tombo

Shawn Colvin .....man I wish I could play like that!

Mine doesn't look like a lunchbox... How'd ya do that??? Was it costly? Easy? Hard?

Japanese sen is (as described by a Japanese store owner friend) kind of like ash. As has been mentioned above, it's native to Japan. Gotta love the lawsuit era Grecos. Here's my '79 Super Sound strat copy. It's got Seymour Duncan Antiquity II 60's Surfers in it (Custom Bridge, RW/RP middle, and neck model). These pickups transformed this guitar from a "nice for a Japanese copy" to "excellent, regardless of brand or country of origin strat." It really is THAT good! I had a set of Van Zandts in there (Rock, Vintage +, Vintage +) (←　got a deal on them, and was able to return them with no loss) and they were fine pickups. However, the 60's Surfers are just sooooo sweet. Don't let the "surf" moniker fool ya. They can do blues, rock, and country just fine, but I've found that they nail Robert Cray and Mark Knopfler sounds. Here's some pictures (not very good ones though): You can see in this picture below where the pickgaurd had to be drilled to accommodate the modern 5-way switch. Position 1 is where the old screw used to be.

Another +1 to Chris's post. I love Hamers, but I prefer bolt-ons. Tom Anderson's are at the top of my list. YMMV

Happy B-day!

Trivial, but still on topic: The solo for Paul McCartney's "No More Lonely Nights" was by D.G. using a Fender Super Champ (tracked a bunch of times). I think I read that in an old GP magazine, IIRC.

Shhhh.....DavidE........Elixirs ARE D'Addarios. I use the Elixirs on my Tom Andersons and D'Addario .10s on my Jpns. Strat. I actually like the tone of the D'Ads when they get a bit old, but they last about 5 hours for me. They stay on the strat about 20 hours cuz I'm lazy.

+1. Another +1. I like him a lot. I like all four CDs I have by him - Continuum, Live, Heavier Things, and Room For Squares. I'm in agreement with Austin on this. Why all the animosity? Read Austin's points 1 - 5, plus he's played on-stage with E.C., Buddy Guy, et al, and he's got Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino in his band. For Jettster: I like Joe Bonamassa too, but even though J.B. might be more "in your face", I think J.M. is a better songwriter. It seems everything I hear by J.B. is him playing "in the style of ______" and I'm not just talking in the style of SRV or whatever. It's like "here's my shuffle, here's my funky thing, here's my slow Tin Pan Alley thing, here's my acoustic resonator thing." All expertly played, but I wonder: Where's your Joe Bonamassa thing?????? Yes, J.M. will play SRV solos on occasion, but his songs are what sets him apart. Continuum is really a nice album, ymmv. Note to Chris M.: You will soon have"Continuum" in your CD collection with the Japanese bonus tracks (live stuff with S.J. & P.P.)

In that price range, Larrivee. I like Taylor, Ovation, and Martin too. Lots of good acoustic makers out there. Handmade? I think you can get a Morgan for about $1,800 - $2,000. They are so nice and he (David Ianonne) doesn't make that many a year. Go to their homepage and check out his story. http://www.morganguitars.com

Camstone, Paul builds great amps. My favorite builder of two channel amps. The Quiana would be high on my list, except that as others have mentioned...you better be able to carry it. Watch out for the new Venus 6 and Venus 3 (the supposed NEW Super Champ). The 3 hasn't been announced yet, but they will. Just talked to Paul last week.

Not trying to be a dick, but.... I could ship one, but I won't. I could ship one, but the guitar's fate would be the same - not delivered. Not a good situation for anybody. They are copies, and would be dealt with as copies by U.S. customs. How they know these things boggles my mind I mean, wouldn't that be a decent job for working musician who hasn't quite made the big time yet so they need a day job? "U.S. Customs Musical Instrument Inspector." The one I saw Saturday is bound for England. Repeat customer. He also has a Tokai 335 copy (new).

While I think that particular auction is WAY overpriced, the top end Tokai's are as good as it gets. I would put my 2003 LS-320 (which was the top model at that time) up against any Gibson R9. Yeah, it was pricey, but it was less than half of what a simlar R9 (with Brazillain Rosewood Fretboad) would have cost. It **IS** waaaaay overpriced. Just saw a new one, still in the the wrapping paper and just out of the box, on Saturday. $3,114 plus about $200 shipping. Too bad they (the store) can't ship to the U.S.

DG makes great guitars. I'm even considering one myself (or an Anderson, or a Suhr, or a Hamer.....too many choices). I'm a big Tom Anderson fan, but as Mike Lee said, DG makes the most "vintage" of all the small builders (Anderson, Suhr, Tyler, Grosh, etc.). I couldn't think of a way to say "small builders", but my definition of small is about 800 guitars a year, which is what Anderson makes. Yup, there's much smaller operations, but let's not nitpick. Anyway, go to the Grosh site and check out the galleries. Amazing stuff. Oh, and he doesn't use the Buzz Feiten system. This could be a plus or minus. Your call.

I like John Mayer a lot (as BD noted, no apoligies are necessary...thank you BD). However..... "Slowhand Jr.???????" I guess they need to sell magazines and get people talking on internet bulletin boards about how pathetic their choices were. I would have substituted Joe Bonamassa for JF. I think Derek Trucks will be up there with some of the greats one day. What a player! What a student also. Duke Robillard is in another league from them all (Check out "Duke's Blues" and "Dangerous Place."). He's not new by any means though....now back to the subject.

Thanks Mark (pluto). I couldn't have said it any better. Suhrs are great guitars Greg. I'd love to have one to go with my two Andersons. The Suhr line would make a great addition to your store along with Hamer. You'd have a great one-two punch and a great selection for the bolt-on crowd and the neck-thru crowd. edited to add: And don't forget Don Grosh either. Another great bolt-on guitar and another vibe. The most "vintage" of all of them (Anderson, Grosh, Suhr, Tyler) IMO.

How did everybody like Ted's Valvetech Hayseed 15?? I'm sure it ruled, but can I get some details on the tones?

I love Tom Anderson guitars! Everyone should have at least one Anderson and one Suhr. Both companies are great, both have their own thing going on.

Tanjoubi omedetou! Happy Birthday!

Cool See you on the Huge Racks board. I mainly troll, but post every once in a while.

Not trying to show you up or anything, but...... .....it wasn't a local cable TV show, it was a "special live" (as the Japanese call it) in Tokyo FM's studio (not a minor place by any means). Secondly, George Lynch is HUGE here in Japan. I'm quite sure the audience knew who he was. George's most recent visit was pretty productive. In addition to the jam with Char at Tokyo FM, he also did the Japan Musical Instruments Fair (jam session with the new "young gun" in Japan Takayoshi Omura ) and he's also featured in the January '05 Recording magazine with Char. BTW: Char has a shitload of cool Voxes, Carrs, Strats and Teles.

Yes, very observant (seriously). He proceeds to play every solo from "Tooth & Nail" over Hendrix and the Beatles :angry: Japanese fans want the player to be "as expected" with no punches from outta the blue. So, when Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Richie Kotzen, etc. etc. come here (and their careers DEPEND on Japan) they're almost "uber" themselves, in other words they personify whatever characteristics it is that they're known for as players about 50 times. I feel exactly the way RJoseph does, but I understand what these guys get paid to (have to) do.

Dave, the one thing about the studded leather necklace is she thinks it's cute. She's not trying to be "S&M woman." It's fashion. If you walk downtown here on any given weekend, you'd think it was a hooker's convention. It's not - they think they're being cute or fashionable and most of them dress for themselves, not to attract men. Weird place dude....weird. Sorry to go off on a tangent. Back to the subject: Char mentioned that the girl is 17. She can sing her ass off for 17. RJoseph: +1

The other guy's name is "Char." He's really good, but like every other Japanese guy his age his real desire is to be Eric Clapton. *edited to add: 1) Char sings in English like a homeless (looking) bass player dude I play with every once in a while at the local blues jam. Nice tone 2) George Lynch's playing = wanking, wanking, and more wanking.

Jimi B.B. Rocco Prestia (TOP bassist)

FYI, Michael Clark does Blackface too! Check out his Belmont! Also, what El Kabong said about the Allen is true. One of the worst amps I've ever heard.