Abaco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vSvsVDbzSA Some vintage footage of one of my favorite guitarists. Robben owns.

I disagree. It's full of contradictions, the most glaring of which is the desire for cheap American-made products. Which do you want? Cheap or American made? The two don't typically go together. Part of the issue here: the American dollar has been crushed. Different subject, I know. But, the dollar simply doesn't go as far as it did when we were kids. I really love my Hamers. When I show up at a gig or jam I'm the only guy there playing one. Everybody else is playing Gibsons or Fenders. Man...it's hard to find a decent Les Paul. So many I've plucked off of racks have poor fit and finish, some with twisted necks. The last one I pulled had a twisted neck and the assembler at the factory had wound the strings around the locking machine posts. (?)

Aren't ESPs crapolla? I haven't played one, and am just going on what one local luthier mentioned to me a few years ago. They look cool.

That's great! My boy's not quite big enough to hold the guitar yet so he holds it across his lap like Jeff Healey.

Sorry for your loss. That must be very tough.

Yeah, Merry Christmas to the nices group of guitar brand enthusiasts on the web.

Here I am having fun with a beautiful guitar. This was taken by Bill Frates - a GREAT photographer and hell of a nice guy. Taken By Rock Image Oh, and here's one that Bill took when the one and only Joey Alves came to a rehearsal and jammed with us. Joey is a fan! Joey Lookin Good

That's terrible. Man, that guys voice has brought me such joy over the years.

Joe Bonamassa ...nuf said. I'm out.

Congrats and welcome. Hamer guitars are really cool!!! And, the group of this forum are the best you'll find. It's a great club.

I'm late reading this thread. Those photos are very nice. Best wishes to you and yours. Man, that's just great!

I play a whole bunch of Y&T material on the Studio Custom - but much of Y&T's earlier stuff was recorded with the Les Paul. I like the Evolution in the bridge of the Studio. It really makes for a rockin guitar. The 59 is sweet in the neck too. I set the action pretty low and have the necks pretty straight. They almost play themselves. The tone is wonderful. I know a couple shredder players and they all play the Ibanezes. I like how those play but often don't like the tone of your typical Ibanez shredder. Most of these guys are running them through racks and all kinds of junk and that actually seems to help.

Prince tried to fit in with Nugent's band but it just didn't work out....

Dave Meniketti Volker Striffler Robben Ford Slash John Sykes I don't know if this is really "of all time", but they certainly come to mind...

Sorry for your loss. Keep your chin up my man.

Oh yeah? Eddie's problems seem to be self-induced, but I don't know the man. And...I'm a fan. But, who would pity somebody who had so much? I agree that those crappy little clips don't mean much.

Yeah, this is what I did at the last jam I played at. We only played one 1/4/5 out of the 3 tunes we played and the crowd was very appreciative. We didn't rehearse, though. I just burned discs for my buddies (who are also busy as hell) and we each just learned the tunes on our own and got up and played with no rehearsal. Hell, the 3 guys I had join me had never met each other until I got them up on stage with me - pretty fun. There's also something to be said for getting up with a few other guys you never met and playing - that can be ok too. Also, if you're one who'd quick to be critical you'll either totally hate open jams or toally love them, depending on how sick you are. I just go to blues jams for the love of the music, basically. I'm in a hard rock band that blows the roof off of the clubs we play...but I appreciate blues music. My wife keeps bugging me to start a blues band.....

Well, my approach is that I'll plug into any amp, play anything I can, and try to play things I can't....just contribute to the jam. I have no problem not playing any lead guitar in a song. I'll sing if needed (something I started working on so that I could play more guitar - and it worked) and am happy to not sing. I'll do whatever is required. I don't even have an amp I can bring to these things - as my gig rig is a half stack (not applicable). But, I think I'm going to look for a decent combo amp I can carry with me in case it's needed. I only bring a tuner so I'm tuned up when I step on the state. Just give me a cable to plug into my guitar and I'm ready. On the bright side, this jam is supposed to be hosted by a really cool guy who happened to be out sick. He does a great job of keeping jams open. So, these hosts were subs. I haven't given up on it yet, especially with it being so close to home. I just enjoy getting up with different musicians and trying to make something that doesn't sound like shit. I kinda solved these problems with another jam I recently attended where, after clearing it with the host, I showed up with 3 of my buddies and we played a 3-song set as a band. We got up first, tore the roof off the place with something other than a 1-4-5 and sat down to sip our beers while watching other jammers. It was a great night and the friends who joined me want to do it again sometime. I always thought that jams shouldn't be gigs. That's where I think I've been an idiot. The lady sitting at my table had massive jugs. Her face looked 70 and her body looked 25. I found that interesting, yet haunting. Does meth do that?

I decided to go to the local Blues Society weekly jam for the first time last night. It's about 5 minutes from my house so I had real hope. I got there about 8:30 and was shocked that I was the 3rd guy on the signup sheet, and the first one who would do vocals so I figured I'd get right up and be home and in bed at a decent time. I get up at 5:00 every morning - so I'm pretty un-rockin. Anyway, I sat through 3 compete sets of different musicians. A few of the host band musicians stayed up through at least 2 sets. At least 6 or 7 musicians who happen to be friends of the host guys got welcomed up on stage without ever signing up. At about 10:00 I just headed home. Maybe I'm smelly or just suck. But, I really get tired of these "open jams" that really aren't open at all. Are blues musicians as hard up as the rock musicians I know? Fuck. I feel like a niave moron. Several of these guys are pros and I realize they must just be using this jam for face time to help land more gigs. I just show up to enjoy playing the blues - a genuine zen approach to the music. I'm a fucking idiot, I guess.

That Fulltone Fulldrive is a very nice sounding pedal.

I demand that you show me more pictures! Also, what pickups do you have in there? -Austin I need to take more pictures of this one. It's got a Dimarzio Evolution in the bridge and the stock SD 59 in the neck. Really a great guitar!

Black tiger!

Thanks for the input. I've read too many reviews from guys who wanted to play their Marshall half-stacks in their appartments and were disapointed with these - haha. In my case, I still need gig volume - just a little less of it at times. My amp is a Marshally thing - a Modern Vintage 50W head into a Mesa Recto 4x12. Really a great sounding rig for what we're playing. Can't say enough about this Modern Vintage head... Thanks again.

Curious if anybody here has used one of these things. Once in a while our band plays a venue that's small enough that I need to turn down. It's surprising how much a little reduction in volume makes in the tone of my amp. Wondering if these things are any good.

Excellent, Kiz. Funny chit. Yeah...Nashville.... "Honey, I'm on a mission from God."