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Those ice skating gals are hot! Tanith! That checkerboard outfit the one skater has on could be the mandatory uniform for all future HFC jams! Or not!!

Classic song and vid - good call.

I stopped buying JP albums after Screaming... and Defenders...Were their albums after that great? Which ones?

The headstock looks almost like one of those kit necks where you have to shape your own headstock...but w/o shaping it!!

Nice guitar, nice pics. How wide is that neck? It looks wider to me than usual in the DL'd pics. Thanks!!

I'm still rounding up parts for this creation...so not yet! You know, the cleavage on that thing is nicely done..the way the weight of the boobs has shifted etc. I'm serious!

Thanks for thinking of me! As part of my birthday I'm going to get some new tires for the Monster and go for a ride this weekend. Earlier this morning a good friend calls me up and asks if I want to grab some breakfast. I'm thinking that's cool and told my family that he's taking me out to breakfast for my birthday. When I get to Krystal (big spender!) I see that he already ordered his meal and is ready to eat. Anyway, I ordered my food, then gave him some crap about it - being my b-day and all - and he said he forgot. No biggie, but... I'm going to call his wife and ask her what time do they want to take me out for drinks. I'll tell her the breakfast story and that he felt bad and wanted to make it up to me! We'll see if it works.

I've met; Steve Haynie Jettster Jack Butler and some other guy at a Cheap Trick show at the Roxy in ATL...sorry don't remember every one of them were cool I've had trades/extensive communications with many HFCers over the years but especially Tobereeno Phoenix Jaye I don't post as much as I use to but still lurk. I'm trying to get my life together (Ha! No joke!)!

I agree with Johnny here. Adam Lambert, whether he wins or not, WILL be known a year from now and you will probably be sick of hearing from him (in a good or bad way depending on how you feel about him). I agree that he can too often go for the big high voice thingy he does but his quieter vocals are really quite amazing as well. I think when he starts doing his own stuff he will be even better. Anything he does now will always be compared to whoever originally sang it which can bias the critic. There was a few times, however, when they said what song he was going to sing (such as "Ring of Fire") and I thought "oh no, he cant pull this off" but he did - in a very original way! He has the stage charisma and looks very comfortable up there; he could front a band today. I'm sure the AI ppl are just salivating over all the money this guy will bring in!!

Cool Boston link; Letter from Tom Scholz

Seriously too. The timing of your post is uncanny. We were coming back from the Davis Cup last night and listened to the whole 1st album. All of us - kids too - were singing every song! Brad Delp - RIP

Very cool Chris.

Not sure if this is what you have in mind but I like Black Tide...a bunch of young kids that seem to have that hunger for the old school feel. They won several awards from various ppl like Kerrang etc.

Thanks guys...it's a 2007 Gibson R0. That one is very nice looking. I know they are capable of making great guitars but it just bugs me that they do so inconsistently. Yet, everyone just buys into the name and buys mediocre quality for too much money unless you buy their good quality expensive stuff (even I have!) Yet, it reminds me of that Emperor and his clothing fable where he was actually naked but everyone just thought his clothes were awesome.

Nice looking guitar. What is it...an Edwards?

Haha!! You don't know how true that is!! Chris, thanks for the pix fix!! Yeah, I've had my eye on Heriatge b4 as well. Thanks for putting up with my long-winded post. It was a lot of ground to cover but I've been putting off that rant for awhile and things just kind of build up!!

I mainly like to analyze things and pick the best-made product regardless of brand name. That usually means NOT buying what the majority of the public thinks is the best. For instance, Gibson and Fender. Yes, they've made great guitars in the past and are capable of making some great ones today. But, due to their corporate philosophies they have dumbed-down most of their products to hit various price points. I don't have a problem with that either in that I'm a free-market capitalist and whatever sells sells; people will vote with their dollars. However, I do have a pet peeve with people just blindly buying a brand because of the brand; Gibson, Harley...whatever. Now, if you truly like what you're getting and not just being deceived by the smoke and mirrors of marketing then that's fine. I just feel that many consumers are blind and don't engage their brains enough! Now, having said all that I do take a sort of elitist pride in owning brands like Hamer guitars, or my Zinky amp in that I feel like they represent a more intelligent, well thought out decision; I'm not just another average consumer. In fact, I may sometimes shy away from a brand name even if it is a better product so as to not lose my independent street cred...crazy, I know! This was exactly the case with Gibson. I felt that unless you spent an arm and a leg you probably wouldn't get a very good value for your dollar as you're mainly paying for the name. I tried so many other short-scale guitars (Hamer included) to try and fix my Les Paul jones but nothing really did it for me; close, but not quite there. I was always looking for that Les Paul tone but never quite getting it. Well, I finally traded for a '97 LP Classic Plus in Transparent Amber ... It’s a nice guitar with features I like; one piece back, thinner 60’s neck, hotter pickups I didn’t think I would like but actually do, a nice top but doesn’t look like some “lawyer’s guitar”, lacquer finish, vintage nickel hardware, the aged inlays but not the snot green ones (even though the pic shows it more that way than they look like in person) I also bought a Epiphone Elitist Les Paul in Ebony which was made at Fugi Gen Gakki in Japan and the quality is incredible! It is actually speced out and built better than my Gibson. It’s non–weight relieved, long neck tenon, has a bone nut instead of plastic, mother of pearl inlays instead of plastic, USA pickups (which were changed to Gibson Burstbuckers), vintage nickel hardware, correct thin binding detail in the lower cutaway etc. thin poly finish (though you can see the grain of the wood like with an older laquer finish). I also bought a Dean Soltero SL which was also made in Japan at Fugi Gen Gakki and the quality is incredible! I like it a lot because it gives me the LP vibe in a very unique package. I’ll be swapping out the stock USA Dimarzio’s (fairly hot) for a pair of Seth Lovers. Anyway, between the 2 Les Pauls the MIJ one is built so much nicer and plays better too. Sound is very similar but I’ll have to swap out pickups to really compare the two. The Gibson is no slouch in the playing and sound department but the Elitist does it all with less fret buzz. They both have their own mojo and are both great guitars. However, if you were to compare the two from a build quality stand point the Elitist wins hands down. The Gibson has more orange peel look in the finish, you can feel the binding edges (they’re not flush and seamless where they meet the wood), fretboard inlays are not as precisely set (more gaps), Gibson headstock inlay is not as precisely set (not flush with surrounding area). And, as mentioned, the features / details on the Elitist make it more historically accurate; non weight relieved, long neck tenon, thin binding, and more of a neck angle than the Gibson which I believe to be more historically accurate but I’d have to measure to verify. The Elitist is a better guitar by features and build quality AND it’s MUCH cheaper. If anything the 2 guitars should trade places; we should be looking at the Gibson and seeing all this great craftsmanship and then upon seeing the build flaws in the Elitist say, ”well it’s not built as well, but it’s pretty good for the money. But, it’s all switched around in reality; the crappier guitar is the one that everyone wants because it says Gibson on the headstock! I find lately that I’ve been gravitating towards picking up the Gibson more. Have I succumbed to the Gibson mystique? Am I turning into one of those “consumer sheep”? Does being made in the USA hold such a power over me that I feel connected to the legacy of past performances with this great American brand? Also, what’s everyone’s take on historic accuracy anyway? My logical side says what does it all matter? Who’s to say that the old way was actually the best way? Does it matter that Gibson (since the early 80’s) bores 9 big holes in the possibly less resonant heavier wood before putting the top cap on? Even more extreme on their chambered models… I know a lot of fine instruments are being made with chambered bodies. But, if this chambering alters the sound as they claim, then how can Gibson say that the weight relief holes have no real impact on the tone? I know that ultimately the guitar is just a tool and the end result of music is what I strive to achieve but sometimes playing the instrument that’s just right for you can be beneficial in achieving that. I’m still figuring that out with the 3 short scale guitars I have. I’ll be swapping out some pickups and doing some more comparisons in the hopes of selling 1 or 2 of them. I’d like to keep all three but I know that they all deliver such a similar sound that the economy dictates that I don’t need that much redundancy. What’s your take on any of the above points/opinions? Signed, Obsessively yours (shut up and play yer guitar!) Crap, not sure what I did wrong on the last 2 pics...they didn't show up in the post yet you can get to the pics by cut and pasting the URL. Anyone know what I did wrong?

Rob, you are a scholar and a gentleman! Back then, rob heard I was a Scorps fan (or I found out where he was working and begged a lot!). Anyway, he sent me a backstage pass and a lot of pics of his rig and guitars. I still have them somewhere but not sure where. Hopefully, he or someone has files of them on their computer. I'll help out more if nothing can be found easily. Another HFC Scorpions shout out was when I was at a Scorps show way in the back. I call Steve Haynie and he gets me past security up to the good seats just in time for them to hit the stage! I still owe you beer or something for that! Whenever I see the Scorpions live they remind me of a traveling gypsy band. They just have a different stage presence and energy than most bands. Some bands try so hard to be tough or super sexy but, to me, the Scorpions just try to give it all they have and really rock the crowd. It's like they really just want everyone to have the greatest time rocking out. It could be considered somewhat campy to some but I think that's just who they are.

Well, it wasn't a sealed box within a sealed box, but nearly; it was an amp with styrofoam corners with another layer of cardboard wrapped around that and taped with more packing/bubble wrap etc. around that within the other box. There was also a separate area off to one side that had the footwitch and power cord. I put an extra layer of cardboard in front of the whole speaker grill and then more bubble wrap on top of the amp as well. The bottom also had a thick piece of cardboard that had holes cut exactly where the feet of the amp go to help keep it in place. The exterior box was in good shape and sealed well. It looks like it suffered a high drop on the side of the amp and broke that top/side joint. The amp is still playable. The buyer already sent me a Repair bill from Bruce Zinky to make a non-production cabinet for $380. Hopefully, it won't be a problem.

I've never had to file a claim in over 10 years of ebay/net trading. I have a 100% 283 Ebay rating etc. etc. so I enjoy treating people right. Anyway, a 1 x 12" combo I just shipped to an Ebay winner arrived with a cracked wood cabinet indicating a fairly good impact while shipping. I packed it well in what essentially amounted to a box within a box package. The small size 1x12 combo (not a widebody or anything like that) was in a box that was (from memory) 32"x18"x24". It had styrofoam corners and bubble wrap and cardboard etc. It weighed 65 Lbs all boxed up to ship. He wants to keep the amp but just wants it fixed. He has already received a repair estimate at $350 (he paid $1,725. for the amp). I told him that I would submit the claim online and that he could do whatever he had to on that end (allowing for inspection of the damaged goods etc.). I told him this will probably be a pain for both of us but we can get through it together. Are there any tips you guys might have in dealing with this sort of thing? Signed, Claim Newbie

How does the PE compare to the regular T21 T60 amp? I mean if you ran it in the power amp in (or fx loop return)?

Rios were good in my old Duotone; bbq/gen. TX

If the sound is anything like it was in Atlanta you will be beyond disappointed anyway. I've been a regular concert goer for close to 30 years, by a wide margin this was the worst I have ever heard. Even when there was only one instrument, vocals, bass, guitar or whatever it sounded like a muddy mess. Bad enough to where it was a struggle to enjoy the show. It's a shame because it seemed like they would have sounded pretty good if it had not been for the sound system. I wonder why the sound has been so sporadic at various shows. Some have been great (according to ppl attending) and then I’ve seen video of Eddie throwing a monitor speaker off the stage because he couldn’t hear anything at another show etc. Even though the show we saw (ATL) wasn’t good sound-wise I don’t blame VH. It seems like they’ve been having problems with their sound ppl. I know one of the vice presidents at the Philips Arena and he stressed that it’s VH’s hand-picked sound company and doesn’t have anything to do with their venue. Anyway, it seems like they’d either fire them (but it may be too hard to get a replacement on short notice) or at least you would think they’d have their act together this far into the 2nd leg of the tour! Anyway, I had seen several shows with the other singers but I was very happy to see DLR w/ VH because it had been 30 years of waiting for it! I hope they can stick together and make an awesome album (crossing fingers).

Yeah, she's trying to get away! We'll need more pics if you want conclusive findings!