stack. The big head is probably my favorite, even though I only use it on the 75-watt setting most of the time. So I have amps that fit a variety of situations, and I’m pretty darn happy with them! I love the lead tone of the Mesa Mark Series amps!

I personally like amps that will play loud and clean. Probably the one thing missing from my arsenal is a low power tube amp—they seem to be all the rage right now.

So tell me about your amp(s). What are you loving about it; what disappoints?

If cost were no object, what would you be looking at?


=====================

Have a great day, and I will try to check in later. I’m going to try to get some pictures up tomorrow, and show you some of my toys.

And don’t forget, Friday is my birthday, so I expect you all to sing “Happy Birthday” to me—in the key of G Major, please.

LOUDLY!!!

Bill

[Sprinter 92]

So, tell me about your ride. What kind of vehicle do you drive?

I drive a 2010 Chevrolet, Silverado 1500 with an extended cab and four wheel drive. Under its hood lives a 403hp 6.2 liter engine. It's a lot of fun to drive! I'll post a picture of it later.

Who cleans your car?

I'm suppose to get quarterly details on my truck, but it rarely happens. I usually end up cleaning it myself. I try to wash it at least every two weeks.

So how do you like the new G&L Forum?

It's OK. I just don't have as much time as I use to have to participate.

Tell me about the amp you’re using.

I'm using a '71 Fender, Princeton Reverb with a Bogner, Metropolis 1x12" cabinet under it. The 10" speaker of the amp paired with a 12" make a nice combination. The Bogner cabinet gives it a little more bottom end.

If cost were no object, what would you be looking at?

Tweed Fender Bandmaster 3x10" I played my Heritage H535 through one when I bought it and it sounded great!


Sprinter 92

[gitman001]

Hey Bill,

First off i must say great job this week, lots of great info!

Here is my ride, a 2006 Dodge Magnum



Lucky for me my town is pretty easy to get around, i usually only have 15 minutes to any of my teaching destinations - makes for a pretty efficient day. When the Magnum was new it was washed every couple of days, now it has gone almost the full summer without much love. Right now there are a few days worth of lunch garbage in a bag on the passenger floor - i think you have just inspired me to clean her up today

Exercise

My brother actually owns a gym and is a personal trainer..... and i have never taken advantage of his services! With the kids (4 & 2), work and the rest of life, i don't know where i would find the time. Luckily for me genetics have so far been on my side, but i think the metabolism is starting to slow down a little - the fall clothes seemed a little tighter this year At least i know some day i have a place to go to get whipped into shape.

G&L

I missed yesterday, but my go to guitar is still my s-500. Its my only S-type G&L, but being my first G&L it just feels right. However the new SC-2 has seen a lot of playing time lately.

The best amp i have ever played through is my current Dr Z Route 66. It matched up with any of my G&L's is tonal bliss



I have been in the studio with it for the past few weeks and i am nothing but thrilled with the tones that we have been capturing. For the first time i have been really happy with my own recorded guitar sound. I will post the finished product in the future, we hope to have it mastered by Nov.

If i don't get a chance to stop by tomorrow let me wish you a happy birthday Hope you have a wonderful birthday weekend

Take care,
Scott

[willross]

So, tell me about your ride. What kind of vehicle do you drive?

The car I drive most is a 2002 Hyundai SantFe V6; first year it came out. It's bigger and more HP than the years afterwards. The Ms. drives a Cayenne and I've got a couple collectables(an LM2 & Exige)

Who cleans your car?

Me or the dealership. Mostly me.

So how do you like the new G&L Forum?

I'm on board. The color scheme set-in well too...

Tell me about the amp you’re using.

Soldano heads and mixed cabs.

If cost were no object, what would you be looking at?

1) 1966 JTM 45 Mark IV Plexi Super 100 KT 88's 3" Lay Down Transformer
2) 1964 Series I Blues Breaker with Alnico 15's
3) 1973 Marshall Mercury Combo in Orange


Cheers,

Will

[Jaystrings]

I drive a 1999 Acura, which is my newest vehicle. 135,000 miles & going strong. Annie B has a bright red 1992 Honda Prelude with 88,000 miiles, which we seldom drive. (It's getting harder & harder each year to fold my body in order to get into the driver's seat). That is one of the peppiest cars I've ever driven. But the one we can't do without is our 1997 Chevy longbed truck. Man, I use that thing for everything. Don't wash them like I used to, but every so often on a purty day, it's nice to just have a carwash/waxing day & get 'er done.

I'm liking the new site by now. Most times I just lurk in, but couldn't resist having lunch with you this week, Bill. You were always the one person I'd most like to visit in person & have a beer with.

Before I mention my amp situation, I must say that my most recent axe is the new Improv hollowbody by Cp Thornton. He & I designed it almost 1 1/2 years ago & I got it a couple weeks back. What a beauty. Size-wise & feel, it reminds me a lot of an ole Chet Adkins Gretsch I owned way back in the late 60's/early 70's. Since then, I've owned 2 D'Angelicos, several Gibson & PRS semihollows, 2 Heritage hollowbodies, & an Ibanez GB-10 George Benson model. Don't own NONE of them anymore in preparation for this baby. It's going to be my keeper jazzbox. As far as I'm concerned, Chuck has changed the landscape and soundscape of jazz guitars with his new Improv.

SO, the I've been going thru my amps to see which one deserves the distinction of being the other half of this new rig. Luv it with my Chicago Blues Box, Dr Z Maz 18, & my Fender Deluxe Reverb that I got from Ches. This single-pup guitar sounds best when the tone & volume are rolled back to about 4 & the volume is ruled by cranking the amp. Chuck sez that I'm gonna get my best tone with a Fender Twin Reverb, which will let me have more clean headroom at higher volumes. I don't have a Twin Reverb, but I do have a Fender Jazz King [not a tube amp]. It only has reverb, so I'm getting my best tone on the new Improv on the Jazz King with just a touch of reverb. No grit, just super clean tone, tone, tone.

I posted pics of my new Improv on http://www.jaysjazzboxes.shutterfly.com. And the guitar itself is shown in the gallery on www.cpthorntonguitars.com. It's guitar #281. Check it out. LOVE it.

Jay

[sickbutnottired]

Fun reports again:

Cars -
I love cars. Actually, I pretty much love all things mechanical. I don't currently have anything cool. My daily driver is a 1999 Hyundai Elantra wagon. I drive about 50 miles a day round trip to work/day care/errands, and this car is really economical. Plus if parking is tight I just whip in and double park next to some German job. Sunday, Monday, Hyundai, baby!

My wife drives the only new car I have ever bought, An '03 Accord Sedan, that little 3.0 6 runs pretty well. This car is pure frumpy, but I have had one warranty issue, have changed the timing belt and done 2 brake jobs in the past 185K miles. I love to hate that car.

The only thing remotely like a toy is my '02 silverado 3/4 ton. Crew cab, long box, with the old big block (Chevy entirely abandoned the big block in '04 or 5). It has the 6 speed manual transmission, which is fabulous for heavy pulling. I can pass anything but a gas station in that rig!

Keeping 'em clean. I do everything. Have the Accord detailed every spring. I have a pretty nice detail setup in my remote man cave, so I do some. And we have a real good drive through car wash.

I hate waxing, but there is nothing as good for the finish as some good old fashioned hard wax.

The Board

I like the board, but I am new here. I am a fan or whatever of G&L on facebook, but I am a very reluctant social networker.

Amps

Well, I am a pure Fender guy. I can have a lot of fun with a Deluxe Reverb or Two, which is what I am doing mostly right now.

Jay, get yourself a twin and find a good audiologist! I like a little (or sometime more than a little) tube overdrive and that amazing sustain. But the Twin (real ones don't have master volume! LOL) are just so LOUD. But they do sound great.

I keep finding myself searching for various Mesa's on CL and the bay. It must be contagious.

Edit: didn't like my colors. lol.

[astutzmann]

Cars -

Currently a 2010 Nissan Frontier, loaded. Great truck.
My wife drives a 2009 VW Jetta TDI, the diesel is great for the trips from canada to florida!

About 10 years ago, I went thru a phase and I had a 1988 Porsche 911 (my best car ever, loved it, got stolen), a 1996 Porsche 911 and then a 2000Audi S4, then back to a 2003 Porsche Boxster S. Love those german cars, but alas, they are all a nice memory now.

While I would want another, I won't pay the money for them anymore. (having a job would help)

So, I used to hand wash and wax the fancy cars. Now, both cars just go thru an in/out carwash, lol.

The Board

No issue

Amps

There is a custom amp maker near me, great guy, former biker and 10+ years as master fender and marshall repair guy.
www.morrisamps.com

I have the mini muscle which is a very loud 20W hand made tube amp, clean with a 12" Eminence Red Fang speaker. It has a 2W distortion channel, foot pedal switchable.

I love this amp, ultra clean and has punch at 1 and at 10, great for the house! I don't get out much, lol.

ALf

[sam]

Great stuff this week Bill,

I am just reading Tues-Wed, have been at a conference so a bit behind.

Current ride is a Ford Explorer, just turned 100,000 miles. Current commute is 25miles each way or the 50 mile trip to the airport.

I wash and wax our cars, with occasional help from wife and kids, but not as often as I should.

Have gotten used to the new GLDP look and come to like it. Especially acid green. The View new posts link is the easiste for me to keep up. Not a facebook or other social network creature, what time I do have is used to check in the 'ol GLDP.

I do like to try and exrecise as much as possible. Ride road bike and run but have been delinquent this year so carrying a few more pounds and going shorter distances. Used to ride over 100 miles a week but work and chasing family has taken priortity, as it should.

The amp I'm mostly using is a Mesa Lonestar Special. Great amp with lots of possibilities. A Mesa F-50 for the 6L6 sound and a VibroChamp for a low watt Fender fun. Have a Blues Deluxe that must be feeling lonely for lack of playing time. If money were no object would go get a Mesa Mark V.

[Philby]

Cars: I'm a car fan but you wouldn't know it from my garage. My current drive to work is a 2004 Renault Clio, a small car (1.4L) about the same size as a VW Polo. There's literally millions of them in Europe but I don't believe they're sold in the US. I really like it. It goes around corners like a go-cart and has a really willing engine. Parking in Melbourne is difficult, but I can usually find a space the Renault will fit when all the larger cars have given up. It also does 40 mpg around town which is a big plus. My round trip to work each day is about 15 km (10 miles) so the car only has 55K kms on it. At this rate it should last me another 20 years. My wife's car is a 2009 Mazda 6, possibly the most soul-less, boring car that ever rolled off an Asian production line. The paint is soft and fragile, but apparently they're mechanically reliable. The Mrs. likes it which is the main thing.

I wax and polish both cars twice a year and clean the interior whenever the kid's food wrappers encroach into the front seats.

Forum: I never could get my head around the old board and much prefer the new one. I've got the 2 blues scheme going here which is far easier on my eyes than the default lime green/black combo. I try to stay off Facebook, especially now some of their tracking/privacy strategies have been exposed.

Exercise: Does chasing kids count? I try to get out of the office for a walk at lunch time and I run 10-15 kms a week. Now that the weather is improving I should dust off the bike as well. When it comes to exercise I'm full of excuses, but I always feel much better after making the effort.

Amps: I'm from the small wattage school of tube amps. I have a '95 Fender Blues Jnr (15W) with an Eminence Private Jack speaker in it. Clean is all it does, but it does it superbly in typical Fender fashion. I'd love to own a Twin but (a) I probably couldn't move it without rupturing a disc and (b) I couldn't play it at a decent enough volume to do it justice.

My other amp is the current model Vox AC15C1 (15W also). Although rated at the same output as the Blues Jnr, the Vox is LOUD. It seems about 3x as loud. The Normal channel can do beautiful clean/crunch tones, but the Top Boost channel is where all the classic Vox chimey action is. Oddly, I find myself playing the Blues Jnr more because it is so easy to dial in a classic clean tone while not offending the neighbours.

[Sprinter 92]

As promised above here's a picture of my truck.






Sprinter 92

[darwinohm]

Bill, I am so impressed that someone finally asked me about my ride! I drive a 93 Oldsmobile 98 that I bought 4 years ago with 47000 actual miles for $700 and a case of brandy (1.75l). It is a great car and I now have 105000 miles on it with a long way to go yet. The cats love it and we call it the catmobile. Ginny drives a 93 Grand Cherokee Jeep and the cats do not like it. I also have a 90 Gold Wing with 150000 miles and it is still like new. Ginny rides a 84 Honda Magna which is a quick bike and has almost 70000 miles. So you can see that I do not spend money on cars. I spend my money on guitars and women (Ginny and Granddaughters), some on beer, and waste the rest! I do most of my own work on the cars and cycles.

I like the forum. Craig is extremely helpful for those who need help which I have at times

I get lots of exercise and we walk whenever we can and I have not belonged to a club and probably never will.

I like amps that are clean. I really like mu Fender Twin Reverb Custom 15 and am currently watching a Fender Concert with 4 10s. If it is still there in a month or so it will probably come home. The Cyber Twin SE is also a respectable amp. I have considered a Vox AC 15 and would like the red one. I use SWRs for my bass work. I have had several amps in the past that are gone. I like them clean. Have a great evening-- Darwin

[Kit]

Been kind up wrapped in things this week and haven't managed to chime in until today.

Car: I have a 2004 Subaru Legacy wagon for a short daily commute. I like it since it drives very well in our Northwest weather, and it's great for going up the mountain to go skiing. Unfortunately I recently had to drop almost $1,900 on a head gasket job and few other odds and ends repair at 55,000 miles.

Excercise: A couple of years ago my doctor told me that my blood pressure is bordering on being too high and I should exercise. Since then I have been fairly good about it, I try to spend 20 minutes on a Nordic Track 5 days out of the week. I have actually gotten a bit trimmer since starting that.

Amps: My one boutique amp is a Swart AST but I don't actually fire it up too often. For hobby band practice I usually take my Vox AD30VT. I have a Celestion speaker in it, and the easy-to-use built-in effects makes it adequate for practice.

If money is no object I would like a Vox-voiced amp. The candidates are Vox AC15C1 or a Morgan amp.

Kit

[Boogie Bill]

Sprinter: I like that truck! Nice and smooth, like a bar of soap! I love tweed amps, and I could easily see myself owning a 410 Bassman or a 40-watt tweed Twin. Do you still have the Heritage? Those are one of my favorite guitars. I just missed buying one a while back, and wound up spending twice as much for a 335 that’s probably not as nice as the Heritage.


Scott: Thanks for the birthday wishes. I love that Magnum; that would be a nice car to be driving when all I want to take is just a guitar and an amp. The Dr Z must be good—you’ve got that killer ASAT in front of it! Is that a hog body, or the Candy Apple Red? Can’t tell with my screen. Gorgeous!


Will: Ah…Will…I see you’re tempted by the Dark Side of the Force: Marshalls! LOL! I had a JCM 800 combo back in the day. It sounded great when I could really crank it up, but it was a loud 50-watter with a single 12”. Sounded thin and awful at low volume though. I’ve really liked the Bluesbreaker combos I’ve played. I ALMOST bought a reissue a few years back, but it didn’t sound like the original model that I had fallen in love with. And Soldanos, maybe the best lead tone around (other than my Mesas, of course!) I met Mike back when he first came to Seattle; kinda wish I’d gotten in on the ground floor of that operation.


Jay: Thanks for joining us for lunch, and for the nice compliments! What can I say about the new Thornton: pure LUST! I’ll bet the pictures don’t do justice either.


Sick: I love the line about how your truck can pass “…anything but a gas station”. Perfect! My new van doesn’t do as well in the mileage department as the old Plymouth Grand Voyager, but it must be more aerodynamic as it does better above 65 mph than the Voyager. The Voyager had the 3.3L, the T&C has the 3.8.

I used to be a Fender guy. I had a BF Bandmaster head and 212 cab that I bought when I was 18. It got stolen, I really missed it, but I always wished it had reverb. I owned a Super Champ, and a 1965 Deluxe Reverb, but the one I really liked was a 1964 BF Fender Tremolux head a 210 cab in blonde Tolex. I’d love to hear Jay’s new Thornton through that rig. I had to sell those when I hit some hard times in 2000, but I hung on to the Mesa amps, since they were making me money. Those were really great amps.


Alf: I have always wanted a Porsche, but the closest I ever got was my 1965 Corvair Corsa. The Corsa was pretty quick and ’65 and later models did handle very well. And OMG, that car had white bucket seats—I had to clean them about every other day! LOL! Not quite a Porshe, though. If I were really rich, I’d have to go drive one of the new Panameras. BTW, that little Morris amp looks interesting.


Sam: I love the Lonestar Special. That is a really terrific amp, really the perfect size for a club amp these days. And yeah, I’m thinking about a Mark V, too. If a combo popped up at a reasonable price, I might have to give it a go. The Electro-Dyne is a nice amp too, and a little simpler than many Mesas. I just saw the new Royal Atlantic a couple of weeks ago during my trip to Seattle, but didn’t have time to really put it through its paces. My first impression is that it has a glorious, punchy tone.


Philby: Yes, chasing kids counts as exercise. But lifting a Twin Reverb is a job for Olympic athletes!


Darwin: I like your attitude about money! LOL! Funny, when I was up in Seattle a couple of weeks ago, I saw one of the red AC15s. That was really pretty, but I didn’t have time to give it a try. I wished I had. The Rivera-designed Concert amps of the Eighties are usually pretty good amps and excellent values. The Lead Channel won’t sing like a Mesa, but you can get some good tones. They take pedals well, and have the typical cleans you’d expect from a Fender.


Kit: Hey, thanks for drooping in! I noticed you were MIA. Sorry to hear about your Subaru; they have such a great reputation. An old GF of mine had 207,000 mile on hers, and the it was still going strong when she traded it off—she was just sick of looking at it! The Vox amp makes a lot of sense as a basic, yet versatile and lightweight amp for taking to practice. And it’s great to not have to carry a pedal board with it.

See you all tomorrow.

Bill

[Sprinter 92]

Sprinter: I like that truck! Nice and smooth, like a bar of soap! I love tweed amps, and I could easily see myself owning a 410 Bassman or a 40-watt tweed Twin. Do you still have the Heritage? Those are one of my favorite guitars. I just missed buying one a while back, and wound up spending twice as much for a 335 that’s probably not as nice as the Heritage.

I recently removed the moldings from the doors and the truck looks better without them. I still have the Heritage and I like it a lot! It's a 25th Anniversary H535.






Sprinter 92

[Dave_P]

Hey Bill another great lunch report. I missed yesterdays, but I'm with you morning just happens at the wrong time of the day. I'm a night owl and have had to be up at 4-5am almost everyday for the last month because of work, not a good combo, my brain doesn't function properly after a while

#1 guitar: My cobalt blue-ish ASAT special. I've yet to play a guitar that feels as good as that one...to me anyway. I'm finding out more and more that it's all about the neck to me, and that one just happened to be perfect, bought it on-line so I had no idea, what luck!

Cars: Right now I'm driving a 2003 Subaru Forester, just hit around 102k miles. Had and '02 wrx wagon with 187k on it before I sold it and bought an outback for the wife. You may have noticed a trend, I'm a Subaru guy. I generally wash and maintain the vehicles myself.

Exercise: winter is a killer for me too, I like to hike/bike/run/swim. Don't really have the money to join a gym this winter so I'll be hooking my bike up to the indoor trainer, with a few trips to the indoor rock gym to break things up.

Forum: I like the new forum, I actually lurked quite a bit in the old forum gathering info before I bought my first G&L. By the time I got used to the format the site changed to v2. But it seems to be more like the standard BB format now. I have FB account but hardly go on, Twitter doesn't really interest me.

Amps: I'm playing a '66-67 Fender Bandmaster mainly through a 1x15 pine cab I built with a weber alnico in it. I go through phases of love/not impressed with it. I don't know what it is but some days it sounds so sparkle-y clean and 3d other days it just sounds bland. I also wouldn't mind having some more drive on tap sometimes, but most music I write/play doesn't require it so pedals come in handy. As far as dream amp, there are a lot of options new and vintage I'd love to try, Brownface tremolux, "low power" tweed twin, vintage AC30, JTM45, Dr. Z's, Trainwreck, Dumble ODS, Boogie Mark 1, etc. etc. , but how do you choose?! If money were no object I'd buy them all

-Dave

[darwinohm]

Sprinter, you and Jay have posted some great big boxes today. Here is one of mine




Darwin

[Sprinter 92]

Nice looking Gretsch, Darwin!

[blargfromouterspace]

Cars - I have a '94 VW Golf. Great car, mechanically the best car I've ever owned. It has some dings on it - one from when my girlfriend took it out, one from when the bass player reversed into me, one from when I misjudged a gate - the back windows dont work (they're electric and a new motor is $450) and the paint is peeling off. I don't care at all. It get's me where I need to be.

Exercise - I usually ride my bicycle to my daily occupation. It's only 6km and riding is quicker than driving by a long way in the city. I used to swim 1km every morning but stopped and now my speedos don't fit so good.


Amps - As I mentioned yesterday, I love my amp. I'd upgrade to a new production Supro Tremolectric. 3x10" speakers, 60w, reverb and tremolo, and a switch on it so you can choose to have it stay clean all the way up.

"New" board - I like. I follow G&L on Facebook, but think Facebook and other social mediae are stupid.

[Ledergeist]

Bill,
Ride: '02 Audi S6 wagon. All black and sort of like like Gitman001's Magnum, which is also way cool... Only 8 miles one way to work, that's nice since the 4.2 Audi tis a thirsty beast.
I try to keep it nice and tidy always, but It's due for a good once-over before winter...

The G&LDP:
Regardless of the format, I've gathered tons of intel here over the years from a lot of great folks. I'm not on the facebook/twitter stuff, but I'm trying out that Google+ thing and have added everyone that makes contact.
So now I'm 'friends' with hundreds of people I don't know. Hmmmmm....

Amp:
Currently using a Seymour Duncan 84-50 1-12 Combo.
Originally my wife's amp that she used with her Rickenbacker. Bought new around '92. Another example of the low-production niche item.
More later on this little gem, I need to get some pics of the innards...

Cost No Object. Probably an authentic Ken Fischer-built Trainwreck.

Happy Birthday !!

Stay Tuned
BW

[Robstafarian]

I don't know what the policy is on lunch report necros, and I feel I actually have a few things worth mentioning regardless of the date. I hope your birthday was a suitable celebration of your continued existence, Bill.


Car
I don't have a real car, to be honest. Long term health problems have prevented me from getting a driver's license, but that will change next year if I don't mysteriously pass out in the next three months.

Instead, I drive simulated cars for fun and exercise. Being a spastic monkey, using all my limbs to do pretty much anything is a workout. I run rFactor with a Fanatec Porsche GT2 Clubsport Edition wheel and pedal set, mounted to Fanatec's folding wheel stand. Therefore, my “car” is a 1996 Honda Civic—slow enough to train my clutch usage, fast enough to still be interesting on a twisty track.


Exercise
This brings me to why I'm posting this: to give you some advice you may or may not need. Swimming would be a good choice as a full body, low impact exercise. I feel I should stress that moving anything around the house isn't weight training; work isn't exercise. Exercise is a specific activity undertaken in a controlled environment, done in a very particular way; work is whatever needs to be done wherever you may have to do it. Confusing the two can lead to injury and the development of bad strategies. Remember that progress comes from rest: if you're not resting long enough and often enough, you're only hurting yourself.

Safe weight training is just about the most effective exercise you can do—it even helps with diet failings because having more muscle increases your basil metabolism rate. I can point you to two books on strength training that will help if you're serious, one of them free, but it's more important that the weight room you use has attentive staff who are competent to keep you safe. If your YMCA treats weight training like “you're one of those people,” don't train there. My local YMCA is very strongly oriented to the “cardio and yoga and not eating meat will make everything wonderful” end of the diet and exercise spectrum.

Which brings me to one last point: exercise will make your body function better, but diet is what makes you look good naked. If you don't want to be saddened by your mirror, make sure your kitchen does you proud.

My exercise regimen is pretty simple; my goal is to fight the progression of “spastic monkey is spastic” without triggering “chronic fatigue isn't just a nice way of saying ‘lazy’.” I do pushups according to the “One Hundred Pushups” program (it has a proper rest cycle), “grease the groove” with pull-ups (I do them whenever I enter or leave the room which houses this computer), and hike my semi-rural gravel driveway regularly. When weather prevents the walk, or I need a specific vector for a stretch, I kind-sorta cycle on my MagnaTrainer—think of it like the heart of a recumbent exercise bike that you can put in front of the couch. That little guy is great for forcing my legs to keep constant movement when I would otherwise fall.

I am thinking about getting a rowing machine, but the market seems to be hopelessly full of crap.


New Forum
I never saw the old forum, but I must say I love this color scheme. Light on dark, high contrast text is the right way to maximize the gestalt effect and reduce eye strain.


Amps
Currently, I run a Blackstar Studio 20 Head through a 2x12 speaker cab I assembled from parts—a rig that cost me a little under $800 total. The 20W ouput of the amp is low enough for bedroom practice, if I'm careful with my knobs, and gives me the kind of clean headroom you just don't get from its 5W and 1W siblings. I don't know what you consider “low wattage,” Bill, but you should really check out the Blackstar Venue Series heads and combos. My S-500 sounds SO lovely through my rig, that's pretty much all I care about.

My ultimate amp is pretty much anything non-rectifier from Mesa. The Transatlantic 15W loses much appeal due to the lack of an effects loop, and its 30W younger brother is too expensive for the additions it presents. When it comes down to it, I'm really just looking for a way to afford a Mark V head. Only problem is, I'd have to rewire my speaker cab—and I'm not sure I want to lose my Blackstar as an option.


So that's my humongous late addition; thanks for your patience.