Jump to content
Hamer Fan Club Message Center

tommy p

Supporter
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,111

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    3

 Content Type 

Posts posted by tommy p

    I think I'm out - Spotify reveals all-time Top 20

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    I subscribed to Rolling Stone magazine for a long time.   In 2010 they did similar "year-end" and "decade-end" lists of best artists, songs, and albums.  Out of all the categories I had heard "of" a few of the artists, actually heard ONE of the songs, and owned ZERO of the albums.  I realized I had aged out and that's when I quit subscribing.  I don't feel like I've missed a thing.

    • Like 2

    Reverb Takes Another Step Down

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    I remember when I first started using Reverb and had to contact them with some question.  There was an actual number to call and I talked to a real person.  As I recall, the call routing menu was extremely simple.  The person I spoke to was friendly, upbeat, really knowledgeable, and wasn't reading from canned scripts.  It has gotten worse and worse over the years to the point where when I do still use it, I pray to the ghost of Eddie Van Halen that I don't have any trouble.

    On a slightly positive note, I got the email below from eBay recently.  Apparently they are going after deadbeat bidders who don't pay after they win an item.

    • Like 3

    Do I let these two go? 😬😰

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    Holy frijoles!  If I could still play, I would be seriously interested in one or both of those!

    I'm going through the same thing.  After spending a lifetime buying, selling, trading up, need that color, that one plays great, I always wanted one of those as a kid, etc. I had a great collection, perfect for me.  Then physical/health events robbed me of my playing ability.  I've let 3 of my 25ish collection go and I have 5 on Reverb right now but it's going to get harder and harder because after those every guitar I have left brings back a lot of memories and has more meaning to me.

    I will add this: after I let those first 3 go, I did not REALLY miss them and in my past whenever I've sold something usually I look back a few weeks or months later and wonder why I didn't do it sooner.

    • Like 5
    • Thanks 2
    • Sad 1

    Rush 2026

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted · Edited by tommy p

    On 3/31/2026 at 9:45 AM, Steve Haynie said:

    For years I joked that there were a million guys who could play just like Eddie Van Halen, but they could not play anything new until Van Halen put out another album.  

    I saw a video of Phil X (I think) ripping the hell out of some Eddie song and he got every tiny bit perfect.  When the solo came around he played Eddie's solo perfectly but then looped the solo section and played his own Eddie-style solo right behind it and something just felt...off.  It was like AI or a copy of a copy of a copy.  He's a great player and one of the best I've seen at copying Eddie, but there was only one Eddie.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Shipping tales - URGENT UPDATE!!!

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    Thanks for the tips!  I've been using eBay or Reverb shipping labels and they always show how much they are discounted, and I always though it was a good deal and I couldn't do any better.  I have occasionally used Pirate Ship and didn't notice any difference.  I didn't even know PayPal offered shipping.

    • Like 1

    R.I.P. Phil Campbell

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    I only saw Motörhead once, but it was with the Phil/Würzel lineup which I actually liked.  Years later I named my cat Würzel.  I know the band wasn't ever loaded with virtuosos but I still like them for being what they are (were).  RIP to Phil.

    • Like 3

    Another Boston singer dead.

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted · Edited by tommy p

    That's really sad.  Way too young.

    The story of Scholz alternating his vocals with Delp's and no one could tell the difference is pretty cool.  I only got to see Boston once, but it was post-Delp and I think pre-DeCarlo so that must have been with Michael Sweet singing.

    • Like 1

    Reverb scams are taking over. How to spot them. Trogley.

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    I'm going to watch that.  Some of you might have seen the post I made about a possible buyer scammer about a week ago.  Just a few days later I got another one.  Some person with zero sales or purchases so therefore zero feedback offering $50 less than full price on a $3500 guitar.  That makes no sense.  I declined his offer and told him why it was because of him having no Reverb history.  I never got a response.  I few days later I went to check to make sure I had declined the offer correctly and re-read my message to him and all of it was gone.  His offer, my response, everything.  My guess is Reverb identified the account as a scammer and deleted everything.

    • Like 2

    Reverb - does this sound scammy?

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted · Edited by tommy p

    On 2/26/2026 at 12:17 PM, Dave Scepter said:

    It depends, I normally do not accept 0 feedbacks from buyers on eBay, but I've been surprised quite a few times where they've actually come through... life's a journey, Just relax and deal with it as it comes, you might be surprised... you've already had a stroke ffs and don't need the extra excitement... you have Reverbs protection and after the smoke clears, it's just stuff 🙏

    You normally don't, but sometimes you do?  If a buyer on Reverb or eBay has zero transactions or feedback, I delete their bid.  This guy did have ONE, but as I said it was ten years ago.  WTF?  On eBay you can actually set your listing so that buyers with less than a certain amount of time/feedback/rating/etc can't even bid which I have done there.

    I have to tell you I resent you commenting on my stroke(s).  I'm about as laid back a person as you're likely to encounter (I've met several HFCers and they can probably tell you that's true).  My strokes were ischemic, meaning they were caused by blood clots.  I'm 6'3", weighed about 185 (now 175), never smoked, barely drink, excellent blood pressure, etc. so there were no lifestyle factors.  We spent nearly two years trying to find a cause and it turns out I have a clotting disorder.  I could keel over right now typing this or I could live to 100, who knows?  We are managing it the best we can.  So...there's no "extra excitement" here.  I just don't want someone trying to scam me out of a $1000 piece of equipment.  Even if you have a medical degree, I'm not your patient and a comment like that is not helpful nor appreciated.

     

     

    On 2/26/2026 at 12:40 PM, LucSulla said:

    There is nothing that will come from refunding the transaction will be anywhere close to the pain in the ass that dealing with this if it goes sideways. 

    I have come to the same conclusion - thanks for your input!

     

     

    On 2/26/2026 at 12:46 PM, velorush said:

    I've likely posted this before, but there was an attorney in our little town who was quite the wordsmith, a master of dry humor and even taught B-law at the local "at school."

    Hear now, Bob Hearn's Golden Rule (never to be confused with the golden rule): "He who has the gold makes the rules." 

    You, sir, have the gold. You get to make the rules. Exercise your dominion over the transaction. Agree to do only what you feel comfortable with and nothing you feel uncomfortable with. As soon as the "gold" is in the hands of the common carrier, however, you no longer hold the "gold" and thus the power. [/opinion] 

    and RIP Bob Hearn!

    Love that!

     

    To close out the saga: I let the guy know I would be refunding his money and he got PISSED.  He said I should have put in the listing I wouldn't accept buyers with insufficient history on Reverb.   I replied that I told him that when I declined his first offer but he still made three more.  He claimed he never got any of my messages so I screen-shotted them and sent them to him again.  He then sent a "What?  My money's not good enough for you?" rant and he got belligerent and accused ME of scamming HIM.  So basically, ya know, fuck that guy.

    • Like 4

    Reverb - does this sound scammy?

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    22 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

    I guess my point is, ANYONE can pull the same maneuver... I agree I would probably give Reverb a heads up on your concerns... but once you receive the money, pack it, insure it with the tracking number, it's pretty much out of your hands... unfortunately, that's the risk selling online... years ago, I sold a bunch of old JBL tweeters to a guy that opened them up to replace the guts, then try to file a claim that they weren't original... I spoke with an Ebay rep and determined that since he broke the original wax seals he had no claim... 

    I'm wishing you good luck 👍 

    That's true, but if I saw a buyer had 200 transactions and all positive feedback, I would be a lot more likely to trust them.  Wouldn't you?

    • Like 5

    Reverb - does this sound scammy?

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted · Edited by tommy p

    52 minutes ago, velorush said:

    If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck... 

    I would contact Reverb post haste, expressing your concerns and asking for a review.

    A few other details: 1. is the Ship-To Address in the Cont. 48 or over seas? 2. How is the buyer proposing payment? Through the Reverb system or some other? 

    Ship to address is in CONUS.

    Buyer already paid through Reverb.  If I were to now ship it, they would release the funds to me.

     

     

    24 minutes ago, Spinaltap said:

    contacting reverb is the best way to go, while you go through the process.  It may be a pain but may help avoid more pain later.

    GLWTS

    I think you're right.  I think I can just go in and tell them to refund the buyer.

     

    4 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

    I don't understand... if you receive the money, What's the problem? 😏

    The problem is that he could claim to never have received it, it's broken, it didn't have purple wiring, the treble knob is sticky, or some other BS to try to get a full or partial refund.  To restate the reason I'm suspicious:

    Buyer asks very technical and detailed questions about the amp.  I don't even answer.

    Buyer makes offer on amp.  I look at his profile and due to an odd (lack of) history, I tell him I really don't feel comfortable selling to him.  Buyer doesn't respond.

    Submits higher offer.  I message him "See my previous response.  Buyer doesn't respond.

    Submits higher offer, now almost $100 more than a new unit.  I don't message him or decline the offer; I just let it expire.

    Buyer submits full price offer.  Reverb considers it a sale.  Buyer messages weird "thank you for selling me this amp" message in broken English.

    Why would he go up and up to an eventual full price offer after I didn't answer his questions and actually told him I didn't want to sell to him?

    • Like 6

    Reverb - does this sound scammy?

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    I bought this Ceriatone 2202 to use in my AC/DC tribute.  Unfortunately I had my strokes before I got a chance.  Someone either modified it or custom ordered it to be in that vintage Marshall head cabinet which I loved because it had the right "look" for my band.

    A couple of months ago I listed it on Reverb for $800 and got a few hundred views and almost 100 Watchers in just a week or two so I thought I had it priced fair and it would sell fast.  After being up for a few weeks, it had not sold so one day when I was checking on it, I saw that Reverb had it tagged "Great Deal" and showed the price range was $890-1180 so I decided to raise it to $900, still at the very bottom of the range.  Oddly, after raising the price I started to get offers but they were all low-ballers.  So, since I was hoping to $800-900 I raised the price again to $1000 so if people felt like they just HAD to haggle, I could go down on the price to get what I actually wanted and they could think they beat me down.  Don't get me started on people who see 1959 Les Paul for sale for $3000 and think "I bet I can get it cheaper.  I'll offer $2000."  I hate those people.

    Note: you can get a new one from Ceriatone for $880.  (Not in a Marshall cabinet of course).

    About a week ago I got a request from a prospective buyer for more pictures and asking a bunch of very specific questions pretty articulately.  I'm not a gearhead so I don't know if it has pre-1980 Russian tubes or XC-35 capacitors or whatever and I'm not taking it apart to see so I didn't even answer.  I've gotten in trouble before trying to answer questions like that.  A couple of days later he made an offer of $900.  I looked at his profile and he had ONE previous purchase ten years ago, no items for sale or ever sold.  I declined his offer and told him he didn't have enough history for me to feel comfortable.  He didn't respond but a couple of days later he makes an offer of $950.  I declined and messaged him "See my previous response."  A few days later he made an offer for $975.  I didn't even decline that one or message him again - I just let that offer expire.  Then he clicks on the full price and of course Reverb now says "Your item sold.  Time to pack and ship."  I get an message from him in horrible broken English saying "Thanks for letting me purchase amp.  I take best care of amp...etc."

    Something doesn't smell right about this.  What do you guys think?

     

     

    ceria 1.jpg

    New Progessive Rock Band(Get Ready to Gawk)

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    Word of mouth on this "band" is spreading fast!  One of my friends posted about them a couple of weeks ago and then two more who don't even know the first one posted about them in the last couple of days.  They are so NOT me, but I really like them.  The drum beats and basslines are pretty cool and I think the weird costumes are hilarious.

    • Like 2

    Most Famous Person you played with?

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    21 hours ago, LucSulla said:

    My favorite "famous" person encounter as a player was tricking Joe Barresi into thinking my band was A Perfect Circle back when we were tracking demos at Quad Studios circa 2001. 

    That's funny.  Years ago one of my bands stopped a McDonald's on our way to a gig.  We were all young long-hairs back them and the people there asked if we were in a band and when we said yes they asked the name.  We said "Stone Temple Pilots".  STP were just starting to catch on so nobody knew who that was.  We said "Just remember STP - you'll be hearing about us soon!"  Little did we know how huge that band would become.  I wonder if those people still tell the tale of how they met STP before they hit it big.

    • Like 3
    • Haha 7

    'A Man's Gotta Know His Limitations': Dee Snider Quits

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    I hate to see that. I really liked Under the Blade, and You Can't Stop Rock and Roll is my favorite, but each album after that they lost me a little more. I only saw them once and it was years past their heyday. They were playing a little outdoor concert series in Richmond, VA and the day they were playing it was like a freakin' monsoon but all shows were rain or shine so they still held it. The venue probably held 10-12,000 and only a few hundred of us braved the weather and came out. They, and Dee in particular, played that show like it was Madison Square Garden and it was going to be the last concert the world would ever see. He gave as much as I've ever seen any performer give that day and I left seriously impressed. I hope he takes care of himself and lives a long, happy life.

    • Like 4

    Most Famous Person you played with?

    in Hamer Fan Club Messageboard

    Posted

    I was in a band with Linni Disse, the guy who took Dave Hlubek's place when Molly Hatchet reformed as Gator Country.  Coincidentally Bruce Crump, MH's original drummer, lived about 10 minutes from me and played in the local scene.  He played with a lot of my friends but I never got the chance to jam with him.

    I played one gig with a guy who was Christopher Cross's drummer before Cross got a record deal.  The drummer for Silent Rage, a hair metal band that had a video or two on MTV, tried out as a singer for a band I was in.  The Cheap Trick tribute band I was in recorded our demo at Bill Leverty's (Firehouse) home studio.  I had never listened to them at all until then so I streamed all their stuff on Spotify and I have to say Bill is/was a killer player.  He showed me some of his licks and practice routines but they were beyond me.

    • Like 7
×
×
  • Create New...