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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Deliveries expected today have me excited.
My electric guitars closely resemble acoustic guitars with heavy strings and higher action. Hmmm… The dedication to a wound “G” is a very big deal and is a jump to a more acoustic guitar vibe.
So also big strings promote a more acoustic sound for me, and increased dynamics.
Early today when I woke up I kinda played finger style and pretty much a new door has opened. Kinda crazy. A bit slower than flat picking, less volume, but a very different tone that is fleshy and organic. Something very tactile that offers a different feeling, a bit softer, but the again a different expression.
If I could cover both bases well, pretty much I’d become a monster of a player. Now I kinda have an arsenal of proper guitars and amps to kinda pursue all of this.
Unknowingly I kinda got here. Perhaps I got dragged here, so here I am. Wow, how did this happen? Kinda like living in a dream…
I’m pretty much a flat pick with fingers guy, but now I’m on a threshold of sorts entering possibly another completely different, yet similar universe. Things can get big here, especially if I can learn to tuck a pick and switch seamlessly between the two styles on the fly which is huge dynamic range. Hmmm…
Things can really open up from here… Kinda explosive potential. I love it, What a space to be in. Mucho crazy. Things are accelerating.
So with a baritone neck even thicker strings are used, and getting tuners that can fit these mucho heavy strings is limited. Then Sperzel although dating back to 1978 still is a small shop in Ohio, and their production is limited and kinda comes in spurts, so availability is sporadic.
So last night is a new listing for black Sperzel individual tuners that have 0.78 holes that could accommodate 0.68 and 0.56 on a medium set of baritone strings. I bought the pair I need from a specialty shop in Pennsylvania that I discovered is a major Sperzel dealer.
Know that the 0.52 low “E” string is a tight fit already on my regular strings…
Then by luck I found a used listing for a set of lefty 6-inline black Sperzels in nice condition for about half the price of the going rate even for used sets. I’ll use 4 of these tuners to create a stagger so I won’t require a string tree, and I figure on the two tuners with the bigger bore I can add a post wrap on mucho thick strings to get the downward angle and pressure over the nut needed.
Mucho clever…
The baritone neck getting delivered today has a reverse headstock so the tuners mount as if a lefty guitar, the neck is right handed though, but the headstock is upside down a la Jimi Hendrix. Know that I learned that I can convert these tuners from left to right, so I could use them say for the distressed black hardtail strat.
So lots of problem solving, but lots of timely new listings make it an easy flow.
So the 1/4 inch turquoise dots on the fingerboard kinda might stand out on the black strat body, but I’ll see if the black tuners smooth things out. Who knows? Could be striking, could be garish, might not work… Oh-well…
Don’t forget the baritone neck has this amber coloring because it is roasted maple, and that it is riddled with bird’s eye figure. I guess I’ll see how loud looking this neck is when delivered. Should be visually a bit crazy. “Crazy is good,” I say, as I try to avoid being “extra-medium.”
What is becoming clear to me is a certain personality change that is kinda drastic. I’m a new Calvin of sorts that is perhaps more unstable, a bit more crazy, a bit more adventurous, that is definitely even more impulsive and in the moment. All this practice, which is kinda structured and rigid, has kinda liberated me, and I guess the real me is emerging.
Pure creativity, and following impulse and intuition. Perhaps real living.
The Candy Apple Red Strat has a trem, and the 12-52’s I use require mucho force to balance the string tension of these heavy strings. There is a struggle here that compromises the trem. Very stiff and requires lots of force, I could but a longer trem arm for more leverage, but then more movement is required to sweep the range of the trem. Only $20.00 though…
So the CAR Strat might have to get degraded to a set of 11-48 gauge strings to exploit the trem. Oh-well. I might do that in my guitar shop part of my day. Playing a Strat certainly is mucho different for a Tele player, and having a trem in itself opens up possibilities.
I find the DeMarino with the Bigsby though to be the better vibrato system for me, it handles the mucho heavy strings better than the Strat trem.
BTW Fender calls their vibrato system a Tremolo, but it really is a vibrato.
Cal
My electric guitars closely resemble acoustic guitars with heavy strings and higher action. Hmmm… The dedication to a wound “G” is a very big deal and is a jump to a more acoustic guitar vibe.
So also big strings promote a more acoustic sound for me, and increased dynamics.
Early today when I woke up I kinda played finger style and pretty much a new door has opened. Kinda crazy. A bit slower than flat picking, less volume, but a very different tone that is fleshy and organic. Something very tactile that offers a different feeling, a bit softer, but the again a different expression.
If I could cover both bases well, pretty much I’d become a monster of a player. Now I kinda have an arsenal of proper guitars and amps to kinda pursue all of this.
Unknowingly I kinda got here. Perhaps I got dragged here, so here I am. Wow, how did this happen? Kinda like living in a dream…
I’m pretty much a flat pick with fingers guy, but now I’m on a threshold of sorts entering possibly another completely different, yet similar universe. Things can get big here, especially if I can learn to tuck a pick and switch seamlessly between the two styles on the fly which is huge dynamic range. Hmmm…
Things can really open up from here… Kinda explosive potential. I love it, What a space to be in. Mucho crazy. Things are accelerating.
So with a baritone neck even thicker strings are used, and getting tuners that can fit these mucho heavy strings is limited. Then Sperzel although dating back to 1978 still is a small shop in Ohio, and their production is limited and kinda comes in spurts, so availability is sporadic.
So last night is a new listing for black Sperzel individual tuners that have 0.78 holes that could accommodate 0.68 and 0.56 on a medium set of baritone strings. I bought the pair I need from a specialty shop in Pennsylvania that I discovered is a major Sperzel dealer.
Know that the 0.52 low “E” string is a tight fit already on my regular strings…
Then by luck I found a used listing for a set of lefty 6-inline black Sperzels in nice condition for about half the price of the going rate even for used sets. I’ll use 4 of these tuners to create a stagger so I won’t require a string tree, and I figure on the two tuners with the bigger bore I can add a post wrap on mucho thick strings to get the downward angle and pressure over the nut needed.
Mucho clever…
The baritone neck getting delivered today has a reverse headstock so the tuners mount as if a lefty guitar, the neck is right handed though, but the headstock is upside down a la Jimi Hendrix. Know that I learned that I can convert these tuners from left to right, so I could use them say for the distressed black hardtail strat.
So lots of problem solving, but lots of timely new listings make it an easy flow.
So the 1/4 inch turquoise dots on the fingerboard kinda might stand out on the black strat body, but I’ll see if the black tuners smooth things out. Who knows? Could be striking, could be garish, might not work… Oh-well…
Don’t forget the baritone neck has this amber coloring because it is roasted maple, and that it is riddled with bird’s eye figure. I guess I’ll see how loud looking this neck is when delivered. Should be visually a bit crazy. “Crazy is good,” I say, as I try to avoid being “extra-medium.”
What is becoming clear to me is a certain personality change that is kinda drastic. I’m a new Calvin of sorts that is perhaps more unstable, a bit more crazy, a bit more adventurous, that is definitely even more impulsive and in the moment. All this practice, which is kinda structured and rigid, has kinda liberated me, and I guess the real me is emerging.
Pure creativity, and following impulse and intuition. Perhaps real living.
The Candy Apple Red Strat has a trem, and the 12-52’s I use require mucho force to balance the string tension of these heavy strings. There is a struggle here that compromises the trem. Very stiff and requires lots of force, I could but a longer trem arm for more leverage, but then more movement is required to sweep the range of the trem. Only $20.00 though…
So the CAR Strat might have to get degraded to a set of 11-48 gauge strings to exploit the trem. Oh-well. I might do that in my guitar shop part of my day. Playing a Strat certainly is mucho different for a Tele player, and having a trem in itself opens up possibilities.
I find the DeMarino with the Bigsby though to be the better vibrato system for me, it handles the mucho heavy strings better than the Strat trem.
BTW Fender calls their vibrato system a Tremolo, but it really is a vibrato.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The black hardtail Strat is getting delivered today as well as the baritone neck.
We have the grandson, so other than unpacking, no guitar shop today, although I did set the pickup height and adjusted the pole pieces on the S-90 pickup on the DeMarino.
The pickup sits about 3/16th of and inch below the strings, and then I adjusted the pole piece’s individual height to balance the response. This is likely the most Gibson P-90’ish tone I ever set up using this pickup. For me I dumped a lot of the output by setting the pickup low.
There is the classic warmth and midrange of a P-90. This is great since the DeMarino inherently is a very bright guitar. BTW I’m digging the Bigsby. Works well with mucho heavy strings.
I expect the grandson will be excited when I unpack the neck and body when they get delivered. Right now he is sleeping.
If I have the chance I’ll replace the 12-52 gauge strings on the CAR Strat with 11-48 gauge to see how it plays. The trem is mucho stiff and is not really an asset. A set of 11’s might work…
Cal
We have the grandson, so other than unpacking, no guitar shop today, although I did set the pickup height and adjusted the pole pieces on the S-90 pickup on the DeMarino.
The pickup sits about 3/16th of and inch below the strings, and then I adjusted the pole piece’s individual height to balance the response. This is likely the most Gibson P-90’ish tone I ever set up using this pickup. For me I dumped a lot of the output by setting the pickup low.
There is the classic warmth and midrange of a P-90. This is great since the DeMarino inherently is a very bright guitar. BTW I’m digging the Bigsby. Works well with mucho heavy strings.
I expect the grandson will be excited when I unpack the neck and body when they get delivered. Right now he is sleeping.
If I have the chance I’ll replace the 12-52 gauge strings on the CAR Strat with 11-48 gauge to see how it plays. The trem is mucho stiff and is not really an asset. A set of 11’s might work…
Cal
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Be afraid! Be very afraid!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’m becoming a Musician in attitude. Pretty evident in my mucho relaxed attitude and also how I living in the moment.
The world is a big mess, but I’m happy and living in peace.
Cal
The world is a big mess, but I’m happy and living in peace.
Cal
robert blu
quiet photographer
So do I !
I always smile when go to buy food, groceries and similar with a piece of paper in my hands and a pencil written list of what to buy and see most of other people watching their phone and tablets with a list!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The grandson had us occupied. My parcels came at 3:00 PM, but I didn’t get to them until much later. His new favorite guitar today was the Sonic Blue Thinline Tele for a moment, but then he saw the two-tone burst Tele with the baritone neck mounted to it.
The baritone neck has this glow to the position markers as if it was day glow. They draw the eye like a highlight in a photograph. Does not look bad on the two-tone burst, but I think would be killer on the Sonic Blue Thinline. The roasted maple rosewood neck presently on the Thineline would be killer on the two-tone burst.
The black hardtail Strat is beat up and raunchy looking. Kinda cool, and I like the sub 4 pound weight of 3 pounds 11 ounces.
I placed the pickup loaded gold anodized pickguard over the body and it looked mighty hot.
I’m cool with making the Thinline a baritone.
My thinking is the CAR Strat with trem set up with 11’s could be my finger style electric. I’ll restring and set up that guitar tonight.
In the backyard I did some jumping on an exercise trampoline, that was a mistake, instant bladder leakage.
Cal
The baritone neck has this glow to the position markers as if it was day glow. They draw the eye like a highlight in a photograph. Does not look bad on the two-tone burst, but I think would be killer on the Sonic Blue Thinline. The roasted maple rosewood neck presently on the Thineline would be killer on the two-tone burst.
The black hardtail Strat is beat up and raunchy looking. Kinda cool, and I like the sub 4 pound weight of 3 pounds 11 ounces.
I placed the pickup loaded gold anodized pickguard over the body and it looked mighty hot.
I’m cool with making the Thinline a baritone.
My thinking is the CAR Strat with trem set up with 11’s could be my finger style electric. I’ll restring and set up that guitar tonight.
In the backyard I did some jumping on an exercise trampoline, that was a mistake, instant bladder leakage.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
11’s on the Strat feels like no strings. The trem feels better though. A very different guitar.
If I tune the baritone to D-D tuning and I capo the second fret pretty much it would replicate a 25 1/2 inch scale and E-E tuning. Hmmm.
The added scale length would add some tension, so possibly 11’s would be interesting tuned D-D. I could just use the lefty set of Sperzels when they arrive. I would only change out the 5th and 6th string tuners is I decide to go full blown baritone with heavy gauge strings, but that would be a dropped tuning to B-B.
Tomorrow I need to polish out the black hardtail Strat. Just like I predicted they just did a rough buffing. I do not want it to be glossy, but more of a dull matte like I did on the 2-tone burst.
Tax and shipping added up.
Have to place a Callahan order tomorrow, and order a tele neck pickup for the 2-tone burst.
Cal
If I tune the baritone to D-D tuning and I capo the second fret pretty much it would replicate a 25 1/2 inch scale and E-E tuning. Hmmm.
The added scale length would add some tension, so possibly 11’s would be interesting tuned D-D. I could just use the lefty set of Sperzels when they arrive. I would only change out the 5th and 6th string tuners is I decide to go full blown baritone with heavy gauge strings, but that would be a dropped tuning to B-B.
Tomorrow I need to polish out the black hardtail Strat. Just like I predicted they just did a rough buffing. I do not want it to be glossy, but more of a dull matte like I did on the 2-tone burst.
Tax and shipping added up.
Have to place a Callahan order tomorrow, and order a tele neck pickup for the 2-tone burst.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’ll check the tuning stability on the Strat. The trem remains floating, but I had to remove 2 springs due to the lack of tension. Was able to dial in needed additional tension by tightening the “claw” that is the spring anchor.
Most starts with trem use 3 springs. 5-springs generally are to lock down or immobilize the trem to effectively make it like a hardtail, but actually I use 5-springs with floating 12-52 guage strings: mucho heavy and perhaps an exaggeration because not many do this.
So the strat last night had wonky tuning, unstable, and was all over the place. Understand that strings have to stretch and stabilize. I’ll see how it plays today. Could be good as a blues guitar, and a floating bridge with 11’s certainly supports mucho bending. Also the lower string tension can promote a more finger style approach…
Might be I have specific guitars set up for finger-style verses my pick and fingers technic. Maybe the combination and crossover does not happen. Still having two styles is like having two girlfriends and is fun.
I think I will polish the black hardtail Strat today: one goal.
I also think I want to see how the baritone neck looks on the Sonic Blue Thinline. I think it could be a bit over the top with the turquoise dot inlays. Tuning D-D I think will work with a set of 12’s, on the Bigsby bridge that I might do a 40/60 top load.
Understand I ordered stainless steel frets, and the additional hardness increases the brightness a tad, so that the the E and B strings top loaded should soften and mellow the attack somewhat. The stainless steel frets also livens up the left hand articulation, so pretty much more piano like dynamics.
The longer scale will certainly promote a more piano like sound. Also the Thinline adds a sense of ”air” and openness because of the hollow body that adds an acoustic tone and vibe.
Pretty much I could be building our a “Lap-Piano” of a different sorts.
Cal
Most starts with trem use 3 springs. 5-springs generally are to lock down or immobilize the trem to effectively make it like a hardtail, but actually I use 5-springs with floating 12-52 guage strings: mucho heavy and perhaps an exaggeration because not many do this.
So the strat last night had wonky tuning, unstable, and was all over the place. Understand that strings have to stretch and stabilize. I’ll see how it plays today. Could be good as a blues guitar, and a floating bridge with 11’s certainly supports mucho bending. Also the lower string tension can promote a more finger style approach…
Might be I have specific guitars set up for finger-style verses my pick and fingers technic. Maybe the combination and crossover does not happen. Still having two styles is like having two girlfriends and is fun.
I think I will polish the black hardtail Strat today: one goal.
I also think I want to see how the baritone neck looks on the Sonic Blue Thinline. I think it could be a bit over the top with the turquoise dot inlays. Tuning D-D I think will work with a set of 12’s, on the Bigsby bridge that I might do a 40/60 top load.
Understand I ordered stainless steel frets, and the additional hardness increases the brightness a tad, so that the the E and B strings top loaded should soften and mellow the attack somewhat. The stainless steel frets also livens up the left hand articulation, so pretty much more piano like dynamics.
The longer scale will certainly promote a more piano like sound. Also the Thinline adds a sense of ”air” and openness because of the hollow body that adds an acoustic tone and vibe.
Pretty much I could be building our a “Lap-Piano” of a different sorts.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
They say the wealthy are spending and are keeping the economy humming along. There are also reports that even the wealthy are economizing in that they have resorted to shopping at Walmart, something they never did before…
So here I am buying and purchasing. Pretty much I’m looking at the “Smart-Money” and buying while prices are still low. Anyways that is what I think rich people are actually doing right now, basically hoarding…
So I will take things further in that not only am I becoming a musician, but also impulse and spontaneous thought is happening in a Jazz manner.
I took note that I have a set of silver Sperzel tuners on “Korina” which is somewhat partially disassembled. The thought came to mind tomorrow the Sperzels to set up the baritone neck on the Thinline: no waiting; but then the thought became that the silver is a better match with the Sonic Blue and all the other hardware.
Mucho clever, and pretty much just a cascade of ideas and flow of pure creativity. Perhaps a “Jazz Moment.” See how my mind and brain are evolving…
No delay or waiting either…
So I got up to 4 pull-ups today. Might I get to 55 push ups in a set today?
The Strat is kinda cool with 11’s. I can see how when I get a chance how I will use some Bert’s Bee’s lip balm to lube the pivot point of the trem/bridge to eliminate friction. The trem is usable with 11’s… Mucho good, and so far I like it. The finger style specialization also seems to be working out.
Off to strip off those tuners, convert then to lefty, and then do the instal on the baritone neck.
So everything is becoming an improv…
Cal
So here I am buying and purchasing. Pretty much I’m looking at the “Smart-Money” and buying while prices are still low. Anyways that is what I think rich people are actually doing right now, basically hoarding…
So I will take things further in that not only am I becoming a musician, but also impulse and spontaneous thought is happening in a Jazz manner.
I took note that I have a set of silver Sperzel tuners on “Korina” which is somewhat partially disassembled. The thought came to mind tomorrow the Sperzels to set up the baritone neck on the Thinline: no waiting; but then the thought became that the silver is a better match with the Sonic Blue and all the other hardware.
Mucho clever, and pretty much just a cascade of ideas and flow of pure creativity. Perhaps a “Jazz Moment.” See how my mind and brain are evolving…
No delay or waiting either…
So I got up to 4 pull-ups today. Might I get to 55 push ups in a set today?
The Strat is kinda cool with 11’s. I can see how when I get a chance how I will use some Bert’s Bee’s lip balm to lube the pivot point of the trem/bridge to eliminate friction. The trem is usable with 11’s… Mucho good, and so far I like it. The finger style specialization also seems to be working out.
Off to strip off those tuners, convert then to lefty, and then do the instal on the baritone neck.
So everything is becoming an improv…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The baritone Thinline is stunning looking and plays well. The sound is huge tuned D-D. The added scale length adds lots of overtones and fullness. Is loud not plugged in.
I also worked on the grandson’s guitar that is an electric guitar I rescued from the trash that had a dead tuner, I installed a set of West German Schallers I had on hand on this cheap guitar that likely was made in China that has a pine neck.
It is properly sized for a 2 1/2-3 year old. The grandson will be mucho happy,
If you play bass you know how the long scale length adds in overtones and mucho warmth. Kinda the same happened on this 28 5/8 inch scale baritone. I suspected some, but the portion I got is surprising.
So I am surprised and pleased with my long tall Tele. Has monster tone. This thing is a killer. Can’t wait to plug it in and see how it really sounds.
We have a few busy weeks of doctor’s appointments. I feel fortunate that I got my surgery now rather than after the proposed MediCare cuts. I’m receiving all these bills, a couple hundred here, a few thousand there. So if I can say getting Cancer when I did, was actually lucky.
Cal
I also worked on the grandson’s guitar that is an electric guitar I rescued from the trash that had a dead tuner, I installed a set of West German Schallers I had on hand on this cheap guitar that likely was made in China that has a pine neck.
It is properly sized for a 2 1/2-3 year old. The grandson will be mucho happy,
If you play bass you know how the long scale length adds in overtones and mucho warmth. Kinda the same happened on this 28 5/8 inch scale baritone. I suspected some, but the portion I got is surprising.
So I am surprised and pleased with my long tall Tele. Has monster tone. This thing is a killer. Can’t wait to plug it in and see how it really sounds.
We have a few busy weeks of doctor’s appointments. I feel fortunate that I got my surgery now rather than after the proposed MediCare cuts. I’m receiving all these bills, a couple hundred here, a few thousand there. So if I can say getting Cancer when I did, was actually lucky.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The medical bills still come in, and I can see how in many households this would lead to getting underwater. I suspect a worse future for healthcare as the DOGE bags unwind things. Pretty much these medical bills would be food off the table for many families.
Tragically a child died in Texas do to Measles.
Is Guantanamo Bay a concentration camp or worse, a death camp. Guantanamo Bay: is that O.K.?
Eyes wide open, and I know people voted for this.
Tomorrow is the 28th: don’t buy anything. Boycott the economy.
I see some defect in the MJT bodies as far as being vintage correct. While I love the sonic blue Thinline it is very different than the original Fender. The Warmoth does offer vintage replicas, Bloom Doom and MJT are variations. Live and learn…
Cal
Tragically a child died in Texas do to Measles.
Is Guantanamo Bay a concentration camp or worse, a death camp. Guantanamo Bay: is that O.K.?
Eyes wide open, and I know people voted for this.
Tomorrow is the 28th: don’t buy anything. Boycott the economy.
I see some defect in the MJT bodies as far as being vintage correct. While I love the sonic blue Thinline it is very different than the original Fender. The Warmoth does offer vintage replicas, Bloom Doom and MJT are variations. Live and learn…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
A pretty crazy swing in the markets today, from greed to fear.
Once the bleeding starts what can Bozo do stop the bleeding? That’s the problem with inflation and tariffs.
Tomorrow will be an interesting day on the markets.
The grandson was good today.
With the kids the house they want to buy got an appraisal that is lower than the contract price. While the house is nice, “Maggie” thinks the location is not the best. Close to a busy road, and maybe too close to commercial businesses. Now there is a bit of a scramble and mucho uncertainty.
The husband is a kinda negative guy, kinda like he’s related to Debbie Downer. Pretty much the seller is in trouble, overstepped in the build, and looks to be in a position of loss. Likely will not get paid for the upgrades and premium build.
A second appraisal is likely, but still it looks like the price will get negotiated lower.
Also it could mean starting over in the house hunt. The market is soft and more stock is hitting the market.
Basically a coin toss. My attitude is “oh-well” was not meant to be, and move forward… but that’s me…
I don’t really see the negative here, and it actually could be an opportunity. Oh-well. A good thing is they still are early into the market as spring gets busier, and time still is their friend.
I did get a chance to plug in the baritone last night. The output certainly has increased and basically the pickups which sounded great before with a standard neck now has a tone that I would describe as too wooly and overdriven. This makes sense to me: longer strings swing wider and sustain more energy.
Basically the pickup is being overdriven by to much string signal as I have the volume turned down quite a bit.
The bridge pickup holds together better, and it is a low output vintage Fender Custom Shop 49 No Caster pickup with weak Alnico 3 magnets. The neck pickup though is overwound by 5% and has more powerful Alnico 5.
My guess is I need a lower output vintage style Alnico 3 neck pickup to get rid of the unneeded overdrive and distortion. I could just get a matching Fender Custom Shop 49 No Caster neck pickup to match the bridge. Not expensive.
A plan “B” is make the Thinline into bridge pickup only guitar, in other words a baritone Thinline Esquire which is so odd it is mighty cool. I know of no one that plays one, and pretty much I think it is an original idea.
I have a white Mother of Toilet Seat (plastic imitation mother of pearl) pickguard on hand that would look mighty cool, and it saves me about $110.00 because I won’t need a replacement pickup, in fact it would save me an additional $120.00 because I can recycle the Fralin Blues Special and won’t have to order one for another Tele build.
The baritone stretches out the hand when doing chords in the first position. My hand size is “extra-medium,” but not too much of a challenge, just a little extra work. I can already see though how playing the baritone will be great training for playing a standard Tele.
Came close do doing 5 pull-ups today. The last one was a bit lame so I didn’t count it. 4 3/4’ers does not count. Pull-ups build up fast, but they also fade as equally fast.
Cal
CORRECTION: My old brain confused 1949, when the Fender Snakehead came out, with 1951 when the Nocaster came out/ was released.
Once the bleeding starts what can Bozo do stop the bleeding? That’s the problem with inflation and tariffs.
Tomorrow will be an interesting day on the markets.
The grandson was good today.
With the kids the house they want to buy got an appraisal that is lower than the contract price. While the house is nice, “Maggie” thinks the location is not the best. Close to a busy road, and maybe too close to commercial businesses. Now there is a bit of a scramble and mucho uncertainty.
The husband is a kinda negative guy, kinda like he’s related to Debbie Downer. Pretty much the seller is in trouble, overstepped in the build, and looks to be in a position of loss. Likely will not get paid for the upgrades and premium build.
A second appraisal is likely, but still it looks like the price will get negotiated lower.
Also it could mean starting over in the house hunt. The market is soft and more stock is hitting the market.
Basically a coin toss. My attitude is “oh-well” was not meant to be, and move forward… but that’s me…
I don’t really see the negative here, and it actually could be an opportunity. Oh-well. A good thing is they still are early into the market as spring gets busier, and time still is their friend.
I did get a chance to plug in the baritone last night. The output certainly has increased and basically the pickups which sounded great before with a standard neck now has a tone that I would describe as too wooly and overdriven. This makes sense to me: longer strings swing wider and sustain more energy.
Basically the pickup is being overdriven by to much string signal as I have the volume turned down quite a bit.
The bridge pickup holds together better, and it is a low output vintage Fender Custom Shop 49 No Caster pickup with weak Alnico 3 magnets. The neck pickup though is overwound by 5% and has more powerful Alnico 5.
My guess is I need a lower output vintage style Alnico 3 neck pickup to get rid of the unneeded overdrive and distortion. I could just get a matching Fender Custom Shop 49 No Caster neck pickup to match the bridge. Not expensive.
A plan “B” is make the Thinline into bridge pickup only guitar, in other words a baritone Thinline Esquire which is so odd it is mighty cool. I know of no one that plays one, and pretty much I think it is an original idea.
I have a white Mother of Toilet Seat (plastic imitation mother of pearl) pickguard on hand that would look mighty cool, and it saves me about $110.00 because I won’t need a replacement pickup, in fact it would save me an additional $120.00 because I can recycle the Fralin Blues Special and won’t have to order one for another Tele build.
The baritone stretches out the hand when doing chords in the first position. My hand size is “extra-medium,” but not too much of a challenge, just a little extra work. I can already see though how playing the baritone will be great training for playing a standard Tele.
Came close do doing 5 pull-ups today. The last one was a bit lame so I didn’t count it. 4 3/4’ers does not count. Pull-ups build up fast, but they also fade as equally fast.
Cal
CORRECTION: My old brain confused 1949, when the Fender Snakehead came out, with 1951 when the Nocaster came out/ was released.
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Today, February 8th, boycott the economy. Celebrate “No-Buy.”
If Americans have to suffer austerity, then let government know that the masses count.
It is said that Henry Kissinger called the mass public “Food Eaters,” meaning of no value. I hope you see the context of how little people don’t count. To those in power our existence is not important, but economically we are.
Please do your part by celebrating “No-Buy” today.
Cal
If Americans have to suffer austerity, then let government know that the masses count.
It is said that Henry Kissinger called the mass public “Food Eaters,” meaning of no value. I hope you see the context of how little people don’t count. To those in power our existence is not important, but economically we are.
Please do your part by celebrating “No-Buy” today.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Whether the Orange House likes it or not, by population alone the U.S. is the second largest Spanish speaking population in the world, the largest Spanish speaking population in the world is Mexico our neighbor.
Fact is more people speak Spanish in the U.S. than in Spain.
It kinda is understood already that English is the National language here, but really what is the point of a Presidential decree/order. Tell me something I already don’t know “Bozo.”
So the Ukrainian President is being accused of starting WWIII. I actually give this credit to the German Government and President Obama for writing off Cremia.
History lesson here is WWII started after Britain and France wrote off the annexation of Poland by Germany. Of course that led to further aggression that is the War in the Ukraine.
Using Trump logic Poland started WWII by being invaded.
I have hope that Americans are not so dumb. I hope they turn to austerity to use as a weapon to kill the economy and put an end to all this nonsense.
A court ruling states that the DOGE firings are illegal, but as far as rule of law goes who enforces the court ruling. Paper whipping will not enforce the law. Effectively the judicial branch is a “Paper Tiger” that has no teeth.
Was able to do 5 pull-ups today. I might try and do another max set to see what I can do. Perhaps just 3, or maybe 4 with mucho rest.
Able to do 55 sloppy fast pushups in a max set. The heart pounds fast after this.
Been high and dry lately. I think the strength training tightens up everything. I think I’ll add in squats today with a pair of 30 pound dumbbells. Work those big muscles in my legs.
Got gas last week: $3.739 a gallon for Moble Premium.
Starting to notice that things like nut butters are getting more expensive. Pretty much this is a cheap source of plant protein, so it is not just eggs getting expensive. You know how diet, exercise and health are related… I’ve been going more plant based as far as protein sources go: hummus, nuts, nut butters, lentils…
I’m thinking of loading up on nuts and nut butters before the tariffs go in effect. Remember we get about 40% of our produce, fruit and nuts from Mexico. Add on a 25% tariff…
Last night after using the baritone guitar for practice I switched to a standard guitar and it felt small in an exaggerated way. Pretty dramatic scaling down, but scaling up seems like no big deal. Kinda odd. I can see how playing baritone can speed up my playing though on a standard guitar.
Cal
Fact is more people speak Spanish in the U.S. than in Spain.
It kinda is understood already that English is the National language here, but really what is the point of a Presidential decree/order. Tell me something I already don’t know “Bozo.”
So the Ukrainian President is being accused of starting WWIII. I actually give this credit to the German Government and President Obama for writing off Cremia.
History lesson here is WWII started after Britain and France wrote off the annexation of Poland by Germany. Of course that led to further aggression that is the War in the Ukraine.
Using Trump logic Poland started WWII by being invaded.
I have hope that Americans are not so dumb. I hope they turn to austerity to use as a weapon to kill the economy and put an end to all this nonsense.
A court ruling states that the DOGE firings are illegal, but as far as rule of law goes who enforces the court ruling. Paper whipping will not enforce the law. Effectively the judicial branch is a “Paper Tiger” that has no teeth.
Was able to do 5 pull-ups today. I might try and do another max set to see what I can do. Perhaps just 3, or maybe 4 with mucho rest.
Able to do 55 sloppy fast pushups in a max set. The heart pounds fast after this.
Been high and dry lately. I think the strength training tightens up everything. I think I’ll add in squats today with a pair of 30 pound dumbbells. Work those big muscles in my legs.
Got gas last week: $3.739 a gallon for Moble Premium.
Starting to notice that things like nut butters are getting more expensive. Pretty much this is a cheap source of plant protein, so it is not just eggs getting expensive. You know how diet, exercise and health are related… I’ve been going more plant based as far as protein sources go: hummus, nuts, nut butters, lentils…
I’m thinking of loading up on nuts and nut butters before the tariffs go in effect. Remember we get about 40% of our produce, fruit and nuts from Mexico. Add on a 25% tariff…
Last night after using the baritone guitar for practice I switched to a standard guitar and it felt small in an exaggerated way. Pretty dramatic scaling down, but scaling up seems like no big deal. Kinda odd. I can see how playing baritone can speed up my playing though on a standard guitar.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Wow. The January medical bill, basically my surgery cost just a tad under $65K. Medical bills can crush you easily. Of course there were a lot of bills in the end 2024 that led up to the surgery.
Like I said, I also had a lot of bills that came out of my pocket that would bury a family: a few thousand; then a series of a trickle of hundreds one after another. “Moo,” said the Pig.
I’m lucky that I’m not underwater, or just treading water…
There is this guy known as Dan-O-Caster. Pretty much this guy caters to the great players in the Nashville scene, and he basically builds Parts-Casters. Pretty much this guy does what I do, which is experiment, and through experience he is great at setting up guitars.
The art here is making the right combination, and ultimizing sound and performance. It involves experimenting, trial and error, and kinda stumbling into the magic combination.
Cal
Like I said, I also had a lot of bills that came out of my pocket that would bury a family: a few thousand; then a series of a trickle of hundreds one after another. “Moo,” said the Pig.
I’m lucky that I’m not underwater, or just treading water…
There is this guy known as Dan-O-Caster. Pretty much this guy caters to the great players in the Nashville scene, and he basically builds Parts-Casters. Pretty much this guy does what I do, which is experiment, and through experience he is great at setting up guitars.
The art here is making the right combination, and ultimizing sound and performance. It involves experimenting, trial and error, and kinda stumbling into the magic combination.
Cal
Austintatious
Well-known
I have heard it a bit differently. It was the term "useless eaters" and seems to have originated in Nazi Germany.
Useless eaters is a term that originated in Nazi Germany, referring to individuals with disabilities or serious medical issues who were deemed unproductive and targeted for extermination. It reflects a horrific ideology that justified the murder of those considered "unworthy of life."
WikipediaCalzone
Gear Whore #1
Austin,
I read the term “Food Eaters” from an article that dates back to the late 70’s or perhaps early 80’s.
I’m pretty sure I did not misread this, but now I don’t know. We are talking 45 or mor years ago.
Could I be mistaken: maybe; but I don’t think so.
Could both terms be correct???
I look more into this. First with your link.
Thanks for the post and the link.
Cal
I read the term “Food Eaters” from an article that dates back to the late 70’s or perhaps early 80’s.
I’m pretty sure I did not misread this, but now I don’t know. We are talking 45 or mor years ago.
Could I be mistaken: maybe; but I don’t think so.
Could both terms be correct???
I look more into this. First with your link.
Thanks for the post and the link.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Can’t find any reference to my claim of “Food Eaters.”
Oh-well…
Cal
Oh-well…
Cal
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Be born. Consume. Die.I have heard it a bit differently. It was the term "useless eaters" and seems to have originated in Nazi Germany.
Useless eaters is a term that originated in Nazi Germany, referring to individuals with disabilities or serious medical issues who were deemed unproductive and targeted for extermination. It reflects a horrific ideology that justified the murder of those considered "unworthy of life."
