mrjamiam

OK, Red Witch me. PM incoming.

I realize the sketch is iconic, but dang, if you're doing a matched set like that, it was a great opportunity to alter one to have a little grin and have a comedy/tragedy set.

First, my condolences on the loss of your mother. That was the previous winter for me, although without the different continents complication, so the empathy is fresh. Next, thank you very much for the story and pictures. I always like a travelogue, and for this one to be musically oriented and in some places I'm fond of (BsAs and Montevideo) is a real treat. Rest and recover and look toward the next adventure. Congrats on real retirement!

Putting it on my list, but also waiting for someone to proclaim himself "so into it".

I understand that a copyright owner should be at the front of the line claiming protection, but those who own the real deal are also harmed by counterfeits in that the value of what they own is diluted (or polluted?). Maybe there are other ways to find the CARE knob and turn it up. Some online marketplaces might care about not being known as a venue for shady stuff, but that ship might have sailed already for eBay. Publicly shaming them on social media works for some companies, sometimes, although maybe more by onesies and twosies - "the airline lost my luggage and gives me the runaround instead of paying up" or "the insurance company refuses to cover this medication that my three doctors say is necessary" - rather than by slicing off a potentially substantial portion of its sales. Musing a moment more before getting back to what I should be doing, maybe this is an opportunity for AI. I have heard it said that policing bad actors in online marketplaces is very hard/impossible because there aren't enough organic eyeballs to examine all of it. My perception of AI is that it can be trained to find patterns and flag them, and then quickly and tirelessly churn through mountains of data. Then you have a short list for the eyeballs. Of course, that doesn't excuse the absence of reaction when some of us pull at their sleeve and say "Look at that!" I think the CARE knob's low setting is less about looking for fraud than about rooting it out and foregoing their cut of it.

Good on ya for trying. I think the world understands that we're not serious about protecting IP.

Needs chainsawing. That and every one with HAMER USA labeling that didn't roll out of Northern Prairie Music, Palatine, Arlington Heights or New Hartford.

I get that we're by and large a bunch of crusty aging, ahem, value-oriented guitar enthusiasts anchored in lore of deals of the past. Also that guitars, in addition to being instruments for producing music (which, as Louis Black observed, goes in the EARS) they are also often - but not in this particular case - works of art (which goes in the EYES). And of course there is the handling quality. But a guitar can only be original once. That ship has sailed for this poor Diablo. Still, one can choose to await the under-the-bed find and hope the owner/inheritant/seller doesn't fully grasp the potential time capsule value of the full eyes-ears-and-hands package so that a deal can be had, or look at what is available in the market. I appreciate the visual appeal of a cool guitar, but personally I place the eyes value last. What does it take to get good bones these days - quality wood, assembled properly? The electronics and hardware can be changed to taste. Empty holes, rattle cans and skateboard tape were good enough for St Edward, and I personally don't think a natural finish is right for a superstrat. I don't imagine many of crusty aging us have any real strict discipline in maintaining a profit margin for resale of our favorite obscure brand - Hamer doesn't appear to be the dealer's choice for flipping. In times of diminishing supply of discontinued guitars from a defunct manufacturer and stubborn inflation, what is the right price for a solid foundation for a player instrument? At least until the great boomer die/sell-off finally arrives and the market is flooded.

Probably some FIB?

Beauty, congrats! Always a good day when there's a Hamer coming to a new home.

Sounds to me like AI-enabled scamming. Instead of uploading your scam listings one by one, put an AI assistant in charge and let it sling them out. The video guy makes an attempt at pointing out red flags, which are no doubt useful today and may continue to be, but in a spy-vs-spy environment the scammers will find out what gives them away and change it. It will always be a buyer beware world.

I was sorta more thinking about the producer of the ad "leveraging" AI and not evaluating the output hard enough, like college kids letting ChatGPT do their homework. The thought occurs to me after seeing this monstrosity this week:

AI running amok?

This came out when I was a kid, and I really haven't looked at it since, although the songs have been present (not least because of being unavoidable for a long stretch). Looking at it now, after a career that involved a decent amount of work-related travel and hotel stays, the first thing that comes to mind is that someone must have pulled the fire alarm. Then you look closer and everyone is too completely dressed for that to be the case. But the crowd waiting for the all-clear to go back to their rooms is something I've experienced more than once, and it looks pretty much like this.

Definitely this. One of my card issuers holds up transactions sometimes. Once I confirm, it goes through. But it's good training to call a known number, as in from the back of your card, and hopefully never call a number someone leaves, or just return the call.

My sister chipped in

Just found out a nephew lives next door to a house that hosts swinger parties every week. You do you, live and let live and all that, but in the summertime they are in the pool in their backyard creeping my nephew out. They play their music during pooltime, which is their right, but my nephew also has a right to play music in his yard. I want to make him some suggestions with a counter-programming theme. So far I've got: Helpful on-theme suggestions solicited. Whatcha got?

Just booked tickets to see one Mr. Samuel Hagar next month. He was the first rock show I saw - opening for Boston in 1978. I wonder if he will remember me. From the crowd up in the stands. A 13 year old kid getting his first dose of high volume hard rock. Stepping outside my comfort zone again to the bright lights, big titties of Las Vegas for this. Even just monitoring this forum you get a good sense of how you should take advantage of seeing the performers you still can, while they are still bringing it, or something close to it, when the opportunity presents itself.

Making or something like it look more appealing to me all the time. I haven't pulled any triggers yet, but I'm tempted.

To emphasize Bubs' response, the collaboration of interest is more with Ken Fischer, known for his Trainwreck amps. Ken is no longer alive, and all of his handbuilt amps are highly sought-after. There are schematics floating around the internet of some of his circuits - at least that is what they are supposed to be. Some manufacturers have built amps that are supposedly Ken's designs. Anything with Ken's name reliably attached to it commands a price premium. There is plenty to be found on the internet regarding Ken and his amps.

While on Long Island for business, I walked onto a hotel elevator that Kenny Rogers had just walked out of.

Yep, I've seen it more than once. I need to treat it as a reminder to kick Ted some more site funding, it's been a while since I did that.

Project was one of JohnnyB's recommendations. I have one on his say-so, albeit without the graphics. Guess they didn't have the balls to do LoveDrive?

Worked wonders for Michael Jackson.

So much for fear of dessicated capacitors and careful inspection by a qualified amp tech prior to reviving a time capsule amp?