NYC Journal

Took advantage of a Voltec battery heated vest sale and saved 50%. This vest sells out fast and is rated better than the Milwaukee version and costs less. I bought 2 so that “Maggie” and I can extend our walking and hiking season.

Pretty much was a no brainer, and will help extend Maggie’s time in her She-Shack to Calvin’s benefit. Always great to have emergency heat when needed. This is the top rated heated vest. Machine washable.

Another cool thing is that it can run off 5 volts USB, and this allows me to utilize the massive Milwaukee batteries along with the 175 watt adapter although tethered.

Cal
 
Did some forensics on a 1960 Fender Brown Super, a 35 watt 2x10 amp,

Recently I canabilized the NOS 5881 power tubes to use on the new Vintage 47 VA-20 amp. The NOS versions killed the modern production JJ tubes in a big way. So I dug back into the Brown Super to see what it is because it remained vague in my mind. I remembered that it was a “transitional model between a 6G5 and a 6G5-A version. Kind of a blend of two versions.

So I pulled all the tubes and then pulled the chassis to compare to the schematics. Then I remembered that pretty much the amp has the early 6G5 pre-amp, power supply, and output which makes it more resemble a 50’s tweed amp, but the tube vibrato that the brown amps are known for is the more advanced 3-tube Vibrato that evolved later and is noted as the best there ever was.

In my book I lucked out, not only did I get a very cool amp, but I got a novel amp that suits me well.

Originally the 6G5 version was equipt with 6L6’s, but I used a pair of NOS 5881’s because they have a bit less headroom, meaning less clean sound and earlier breakup. The 5881’s are also known for a top end that has a smooth roll-off. Mucho-great…

So I put the amp together and installed a matched pair of NOS 6L6’s that are basically period correct. Looking forward to doing a “smoke” test, and seeing how this amp performs.

As I remember this particular amp loved all Tele’s.

I bought this amp for only $1100.00. This guy Todd dropped it off at my friend Cris’ showroom when I happen to be there. I plugged in the amp, and it had some problems. It cut in and out.

When I drove home I decided I wanted the amp. It was being placed on consignment and Todd only wanted $1k, Cris flipped it to me for $1.1K for a quick $100.00.

The amp was assembled from a chassis. The power tranny is the same one for a Fender 4-10 Bassman that is a legendary guitar amp that was built for bass guitar, but happens to be the best guitar map that Fender likely ever made. So this Super was canabilized and over time the cabinet, speakers, were sold off.

Todd likely bought the remains of the chassis missing the power tranny, and then spent lots of money to get a Repo cabinet, and re-issue speakers.

So I found a bad ground on the replacement power tranny from Mercury Magnetics. This tranny basically is a modern ‘Clone” that costs big dollars, Then the speaker connections were slide on lugs, I removed the lugs and soldered the bare wires to the speaker terminals.

The amp still cut in and out, so I replaced the output tube sockets, but the intermittent cutting in and out persisted, and then I red plated the output tubes. I discovered that a cheap repo jack, made in China, made an intermittent output connection. This is a serious event that destroyed the output tubes. What a shame because they were a pair of NOS tubes. Oh-well.

So Todd was kinda overstepping his skills, and evidently didn’t have great soldering skills nor a powerful enough soldering iron to make a good chassis ground connection.

Like I have said, 70-80% of electronic problems are simply bad connections.

So if this amp was 100% original it easilty would be a $6K-$7K amp. Highly collectible, but my amp is a “player.” Still worth many thousands. I love this amp because I got it for a fraction of what is worth, even as a player. It sounds great, and pretty much is a novel amp.

My forensics reveal that the circuit layout is of a Blonde Twin Amp. Back in the day lots of abnormalities were performed at the Fender factory. All kinds of strange stuff and the creation of novelties like this amp. I could easily sell it for $3.3K in an instant, but then I would have to pay big dollars to get one back.

Also know that I recapped this amp, which s pretty much maintenance. I retained all the original parts from 1960 as a time capsule. Pretty much this amp was a “survivor” and all OEM from 1960, except someone modded the pre-amps. I returned the pre-amp to original 1960 6G5.

So this amp has major “you suck factor” to any serious guitar player. This is a great rock and roll amp, and heavily favors the blues. Pretty much it kills, and now resides in my music studio. I’ll be bringing up more amps when I can. Next will be the Matchless Lightning, and Matchless Spitfire that are bth Mark Sampson era amps. This is the guy who made and started the boutique amp business by making Vox clones that were bomb-proof.

Know that Vox amps were prone to catching on fire. The sound of these amps are the Beatles.

I think Roy Buchanan played a Fender Brown Super. This happens to be an amp that is heavily favored by Tele players.

Mighty cool…

Cal
 
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I almost saved $27.00 on the order of 15 sets of strings. I made an error. Found out my savings on my invoice.

They say it might rain tonight to break the drought. Let’s see.

There have been reports of brush fires in New Jersey and in the lower Hudson Valley.

Spring still endures here and we still have roses and Morning Glories blooming.

I could use a modeling gig to fund the garage expansion, and also another gig for building out my 1966 C-10. Call me a Ho, but I only do it for the money.

Tomorrow the gym, I’ll try to do an hour on the elliptical. I’ll be curious about the weigh in. My butt is less chubby and I see a slimmer torso.

I have to round up the neighborhood leaves by Thanksgiving. Pretty much the city vacuums up the piles of leaves then.

A though came to mind is to just place another layer of shingles on the south portion of the garage as a stop-gap measure. 3/4’er of the roof is still good, but the south side is kinda trashed. Less work, and eventually the entire roof will get demo’ed. There is only a single layer, and back in the day it was standard procedure to simply add a second layer over one layer. That practice is not done anymore, they strip before down to the sheathing today regardless.

My task is to stabilize for a few years, then renovate. Three years from now I get a pop-up in my retirement.

Cal
 
I see no evidence that it rained last night, the drought continues. Water capacity for NYC is only at around 66%.

Had to bump up the heat to rid a chill in the house that is not just the morning. Pretty much I feel I’m running the heating system, and the solar gain is not enough to stay comfortable. The dehumidifier in the basement collects water still, but pretty soon I will turn it off for the winter.

Meanwhile leaves remain on the trees, and it is a very late fall.

I think at the gym today the goal will be to do an hour on the elliptical. No need to add resistance. I am good to go according to my urologist, but nothing strenuous.

Should be a boring day.

Cal
 
It was a spring like day, and I took advantage of the pleasant day to do a leaf roundup. In my city leaves get raked into piles, and then the city vacuums them into a truck.

I hoard the leaves as clean fill, and in about a year they mulch out into topsoil. I have an earthworks project in the back where I’m extending my back-backyard, the section that slopes into a terraced bluff of sorts to exploit the view: marsh; valley; frog pond, brook, and forested hillside.

I also get clean fill from my tree surgeon friend Craig, and also made friends with another landscaper.

Funny thing is I don’t really have to rake leaves on my property. I have evergreen spruces and white pines, and only a few deciduous trees that don’t amount to any accumulation.

I also did some lumber jacking and harvested some fallen branches and long logs as clean fill.

There are still the leaf blowers that every year create a massive pile of leaves against this fence that borders state land. I will have a round two.

The light rain compacted the leaves and made it EZ-PZ to load my dump cart and fill this one-tonne bag that I call a “man-bag.”

I’m pleased to know that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are friends again and made amends.

Cal
 
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So today I’m mighty proud on how the land that was once a thicket of Japanese Knotweed has been restored, by hand without herbicides. Also the brush piles invited birds and wildlife. A lush forest has reclaimed the land.

I live in a city, but I have a real backyard. Kinda special since most homes are on a 40x100 building lot.

So every fall I gather leaves to mulch this slope that once was a monoculture of Knotweed. I am the steward here. Who needs 10 acres?

So I am kinda known for this leaf harvest, and pretty much a curiosity. Anyone who comes into my back-backyard kinda sees a paradise with a view. Also the She-Shack is looked upon as a private sanctuary.

Again, who needs 10 acres.

Doing the log harvest I used a Milwaukee 8 inch battery powered chain saw, and my dump cart as a dolly. Some of the 10-12 foot logs were man-killers, or nut-crushers, but these were trees that were only 7-8 inches thick at the trunk, long dead so not so heavy on the other hand.

So some strange behaviors in the burbs here. Maybe a crazy man lives in the neighborhood.

This year’s leaf harvest that I recovered so far is about the annual amount already, because I expanded my harvest. When the rest of the leaves fall I’ll let the leaf blowing homeowner’s corral them against that fence. In effect I’ll have about a double harvest.

I set a 3 foot chain link fence at the base of the hill to work like a retaining wall. This year I think the fence will get hidden by all the leaves and brush.

I guess I’ll find out tonight if I aggravated my bursitis in my right hip.

Time to wash up and practice guitar. Didn’t have time to plug into that Fender 1960 Brown Super.

Cal
 
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China’s deflation, regardless of added stimulus, is causing oil prices to fall. Too little:too late< as they say. They are in a deflationary spiral. Excess capacity=deflation.

A trade war and tariffs against China in particular will be brutal, but will also hurt Europe. Their markets are making adjustments.

The U.S. dollar is gaining strength. This is both good and bad. Bad for the export part of our economy, but good for imports because of purchasing power, but don’t forget the added expense of tariffs that work like a Federal sales tax. Realize that effectively your taxes went up, not down.

The idea of not consuming and culling back consumption is a form of survival. Don’t know if Americans will adapt. Pretty easy for me to go back to the basics, and pretty much the only consumerables will be food, water and energy. Don’t forget you can’t live without water. I have a stockpile of shoes and clothing and of course the very practical Baby-Victorian.

Austerity was always part of my life, but for some Americans it will be a very-very rude awakening, especially those that have debt loads that are big or have high interest payments.

The era of free money at low interest rates or zero APR is kinda done. Interest rates will be higher for a long period of time, and debt will in fact get harder to pay back. Interest compounds, and this includes the U.S. deficit. Don’t forget that credit card interest is about 20%, and that households are holding a record level of debt.

As I say, “The money has to come from somewhere.”

Cal
 
I feel a mild soreness from yesterday’s work. I was tired and didn’t get too far into guitar practice before I fell asleep wearing the guitar. Playing is too relaxing.

It was oo early to go to bed, so I sat in my living room using the comfort of a heating pad, and went on the Internet to waste time.

I used my back to do some heavy lifting. My right hip seems the same.

Been spreading out the meals and at times skipping lunch. As a result I see a slimmer torso and my butt is less chubby. I actually got a lot done yesterday. It tired me, but today I don’t think there will be a hangover.

Being outside and the work was gentile enough, yet tough enough to do me good. The results I see on the slope are all worth it.

“Maggie” tried to make an appointment with our PCP and she is booked up till December. Pretty much a doctor’s shortage here to an extent. Staying in Peekskill for the healthcare makes sense.

Looks like a temperature of 28 degrees might happen Wednesday. If a frost occurs the end of the growing season. Today might be the last harvest, but Wednesday is the middle of November. Another long growing season this year. Last year was in the top 5 longest ever recorded. Hmmm…

The drought concerns me though…

Cal
 
A quick good solution is convert the She-Shed into a She-Shack by running an up to code circuit that can handle the amperage required for an electric space heater. I have already a 100 amp service in the garage and extra circuit breakers.

I can easily dig the required trench with my post hole digger. So technically the difference between a “shed” verses a “shack” is electricity and heat. EZ-PZ, let me call Mike the electrician.

Technically though a building permit should be used, but don’t tell the city if you know what I mean. Pretty much a shed set upon a framed in gravel bed is considered a temporary structure and there are no tax implications. Generally a “shed” in most municipalities has to be under 100 square feet, so say an 8x12 “shed” is 96 square feet, “Maggie’s” “shed” is an 8x8 so only 64 square feet.

As they say, “No one ever got rich by paying taxes.”

Why didn’t I think of this earlier? I guess I didn’t want to break the law and be sneaky, but Oh-well, I’m a New Yorker and pretty much most people don’t follow rules her. As George Carlin one stated, “The ten-commandments are really only the ten-suggestions, if you live in New York.”

Cal
 
The 1960 Fender brown Super is a killer amp. I like it loaded with 6L6’s because the bottom end is really fat and chunky. All my guitars do well with this amp.

I pulled out the DeMarino which turned out to be a disappointment. I used the Vintage 47 VA-20 previously to test and try out the DeMarino and it was kinda lame. “Oh-well,” I thought, but today in the Brown Super it was particularly great. I had to adjust the pole pieces and adjust treble side of the pickup lower to balance the tone.

Pretty much I use the Presence control pretty low on the Brown Super around 3-3 1/2 to tame excess treble brightness. This is an adjustment that filters the feedback circuit.

Things are so good/great that I think I will hold off on ordering that Vintage 47 G-185 amp. Pretty much I think I might have my sound locked down with the Brown Super. The Vintage 47 VA-20 is still a great amp. I like it’s small size, retro looks, and it’s light weight. What’s not to love? Has its own flavor also.

I have to wait until “Maggie” heads out to her shed again. I think the VA-20 will be a great amp, but it needs to have the volume dimed and then the tone control to be dialed down to tame excess treble. I didn’t have time to pay around and see what this guitar could really do.

Glad I’m stubborn and did a second chance. Some of my other Teles that are inherently bright love a dimed volume with the tone knob as a treble tamer.

“Brutal,” I say. I’m so pleased, so happy, and so content. I’m pretty much elevated into tone heaven. The sound I have in my head is coming out. Pretty much the ideal.

I pulled out the small National Amp to give it a go. Pretty much this amp needs to be dimed to give up the tone, but there is risk of blowing the speaker which is an original from 1964. I would want to get a modern speaker to be able to save the original. Back now into storage it goes as an investment.

I had a wonderfully productive day. Very pleased.

Dusk descends around 4:30. Hmmm…

Tomorrow is the gym. I’ll try a full hour of elliptical.

Been eating earlier, and lightening up.

Cal
 
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I plugged in a bit last night playing amps, even though “Maggie” was present in the house. Playing an amp is kinda like a separate instrument…

My music studio is filling out and is crowded with guitars and amps. I have a nice spread and it is fulfilling and satisfying.

I think I have to get some wall mount guitar hangars, and I’ll order some today.

Looking forward to the gym to monitor my progress: my weight loss; the healing of my bursitis.

I have to check the garden for frost.

I see a Tele neck that is being sold at a discount, that I think would be great for the Charlie Christian only Tele I want to buld. It features a high grade flamed maple neck that is very opulent, has a profile I favor, and comes with extras that I basically am getting for free.

The tuner holes are not what I use, so I have to see if there is a work around that suits me, or its Oh-well. It is one of those spend money to save money. It also has vintage small frets that might be interesting, but maybe not. The price is so good that I’m thinking it still is of value.

Comes with a nitro finish, a nut, and the profile is an option that involves a cost “upgrade.” Hmmm…

This guitar will feature a very curved fingerboard radius of 7 1/2 inches. This favors playing chords over bending strings. I play heavy gauge strings that are sized as if my electric guitars are acoustics. My bending was always limited and is part of my style.

Time to dig in…

Cal
 
Rude news: I have Prostrate Cancer, and one form is an aggressive form that likely will at least require surgery and radiation from what I gleaned online. Monday I have my appointment with my urologist so I will get the definitive answers and find out where I stand.

Pretty much this is serious, but because I have so many life threatening experiences that it is kinda “oh-well…”

Basically this could be serious, but somehow I’m not worried. On the Gleason score I have 7’, 8’s and a 9.

Pretty much most prostrate Cancers are generally slow growing, but at this point I have also an aggressive one. I have two different Cancers in my prostrate.

How odd is it that this seriousness has so little effect on my outlook. I expect some anxiety Monday when I have my appointment, but evidently I have enough combat experience with life threatening situations that pretty much I’m not worried, anxious or suffering any negative emotions that really are not productive.

How crazy is that?

I guess this says a lot of the life I lived, and pretty much about my survival skills. No time to worry, anxiety is just a waste of time, and all I can do is just move forward. It is what it is, and I don’t want to waste my life worrying or being anxious, not even a moment…

My spin is to avoid any chemo if I can, because this really has a lasting effect of messing with your body chemistry and especially your immune system. From my quick research surgery and radiation is usually all that is required.

“Maggie” discovered a link between high testosterone levels and Prostrate Cancer. She thinks I naturally have had high levels, this would explain my Alpha Male tendencies, my physical strength and muscular build, and my overactive sex drive.

Pretty much testosterone promotes growth…

At the gym today, I weighed 158 1/4 pounds. Pretty much I lost a few hamburgers, and it is revealed in my waist and torso definition. Also my less chubby butt.

I did only 40 minutes on the elliptical, but I added in 10 minutes on a stationary bike sitting upright with a still upper body pumping my legs for a strength workout that used different muscles. I curbed the time to only 10 minutes to not strain or over do things.

Navy SEAL Survival Training reveals that 95% of survival is maintaining a positive mental attitude. I’m in that space. Know that my status is being kept low key, but I share it with friends here as a public service. Pretty much only the “kid’s” will be informed and they will be directed to keep it quiet. I don’t want all these people coming out who really don’t mean that much to me.

As usual, I don’t want to waste time, and I want to embrace a normal life. In fact I think I will order that bargain neck to build out that Charlie Christian single pickup guitar I want to build. Regardless, I just want to move forward…

Cal
 
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Calzone said:
Rude news: I have Prostrate Cancer, and one form is an aggressive form that likely will at least require surgery and radiation from what I gleaned online. Monday I have my appointment with my urologist so I will get the definitive answers and find out where I stand.

Pretty much this is serious, but because I have so many life threatening experiences that it is kinda “oh-well…”

Basically this could be serious, but somehow I’m not worried. On the Gleason score I have 7’, 8’s and a 9.

Pretty much most prostrate Cancers are generally slow growing, but at this point I have also an aggressive one. I have two different Cancers in my prostrate.

How odd is it that this seriousness has so little effect on my outlook. I expect some anxiety Monday when I have my appointment, but evidently I have enough combat experience with life threatening situations that pretty much I’m not worried, anxious or suffering any negative emotions that really are not productive.

How crazy is that?

I guess this says a lot of the life I lived, and pretty much about my survival skills. No time to worry, anxiety is just a waste of time, and all I can do is just move forward. It is what it is, and I don’t want to waste my life worrying or being anxious, not even a moment…

My spin is to avoid any chemo if I can, because this really has a lasting effect of messing with your body chemistry and especially your immune system. From my quick research surgery and radiation is usually all that is required.

“Maggie” discovered a link between high testosterone levels and Prostrate Cancer. She thinks I naturally have had high levels, this would explain my Alpha Male tendencies, my physical strength and muscular build, and my overactive sex drive.

Pretty much testosterone promotes growth…

At the gym today, I weighed 158 1/4 pounds. Pretty much I lost a few hamburgers, and it is revealed in my waist and torso definition. Also my less chubby butt.

I did only 40 minutes on the elliptical, but I added in 10 minutes on a stationary bike sitting upright with a still upper body pumping my legs for a strength workout that used different muscles. I curbed the time to only 10 minutes to not strain or over do things.

Navy SEAL Survival Training reveals that 95% of survival is maintaining a positive mental attitude. I’m in that space. Know that my status is being kept low key, but I share it with friends here as a public service. Pretty much only the “kid’s” will be informed and they will be directed to keep it quiet. I don’t want all these people coming out who really don’t mean that much to me.

As usual, I don’t want to waste time, and I want to embrace a normal life. In fact I think I will order that bargain neck to build out that Charlie Christian single pickup guitar I want to build. Regardless, I just want to move forward…

Cal
Click to expand...
Heartfelt wishes for successful treatment and recovery! I think you have the right mindset for this challenge, and I suspect that you'll kick cancer's ass. It's what I'd expect from you! ❤️‍
 
Gold is down over $200.00 an ounce because of “Dollar Strength.”

I mentioned to my friend Cris that I kinda need the guitar known as “Red” by Christmas as he is trying to do.

We were thinking to go to Quebec City for the Christmas holiday to avoid all the fake family dramas, but now that is canned. Oh-well and a LOL.

Today is the 13th, and 13 is not an unlucky number. It is a number that signifies change, and people don’t like change. This is how the superstition started. 13 is my lucky number.

Cal
 
I’ll find out more Monday, and I’ll give a full report.

The PSA test is just an indicator, but know that you can have a prostrate Cancer and still have a low PSA number.

The older you are the more likely you will develop prostrate Cancer. About 50% of old men will have one form or another.

The good thing to know is that most times prostrate Cancer is generally very treatable. In my case the alarm is that I have an aggressive Cancer called Intraductal carcinoma.

There is this Adrenocarcinoma which is slow growing and the most common.

Interesting the risk of high testosterone levels in promoting prostrate Cancer. I feel I likely had that condition, it would explain a lot. Oh-well: the good, the bad, and the ugly…

My friend Dave had prostrate Cancer in 2019. Of course things were more primitive back then. Now surgery is performed robotically and radiation is used with great precision.

My strength and otherwise good health will promote a recovery.

Cal
 
Plants are slowly dying back. With the winds of late no hard frost has formed. Morning Glories are still blooming. Harvested more tomato’s and three eggplants.

The nights are getting chillier. Also seems like the gym is getting more crowded.

I would appreciate a good soaking rain. This prolonged fire alert is kinda scary.

Cal
 
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