Steve Haynie

Oh heck-- just get Stike to do a metal flake flame paint job! Natural or an iced tea burst would look good. Cherry would look like one of those rare Gibson custom orders or refins.

KISS came up with a decent album when they did Sonic Boom. AC/DC sounded like a fresh new band on Black Ice. If both of those bands can pull off creating something that is not too predictable or rehashed sounding, Van Halen might pull it off, too. The real key to doing it is having your album available exclusively through Wal-Mart.

Last night I saw Robert Plant and Band of Joy in Asheville, NC. The opening act was The North Mississippi All Stars. The ticket was expensive (what else is new?), but the show was in a great theater type of venue. No seats were too far away to see a good show. The North Mississippi All Stars were just a two piece-- guitar and drums. The bass player was not there. It was still an amazing show that they did. I had heard of these guys, but never heard them. Now I need to buy an album. They played 40 minutes. Robert Plant and Band of Joy came on at about 9:10. The band's set list has not popped up on the Internet yet, but it featured at least half of the new album. The band is the same group that recorded the album: Buddy Miller, Byron House, Marco Giovino, Darrell Scott, and Patty Griffin. One song was from the album Plant did with Alison Krauss, Please Read The Letter. There were some cool versions of Led Zeppelin tunes like Tangerine and Houses Of The Holy plus a few more. The show was over about 10:50. Buddy Miller was playing a lot of odd looking guitars that looked like old Kay and Univox type instruments-- cheap guitars. There were a couple of Danelectros used. Then Miller and Scott both had Gretsch guitars at different times during the show. Miller played through Swart amps with a tape echo unit sitting on top. Robert Plant came across as a nice guy, which he always has, but he reminded me of the way Paul Stanley acted when he did his solo tour-- no rock star on stage. There were songs sung by different band members with Plant standing at the back just doing backup vocals or playing harmonica. He never appeared to be the star of the show. The Band of Joy was the star, and Robert Plant was just one part of it. When the band took a bow at the end of the show (pre encore) some guy jumped on stage and joined the line while someone took pictures. Then he stepped up beside Plant... Plant just posed for a picture with the guy. Security was slow in getting out there on stage, and by the time anyone was out there the guy was back in the audience.

Who owns the rig?

A friend is selling off his amps because his Axe FX sounds just as good in his opinion. For the price they ought to be perfect.

NO! The silicone in spray polish can get into the wood through small cracks and dings in the finish. It will hinder refinishing or repairs that require glue. If you have ever run across a guitar that has been hit with Pledge you will know it. They smell funny and the finish does not look right.

Slash did not need to slap back. He knew security would be right on the guy.

Slash has played some nice solos in his music. He may not be a shredder like Yngwie Malmsteen, but he does have a knack for well placed notes.

Is this a giant peanut or a guitar?

Do you think they broke up after that gig?

There are no "real" members. We are nothing more than virtual entities in cyberspace. Everything you read on your monitor is an electronic fabrication that exists only on your monitor.

The EB/MM Reflex at the local store is very nice, but it does not feel significantly lighter in weight.

There is a contract protecting the design of the Tipton guitar? That is the first time anyone has reported that. I just thought it was a straight-out "no" on that one. Is the checkerboard restriction for Rick Nielsen on paper or just a gentlemen's agreement?

The Mirage takes a lot of hits. People either love it or hate it.

I will be in Raleigh on Saturday and part of Sunday for a group meeting. If anyone wants to say hello in person let me know.

This is happening locally, but the guitars are going to be closer to $600. The quality of the bodies and necks has to be something someone would want for a custom build. Upgraded hardware and electronics options add to the price. The customer will get something better than a typical low-end import, but the price is going to be close to mid-range guitars that are already out there. The fact that a customer gets to choose the options is going to be what sells the guitar. Bringing this into an eBay context, giving the customer choices in guitar features really does not work out so well with eBay. Some sellers offer to give color or size choices on clothing, but for the multiple features of guitar components a deal needs to be done in person with everything there for the customer to see and try out.

eBay has been the way to try out a lot of pedals that are not for sale locally. Buy it, try it, flip it, and then know what the pedal in the magazine or on the message board is all about. Sometimes you make money, sometimes you lose. Usually its a loss because of shipping costs. Western Union was the alternative to PayPal that a Mexican buyer used. He paid them to mail me a money order. A local Western Union location can cash their money orders, but I just deposited it. As for the original question about whether or not eBay has lost its sparkle, it certainly has this year. My auctions used to always start at a penny, but this year they have been getting reserve prices. There have been too many "good deals" for buyers this year.

No. It's a shitty Hamer logo. If it had been the official logo it would not be so shitty. That logo design looks like a 60's and 70's design.

Not knowing everything about Hamer history, my best effort is only a guess. In the early flyers shown in Paul Hamer's slide show there was use of the Bookman Bold Italic font. It could be assumed that the Hamer logo came about that way and only in that font. The early "The Ultimate" T-shirts had the same font. Because the logo you posted has a different font, it makes it seem less likely to be official.

If Brooks is in the hospital someone needs to get him a laptop so he can get on the board and read all of this. There is a limit to how much TV you can watch in a hospital bed.

GTX and Hamer are not related.

Chris, I meant to ask earlier. What model is the "Max"? Sorry for a stupid question, I just wasn't sure what model Hamer bass this is. Thanks for any info! The Chaparral Max Bass had an ebony board w/boomers on a set neck. I have the same thing with rosewood and dots.

I just saw KISS. Am I supposed to die now?

Portnoy's letter is sort of like someone saying he had a good marriage for 25 years, but now that he has gone out with other women he feels like a new man. Rod Morgenstein recorded an album with Jordan Rudess and has the Dregs/Steve Morse Band credentials. Maybe he can join Dream Theater.

Years ago my father had a Mobil service station. When changing valve cover gaskets you could see the differences in oil. Mobil and Havoline left the valve covers looking clean with no more than a light golden color. Quaker State would leave thick sludge inside the valve covers. That was in the 70's and early 80's. Now that 30 years have passed you cannot really go by what those oils used to be like. What you can do is find someone who works on cars and ask what they see inside different cars when they know what kind of oil was used regularly. My cars get Castrol and the oil is changed regularly.