Duff
September 1st, 2008, 03:10 AM
I don't think I ever introduced myself.
I live in Central Pa., Amish country and a throwback in time about twenty years but it is cool in a way; but not many very good bands around. You have to travel.
I played drums for years and still do. When I retired, I'm 58, I bought my first decent electric guitar and amp and started taking lessons. I don't get enough lessons in but I practice every night, often falling asleep with the guitar across my chest. I have an amp at the head of my bed. I play several guitars and play a lot of different ones instead of settling in on one or two. They all sound super great. I picked out some nice guitars. All moderately priced but priceless to me. Right now I'm playing with my new Squire Standard Cherry burst sss standard strat and it is really nice. I am also playing tonight my free affinity strat that I hot rodded with SD pups; hot rail in the neck, 'lil 59 in the middle, and JB Jr. in the bridge - a combination recommended by the tech at SD and one I was thinking about because I like to use the neck for some smooth blues and the strings have more amplitude over the neck pup. Works great for me.
I am electronically inclined and enjoy working on putting in my own pups, etc. I am mostly a hobbist and sit in with some friends bands now and then. I learned drums from a pro friend of mine who is awesome. I also have a personal friend who collects vintage drums and has a small shop if you are interested in or have a pressing need for a certain hard to find drum part. I might be able to help you out. Give you his number, etc. Mention my name and you will get better than a fair shake, even though I'm not affilliated with him in any way other than as a friend. I know how old drum parts can be hard to find. Don't hesitate to call me. 570 764 5705 or at mjbolduc@dejazzd.com.
I have travelled around and have many muscian friends some of whom are semi professional and have played with major acts. I still enjoy seeing a great band in a small place and even some not so great bands in real small and even some super red neck places where you have to watch your step totally and it's easy to mess up and messing up could get you hurt in a hurry; cowboy type places. I mind my own business for the most part and don't drink, that helps. I prefer rock however and caught a hot local band in upstate NY just recently that rocked the house. Lots of super nice babes in there too if you don't mind me saying.
I enjoy playing the blues most especially both on the drums and on the guitar. I have the gift of God on the drums, know what I mean? I can play drums with no problem, figure stuff out without thinking. With guitar I am getting better, developing my ear significantly, but still need lessons and will probably never be as talented as I am at drums. Consequently, I just recently bought a set of three pro Conga drums on a close out at Dale's Drum Shop, Sonor's in beautiful sunburst, pro sizes: 12.5, 11.75, and 11.00. Might get a 9.75. They were a special deal at 100 +/- each including basket stands. This is a really good price for chrome trimmed approx. 3/4 inch thick wood stave conga drums. Buffalo skin heads. You should hear the tones. The set of three really supercedes the standard set of two you commonly see and you can play them late at night without disturbing anyone and you can really, really develop your rythym.
I found that my drumming experience has definitely helped me with guitar. I don't even have to tap my foot because I have an inherent time clock in my head that allows me to jump out of time and do riffs and stuff and still come right back in, in time. It is amazing and really messes up my instructor. I don't think he realizes it. Plus the rythym transfers over into strumming. Right now I'm developing a jam that I do that is kind of a metaphor of a big long freight train rollin out over the great plains at various speeds including very fast; if you have ever seen or heard a fast freight train rolling accross the great plains or midwest you know what I mean.
I remember the days when Elvis and the Beach Boys were beating out the
Beatles on the radio popularity contests: that didn't last long. I remember when Brian Jones was the leader of the Rolling Stones. I remember when Jimi Hendrix was rocking the house in NYC when a black man couldn't dring out of the same water fountain down South. I remember when Dwayne Allman revolutionized rock with the introduction of Southern Rock and Gregg Allman hitchhiked to NYC and went from pennilessness to fame and big money literally overnight: Dwayne Allman had connections in NYC as a studio muscian and they wanted to promote "the next big thing" Southern Rock and Gregg Allman became the keyboardist and lead singer against the wind so to speak. The producers didn't like brothers in bands back then. Lot of trouble I guess. They were wrong, eh? I remember when Led Zepplin broke all the stereotypes and when Bob Dylan culture shocked the Fold world going electric. I rember when Jethro Tull blew my mind and Chicago was super great and Blood Sweat and Tears had Al Kooper in it as the keyboard player and singer, get that album if you can: red label. That was a different Blood Sweat and Tears, believe me. I rember when you got lit and the whole world was going off like a roman candle and the sounds didn't sound the same but you could find ones like Dylan that would get your complete attention, and Elton John who just fit right between the wavelengths, smooth and in time. And the cops were out to get you, but they usually didn't know what they were looking for, ha ha. How'd that Buffalo Springfield song go: "There's a man with a gun over there, telling you that you gotta be ware . . . ." What was that all about? You had to live it. People don't know what it was like.
I always had an old funky guitar that didn't look any good at all and didn't even sound that great, but I tried my hardest to get an uneducated tune out of it. Had plenty of chances and friends that would have given me lessons but just didn't want to. What was wrong with me?
Today I love to take lessons and I definitely believe that you'll get a thousand times better a thousand times faster if you take lessons. I'm sure a lot of you all know what I mean. No man is an island so to speak.
I have a bunch of guitars I collected and amps, all fairly good stuff by my reckoning: a HRDx, a Delta Blues 15, a Blackheart head, V Jr. head. Epi V Jr cab, Epi So Cal cab, Vox pathfinder 15 and DA5, Fender Super Champ XD, Behringer GM110(excellent and cheap) from audioallies 98 US, no affilliation, Crate Flexwave 15R, Rogue 120 two twelve, Fender Rumble 100. Marshall bass amp MB30 (smooth). Various guitars that I will be posting pictures of due to good natured pressure from my fellow fretters and my latent laziness. I'm going to take some of them outside on my deck and get some nice sunlight pictures, the best light. I'm also going to figure out how to post some clips and share some of my raggeddy rock and rollin'. No harm done I don't suppose, unless you are a perfection fanatic; won't be finding it from me, I'm a rock and roller. And not that great of a one but I love it, so don't be too critical please. I'm just a dude with a fantasy, Mr. Fantasy I guess. But it's fun and there is a lot worse thing a dude could do.
Oh yeah, I also ride motorcycles, so that makes me even more of an undesirable outlaw. Got a nice '00 BMW Roadster, fast as you'd want to go and handles like a magic carpet.
So, that's a small window into my self. And I think this here crew is a great bunch of people with whom I hope to share many pleasant hours discussing matters of common interest and sharing information that we all need.
Thanks for being there for me.
Duffy
Winfield, Pa
mjbolduc@dejazzd.com
Pictures to follow very shortly. Some nice ones too.
I live in Central Pa., Amish country and a throwback in time about twenty years but it is cool in a way; but not many very good bands around. You have to travel.
I played drums for years and still do. When I retired, I'm 58, I bought my first decent electric guitar and amp and started taking lessons. I don't get enough lessons in but I practice every night, often falling asleep with the guitar across my chest. I have an amp at the head of my bed. I play several guitars and play a lot of different ones instead of settling in on one or two. They all sound super great. I picked out some nice guitars. All moderately priced but priceless to me. Right now I'm playing with my new Squire Standard Cherry burst sss standard strat and it is really nice. I am also playing tonight my free affinity strat that I hot rodded with SD pups; hot rail in the neck, 'lil 59 in the middle, and JB Jr. in the bridge - a combination recommended by the tech at SD and one I was thinking about because I like to use the neck for some smooth blues and the strings have more amplitude over the neck pup. Works great for me.
I am electronically inclined and enjoy working on putting in my own pups, etc. I am mostly a hobbist and sit in with some friends bands now and then. I learned drums from a pro friend of mine who is awesome. I also have a personal friend who collects vintage drums and has a small shop if you are interested in or have a pressing need for a certain hard to find drum part. I might be able to help you out. Give you his number, etc. Mention my name and you will get better than a fair shake, even though I'm not affilliated with him in any way other than as a friend. I know how old drum parts can be hard to find. Don't hesitate to call me. 570 764 5705 or at mjbolduc@dejazzd.com.
I have travelled around and have many muscian friends some of whom are semi professional and have played with major acts. I still enjoy seeing a great band in a small place and even some not so great bands in real small and even some super red neck places where you have to watch your step totally and it's easy to mess up and messing up could get you hurt in a hurry; cowboy type places. I mind my own business for the most part and don't drink, that helps. I prefer rock however and caught a hot local band in upstate NY just recently that rocked the house. Lots of super nice babes in there too if you don't mind me saying.
I enjoy playing the blues most especially both on the drums and on the guitar. I have the gift of God on the drums, know what I mean? I can play drums with no problem, figure stuff out without thinking. With guitar I am getting better, developing my ear significantly, but still need lessons and will probably never be as talented as I am at drums. Consequently, I just recently bought a set of three pro Conga drums on a close out at Dale's Drum Shop, Sonor's in beautiful sunburst, pro sizes: 12.5, 11.75, and 11.00. Might get a 9.75. They were a special deal at 100 +/- each including basket stands. This is a really good price for chrome trimmed approx. 3/4 inch thick wood stave conga drums. Buffalo skin heads. You should hear the tones. The set of three really supercedes the standard set of two you commonly see and you can play them late at night without disturbing anyone and you can really, really develop your rythym.
I found that my drumming experience has definitely helped me with guitar. I don't even have to tap my foot because I have an inherent time clock in my head that allows me to jump out of time and do riffs and stuff and still come right back in, in time. It is amazing and really messes up my instructor. I don't think he realizes it. Plus the rythym transfers over into strumming. Right now I'm developing a jam that I do that is kind of a metaphor of a big long freight train rollin out over the great plains at various speeds including very fast; if you have ever seen or heard a fast freight train rolling accross the great plains or midwest you know what I mean.
I remember the days when Elvis and the Beach Boys were beating out the
Beatles on the radio popularity contests: that didn't last long. I remember when Brian Jones was the leader of the Rolling Stones. I remember when Jimi Hendrix was rocking the house in NYC when a black man couldn't dring out of the same water fountain down South. I remember when Dwayne Allman revolutionized rock with the introduction of Southern Rock and Gregg Allman hitchhiked to NYC and went from pennilessness to fame and big money literally overnight: Dwayne Allman had connections in NYC as a studio muscian and they wanted to promote "the next big thing" Southern Rock and Gregg Allman became the keyboardist and lead singer against the wind so to speak. The producers didn't like brothers in bands back then. Lot of trouble I guess. They were wrong, eh? I remember when Led Zepplin broke all the stereotypes and when Bob Dylan culture shocked the Fold world going electric. I rember when Jethro Tull blew my mind and Chicago was super great and Blood Sweat and Tears had Al Kooper in it as the keyboard player and singer, get that album if you can: red label. That was a different Blood Sweat and Tears, believe me. I rember when you got lit and the whole world was going off like a roman candle and the sounds didn't sound the same but you could find ones like Dylan that would get your complete attention, and Elton John who just fit right between the wavelengths, smooth and in time. And the cops were out to get you, but they usually didn't know what they were looking for, ha ha. How'd that Buffalo Springfield song go: "There's a man with a gun over there, telling you that you gotta be ware . . . ." What was that all about? You had to live it. People don't know what it was like.
I always had an old funky guitar that didn't look any good at all and didn't even sound that great, but I tried my hardest to get an uneducated tune out of it. Had plenty of chances and friends that would have given me lessons but just didn't want to. What was wrong with me?
Today I love to take lessons and I definitely believe that you'll get a thousand times better a thousand times faster if you take lessons. I'm sure a lot of you all know what I mean. No man is an island so to speak.
I have a bunch of guitars I collected and amps, all fairly good stuff by my reckoning: a HRDx, a Delta Blues 15, a Blackheart head, V Jr. head. Epi V Jr cab, Epi So Cal cab, Vox pathfinder 15 and DA5, Fender Super Champ XD, Behringer GM110(excellent and cheap) from audioallies 98 US, no affilliation, Crate Flexwave 15R, Rogue 120 two twelve, Fender Rumble 100. Marshall bass amp MB30 (smooth). Various guitars that I will be posting pictures of due to good natured pressure from my fellow fretters and my latent laziness. I'm going to take some of them outside on my deck and get some nice sunlight pictures, the best light. I'm also going to figure out how to post some clips and share some of my raggeddy rock and rollin'. No harm done I don't suppose, unless you are a perfection fanatic; won't be finding it from me, I'm a rock and roller. And not that great of a one but I love it, so don't be too critical please. I'm just a dude with a fantasy, Mr. Fantasy I guess. But it's fun and there is a lot worse thing a dude could do.
Oh yeah, I also ride motorcycles, so that makes me even more of an undesirable outlaw. Got a nice '00 BMW Roadster, fast as you'd want to go and handles like a magic carpet.
So, that's a small window into my self. And I think this here crew is a great bunch of people with whom I hope to share many pleasant hours discussing matters of common interest and sharing information that we all need.
Thanks for being there for me.
Duffy
Winfield, Pa
mjbolduc@dejazzd.com
Pictures to follow very shortly. Some nice ones too.