Mikeo

Good info there Chris. I would just like to forewarn folks that play covers in bars, the establishment should be a member of ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, if they are not the establishment could be looking for trouble down the road. There fees are not that high and music might be the reason folks hang out anyway. Do it right.I try to pen out tunes of a weekly basis, I tend to step back a bit and look at a tune as a listener would here the tune, it might take me 20 minute to write a song, or what is the start of a song, and then 3 hours, 3 days, or even 3 month to finalize it. What I tell folks is where ever you start write it down, because as quickly though enter you head they will leave and be long forgotten. I actually us a computer these days to move phrases and words around, but there's nothing wrong with and old fashion composition note book. Never tear out the pages, or delete anything, as you might be able to use it down the road. Sometimes folks get lucky penning out a song, but most of the time it's work, It can be very therapeutic at times as well as frustrating. I have yet to try to pitch a song or even try. I might work on that down the road. Thanks for listening. ~Mike

I've owned more than a few of his products along the way. RIP Jim Sr.

Nice.I have one of the 1980's RI 57 Strats made at the Fullerton plant. What I did notice is, they didn't tint the neck. I also noticed in the video that the case looks like a G&G case, which I believe would be correct. My case is just a Fender Tweed Case. Almost makes me want another Strat. Nice write up.

I saw this tool the other day, while I was looking at Gibson coffee mugs, thinking I might need the 15 ox cup to get out the door. You can't believe the number of Allen keys I have tossed in a box. The last time I was working on a guitar, I was rather disgusted looking for the right key to make a truss rod adjustment. I went to the store and bought another set in english and metric , all grouped together with a handle. To have it all in one convenient package for home or a gig would just be a time saver. The price is not bad, when you think about convenience of an all in one tool. I can see me ordering one down the road, with that 15 oz coffee cup. On that note, as far as diagonal cutters go . I really like Xcelite cutters. They seem to hold a nice edge for quite a long time. They are however, about 4 times the cost as the ones you posted. In many ways you get what you pay for. I do not work for or represent the Apex Tool Group, but there tools are very nice and some of the best I have found. Smart and handy too, I would say. Now if someone would attach a string winder to the handle of a set of diagonal cutters. We'd be in business.

Phil, I have been waiting for this review. My original acoustic amp was a Fender Acoustasonic Jr. way back over a decade ago. I didn't keep it that long and traded it out, when I bought the SWR California Blonde. After that I grabbed a Fishman Loudbox Performer. Fender has really come a long way in acoustic amps since my Acoustasonic Jr. I really feel this a winner, in tone. The amp would look great on stage or in my living room. However you sold me on a guitar review you did not to long ago. I'll be order that one very soon, now that weather has warmed up and cold day of winter are history. The low level phantom power maybe an issue, and I'm not sure why they didn't get this to the standard 48 volts. I also noticed it has only one XLR output, and it would have been nice to see two separate XLR outputs, so one could run the vocal,s as well as the guitar, to a mixing board. Even my old Fishman has two XLR outs. All in all, the video makes it sound very nice and it has a great 3D tone. I'll be hitting a local Fender dealer in the area, to see if it's something I can't live without. Thanks for the review. I really think Fender got it right, as far as the sound it delivers. Hope you don't have to return it any time soon.

Thanks Phil. I'm gonna have to check them out for real. I totally forgot about my request for a review on this one.

I have the older G7 capo, that was given too me by a friend. I person don't care for the way it sits on the string on the fret board. For acoustics I mostly use a Kyser, and in 25 years of using Kyser capos, I only broke the spring on one. I always have a back up and Kyser's tend to sit nice and flat on the fret board. On electrics I tend to go with Shubbs capos, you can't break those, but I guess one could break the plastic thing at the end of the capo. Maybe the new G7 sits better on the fret board. I don't think the price that bad, but it's more costly that the others.

I glad this page is now working. I might even grab the hardcover book. It's been a while since I actually purchased hard copy book. Thx

Looks a bit like the Fishman solo amp I have used for years.Modern up dates . Good info, but unfortunately the videos posted where to sales and marketing garbabge , and gave you no real feel for the product. Mackie should have walked into almost any small coffee house and shot a video of a solo performer or small band using it. It's my number one complaint for new products. I know this is very new, but still. I like the sound of this guy's acoustic. It would have been nice if he had a vocalist with him. I don't know exactly what happens to posts like this, but I have never seen a follow up. So where these post get put who knows. That's my 2 cents there Phil. It's a more powerful version of the Mackie Playfree system that came out last year.

I like this one

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I glad this page is now working. I might even grab the hardcover book. It's been a while since I actually purchased hard copy book. Thx

Just some notes on the Schaller Strap locks. I like them a lot and first started using them back in the early 80's on my Les Paul. The screws in the Schallers are smaller than what Gibson uses on there guitar strap buttons. After taking of the strap buttins, the original strap holes should be filled and glued with a small dowel. The shorter Schaller screws will fit just lovely though a new hole that you will tap through the center of the dowel. It's something one could do at home, but if you feel uncomfortatble doing this take to a luthier and have it done. Now when mounting the U shaped bracket to the strap, many will face it down. I have found if you face the U bracket up there is less stress on the system and less chance of it coming undone in the middle of playing, which is always a very big surprise to say the least. It's a very good system, but not flawless, especially on a heavier guitar like a Les Paul.

Nice article Phil. Just a little side note for those who don't know, and I think you covered it. Pre amp tubes tend to be either working or not working. I have played my electric guitar through one of my amps one day, and the next day the amp wasn't working so well. Most of the issues didn't come with a totally blow amp, but with a fizzing sound that came out of the amp, as a note decayed. This is why a gigging musician probably should carry a spare amp or at least some spare tubes in the accessory box. Power tubes tend not to go belly up, but don't sound so fresh over time. One almost doesn't notice it until you drop in a fresh set. If you are not running the amp to push the power section the power tubes will last longer, but this is where the core of your tone can be found. Along with the transformer and speaker, It all makes a difference and does adds up to what you hear out of your amp. Now to comment TeamoDave's 6550's verses EL 34's. I live in the USA, and the 6550's are very common in Marshall's amps here. My JCM 800 2x12, 50 watt combo runs pair of 6550's . The 6550's tend to be a touch warmer and with less break up later in the volume game. Unless you have heard the EL34's and love them. and before you commit to a power tube swap, Yyou might want to take an attenuator and give that a try. It might be just what the tone Dr ordered. Michael

Just a reminder that the new 68 Reissue Twin, Deluxe and Princeton are not the same amps as what the Beatles played out of on the rooftop of Abbey Road Studio, or in the studio. They are a modern interpretation of those amps. Reverb and tremolo now has been added to both channels on the Twin Reverb and Deluxe Reverb. The speakers are now Celestion® G12V-70. All the 68 RI feature tone stacking and break up a little earlier too. 3 Fender Twins were used for the rooftop concert, One I heard was a spare. http://www.beatleshp.com/wallpaper08.jpg http://beatlephotoblog.com/photos/2011/07/188.jpg

Awesome stuff those super brights are. I have a couple of non usb ones that have come in handy over the years. The usb should be even sweeter. Mine are the clip on, kind so you can attach them just about anywhere, on a music stand, over your guitar pedal board, or mixer. They should make one that plus into a Pedal Power II. They might, but I have yet to see it. Maybe I should make one that plugs into a Pedal Power II and screws in to a Pedal Train.

You can leave your guitar just the way it is, and fake the whole thing. Try one of these. I only have one acoustic with a Fishman blender pick up a system in it. It's ok. The guitar is a Martin 00016c rgt. [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","title":"auraspectrumdi1_large.jpg","data-attachmentid":32503667}[/ATTACH] On my mandolin, I use this. with a stick on M Radius. [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","title":"VenueDI-large.jpg?v=a502b5ea9e4cb74b.jpg","data-attachmentid":32503668}[/ATTACH] Any GC will have both in stock, go with the Fishman, but try them both out. If they don't have em in stock they can order them and send it to a local GC.

If you already have the SM58, go with it. The 58 Beta is hotter and sounds a bit nicer. Put the amp on a chair or table and you should be fine.

[video=youtube;dmoDc3RwrMM] [video=youtube;5Sw61oITuts] [video=youtube;UkxRW51acS4] [video=youtube;89NjEeHku8o] [video=youtube;tEX3Z8BEL0U] [video=youtube;eX5o2aeZm3U] [video=youtube;KBeKV722q70]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBeKV722q70 [video=youtube;FcVku6bFe-U]

Don't know about your combo, but remove the back panel, and amp part, the speaker lugs/spades slide off. Screw driver removes the speaker.

Not a hollowbody, but it's tone chambered and not very costly. Look for the newer one with the blacktop pups. Just and idea.

Even new they are pretty inexpensive, but most standards. Not the best axe. It looks like a stress fracture. Could be for the pressure of the string and it could have been dropped. Personally if it comes with a hardshell case, that will probably be the best part of the deal. You do what you want, but I would pass on it.

Amen I actually know a local guy that plays accordion, he's really busy, so he doesn't play out very much. I ran into this retired guy that dropped into the local Celtic art museum fiddle jam on a Saturday more. Come to find out he was a semi retired anesthesiologist from Albany NY. He would just hear the melody one time through and join in. I was super impressed, but he had been playing a concertina for like 60 years. He said he works every day, cause being an anesthesiologist he was still in high demand. Never saw him again. [video=youtube;MH2eRRh4Bls] [video=youtube;Ishj4tX4Wzo]

I know a few folks that play accordion or concertina. I was told that this is the shop in the area to shop for one. http://www.buttonbox.com/

Back when I bought my 33H, National I don't think was making wood bodies. They could have been, but I didn't have there catalog. Dobro made both wood bodies and metal bodies. I bought my 33H right out of the Elderly catalog, when it was kind of a cheap newspaper catalog bound with a couple of staples. My first 33H came in with a dent in it and I sent t back to Elderly. I spoke with the women that ran OMI, and she sounded very old on the phone. I heard many of the OMI were relatives of Dopyera family and they could have been. I was told it really wasn't a dent, but a welding flex mark, which happened in the manufacturing and welding process. My F60 is a Nashville made one. I bought it from a shop outside of Knoxville. It'as a round neck wood body, and there's not much call for a round neck woodie in TN. It was not very costly, but sounds amazing. The last of the Dobro's were the Houndogs, which were initially made in the USA, then they went overseas Gibson makes no Dobros these days, and no banjos. I think there missing the boat on this too,but I head a lot of the tooling was destroyed or damaged. I bought a F5G mandolin last year and it sounds amazing. National makes a few wood bodies, Deering makes a killer banjo.I was at a local bluegrass fest a few years ago and one of the shops (not local) had at least a dozen nice deering banjos to choose from. The guy was begging to sell almost anything and didn't want to transport them back home. He had a very lovely Deering Boston 5 string and 6 string I was looking at, which he was selling for under a grand. I almost ran to the back, but I can't play the banjo yet. I actually don't know enough about the banjo to make a decision. I do know a few guys in the area that could give me lessons. I'm still working on the mandolin.