Home » VintageKustom.com » Comment Board » ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out
ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6291] Wed, 02 November 2005 22:43 Go to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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Registered: July 2004
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http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tabands/album?.dir=/31a0

hopefully this link will work..if not, please visit it..its in my yahoo photo album section..worse case..go to my band site which is: www.tabands.com enter the first page..you'll see an animated band..click on the little geetar player..that'll take you to all my photo albums...look for the kustoms..and droooool
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6292 is a reply to message #6291] Wed, 02 November 2005 23:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RoyC is currently offline  RoyC
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Location: East Central Illinois
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Nice scenery ... way cool.

(and we all know those black ones just ooze tone and mojo)

I assume all those Kustoms played nice w/each other in the backyard!?!
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6293 is a reply to message #6291] Thu, 03 November 2005 09:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bassdogus
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Registered: March 2002
Location: Central New York State (n...
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Nice landscaping job ET!
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6294 is a reply to message #6291] Fri, 04 November 2005 01:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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How much did you have to water them to get them to grow like that. I've gotta show these to my wife.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6303 is a reply to message #6291] Mon, 07 November 2005 12:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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wow..and Bryan says you guys don't have a sense of humor...

been meaning to get those pups out in the yard for so very long...life has just been way full..but so glad I did.. i'm still going back and staring at them on my computer screen..even without some babe seated on top...I'm thinking of have some stone cutter do several kustom likenesses..maybe in black granite..place em all over the property...would be a bear to take to the gig though....
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6304 is a reply to message #6303] Tue, 08 November 2005 00:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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My wife thinks I'm crazy anyone. I look at a lot of fold outs but none have any babes on them. In fact I told her to just look at the babes in this one.
It must have taken you a while to get all the girls to set up like that for this photo shoot too. What motivation did you to get them out in the sun?
I took all of my guitars and basses out to the band room for a shoot one night. That stuff is work. They were uncopperative though. They are all prima Donna's.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6305 is a reply to message #6291] Tue, 08 November 2005 11:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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you know those rigs really are old lounge lizards...they have a permanent cigarette/amor-all smell to them from so many hours of playing in the dark..kinda of a shock for them to have to stand out in the bright sunlight...but a good cleaning and some fresh air was long overdue as my warehouse can get a tad musty....

My wife knows I have the same problem...even if there's a babe sitting on top of a kustom..she knows I'm looking at the kustoms...even when we see Shery Crow in concert...I actually mute the TV cause I'm really not a fan of her voice..and even though she might be wearing that short little skirt.. you can bet...most of the time.. I'm checking out the kustom backline...am I sick or what?!
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6306 is a reply to message #6305] Tue, 08 November 2005 16:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Confidentially I don't think Cheryl Crow (could be the nose) is that hot either. I'm looking at the Kustom's too.
I'll bet your chicks were glad to see some sunlight, fresh air, and a bath. Most babes seem to be a bit more appealing after they come of the bath.
Maybe Cheryl Crow should come out in a bath towl and lay on the Kustom's with a towel around her hair too. Naw! I'd still be looking at the Kustom's.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6307 is a reply to message #6291] Mon, 14 November 2005 15:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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Ok...I'll admit it (bryan)...there is something hot about a chick in brite yellow boots n matching wide vinyl belt around her 1968 mini skirt seated atop a sparkly kustom amp...but if you timed my gazing...the kustoms would still take it by a long run...
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6308 is a reply to message #6307] Mon, 14 November 2005 17:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Smoke1
Messages: 107
Registered: September 2003
Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
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Nice Toys Most Cool and Impressive. Shocked
You still look as old as I thought.
Shame you couldn't get the gator from the swamp to strike a pose? Laughing

Ed Rocks


Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6310 is a reply to message #6291] Tue, 15 November 2005 01:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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How long have you been collecting those chicks? I have had some of mine for more than thirty years.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6311 is a reply to message #6291] Tue, 15 November 2005 11:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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thanks Smoke... I feel as old as I look (smartass) but its not the years...its the miles
My kustoms have faired much better than I have..and I know they will outlast me...and I have 4 kids that will live on with them...
the little K25 1x12 down front was a combination birthday/christmas (dec 1st baby) back in 68 or 69..can't recall now...came with the original cover...but not the warranty..Dad bought it used for $90..it was actually 1 week old..a pro player had bought it and returned it for the larger 4x10 model as he needed more volume..so the store sold it as used to my Dad. It was my garage band rig at age 13 and suffered abuse through highschool as I plugged it into whatever other speakers I could find to get louder...ohms?...clueless...my Dad hired me on at 15 to play in his weekend wedding band..mostly bass, which started out as a fender bassman10, and quickly traded up to the 200 2x15 rig...the little K25 went off to collge with me where I won the jazz band chair..and for 4 years it rode around in the belly of the tour bus and also did duty in a couple local bands playing school dances etc..it has never stopped being a gig machine.. I still use it from time to time in my current wedding band which is in its 18th year of uninterrupted calendar (www.tabands.com) Taylor'd Arrangements ...
the 200 bass head was retired a number of years ago as I seldom do side man bass work..although I used to play regularly with it..the 2x15 cabs have now been reloaded with Eminence long throw drivers and they serve duty as the subs in my PA system, with the 3x15 sirens as my mains and those little 200 head housings are loaded with PV22T horns and a crossover in each so I can triamp and that's my Pa for 90% of our corporate and wedding biz..drive them with current amps..but keep the kustom look.
The K25 and the 200bass head have never let me down and other than some pot spray..even the filter caps, etc have not been changed.. I'm sure by now some things are leaky and off spec..but the rigs still sound strong, quiet and gutsy and I'd take my K25 out this weekend without hesitation.
The pair of SC2x10 combos actually get the call most of the time as I like to run in stereo...also the 2x12Sc combos if we are on larger stages..but the 2x10s are really just a great size...the 4x10SC has only seen stage time once..and it had low low hours when BC sold it to me..the thing is like new...the K100 head is the european model..has the voltage selector on it..and still had the shop tag on the inside of the chasis..the amp had no play time on it when I got it..and I've never taken it out...the 2x12s are Ross cabs..my favorite..I've been known to frequently stack the K25 on top of a 2x12 cab and run all 3 of the 12s..very full and loud rig..and so cool looking..I have a 16ohm 12 in the K25 and the 2x12 cab is an 8 ohm cab...don't ask me.. all I know is it handles it..its loud and has a ton more low end...and like I said..looks so awesome..the 3x12 I've played once on a large coliseum stage where it had room to stretch out.and it's great...the 4x12 cab I regrilled from that nasty silver threaded stuff...I drive it with a 65 fender showman head and oh my goodness..! the little 1x15SC currently has an Altec in it, but for years it was loaded with a polycone subwoofer and servered regular duty as the bottom end to a small PA in a little country club that we played all the time..the columns were my mains along with special tweeter boxes that I made and the 1x15Sc would be turned to face into the corner where we played..my wife and I and our sax player..a midi backed trio..dance floor for maybe 15 couples..I ran the mix channel into a boss bass eq pedal and then into the kustom and we got plenty of old fart low end...the whole thing actually sounded good...I could leave it set up since we played there a lot and took the other PA for the bigger jobs...it was great..i've hardly ever used the 1x15 as a bass guitar amp..although it sounds great...what's left..ah..the organ..no..I can't play worth crud...but had to have an organ..the epitome of 1960s rock n roll..no other rig comes close to the visual stigma of a tuck n roll organ..she's in good shape..has been serviced...the amp is hissing more than I like..but have just not bothered to tear it apart and find the culprit...not really about playing anyway..more the sheer magnificance of the beast..oh..the 400 head.. its a mono..but I do have the stereo version as well...too cool... i have some sparkly kustoms...and they are all special..but wanted to show the black collection unto itself...and now you know...the rest of this old fart's story..
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6312 is a reply to message #6291] Tue, 15 November 2005 11:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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it was windy that day and we had some fall tree junk laying on the pond..really does look like swamp don't it?....that pond is nearly 2 acres and has bass the size of buicks in it !
my crazy dog loves to swim in it and plays with the fish and digs rocks up and leaves them all over the yard to break my mower blades.. but life is good
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6314 is a reply to message #6312] Tue, 15 November 2005 23:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I'll send you my big yellow lab to help your dog out with that pond.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6315 is a reply to message #6291] Wed, 16 November 2005 09:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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I'm tellin ya..the dog is a pshyco! she actually came with the estate..she and a black lab were scheduled for the pound as the owner was unable to take them with him..his wife passed away and he needed to sell the place..cheap...which is where I come in..but the dogs were instantly taken to my crew, knew their home boundaries, so I figured..good safety utility..plus i'm an old softy...the lab plays in the creek no worries..but will not go into the pond..just sits and barks at the 3 ft long carp that hang on the bank each morning waiting for Deb to feed them leftover dog food...the mutt in the picture...she literally swims around like a kid..and hangs shoulder deep in the spring playing with the baby fish and turtles...crazy mutt..but its her rock habit that's unbelievable...heavey rocks...all over the yard..
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6316 is a reply to message #6315] Wed, 16 November 2005 14:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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I have always had dogs. I have two right now that I claim. One is that big yellow lab. He swims like a boat. Tail up and out of the water. In fact his whole back bone is out of the water. The other one I claim is a German Sheppard. Pretty nice fella really but he's big so folks are afraid of him.
Like you I'm a softie too. So I have a stray that has lived here for four years now. I guess he's not too much of a stray then since he won't leave LOL..
But you are right they are the best alarm systems in the world. Other people get stuff thieved but not us. I would imagine yours are quite attached to you and any thing that you care for too like those Kustom pretties too.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6317 is a reply to message #6291] Thu, 17 November 2005 16:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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I wish Ihad more space in the house..actually no..the house is already huge..but the only room I claim as my own is a little spare bedroom where I have myoffice, project studio for some midi work and guitar practice and I keep a keyboard, keys amp, in there, and that's where my blue 4x10SC and the Cascade frank family lives (the cascade set is a frank head on top of an oldest version no port /no baffle port 2x15 cab and a second frank head on a hi freq cab that has 2x10 CTS speakers in it instead of the siren horns..occasionally the charcoal 2x10SC or something else like my old fender silver face makes it up stairs into that room..but that's a full house at that point...the rest of the kustoms live in the back corner of my warehouse behind a dozen marshall cabs, another dozen combo fenders etc and PVs and rolands and a B3 and some leslies..you can hardly tell there is tuck n roll back there..its a shame really...I originally thought that the garage was to be my toy room...paneled it in, heat n air, lights..etc..and the kustoms and my guitar collection lined 2 walls..it was to be a glorious practice room..then..along came hard times and had to start my own biz so the play room quickly became the overstuff warehouse where you have to push Ampegs out of the way to get to something else...its still a wonderful place to be...just don't get to stand there and stare at my wall of kustoms...so the yard pics were really important...I'm a total kustom lush..
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6319 is a reply to message #6317] Fri, 18 November 2005 03:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Sounds like you may be a decicated key man. Any one these days with a real hammond and multiple Leslie's would have to be. I have one old Leslie. Its one of the 131 tallboys. I had that old big fella several years.
Right now I don't have good hammond clone. The only keys I have are P120, Casio, and a concertmate. I think the last one was named after the old tedisco line of amps. I think I would like to have a Nord and a Trinton.
I'm susposed to be a guitar player. But I have and affinity for good keys too. I used to play in a band with a mate who had a
B-3 and three Leslie's. I got mine from him when he sold out. He had them named after the books of the Bible. Peter, John, and Paul. I have big John. Peter and Paul were the smaller 122 series.
I have never even seen a 2x10 Kustom up close. I have only seen one Kustom 250 and I was impressed by it. I have seen lots of 200 and 100 series though. I have five Kustom heads and cabs. My band room is only 11x28 and its crowded too. The Pa alone has twenty five cabs.
Like you I have several Fenders too. A total of eight cabs and five amp sections. I have no Marshalls but I do have two Vox amps. I also have a little set of Ludwig's.
I can see why you don't have much in your play room if you have to lug them upstairs. Whew! I get tuckered out thinking about that.
Did'nt I see some Pa cabs in the lawn romping around too. I hope that they all cooperated like good gals when you told them it was back to their cells time.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6321 is a reply to message #6291] Fri, 18 November 2005 17:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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there are a pair of 3x15 sirens in the pics..and a pair of 4x10 columns...I actually still use the siren cabs as mains, and the 2x15 bass cabs are reloaded with eminence subs..and that is my small club PA..country club that is.. I'm too old to want to play bars...but can get plenty of sound level for what we do from those 4 kustom cabs...
if youre a geetar player you really should try an SC 100 2x10 model...and with some change outs in the electronics..they can be made as tastey as the old franks..I prefer CTS speakers..warmer and bolder...just gotta find em and recone em...
I actually enjoy the B3 a lot..just recognize that I am not a player every time I hear it in the hands of these gospel guys...I like to play a little organ...but better to keep me on a synth like the roland VK7... I do better with a transpose button cause Idon't have to think when I'm playing in 'C'..I play keys like a guitar player...chords with the left hand...mess with the right..
I had neve owned a big marshall stack before I started this company..I did have a little 2x12 marshall jcm900 combo...but that was it..now I've got a dozen cabs and several heads..and on the prowl for more...just snagged one of the new Vox AC30 CC2..I kinda like it..but jury is still out..for the young guns that see their heros playing a vox and think they have to have that...its fine for the tones they want to get..in fact with the blend feature you can quickly dial up some dirt...but for old school class A players...not sure yet..some better tubes and some resistor change ups..and maybe...have a cool Roland JC120 that is in the piggy back model..seperate head on a 4x12 stereo cab..and one of my fender twins is a 72 model that's had some nice work done on it...and has the original D120Fs in it...very clean cosmetically and a real growl monster...its the kind of twin I always wanted growing up, but never looked to afford..probably could have if I wasn't always buying kustoms..but those are still myfirst love.. I've cut my guitars down by over half..only about a dozen now..and would probably loose some of those..but what's left are gifts or some of the early endorsement stuff..etc..just not models you go out and sell...but bottom line..the black kustoms are missing a couple models from that 68-69 era... a 1x15 K100 cab, the 4x12 columns..etc..but these were the models I remembered as a kid..going down to the local store and drooling for hours til they threw me out...so for me... it feels like I've completed the life time collection that I dreamed of..even if its not a completel model line...the occasional cool sparkle rig that might come my way..that's a bonus.. I totally love em....but usually someone has more money than me and I loose out..its not the case that I settled for the black...the black is my favorite..and a complete set in black..is a way cool thing
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6322 is a reply to message #6321] Fri, 18 November 2005 19:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I agree the blacks are cool. I have two blacks. The only one that I bought brand new was black. They don't call it basic black for nothing. I never started out to have a collection but its like snow. First its only a inch or so. Then its your up to your knees, then its your hips, then waste deep. Now who cares anymore lets make some snowballs
I have and even eleven guitars counting my three basses. Eleven is not really and even number I know but I don't have any torn in half guitars and all of their parts are on them so they are even.
Two of my boards have transpose buttons and they are handy to play with some one who plays your favorite songs but in the wrong key. My keys are always right so it got to be them that are in the wrong key.
Another thing I find that real handy for is when you go to a jam and its one of these affairs where the other guitar players fingers are too tender to press on the strings that are so tight as when they are in standard tune and or the singer can't quite sing. So every one is tuned a half step.
I have a Twin too but its the regular Twin's evil half brother. Its the Evil Twin. It has all black face cosmetics and except for the spic and span clean the simularities end there. Its full of bells and whistles most are well hidden so that it appears for all the world to look like its more wholesome and upstanding brother. But it has three seperate channels. I'm sure that you can imagine that the other two are designed to do good clean living things as the first channel does. It sort of has a split personality.
Thats cool that you have a Kustom Pa of sorts. From the way you have described and my own long history with Kustom's I am sure that it is a very powerful combination that works well. The fifteens will handle the lows. The horns the highs and those columns will bring out the mids the way that most modern systems cannot begin to.
I too am missing a few 200 models. I have no red amp, no blue amp, and no gold amp. Although I never really expect to get a gold one. A couple of speaker combinations I am missing is a 3x12 one. It would be nice to get one in red but any color will do. I'd like to have a 100 in 2x12 and again any color will do. Its always the last ones that are so hard to find.
You are probably right on the 2x10 Kustom. I will bet it will be a very good guitar amp. I have always like the sound of tens. I find that my Kustom's sound really good for guitar if I use my Ric or my Gretsch. Strats are not quite as sweet as those two thru my Kustom's.
In Fender I need two more to make my choir complete. One is a Vibro King and the other is the 59 Bassman. I only have two Vox amps. But you have one that I am lusting afterwards and thats the AC30CC. I want one in a head and cab. The combo is of course very near the same thing but its a lot harder to change the tubes in them.
The trolly's on those Vox amps are a work of art but they take up a lot of room so I don't think I will get one or at least not get one until I have more room for this rowdy crowd. I also kinda like the Vox new verision of the Super Beatle the AD120VTX.
Then there is the problem of a Vox bass amp. None of the older ones are as well designed as our Kustom's. So that is gonna take some time and thought. I have a modern head that I hide behind the scene for bass with my Fender's and Kustom's. But the Fender or Kustom cabs are used for bass and the heads are setting on top of their cabs with cords plugged in and the lights are all glowing. Wonderful David Copperfield.
I would like to have a good hammond clone board too. The Roland VK8 is pretty good one. But the Nord weighs less that twenty pounds. Its red too. Since red is my wife's favorite color after rolled and pleated I can ususally get anything I want if I can find some thing red on it.
I just don't have enought experience to say on synth. So on price and features alone that I have read about the Trinton LE looks good on paper in the 76 key form. I wanna be able to do synth sounds and horn parts too.
I am with you my keyboard playing is limited to chords with the left hand and leads with my right. I have played with some folks though including the B-3 player that I got my Leslie from that had their left is either cut off or neulogically damaged so they cannot be used.
But when you hear a good hammond player who can really play those things it is truely a thing of beauty. I'm just a lump of coal in that crowd.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6328 is a reply to message #6291] Mon, 21 November 2005 11:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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jeesh..you make me feel better about my collection illness..man do you have some toys...i mean , I'm in the biz so I can justify most of this stuff...but the wife woulda drawn a hard line a long time ago otherwise...
you mentioned the B3 clones.. we rent two types..the most popular being the Roland VK7..single tier..but that's all the need when they just want some draw bar work..its a pretty potent little rig...then when they want a full two tier/manual B3 but either can't afford one, or can't get it loaded in.. I offer up the Korg Bx3...and that is a nice piece..many players haven't heard of one..but when they get to it..they all say the same thing "I need to buy one of these!" it really lets them work the draw bars like a real B3...I enjoy both rigs but just don't qualify as a player...
I'm glad to hear you're hot for the Vox CC2... I'm still worried about it as I don't know how the old school pros will take to it...it is supposed to do traditional .and I believe with some better tubes, some revoicing via some small change outs on the board, and replacing that stupid soldered speaker wire..she'll probably behave as well as an older AC30...I think the new features are cool...and the young guns will probably dig the amp if the market generally accepts it..but I know that I will continue to stay on the prowl for a good buy on an older AC30 as well...in the mean time..this one looks and tastes like the real deal...
I haven't looked at the Triton LE series...the pro riders won't accept those...we offer the Triton pro model..and I can't tell you the difference..only what my market specs require of me...
I used to be a simple kustom geetar player..now I've gotta have all these other toys...never even mind talking drums..boy are those monkies particular about what they beat on !
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6330 is a reply to message #6328] Tue, 22 November 2005 00:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I use to be a simple Kustom geetar player too LOL.. I had one in the purple burst and it had a B-5 bigsby on it. I really messed up on that one though. Later in the seventies I got a Strat, a Les Paul, and a Mustang.
Some how I figured I had too many geetars. That would'nt happen now. So I much to my regret I sold to a drummer friend of mine that I had played with for a long time. He offered to give it back to me a couple of years ago and so I went to look at it
By the time I got over there he had changed his mind to selling it for $350. If it had looked like it did when I sold it to him that would have been fine. But I'm afraid it did'nt. Even worse really he had pretty well just trashed it.
He had put two big humbuckers down in it instead of like the orginal pickups being mounted on top. They were so big that only a small amount of wood remained between the two and even it was split in two.
He had also dropped it several times and along with all of the bumps and bruises he had broked off two tuning keys and had just glued them back on.
I thought about it for a while still and almost got another one but it was sold before I could get it. Then realizing that I would have more in one than a new Rickenbacker. I just bought the color of the year 360 Ric in Montezuma Glo.
So thats how I used to just be a simple everyday Kustom geetar owner. I have only seen one other one in person and it was in natural maple. The one I almost got to buy on line was a red one. So none would have been my purple burst. If I had gotten my old one back I had planned on painting it black as there was nothing left of the orginal color.
I helped that same drummer buddy take home a hammond spinet organ not long ago. I think it was and L. He got a tiny Leslie with it about the side of footstool. Not very loud but still pretty cool. He says he has a little Fender Leslie with it now. He also says he has and orginal Mellotron out in his garage buried under some motorcycle parts. So you never know what of us old musicians have hidden around.
One of the reasons I had decieded to get a Hammond clone with at least seventy some odd keys on it is him. He found that the little L just not have enought keys on it to be as useful as he thought it would be.
In some ways the new AC30CC may be better than the orginal in others its sadly lacking. Like you I'm not too overjoyed at how the combo is made with the speakers being soldered in and you have to unsolder those and pull the amp out just to put in new set of tubes. The head verision will remendy some of those what must have been brain farts that day for the designer. Other things on it like the channel blend switches are pretty cool along with the other bells and whistles.
Time will only tell too if they will stand the test of time like our old amps have. But at least they are still being made and on the market.
I kinda like the AD120VTX amp that they have out now too. Its too bad though they don't make a decent bass amp anymore.
Those are my three amp weaknesses Kustom, Fender, and Vox. I still enjoy just sighting a Kustom of almost any model. I enjoy seeing some old Fenders and Vox amps too though. The Kustom's are just a bit more exciting as none are made like them anymore these days.
Hopefully the Trinton LE is a close relative of the bigger Trinton. I'd like to have a good keyboard synth and sampler. But they can get pretty expensive. I know somethings you have to get spanked on but I am always thinking of all the other equipment I could get for that same amount of pennies that I would have in one keyboard. This can get painful sometimes being a gearhead.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6331 is a reply to message #6291] Tue, 22 November 2005 11:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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I'm taking the Vox down to my amp tech's shop this evening..will have him put a proper wire plug on the speaker leads..and load some good tubes in there and let him replace whatever else he wants til he's happy with the vintage voice side...I have a spare blue bulldog speaker and am looking for a second one...that way for the real Vox players, I can load those blues in there...and for the kids that just want to see a vox on stage...it'll stay with the current stock...which actually sound fine as far as I can tell given the current amp setup.
I have to confess I never ever liked the cosmetics of Vox...it looked like some old stereo that sat in my aunt's house...just very boring....typical of the Brits I guess...I do like a class A amp tone and harmonics...butthe look of a vox has never done it for me....not evenclose to say the silver face fenders..heck, I like the setup look of a matchless...same box style..but maybe its just the grill cloth...anyway...its for my biz... I will never take this amp out to play on a personal gig...its just too dang ugly...
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6339 is a reply to message #6291] Wed, 23 November 2005 04:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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I'm very interested to hear how it sounds with the new tubes? What kind of tubes that you deciede on getting new for it too? Compared to the old ones in it? There is a varity of new tubes on the market but how or what to pick is always a mystery. As soon as you hear one tube is good they invarabily get bad ratings the next day.
My buddy got Mesa Boogie tubes for his Bandmaster. He thinks the amp works but finds it a little lifeless now. I put one set of main power tubes in my Twin (it has two sets)as one had gone bad in that set. I put Ruby tubes in it. I heard first that the Ruby tubes were good now some folks say that they are bad LOL.. It had to win for loosing. As some folks say aspen pitman tubes are good others say well? At best they say they are not any good shall we say.
I think that new tubes are actually only made in china or russia. No chinese tube is said to be worth a dime and thats what the AC30CC comes with. That lead russian or Nos and Nos from I hear is super expensive.
I agree with you too Vox is not as cool looking as Fender and Fender does not look as cool as Kustom. But then again most new bass amps are not exactly beauty queens either and are not gonna win any asthetic awards for the worlds coolest looking amps thats for sure.
With Vox I do think that the brown grille clothe amps do look a bit better than the black ones. There were a few old AC30's covered in Tan, Grey, Red, and even Purple Tolex though and those do look a bit better with the black grille. Well maybe they do LOL..
I was thinking of ordering one with the Wharfendales (the standard speakers) and then replacing them with the Red Fangs and using the orginals in monitor cabs I'm gonna sell or something like that LOL.. I'd like to hear what you think about the Blues vrs the Wharfs too?
I think that it would be interesting to hear one with a single Blue and one Red Fang too? I think my two little Vox Cambridge amps are lonely amongst the sea of Kustom's and Fender's in my band room. I sure your Vox has and inferiority complex.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6341 is a reply to message #6291] Wed, 23 November 2005 10:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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as for tubes (sorry guys, I know this is a kustom solid state forum but we're having fun)..when I retube say a big ampeg SVT.. I order from JJ a complete matched set..even then, it takes a little juggling to find the best order to mount them..on my fenders and marshalls, Dave/and I keep a good assortment of tubes and just try different ones until we find what works best for the particular amp's personality.. I have for example a pair of Fender blues devilles..for all intent, they are the same amp right?...nope.. they actually have quite different personalities and I can tell you which one is which...they are loaded with different power tubes..and I have no problem with decent rubies, GTs whatever...if the tube works, runs at a good level and sounds good and I can match em up..then off we go.

The Vox warfs.. I think they sound fine...I'll leave them in there for most rental work..the extra $500 to get a new vox loaded with the blues..naw...can't see it...especially since I already have one extra blue...so I'll find a second.. I asked Dave about mixing a blue with the stock warfs..he said DO NOT do that in a class A amp...can't do that like you do in an A/B style amp.... I'm too stupid to tell you why...but I trust him to keep me from harm...
It costs me $45 for a recone/rebuild of the blue dog after Joan Jett blew it up..we did a stage for her and her Black Hearts..and they had ordered an AC30...didn't specifiy speakers..but we figured..give em the best..so placed a sweet Brit Vox on stage...and I head over to another stage (it was a 3 stage festival)..anyway..in walks her guitar tech..and he never intended to use the AC30...what they do for Joan is carry her personal Mesa Mark IV head (60ish watts?) and he has aligator clip wire to hook it to the vox speakers...now if it had been 30 watt speakers..that'd be fine...but those blues are what ? 15 watts...my stage hand protested..but he assured him that they don't crank it..yeah..right..anyway..sound check went fine so he didn't alarm me...by show time I had mosied over to that stage to check em out and I instantly break out in a sweat when I see what they are doing...so now its lights up..and the crowd of wannabe lessbo girls are screaming at the foot of Joan's stage..and her in ear monitors just aren't enough..so mid song..she turns and cranks her amp a bit more...still the blues hold...but at this point I'm already heading to the truck backstage...stil not enough...she turns and cranks the amp up more..and the primary blue folds..of course...so they finish the song and she monologues while her amp tech is wetting his pants...he runs back to me and says "you got another Vox?".. I'm like no way dude...and I'm pulling the closest thing on the truck which was a little marshall jcm900 2x12 combo with 75s in it.. I said this is what you'll use.. and run it out there and hook her up..she was down maybe 3 minutes..and of course they refuse to buy the speaker...my cost on a new blue is a little over $200 plus I had to recone this one...so that's how I have the spare...anyway..so often..its all about just having a vox on stage for show..and I think many of the young guns that like to blister a traditional top boost will be happy with the new features of the CC2....I just need to make sure that the traditional mode on this amp does what it is supposed to...I was laughing and thinking of this forum last night..my 20 yr old daughter was in the warehouse helping me and she looks over at the new vox and she's all about how pretty she thinks it is...beauty is in the eye right?...
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6346 is a reply to message #6341] Wed, 23 November 2005 18:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C4ster
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Well, solid state forum or not here goes. I have a fair amount of New Old Stock 6L6GC`s, 5881`s KT88`s and lot of 12AX7`s, 12AT7`s and plenty of others. When I get back home I will check them out and give you a complete rundown. These are 60`s and 70`s GE and Sylvania tubes. Not a foreign tube in the bunch. Would you be interested????

Conrad
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6347 is a reply to message #6291] Thu, 24 November 2005 00:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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would like to see what you've got...If I were dealing with just a couple personal special rigs that I wanted to tube n play for myself..then I'd be really picky about tone...for all my rental rigs...I've been pleased with the current stock of tubes out there...just have to take a little time to check em out on each load..can't just open a box and expect it to be good like you could with the old US tubes...but for the most part..and as often as we're doing maintenance.. I'm pretty cool on current tubes..but let's see whatcha got..sounds like some fun stuff!
I actually have much more trouble out of current amps due to cheap components...lousy transistors, really lousy wave solder...cheap pots...etc...for example, in the past year I've purchased 2 different products for bass..a Korg Ampeg SVT, a GK1001RBH, and an Eden WT800...the korg camed tubed cheap and unmatched...it played ok...but she's solid now after a set of JJs and a little extra love..the tolex seems thinner and cheaper too...but other than that..pretty solid...the GK...blew up...and did so badly enough that it took an entire new board $150 from GK who's customer service btw sucks...also the primary 10 in the 4x10 cab blew and those are odd 32ohm drivers...had to special order the coil and kit..my local speaker recone dude didn't have one to match..and boy does he have a ton of others...the EDen....biggest disapointment...the amp has been back for warranty repair...and it still needs work...currently , after they sent it back as it completely failed, now, the gain pot seems to have some hot spots on it which when you hit em, sends the amp to full volume..which in turn spikes the speakers and blows the little lights limiters on the horns...the cheap plastic cab corners tear up right away, the casters tear up right away, the mounting of the push buttons on the preamp is so shabby that you have to take a pen to push the buttons in and out as they just don't fit..its the most expensive bass rig I own..and the shittiest..not road worthy at all...
Every new fender..mexi and now chinese.. Twins, bassmans, etc...you must go in and hand solder over all the cheap wave boards...if you don't, by the 3rd job...you'll have socket failures...now mind you, most of the time I or my guys are in possession of the gear..it doesn't get banged around..and we're known for having the cleanest gear in the market...and I spend extra time and money to keep grills and tolex repaired and the amps in top shape...and I've abused my kustoms compared to the pampering all this "pro" gear gets in my rental stock...and the kustoms have never given me trouble...solid as a friggin tank...current manufacturers, resting on old legacy names...should be ashamed at what they call pro gear..it just ain't so....ok..soap box done...finish packing..and ready to head to Orlando !!! ..ya'll have a good turkey day...n Play Loud! ET
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6348 is a reply to message #6291] Thu, 24 November 2005 05:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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Looks like you got a bully on your hands. I think I saw one of those big un's kick sand in that little one's port holes. He should be in the penalty box.
Cool sig of Bud Ross. How hard did you twist his arm? Did he sneak those none dearmonds in there too?
A Danelecto twelve string joined our crazy crowd today. He's in for a Kustomizing experience.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6353 is a reply to message #6291] Mon, 28 November 2005 11:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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good eye on the pickups on the guitar...yes..I was surprised when it came in with those brand new pups on it...but I figured it was true to Bud's way of thinking..he wanted to make it better...said he had a guy in town that is a great pro luthier do a complete setup...hand buffed better than I've ever seen...fret dressing, etc..and those pups...don't know what happened to the old ones...but these sound very very good...the guitar is actually enjoyable to play and hear...not that it leaves home..but still fun...he kept it for a long time..wasn't sure I was going to actually ever receive it...I remember the same thing with an amp that JC had and he sent it home with Bud from nashville ...talk about lifetime warranty repair work !..anyway.. JC kept asking me..."have you heard from Bud?.. I'm never gonna see that amp...."...I just picked on him and teased him about it like crazy..but eventually it did return...Bud is just a phenominal person...gracious and a true pioneer...men like him made this country great...we need more...he stands as one of my heros...
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6355 is a reply to message #6353] Mon, 28 November 2005 21:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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I had mine for quite a while playing lots of jobs with it. Thats why I noticied the pickups so fast. Too bad mine was trashed or I would have it back now. The way the pickups were mounted orginally mounted on top too was a very Ric like design. No other guitars on the planet used that concept to my knowledge but those two companies and to change even that one little item would have changed the entire guitar.
Thats why not only why the big humbuckers did'nt look right on it even if he (my drummer buddy or who ever he had put them in) had'nt cracked the wood between them. The guitar design was still messed up. Just by changing that one thing the way he did it messed up the entire guitar.
But looking at it even in its decripit state still gave me insights in the quality of it though. I could see where it had been cracked and bruised that it had a sanding sealer undercoat under the color coat. Meaning that it was a lacquer finish. One of the finishes that all guitar players and collectors all covet.
Yup Bud is first class. He created a company, a quality product, and image all from scratch thats still admired to this day. I think he means his guarrentee to be his lifetime anyway.
I like several things on my Kustom. Two of course was the way it played and sounded. But I liked the fret markers, that little metal plate between the neck pickup and the neck for the truss rod, and the way he used the same knobs as on the amps. Having that bigsby on there set it off too. That old guitar never disappointed me.
It just goes to show you that all of the little things do add up.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6356 is a reply to message #6291] Tue, 29 November 2005 10:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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I've probably not put more than 45 minutes of play time on my kustom guitar...so I'm not a valid one to comment..and I'll probably get in trouble here..but to me the guitar kinda comes across more like a low end semi pro...mind you.. I've made cheap mexi strats and other rigs work on semi pro stages..so it's not a matter of saying a guitar doesn't qualify for pro work...and there are some great ideas incorporated into the guitar...it just doesn't come across as a player when I compare it to say my hamer USA Mirage II...or my better gibson or fender models...the upgrade to those seymour pups and the semi hollow nature of the guitar makes for a very tastey tone machine..and she probably will go a lot farther down the road than I give her credit for...I've just had it in my mind that its such a treasure that I don't dare even play it too much...guess that's not really fair...ok.. I'll go home tonight and crank up the midi studio and pedal board and blow a few rounds into my old kustom amp...then come back and apologize for my blasphemy !(grin)
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6358 is a reply to message #6291] Wed, 30 November 2005 11:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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As far as my memory goes mine was a very nice guitar. I could have bought a Gretsch Tennessean at the same time for the same amount of money. But there was just some about that old Kustom guitar. So that goes a long way to say how good I thought mine was.
The only guitars that I have that don't see too much use now is my 66 Strat (its worth too much cash now to use much) and my Les Paul. The Les Paul is a heavy guitar.
The old Kustom probably had played at many more gigs than any other guitar that I have now. Not that it was any better than my Strats, Gretsch, Les Paul, Mustang, and Ric that I play mainly now. But that band I was in when I had it had a lot of jobs. It being a horn band and all we had a leg up on the local competetion.
But it served me well thru out all of those gigs. Perhaps it blended better with that band too with its sound properties and that is why I have such fond memories of it. But then again most of the gear we really love is out of the memories we have with it.
If old bud started making them again I would'nt mind having another one.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6359 is a reply to message #6291] Wed, 30 November 2005 17:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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as promised.. I went home and plugged up and played for a while...the pups do sound good on that guitar..and it has a bit of an openness to it...the fret board was consistent top to bottom and the intonation was actually dead on...the action higher up was a little high...nothing that might couldn't be addressed...it still feels like a student sized guitar..somehow short necked?...but really..a very nice guitar...its not one that I think I would choose to take to work regularly..assuming it was not such a precious item to me....but yeah..she's a semi pro player and I enjoyed my time last night before placing it back on its roost of pride n priority in my office...
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6361 is a reply to message #6359] Fri, 02 December 2005 05:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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If you're used to playing a Strat. They (Kustom's) do seem like toys. Play a Strat a while and then pick up a Les Paul. You'll really think you are a babe in toyland. Except for the monster weight of the Les Paul that is.
Have you ever played a Mustang or Dano Twelve? They are true short scale guitars. Even with the twelve string headstock there is room left over in a 335 case with Dano twelve. One thing I have never understood is that 325 short scale Ric's like Lennon's are such a bear to play and have to have 13 guage strings on them just to stay in tune. Not so with a Mustang on the Dano Twelve they are enjoyable to play.
But I did read where when Lennon got his brand new Ric 325 given to him after the Beatles did the Sullivan show that he said that it was odd that it never played as good as his old one. Must have been something very Mustang like about his orginal one.
What does your Kustom weigh? My Ric weighs 7 1/4 pounds. Most of my alder Strat weigh 7 1/4 too. Its a nice weight to have slung around for neck for four hours. The Stang and Dano weigh even less. I have two Strat that one weights 8 pounds and the other weighs 8 1/4 pounds. You'd be surprized how much that extra weight pulls on you after and hour or so.
My Les Paul weighs 9 1/2 pounds. Its a one set only guitar believe me. My Ric is a 360 and it a nice guitar. But I had my old Kustom so long it still brings back good memories. What kind of pickups did Bud put on yours? They look like some kind of Gretsch pickup. How are they mounted in it? As you probably know the Dearonds were mounted on top.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6362 is a reply to message #6291] Fri, 02 December 2005 11:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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the pups on the kustom are Seymours..not sure of themodel...but faithfully..and thankfully..they are mounted on top like the originals..no guitar was harmed in the making of this movie...

very nice tone...

the only fender strat I still own these days is an 89 deluxe plus that was custom made for an artist.. I have the paper work on it..but don't recall the details now..anyway..she's got the lace sensors..but a custom paint job and a little toggle that allows me to kick in the bridge and neck pups together...pretty cool option..its a moderate weight strat... I actually prefer a heaveier wood guitar...although I do pay the price for it in my lower back after a 4 hour job...the only gibson I have left is a 64 SG which also had a pro mod made to it before I found it back in 86...its a great pro player and has seen many stage hours with me...the other fenders and gibsons that I did own.. I sold back in the 90s when all things were "vintage"..and guys wanted to pay me $2k for what was a $400 used guitar in the 80s...so..off they went...I also had a couple nice Hamers...kept one..a Mirage II..maple with duncans...incedible flame and very Gibson ES vibe. other than that.. I fell in with Peavey years ago when Iwas doing some national work and got turned on to their little known custom models from 1989-1991 era...some of the best production guitars out there..but nobody cared cause it said PV on it...if PRS made a strat..the PV falcon custom would be it...stacked single space humbuckers in a strat config..incredible flame top..thick maple cap..not a cheap veneer..the best feeling neck/board I've every played..I own several of em...as well as their generation (tele style) version and they are my first choice players..not cause they were free..cause they are, for me, the best guitars at any price... the Generation is heavey...LP heavey...that's what made Steve Cropper give up on it for a time..then on a new album project he just wasn't happy with his fender tele...and went searching through his arsenal only to come back to the Gen...which resulted in PV working with him on the Cropper Classic..which is a nice one.. I have one..but the Gen is the best...but yeah..4 hours of slingin and I'm feeling it..I have a bad habit o riding my pedal board's volume/expression pedal too so I wind up standing on one leg, crook hipped a lot..and my knee and back pays for that too..just gettin old..I don't have a clue what any of them actually weigh...if the overall package feels good, and the guitar is balance (the SG will do an axe chop cause the headstock is so much heavier..that's bad)...but my other guitars sit right on my shoulder, feel like an insrument in my hand, leave my fret hand in a decent position...something substantial... that's about all I know...it "feels right"
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6363 is a reply to message #6362] Sat, 03 December 2005 00:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
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In a way I don't know exactly what mine weigh either. I just weigh them all on the same scale. My method of madness on that was weigh some thing on it and go to store with commerical that and check it against them.
I have a couple of sixties Fenders. One is 66 Strat and the other a 66 Mustang. When and if I get the right offer on the Strat it will be gone like yours did LOL.. But I do know about what its worth so it would not leave easy. The Mustang is worth a little bit of course but not enought to say lets throw it out with the babies water.
My Les Paul is a later seventies model with a natural maple top. Nice guitar but too heavy and not yet old enought for people to beg me to sell it to them. So its proabably gonna be around here for a while too.
My Ric six string is a 2003 with nothing special about it but the paint job. Its Montezuma glo. I have nineties Deluxe Plus Strat, a Malmsteen artist Signature Strat, and a 50th anniversary Deluxe Strat with all of that gold hardware. Its not worth a lot today but its one of those of how long you keep it kinda things that finally rolls around.
My Gretsch is and Elliot Easton Signature Duo Jet. It sounds like from the way this is coming out that I crave artist signature guitars. But in truth I just like the features and the sounds of these guitar. I have never even heard a song that Malmsteen plays and don't even know of any names of any he plays. I just happened to pick it off a rack one day while trying out a pedal.
My basses are Violin basses, the cheap ones that work great. I have two twelves and neither are a holy grail type like the Ric twelves are. But one of them is a Dano and a pretty nice twelve really. Its kinda odd before listening to you describe your guitar as a Kustom semi pro.
I think we deciede what is pro or not to and extent based on the what the Pro's play. But I have seen Pro bass players with Dano long horn basses in their hands. Think Ted Nugent's Brydland for instance. No body else plays one of those things. Especially for rock.
Re: ET's Kustoms got loose in the backyard..! check em out [message #6379 is a reply to message #6291] Wed, 07 December 2005 11:26 Go to previous message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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see....that's why I like talking to you..no matter how bad I think my GAS is...you make me feel better about myself (grin)..dude...you have a lot of cool stuff...most of my remaining gear is product that the general market could care less about and would never make me any ebay money...but I keep em cause I like em and that's really where I'm at in life now...there was a time when I thought...sell em all and take the money and buy one kill gibson or something..but truth is the players I have work every bit as good as a high end model and really suite me well...so I'm not sure I'd be gaining anything other than worry about nicking up an expensive guitar body every time I'd take it out to play..
I've seen the Malmsteen strat (scalloped fret board)..kinda cool..good effort by Fender...and I actually worked with Elliot last year..he was playing with credence Clearwater as the new lead vocalist can't cut John's guitar work... Elliot surprised me as he was playing a fender std usa tele...they contracted me for backline ..and for him I was asked to provide a pair of EVH 5150 PV heads on top of marshall 1960A cabs loaded with vintage 30s...gotta say...he had some very sweet tone..
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