Hello from the Great White North

[ZMAN]

Well I am a newbee to this forum, I am a regular on the FDP, Les Paul Forum and Gibson and Epi forums. I was talking to Steve aka Spudman and he mentioned this forum so I came over.
I have been a guitar enthusiast, notice I didn't say player for over 40 years. I have owned a 1968 SG special since 1969, and played a little self taught blues back then. Then in around 96 I started to get interested in it again.
I purchased a MIM Standard Strat and a Champ 110 amp. I started to find guitar tab books and started playing along with my favourite artists. I also began collecting a few Electrics and amps. I have a good cross section of Gibsons and Fenders. I have 8 Strats from 4 Squiers, a Deluxe Player Strat, a CIJ 68 Reissue a MIM 60th Ann. in Blizzard Pearl and a 50th Ann. Deluxe. I have a Gibson SG, Les Paul, ES335, and two Epis, an elitist Les Paul Custom and a Sheraton II in natural finish. I also have a Squier Master Series Esprit.
In the Amp category I have a Blues JUnior special edition, a 65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, A Blues Deluxe Reissue, and a Custom Vibrolux Reverb. As for Pedals I have mainly fulltone including a Mini Deja Vibe, OCD, Fulldrive II, and Fat Boost. For a little dirt I havd a Boss SD1 on my Furman board and to keep it all in tune I have a TU2 tuner and for some JIMI I have a Dunlop Cry Baby Wah.
My main influences are the King boys and the people who copy them best. Clapton, Buddy Guy, Gary Moore and the Vaughn brother.
I was able to retire early so I have lots of time to practice and play.
I live in the Niagara region in Ontario and have access to several good music stores and I travel extensivley in the US. So if you have any questions about any of my gear etc. let her rip. Because if I have any you will certainly hear from me.

[ted s]

Welcome Zman, nice load of gear you have there.
Niagara, I'm just up the "street" from you.
Did you ever see the arial photo of Spuds' gear ?

[just strum]

Welcome ZMAN, it's good to have you here. I pass through your area every few weeks on my way to Georgetown Ontario. I'm also one of those people that honeymooned there. Actually Niagara on the Lake and stayed at the Prince of Whales Hotel. We were there in June of blah blah blah and the place was empty. We went back with our kids about 8 years later and the place was packed as if a rock concert was being held there.

Well, I am sure Steve told you about the place and he's been around for some time (I'm somewhat of a newb here). I think you are going to like it here.

[sunvalleylaw]

Hi ZMan! Spud/Steve and I/Steve (relative neighbors out here in Idaho) were discussing you relative to the Squier Deluxes and the fact that you own a guitar identical to mine. I am a relative newb picking up guitar at all only a few years ago, and regularly only a year and 3/4 ago. Sure is fun though! I am a member over at FDP too, but almost never go over there. Good to have you here. Welcome!

[Algonquin]

Welcome to the Fret ZMAN.
Ted lives down the road from you, and I live down the road from Ted... we're practically neighbors!

[peachhead***]

Greetings, ZMAN- good to meetcha

[mrmudcat]

welcome

[warren0728]

welcome zman....this is a great forum....i think you will like it here....

ww :

note: this welcome copyrighted 2008...no unauthorized use of this welcome will be tolerated

[Robert****]

Welcome, that was a great intro! Good to see some more too!

You've got some sweet gear there, brotha.

Enjoy this place!

[tot_Ou_tard]

Long live the Kings!!!

Welcome Z-ster!

[Spudman***]

ZMAN
Welcome. I'm glad that you exposed yourself. tee hee

I sure appreciate all the gear input you've shared with me. Thanks. This is a great place to hang out and there is a ton of great information in the archives but don't hesitate to ask for anything.

Anyone that's as much of a gear-head as you are....needs to hang around here to keep some of the heat off of me!

Peace.

[sunvalleylaw]

Uh, I think you'll still be feeling the heat from those that know you.

[luvmyshiner]

Welcome aboard Zman. Any friend of Spuds is . . . in need of new friends (just pokin' Spudman: ).

[oldguy]

Welcome to TheFret, ZMAN! Glad you joined us all here...........looks like you've already got some great gear, and if you know Spuds, you can't be all bad....

[ZMAN]

Thanks guys for the warm welcome. I have been pretty selective in my grear purchases. As you guys know it HAS in the past been pretty pricey to buy gear in Canada. I am lucky enough to have a relative in Maine so I can travel and pick up gear in the US, or have gear sent to them from the online dealers when they are blowing items out the door. With the new Cannuck buck and reduced prices I have kind of been on a Gear rampage. In the last two months I have purchased 2 Squier Deluxes, a 65 Deluxe Reissue, and a Gibson Studio in fireburst. The prices were just too good to pass up.
I can remember oh so clearly when the US dollar was worth 135 Can.
And yes I have seen Spuds collection.
He was asking me about the Deluxe Squiers and I told him if he bought any more guitars he would need a bigger lawn! LOL.
Nice to see a bunch of Cannucks here. And like I said if you need any info on the gear I have fire away. I really like to do evaluations on gear and try to find the real good or bad qualities. I do a ton of research before I buy.

[magoo]

Welcome Z-Man.

[peachhead***]

Hey ZMan, it's your fault I've been checking out those new Deluxes. I saw your post in another thread and I've been drooling ever since. I wish they had different colors, though, although the Pearl White one is pretty sweet.
My local store has some pretty decent prices on some amps, and since they are a Fender dealer I would feel comfortable taking one I bought online there if I had any questions about the setup.
Just wanted to say thanks for the info! I'll take all the help I can get...

[sunvalleylaw]

Thanks guys for the warm welcome. I have been pretty selective in my gear purchases. . . . .

And like I said if you need any info on the gear I have fire away. I really like to do evaluations on gear and try to find the real good or bad qualities. I do a ton of research before I buy.

Since you mention it, and because of the different strats you have, I am curious of your impressions of your 60th. It was my first electric and I really have liked it. My initial reaction, as a brand new newb of a few months, appears here.

http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=1707

I thought it might be nice to have another owner's opinion in there.

[ZMAN]

Hey Sunvalley: It was kind of funny how I bought my 60th. I was actually looking for a Deluxe Powerhouse Strat with the mid boost circuit. I was looking at either a Black with Maple or a Blizzard Pearl with maple. The black was going to be my "Blackie" ala Clapton. While doing my research on them I saw the MIM 60th in the blizzard Pearl. I am a sucker for vintage tinted maple boards. The new MIM Standard strats had a total upgrade at the time to total shielding, better electronics and a solid trem block. When I heard that the guitar was basically a Jimmy Vaughn with the upgrades I was very interested. My local guy had become a Fulltone dealer and I had ordered a Mini Deja vibe pedal. When I went in to pick it up I casually asked him if he had seen the 60th yet. He said he had one in the back that he was thinking of keeping for himself. He said he had never seen a guitar with such a flamed neck. When he brought it out I was blown away. I have never seen such a flame on a production neck. Only on special orders and aftermarket necks. So I was a gonner. It was pretty hard to convince my wife that the guitar came with the pedal! LOL.
The reason I deal with this shop is that the guy I deal with is the best tech I have ever seen and I get him to set up all my guitars. I guess I lucked out in that he is a player and likes the same set up as me. As low as possible without buzzes and the trem screwed right down almost a hardtail. He always gives a free set up with a new guitar so I had 9.5 D'Addarios put on.
Overall I really like the guitar I love the tones you get with those Tex Mex pickups. The body is about 4 mm thicker than my 50th Ann. and has a very thick vintage tone. I have tried to get shots of the neck but I can't do it justice. I will try again and post some pics. Most of my Strat purchases have been for guitars that are kind of modded from the factory. I don't change anything on them and try to buy feature packed units.
If you have any specific things you want me to comment on just go ahead. I really like the 60th a lot.