Saturday, April 28, 2007

The Faces - I'm Losing You

30 years on and this still comes screaming out of the speakers. This is from the early 70's when Rod Stewart had good taste in music. Ron Wood is playing a custom made LP style guitar. I can't remember the name of the luthier offhand but I think he made the bass as well. Ron Wood has far more talent than he shows in the Rolling Stones.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Swamped

So now that the real crunch is over I can get back to a more regular schedule. I have spent the last two weeks dealing with the start up of my summer gig. It's back to the usual 40 hour week for me so I will be winding evenings and weekends. I hope to keep up with the blog during that time.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Pickup parts

I have started my summer gig this week so I have 3 days a week that I can wind. Such as life. At least I get a steady paycheque.

I received my rod magnets the other day. I can't believe how little space they take up. I had to make some budget decisions so I decided on Alnico 2 and 5. I figure I can cove more bases that way. I'll get some A3 later on in the summer.

Just sent some sample pickups to a music store in Marseille. I'm interested in what the gentleman has to say about my pickups. I have been considering getting into some of the local stores but have held off, although I am looking forward to having this store stock mine.

I have a first for me this week. A rewind of a mini humbucker. 10k with 4 conductor is the final spec. It is going into a telecaster with a 50's style bridge pickup so it needs to match the output. It will be 5k in single coil mode to match the bridge and will be one kickass mini at full throttle.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

John Mayall-Bluesbreakers,

With Mick Taylor. The best stuff the Rolling Stones did was with him. Probably their best period ever. Everybody looks really uncomfortable synching this tune, but thats television. Mayall had a serious eye for talent. First Eric Clapton, then Peter Green and then Mick Taylor.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Reverend Billy

Here is an early tune with Billy Gibbons when he was in the Moving Sidewalks. This is from the "Chrome, Smoke and BBQ" box set.

Joe Blues

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Second life

I signed up for it and was on-line for about two hours today. My wife is using it at work for her emerging technologies course. The library she works at is on-line. Anyone can visit although you have to be a student to fully access the library. It is hoped it will become a valuable way to reach long distance students and such.

The implications of the software are astounding. I thought it was just some thing like the sims but the range of activities is endless. I am thinking of starting a business in the second life world and linking it to my site. I could do a couple of hours a week there and meet potential customers.

You can buy property and build a house. I can even meet my wife on-line for lunch.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Mike Bloomfield: Drinking Wine Live!!

Great old clip with Electric Flag. I believe Nick Gravenites is singing. Mike is playing his 59 Les Paul. As always amazing tone. Half the fun in this clip is the audience.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Happy Easter



No idea where this picture comes from but it seemed kind of appropriate.

Friday, April 6, 2007

Celluloid picks



I just received these the other day. Heavy gauge with a slogan and my website printed on them. Really nice quality picks and good work. I was surprised at how relatively inexpensive it was in low quantity. I am going to use these as giveaways and I send one along with each set as well.

I have been using these picks for about a year now and the feel and tone is unique. They feel really silky against the strings and have a medium attack even with the heavy gauge. I prefer the 351 size and shape as well. It just seems to fit my fingers nicely.

Speaking of pick attack there is a great thread on the LP forum about just that thing . It's a discussion of what picking style suits what type of pickup. Some good info and interesting opinions.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Johnny Winter

I love Amazon. I am constantly amazed at what I can find there. I just received the Johnny Winter cds I ordered. One of them is the re-mastered and expanded version of "Second Winter". The first disc is the original album plus two un-released tracks.

For this expanded edition it's the second disc that really makes it outstanding. The second disc consists of live cuts from a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1970, un-released until this edition. Johnny's brother Edgar was on stage with him and they performed "Frankenstein" well before Edgar recorded it with his band. This is Johnny Winter in his prime and would have been a landmark album had it been released in 1970.

Frankenstein

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Humble Pie

Stumbled across ths one. One of my favourite bands. Nice 61 LP/SG. There will never be another like Steve Mariott.