DavidE

I have all kinds of tube amps from low waters to high waters. They all have their own thing but even the 15 waters are loud enough to gig with. But I just picked up a fender cyber champ for little dough and it's a great amp for getting high gain tones at low volume. Really surprising. It's tough to get a tube amp to sound like this at low volume.

I believe I also partook of the cool New England evening air at that time. Well, I used to play early (usually first with Amy and sometimes Kim) to help get things started and to get the cliched tunes out of the way. ;-) Usually before the cool kids arrived. ;-) Never stopped me from getting back up later. I enjoyed my participation. I even stayed through the Surrender performance. There's nothing like a good train wreck when everyone is laughing their way through it. as one of the folks onstage when the stampede for the door started, I could understand if they waited until I started to play. I wasn't even plugged in yet when the in crowd did the "strut of shame". It was JV at best lol... Kim provided most of the backline for all the HFC and OFC jams. Busted his arse on the load-in, setup, and load-out. All we had to do was showup and play. He didn't get enough credit for everything he did to help out. Now, that Ken Keller guy - now he's a real jerk... I actually helped Kim do the shlepping and setup for the last one and it was probably one of the best parts of the day. Kim's a good egg.

Shawn: I hate to say it, but this board has always been this way. On one hand, it makes me want to stop my participation. But on the other hand, it's like a car wreck and I can't look away. Just call me a rubber necker I guess. Screw you Chris. ;-) I looked outside and the leaves ain't turning yet; for some reason I thought it was October lol... back to yer regularly scheduled programming... I had that very same thought. Is it almost time for an open house? ;-) And let's count how many of those Jams that Jol came to. Uh, zero. Did he come to the lunch? I'm thinking not. Though I had a nice lunch one year with Bill Kaman which was more impressive. ;-)

Let's not get silly now. This number actually isn't out of line. I know a few people who put $100k into custom orders and new Hamer stuff since the board started. Combine that with all of the other new and custom orders since 1996 from here and THEN discuss the used stuff... I myself have put up quite a large number (many tens of thousands-probably in excess of $100k since 1996) in custom and used purchases and sales. I would count the wonderful HFC open houses, and later the Hamer Open Houses, as a huge thank you.

I think you need to put a little more into your stage show. Standing in place is just boring. ;-) Actually, I'm going to disagree with the keep the white pickguard comment. I think you need a pickguard that matches your jacket. ;-)

Except for the Newport with purpose-built handwound pickups, most Hamer USA's totally outclass the pickups mounted in them. I think it figured significantly in Hamer USA's lack of recognition and market penetration. It's like putting bias-ply retreads on a Ferrari. The Newport was the first sign of life after '59s and JB's. And Seths......

My first thought was, big fucking words for a guy who stuck Duncan '59s and JB's in almost everything for years and years. LOL.... My second thought was about the ridiculous upcharge to put in non-stock pickups in a new Hamer. Really it took you three? They are great pups but I wish they would lighten up on the potting a little. The older ones just have something the new ones don't. But the Seths are not potted. That's why they squeal. ;-)

The answer is X%. And I could NOT care less.

No gigs scheduled that weekend, but a week long trial scheduled for Monday. That could change as the case is being moved to a new judge at some point, but for now it is what it is. I'll make it if I can.

Heard from a Verizon insider that the iPhone will be available with Verizon plans in September.....we'll see! I'd be shocked if that happens. There's a guy on either TGP or the Acoustic Guitar Forum who says he's the guy who would be ordering the infrastructure needed to support an iPhone on Verizon and he's done nothing and heard nothing.

Not out yet, I am going to use my jam points and pre-order it. I have Amplitube 3 and it sounds great. Jam points??? I put the app on my new iPhone, but haven't played with it yet. No interface.

What winery?

Too many lost HFC members (in one way or another) in these photos.

Got rained out tonight at www.papaboos.com

Curious as to how you are amplifying your sound for the acoustic gigs? What kind of guitar pickup and are you using an amp, or throught the PA? What do you think of the Braggs Direct/Para-eq? Thanks! For acoustic gigs, it's usually an Ovation through some pedals into a Bose L1. Love it. Baggs makes some good pickups and the Para DI is a good piece of gear. Their new Venue DI is good as well.

Between my acoustic gigs, band gigs and now country band gigs, I have a pretty busy gigging schedule.

I love Chicago. Downtown is cool. We'd just have to bear the additional logistics and expense. Obviously FMIC, Kaman and Hamer are not bearing the expense of this event. ;-) Since my firm has a Chicago office, I'm guessing I can get a corporate discount on a hotel but if it's all downtown, it may be cheaper for me to fly in and take the train downtown. I personally would be more interested in doing Hamer related events than City of Chicago related events, but I'm up for anything. Then again, it's been a while since I've been there at night (often day trips for business). After wasting time at the tourist clubs (BB's, Buddy's, Hard Rock, etc...), we went to an authentic Chicago blues joint and got to hear Bonnie Lee sing real blues. That was seriously cool. We were offered another October gig today so I hope we set a date fast as I really want to go! :-)

-1 on the suburbs - thats just lame. If anyone needs help with hotels, I can offer suggestions that might be cheaper. Though a city event would be just fine, the 'burbs suggestion is not "lame". Especially, as David pointed out, the lower cost for travelers (do it in Rosemont and you're a max $10 cab ride from O'Hare), easier and cheaper parking (and access for driving in most cases) and decent hotel rates for hotels that are a step or two above the "cheaper" places in the city. Like the city idea, just don't want to limit any options by being snobbish against the suburbs. I was also thinking about those who are bringing gear. For those of us driving, I would rather stay at a suburban hotel and take in my gear than to pay $30 to park overnight at a downtown hotel and not be able to easily take gear to a room.

This might help you pick a date. I just booked October 22, so that weekend's out. If October ends up like September with six + gigs, they may all be out. Pick a date! ;-) I'd make this drive.

1) Pick a date ASAP so we can either block out the date or move gigs. 2) Hold the event in a suburb to make it auto friendly and lower cost for hotels.

Nice work! It must be a lot of pressure to play those solos since they're so well known and ingrained in our minds. I didn't realize David Gilmour was Asian. ;-)

Killer deal! I'd buy it because of the price, but I just don't think I could pull off that body shape. Especially with my body shape. ;-)

This tiny cabinet sounds as big as that logo looks.

Look up Markbass.

we did this in place of a demo, much better for booking! MCC is right But of course this was a benefit gig and I saw some young faces in the crowd. I'm guessing there were lots (if not most of the) people who were there for the benefit and not part of your regular audience. I could be wrong... I think you run the risk of raising a bar owner's expectations that you're going to have the same crowd at bar gigs or the light show etc... For example (real gigs, but not really a typical bar gig):