Tonefest Reports, please...

[cusackmusic]

ToneFest was alot of fun. I got got to meet alot of other builders. I met alot of great guys over there, and Scotty too...

I'll post some pics when I get a chance.

Jon

[cusackmusic]

Here are some pics from the show. Hopefully the link works...

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/orangedrop@sbcglobal.net/detail?.dir=/7ab6re2&.dnm=ef9are2.jpg&.src=ph&.tok=phq51.EB8q49HlLz

Jon

[papatar]

I enjoyed Tonefest but wish I could have stayed later. I had to leave around 1:30 so i missed the real demonstrations of the amps. That was my main reason for attending. I did meet some great people who seemed genuinely interested in helping me find what I was looking for. Gabi and Dean were both great as was the guy from Tubewonder. I really wanted to hear his and Gabi's gear. The guys from Savage, DST, and Uncle Albert were real helpful too. I'm sure there are lot of good builders out there who didn't attend but I think more than anything I came away wanting to support the people who were there.

[Donner]

Just got home myself - Im burnt and will be processing pics and vids for the rest of the week but the fest was just amazing for me , Im still digesting it and need an actual nights sleep .... I had a booth but wasnt actually at my booth much , too busy gabbing with everyone else....... worth every minute and penny for me anyway. :)

[Donner]

Hey Jon - you need somemore captions on those pics !!:p

[Nickcha]

Looks like you guys really had a great time and did it right. Many thanks to Jason, Scotty, Dean, and all the crew who worked to pull this together!

[cusackmusic]

I added captions to more pictures...

[the_pedal_nazi]

Dang it Jon, I just had a wonderful time meeting you and REALLY being schooled on some serious design work bro! Paul C and I really came away going "How friggin cool is it to make your OWN knobs!!!"?? We laughed for a while on that one and were so impressed by your booth and info you had... My please to meet you bro!

BTW, I love the line, "got to meet some great guys, and Scotty too!" LOL

I wish you could have been around later to get in an interview with my broham Clif for the documentary on effects, he was really impressed with you and Michael Knappe...

Donner, have i told you lately that I luv you?? my pleaure bro, we must get together more often and talk one on one on the phone... I just had the time of my life meeting, fellowshipping with all these wonderful people I got to meet this weekend.

Nick,
Where in the world were you????????????!!!! I wanted to meet you so badly! You have been so cool to me on the forums, in fact too cool for school for the matter that I must tell you that! :) How bout next time, you get on up here and share the great feeling we all had??

I'll see yall later!

Scotty

[frankenstrat2]

For my very first post on this Forum I want to say this-
If it were not for Nickcha there would not be any 'ToneFests' as we know them.
Nick is the Pappy, the creator, the father of ToneFests and deserves the credit and cudos for taking the time, the dedication and the interest to create, sponsor, organize and run what we now know of as a 'ToneFest'.
Having been an attendee and participant with the Tampa ToneFest (twice), a co-founder of the first two NYC ToneFests (the director of the third), and now an attendee and participant in the birth of the Chicago ToneFest, the most important thing to say first is ....
Thank You Nick!
You showed us the way, you created the path, and proved that-if you do it, they will come.

In retrospect, its very, very easy to be a critic. It bothers me to read that someone may have been disappointed in a particular ToneFest, whether its Tampa, New York, or Chicago. Each ToneFest will have its strengths, and its weaknesses. They are still a very new concept, born 'of the people, by the people'. This is not some corporate bullshit designed to ram product down your throat. Boutique gear is about quality before quantity.
The thing that I have always maintained about the discussion boards and Tonefests is that the knowledge offered and shared is a wonderful thing. The gear is, by and large, fabulous, or at least interesting. But what makes it worthwhile is the PEOPLE.
Years ago, we bought instruments and effects and amps from faceless companies, from stores that were mainly driven by making sales. If I look at my current gear, I believe that most of what I now own has been made by people I have actually met. People who are deeply comimtted to quality, to tone, to customer satisfaction. They build with pride and honestly care that each and every product they sell is right for its owner. Most of them would rather not sell you their product if they don't believe it is right for your needs! This is HUGE!! This is a revolution against mass-marketing! It represents the revival and nurturing of Old World craftsmanship, something that is mostly long gone in our society. The evolution of the Internet Forums has allowed us to learn of these builders. The ToneFests allow us meet these fine people, and experience their creations firsthand.
Most of us- players and builders alike are grounded and bonded in our love for classic vintage gear, the quality of those instruments, and the history of the music they were created for. As much as I revere the history of vintage gear, I also believe that the market for vintage guitar gear has peaked, and must now decline. Inflation and impossibly high prices has already put the best gear out of reach for everyone except the wealthiest of collectors. The affordable vintage gear will be the left-overs...goods that are second-rate, overly modified, or just plain dog-tired and not worth the price they command. I think this has already happened. Many people now go to vintage guitar shows just to see what ridiculous prices dealers are asking for the stuff they own, or to drool over gear that are now priced way out of reach.
By contrast, the explosion of dedicated and brilliant small volume builders, luthiers, and designers has made this the golden age of boutique gear.
After many years of contending that as good as new stuff is, it can never compare to the 'real' (vintage) gear, I think the tide has turned. Unless you can afford (and find) the best, most expensive vintage gear, the real bang-for-the-buck is in the boutique marketplace. Combine that with availability, competition, selection, and customer service, and I believe the handwriting is clearly on the wall.
You are never going to see great boutique gear in Musicians Friend or Guitar Center. There will be a few discerning store owners (Make'n Music) that will carry selections of the very best gear, but they will be few and far between. Kudos to them. But, for the rest of us, wherever we live, there will never be a venue where you can actually play this stuff, and meet the builders, EXCEPT for events like a ToneFest.
We are witnessing the birth of a new mode of direct marketing. It is about quality, and not quantity. I would rather travel to a ToneFest, meet people, play gear, and hang out with a few great guys, than go to NAMM. I'm done with that. Its pointless.
My review of the Chicago ToneFest is this simple. I loved it.
I treasure the opportunity to meet, and hang out with my brothers and sisters- Jason, Candice, Dean, Patrick, Teddy, Bjorn, Eva, Harri, Eero, Scotty, Phil, Tomo, Andy, Steve, Jon, Donner, Rob, and everyone else that was there, I wish I could remember every name.
You guys ROCK!
barry

[Nickcha]

Barry and Scotty,

Thank you for the kind words, (and I truly am humbled by them). I know I was missing out on a significant event in Chicago this past weekend. But I do feel very priveledged to be a part of this emerging movement.

Barry,

As always, you are supremely eloquent and deadly in your aim, when finding the mark. You hit the whole TF vision right on the head. You're so right when you mention the camaraderie forming between sincerely devoted builders and players. I love the respect and sincerity that surrounds the whole ToneFest movement. And it is a movement!

[VacuumVoodoo]

No captions but you should know who's who :)

Jam slideshow (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/VacuumVoodoo/Chicago%20ToneFest%202006/?action=view&slideshow=true)
(http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/VacuumVoodoo/Chicago%20ToneFest%202006/?action=view&slideshow=true)

[Donner]

Heres my photo essay - click the TF logo www.pedalpost.com

Barry took all the good stuff already - but yeah basically dollar for tone, boutique is the future ---- There are a finite number of vintage pieces and they are aging while going up in price.... or 'all of the good ones are taken' vintage is a collectors business now....

and getting to know the person that made your prized possession !?!?!! amazing and unique......

[JofZ]

Heres my photo essay - click the TF logo www.pedalpost.com

Barry took all the good stuff already - but yeah basically dollar for tone, boutique is the future ---- There are a finite number of vintage pieces and they are aging while going up in price.... or 'all of the good ones are taken' vintage is a collectors business now....

and getting to know the person that made your prized possession !?!?!! amazing and unique......

Awesome pics Don!
Thanks

[Bümbox]

Donner and Jon, great pics.

VacuumVoodoo, "Wild Thing", nuff said. You guys were very entertaining. I look forward to talking with you the next time we meet.

[Skreddy]

Cynthia and I have our pictures up finally!

http://skreddypedals.com/ToneFest2006Chicago/

[Tomo]

It was SOOOOOOOOO good! I had a great time. It was awesome!

I don't know where to start? I was in Japan before I went to Chicago. A lot of tripping! I am still recovering from this amazing experience.

I just want to say "Thank you so much" for everyone there at Chicago TF. Thank you so much for attending my clinics. I really enjoyed. Sorry for my "jazz taste" clinic... That was intended... easy/fun version on how to learn jazz. I am really glad that I went to. If I didn't go... I missed so much stuff.(not only amps and tone.)

Jason & Teddy.
Finally it was great meeting you and thanks for wonderful welcome, Simply amazing job! Yes, Makin' Music's crews. Wonderful job guys! Great music store. i would like to go back there. Maybe some lessons anyone? Thank you so much! And it was great meeting Jason's wife Candice and Jason's parents too! Cool dad Ron. Of course big thanks to Mike... Thank you so much for personal Chicago tour. I could spent amazing last 2 hours in town. Teddy, I loved your LP.

Zoey,
What a great playing. We have talked with our guitar better than English. I love your playing so much. Great taste. Hope we can play again when I go to Chicago. Let's play a gig together?

Dan & Mike (65 amp)
It was huge fun talking with you Dan! I love your playing as well as your 65s. You got great people around you. Sean? Great guitar player from Nashville. I really enjoyed jamming with him. Now I am into Country music.(Where can I buy a hat?) Say hello to him please.

Bjorn,
Now I feel your feedback from you! Don't touch the knob! Just move your body! Your sprit and body makes great noise(music) I have learned so much from you. You have such a sweet wife! Eva. Fugu fish? Would you like to try?

Aleksander,
It was a pleasure to meet you! It was great conversation with you. I love choices(tone) you had on your amp. Very unique own design just like you are. Great work!

Scotty, DonneR
Another great tone conversation with you guys. Thank you so much for talking with me about Tone. I have learned a lot from you guys. It was such honored meeting you guys. I love that Tele! and Lentz. I don't own any
teles. Scotty, thanks for letting me use your Bob Burt cab. please keep the Eminence Tonespotters speakers.

Barry, Dean!
As always good to see you. I want to see you guys in Japan soon! Special thanks Barry for attending all my clinics and special introductions by TV star! One more thanks! Barry your funk bass playing absolutely mofa! Dean's bass playing...Wow! I really enjoyed playing the slow blues! More space, more tasty tone.

Andy(Fuchs)
Thanks for asking me join you stage. I didn't know that coming! I wish I prepared. Hope I sounded ok. You are such wonderful player. I enjoyed listening your playing.
Please don't be shy. Thanks for great amp. Wish you have more time enjoy playing your guitar. Yes, I would like to. Wow! Boston ToneFest. I need to know when.

Patrick, Mike,
I wish we had more time hanging out... I had to run my clinics. When I am working, I needed to focus on my job. Thanks for stopping by my clinics.

Harri,Eero,
Thanks for letting me play the Mad Professor amp, ! I really enjoyed it. Great clean tone! So versatile. Wonderful guitars too.(Ruokangas).. beautiful finish,

Rob (Dixon)
thanks for presenting Louis amps. I wish I played the Ferrari amp. I was totally busy with my job too. Times goes by so quick. No perfection I expect... but it was totally huge fun being there. Positive many ways every seconds, every pennies. I wish I had a chance to hear your playing. Show me your L5 please.

Kevin(Uncle Albert)
Many thanks for PA system and showing me interesting amps. Table amp, small twin! Those are great in Japan. Great work on custom amps.

Phil(Miller)
I really enjoyed listening your playing. Thank you so much for sharing your music. Very honored playing with you. Hope we can play again.

Steve(TNJ)
Thanks for coming to my clinics. Finally meeting you was great. Thanks for letting me play your amps Steve! Great jam with you. I loved the Les Paul. I broke E string!
That made me play more simple. 5 strings are difficult enough! I usually don't even bother to add string for a couple tunes. Good to not able to play same lick in same position?

Gary(Trucks)
Thank you so much for traveling long to this event. I really appreciate your present and thanks for kind words. We should set up your special lesson with me?
So we can clear up more? My wife said" he should come here for lesson from CT"

Shawn,
Great playing! Please teach blues(call & response) organ jazz (traditional) to kids. I love teaching too. I didn't know you work for Heritage amps till now. I missed a chance playing amps with my hands. I have played colonial. Great amp.

Graydon,
It was pleasure meeting you. Sorry i haven't chance to try your amps. Just like NAMM... So busy with my clinics. I hear great thing about the GDS in Japan.

Paul,
It was finally meeting you at dinner. I had a list.... things I wanted to see, meet, check out... I couldn't follow everything. Please drop me email or catch up with you by phone.

Clif ,
Thanks for talking with me. Wish your success with your thing(s). Look forward to seeing your tapes. Thanks for the guy's info. My tone consultant jobs (new fun job) especially japanese artists for speakers, amps, pedals and guitars. It's nice to know more picky people. See you soon in Boston.

Huge thanks to Nick Champlin for ToneFest concept, ideas and everything. I am very happy to make more friends. Now we have to challenge to go a bit far to east?

I am sure I am forgetting many names! Sorry about that.

Chicago ToneFest was a just wonderful dinning. Quality than quantity.
I loved every bit of it.

We'll talk more.


Tomo

[Donner]

....heres a little sample of what goes on afterhours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKzmyslFirs

[BJF]

Uh yea well BJ over here's taking a bow- that Barry dude plays some mean slide
I hjad better work on my facial expressions to compensate


Woohoo let it all haqng down great fun
BJ

[VacuumVoodoo]

...I hjad better work on my facial expressions to compensate

Woohoo let it all haqng down great fun
BJ
This guys handles his LP pretty well and does facial expressions too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzXUJzC_oM0&search=Electric%20Flag

And I got to see the "little starry eyed girl encounter" at last :)

[BJF]

Ah, Mike Bloomfield. Right the effects of a good Les Paul ;)

Have fun
BJ

[JofZ]

I had no idea you guys liked Bloomfield :)
I will have to see if I can post the footage I have.
But, one of the first projects this forum will be supporting is a Street Naming effort for Mike.
I'll make a post in the next couple days!
I was born and raised in Mike's apartment in Chicago. We even used the same room as our bedroom. I became good friends with his brother and there are major releases coming. One is a CD box set with all the Bloomfield tapes. The second is a major motion picture about his life, and the third is is a Gibson LP signature with no release information as of yet.

[VacuumVoodoo]

Oh yes, I'm spinning the "Super Session" vinyl as I write this.
Born and raised in Mike's apartment? You must have soaked up some of the vibe :)
Mike Bloomfield street - great idea!

[Tomo]

I am a huge fan of Michael Bloomfield!

What a experience you had! Amazing.

I love both "Super Session" and "Live Adventure"
Mean bending!


Tomo

[JofZ]

Mike was such an important part of American history!
He often gets overlooked, in terms of his importance when it comes to breaking down racial barriers and making sure the ones who deserved the recognition got it, even at his own expense. He was a very complex person who made some fantastic music. I am very excited about the film, because I feel people only saw a small part of who he was. There are many books out there that touch on him and some that go into great depth. I highly encourage people to check him out.

[BJF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSZ15s2FxFY&mode=related&search=


Thanks Don


Have fun
BJ

[JofZ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSZ15s2FxFY&mode=related&search=


Thanks Don


Have fun
BJ

:D This was the one I was waiting for!
We must repost this so people will find it!

[Donner]

Wild Things !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW63qjkLHMk

[VacuumVoodoo]

The suspense is murderous untill it's revealed what amp Bjorn is playing. So you're a Alfred Hitch**** wannabe? But at least I got a glimpse of my ponytail...

Btw, waving arms is essential to feedback control, it's not just for show.

Thanks Donner

[BJF]

The suspense is murderous untill it's revealed what amp Bjorn is playing. So you're a Alfred Hitch**** wannabe? But at least I got a glimpse of my ponytail...

Btw, waving arms is essential to feedback control, it's not just for show.

Thanks Donner

Hi

Ah, I believe there's a hungry tonemonster to the right, watch out or it'll get hold of you.......

Yes, that is so waving arms for more feedback, jump up and down for sustain
tricks from the 70's......

Woohoo have fun
BJ
'In suspension......' The *** Pistols

[BJF]

Hi Alex,

Actually if you get the picture in sync with sound you can see what's to the right......

Demonstration just prior to Wild Thing I tried to show how dynamic the sound can be and that it can go from full on distortion with pick and almost clean ( that's better than clean hihi) with fingers playing lightly.

Oh no DON'T TOUCH THE KNOBS!!!!

It's a great amp Alex, I like it

Regards
BJ

Have more fun

[Donner]

Yeah thats the problem with the free google/youtube sites, is theres a limit to the length and quality ---- so I edited for the more dynamic parts,,,,

maybe Ill get a DVD burner and make a little "What I saw on my summer vacation movie ; ]

[BJF]

Hi,

Originally posted by Donner
"maybe Ill get a DVD burner and make a little "What I saw on my summer vacation movie ; ]"

Please do, DVD- burner hm

Are there any other ' dynamic parts' suitable for free google sites?

Thanks for many things
BJ