Why Not Listen To Some Blues?
I love the blues. Delta, Chicago, St. Louis, Texas . . .I can't get enough.
I started playing the guitar in 1970. In the years since I have played almost every style
of Western (hemisphere, not Country &) music. I played in my first band at age 16 and
in my last band at age 27. At the end of my experience with that last band I was so
disgusted with the band scene in general that I put my guitars in their cases and placed them in
a closet. I would get one out from time to time, just to assure myself that I hadn't completely
forgotten how to play. In late 1996, after the great Abunawass guitar shopping trip, I finally got past the negative
associations that I had with my instruments. I am now playing as well or better than I ever have
(don't assume that this means I'm good), and I am loving every bit of it. If not for
the Blues, though, the guitars would probably still be in the closet. Hey . . . Anybody want to
jam?
A Chronological Listing Of The Many Guitars I Have Owned
(I Don't Think There Are Very Many -- My Wife Disagrees!)
Classical Guitar
My first. At least I think it is mine. My sister and I were given a Suzuki and a Yamaha,
and it may be that the Suzuki was mine. Regardless, I still have it.
Teisco Del Rey
My first electric. I no longer have this guitar. I loaned it to a friend, he loaned it
to his cousin, and it was gone. I now wish that I still had it . . .
White Teardrop-Shaped Electric - Brand Unknown - might have been a Kay
I bought this guitar as a collection of pieces when I was in my first band. I intended to
put it together well enough to play one song with it, just so that I could smash it on stage.
Someone stole it before I had the chance.
Mustang
My primary instrument from the mid 70s to the mid 80s, also served as a backup instrument
for the lead guitar player in my last band. I no longer have this guitar. A former band
member traded it to some British Punk/New Wave musician (from a band called The Tractors, I think) for the guitar listed
fourth below this one. By the time I found out about it, the guitar was no longer in the state and
possibly out of the country. If you are a British Punk Rocker/New Wave musician who
obtained a clear-finished Fender Mustang at the Pace
Hotel in Macomb, Illinois, I WANT IT BACK!!! Substantial reward for the return of this
instrument (Right . . .).
1967 F30 Special
Without a doubt the best sounding acoustic guitar I have ever played. This guitar was given to me in the late 70s, and OF COURSE I still have it. It was abused by a friend who borrowed it. I'm sure that this was unintentional, but when I retrieved the guitar it was closed face-down in its heavy leather gig bag. The back was cracked through in three places, the top had a new crack in it, and the back was separated from the binding. As a result it is in a fragile state, but I keep it strung and play it
semi-regularly. I was told that this guitar has an interesting back story, which I am attempting to verify. If you're familiar with Guild, though, you know that their early records no longer exist, and my inquiries to the company (now a division of Fender) have gone unanswered.
T40 Bass
My primary instrument as a working musician. Not the most glamorous or famous bass guitar,
but a road-worthy workhorse that took almost all of the punishment I gave it. I discovered
(the hard way) that the pickup selector switch is somewhat fragile. I have yet to repair the
switch, but if you tap it just right it plays like a dream!
12-String
Very nice for the price that I paid for it. I have always enjoyed the sound of a 12-string, and I couldn't pass up the deal on this guitar. You guessed it, I still have this one.
Tokai Strat Knockoff
The guitar that "replaced" my Fender Mustang. I kept this butt-ugly, salmon-colored eyesore as a reminder of a hard-learned personal lesson. When I let go of the negativity associated with the loss of the Mustang, I refinished this guitar. I have received countless comments on the beautiful wood, and the guitar actually sounds nice and plays well. Interesting metamorphosis in both the guitar and the owner.
I have had a rabid desire to own a Strat since I first heard Hendrix. It took more years than I care to think about, but I finally have one. A former student insists that I name this guitar . . . Any suggestions?
1973 Guild M-75.
Just what I needed -- another guitar. I purchased this one at an estate sale in May '99.
The neck looked like a banana, but it straightened out OK and plays very well now.
1999 Martin Backpacker
A Christmas gift from my wife! This is definitely not a general-purpose acoustic guitar, but I don't think anyone ever claimed that it was. For a small travel guitar, it isn't too bad. It is just as tinny as I had heard that it would be. It isn't easy to play, and its odd shape makes it difficul to hold on your lap. Still, I think it is pretty cool, my daughters love to play it, and I enjoy having it.
Odds and Ends>
Digitech RP-7
This effects processor is (for the most part) really cool. I got it in '98,
and it has since been replaced in the Digitech line with a more souped-
up model. The biggest gripe I have with it is that some of the effects suffer
from a delay between the time that a string is played and the delivery of the
corresponding sound. It's very disconcerting to be playing, especially with
other musicians involved, and to have your sound lagging behind your playing
by a noticeable fraction of a second. According to Digitech, the models that
cost a bunch more don't suffer from that problem . . .
Apart from that, I really like it. I find it easy to program, but I'm not the
best person to ask about things like that. The built-in tuner is more accurate
than any other built-in tuner I have used. I still use a separate tuner,
though. There are so many effect combinations possible that I don't see how
anyone couldn't find a lot of sounds that they liked.
Here are some of my favorite Blues-Related Links:
Blues Foundation
BluesWEB
Central Iowa Blues Society
The Blue Highway
Cascade Blues Association
Boston Blues
The Mississippi Delta Blues Society
Performer Links:
Blues Traveler
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Page
Archie Lee Hooker
Robert Johnson
B. B. King
Koko Taylor
The Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund
TexasFlood Mailing List - Stevie Ray Vaughan FAQ
Pride and Joy - The Stevie Ray Vaughan Archive
T-Bone Walker
Muddy Waters
And Club Links:
Manny's Car Wash - I had more fun here than at any other blues club I've been to.
House of Blues - The best gift shop in the business. Third Eye Blind and Eddie Money were
playing when I was there . . .
Buddy Guy's Legends Online - Next on my list of places to go.