The Worst Monday in Ages

Oh no… it’s Monday. Oh no.

This is the first time in two years that I have to come back after a full week’s vacation. The last time was a week in Orlando visiting the Mouse. That was followed almost immediately by Covid. Yippee. Let’s hope for less post-vacation drama this time.

I peaked at my email on Saturday. I was actually peaking at my calendar for this week, but I looked at my inbox too. There were about 250 unread messages. It will be a little higher than that when I punch in today, in a little less than an hour.

As wonderful as a week away can be, and in this case was, that first day back is such a kick in the sack that it can almost feel like it’s not worth it. Almost.

Welcome to the most emotionally painful work day I’ve experienced in just over two years. Hooray.

Tube Amps are in Trouble

Didn’t I write something about this recently?

We’ve been saying that the days of the tube amp were numbered for decades, but now the end might be in sight. Well, if not the end of the tubes then maybe the end of reasonably affordable amps. Reasonably being a subjective term as most good tube amps are already seriously expensive.

There are only two factories on Earth that still manufacture vacuum tubes and one of them, the one in Russia, is no longer shipping to the United States.

Here’s hoping the tubes in my amps last for another 50 years or so. Also, I was thinking of trading in that Fender Bassbreaker 18/30… now? No way in hell.

It’s worth it, politically speaking. It’s also worth it environmentally speaking. It’s also been inevitable for ages and it’s been a long time coming.

So the question is, solid state transistor amps or digital modeling amps? Those Fender Tone Master things are supposed to be pretty good. Maybe we can talk them into making a tweed Bassman version?