Fender Friday

Well, today was the last Fender Friday at Musician's Friend. It was a great way for folks to get a high quality Fender guitar at really crazy price. It is a sad thing but then again they never had to do it in the first place. I never took advantage of it but I feel sorry for the guys who were saving and hoping to pick up a new guitar at the bargain price. There is a bright side to this story. American Musical Supply is really good about beating prices. If Musicians Friend gives 20% off AMS will give you 25%..so it is still within your reach to get a quality Fender! I hope that this helps all those looking for a beautiful Fender Tele.
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Records

I remember a time when a band would start, work hard and dream of getting a record deal. I remember being in 2 bands that were very promising. Both of these bands had our own special sound. One was back in the mid 80's before I went into the Army. Great group of guys all talented all combining several different musical tastes and styles into a really sharp unique sound. We played out alot and got really good. We even got a record deal...and then...the band fell apart. The second band was when I had gone back to college. We were really good. Our style was defined as "Rocking Cow Punk with undertones of Blues". This time we went further, we played everywhere...we had a huge following and we recorded an album...then...the band fell apart. Our lead singer got "God" and left. No hard feelings...understand..too cool...we found a new singer..no go. We lost the dynamic of our guy. Today's musicians are so lucky. They no longer have to deal with trying to get a record deal. With a minimum investment of a few thousand dollars you can buy a multitrack digital studio. This studio will have effects and capabilities that rival the big studios of Nashville, NY and LA. With a little studying of the gear some hard work and some good songs today's musicians can make a record without the problems of the past...the record labels.  I am one of those guys now who has a full service studio. I am so lucky because anytime I feel the urge to record, I just go down stairs into my studio, turnon the recording light and create my music. What a wonderful world we live in.
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The Greatest Team in Baseball...The New York Yankees

Tonight I got the thrill of watching the Yankees with their 27th World Series Championship. In my opinion they are the epitome of baseball. I am thrilled to see another trophy back in our beloved New York! Congrats to the Yankees and all Yankees Fans!!!
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Tele care and Relic guitars

It is amazing at how we value different things. I have always been the type that takes care of the things I have and try an prolong the life of them. I have always tried to keep my guitars in pristine condition. I clean them regularly and have gone as far as to have the Fender Guitar cleaning kit. It has an assortment of waxes and polishes and misters to really give your guitar's finish a nice luster and also protect them. I also learned how to set up my guitars. This is great because it not only saves me from taking them and paying someone else $50 twice a year, it is a way to  prevent any issues further down the road. So the long and short, I love my guitars to look exactly as they did the day I got them out of the box. I can't help but laugh at the guys who buy the same guitar as I have...but get the Road worn or relic'd guitars. It is sad to see that people are so fake and have to buy a brand new guitar and I mean new...not one that is vintage and beat up from years of being played. These guys say that they like the look and feel of these guitars. I say..get off your duff and really play..go out and gig that is how your guitar will be relic'd. I am sorry for the rant, but this new generation wants everything handed to them and do not know the value of hard work to attain your goals.
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Bring on the Twang

It is amazing the differences between the vintage and modern bridges on my Teles. My first tele is a 2009 Fender Standard Telecaster. It has the modern bridge...six individual adjustable saddles. Each saddle can be intoned and height adjusted seperately. This makes setting up your guitar very simple and easy. It also give a long sustain to the guitar. The draw back...it is really big...and  in my opinion it takes away from the astetics  of the guitar. No longer is there the clean simple lines of a Tele. Now, don't get me wrong, I do love this bridge. The amount of sustain that the guitar has makes it really great for soloing and classic rock. My second Tele is a 2009 Fender Highway 1 Telecaster. This has the vintage 3 barrel bridge, grease bucket tone circutry and nitrocellulose finish. The vintage 3 barrel compensated bridge, now that is a masterpiece of engineering. Each barrel has 2 strings on it, and one intonation screw and two height adjustment screws. Setting the intonation and action on this for some is a mystery....but after a few times of working through the process...it is actually pretty easy and in alot of ways alot of fun. This bridge gives the Tele its signature TWANG...that very distinctive sound that no other guitar can emulate, immitate, reproduce. To take it a step further...add brass barrels and you are in Twangville USA. In fact it is so twang and bright that some folks find that they have to roll off the tone on the guitar and the highs on their amps to tame it down. Personally as a die hard Teleman...I say bring on the Twang!!
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Dacks has arrived

Well, after much anticipation my new Fender Highway 1 Tele arrived today. I have decided to name her Dacks(short for Adirondacks) after the region where we will retire on our farm. The friendly UPS guy dropped her off when I was at physical therapy(torn rotator cuff). Needless to say as I was driving home and I saw thew UPS driver pass by me on our street I was really excited. I kind of tortured myself by not opening the package until after I took A to the jewelry store to get her engagement ring cleaned and repaired. Once we got back home A was so sweet and told me to open her up. Well, Dacks is even more beautiful than I had imagined. When I took her down into my studio and plugged her into my Super Champ and just rolled some volume on...man oh man did she sound awesome. I can't wait to do some serious playing and recording this weekend!! Seeing how it is Veterans Day weekend it will be nice...a long weekend to play and record...and A will be crafting and our beloved Holly will try and make up her mind on who she wants to be with. I am so excited to get back home to the North country that we love so much and play with everyone I can up there!! Play well and post more tomorrow.
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Anticipation

Well, thursday my gorgeous wife ordered my new Fender Highway 1 Telecaster for me. It is Honey Blonde, maple neck, 3 saddle bridge and the Grease Bucket tone control. I am excited...kind of like a kid at Christmas. It is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow..and to make it even more sweet...I am off from work. I still couldn't believe that A ordered it for me. I have told her that I really don't need anymore guitars now. I have my one Tele which I call Brooklyn...my Strat and now this new Highway 1 Tele. It is so funny how as a grown man I am like a little kid waiting for this guitar to get here...I guess the old addage you never grow old is true. Thank you A!!! Not just for the gorgeous new guitar but for loving me the way you do...it keeps me young!
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