Everyone introduce yourselves!

beckstriad

Administrator
Staff member
I started playing guitar when I was 14, though I have loved music as long as I can remember. My first instrument was trumpet in the school band. My parents are also musical people.

I always listened to music that was “old” for me. My heroes growing up in the early 2000s were Bluesbreakers - era Clapton and Green, Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson, Shawn Lane, young Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth, John Mayer, Robben Ford, Duane/Dickey, and Derek Trucks. I also loved non-guitar music with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Ali Akhbar Khan, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and Ravi Shankar.

I tried to listen to everything. I grew up in rural south Mississippi, which is not a haven for guitar based music (or music in general). However, the internet was just taking off and almost everything was available to listen to. I appreciate that now very much.

From early on, I had a target sound in my head of what a guitar should sound like. I heard it first when I listened to Robben Ford and Allan Holdsworth. Turns out I was really hearing Alexander Dumble and Jim Kelley amplifiers. I found that commonality in sound between most of who I loved and it subsequently turned out to be them.

I have done some live playing, but mostly have been a home player. Went a long stretch not playing because of school and work. Picked it up again heavily in 2021 or so. Since then, I have gotten into home recording and may play out some in the future. I have had the great fortune to get to talk to some of the legends in gear and have played more gear than I ever dreamed I would.

Just wanted to give some background on where I’m coming from and sort of the culture. I’d love to hear from you guys.
 
I’ve moved 24 times in my life having lived in a handful of states (some numerous times)…I’ve lived in CA, MI, WI, IL, TN, MD, NJ, CT, MO, OH, FL, and am currently in TX. Life has been an adventure, Haha! ,

My musical journey has been similar: to my moving experience in terms of “breadth”: I started out playing flute, adding piccolo, then classically trained in piano, moved to trombone, baritone and sousaphone, snare and bass drum and ultimately picked up the guitar in my second year of college.

While I was learning to play guitar, I was surrounded by some truly gifted players who sought accompaniment- so that was what I became as a player - a rhythm player (I know… how boring!). Which is where I am still today - never had any desire other than to be the supporting character.

Throughout my life (thus far) I’ve performed in marching bands, concert bands, choral groups, and cover bands - my last public performance was a couple decades ago. WHY?…. Because my “day job” got in the way, with incessant travel!

I’ve been fortunate through this journey, as a hobbyist, to be able to own and / or try all sorts of amazing gear, and I hope someday to r be able to get back on the stage and have some fun!
 
I’ve moved 24 times in my life having lived in a handful of states (some numerous times)…I’ve lived in CA, MI, WI, IL, TN, MD, NJ, CT, MO, OH, FL, and am currently in TX. Life has been an adventure, Haha! ,

My musical journey has been similar: to my moving experience in terms of “breadth”: I started out playing flute, adding piccolo, then classically trained in piano, moved to trombone, baritone and sousaphone, snare and bass drum and ultimately picked up the guitar in my second year of college.

While I was learning to play guitar, I was surrounded by some truly gifted players who sought accompaniment- so that was what I became as a player - a rhythm player (I know… how boring!). Which is where I am still today - never had any desire other than to be the supporting character.

Throughout my life (thus far) I’ve performed in marching bands, concert bands, choral groups, and cover bands - my last public performance was a couple decades ago. WHY?…. Because my “day job” got in the way, with incessant travel!

I’ve been fortunate through this journey, as a hobbyist, to be able to own and / or try all sorts of amazing gear, and I hope someday to r be able to get back on the stage and have some fun!

Thank you for sharing. That’s awesome. Day jobs will absolutely get in the way of a lot of things. Ha ha

Hope you continue to be able to accomplish your musical goals in the future!
 
I so wanted to start this with a line from the movie “the jerk”. Haha

I grew up being told at 5 by my mother I was to start piano lessons. It quickly developed into classical piano training. I did that for 6 years and in the meantime I would always sneak to play my dad’s acoustic. My dad knew but he kept my secret from my mom. At 11 years old my dad bought me my first fender strat. 2 months after that he hooked me up with a Charvel from Wayne whom my dad got to be friends with. I never touched the piano again until
I would go off to college for theory, ear training and composition.

From 11-14 I immersed myself for hours upon hours after school and sometimes not going to school playing, learning, writing with the occasional surf session in between. At 14 I got into a metal band that played everywhere in so cal. I was playing the strip at 14 with the singer in our band claiming he was my guardian so I could get into the clubs to play in the first place. Troubadour, Gazzaris, all the LA haunts. The Timbers night club in San Dimas/Glendora was our weekly. PVA Pomona valley auditorium we opened for Tony Macalpine while
He was doing a live recording for his first or second album. Our band got sign to Ron Keels label and he produced it. We were doing great.

At 17 the very day I graduated high school my Dad moved us out of San Dimas to Ventura County. me being so far away the band had to replace me. However, I was going off to college and made new friends quickly. I also started giving guitar and bass lessons and ended up with a new girlfriend about half way through college.

Turns out she was related to my future boss Hale who ended up hiring me to be a session player at Capitol Circa early 90.
If it wasnt for her playing some of my stuff for Hale. I’m not sure I would’ve chosen that path. None the less, great experience and good time. Ultimately, the time I was there was more a frustration for me and along with the commute I left a little less than 2 years later. I then went and worked film production for another 3 years. Not as much time in LA but still more than I wanted to be there. Left that and started my own business. Shelved my music aspirations for about 2 years. Didn’t even pick up an instrument. Slowly allowed myself back into it. Or as most of you know got sucked back in without choice. Haha

Move forward to about 2002. Having owned tons of amps and other equipment over the years I had been gathering since I was 12 or so. I got this idea with many requests to open a studio. In 2003-4 while going on one of my gear binges for tc electronic gear. I noticed for the last 6 months me and one other guy kept outbidding each other on the same stuff. Like literally he and I were changing the market for this stuff. So I messaged him. Told him and said hey let’s take turns so we don’t outbid each other. Turns out this guy lives about 5 miles from me. Was a session player for Sony (recently left) we talked and then met in person. Almost all of his gear was a mirror image to mine. And what I didn’t have and planned to get he already had a vice versa. So, at that moment we decided rareamp studios was born. Between our contacts at Capitol and Sony we decided to start at the time the first and only we knew of. Re amping service for the studios using a recently created device by Dan Alexander. It was mega successful. And we ran that from 2007-2018 until we decided to shut down in part due to the fires here in socal that we incurred damage from. Since, 2012. I have been personally focused. On flamenco, fretless, oud and Indian tonalities and instruments in general.

I have been in process of finishing a “Nuevo flamenco” album for the last 7 that I have recorded and recorded 3 times. We are our own worst critics.

My amp collection continues to grow that is the one thing that has been consistent since the day I started playing. I love amps. Guitars are cool but I only own 5 electrics and about 10 various flamencos and other instruments. To date I own about 38 amps. Down from 128 when I owned the studio.
 
I so wanted to start this with a line from the movie “the jerk”. Haha

I grew up being told at 5 by my mother I was to start piano lessons. It quickly developed into classical piano training. I did that for 6 years and in the meantime I would always sneak to play my dad’s acoustic. My dad knew but he kept my secret from my mom. At 11 years old my dad bought me my first fender strat. 2 months after that he hooked me up with a Charvel from Wayne whom my dad got to be friends with. I never touched the piano again until
I would go off to college for theory, ear training and composition.

From 11-14 I immersed myself for hours upon hours after school and sometimes not going to school playing, learning, writing with the occasional surf session in between. At 14 I got into a metal band that played everywhere in so cal. I was playing the strip at 14 with the singer in our band claiming he was my guardian so I could get into the clubs to play in the first place. Troubadour, Gazzaris, all the LA haunts. The Timbers night club in San Dimas/Glendora was our weekly. PVA Pomona valley auditorium we opened for Tony Macalpine while
He was doing a live recording for his first or second album. Our band got sign to Ron Keels label and he produced it. We were doing great.

At 17 the very day I graduated high school my Dad moved us out of San Dimas to Ventura County. me being so far away the band had to replace me. However, I was going off to college and made new friends quickly. I also started giving guitar and bass lessons and ended up with a new girlfriend about half way through college.

Turns out she was related to my future boss Hale who ended up hiring me to be a session player at Capitol Circa early 90.
If it wasnt for her playing some of my stuff for Hale. I’m not sure I would’ve chosen that path. None the less, great experience and good time. Ultimately, the time I was there was more a frustration for me and along with the commute I left a little less than 2 years later. I then went and worked film production for another 3 years. Not as much time in LA but still more than I wanted to be there. Left that and started my own business. Shelved my music aspirations for about 2 years. Didn’t even pick up an instrument. Slowly allowed myself back into it. Or as most of you know got sucked back in without choice. Haha

Move forward to about 2002. Having owned tons of amps and other equipment over the years I had been gathering since I was 12 or so. I got this idea with many requests to open a studio. In 2003-4 while going on one of my gear binges for tc electronic gear. I noticed for the last 6 months me and one other guy kept outbidding each other on the same stuff. Like literally he and I were changing the market for this stuff. So I messaged him. Told him and said hey let’s take turns so we don’t outbid each other. Turns out this guy lives about 5 miles from me. Was a session player for Sony (recently left) we talked and then met in person. Almost all of his gear was a mirror image to mine. And what I didn’t have and planned to get he already had a vice versa. So, at that moment we decided rareamp studios was born. Between our contacts at Capitol and Sony we decided to start at the time the first and only we knew of. Re amping service for the studios using a recently created device by Dan Alexander. It was mega successful. And we ran that from 2007-2018 until we decided to shut down in part due to the fires here in socal that we incurred damage from. Since, 2012. I have been personally focused. On flamenco, fretless, oud and Indian tonalities and instruments in general.

I have been in process of finishing a “Nuevo flamenco” album for the last 7 that I have recorded and recorded 3 times. We are our own worst critics.

My amp collection continues to grow that is the one thing that has been consistent since the day I started playing. I love amps. Guitars are cool but I only own 5 electrics and about 10 various flamencos and other instruments. To date I own about 38 amps. Down from 128 when I owned the studio.

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
 
Sure, I'll go. Like a lot of others, I started with piano at an early age and then played Saxophone for several years in jazz bands. Despite learning quite a bit of theory for both, I blocked most of it from memory when I picked up guitar at 14. I thought since someone like Joe Perry didn't lessons, I surely didn't either. The logic was not real strong.

I got a used Epiphone strat and a Peavey combo and just started teaching myself. While my parents weren't overly musical players, my dad's formative years were in the 60's in SF so I grew up around Fillmore posters + giant record collection and was consistently (then and now, as in last night) quizzed on things like who was playing what instrument during the Super Session or guitarists in the Yardbirds. In the Stones vs. Beatles debate, we were definitely a Rolling Stones household despite having all of the Beatles records.

This likely contributed to a lot of my musical influences that are a little more tightly rooted in R&B, Blues, 50's rock and roll. I mostly played punk rock in high school with my favorite early bands being the Clash or Social Distortion - bands with a little edge but still focused on writing simple, great songs. My band never 'made it' but we did get to play at the Warped Tour in the late 90's, which was quite the crowning achievement for a punk band back then.

In late high school, I talked with my parents about the path of skipping/postponing college and pursuing music but I ultimately decided to go to college instead. I played in and after college quite a bit - mostly steel string - but didn't get back into proper band situations again until around 10 years ago. I play with a few different groups right now ranging in style from americana to modern rock. Nothing overly serious, but I've gotten to play some decent sized rooms over the past few years, which feels like more than I should be able to expect while holding down a day job.

Of course, in this journey, I've gotten to play some guitars/amps that are much more than I deserve - I'm well aware that my guitar heroes played on much more modest set-ups than me. But I've also met some great people through and been turned on to a lot of other music/players that I probably would not have discovered otherwise. Beyond being a big fan of a lot of the great amp builders discussed here, I am also a very big fan of Gustavsson guitars, having had over 30 in the past ~4-5 years. I only keep a total of 4-5 guitars at a time, so I've let a lot of keepers go over time..
 
Sure, I'll go. Like a lot of others, I started with piano at an early age and then played Saxophone for several years in jazz bands. Despite learning quite a bit of theory for both, I blocked most of it from memory when I picked up guitar at 14. I thought since someone like Joe Perry didn't lessons, I surely didn't either. The logic was not real strong.

I got a used Epiphone strat and a Peavey combo and just started teaching myself. While my parents weren't overly musical players, my dad's formative years were in the 60's in SF so I grew up around Fillmore posters + giant record collection and was consistently (then and now, as in last night) quizzed on things like who was playing what instrument during the Super Session or guitarists in the Yardbirds. In the Stones vs. Beatles debate, we were definitely a Rolling Stones household despite having all of the Beatles records.

This likely contributed to a lot of my musical influences that are a little more tightly rooted in R&B, Blues, 50's rock and roll. I mostly played punk rock in high school with my favorite early bands being the Clash or Social Distortion - bands with a little edge but still focused on writing simple, great songs. My band never 'made it' but we did get to play at the Warped Tour in the late 90's, which was quite the crowning achievement for a punk band back then.

In late high school, I talked with my parents about the path of skipping/postponing college and pursuing music but I ultimately decided to go to college instead. I played in and after college quite a bit - mostly steel string - but didn't get back into proper band situations again until around 10 years ago. I play with a few different groups right now ranging in style from americana to modern rock. Nothing overly serious, but I've gotten to play some decent sized rooms over the past few years, which feels like more than I should be able to expect while holding down a day job.

Of course, in this journey, I've gotten to play some guitars/amps that are much more than I deserve - I'm well aware that my guitar heroes played on much more modest set-ups than me. But I've also met some great people through and been turned on to a lot of other music/players that I probably would not have discovered otherwise. Beyond being a big fan of a lot of the great amp builders discussed here, I am also a very big fan of Gustavsson guitars, having had over 30 in the past ~4-5 years. I only keep a total of 4-5 guitars at a time, so I've let a lot of keepers go over time..

Thanks for sharing! I’m really hoping since this is a small, hand picked community people will feel more comfortable sharing a bit about themselves and their musical background.
 
I started playing acoustic guitar in 10th grade at first with a nylon string and then a used Martin D-28 herringbone I purchase for $700 from Sam Ash (when 48th St in NYC was a guitar Mecca.)

Mainly I picked up guitar to learn Neil Young, Leo Kotte, and hopefully meet girls. Two out of three isn’t bad.😆

After that, my idols were Steve Howe, Frank Zappa, Jimmy, Paige , and Hendrix years later followed by of course SRV. I didn’t get into Van Halen until much later for some peculiar reason.
Around 2003 I discovered Michael Hedges and was blown away and learned a couple of his songs.

During my college years 1981-85. I played in several bands with everything from pop Police Missing Persons Pretenders , the Cars, Squeeze to other bands doing Creedsnce Clearwater, the Dead Etc. I was also doing solo coffee shop stints with instrumental acoustic covers and originals.

After that I was playing only acoustic for years while I was in med school. Got back into electric during my internship when I discovered the album, “talk to your daughter” by Robben Ford, which blew my mind.

During my fellowship in Baltimore, I had an opportunity to purchase a Dumble for $4500 in 1994! Little did I know.

I did some recording and was in a few other bands over the years. When I finally moved up to North Lake Tahoe in 2014, I quit playing out because I was working nights and living in a town with a population of 9000 with little to no nightlife.
This past month I was invited to lay down some tracks for a studio in my town and that was a lot of fun. Hopefully it will continue. I was surprised how happy they were with my solos.

Soldano: I first played an SLO in 1989 in Roger Sadowsky‘s shop in New York City. That was the beginning of a long love affair that still burns bright to this day.
 
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I started playing acoustic guitar in 10th grade at first with a nylon string and then a used Martin D-28 herringbone I purchase for $700 from Sam Ash (when 48th St in NYC was a guitar Mecca.)

Mainly I picked up guitar to learn Neil Young, Leo Kotte, and hopefully meet girls. Two out of three isn’t bad.😆

After that, my idols were Steve Howe, Frank Zappa, Jimmy, Paige , and Hendrix years later followed by of course SRV. I didn’t get into Van Halen until much later for some peculiar reason.
Around 2003 I discovered Michael Hedges and was blown away and learned a couple of his songs.

During my college years 1981-85. I played in several bands with everything from pop Police Missing Persons Pretenders , the Cars, Squeeze to other bands doing Creedsnce Clearwater, the Dead Etc. I was also doing solo coffee shop stance with instrumental acoustic covers and originals.

After that, I was just playing acoustic for years while I was in med school. Got back into electric during my internship when I discovered the album, “talk to your daughter” by Robben Ford, which blew my mind.

During my fellowship in Baltimore, I had an opportunity to purchase a Dumble for $4500 in 1994! Little did I know.

I did some recording and was in a few other bands over the years. When I finally moved up to North Lake Tahoe in 2014, I quit playing out because I was working nights and living in a town with a population of 9000 with little to no nightlife.
This past month I was invited to lay down some tracks for a studio in my town, and that was a lot of fun. Hopefully it will continue.

Soldano: I first played an SLO in 1989 in Roger Sadowsky‘s shop in New York City. That was the beginning of a long love affair that still burns bright to this day.

Thanks for sharing, Jim! I would love to hear a clip (or two) if you have any.

Med school/internship/residency will definitely put a damper on the ol' guitar playing.
 
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Thanks for sharing, Jim! I would love to hear a clips (or two) if you have any.

Med school/internship/residency will definitely put a damper on the ol' guitar playing.
I did some solos last week. They were supposed to mix them down but got preoccupied preparing for NAMM. Hopefully by the end of the week following NAMM.



IMG_4513.jpeg
 
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Ok, I'll go. I started on piano at age 7 and at age 12 I was playing organ in working bands. Around that time I learned guitar and that was it. I was playing guitar professionally in bands for years while working day jobs. I've been a gear hound from day one and have owned a ton of gear.

I went back to school but still played in bands during professional school and post-grad school in San Francisco and Dallas. When I returned home to Reno I started playing with some old bandmates. We've opened for some cool bands over the years; Arc Angels, Ambrosia, Lee Roy Parnell, The Mavericks, Johnny A, Diamond Rio, Elvin Bishop, Edgar Winter Group, The Fixx, Steve Lukather with Marie and Cherie Curry, and others.

I've had the opportunity to own some great amps, vintage and boutique. I tend towards gainy amps that clean up well. I've owned a Dumble Marshall, Brunos, Mad Professor, Komet and everything under the sun. Currently I have a Komet Constellation, Komet MK80, Adam Stark Fire Amp, Benson and my old Ampeg my dad bought me in the the 60's.

I play about 1-2 times a month and mainly play fun cover songs for people to have fun. I'm more happy playing jam band or fusion stuff, but at clubs we play stuff people can dance and party to. I feel blessed to still be playing and singing at age 68.

I'm married to a wonderful woman and between us we have 4 girls and now twin grand babies, a boy and a girl. I will teach them piano and guitar as soon as I can. I also live close to Jim S, a great guy and good friend. Glad to be here with guys I admire.
 
Ok, I'll go. I started on piano at age 7 and at age 12 I was playing organ in working bands. Around that time I learned guitar and that was it. I was playing guitar professionally in bands for years while working day jobs. I've been a gear hound from day one and have owned a ton of gear.

I went back to school but still played in bands during professional school and post-grad school in San Francisco and Dallas. When I returned home to Reno I started playing with some old bandmates. We've opened for some cool bands over the years; Arc Angels, Ambrosia, Lee Roy Parnell, The Mavericks, Johnny A, Diamond Rio, Elvin Bishop, Edgar Winter Group, The Fixx, Steve Lukather with Marie and Cherie Curry, and others.

I've had the opportunity to own some great amps, vintage and boutique. I tend towards gainy amps that clean up well. I've owned a Dumble Marshall, Brunos, Mad Professor, Komet and everything under the sun. Currently I have a Komet Constellation, Komet MK80, Adam Stark Fire Amp, Benson and my old Ampeg my dad bought me in the the 60's.

I play about 1-2 times a month and mainly play fun cover songs for people to have fun. I'm more happy playing jam band or fusion stuff, but at clubs we play stuff people can dance and party to. I feel blessed to still be playing and singing at age 68.

I'm married to a wonderful woman and between us we have 4 girls and now twin grand babies, a boy and a girl. I will teach them piano and guitar as soon as I can. I also live close to Jim S, a great guy and good friend. Glad to be here with guys I admire.

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
 
Ok, I'll go too; as I said in one other thread, I'm more of a private person but it seems to be a small, nice and genuinely honest place here so, 🤝🙂

My music journey started as far back as I can remember, thanks to my father mainly. He's never really played an instrument but has always loved the music; he's been a huge Hi-Fi passionate listener and loved live music / concerts. He's always had all kind of high end systems at home, making me listen to a lot of widely different genres and gently pushing me to develop my listening skills over the years.
From those early days I especially remember a few particular moments that I believe became true foundations and major influences:
Listening to Peter & the Wolf on vinyl through Electrostatic headphones almost bigger than my child head
First time hearing Pink Floyd Meddle blasting through the big system across the room
One particular Friday Night in San Francisco, trying to guess / follow who's coming through which speaker
First CDs and Dire Straits through the 80's / early 90's
Dreaming awake listening to Vangelis records and Sci-Fi / Fantasy movie soundtracks...
... and my father always tweaking/modding/building stuff, from his Hi-Fi systems to our family car.

I started on the piano in the 80's, mainly classical training throughout my pre-teen / early teen years; never really loved it at the time to be honest, but probably was a good background to have.
I finally convinced my parents to move to guitar in my mid-teens after a year brake from any instrument. I was in full hard rock star mode at that time, yet it was decided I shall start on Spanish classical guitar; again probably a good thing. I took lessons for a couple of years with a great teacher who was mainly into jazz and brought me to my first live concert: John McLaughlin. Blazing experience; I clearly remember it as if it was last week. 2 things stroke me the most during that show: how LOUD it was, how surreal good John was. It sounded and looked so out of reach for my beginner guitarist mind at the time, it was a shock. Fortunately I didn't quit after that night. Still seems mostly out of reach today I have to say 😄

I played a lot in local rock cover bands from end of high-school throughout later university/college years, doing regular live shows, also running the front of house and rehearsal place of our local music club. Great experiences. That was also the "golden years" of live playing to me, where I was able to run stacks of old Marshall at full volume.
This is also during those years that I really started to go deep into the gear learning/hunting, mainly focused on old classic / "vintage".
My dad built me my first "real" tube amp back in my teen years, once it was acknowledged I'd better move to electric than continuing to learn ACDC or Van Halen on my classical guitar. That amp was fully inspired by early NMV Marshall/Fender schematics, it was a blessing to learn on that kind of platform and that gave me great reference in how an amp "should" sound and especially "feel". The "sound" has always been important to me, along the "music" itself. The "feel" you get when playing the instrument is also a major driver to me, and a great influence to the performance.

Had to get a "real job" at the end of my studies and live playing then became more of a casual few gigs a year with buddies for the next 10-15 years. Born & raised in France, I've moved quite a lot in my early job years, living in a few different countries for some years including in the US; now back on the old continent.
I always loved the creative process and the studio environment. As I was playing less live over the years, I started to go more into this part, experimenting more and more with the "effects" and the "sound", building "soundscapes", "sound textures"; also bringing back the classical/soundtrack and key/synth influences of my early years. Mixing those with the simple classic/vintage gear at the root of my guitar playing love is where I've been at for the last 10-15? years now.
I have to say I almost stopped playing the instrument for the last few years and haven't gigged but once since covid unfortunately, this has been a life changing period to me and the family. Slowly going back to it hopefully, with so many projects on the list.

Glad to be here; as with most things, especially passions & hobbies meant to be fun, the people you meet and share experiences with along the journey are what make all this worth it.
 
I started guitar when I was 10 or 11, I am 65 now. My older cousin was my major influence at that time, he was into Cream, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin etc. But one record he had the biggest impact for me, that record changed everything and I wanted a guitar real bad. That record was by Taste, Live Taste. Rory Gallagher is the reason why I play guitar and I blame him that my #1 guitar is the Stratocaster even though I prefer maple neck over RW.
I was 16 when I joined my first band and a year later I owned my first Strat, no name amp. Searching what Rory was into and from where he came from got me into Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Blind Boy Fuller etc. My mom had a BB King record and it had a picture of BB with a maple neck '55/'56 Strat, that validated the Strat for me :)
In my mid 20's I got really serious playing in band and gigging. My next big influence was Jimmie Vaughan in 1980 when I saw the T-Birds for the first time. Again, I made the "right" decision with the Strat. My setup back then, Strat, Fender reverb tank, Tweed amp (Pro, Bandmaster, Bassman). I was happy for decades. But I knew the band thing will not feed me enough, so I went all the way through school and got a "real" job.

Had different amps over the years, but always went back to the Tweeds. My next big change came when I was around 40, that's the time I became friends with Alexander Dumble and we stayed friends till his passing. I loved my Tweeds and Alexander fixed a 56 Tremolux for me, but whenever I visited him I always plugged into his UP BF Deluxe and a Bandmaster I was floored every time. After 5 years being friends I asked him to make me a RP BF Deluxe and a years later a RP Bandmaster. I also got a 1x12 and 2x10 cabinet from him. He also turned me into BF Super Reverbs, I own two of them.

I am still a Fender guy, Tele and Strats. Strats are my number 1, but since a couple of years I found love with a Gibson 54 GT Murphy Lab.
I also play lot's of acoustic guitar and play every day if possible. Still play some gigs, very few and have fun with it.

Looks like this forum will be fun.
 
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