Hey guys!

[Steve Lowe]

How y'all doin?

[MelvinDale]

I'm just really, really glad I can play music - I'm still employed mind you, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to retire:D

It was a guy in his seventies that got me back into it after a 10 year hiatus. He played at birthday parties, aniversaries, retirements . . :cool: A very cool dude indeed.


Got my health . . . .

[MelvinDale]

I posed the question, just to see if a dialog could be started . . . any dialog.

So I'll throw this out there just for grins.
Though I own more guitars than I really should - when playing out there are only three that will make it to a gig - I'll always take 2, for various reasons.
Fender (MIJ) reissue '62 Tele with a Bigsby
Fender (parts) pretty much the same guitar MIJ neck and a Canadian body(?)
The Bigsby has a 4 way switch - no idea what pups (but they're changing soon)
The Partscaster has a mini JB Humbucker in the neck (this will change shortly as well)
Line 6 Variax - yeah, I know, but can sound so sweet and do so many damn things.
Swapped out the neck with Start.

Ok I'll stop here and fill in later if anyone cares . . . . . . HA:rolleyes:

[sliding-tom]

Hi all - doin' alright. Nice to see some of you still dropping by to say hello. :)

As for me: no new gear at all and I don't think I'd be able to afford anything in the near future - had to give up my business due to lack of demand and at my age there's hardly a chance to get a job.

You might have seen my thread asking for advice on an amp for acoustic, well, I've scaled down my GAS from a Fender Acoustasonic to a Kustom Sienna 35 which might be affordable at its low price and still do the humble job of providing me with a decent sound. Other GAS? Sure (that Godin 5th Avenue is tempting) but me also has more guitars than I really can put to use, although I'm using more of them these days than ever because music wise I'm pretty busy (without making much money from it, though).

Latest project is a Big Band that is being founded here in my hometown, not really Big Band jazz, but with a classic Big Band line üp. I really wouldn't even listen to some of the tunes at home this band will be playing but I'm looking forward to a great experience and another chance to learn ( first time I will have to play by charts, chord charts only for now, but I can't read music to save my life.) :D First rehearsal will be coming sunday and since I don't have a jazz box I pulled out my mostly retired ES 355 for the gig - classy enough for that type of gig, I think.

For my own enjoyment and education I went back to pre war acoustic blues -I have had the "Delta" stuff down for many many years, now I'm trying to get deeper into the ragtime style of playing, listening to Blind Blake all the time and trying to sort my fingers to get them doing the right thing in the right place - tough stuff!

[MelvinDale]

ST,
You have my heart felt best wishes for your current situation regarding work.
It's tough to lose a job, but to lose your business is really unfortunate.

I hope the new Big Band works out for you. I really enjoy and I'm sure you do too, being put in an situation where you have to woodshed for a while or rely on your creative juices to improvise in a genre that you're unfamiliar with.

Ain't nothin' wrong with a 335 for that work - center or neck - roll off some treble and comp some chords - I'm sure it'll sound great in the mix.

Glad to hear your at least working with music (. . . not making much money) it's very depressing that clubs, even if you can find them and book them, are still paying pretty much what they did in the late 60's. Though I'm glad it's not "Pay to Play' - that's a young mans game - people my age are in bed by the time we hit the stage.

Good luck and keep us posted on your endeavors.

MelvinDale

[sliding-tom]

people my age are in bed by the time we hit the stage. Exactly! :D

[Steve Lowe]

335 will be fine for that, Tom. Sorry to hear about biz probs - gonna be more of that, I'm afraid. Things are quite messy lately :(

glad everyone gets to 'do' music :)