Discovering the music......whats your story?

[kiteman]

My vote for sticky !!!

Agreed, We are unique!

The Ventures is what got me excited and I told my dad I want a guitar for Xmas. I was ten at the time and when Xmas rolled around there was an F-holed acoustic guitar under the tree.

And that's not all, I also got a "Play with the Ventures" album with 4 songs on it. What a cool dad.

Now the Beatles comes around and I wanted an electric guitar. My mom bought me an Airline 335 copy from Wards and a Silvertone piggyback amp from Sears.

In jr high I met some friends and we got together to play.

"We are the Brazen Men!"

[wingsdad]

Agreed, We are unique! ...

Ah...but with so much in common, we are not alone. There's a tie that binds

Kiteman, you're 58...I'm 59...and the parallel paths of the beginning of our musical journey are uncanny: From the spark of the Ventures (you were 10, I was 11...so it was 1961), to the kickstart of that first band with Jr. High buddies inspired by the Beatles, that Silvertone amp (I wanted that piggyback, but had to settle for the $80 1x12 combo).

A little difference...I had moved from the $13 Silvertone acoustic to my first electric rig by 13 -- a 3/4 scale 2 pickup Chicago-made Harmony solid body (available from Sears catalog as a Silvertone) with a used Kay combo amp -- for $125 from a little local store, money loaned by my mom that I paid back from a paper route, cutting lawns and snow shoveling. Winning a Jr. High Battle of the Bands with that little rig justified another loan & payback, though, ...for a Gibson ES330 ($260) and a Fender Deluxe Reverb ($169). This time, payback was accelerated with scoring a pretty steady stream of gigs at the local Rec Center, Jr High Dances, House parties...usually for around $50...split 4 ways. Our parents took turns hauling us back & forth.

[kiteman]

Ah...but with so much in common, we are not alone. There's a tie that binds

Kiteman, you're 58...I'm 59...and the parallel paths of the beginning of our musical journey are uncanny: From the spark of the Ventures (you were 10, I was 11...so it was 1961), to the kickstart of that first band with Jr. High buddies inspired by the Beatles, that Silvertone amp (I wanted that piggyback, but had to settle for the $80 1x12 combo).

A little difference...I had moved from the $13 Silvertone acoustic to my first electric rig by 13 -- a 3/4 scale 2 pickup Chicago-made Harmony solid body (available from Sears catalog as a Silvertone) with a used Kay combo amp -- for $125 from a little local store, money loaned by my mom that I paid back from a paper route, cutting lawns and snow shoveling. Winning a Jr. High Battle of the Bands with that little rig justified another loan & payback, though, ...for a Gibson ES330 ($260) and a Fender Deluxe Reverb ($169). This time, payback was accelerated with scoring a pretty steady stream of gigs at the local Rec Center, Jr High Dances, House parties...usually for around $50...split 4 ways. Our parents took turns hauling us back & forth.

Man, that's just amazing, we're soul brothers.

You almost described my life. I did pretty much the same thing as to cutting grass, odd jobs for older folks, etc. We played at birthday parties, talent shows, and school functions.

My bandmate never did like me playing Pipeline with reverb and tremolo. I thought that was cool. I was really impressed with that piggyback.

[wingsdad]

Man, that's just amazing, we're soul brothers.

You almost described my life. I did pretty much the same thing as to cutting grass, odd jobs for older folks, etc. We played at birthday parties, talent shows, and school functions.

My lawn & snow shoveling customers were off my paper route...$5 a lawn/driveway...I loved big all-day snowfalls, cuz I'd get at least 3 shots..am, pm, then next am. There were about 6 of us bands in a public school that had about 300 kids/grade. Each band had its 'niche that was the bulk of their repertoire: a Who band, Stones band, Beatles band, Beach Boys/Surf instros...mine was more eclectic...a little of all of those, and we covered stuff that the others wouldn't touchStax/Volt/Memphis soul, Motown (as covered by the Beatles, and a little twisted, like doing Vanilla Fudge's 'You Keep Me Hangin' On'), the Raiders, Grass Roots, Left Banke, Blues Magoos, ? & The Mysterians, Mitch Ryder...then Cream, Procol Harum, the Doors, but NO Hendrix!...we won most 'Battle of the Bands' gigs, cuz we covered all the 'demographics', not just a core.
....

My bandmate never did like me playing Pipeline with reverb and tremolo. I thought that was cool. I was really impressed with that piggyback.

And how about rocking' the amp to get the reverb tank to crackle & splash, to kick off 'Wipe Out'?

Wingsdad, man you are one lucky guy. To be that close to havind an actual chance at The Beatles....

And NOT ever see them in concert : 25 minutes from NYC, 45 minutes from Shea Stadium...90 minutes from Woodstock (without the traffic jam), and I skipped on that, too....I had pre-season football practice to work out for...didn't find out what pot or drugs were til mid-college...