The Great Canadian Prairie

In my new position with the Canadian Army I had the unique opportunity to travel out to CFB Wainwright in Alberta province. It was almost like going back in time to be out on the prairie and not see another car driving down the road, no houses, no people just wide open spaces in it's purest form. I was so enthralled by the beauty of the country. The wild life was gorgeous. I saw moose, wolves, coyote and elk. One of the most beautiful areas was where part of the film "Open Range" was shot. There were Aspen stands by the river and the a sky of indigo blue the day I was there. This was an amazing time. What does this have to do with playing my Tele...nothing...but who cares.
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A new Home, a new Town and a New Studio

Well, we are in Kingston and we are settled in to our new home in lovely Canada. I have to admit that our new home is beautiful and my new studio is amazing. It is huge with plenty of room for all my guitars and basses to be out in their stands instead of in their cases! A's sewing room is beautiful with a nice view of Lake Ontario. We are still fine tuning our individual rooms but that is half of the fun. Seeing A set up her sewing machines and all her materials and threads was such a joy because she so deserves this and has been so supportive of what I do and my music. Next big adventure is getting our retirement home set up and then enjoying life at a much easier pace. Well, I am going to sign off for now but will post again soon.
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The Excitement is Mounting! But I will miss my boys!

Well, we got our orders yesterday and I have been in a flury of action getting the movers, making sure all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed! In just 2 short weeks our new adventure and a major change in our life will take place. There are so many things which need to be done and people to see and things at work that even though are no longer my responsibility I feel this twinge of guilt because I was on such a great team of professionals! I look back on my time here in the Armor School with many fond memories of my Soldiers who gave every bit of themselves to the job and mission. From my boss George who always made me look at both sides of the arguement, to my brother from another mother Frank who was passionate about what we do but yet quick with a smile. Ski with his dry sense of humor and his total love of the Army and tanks. My buddy Harvey with his thoughtful responses to everything. His mentorship and friendship andother true professional who takes pride in being a Tanker. To my SGM Greg, a friend who I served with in Germany back in the 80s. One of those old school NCOs who like all my NCOs puts the Soldiers first! And last but not least Alex. The guy who never gets mad, always cracks a joke or pulls me back from the edge when I am too close to an issue or project. I shall miss these fine men and friends who have challenged me to be a better Officer a better Soldier through their example. But, as with all things in the Army we have moments like this over a career and that is what makes us appreciate the good men we work with!
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Happy Canada Day!

Being an upstater, Canada was only a short drive away from where I grew up an a country that has always held a special place in my heart! Today is Canada Day! In a few short weeks A and I will embark on one of the biggest honors I have ever been given. I will be serving for a 3 year period as an Exchange Officer in the Canadian Army. I am so excited for this amazing opportunity to serve with not only aliies but brothers to the north. So far we have been so very well received by the Canadian Army when I was doing my orientation back at the beginning of June. So on this very special day for our adopted home, I say happy canada Day and we can't wait to come "home". Have a great Holiday weekend everyone!
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Moving!!

Today I got the call I have been anticipating our orders are coming this week posting us to Canada! needless to say A and I have been really excited all evening. In preparation for this I have slowly started to pack up Indian River Studio for the move. it is amazing how much incredible gear I have. I was looking at all the boxes of amps and guitars and gear that I have has made me realize just how lucky I am to have such a supportive wife who truly love my craft as a musician and song writer. It was a rather sad moment packing up all my gear because I love playing and using it. Even though it is only a couple weeks where it will be in boxes it is still hard to not have it out and on hand so I can record whenever I want. I do look forward to this new assignment because while we are up in Canada the final home for Indian River Studios will be built. The plans are drawn up and soon we will be breaking ground on this wonderful new home where A and I will live and enjoy my music and her incredible sewing! So for now, have a great evening and we will be back on soon!
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Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty Blues Edition 1st Report

Well, on friday the man in the brown truck dropped off my new G-DEC! I had a funny feeling from the moment I got the package in the house until I got the amp unpacked and plugged in that this was no ordinary amp. From the moment I turned it on and saw the soft blue glow from the information screen to the first notes I played the experience only got better! There are 100 factory presets of classic Fender amps. The quality of these patches is first class! Then there are the 100 backing tracks which you can play along to. Again, Fender really did an amazing job getting some of the most elite artists and having them record the tracks. I then hooked up the amp to my computer and started to fool around with the Fender Fuse software. This is where it gets really interesting. I was able to manipulate the software in the amp to make my own settings and then rename them. Now the information screen has my named patches. Talk about a totally custom amp!! The amp comes with all the associated DVDs and software packages(Fender Fuse, Amplitude Fender LE amp modeling software and Ableton Live Lite 8 Fender Edition recording software) I will post more as I delve deeper into this amazing amp. As always to my amazing wife A, Thank you for  such amazing gear! I love you!
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New Tool in the Sonic Arsenal!

Well, what can i say? I have a wife who spoils me! The latest tool coming into my studio is a new Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty Blues Edition. I tried one out a while back and really liked the freedom it gave me in terms of not needing a band. With this little amp you can load your backing tracks onto an SD card and go play live. The great thing is no band drama and consistent performance. I am also looking forward to the capabilities that this amp brings wiht the Fender Fuse software. I will be able to manipulate the sound of my amp and also build the set list effects so I do not have to do the pedal dance when playing. Once the amp arrives I will post pics and also give a full report on it's pros and cons. Until then see you later sports fans! To my gorgeous wife A, once again you spoil me more than I deserve! Thank you babe! I love you!

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The Great Tone/Volume Knob Debate

As I was flying back from Kingston Ontario the other day I was listening to one of my favorite guitarists Jeff Beck. I was appreciating how he uses his volume and tone knobs so well to further accentuate his music. While I am not anywhere near the calibur of player that Jeff Beck is, I find that I am much more comfortable using an expression pedal. I tend to make small adjustments with the tone and volume knobs when playing> I think that the main reason for this is because I use the expression pedal for big swells. I will also admit that it is also because I am not good at using the volume knob for swells while picking. Some of the forum "friends" I have tease me because while they are very well vresed in the volume knob swells, they can't do an expression pedal swell to save their lives. So, to sum it all up as an incredible player I know once said..."It's all good"!

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A performance report on my Fender Road Worn 50s Telecaster

Well, I have now had my RW Tele for a week. In that time I have had the opportunity to go over this beautiful instrument from head to toe. The relic job is in my opinon very well done. The places where the great Fender craftsmen did the relicing are flawless. it really looks and feels like normal wear and tear on the guitar. The hardware relicing is also first rate. The fit of all components is perfect. I could not find a single thing wrong with the fretwork. The intonation was right on. I did not have to make any adjustments. I did make a slight adjustment to the height of the strings but found no fret buzz what so ever. The next thing was to plug her in. This is where I really fell in love with this guitar. The Tex-Mex pickups are in a word incredible! The neck pickup is as smooth as silk and has an angelic quality to it. I was able to make this guitar sing! I felt like a kid at Christmas! New tones, new adventures! Then I went to the bridge pickup and well...had my hair blown back by the tone and sheer aggressiveness of it. I was able to go from twang machine to a roaring monster with just the turn of the volume knob on my guitar. I have not been able to put this guitar down. Both plugged in and unplugged this guitar sounds gorgeous. It is begging to be played. Yes, I used to be a skeptic of the whole reliced guitar thing. Then one day when my gorgeous wife A was in one of her classes I went to my local guitar store to try out some amps and happened to play a Blonde RW Tele. I was impressed with it. And now as Paul harvey would say ' That is the rest of the story" A, as always I can't tell you enough just how much I love you and also how blessed I am to have someone who believes in me and my music like you do! I love you!To everyone else have a great weekend!

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New Guitar Day!!!

Well, my new Fender Road Worn 50'sTelecaster arrived today! Nothing like coming home after a good hard day at the office to see my beautiful wife and our gorgeous little yellow Lab. To make it even better if that was possible...a nice box with Fender on the outside! so I get this little beauty out of the packaging and then have to set her in the stand to acclimate. Once everything was ready...and believe me that 3 hour wait was tough..LOL I tuned her up and plugged in to one of my Fender amps. All I can say is amazing!! The Tex-Mex pickups are really fantastic. I put her through her paces and she is one amazing guitar. Since we are being posted to Canada for the next 3 years and this is a dream assignment and a dream guitar she is being named Kingston! I just want to thank my amazing wife A, for supporting me in everything I do and inspiring me to play music and write/record again. You are my inspiration and my whole world! Hope everyone has a great night!

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Another Tele Coming soon!!

Hey, after all my blog is about Telecasters so what do you expect?? My gorgeous wife once again is spoiling me with another Tele. This time the new addition is a 50s Road Worn Tele in 2 tone sunburst. I am really excited because this one has the vintage appointments and the Tex-Mex pickups! I will be honest, I used to be against relicing a new guitar, but now after having had the chance to play a couple I get it. The broken in feel is really nice and then there is the added bonus of not worrying about any nicks or dings because it already has them. So shortly the new addition will be here.  I do want to Thank my awesome wife A, because she spoils me when it comes to everything and I am a really lucky man to be married to her because of who she is! I love you A! I will take some pictures and post them! Until then...here is one for you!
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Headed to the Great White North!!

Well, after 25 years in the Army somewhere, somehow I have managed to make someone confident enough in my abilities and I have been given the honor of being an Army Exchange Officer to the Canadian Army. I am  excited because not only are we given this wonderful opportunity, we will be able to build our dream home and the  home of Indian River Studios will be built! I am still so grateful to my amazing wife A, because she has been so supportive of my profession and never has complained with some of the less than desirable  postings we have had. This, in my opinion is a huge reward for her because now she will finally be able to have her own home not an apartment like she has lived(she is after all from NYC :) ) There will be many pictures posted and when the studio is open a ton of great music coming from it! have a great weekend all!

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Indian River Studio South is closed!

Well, sometimes things happen for a reason, good bad....there is a reason. This past weekend we had a ton of bad weather here in the south well low and behold...my studio got flooded. Being in the military we move around alot and in my current assignment we have been living in a beautiful old home on FT Benning. Unfortunately with old homes comes old plumbing. On our particular street whenever there is a heavy rain the sewer backs up into the basement bathroom and in turn flooded out my studio!! The good news is that I was able to move my gear out prior to any of the water getting to it. Seeing how we will be moving to Canada in a few months I have decided to close Indian River Studio South until we get up to canada and are able to build the permenant Indian River Studio in our Adirondack Mountain home. In the mean time I will mainly do guitar overdubs on "Detroit". Once we are set up in the north I will hopefully get the vocals done and post it for all to enjoy. I hope everyone has a great week and will post again soon!

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Technology

I have been playing guitar for the better part of 35 years now and I have to admit, sometimes I miss the old days of plugging in and playing. In my studio Indian River, I have a vast array of new gear. I am amazed at how I can sit there by myself and in a few hours accomplish what used to take days and in some cases weeks in the past. I do not need any bandmates with the magic of plug ins(drums, keyboards, etc), this does however lead to a sense of boredom at times. I made the switch to going total digital in my set up. It is fun not to have to worry about tape machine heads lined up or cleaning them or splicing tape all the things I used to do in the past when recording. I do miss the days when you basically would use a little reverb and maybe some compression on your guitars. When I play live I generally use only reverb and maybe a little chorus but other than that I am not a fan of a ton of signal processing. My latest piece of equipment is the Presonus Faderport. This one piece of equipment is the size of a small notebook and can do the same amount of work as the old 24 channel consoles. I have to say I really love it and don't know how I ever worked with out it! It does look kind of strange seeing only one long throw fader instead of 24 or more. Again, I am amazed at how technology has made me my own band.