Post Thanksgiving daze

Yesterday was a really great post Thanksgiving day time. My wife, A and her mother were doing their crafty sewing masterpieces(an awesome pillow set for our nephew). I was in the studio all day finishing up a new song called "Brooklyn". It was a very productive day yet one filled with new discoveries. As anyone who reads this blog can tell I love my Fender Teles. I was trying to get this one harmony part on the song recorded and just could not get the sound I had in my head. So, what do I do? I put down my Tele and pick up my Strat and take a pass at the song. Well, I have to say that the sound I was looking for was defenitely not going to come from my Strat. After several more futile attempts with my Strat I finally put her down. I went back and picked up my HWY 1 Tele named Dacks and well after some minor tweaking of my amp I have the exact tone I was looking for. Now all that is left is to add some drums and strings and Brooklyn will be ready for mastering!! The old saying is true, you can always come home!
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Thanksgiving

Well, it is that time again. Folks are traveling, everyone has a few days off and Turkeys are scared for their lives..:) Tomorrow is more than just about food football and days off. It is more a celebration and giving thanks for life. Think about all the things in life that you have and think about how lucky you are. I for one think of my wife A and how very blessed I am to have her and even to know her. She gives me a reason to be thankful everyday because she is such a wonderful wife, friend , soulmate but most important person. I am thankful for this great country we live in, for the gorgeous home we now own and will retire to and just enjoy life. I am also thankful for the gift of making music. What a true gift it is. I live a charmed life...in my opinion and am most thankful for A! Happy Thanksgiving my friends!!

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Studio Design

It is an exciting time for me right now. We have my wonderful mother in law down for a Thanksgiving visit..:), I am really lucky because I have a fantastic relationship with her. We have our gorgeous property in the North Country and are going to be selecting our final home design soon and last but not least..I have finalized my Studio design for Indian River Recorders.The control room is going to be 15 x 20 with a 10X10 machine room area. The main room is 20X30 and the iso booth is 10X10. The great part is that this will be a full service studio out in the country where there are no distractions and an artist can concentrate on their music. I am excited to just be able to bring this to the North Country. I will post some schematics sometime in the near future.
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Tribute to Jim Campilongo

I consider myself to be a humble small town guitar player. I have had some success as a guitarist and as an engineer. I left that job many years ago to serve my country in the Army. I have started back to writing and playing much more than I had in years. I attribute this to my wife. A, has been the inspiration for my playing and writing. She supports it and always encourages me to play, write and record. One of my Tele heroes is Jim Campilongo. Jim is an incredible guitar player who's work I really enjoy. Jim is a world famous guitarist who is such a musical influence that Fender is actually making a signature model Telecaster after his. One would think that with all this success and fame he could just blow off people. Not Jim! I recently wrote a song called "Brooklyn". I have been recording bits and pieces trying to get it just right. One thing I have been looking for is the tone, that perfect setting to really make this song shine. I heard the tone on one of Jim's songs "Dagger Through My Heart". I emailed him asking him a few simple questions on settings..what does he do, Jim sends his producer an email asking how they recorded the song so I could try and get the same tone. This is a true gentleman. He has answered every email I have ever sent him. He doesn't have to do that, but he does! Why, you ask? Well, it is because Jim is a really great man and artist! Jim, Thanks to you my friend!
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Christmas Music???

Ok, I am one of those guys who loves Christmas. I love everything about it with one exception...it is November 17th today....why am I hearing Christmas songs on the radio??? I am a traditionalist and believe that you don't put out Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving and you definetely don't start the Christmas music  before the Macy's Thanksgiving parade!!!
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Great North Country Telecaster Festival

Today, I was down in my studio going over a new song I had recorded when I had an idea. I see all these really neat festivals in the North Country, but I have yet to see one dedicated to our wonderful Telecasters. So an idea was born. Once I get back home I am going to see about starting one. This would be something which in my opinion really bring some great things to the players up north. More details will follow.
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Studio day

It is amazing how whenever I go into the studio to record I am excited. Today is a studio day. Later this afternoon I will go down into Indian River recorders and start to lay down the tracks to a new song that I wrote this week. What is so funny is that I own this studio...I can record up to 200 tracks and the possibilities are limitless. The fun part is even though this studio is mine..I still get that same thrill asI had the first time I ever recorded. I go down plug my guitar into my amp set all the mics up and get all levels set. Maybe it is the fact that I am creating music or just the fun of sitting in my studio and being in control. I make the decisions on what and how I will record my music. No producers, managers or bandmates to tell me that they don't want to be there etc. What a wonderful modern age we live in.
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