NYC Journal

Cal,

What you just wrote is exactly what i've been realizing these past few days! Now get back to tell us about your home, your bikes and especially your guitars and amps

Paul
 
While Peekskill and Beacon contend like Philly that they are like the sixth borough of NYC, a City further north on the river called Hudson is like a second Greenwich Village.

We took a drive to attend an indoor craft fair held in what once was a glue factory. The industrial building was beautiful and is situated very near the Amtrack Station.

Metro North Hudson Line ends in Po-Kip-C and to get to Hudson from NYC requires Amtrack. Know that Hudson is a gay community.

So we did some Christmas shopping, some relaxing, and had a late lunch that was mighty fine. We walked Warren Street about 3/4’ers of the way, but decided the rain was starting to get heavy.

Anyways we love spending time in Hudson and we always get engaged with the locals there.

The commercial strip is kinda long, and the buildings are mucho old and historical. Much of the houses remind me of the row houses in Philly.

In my pickup search I will be choosing between a TV Jones Duotron or a TV Jones Brian Setzer.

Brian Setzer is a Rockabilly guitar player from the “Stray Cats.” Did you know he grew up in Massapequa on Long Island?

Anyways these are my two choices for a bridge pickup for the Cabronita that is only routed for a bridge pickup. If I decide to get a neck pickup route I will add a TV Jones pickup called a “Supertron.” The Supertron has a bladed magnet and great note definition and note separation making it great for single note runs and jazz chord melody. Very smooth and mucho warm with a lite treble bite that adds articulation.

All these designs are “Filtertron” style meaning they are made of two coils that are wound to cancel 60 cycle noise/hum but have a narrow magnetic apertures to cancel less highs so they kinda sound like single coil pickups that have extended high frequency response.

Out of my two bridge pickup possibilities the Brian Setzer has the higher output and the extended bass response, while the Duotron has the note separation and articulation.

Understand that a Tele bridge pickup can be shrill and overly bright like an ice pick. The compression that occurs by the hum canceling is of utility because some single coils are overly bright like a Tele bridge pickup.

Anyway that’s why Cabronita’s were invented to deal with the excessive brightness, and also because the Filtertron sound is mighty cool. A pretty unique sound that promotes dynamics and touch sensitivity, as well as finger style. Chet Atkins played Gretch’s with Filtertrons.

So now that I live above/north of Madhattan, and my new identity as a Covid refugee is as a hill-billy, this new guitar firmly steps into the E-Ha country and moves into my hill-billy ways along with my retro cool 1966 Chevy C-10 (Green Machine).

I have mentioned that retirement is kinda like going back in time to when I was in high school and wondering about the next 4 decades or so. Back then I was loaded with fear and anxiety, but now I’m in that same position and feeling happy, content, and secure.

I figure in perhaps a week I should have a neck and a body on hand. The aged two tone burst with the display of light wear should be rather striking on a thin retro finish in nitro-lacquer.

I had a great day exploring New York.

Cal
 
Yesterday in Hudson at the Craft Fair I found some treasure. At one vintage booth they were selling loose antique silverware, and I was drawn to this supersized spoon that has a long handle and is proportioned as a large cooking spoon and not a serving spoon. Pretty much oversized with Calzone Factor. Upon close examination it even held a large maker’s mark and was made in England.

One rather odd feature is there is a rib that extends from the handle into the dish of the spoon to add structural support and stiffness.

As usual “Maggie” asks me why I spent $12.00, and because she has a PhD she second guess’s me and doubts it is silver, especially for only $12.00.

Later at home I figure out that this spoon weighs over a quarter pound. I know Sterling Silver is 90% silver, and when compared to a modern kitchen cooking spoon I bought at Macy’s it is easy to understand that pretty much I bought 4-5 ounces of silver for $12.00. I have to check the spot market on silver, but if the spot price is about $25.00 an ounce I just did an instant “Ten-Banger” and made a really good investment.

I also bent the handle gently and it yielded easily confirming my suspicion that my monster spoon is all silver and not plated. This also explains the odd rib that builds in support.

Did you know that silver is anti-microbial and kills germs. At hospitals they use silver plated door knobs to help kill germs and the spread of disease.

I guess you should know that I am kinda impulsive, and know that “Maggie” tends to think too much.

One way to kill your creativity is to overthink, and in my book the best artists and most creative people are kinda primal and act on impulse not so different than children. Anyways I see this childish behavior in myself, and in a way I guess it could be looked upon as being immature. My sister would frame it that way.

I kinda learned after I grew up that my sister in fact displayed lots of behaviors that now tell me that she competed against me and in fact didn’t love me or even like me. I was the “cute” little brother that drew the attention from her, I was my father’s favorite…

Anyways my care free old hippy spirit seriously bothered my sister, she kinda pushed me away, and now we are estranged. I feel no loss because there was never any middle ground and she was kinda rigid and one sided. Oh-well.

In the world we live in there is lots of intolerance, lots of rigid thinking, and lots of one sidedness. I am saddened by these limitations, but that is reality. “Oh-well,” again.

As you can understand, my level of tolerance can infect some people, but seriously bother others. Just a fact.

So this short post all came out of a purchase of a $12.00 antique silver spoon that revealed other history. I think my life has a deeper meaning because of this reflection, many times I find I am alone in my thoughts, but here on this sub forum I’m able to perhaps convey these thoughts that otherwise would just stay inside me.

I don’t think many understand self reflection or anyways the good part of it that keeps you humble. The negative side is mostly the framework for nar-C or overblown ego.

Calvin the treasure hunter.
 
Spot price of silver is $21.72.

Weight of spoon is 0.40 pounds on my digital luggage scale which is a whopping 6.4 ounces.

6.4 times $21.72 is $139.01.

Know that Sterling Silver is 90% silver, and that U.S. coins dated 1964 and before were 95% silver. I do suspect that my monster spoon in its softness is closer to pure silver. It is very malleable.

​​​​​​​Cal
 
Brian Setzer is a Rockabilly guitar player from the “Stray Cats.” Did you know he grew up in Massapequa on Long Island?

and a Gretch virtuoso (which you no doubt know)

Cal, did you know Jerry Seinfeld and the Baldwin brothers also grew up in Massapequa?
Alec and Jerry went there for an episode of Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."
Jerry is the bane of other car collectors...a serious car guy with virtually unlimited funds.

Turns out, Jerry is a funny guy but Alec is even funnier. (IMO, of course)
 
Canyongazer said:
Brian Setzer is a Rockabilly guitar player from the “Stray Cats.” Did you know he grew up in Massapequa on Long Island?

and a Gretch virtuoso (which you no doubt know)

Cal, did you know Jerry Seinfeld and the Baldwin brothers also grew up in Massapequa?
Alec and Jerry went there for an episode of Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."
Jerry is the bane of other car collectors...a serious car guy with virtually unlimited funds.

Turns out, Jerry is a funny guy but Alec is even funnier. (IMO, of course)
Click to expand...

CG,

I knew in the back of my memory, but not off the top of my head.

Long Island is an odd place full of notable people.

I kinda am amused with myself because I use to make fun of Gretch guitars.

Anyways “Maggie” hates when I say the world is not that big, but it is true.

Cal
 
A neighbor down the block looks like a geothermal well is being drilled for HVAC.

This is interesting to me because much of the expense of going geothermal is the depth of the water table. I hear the diesel trains of the Hudson Line so know that I’m not far inland from the Hudson River, but also know I am not in danger of flooding, and I don’t live in a flood zone.

Depending on the GPS reading the Baby-Victorian sits 75-80 feet above sea level, and not far away are a group of ponds in Blue Mountain Preserve. I would expect the water table to be not so deep, and the geology is of interest to me because say in a decade or 15 years out it might make sense to also replace my oil furnace and Mini-splits with a geothermal system.

I have a friend from work that lives in Katona that went geothermal on a rather large house.

Hmmmm…

Cal
 
Calzone said:
While Peekskill and Beacon contend like Philly that they are like the sixth borough of NYC, a City further north on the river called Hudson is like a second Greenwich Village.

We took a drive to attend an indoor craft fair held in what once was a glue factory. The industrial building was beautiful and is situated very near the Amtrack Station.

Metro North Hudson Line ends in Po-Kip-C and to get to Hudson from NYC requires Amtrack. Know that Hudson is a gay community.

So we did some Christmas shopping, some relaxing, and had a late lunch that was mighty fine. We walked Warren Street about 3/4’ers of the way, but decided the rain was starting to get heavy.

Anyways we love spending time in Hudson and we always get engaged with the locals there.

The commercial strip is kinda long, and the buildings are mucho old and historical. Much of the houses remind me of the row houses in Philly.

In my pickup search I will be choosing between a TV Jones Duotron or a TV Jones Brian Setzer.

Brian Setzer is a Rockabilly guitar player from the “Stray Cats.” Did you know he grew up in Massapequa on Long Island?

Anyways these are my two choices for a bridge pickup for the Cabronita that is only routed for a bridge pickup. If I decide to get a neck pickup route I will add a TV Jones pickup called a “Supertron.” The Supertron has a bladed magnet and great note definition and note separation making it great for single note runs and jazz chord melody. Very smooth and mucho warm with a lite treble bite that adds articulation.

All these designs are “Filtertron” style meaning they are made of two coils that are wound to cancel 60 cycle noise/hum but have a narrow magnetic apertures to cancel less highs so they kinda sound like single coil pickups that have extended high frequency response.

Out of my two bridge pickup possibilities the Brian Setzer has the higher output and the extended bass response, while the Duotron has the note separation and articulation.

Understand that a Tele bridge pickup can be shrill and overly bright like an ice pick. The compression that occurs by the hum canceling is of utility because some single coils are overly bright like a Tele bridge pickup.

Anyway that’s why Cabronita’s were invented to deal with the excessive brightness, and also because the Filtertron sound is mighty cool. A pretty unique sound that promotes dynamics and touch sensitivity, as well as finger style. Chet Atkins played Gretch’s with Filtertrons.

So now that I live above/north of Madhattan, and my new identity as a Covid refugee is as a hill-billy, this new guitar firmly steps into the E-Ha country and moves into my hill-billy ways along with my retro cool 1966 Chevy C-10 (Green Machine).

I have mentioned that retirement is kinda like going back in time to when I was in high school and wondering about the next 4 decades or so. Back then I was loaded with fear and anxiety, but now I’m in that same position and feeling happy, content, and secure.

I figure in perhaps a week I should have a neck and a body on hand. The aged two tone burst with the display of light wear should be rather striking on a thin retro finish in nitro-lacquer.

I had a great day exploring New York.

Cal
Click to expand...

Cal

I remember Setzer was a LI guy but didn't realize he was from Massapequa. He's a good musician and how can you not like his guitars! Please explain Cabronita. Is it a high end division of Fender? I've always liked Teles but never owned one. My very first good guitar was a white Fender Strat with a maple neck. This was around the early '70's. I was pretty sure it had a factory defect of some sort because it never sounded the one Hendrix played!!

When I was younger (much younger) I would buy a guitar based on which rock start I was listening to at the time. So it went; white strat (Jimi) Gibson 345 (Alvin Lee) Martin D28 (I loved Jimmy Page's acoustic songs) Years later, I pretty much continued on that path....Martin 000-28c (Clapton) Epiphone cherry red 335 (Larry Carlton and a whole bunch of others)

I'm down to one now; a '97 Martin HD28v (my son who lives with us until he can purchase a house on LI with his new wife has a Gibson Les Paul which we gave to him as a graduation present when he got his masters

The HD28v I will never sell, it's a special one
 
PaulW128 said:
Cal

I remember Setzer was a LI guy but didn't realize he was from Massapequa. He's a good musician and how can you not like his guitars! Please explain Cabronita. Is it a high end division of Fender? I've always liked Teles but never owned one. My very first good guitar was a white Fender Strat with a maple neck. This was around the early '70's. I was pretty sure it had a factory defect of some sort because it never sounded the one Hendrix played!!

When I was younger (much younger) I would buy a guitar based on which rock start I was listening to at the time. So it went; white strat (Jimi) Gibson 345 (Alvin Lee) Martin D28 (I loved Jimmy Page's acoustic songs) Years later, I pretty much continued on that path....Martin 000-28c (Clapton) Epiphone cherry red 335 (Larry Carlton and a whole bunch of others)

I'm down to one now; a '97 Martin HD28v (my son who lives with us until he can purchase a house on LI with his new wife has a Gibson Les Paul which we gave to him as a graduation present when he got his masters

The HD28v I will never sell, it's a special one
Click to expand...

Paul,

A Cabronita is a guitar that musicians kinda invented. They took a Tele and mounted Gretch pickups for a very basic guitar. Most Cabronita’s have very simple controls. For example many two pick up versions are just a volume control with a pickup selector and no tone control.

Some Cabronitas only have a volume control, or only a bridge pickup.

Telecasters are mucho bright, yet some players like the more “open” sound of single coils. Some players can’t deal with the 60 cycle hum. Some players like a nice clean sound that has “jangle.” Some players like a low output guitar that they can blast with gain and effects.

So pretty much a Cab is a modded Tele, and most Cabronitas favor or utilize Filtertron pickups that are hum canceling yet still somehow retain the high end treble and dynamics of a single coil pickup even though they are not single coils.

The two coils and the magnets are close together so the “aperture” that senses the string movement has less phase cancellation so the single coil sound is somewhat retained.

Also the physics involved involves magnet strength as well as how overwound or under wound the coil is. More or less lower output pickups are brighter generally.

So a Cabronita is a bastard guitar of sorts. Now Fender picked up on the idea and now makes Cabronitas as a model line.

In my case I want the single coil sound and a less bright Tele. The hum canceling is a bonus, and also pretty much I want a simple/basic guitar.

I just came back from my local music store. Don’t tell “Maggie” but I bought another guitar amp. One of the reasons why I wanted this amp was because of its mint condition, even though it dates back to 1964. It is a National/Valco Model 1210 which is a low power 5 watt amp that utilizes a RCA 5Y3 rectifier, a RCA 6V6 power tube, and a Millard ECC83/12AX7.

These are tubes I have stockpiled BTW. The one knob is an on/off switch as well as the volume kinda like a Fender Champ. This amp has an 8 inch Jensen speaker, the same as used in the Fender Champ.

Did you know that Duane Allman played a Fender Champ on the song “Layla?” Of course the amp was “dimmed” (set on 10).

Fender Champs are costly today and I’m priced out. I once owned a Tweed Princeton which is basically a Champ with a 10 inch speaker instead of an 8 inch speaker. Electronically it was the same circuit. At full volume there is all this natural distortion and compression. The treble rolls off nicely, but not any headroom. I played this in my loft in Williamsburg and the volume was loud enough to make my ears ring afterwards.

I also owned a wide panel tweed Deluxe. Pretty much the smaller Princeton was as loud as the Tweed Deluxe, but what made the Deluxe the better amp was that it had more usable headroom.

Both were great-great blues amps for that old sound.

When I lived in New Mexico I went to hear a band on Canyon Road. The guitar player played a Strat and had great tone. He used stereo effects and ran them into two wide panel tweed Deluxes. The venue was Jazz. What a great show.

So I was compelled to buy the National/Valco because of its condition. Pretty much all original including the two wire power cord. I don’t think I will ever find a cleaner one. I also figure I can use this amp as a “hard-asset” that will go up in value to keep up with inflation, meanwhile I can enjoy it. I was able to not pay tax, and I also got a cash discount.

Cal
 
Really interesting Cal. And I love "don't tell Maggie"....words to live by for many people. I was aware of the Champ's appeal but I never actually heard one. I think it's really cool that you know exactly what you want your tone to sound like and you tweak it until you get it!

Interesting bit....I've become friends with a guitar player who is something of a legend. His name is Andy Aledort. He co-wrote a book on Stevie Ray which was really good. Years ago he interviewed Stevie, hung out, played guitar together. He's played with the Allmans. This guy is the real deal and I can't stop being a fan boy. We were talking last week after he played a local gig and I had a specific question regarding Hendrix. I said: Machine Gun, New Year's Eve, Band of Gypsys; When Jimi hits that ungodly, haunting feedback note on the beginning of the solo, did he know he was going to get that exact sound or was it a happy accident. He said it wasn't feedback, it was a note that sustained like crazy. You never know what you're momma get but that wasn't a concern of Jimi's

I also always wondered why his guitar that night had such incredible tone, so unlike any other guitars he played. Andy said that between 1968-1974, every now and then they built a guitar that was way more special than the rest. I guess that's why vintage guitars can reach astronomical prices
 
PaulW128 said:
Really interesting Cal. And I love "don't tell Maggie"....words to live by for many people. I was aware of the Champ's appeal but I never actually heard one. I think it's really cool that you know exactly what you want your tone to sound like and you tweak it until you get it!

Interesting bit....I've become friends with a guitar player who is something of a legend. His name is Andy Aledort. He co-wrote a book on Stevie Ray which was really good. Years ago he interviewed Stevie, hung out, played guitar together. He's played with the Allmans. This guy is the real deal and I can't stop being a fan boy. We were talking last week after he played a local gig and I had a specific question regarding Hendrix. I said: Machine Gun, New Year's Eve, Band of Gypsys; When Jimi hits that ungodly, haunting feedback note on the beginning of the solo, did he know he was going to get that exact sound or was it a happy accident. He said it wasn't feedback, it was a note that sustained like crazy. You never know what you're momma get but that wasn't a concern of Jimi's

I also always wondered why his guitar that night had such incredible tone, so unlike any other guitars he played. Andy said that between 1968-1974, every now and then they built a guitar that was way more special than the rest. I guess that's why vintage guitars can reach astronomical prices
Click to expand...

Paul,

Not all guitars or amps have “Mojo.” Pretty much some speak out or actually are kinda alive.

Also know that from playing an inadmit object kinda takes on some character from the player sometimes.

Fact is that many guitars are just dead wood…

”Blackie” is a black strat that Eric Clapton kinda wore out. It was built from the best parts of three vintage guitars.

”Nancy” was Roy Bucanon’s Tele. The story goes that he found a piece of masking tape inside the guitar with the name, so it became the name for the guitar. Some people think it likely was the name of the person who assembled the guitar at the Fender factory.

Right now I would say the new Santa Cruz built with the old growth wood seems to speak to me the most.

I’m doing the forensics now. Valco was a company in Chicago that built many amps for many brands: Supro; Airline, National, Gretsch…

Jimmy Page on Led Zepplin I and II used a cheap Supro amp. Today these amps command the higher price, but guess what, my National 1210 is the same amp packaged differently. There is a Gretsch version Model 6150. There is a Supro Super. All the same amp.

Know that the Supro Super is being reproduced today as a reissue. They used Joe Perry’s favorite amp (Aerosmith) to model the recreation.

For recording using small amps in a studio setting to get the sound is an old trick.

My two small Matchless amps, a Lightning and a Spitfire, are both 15 watt amps and are said to be really good recording amps.

Somehow I smuggled my new amp into my basement. “Don’t tell Maggie.”

Anyways a lot of interesting background and history I’m learning.

Do a search on Gretsch 6150, National 1210, or Supro 1606 and listen to a few clips.

All the same vintage amp but packaged differently.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Paul,

Not all guitars or amps have “Mojo.” Pretty much some speak out or actually are kinda alive.

Also know that from playing an inadmit object kinda takes on some character from the player sometimes.

Fact is that many guitars are just dead wood…

”Blackie” is a black strat that Eric Clapton kinda wore out. It was built from the best parts of three vintage guitars.

”Nancy” was Roy Bucanon’s Tele. The story goes that he found a piece of masking tape inside the guitar with the name, so it became the name for the guitar. Some people think it likely was the name of the person who assembled the guitar at the Fender factory.

Right now I would say the new Santa Cruz built with the old growth wood seems to speak to me the most.

I’m doing the forensics now. Valco was a company in Chicago that built many amps for many brands: Supro; Airline, National, Gretsch…

Jimmy Page on Led Zepplin I and II used a cheap Supro amp. Today these amps command the higher price, but guess what, my National 1210 is the same amp packaged differently. There is a Gretsch version Model 6150. There is a Supro Super. All the same amp.

Know that the Supro Super is being reproduced today as a reissue. They used Joe Perry’s favorite amp (Aerosmith) to model the recreation.

For recording using small amps in a studio setting to get the sound is an old trick.

My two small Matchless amps, a Lightning and a Spitfire, are both 15 watt amps and are said to be really good recording amps.

Somehow I smuggled my new amp into my basement. “Don’t tell Maggie.”

Anyways a lot of interesting background and history I’m learning.

Do a search on Gretsch 6150, National 1210, or Supro 1606 and listen to a few clips.

All the same vintage amp but packaged differently.

Cal
Click to expand...

It's all so amazing isn't it! I love this stuff!! I'm really geeky when it comes to this stuff. I'm aware of most of what you write about. But my experience is only from reading about it, not from playing. I'm in no position to actually buy any of this vintage stuff but even if I had the money, I probably would resist because i'd be embarrassed and self conscious about my playing.

To give you an idea just how deep seated this is, going back to Andy Aledort; about 6 months ago we were talking and he said I should come over one day to hang out and play. My immediate thought was that would be great but that's never going to happen, I feel nervous already. As the months rolled on it never happened, guess we were both too busy but when I saw him play I was saying goodbye and he told me hey, let's get together soon and play and I again said cool, that sounds like fun. But this time I'm going. A close friend said if you don't take Andy up on this offer, you regret it forever and he's 100% right

So I texted him and said maybe after the holidays we can get together and play and of course he said great it will be fun!!

Are you aware if a book called Six String Stories by Eric Clapton? I bought it recently, really cool book which gives back story and photos of all of Eric's guitars
 
Did some forensics and discovered my amp is a 1965 and not a 1964 by the date codes on the tranny and speaker. The insides are all OEM and untouched.

Thinking of buying a speaker to save the original. A Weber 8A125 in 30 watts for a little more than a hundred bucks is part of their Vintage series, has an Alnico magnet, and can take a beating. BTW this speaker is mucho articulate.

I have a pretty big stockpile of 6SL7 tubes that I got from Grumman. These tubes are old style octal tubes that I kinda love because they produce mucho minds and make a thick sound. Problem is that they are kinda high gain and kinda known to suffer from microphonics. The ones I got for free from Grumman were made in Russia back in the time of the Cold War and they are NOS.

It seems that these Russian tubes are robust and do not suffer from microphonics.

So I’m now bitten by small class “A” 5 watt amps, and I’m thinking of cloning a Valco 510-11 “Spectator” amp that uses only three tubes: a 5Y3 rectifier; a 6V6 power tube; and a 6SL7 for both the pre-amp and driver. Unlike the National I just bought this amp features a tone control.

I spent some time lurking at the “Vintage 47” site, a guy who recreates the older tube amps that influenced Leo Fender who kinda ran with the ball and over engineered things in his amps. The Vintage 47 amps are more raw, retro, and are simpler in design. Pretty much the sound is of the 40’s and 50’s.

These old amps suit my plug and play style well.

At Vintage 47 they sell a 1x12 extension cabinet that would be ideal for me to build out my 6SL7 5 watter that has a retro style made of birch plywood and covered in Tolex. I also have a small stockpile of NOS paper and oil caps and other hardware. A new fun project…

I’m also thinking of using this 1x12 extension cabinet for another project that I already have kitted out. This one would be a 15 watt 6V6 amp that utilizes a Fender tweed Super circuit except it would push a 12 inch speaker instead of 2x10. I like this old circuit because it has a “Cathodyne” driver that adds compression and rounds out the highs.

Cal
 
The Cabronita relic’s two-tone burst body will be delivered today.

Last night I discovered that most Gretsch guitars have a short 24 1/2 inch scale. I have a Warmoth “conversion” neck that has a Gibson 24 3/4 inch scale that I could use to allow using 12’s, a heavier gauge set of strings for more output and thicker sound.

I’m kinda glad I held off on ordering a pickup, so now I’m thinking of going with a lower output pickup that the heavy strings will beef up the tone.

Understand that lower output pickups tend top be brighter, but heavy strings thicken the sound (midrange) and increase output quite a bit. This could be a really cool balance.

The nice thing about my collection of Telecasters is that they are kinda modular.

I also kinda love the clips I hear of this TV Jones pickup called a Supertron that is humbucking and features a pair of bar magnets. Seems to be magic as a neck pickup for jazz with just the perfect amounts of sparkle and warmth that also has articulation and clarity.

TV Jones has a pickup ring that will enable me to mount this pickup in a Tele that has a carved top. I’m looking into this more and more…

​​​​​​​Cal
 
I am pleased with the Cabronita body, and I can already tell it will be a great guitar. The shorter Gibson scale conversion neck fits perfectly.

Last night went into my basement and plugged into the 1965 National Valco 1210. It is a rather bright amp, and that is not a bad thing. Pretty much turned up the volume to 12 noon and did some tweaking on the pickup height to optimize and fine tune. I was going to change out the pickup for another I had on hand, but now that it is dialed in I kinda love it.

The amp is not loud, but because it is bright it is articulate, and for practice this is great. No distortion to hide behind, any sloppy playing is revealed, and playing clean is kinda hard to do.

Cal
 
Found some distressed strap buttons that my friend JJ gave me. He dipped them in acid to remove the chrome plating and now the brass has a wonderful patina.

I have not seen JJ in perhaps a decade, but this gift was heartfelt and generous. JJ kinda went out of his way to kinda pay me back for a favor.

I found out than many Gretsch guitars had mahogany necks, and the shorter scale conversion neck is a Hog neck.

Kinda funny how things work out.

I’m glad I waited to have the body on hand before I ordered the rest of the parts. I let the dust settle and then made some final decisions. I ended up going with a Duotron that kinda sits in the middle as far as output goes. I figure for brightness I have meant Tele’s and Esquires, so I went with a humbucking pickup and a different vibe.

All good. Now I have to wait for parts. The pickup has to be made. Went with Callaham hardware (stainless steel).

Cal
 
Calzone said:
I am pleased with the Cabronita body, and I can already tell it will be a great guitar. The shorter Gibson scale conversion neck fits perfectly.

Last night went into my basement and plugged into the 1965 National Valco 1210. It is a rather bright amp, and that is not a bad thing. Pretty much turned up the volume to 12 noon and did some tweaking on the pickup height to optimize and fine tune. I was going to change out the pickup for another I had on hand, but now that it is dialed in I kinda love it.

The amp is not loud, but because it is bright it is articulate, and for practice this is great. No distortion to hide behind, any sloppy playing is revealed, and playing clean is kinda hard to do.

Cal
Click to expand...

Cal,

When you say you were going to change out the pickup; do you mean literally or do you mean bringing it to a guitar tech and have it installed? I kinda assume you would do it your self, which is very cool. So eventually, when done, you will have a custom guitar, perfectly suited to your ears and hands!!

Paul
 
PaulW128 said:
Cal,

When you say you were going to change out the pickup; do you mean literally or do you mean bringing it to a guitar tech and have it installed? I kinda assume you would do it your self, which is very cool. So eventually, when done, you will have a custom guitar, perfectly suited to your ears and hands!!

Paul
Click to expand...

Paul,

I have a strong analog electronics background. Pretty much I built prototype electronics in research environments for about 20 years. This included Grumman a Fortune 500 Company when it was the 4th largest military contractor in the U.S., and two National Labs: Los Alamos and Brookhaven.

Then I became a Cyclotron Engineer for 20 years…

Some of my stuff I built flew on planes (military) and some even into space.

Know and understand that vacuum tubes are just a form of partial beam accelerator. The physics involved with guitars is somewhat simple and basic.

Also know I worked in a guitar shop and have built guitars (not a kit or just assembling parts, scratch builds).

Then also know I have an art background and art degrees. Understand that because I have the research background that I’m capable of building crazy things that are not only not commercially viable, but pretty much are one-offs.

Also know I am connected into the high end and vintage markets through my friends. Check out Mirabella Guitars. I have known Cris for decades and use to beat on him and abuse when he was almost a snotty kid.

Cal
 
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