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It’s always something isn’t it? Recently I spoke to you on the awesome Fender Twin Reverb amp I picked up. I was overly enthusiastic as this amp is highly regarded in the industry. I can’t even begin to name the number of famous artist that use this specific amplifier. But boy these things require a great deal of attention. (read $$)

This Sunday at practice, once that amp got warm it started to sound a bit nasty. I’m hoping it is simply a bad tube, but then again, when your new to this, were do you even start diagnosing the problems right? That’s why once you reach this level of amplification, you have a “guy”. The thing with having a “guy” is they cost money. Some charge $40 to $50 just to even look at it. Others don’t charge anything to diagnose it, but charge $40 an hour plus parts to fix it.

I think I will begin by replacing tubes, then if it still acts up I’ll take it to a “guy”. Wish me luck.

Guitar strings. The government was busy learning how to waterboard suspected terrorist and coming up with different torture methods when they over looked one of the most awesome methods of inflicting pain upon would be terrorist. Even more so, the terrorist would have felt the need to do it on their own. What is it you ask? Well your here, so obviously it is playing guitar!

Let me tell you firstly, my fingertips hurt like hell. No really, there is the pain you get at your finger tips when you first learn to play guitar, some people blister up, it can be pretty bad. Then over time you get some calluses (thick skin) that forms and life seems much better. The years pass, and the calluses are strong enough to let you thrust your hand in someone’s chest with your fingers and pull out there heart and show it to them, a la ancient kung fu flicks!

But for some reason, over the course of the last month, I have really increased my playing time, not only doing wacky original songs but tons of covers for the band, and my fingers at this moment are shot. Strong but shot. No blisters, no extra calluses, just ouch. I wonder what comes after this. Super finger strength? Will I need an iron keyboard to blog on, so as not to damage my laptop? Will picking my nose become too dangerous? Will scratching my ass be…, forget it.

So how are your calluses today?

Well your looking at it. This is the setup I will be using for a little while. I managed to get my hands on the Boss TU-2 tuner and the GE-7 Equalizer. I also picked up a Boss NS-2 Noise Supressor Pedal (ISP would have been nice) and will just have to deal with the Nobels Digital Delay Pedal. I really wanted the Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, but hey, whatever right?

I also picked up a Behringer A/B swich so that I can either use the clean channel on the Twin or the reverb channel, and a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal. I will be forced to use the rather cheap RP50 pictured to take on the duty of chorus or flanger until I can find the appropriate pedals. Anyone with any extra Flanger or Chorus pedals feel free to contact me, I could use them. I also have an Ibanez Fuzz pedal onboard and though I don’t use it much at all it’s good to have for some extra noise making.

Now to find a decent Wah pedal and a Volume pedal would be nice. Like I said, any of you musicians with this stuff extra in your box of junk, really, hit any one of my emails or leave a comment, I am sure we can work something out. In the meantime, if you need me, I will be rocking out!

P.S. I am also selling my Korg Rackmount Guitar Tuner for $50 dollars and my rackmount Digitech TSR-24 Digital Effects Processor w/ Footswitch for $50 as well. Let me know if your interested and we will discuss it.

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven’t updated in a few days. I’ve been really busy working on the music, working on deals for music gear, and just life in general. The weird part, I really haven’t had anything really blog worthy to write about in the last couple of days. Zero excitement. Life is like that sometimes right?

Anyway, I will figure out something to post in a day or two to keep everyone one entertained. In the meantime be safe and happy blog hopping!!!

P.S. I am looking for a Boss TU-2 tuner pedal and a Boss GE-7 Equalizer pedal and a Boss DD-3 Digital Delay pedal, used of course, should anyone have these and wish to get rid of it, or know someone who does, hit me up!

This morning (June 19) I woke up to learn the sad news that the Georgia Theatre in Athens Ga. had burned down. It was the kind of news that gave me pause. I called my wife over to look at the images on the local news, and since she is not from around here it meant nothing to her, but wow it sure did bring back alot of memories.

The Georgia Theatre had seen many great names that came out of Georgia like R.E.M. and the B-52’s. The list of bands who played their is extensive, B.B. King, Mr. Bungle, The Reverend Horton Heat, Muddy Waters, Drivin N’ Cryin, but for me, honestly, it will always be the place we went to after all the other bars and venues in Athens would close down for the night. It seemed like everybody in town headed there then. No need for a band, just loud music, no need for drinks, because most of us were already wasted.

There we would party further into the night, some of us trying to hook up since we had struck out at the bars or concerts, others coming to just wiggle their ass to the beat one last time before the night ended. Some simply wanting to mingle with the crowds that would come in.

Downtown Athens Georgia is a very special and beautiful place. The campus of the University of Georgia is there and there is everything you could imagine there. Great food, great venues like the 40 Watt, and the Georgia Theater and bars galore. In the daytime, downtown also has a bunch of shops and boutiques that have all kinds of things. The spirit of downtown is alive with the youth that study their and those from surrounding areas who simply want to bask in the ambiance.

The loss of the Georgia Theater is akin to Los Angeles losing The Viper Room, or CBGB burning down in New York. (Didn’t they close?) Sad day for nightlife and local music in Athens Ga. it is.

(Photos courtesy of Access North Georgia and Athens Banner)