sparquelito

Rest in peace, good and wonderful songwriter! 😔

Good morning, Thomasford. I'll certainly be on the lookout. God knows I spend enough time on Reverb and Craigslist, and prowling the pawn shops far and wide. I myself lost a few guitars in a burglary on Oahu. It was late 2000, early 2001. Also lost some handguns, wristwatches, and a museum replica broad sword. Never had any luck recovering anything, though USAA Insurance did a decent job of paying up for the losses at the time. Good luck in your quest. I know that it can be doubly maddening when you lose cherished guitars in such a way. (Anger-making for the loss, and also for the notion that some scum-bag actually broke into your flat and was walking around touching your things.) We'll all be on the watch, sir. 😐

1971 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe gold-top. Bought it used along with a Fender Twin Reverb amp, in 1976. Paid $700 for the whole kit and caboodle. I played in a garage band, and was an aspiring songwriter. Sold them both in 1978 when I went off to Army Basic Training. My girlfriend (future ex-wife) talked me into selling them at the time, though I really didn't want to. She said, "Army helicopter pilots don't play guitar and write songs anyway." Stupid, stupid me. 🤨

Man, I don't know. The 1979 Gibson Flying V II is mighty ugly. 😔

Thanks for posting that video, Murph!! I myself just love well-made, solidly-build vehicles. The brand never mattered much to me, though I must confess, I never found myself owning a Chrysler product. Can't say why exactly. I was always a fan of the Dodge Challengers back in the day. Upon reflection now; The cars I grew up with, and did my driver's training in: 1963 Chevrolet Nomad Wagon 1965 Chevrolet Corvair 1969 Ford Maverick 1971 Chevrolet van (motocross motorcycle-hauling vehicle) 1974 Mercury Capri II Ghia These are the vehicles that I have actually owned and enjoyed in my adult lifetime. (&&&& = purchased brand new) 1974 Ford Pinto 1975 Oldsmobile Omega 1972 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser Wagon 1984 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1988 Buick Regal 1982 Mercedes 500 (German specs, my ex-wife's car while in Germany) 1993 Cadillac Sedan DeVille (the 1st wife got it in the divorce) 1992 Mercury Capri (bought it for my daughter) 1994 GMC Sierra SL pickup truck 1994 Ford Ranger pickup truck 1999 Mazda Miata (bought it for my current wife when we got married) 2003 Subaru Baja Sport 2006 Audi TT rag-top (my wife's next car) 2000 BMW Z3 rag-top (the used car she drives now, after she wrecked the Audi) 2019 Ford Transit Connect cargo van (my daily driver now) I'm gonna shut up now. 😔

Thank you for that IanHenry. That was lovely. 🫠

I am a weirdo. I pronounce Ibanez, "EE - bahn - yez". I knew a female Army NCO named Ibanez, and she pronounced it that way. Who am I to argue?? PS She was one sexy little minx. I'm gonna shut up now. 😔

I used to drink quality bourbon, and then had to give it up because I liked it too much. And I would wake up on the hallway floor at one in the morning, wondering why the front door was open. Same later on with quality, pricey dark beers. They were putting weight on me. I had to go low-carb in my overall diet, to lose some weight and keep it off, and that included the craft beers. Sadly, it's down to Miller Lite as far as best flavor and carb ratio. And I think it's "the beer aisle" not isle. Unless that a colloquial euphemism for something I'm not familiar with. 😗

Tell me about it! Miller Lite is up to $21.50 for a 15 pack at Publix. It's highway robbery I tell ya!! (Oh, and God save the King.) 😉

Well. So I made a bit of an improvement to the old BFG. I ordered a gold tortoise-shell pickup cover the other week, (from Guitars Electric LTD, Tettenhall, Wolverton, UK) and did a little crafting and painting to make that bridge humbucker look just right. Remember that the previous owner had taken the zebra burstbucker out, and installed an all-black Gibson 500T. I love the sound of the 500T, but the overall look, the aesthetic of the rough-and-ready BFG was just not the same. With the addition of the pickup topper, all is well in the world now!! It took some drilling, painting, and mild relic'ing to make the topper look aged, period-correct, and semi-authentic. I'm gonna shut up now. 🤔

Never sawr his TV show, but I have managed to catch a few notable clips on this computer over the years. Not my thing, to be honest. I seek peace and an absence of drama in my life, and that show seemed to be all about promoting drama, hyping drama, and fomenting drama. My personal theory about the 'success' of his show; Most people have things that are wrong in their lives. Some people have REALLY screwed up lives, and jacked up relationships. Dysfunctional families, in one way or another. People could watch that show, and witness the nonsense and the drama, and laugh. Laugh, comforted in the knowledge that, "Boy my life is a mess, but it ain't as bad as THESE PEOPLE have it! These people have it a lot worse than I do!" And that is a good thing, right? Rest in peace, old Jerry. You left a mark on this world, I reckon. 🤔

Wow. Very nice!! 🙂

Great guitar, congrats!! I'm a big fan of Ibanez. Always have been. My brother has one quite similar to that. In the black finish, of course. I restrung it for him last year, and cleaned it up real pretty. Fabulous instrument. 🙂

Sounds like the right move, Duane V. Me, I'm a big fan of digital drum kits. (Roland and Alesis both. Love them.) I don't have much experience with Simmons, except for their excellent drum amps/monitors. More control over the sound, excellent dynamics, and unbelievable versatility. Best of all, MUCH easier to load in and out of the gig, and super simple to direct line them into the PA head. A lot of drummers insist on using a real acoustic snare with the digital kit, but that adds mic'ing complications and so on. I'm gonna shut up now. 🙁

While you're waiting, Guitar God, please enjoy this Brian Wilson gem from his solo album back from 1988. Headphone on, a real transporting experience. Some background on the song: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_(song) And the song itself:

Two awesome shredders. I really enjoy their interview videos and lessons. I must confess though, Paul Gilbert's interviews and lessons grab me and stick with me. No slight to Marty Friedman, but Paul is one weird, wonderful teacher. 🙂

I got tickets for my wife and I to see James Taylor at The Orion Amphitheater here on June 20th. Very exciting! 😉

I don't know. They all look a lot better than ME, that's for sure. Great rock. 🙂

Thanks for the recommend, m-e, and for the thoughtful review! 🙂

Only the finest cuts of beef, pork, and chicken parts go into those quality inlays. I approve. 😃

Very, very nice!! Such a wonderful collection as well. 😉

Prayers to you, Mutha. And to your mate, Noel, and his family. God Bless you all. We have lost band-mates, siblings, and in-laws over the past five years. Almost too many to name. It's crazy how many have passed recently. Words were spoken at various services, but no music performed. Save one; My sister in law Peg. She got clean and sober in her last year or two on earth, and was on the straight and narrow. I used to go visit her at various rehab facilities and halfway houses, over the years. When she died in her sleep a year and a half ago, it was just that her poor little body just finally gave out. I'm glad it was peaceful, by all accounts. At her funeral service (a proper Catholic Funeral Mass), I volunteered to sing Amazing Grace. And the Father and the Deacon and the musical director actually let me. It was beautiful. I played a borrowed Gibson acoustic, and sang it in the high D major, in the Irish fashion. Not a dry eye in the entire church. All the remaining Irish-American siblings were lost in prayer, as precious few of them are anymore. Her ex-husband Johnny just sat back and closed his eyes, and softly sang along. His countenance looked to me like he was remembering better times, 25+ years earlier in time. 😴

I know a fellow who dated a lady who had briefly been in an extramarital affair with a fellow who was once a classmate of Marc Bolan at Northwold Primary School, Upper Clapton, back in the day, and this bloke said it was actually a Framus, with the 'Gibson' painted onto the head stock by the guy who used to drum for Gerry And The Pacemakers. But that's clearly not first-hand information, so I probably should not have shared that. Let's keep that between just us, okay? 🤫

A beautiful tribute to an extraordinary woman! Thank you for that, and all our condolences. 😥