chap

the mylar prism srtickers have a sweeter top end than regular vinyl stickers Sit back, this could take a while

Seriously, this is so offensive that it blows me away! The stickers couldn't be good for tone, but I wouldn't touch it!

Over the last ___ years, it seems more talented musicians are departing than arriving.

Great vid. 5.5% wobblies for everyone!

Tort, but it's close!

I say the pick guard should be a graphic. But I like that the fretboard has no markers. Yay - but I won't buy it (if that makes any sense!)

Speaking of Guitar Hero, Since we're all actual players here, can anyone play Guitar Hero? I gave it a real honest try and people are astounded by my inability to play. I even surprised myself at how useless I was. I've heard since that actual guitar players cannot play GH. For me, it's a matter that I know how many of those songs are actually played, and I can't force my fingers to do something that it's not supposed to do for that song.

You know I thought Spinal Tap was the best for many years until I learned what the name really means when my daughter needed to get one done at a few months old. oogg...

That was awesome thanks for posting! Big fan of Conan and Slash. I didn't realize Conan was so tall! Those double neck Gibsons are pretty reasonably priced yes? (or was I loooking at an import model) Since I'm relatively anonymous, guess I don't mind admitting that I would scream like a 10 year old girl if Slash showed up in my front door. I'm a huge fan...

Can't people change their I.P. address? Isn't there a simple command to do that? Well to be honest, the average home user who subscribes to high speed internet will likely only get what they call a "dynamic IP address" ... meaning one that will automatically change. In such cases, the IP address will change at the will of the internet service provider (ISP). For many home users, every time you turn off the modem (supplied by the ISP) and turn it on again, you'll get a new IP address. You can get a static IP address however most home users do not need this... it costs extra money. BUsinesses (or in my case, schools) can benefit from a fixed / static IP address. So when you visit a website to check your email or a message forum, watch a YouTube Video, download a program ... you give that web server your IP address because the web server must know exactly where to send the data. But here's the catch, most people feel they are pretty anonymous on the internet, this is totally not true. If people have a reason to find you, they WILL find you. By law, internet service providers MUST keep track of what household is assigned to what IP address at what date-range. So for instance, if the FBI says that IP address 24.212.32.4 has been downloading and distributing child porn, they can contact the internet service provider that handed out 24.212.32.4 and locate which household uses that IP address. Not only that, when you connect to the internet from your house, you connect through your NIC (network interface card).... pretty much every computer in the world has a NIC... Every network card in the world has a unique "physical address / MAC address". When you connect to your ISP provider, the ISP will also record the MAC address of the computer you are connecting. So not only is it possible to track the exact street address of an IP address, it's even possible to track the exact computer or router that uses that IP address. For instance, the two popular ISP in my area both REQUIRE you to register the physical / MAC address of the device that is accessing their service. So if I buy a new router, or a new computer and plug it into the internet, it won't work unless I re-register my physical / IP address. Filtering by IP address is a really ineffective way to restrict access because of something called "proxy servers". Proxies work like this: Your boss blocks your work computer from accessing Facebook's IP address. So, you connect to a proxy server, and use THAT server to access Facebook on your behalf. People use proxy servers thinking they're invisible or truely anonymous. Let me put this into a scenario, using a proxy server makes you about as anonymous as walking into a crowded mall with a goalie's mask (hockey goalie everyone, sheesh). Because misinformed people think they're invincible using a proxy server to hide their IP address, law / watchdog agencies watch proxy IP addresses like a hawk. Just like if you walk into a mall with a goalie's mask, you're sure to draw attention. Secondly, I can easily setup a proxy server and put it online for me or anyone to use. So if I setup a proxy server, and YOU connect to MY proxy server and enter your Facebook username and password, it's possible for me to simply LOG all traffic going through my proxy server ... I have your username and password. Thirdly, proxy servers have IP addresses like everyone else. When you contact a proxy server, you give THEM your real IP address, and they will hide it for you and give you a new one. But they still have your IP address. So that simply means one extra step for investigators. Another example ... ever watch a movie where the bad guys are trying to collect ransom money? ANd they have all kinds of wacky schemes to try to hide themselves like dropping into a garbage can with a fake bottom, going into a tunnel ... well bottom line is eventually the bad guys HAVE to get their hands on the money. Bottom line ... everything can be tracked and using a proxy is simply a bad idea.

That is correct, Don. We all know who it is and also that he uses several other names to post on Jol's blog. Looks like "Siaip" is his latest. Probably because he's run out of other places to post, since he gets himself banned from every site he ever posts on. I think it's pretty funny that he continues to target the HFC, even though his getting kicked off of other sites is purely self-inflicted and a phenomenon that has absolutely nothing to do with anybody here. I'm sure anger management counseling would go a long way with this clown. Well my real life identity is I'm a teacher / computer network guy... if this guy continues to slam HFC, it is possible to track his IP address. By default, most web servers (at least the two most popular ones Apache and IIS) will log IP addresses of all traffic. Once you have the IP address of the poster, you find the geographical location and ISP. ISP (Internet Service Providers) are "assigned" IP ranges so it's easy to identify geographical location and ISP. However, ISP of course will not disclose the information easily. You would need to involve some kind of court order or police I imagine. I never had to go that far to track an IP address. Even if the ISP only overs dynamic IP addresses (ones that change regularly) they will still keep track of who uses what IP address at what time / date range. Usually the ISP will also detect / log the physical or MAC address of the computer that is using that IP address. We had a couple of incidents involving students posting suicide-type messages and online bullying that we actually had to involve police to track down owners of IP addresses. I was SHOCKED at how fast they were able to identify who was involved.

You know certain cars are red only (Ferrari), and certain guitars should be black only. This is one of them. Black Blitz's rule!

Shout - Motley Cruuue!

I'm a little biased because I live here but IMHO the food here is awesome because we're so multi-cultural here. I mean, where I live, you can get Pizza, East Indian, German, Japanese and Italian ON THE SAME CITY BLOCK! There are tons of Japanese joints that offer all-you-can-eat for roughly $18-$24 (cheaper ones too but quality suffers). Shabusen is different because for that price it includes a Korean BBQ. This is an extremely popular restauraunt. If you're say, coming with the Mrs. and want to catch some shopping and culture, don't forget to check out Stanley Park. It's a beautiful park that is city-run so most of the stuff is free or very reasonably priced. It's like our little Central Park. For shopping, I DO NOT recommend Metrotown / Metropolis (same mall). They boast 450 shops but it's all indoors and boring cloths and shoes. It's like moving from booth-to-booth. I always wonder why tourists flock to malls when on vacation. If you're looking for shopping and catch some culture, then try Robson street. Start at the east end (where the Art Gallery is) and walk all the way westward until the street ends at Dennman. Again, lots of shopping like clothes and shoes, but also some really cool high-end restauraunts, bristros and stuff along the way. A very cool walk. When you get to Dennman, walk all the way UP Dennman towards English Bay. Dennman is extremely cool as it has some really unique shops (like a designer condom shop, a cupcake shop) and some some really neat ma-and-pa restauraunts. Everything from do-it-yourself Thai noodle shop to a British Pub. When you get to the end of Dennman, you have a choice. Go to English Bay for a nice walk around the water front which is really cool. Or head down Davie street. Davie street is known as the "gay" part of town but has some really cool stuff as well. Another famous eat on Davie street is a Greek restauraunt called Stephos ... known for their $10 Souvalki that peple cannot finish. Other cool city-walks are Granville street on the downtown side. This is a rougher part of town that has things like pawn shops and sex shops but it's not "sleezy" if that makes any sense. Whats neat there is that there are a number of rock shops where you can buy your rock star stuff like bracelets, rings, leather jean jackets, Slash top hats haha... And on the "west end" side of Granville street across the bridge is like artsy-fartsy side of the city where there are lots of funriture and fine-art galleries, artists, art studios and stiff. This is where Shabusen is located and it's a fun walk with unique restauraunts and stuff. Granville Island is very cool and not a tourist trap. Oh, did I mention? DO NOT LET ANYONE DRAG YOU TO CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGEI This is the biggest joke in the city as they practically shove their pamphlets down your throat. That being said, the entire Capilano / Grouse mountain area in North Vancouver is very cool and gives you a real snapshop of what natural BC is really like. It's just the Capilano Suspension Bridge is a total ripoff. There is a fish hatchery there which is free, the Capilano Damn and watershed is cool, and so is Grouse Mountain. However Grouse mountain is a commercial company ... they charge a pretty decent price to ride their Gondola up the mountain and access their stuff. But generally, most people find it worth the time and money. If you're in good shape, there is the Grouse Grind, a ~3.5K steep uphill hike up the mountain. If you can do it, you get in for free and just pay $5 for the Gondola ride down the mountain. It's really not that hard, I am not in good shape at all and I can do it in about 1.25 hours breaking a sweat. I can probably it it in 1hr 45 min no sweat. And in the same area, a few minutes drive is the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge - you'll find all the locals here. That's where we go... edit: how the hell did I forget this? Walk down historic Water street - original cobblestone roads, light posts and brick. Lots of neat stuff. This will take you to the train station central where the bus station, skytrain, and seabus meet as well as there is the Vancouver Convention Center and Cruise ship terminal. All very cool. Take the seabus across the water to Lonsdale Quay and spend a couple hours there.

Whoa dem's fightin' words! [exit forum left]

Damn, sounds like my kind of place! Seriously, after spending 7 years in Alaska, if I ever wanted to go back, it would be to B.C. Gorgeous! Take a camera and lots of film or memory cards! Yea and that's $24 Canadian Pesos!

You'll love Vancouver, it's a beautiful city ... small and cozy. Ok as a Vancouver guy here's my list: I can't say much about the music business here, we've been taken hostage by two big Walmart-like music stores that put the Ma and Pa shops out of business. That's too bad because that also took out our one and only Hamer dealer. But among the cooler shops are Not Just Another Music Store - exactly as the name suggests http://www.njams.net/show/contact Rufus guitars - small shop, cool gear http://rufusguitarshop.com/contact.html And if you must, there's the mega-stores Long and McQuade and Tom Lee. But just your typical Fender, Gibson and related gear. Nothing really interesting. Non music related: DO NOT GO TO CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE! It's $30 to get in and a total tourist trap. Go to Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge, it's free because it's government run and way cooler. Go on a nice sunny day. Shabusen is a cool place to eat. $24 all-you-can-eat Sushi AND Korean BBQ. Reservations pretty much needed. Don't think you're going to walk in and find a seat. http://www.shabusen.com/

Haha, I only have the one and a couple of interesting ones now (hey, I am "Always Broke" after all) but you have to start somewhere, right? As a less than orthodox business person, I think now is the time to BUY, 'cause it sure ain't time to sell... Only one? I think you've reached your posting limit for today. Forum admins? Help pls.

Hey welcome.... Yea I was a long time reader too ... with only two Hamers at the time I didn't feel worthy of posting anything! But as you know, peeps here are really cool and helpful.

I have a confession too: I like my solid state amp Ibanez SZ (sold)

Can we vote for best thread of the year? haha this one would be up there! ... a guitar pron fetish thread!~! (past favorites are when someone asked for help for a 80's cover band name)

This thread is very humbling! I'm surprised at how many people leave straps on their guitar when not being played, I've snapped head-stocks off my Hamer by doing that. Maybe I'm just clumbsy...

You mean the USA lineup? Don't they still have some MIK shredders in the lineup?Vai's Chapp is pretty cool. Yea very cool, looks like it got really regular use before Ibanez got their hands on the guy. What I mean is a decent Hamer USA super-strat style guitar. I mean solid color, no fancy top, full floater, dot inlays, 24 frets - a work horse. Reasonably priced - < $2000 ... But clearly that's not where the Jol wants to take the company. That's cool I mean, it's just my own personal wishlist.

Actually that's one of the reasons why I really like using Hamer - the brand name hasn't been pigeon-holded into any one artist or style. I really respect that Hamer doesn't hound these high profile artists and force them to use their gear. (Even though I really wish they kept a good affordable shredder in their current lineup)

Not the biggest Vai fan but stumbled upon this pic: http://www.vai.com/Machines/guitarpages/guitar096.html Cool!