The Joy of a Quality Guitar

Yesterday was a great day for many reasons. First I got to spend a relaxing day with my gorgeous wife A. Second I got to tie up a bunch of loose ends before my surgery this Tuesday and last but not least I go to do some amp comparisons for my next purchase. I already have some really incredible amps a Fender Champion 600,  a Fender Super Champ XD and a Fender M80 Bass combo. I went in and was looking at several different amps. The Fender Bassman 59, the Fender Blues Jr, the Fender Deluxe VM and a Peavey Classic 30. I am a huge Fender man and the first to admit it, but I was impressed with the Peavey. Fantastic sound and build. I took my favorite Tele my 2009 Honey Blonde Highway 1 Telecaster because it is just such a fantastic guitar. From the incredible ALNICO V pickups to the nitro finish this is one amazing guitar. Well, I was truly amazed at how great it sounded in the Peavey...but when I plugged into the Fender amps, I was blown away! I will be honest, I was totally drawn in by the Deluxe VM. My Tele just shines through that amp! Now alot of finding tone is in the amp the other huge part is the guitar. My Tele is just an amazing guitar. I did some minor adjustments on it based on my style and taste but Fender really hit the ball out of the park with this one!! So it is easy to play when you have a quality guitar! Play on!
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Some serious down time

Well, on August 3rd, I will be going under the knife to get my shoulder and bicep repaired. The Doctor said that I will have my right arm strapped across my chest for 8 weeks. So, I am sure that not being able to play will give me more time to write and to heal up. Lately I have been putting a lot of playing time on my new Strat Olympic. I must say it is an amazing guitar and feels more like a custom shop guitar than a mass produced guitar. The action is low the neck plays like butter and the sound is absolutely gorgeous. I will admit, I am missing my Teles and will have to put some time on them prior to the surgery. Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a better week!
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Olympic has arrived!

Well, yesterday the little brown truck arrived with my new guitar. It is a 2010 Fender Standard Strat in Lake Placid Blue. Being from upstate and planning on retiring not too far from Lake Placid the name Olympic seemed fitting! Thanks A for this gorgeous work of art!
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NGD (New Guitar Day)

I must admit, I am a guitar addict! To make matters worse...my Awesome wife A lets me be one, heck she even encourages me to be one LOL. Tomorrow the latest addition to my collection will arrive. It is a 2010 Fender Stratocaster in Lake Placid Blue. I chose a Maple neck and standard single coil pickups. I am now able to cover  every possible sound I want with my collection!! Thanks A! You are awesome!
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Farewell to my Little Friend!

This week was a very difficult week. Our beloved cat Patch had a stroke and we had to put him to sleep. many folks say well, he was a cat what is the big deal? I have to sit back and think about what  they mean before I reply. I then say, he was more than just a cat. Patch was in many ways like a son, a best friend and a buddy. He was originally my wife's cat for 7 years before I came into the picture. He was A's protector, friend and warming blanket :) When I came into the picture, he basically chose me to be A's man. From the moment I first laid eyes on him I fell in love with this little guy. He had one eye, he was skittish around strangers and he would hide under the couch until he got to know you. Not long after A and I were dating I had to have surgery on my elbow. Well, as I was recovering at A's place old Patch would climb up on the couch and ever so gently lay down with me so as not to disturb me or hurt me. If I was feeling pain he would give me little kisses and a sweet meow to let me know he was trying to make me feel better. There are so many memories I have with him that I could write a book. I just feel very blessed to have been a part of his life and to have been loved by this sweet little guy. We were with him to the very end at the Vet's. It was such a painful thing yet it was beautiful for him to have us with him knowing we were there as he slipped on to a better place. He knew he was loved and will be sorely missed. So to my little guy , Patch, we miss you and love you. You made us all better cats! The world is a little colder with out you here my little Patchie boy!
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Challenges of Trans-Atlantic Recording

I have to admit, I am very blessed to have my own studio in which I can write and record just about anything that I want. Two friends of mine are in Belfast Ireland in a fantastic band called Buckfast at Tiffany's and I am working with them recording a song called  "All Along Alone". I am recording a bass line for them and then sending it back across the Atlantic to them. One of the issues that we have run into is the nut on my Bass cracking and me having to make a new one. Now, that has put our recording schedule back a few days. Then add to this the delay in knowing if the bass line is good or not...LOL can make for some interesting times ahead. I won't post the finished product here because it would not be fair to my friends Kevin and Sean who wrote the song. However, once it is on iTunes I will let everyone know.
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New Addition to the Guitar Family

Well, as all of you know I am very lucky to be married to my wonderful wife A. She has been not only my wife,lover, buddy and best friend. A, has been my biggest supporter in any and everything that I do. For our 6th Anniversary A bought me a beautiful 2010 Gretsch G5120 Electromatic Hollow body Guitar! Being a dyed in the wool Fender guy, I didn't feel guilty because Gretsch is under the FMIC family. Let me tell you this guitar is tonal heaven. It plays like butter! The action is so very easy and the neck is fast and silky smooth! I must say, I am having a fantastic time playing her. The sound of a Gretsch is amazing. The lows are sweet and resonant and the highs are bell like almost angelic. When I plug her in...wow!!! Even sweeter! I am so very lucky to have a wife who loves me so much and encourages me to pursue my music in the way I wish. Thank you A. I so love you!!
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