Sheepdog1969

Thank goodness it isn't made from pressed babies!

Speaking of Oils, I have a weird question: Since olive oil is made from pressed olives, vegetable oil is made from pressed vegetables, and Linseed oil is made from pressed Linseeds, what is baby oil made from??????

Like a warm hug on a cold January day, my 2023 Squier Sonic Stratocaster SSS HT is finally producing rich tones. Everything that it had been lacking tonally, with it's factory ceramic single coils and electronics, has been brought to life with some careful guitar surgery. Only weeks after it had been put on the "Transplant List", a suitable donor organ was found. A new 2019 vintage Fender SSS Stratocaster "Loaded Pickguard", with Tex-Mex single coils and Fender electronics, was rushed to my OR for today's procedure. Thankfully, the transplant "took", and the pre-implantation detail work ensured said success. I had read reviews about the Squier Sonics Strat's ceramic pickups sounding "cold", even before buying mine. And, after playing mine, I agreed. I literally wrote off the bridge pickup, and only played using the neck and/or the middle, prior to the surgery. There was no height, tone, or volume adjustment that would make the bridge p/u even sound bearable. The neck and the middle were decent, or so I thought. Ignorance IS bliss, and I had no idea of the tonal landscape I was missing. Oh happy day! I have been enlightened by the solid tonal output the Tex-Mex single coils produce. There simply is NO comparison, and words cannot fully describe how much better they sound. The only thing that comes to mind is, "They sound like how a Fender Stratocaster is supposed to sound." I assumed correctly that my Squire would have no shielding, so I used some Buzz Kill copper foil tape to line the pickup and control cavities. I also used some of it to enhance the skimpy shielding on the new Fender pickguard. I also placed a strip of it under the hard-tail bridge to ensure solid contact between the ground wire and the bridge/strings. (see pic below) It is quiet as a mouse now. I was torn between the easy playing "9's" it came strung with, or "10's" for a bit fatter sound. Luckily, Ernie Ball makes Primo Slinky custom gauge nickel wound strings in 9.5. ( 9.5, 12, 16, 24, 34 ,44) Ernie Ball Primo Slinky, for the indecisive Strat player! They really play great and seem to actually provide the best of both worlds. I am so relieved that the surgery went well, and how quickly the patient went from recovery to playing. I really like the 3 ply guard, (wbw) and the off white knobs/pickups, on the graffiti yellow. For less than $300, this Strat is defiantly a bada$$ now!!

Yup, I meant 1/4" input, (like a guitar cord), not 1/8" (like head phones). Gee, a 1/2" plug would be a bit large, right? Sometimes my brain seems to screw up the basics when I am trying to figure out something that's new to me. Thanks so much for your advice and help. You have just created my new shopping list. Started looking today for a laptop/pc that I can dedicate specifically for this application. Next will be searching for an interface that meets my needs. And so on, and so on... Thanks again!!

First recording and first release by Quincy Jones & His Orch. (September 13, 1962 / November 1962)

I heard Abbott teaching Costello how to tell time, in my head, as I read your joke.

Although the Carpenter's version was released in 1970, it was actually originally recorded and released in the '60s. It was written by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was originally released as the B-side of "Blue Guitar" by Richard Chamberlain in 1963.

Apparently, there are digital 8 track (or more) recorders that can be purchased that are programs that use a laptop/pc as the mixing/recording/storage medium. From my understanding, the only "hardware" required is the input interface, which allows RCA/XLR (and possibly 1/2") connections to be converted into USB input, (and presumably converts those analogue signals into digital). I would love to get some recommendations from real world users of these pc based mixer/recorders before I make a purchase. This will be used, primarily, in my home "studio", but will need to "travel" to other locations to record, from time to time. I will be using it to record my original compositions, where I will be playing each instrument and singing all vocals on each recording. These recordings, (and the corresponding sheet music for said), will be used to market/sell my original compositions to far more talented performing and recording musicians/bands, locally and beyond. I will also be using it to record ambiance, background music, sound effects, etc., for social media content created locally, (including independent film scoring). I will also be using it to produce "demo's" for some local musicians, and potentially record some live performances. My needs are as follows: 1. Be able to record (digital) compositions, one track (instrument) at a time, and obviously be able to listen to the already recorded track(s) while recording each new track. Have a minimum of 8 tracks w/stereo output, (or 16 tracks, if an 8 track recorder really means 4 stereo tracks). 2. Be able to record each track at optimum recording levels, but then be able to adjust the level of each track (in post production) in order to achieve a balanced composition, and then save/record that final mix. 3. Be able to use RCA, XLR, 1/2" analogue input sources and potentially MIDI/digital sources. 4. Be able to produce clean/low THD Stereo final products in common digital formats. 5. Be able to "record" 7 already recorded and mixed tracks onto the 8th track (for an 8 track recorder), thus allowing for more tracks to be added. (This was how we used to turn an 8 track recorder into a poor man's 14 track, or more). 6. Be able to operate this program/application "off-line"/without an internet connection, from time to time, when and where connectivity may be an issue. 7. Lastly, not have to spend a small fortune to buy and operate this recorder. Any help or advice from those of you who are currently using these types of multi track digital recorders, would be greatly appreciated.

What do you call a man with no arms and legs on your doorstep? Matt What do you call the same guy in the water? Bob What do you call him when he's tied behind a speedboat? Skip What do you call a dog with no legs? Nothing. He isn't coming no matter what you call him.

Two guys walk into a bar. The third guy ducked.

Just got my "loaded" Fender pick guard in the mail. It is a 3 ply WBW with Tex-Mex single coils and Fender electronics/pots. They call the color "Parchment", and the knobs look to be off white. It is MIM, btw. Hopefully I can find a few hours to install it before New Years.

Here is a better picture. Apparently, there is no "edit" function available anymore. I wanted to simply replace the pic in my original post, but nooooooo.

Per the back of the headstock, my Squier was "crafted" in Indonesia.

I have never owned a Stratocaster. The only "Fender" I have is a tiny Starcaster Strat, which a friend bought for my daughter when she was born. She never wanted to learn to play, so she gave it to me. Despite it being "set-up" and somewhat playable, it is more of a curiosity and rarely gets touched. I do own a '96 US made G&L Legacy HSS, which plays great and is "Strat-esque". But, even with it's coil-split switch for the bridge Seymour Duncan Humbucker, it fails to produce the complete single coil tone that a SSS strat can. Don't get me wrong, the neck and middle SD single coils meet and exceed all my tonal expectations, and the Humbucker truly delivers in the double coil mode, (and is adequate in the single coil mode.). However, I eventually wanted a SSS Fender strat, which would provide it's unique tonal offering, that was absent in my current collection. My daughter turned 18 on Dec. 1st, and being a good dad with a great daughter, I spent a good bit of money on her big day. She is also heading off to the University of Alabama's Aerospace Engineering school next fall, and her tuition/housing costs (which I will be paying) are beginning now. With Christmas fast approaching, the last thing I was considering was buying another guitar. That was until Fender sent me an offer on a Limited Edition Squier Sonic Stratocaster HT for $126.00 + tax and free shipping. Yup, nothing is more tempting than a urine yellow, poplar bodied, ceramic single coiled, hardtail, base model Squier "Strat", manufactured with parts and labor costs below $126.00 US per unit. But hey, it does say Fender on the headstock, albeit in tiny print below the large "Squier" logo. It was in my hands 3 days after I inexplicably clicked the "submit order" button. After 4+ hours of filing/polishing every fret end, 2 hours of action and intonation adjustments, 1 hour of pickup height adjustments, and 30 minutes removing the factory "9's" and restringing it with Ernie Ball "Fat Bottoms, Skinny Tops", I had a guitar that played great and sounded pretty good, (as long as I left the bridge p/u out of the mix). I just ordered a loaded pickguard with new Fender Tex-Mex single coils, for just over what the guitar cost, and I plan to have them in before the New Year. https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-series/squier-sonic/?prefn1=refinement-color&prefv1=Yellow&start=0&sz=12

Picked this pick up recently. It is made from a 1969 Kennedy half dollar, my birth year btw. Although the Artist who crafted it claims it is perfectly safe to use, I think it will just rest in my display of cool/unique picks I have acquired over the years.

This is my go to "multi tool", and it can fix ANYTHING!

Don't be fooled by the latest scam, like I was. I saw an ad for 70% off new snow tires when you buy 4. Since winter is right around the corner, this sounded like a good deal. So I scheduled an appointment and had 4 of them put on my car. They melted on the way home. 🤔

...into the future." How does time slip into the future? Apparently, for some recording artists, time slips into the future in the form of backing music for commercials and/or elevator/cust. service phone hold music. Movie/television soundtracks also account for some of these "future slips". A whole new generation was exposed to The Beatles via the movie "Yesterday" (2019) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yesterday_(2019_film) In 2016, the movie "Sing" slammed an even younger demographic with Jennifer Hudson's booming version of "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight", in the first scene of the film! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMgz9L-pj18 There are so many great tracks, by great artists, that I know well, despite not knowing the artist's name, (or even the song's name, sometimes). So, it makes me wonder if the kid who did not know who "Paul" was, would have recognized music by The Beatles, if he heard it? Getting "exposed" to "new to you", yet been around awhile, art, happens to many people in many ways each day.

I used to need a couple of days at Schlitterbahn to relax after a hard week. Lately, I need a week to relax after a hard couple of days at Schlitterbahn. (Three cheers for Hill Country!)

Um, a little warning next time would be nice regarding that link. I wrongly assumed it would lead to an article about said scam, and NOT lead directly to the scam site. (I had to provide a TON of my personal info there, after clicking that link, so I could get me a free guitar too. Wish me luck!) 🤪

Thou dost speak so eloquently, that me thinks ye be a necromancer, or a wizard. Are you a white wizard, a dark wizard, or a guitar salesman? 🙃

I remember when they called this, "Stealing candy from a baby.".

Acquired this amp when a college roommate decided to leave it in our apartment when he moved out. It was in great shape and I would use it as a "travelling" amp when I would spend time with old friends who had settled down far from me. It was light weight, tough as nails, and killed it with my tube screamer (808). I had no idea that I could "overdrive" this 15 watt, 2x8, solid state combo amp until a friend schooled me about it's "high, mid, low", switch, (set to high) and cranking it's Vol knob above 8. Surprisingly, this thing produces "warm fuzz" quite well. I had always treated this solid state combo as a embarrassing, but functional piece of kit. I under estimated it. Traynor TS-15, 2x8, combo amp

What it the difference between "ooh" and "ahh"? About three inches.

I notice they keep getting thinner.