Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
New wheels!!
So, after 14 years I felt I deserved a newer vehicle. I bought my old Ford F-150 new in 2001 with only 8 miles on the odometer! I babied that thing! Kept the oil changed regularly and the day I drove it to the dealership to trade in, it clocked over 237,000 miles! I think it's safe to say I got my money's worth out of it! Didn't go for a new one this time. I went for a well maintained, one-owner 2013 F-150 XLT 4X4. Love it!! Gotta get a bedliner and cover for it.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
GAS Strikes Again!!
OMG it's a chronic illness! Seriously!!! So many nice things out there!! Okay here's the latest items that have me breaking out in a cold sweat!
Production relic basses have always been a source of controversy. I admit, like a willow tree in a strong wind, my own feelings regarding them have swayed back and forth between like and dislike. I've finally come to see them as simply another finish option like any other. If there's substance along with style, then it's fine with me. Nash Guitars tout themselves as the "largest independent builder of aged guitars and basses" and are known for putting out the most pre-aged and reliced instruments in the world. I have to admit that a lot of their "heavy relic" instruments IMO miss the mark so to speak. They look too processed and the wear doesn't follow what (I've seen) naturally occurs with older, well-loved instruments. Their light and medium relic jobs however look very nice to me and hence the fist instrument in my new GAS ATTACK; The Nash Guitars JB-5...
This bass just "does it"for me. It hits all the right buttons on all the right places! This JB-5 has a swamp ash body with maple neck and fretboard. It sports a beautiful medium-relic, natural finish with 3-ply black pickguard and Lollar pickups. I'm not familiar with Lollars but videos I've watched online indicate they have a fantastic sound! I NEED THIS BASS!!
Item number two is a Fender Road Worn '50 Precision bass in Fiesta Red.
The Road Worn Jazz I got a few months back is one of the BEST basses I've ever owned! Period! Don't care where it was made, that bass has "IT". That's why I want one of the Precision basses in the line. I had originally wanted to get one with a 2 Tone Sunburst finish but after thinking about it I decided to pursue one in Fiesta Red because I want to make some changes to it. I want to swap out the gold pickguard for a tort one and get a replacement neck with a rosewood finger board. BANG!!!! Instant Pino Precision!!!
Production relic basses have always been a source of controversy. I admit, like a willow tree in a strong wind, my own feelings regarding them have swayed back and forth between like and dislike. I've finally come to see them as simply another finish option like any other. If there's substance along with style, then it's fine with me. Nash Guitars tout themselves as the "largest independent builder of aged guitars and basses" and are known for putting out the most pre-aged and reliced instruments in the world. I have to admit that a lot of their "heavy relic" instruments IMO miss the mark so to speak. They look too processed and the wear doesn't follow what (I've seen) naturally occurs with older, well-loved instruments. Their light and medium relic jobs however look very nice to me and hence the fist instrument in my new GAS ATTACK; The Nash Guitars JB-5...
This bass just "does it"for me. It hits all the right buttons on all the right places! This JB-5 has a swamp ash body with maple neck and fretboard. It sports a beautiful medium-relic, natural finish with 3-ply black pickguard and Lollar pickups. I'm not familiar with Lollars but videos I've watched online indicate they have a fantastic sound! I NEED THIS BASS!!
Item number two is a Fender Road Worn '50 Precision bass in Fiesta Red.
The Road Worn Jazz I got a few months back is one of the BEST basses I've ever owned! Period! Don't care where it was made, that bass has "IT". That's why I want one of the Precision basses in the line. I had originally wanted to get one with a 2 Tone Sunburst finish but after thinking about it I decided to pursue one in Fiesta Red because I want to make some changes to it. I want to swap out the gold pickguard for a tort one and get a replacement neck with a rosewood finger board. BANG!!!! Instant Pino Precision!!!
Lastly, I would like to get a Markbass New York 151 extension cabinet to pair with the CMD 151P Jeff Berlin combo amp I recently purchased. The Berlin is probably the BEST sounding combo anp I've ever played through and I think the addition of the extension cab would sound even better!!
Ahhh GAS... Thou art a heartless bitch! But I love you!!
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Amp Upgrade Status: Complete...... Maybe.
Oh! I realized I haven't posted an update on my amp/cabinet upgrade project yet. I know have three separate systems that (I believe) will cover most of my foreseeable gigs.
1. The small rig:
This rig consists of a Carvin BX250 micro Bass head at 250W @ 4Ω (200W @ 8Ω). I using it to push a Peavey 2X10 enclosure. This little head sounds great!
1. The small rig:
2. The medium "rig"
The next rig is actually a combo; the Mark Bass CMD 151P Jeff Berlin combo amp that I've been wanting for a long time. This is a GREAT sounding little rig with lots of power (500W @ 4Ω / 300W @ 8Ω).
The only thing it doesn't have is a built-in compressor. However, the Philosopher compressor should fill the need nicely.
3. The "Big Rig"
This rig consists of a Carvin BX1600 pushing my custom made Greenboy fEARless F112 cab. The cab is 8Ω and the head can provide up to 1,000W @ 8Ω when bridged! Gotta be careful that I don't push it too hard!
The clarity and punch of this cab is like nothing I've heard before!
Just a quick update....
Things are still slow lately on the music front. Nothing really new to add gear-wise. I just ordered a Pigtronix Philosopher Bass Compressor.
Should arrive in a couple of days.
Had the first practice with the guys in Stompbox. 4 of the 5 of us got together at SMC Studios and ran through some songs. It went better than any of us expected I think! Especially since we were sans the singer.
More to come.
Should arrive in a couple of days.
Had the first practice with the guys in Stompbox. 4 of the 5 of us got together at SMC Studios and ran through some songs. It went better than any of us expected I think! Especially since we were sans the singer.
More to come.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Finally, something to blog about!
Well it's been kinda quiet the last month or so but things in the gear department have finally picked up again thanks to Uncle Sam's yearly gear incentive.
The MarkBass CMD 151P Jeff Berlin signature combo amp finally manifested and I couldn't be happier with it! I bought it used ( always do when available) for about $425 less than what new one costs.
My only complaint is that I need to get one of those sticky lint rollers because the previous owner must have had a cat. At any rate, I'll give the thing a full "Brazilian" this weekend and find a cover for it.
On the horizon but unfortunately being held up by the "Snowpocalypse"....
....I was finally able to find a used Fender Road Worn Jazz bass in the "Fiesta Red" color that I've been wanting..
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I was able to get it at a KILLER price as well!! $425 less than the price of a new one! Couldn't believe it! It was supposed to have been delivered Tuesday, 2/17/15, but is in Limbo at the FedEx facility in Nashville. I wonder why companies like that don't have contingency plans for inclement weather. C'mon, FedEx!!
I guess it's because I'm getting older but I find I have less patience than I used to have. Oh well, not much I can do about it....
Finally, to round out my backline, I placed the order with Carvin for the BX1600 amp along with an AC120S Power Conditioner. This should give me all the "oomph" I need! Some other things on the horizon but I'll go into that a little later.
Stay warm!!!
The MarkBass CMD 151P Jeff Berlin signature combo amp finally manifested and I couldn't be happier with it! I bought it used ( always do when available) for about $425 less than what new one costs.
On the horizon but unfortunately being held up by the "Snowpocalypse"....
....I was finally able to find a used Fender Road Worn Jazz bass in the "Fiesta Red" color that I've been wanting..
I was able to get it at a KILLER price as well!! $425 less than the price of a new one! Couldn't believe it! It was supposed to have been delivered Tuesday, 2/17/15, but is in Limbo at the FedEx facility in Nashville. I wonder why companies like that don't have contingency plans for inclement weather. C'mon, FedEx!!
I guess it's because I'm getting older but I find I have less patience than I used to have. Oh well, not much I can do about it....
Finally, to round out my backline, I placed the order with Carvin for the BX1600 amp along with an AC120S Power Conditioner. This should give me all the "oomph" I need! Some other things on the horizon but I'll go into that a little later.
Stay warm!!!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Fearless F112 Deposit sent!
Okay, well I've gone and done it! Dropped the deposit for the Fearless F112 cab tonight and it should be finished in approximately 6 weeks! Went with the basic black model because, well as you know black goes with everything!! "Everything" meaning rock, metal, blues, funk. gospel, etc. I can see this setup (once complete with the proper amp/head), coupled with the Markbass CMD 151P combo satisfactorily fulfilling all my gigging needs unless my situation changes drastically!
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Amplifier upgrade.
Here's something I may need to address before adding another bass. There are a couple of amplifier set ups that I'd like to have in order to satisfy any possible gigging scenarios.
1. MarkBass CMD 151P Jeff Berlin Signature Combo.
I really admire Jeff as a musician and bassist. He's very outspoken when it comes to formal training to be the best musician you can be. He founded the Player's School of Music in Clearwater Florida and I hope to be able to attend one day. If nothing else, I'd like to attend their One Week Intensive session. At 300 watts, this should be able to handle most situations that come along. Here's a great demo by the man himself.
2. Greenboy Audio fEARless f112
My dream cab! These are not mass produced cabinets. They're not churned out by the hundreds daily at some factory in a foreign country. They're made-to-order and use the highest quality parts and materials available; 12-millimeter, 9-ply Baltic birch plywood for the enclosure, a 12" Eminence Kappalite LF woofer, a 5" FaitalPro midrange driver and a variety of finished, covers and grills. Here's a video demonstration by Ed Friedland.
To drive this incredible enclosure I'd like to get a MarkBass Little Mark 800 head (800 watts in a 6.31 pound package), and just for some variety, a BBE BMAX preamp coupled with a Carvin HD3000 power amp.
1. MarkBass CMD 151P Jeff Berlin Signature Combo.
I really admire Jeff as a musician and bassist. He's very outspoken when it comes to formal training to be the best musician you can be. He founded the Player's School of Music in Clearwater Florida and I hope to be able to attend one day. If nothing else, I'd like to attend their One Week Intensive session. At 300 watts, this should be able to handle most situations that come along. Here's a great demo by the man himself.
2. Greenboy Audio fEARless f112
My dream cab! These are not mass produced cabinets. They're not churned out by the hundreds daily at some factory in a foreign country. They're made-to-order and use the highest quality parts and materials available; 12-millimeter, 9-ply Baltic birch plywood for the enclosure, a 12" Eminence Kappalite LF woofer, a 5" FaitalPro midrange driver and a variety of finished, covers and grills. Here's a video demonstration by Ed Friedland.
To drive this incredible enclosure I'd like to get a MarkBass Little Mark 800 head (800 watts in a 6.31 pound package), and just for some variety, a BBE BMAX preamp coupled with a Carvin HD3000 power amp.
Back home and sounding great!
I got my Lakland Skyline 55-60 back from Tom Shepard tonight. Finally, all the mods are done, the guitar is back together, I strung it up with a fresh set of Dunlop nickel strings (45 ~ 130), and got to play it tonight for the first time in months. It sounds terrific! I couldn't be happier with the way she turned out. The EMG J5s really made a difference. Great tone, clarity and definition; everything it was lacking before. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to make an upgrade.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Fender Road Worn series basses
Another bass that has caught my eye recently is the Fender Road Worn 60's Jazz. These are import models but everything I've read online (including high praises from Mr. Ed Friedland) has been positive. Maybe soon!
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Cologne
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Cologne
Here is a great-smelling cologne that wont break the bank!
Here is a great-smelling cologne that wont break the bank!
Sunday, January 4, 2015
More EMG goodness coming!
My next project will be modding my ESP LTD fretless with a nice set of EMG 40DC humbuckers and a BQS three band EQ.
Time for a facelift!
Modification time! Ordered a set of EMG J5s and got them installed into my Lakland Skyline 55-60. The stock electronics sounded lifeless! I wanted to keep it completely passive but had to settle for a hybrid active pups / passive tone control setup. Can't wait to hear how it sounds. Got it out at T. Shepard Guitars letting Tom take a look at the neck and install a battery box.
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