Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Gretsch

Yeah, I know, I've been doing more bass guitar than music lately... How about some pictures of one of my bass guitars?


This isn't even a new photo...... But go to Flickr and you can see some new ones! Two weeks ago, at Praise Band practice, I noticed that the nut had broken. Thus necessitating the quick purchase of a backup.... After a little internet research, I did the replacemebt myself. See details at the aforementioned Flickr site! At least let me know if the link works!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Hag

If you've been paying attention to my recent posts, you know that I bought a mid-60's Hagstrom HIIB bass on eBay. It finally arrived last Friday, after a few PayPal related delays.

Very pretty, very cool. Not quite in as good shape as I'd hoped, but I knew it was going to need a little TLC. I posted some photos to Flickr, they ought to be open to the public (anybody want to let me know?).... I'm actually considering starting a new blog just to document the restoration process, but it's not like I'm getting this one updated that often as it is.....

Monday, July 20, 2009

One Small Step For Man......


40 years ago today, the Apollo 11 astronauts stepped on the moon. I was 9 years old, same age amy son is now, and I remember it well. Watching it on TV at a neighbor's house, in Charleston WV.... What a great time, especially for an imaginative kid.

Baseball, Part 2

Sadly, my son's tream lost in the Championship game. A couple of bad innings, and the season ends on a bit of a down note. But it was a great experience, and a great season.

The championship was help at Leclaire Field, a really nice facility, and a whole different experince than the run-of-the-mill municipal fields they've been playing on. Real bleachers, electronic scoreboard, PA announcer.... smooth infoelds, mown outfields, etc. They introduced every player over the PA, lined both teams up along the foul lines.... Very Cool!

Next year is the first year of "kid-pitch", after 2 years of pitching machine (and 2 of Tee-Ball). My son (predictable) wants to be pitcher!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Baseball

I've been helping coach my son's Little League team this year, haven't taken a single picture at the games. Here's a couple from 2-3 years ago, when he was still in Tee-Ball

This year's team has made it to the finals of the playoffs, today at 5 will be the final game! Win or lose it has been a great season. Lots of fun and a great group of kids.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Peavey Milestone II

Just bought another new (to me) bass! Yep, another one!! I somehow managed to break the corner of the nut on my Gretsch, and my brand new Hagstrom hasn't arrived... Saw this on Craigslist, at a very good price... Along with a nice hard-shell case. Nothing fancy, Peavey Milestone II, but should be a nice back-up...


Thursday, July 16, 2009

Hagstrom HB II

Just bought a "new" bass, via eBay!! It's a way cool, very vintage, made in Sweden, Hagstrom. Pretty excited!! Now I just have to wait for it to show up, and hope it plays! Snagged it with a bid @ 2 seconds left, yee ha!

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

On Michael Jackson....

OK, RIP, all that good stuff. But enough already.

I don’t mean to be calloused, but can we have a little perspective here? Yeah he was a great performer… Thriller was huge… Love all those old Jackson-5 hits. BUT…….. The wall-to-wall coverage is insanity! The whole “Michael Jackson changed lives” thing?? Well, I just don’t get it. Then again, I didn’t get it when Elvis Presley died. I didn’t get it when John Lennon died. I guess I just don't define my life around people I don't know. Michael Jackson’s passing will leave no bigger hole in my life than the recent passing of David Carradine, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon or even Billy Mays.

I was flipping channels last night, and caught a bit of Bill O’Reilly’s TV show. He had a couple of other talking heads on, discussing whether the media was overplaying Michael Jackson’s importance…. A TV program devoting itself to a discussion of whether TV programs are devoting too much attention to Michael Jackson….. does that define irony?

Oh nevermind. Think I’ll go listed to some Duke Ellington. Or maybe Ray Charles. Perhaps some Jimi Hendrix. Remind myself that MJ was NOT the first African American performer to break through the "color barrier".... Meanwhile, I'm just back from the local funeral parlor the visitation of a real person who I actually knew. Don't expect to see much national media cover that one.